Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Rise of One is the first book in the Blood Brute series by Dixon Reuel. The dawn of a zombie (brute) apocalypse on earth causes the vampire Rise and his coven to seal off their sanctuary of Owl Court to outsiders. The coven consists of Rise as the leader, Salter the Chronicler, and Orgim the Seer, with the human Cypriot providing them with the necessary sustenance. As the world is infested with brutes, Rise sets out to the nearby village of Dunsinann in search of human survivors to bring them to Owl Court. But not everyone at Owl Court supports his actions as Cypriot fears a change in his relationship with the vampires. Furthermore, the appearance of an ancient line of vampire hunters known as Warwolves put the inhabitants of Owl Court in mortal danger.

If you're a fan of vampire novels or zombie movies, grab yourself a copy of the first book of the Blood Brute series, Rise of One. Author Dixon Reuel's uniquely original premise blends the legend of vampires with a post-apocalyptic world containing zombies, creating a delicious brew that provides plenty of entertainment. The characters feel rich and in-depth, and I found them compelling from the get-go. Rise, Cypriot, Orgim, and Salter each bring something distinct to the coven, making them riveting to read. Dixon Reuel brilliantly captures Rise's fears and insecurities, and the post-apocalyptic environment truly feels cold and desolate through his eyes. I had a blast reading Rise of One, and I'm looking forward to reading the sequels. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Samantha Gregory for Readers' Favorite

Soulstealer by Shane Boulware is the story of Nythan, a young man who is an Air Force Training Officer. He is starting out in life, trying to make something of himself when a strange encounter changes everything for him. A burglar breaks into the home he is in while housesitting for a friend, and attacks him. What should have ended in his death becomes much more when something is transferred from the burglar into Nythan and suddenly he has a second voice in his head. It was interesting to read how he deals with this turn of events and how he is changed by this encounter. He soon learns that he has bigger problems because someone wants what is inside him. He must fight to survive and to continue to live his life when he is deemed expendable by his enemies. The main character is a normal guy who has something extraordinary happen to him and he has to find a way to survive. We only get a glimpse of Nythan's life before the incident, before it all changes for him.

Shane Boulware has written an interesting story with Soulstealer. The author jumps straight into the story, giving us only a glimpse of Nythan's life beforehand, ensuring we are grabbed from the very first page. Readers who love supernatural and paranormal stories will want to pick up this book. There are not many similar stories out there so the author may have found a niche in the genre. Nythan is a likable character and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened to him. Soulstealer is a fast-paced thriller that kept me turning the pages, highly recommended!

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

When a detective dies and is revived after being shot in a robbery, his life takes an unexpected turn in the gripping paranormal thriller, Near Death (A Raney/Daye Investigation: Book 1) by Rich Hosek, Arnold Rudnick, and Loyd Auerbach. While shopping for a gift, Detective Nathan Raney is shot and is clinically dead twice before recovering. After surgery, he awakens with dreamlike memories of the robber's car and location. However, being a skeptic, he doesn't believe his recollections are anything more than drug-induced dreams caused by his painkillers. When anthropologist professor Dr. Jennifer Daye visits him to wrangle an interview, she insists his memories and experiences are real. Nate is irritated and dubious, but because he is temporarily unable to work, Jennifer compels him to assist her on a paranormal investigation. Combining their skills, they attempt to discover the person who is stalking and frightening a young woman. Even when all leads point to the inconceivable and the answers to a sixty-year-old puzzle come to light, Nate needs more proof. Can he put aside his disbelief in the paranormal long enough to help Jennifer prevent a murder? Or will he miss the obvious?

Near Death by Rich Hosek, Arnold Rudnick, and Loyd Auerbach is a riveting paranormal novel. With a provocative plot and a spellbinding storyline, it is a captivating page-turner with outstanding characters and intriguing scenes. The protagonists, Jennifer and Nate, are engaging and rival Mulder and Scully's characters from the television series, The X-Files. Filled with unexpected twists and turns, the story has the unique element of consciousness existing beyond our bodies and the tangible universe. In addition, an Afterword with fascinating facts that are interesting and insightful has been provided, and I appreciated its inclusion at the end of the book. A fascinating storyline filled with intrigue, murder, and a ghostly apparition makes this novel a spectacular read for those who love exciting, suspenseful crime stories with a supernatural flair.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

"In that instant, the moon slid from behind the clouds, throwing full light on the beast. A humanoid face, the skin dark, almost black to match its fur. Pieces of clothing clung to its body. Tattered human clothing. From around its neck, she caught a brief shimmer of some sort of medallion. " In Brenda Hill's From The Painted Tomb: Something Ancient Is On Its Way, Krista Hawthorne witnesses the murder of her date by a mythical creature wearing an identical ankh pendant. She survives the attack but lives in terror, knowing that the beast is still out there and just waiting for a second chance to kill her. Local sheriff Hugh Rawlins not only becomes her protector but also helps her discover the connection between the beast and her true heritage.

In this contemporary supernatural fantasy, the horror element starts in the beginning and continues to loom just over the horizon as the story progresses. The engaging narrative switches swiftly between the present day and ancient Egypt, which is definitely a fascinating era of the past to be included for many readers. After the terrifying incident, protagonist Krista has to deal with the investigation and other issues in her life so the tension thrums as the truth is gradually revealed. Alternately, the story of the Egyptian prince is a captivating window into the ways of the ancients and the answers that lie within a secret love between a royal and a slave. Simply put, From The Painted Tomb: Something Ancient Is On Its Way by Brenda Hill is a gripping supernatural tale that combines two different timelines, capturing the past and present through eternal devotion between two soulmates.

Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

Wrath Child by Erik Henry Vick is a mix of thriller, suspense, supernatural, horror, and crime. While this might seem like a lot of genres to pack into just one novel, it works out very well. The novel tells the story of a terrible serial killer who has done horrendous things in the past. Gavin Gregory, one of the best profilers at the FBI, worked on the case - but the killer got away. But now it seems he's back. New victims turn up, and there's something that makes Gavin think it must be the same person. Unfortunately, this just happens before he's supposed to go on a holiday with his wife and to find the answer to his question, he needs to travel to another city. He does indeed find an answer: Not the one he hoped for. Not the one his scientific mind can deal with. What follows puts his beliefs to the test, and he might just have to admit that science cannot explain everything.

If you pick up Wrath Child by Erik Henry Vick, you'll be rewarded with a good amount of reading hours, as this is a long book. Fortunately, it is a GREAT long book, so you'll be quite glad that it doesn't end too quickly. I love it when I find a book like that. If I wasn't so busy, I probably would have devoured this book in a far shorter time, but as it is, this book kept me company for well over a week, and I spent a few hours each day in the world of Gavin Gregory and the unusual killer. I enjoyed that the story developed at an almost perfect pace, the author didn't linger on events too long, and he also didn't rush through the plot. It's a hard balance to strike, and I personally think he's done it very well in this novel. You need to pay attention to what is happening though, as various timelines and points of view are mixed within the story. It's done in a way that makes sense, but I am sure that readers who just rush through might get a little confused.
I also enjoyed how Gavin's attitude towards certain aspects of the case changed over time - and how it shows that people can indeed change what they believe if necessary. The other characters were also all quite interesting, and I enjoyed getting to know them. There were surprises, there was excitement, and even some nerve-racking content - all in all, a very, very good book!

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Haunting in Hartley by Janice Tremayne is set in an Australian ghost town. Hartley has undergone a revival but its evil past is hanging around, deeply ingrained and upsetting the town’s new residents. An intelligent evil spirit carries a curse and is intent on passing it on. The basement of the converted presbytery is now inhabited by this angry spirit, a basement that was once home to a cobalt chest. A chest containing an evil source that had been locked away for more than a century. Clarisse considers a contract that will change her life forever; you see, this curse could also be considered a gift but it has a price. Clarisse must be strong enough to fight that price – the ability to foretell future events that she chooses. Will she walk away from it and go back to a normal life or will greed overcome her and keep her in a dark and evil world? Or can she and Harry, an investigator, find out the truth and banish the evil spirit for good before harm befalls anyone else?

Haunting in Hartley by Janice Tremayne is the second book in the Haunting Clarisse series, a series based on real ghost towns in Australia. Clarisse is the main character, a strong female lead who is well developed and likable. It’s a unique story with a real-life setting that adds an extra dimension, especially for those acquainted with Hartley. As ghost stories go, this one is as spine-tingling as any I have ever read with the perfect amount of scare factor through some vivid descriptions and a well-written story. It starts in 1936, setting some of the scenes before skipping ahead to current times. It is a good story and fans of the paranormal will enjoy it.

Reviewed by K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite

When four-year-old Mandy Norton is abducted from her own back yard, Chad Bishop springs into action. A big-city cop in a small town knows just the moves to play; unfortunately, so too does the new editor of the Tribune. Butting heads over the disappearance, Chad learns that this feisty reporter is the girl’s aunt and, given her skills in investigative journalism and her ability to uncover leads and sources, they would work better together than apart. As the investigation unfolds, it appears that Mandy is not the only child to be snatched from a small town. One thing is for certain, whoever took Mandy is in for more trouble than they can handle, especially when a familiar fog and hidden whispers once more bid for Chad’s attention. He has seen this before, and it almost cost him his sanity. This time, the price could be far higher. Can he find Mandy before the unspeakable happens?

Not Dead is a suspenseful thriller with just a hint of the supernatural. I really loved how author Anita Dickason teases the reader. She plays your curiosity like a finely tuned fiddle, enticing you to read on and discover more about the characters, their pasts, the strange events unfolding and, most importantly, whether they will find Mandy alive, or at all? The characters are expertly developed and it was so easy to become invested in their personal plights, sympathize with them, and fear for their safety. The third-person style gives the reader insight into many perceptions, even a few which really played on the heartstrings. Beautifully written from beginning to end and presented in a gripping and concise manner. If you’re looking for a good mystery plot that will pull you in hook, line, and sinker, then Not Dead by Anita Dickason is it.

Reviewed by Timea Tokes for Readers' Favorite

The Wake Up by author Angela Panayotopulos is a roller-coaster ride from the first page to the last, a book that I read in one sitting. One minute I rooted for our resident main character to succeed, while the next minute I wondered whether the bad guys were truly bad. The protagonist, Lexi, is struggling with a gift she inherited from her grandfather. A gift she considers a curse. She sees people’s true reflections (horns, tail, and all). Practically, the devil inside all of us. She tries to ignore it, but that’s when bad things start to happen.

When the story begins, Lexi is a child, and we experience the story from many perspectives, including her own and her villains, too, while she grows into a versatile young woman. Her road is more than bumpy, and although her skills and the author’s knowledge about glass blowing is remarkable, to me, the amount of innocence and fake innocence that’s woven into the pages made it truly amazing. I loved the contrast between good and evil, while the author managed to blur those lines more often than not.

Angela Panayotopulos has a brilliant sense of humor and an easy to follow, entertaining writing style. I also loved the insecurities, the way the story developed, and, as Lexi grew up, a bigger threat unfolded, keeping me on my toes. The Wake Up is perfect for those looking for a nail-biting read, where every chapter changes your perspective on what truly happened. I was already a fan of the supernatural, but the unique way the author depicted Lexi’s world took my breath away. I can recommend it for fans of paranormal, coming of age, and visionary fiction.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Nosferatu Conspiracy is a work of supernatural thriller fiction penned by author Brian James Gage, and this novel is book one, titled The Sleepwalker. In this highly graphic and wonderfully disturbing thriller novel (written for adults due to such mature content), we explore the fascinating world at the end of the Romanov dynasty in Russia at the opening of the twentieth century. As well as the political and social climate of the time, the novel focuses on the mysterious and dangerous figure of Rasputin, and spins a highly entertaining and diabolical tale of vampires, mysticism, and death, in place of what Russian officials claim to be the truth.

I adore this time period in history, particularly because of all the mystery and conjecture about Rasputin and his incredible influence over the Romanov family and their policymaking, so to see such a fabulous supernatural tale come out of all that mystery is nothing short of brilliant. Author Brian James Gage weaves his own dark fantasy tale in and out of real history with such an adept hand that he makes you believe that vampires and other such dark conjurings could indeed have been real at the time. What results is a powerfully grim tale with an accurate historical atmosphere and a highly inventive thriller plot that keeps you gripped at every turn, adding layer after layer of darkness to a story you thought you already knew. Overall, The Nosferatu Conspiracy: The Sleepwalker is just the beginning of what is sure to be a truly superb series.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

The Tao of the Viper: A Kate Pomeroy Mystery by Linda Watkins is the second installment in the series, preceded by the award-winning first book, Storm Island. This book returns readers to Storm Island where Dr. Kate Pomeroy is attempting to get past the trauma from book one, with the loving Jeremy Bradshaw still by her side. Her manor house is now a medical practice that she launches as director and General Practitioner and all seems well...except for the nightmares. Meanwhile, a stranger, “The Old Man” Ian Morrison, returns to the island with his grandson Terry, fantasizing over revenge and an idea on how to get it. Vengeance is geared straight toward Kate, but the brunt of his initial despotic evilness is directed toward Terry's wife Mary, and the depths of his psychosis knows no bounds.

The Tao of the Viper is a fantastic and dark paranormal mystery, with Linda Watkins delivering enough suspense and chills to knock it into the thriller genre as well. Kate is a great protagonist, balancing general affability with dark and intrusive fallibility, and making her as complex as her extraordinary family history. There are violent fantasies that the antagonist describes in detail, as his point of view features alongside Kate's. The back and forth make for a terrifying combination, especially when The Old Man will stop at absolutely nothing to get what he's come for. This is an engrossing series for readers who enjoy mysteries with a supernatural twist, and those who are inevitably drawn in won't have to wait long for book three, Abducted.