#Jonathan Janz

[raiyine]

Read Every Day in October

At the end of last month, I saw an advertisement for the American Cancer Society‘s Read Every Day in October Challenge. And boy did I get excited. I enjoy the opportunity to read more, and this sort of challenge is something I can easily hold myself accountable for. Typically I read nothing but Halloween/Horror in October, but I had a few books on my faith that I wanted to read as well, which…

[jonathanpongratz]

Book Review: Wolf Land

  Happy Almost Halloween, Readers! I hope you’re having a festive spooky month. Me and the bf did our Halloween party last weekend, and it was a huge hit! I think we’ll definitely make it an annual thing. Speaking of Halloween, it’s time for another scary book review! This time I read Wolf Land by Jonathan Janz.  This is a buddy read with one of my bookish besties Misty (this post is my…

[impossiblegirlem]

Some Jonathan Janz goodness 🤗🤗🤗

[brokehorrorfan]

The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King's The Stand will be published in hardcover and e-book on August 19, 2025 via Gallery Books.

Edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene, the anthology features 34 short stories based on The Stand. It includes an introduction by Stephen King, a foreword by Golden, and an afterword by Keene.

Contributors include Wayne Brady & Maurice Broaddus, Poppy Z. Brite, Somer Canon, C. Robert Cargill, Nat Cassidy, V. Castro, Richard Chizmar, S.A. Cosby, Tananarive Due & Steven Barnes, Meg Gardiner, Gabino Iglesias, Jonathan Janz, Alma Katsu, Caroline Kepnes, Michael Koryta, Sarah Langan, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Lebbon, Josh Malerman, Ronald Malfi, Usman T. Malik, Premee Mohamed, Cynthia Pelayo, Hailey Piper, David J. Schow, Alex Segura, Bryan Smith, Paul Tremblay, Catherynne M. Valente, Bev Vincent, Catriona Ward, Chuck Wendig, Wrath James White, and Rio Youers.

Since its initial publication in 1978, The Stand has been considered Stephen King’s seminal masterpiece of apocalyptic fiction, with millions of copies sold and adapted twice for television. Although there are other extraordinary works exploring the unraveling of human society, none have been as influential as this iconic novel—generations of writers have been impacted by its dark yet ultimately hopeful vision of the end and new beginning of civilization, and its stunning array of characters. Now for the first time, Stephen King has fully authorized a return to the harrowing world of The Stand through this original short story anthology as presented by award-winning authors and editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. Bringing together some of today’s greatest and most visionary writers, The End of the World As We Know It features unforgettable, all-new stories set during and after (and some perhaps long after) the events of The Stand—brilliant, terrifying, and painfully human tales that will resonate with readers everywhere as an essential companion to the classic, bestselling novel.

Pre-order The End of the World As We Know It.

[briankeene]

F.A.Q. The End Of The World As We Know It: Tales From Stephen King’s The Stand

What follows are the Frequently Asked Questions for THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: TALES OF STEPHEN KING’S THE STAND — a forthcoming anthology edited by myself and Christopher Golden. Please bookmark this page and check back from time to time, as I will update things as they develop.

Q: What is this, exactly?

A: An original short story anthology based on master storyteller Stephen King’s #1 New York Times bestselling classic The Stand!

Since its initial publication in 1978, The Stand has been considered Stephen King’s seminal masterpiece of apocalyptic fiction, with millions of copies sold and adapted twice for television. Although there are other extraordinary works exploring the unraveling of human society, none have been as influential as this iconic novel—generations of writers have been impacted by its dark yet ultimately hopeful vision of the end and new beginning of civilization, and its stunning array of characters.

Now for the first time, Stephen King has fully authorized a return to the harrowing world of The Stand through this original short story anthology as presented by award-winning authors and editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. Bringing together some of today’s greatest and most visionary writers, The End of the World As We Know It features unforgettable, all-new stories set during and after (and some perhaps long after) the events of The Stand—brilliant, terrifying, and painfully human tales that will resonate with readers everywhere as an essential companion to the classic, bestselling novel.

Q: Who is in the book?

A: Featuring an introduction by Stephen King, a foreword by Christopher Golden, and an afterword by Brian Keene. Contributors include Wayne Brady and Maurice Broaddus, Poppy Z. Brite, Somer Canon, C. Robert Cargill, Nat Cassidy, V. Castro, Richard Chizmar, S. A. Cosby, Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, Meg Gardiner, Gabino Iglesias, Jonathan Janz, Alma Katsu, Caroline Kepnes, Michael Koryta, Sarah Langan, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Lebbon, Josh Malerman, Ronald Malfi, Usman T. Malik, Premee Mohamed, Cynthia Pelayo, Hailey Piper, David J. Schow, Alex Segura, Bryan Smith, Paul Tremblay, Catherynne M. Valente, Bev Vincent, Catriona Ward, Chuck Wendig, Wrath James White, and Rio Youers.

Q: Who is the publisher?

A: Gallery Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, are publishing the hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook editions in North America. Various foriegn language editions will be published by various foreign publishers.

Q: So there will be hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook editions?

A: Yes. The hardcover and the eBook are already up for preorder via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all other booksellers. (Note: as of 10/16/24 Amazon’s hardcover link does not yet work, so check back often or use a different bookseller). You can also preorder from Overlook Connection and get a limited edition dust jacket by Glenn Chadbourne, as well as other cool collectibles.

Q: What’s the cost?

A: The hardcover is listed at $35. The eBook is listed at $16.99. The hardcover that comes with the extra dust jacket from Overlook is $69.95.

Q: Will there be a signed limited edition or a special collector’s edition of some kind?

A: Probably, but it is too early to say for sure.

Q: You listed the contributors above. Anything more you can tell us about the actual stories?

A: Sure. The book is split into four parts. Part One takes place during the initial spread of Captain Trips and the dreams. Part Two takes place between the migrations to Boulder and Las Vegas and the Hand of God moment. Part Three takes place after the conclusion of the novel, detailing the world in the decades that follow. And Part Four takes place… well, that would involve major spoilers.

Here is the finalized Table of Contents:

Foreword by Christopher Golden

Introduction by Stephen King

PART ONE: DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS

Room 24 by Caroline Kepnes The Tripps by Wrath James White Bright Light City by Meg Gardiner Every Dog Has Its Day by Bryan Smith Lockdown by Bev Vincent In A Pig’s Eye by Joe R. Lansdale Lenora by Jonathan Janz The Hope Boat by Gabino Iglesias Wrong Fucking Place, Wrong Fucking Time by C. Robert Cargill Prey Instinct by Hailey Piper Grace by Tim Lebbon Moving Day by Richard Chizmar La Mala Horla by Alex Segura The African Painted Dog by Catriona Ward Till Human Voices Wake Us, And We Drown by Poppy Z. Brite Kovach’s Last Case by Michael Koryta Make Your Own Way by Alma Katsu

PART TWO: THE LONG WALK

I Love The Dead by Josh Malerman Milagros by Cynthia Pelayo The Legion of Swine by S.A. Cosby Keep The Devil Down by Rio Youers Across The Pond by V Castro The Boat Man by Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes The Story I Tell Is the Story of Some of Us by Paul Tremblay The Mosque at the End of the World by Usman T. Malik Abigail’s Gethsemane by Wayne Brady and Maurice Broaddus

PART THREE: LIFE WAS SUCH A WHEEL

He’s A Righteous Man by Ronald Malfi Awaiting Orders In Flaggston by Somer Canon Grand Junction by Chuck Wendig Hunted to Extinction by Premee Mohamed Came The Last Night of Sadness by Catherynne M. Valente The Devil’s Children by Sarah Langan

PART FOUR: OTHER WORLDS THAN THESE

Walk On Gilded Splinters by David J. Schow The Unfortunate Convalescence of the SuperLawyer by Nat Cassidy

Afterword by Brian Keene

[truebookaddict]

He has his own unique spin on the story. Because Janz knows family, and even if this is a horrific story, the very root of the story is the importance of family. Family by blood, and those who become our family.

Read my full review here: https://castlemacabre.blogspot.com/2024/06/jonathan-janzs-children-of-dark-2-night.html

[arg-machine]

Books read recently...

Like he wrote in this post a couple of months back, a new Books read recently post is just about due, given that the last such post was published some six months ago. And so here’s a new one this week, folks! This new post not only features some of the books arg has read in the last few months, but also lists a few he intends to read soon.

New books… Listed below – in alphabetical order – are some of the books that arg found time to enjoy over the last few months. In the Also recommended sections are similar titles he has read or those he plans to read in the next few months.

“Late one night, Laura, Daniel, and Mo find themselves beneath the fluorescent lights of a high school classroom, almost a year after disappearing from their hometown, the small seaside community of Lovesend, Massachusetts, having long been presumed dead. Which, in fact, they are.

With them in the room is their previously unremarkable high school music teacher, who seems to know something about their disappearance – and what has brought them back again. Desperate to reclaim their lives, the three agree to the terms of the bargain their music teacher proposes. They will be given a series of magical tasks; while they undertake them, they may return to their families and friends, but they can tell no one where they’ve been. In the end, there will be winners and there will be losers.

But their resurrection has attracted the notice of other supernatural figures, all with their own agendas. As Laura, Daniel, and Mo grapple with the pieces of the lives they left behind, and Laura’s sister, Susannah, attempts to reconcile what she remembers with what she fears, these mysterious others begin to arrive, engulfing their community in danger and chaos, and it becomes imperative that the teens solve the mystery of their deaths to avert a looming disaster.”

Also recommended: Lord of the Feast by Tim Waggoner, The Parliament by Aimee Pokwatka and Children of the Dark by Jonathan Janz.

“Like his earlier novel Golden Hill, Francis Spufford’s Cahokia Jazz inhabits a different version of America, now through the lens of a subtly altered 1920s – a fully imagined world full of fog, cigarette smoke, dubious motives, danger, dark deeds. And in the main character of Joe Barrow, we have a hero of truly epic proportions, a troubled soul to fall in love with as you are swept along by a propulsive and brilliantly twisty plot.

On a snowy night at the end of winter, Barrow and his partner find a body on the roof of a skyscraper. Down below, streetcar bells ring, factory whistles blow, Americans drink in speakeasies and dance to the tempo of modern times. But this is Cahokia, the ancient indigenous city beside the Mississippi living on as a teeming industrial metropolis, filled with people of every race and creed. Among them, peace holds. Just about. But that corpse on the roof will spark a week of drama in which this altered world will spill its secrets and be brought, against a soundtrack of jazz clarinets and wailing streetcars, either to destruction or rebirth.”

Also recommended: When She Left: A Thriller by E.A. Aymar and Lone Women by Victor LaValle.

“Richmond Upon Thames is one of the most desirable areas to live in London. And Riverview Close: a quiet, gated community – seems to offer its inhabitants the perfect life. At least it does until Giles Kenworthy moves in with his wife and noisy children, his four gas-guzzling cars, his loud parties and his plans for a new swimming pool in his garden.

His neighbours all have a reason to hate him and are soon up in arms. When Kenworthy is shot dead with a crossbow bolt through his neck, all of them come under suspicion and his murder opens the door to lies, deception and further death. The police are baffled. Reluctantly, they call in former Detective Daniel Hawthorne. But even he is faced with a seemingly impossible puzzle: how do you solve a murder when everyone has the same motive?”

Also recommended: Almost Surely Dead by Amina Akhtar and No One Dies Yet by Kobby Ben Ben.

“Stevenson's brilliant and creative second closed-circle mystery featuring author Ernest Cunningham [after Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone] toys with golden age mystery tropes while delivering its own hugely satisfying whodunit.

Cunningham's published account of the murders detailed in the previous book has netted him an invitation to the 50th Australian Mystery Writers' Festival. He's been asked, along with five much-better-known authors, to be a panelist aboard the Ghan, a luxury train whose route bisects the Australian desert. Soon after the journey starts, one of the writers turns up dead, and each of the train's other panelists [including Cunningham himself] becomes both suspect and sleuth.

As the investigation unfolds, Stevenson plays scrupulously fair: as in the previous book, Cunningham addresses readers directly, promising ‘to be that rarity in modern crime novels: a reliable narrator.’ Even before the first murder, he reveals that a comma will be a crucial clue, and that there will be more than one victim. Dashes of humor [while introducing his fellow panelists, Cunningham pokes wicked fun at the publishing industry] light the way as Stevenson charges toward the deliciously clever final reveal.”

Also recommended: The Problem of the Wire Cage by John Dickson Carr and Kill Show by Daniel Sweren-Becker

“The islands of Prospera lie in a vast ocean, in splendid isolation from the rest of humanity – or whatever remains of it. Citizens of the main island enjoy privileged lives. They are attended to by support staff who live on a cramped neighboring island, where whispers of revolt are brewing – but for the Prosperans, life is perfection. And when the end-of-life approaches, they’re sent to a mysterious third island, where their bodies are refreshed, their memories are wiped away, and they return to start life anew.

Proctor Bennett is a ferryman, whose job it is to enforce the retirement process when necessary. He never questions his work, until the day he receives a cryptic message: the world is not the world. These simple words unlock something he has secretly suspected. They seep into strange dreams of the stars and the sea. They give him the unshakable feeling that someone is trying to tell him something important. Something no one could possibly imagine, something that could change the fate of humanity itself.”

Also recommended: Past Crimes by Jason Pinter, Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase and Mister Lullaby by  J. H. Markert.

“Harbor Lights is a story collection from one of the most popular and widely acclaimed icons of American fiction, featuring a never-before-published novella. These eight stories move from the marshlands on the Gulf of Mexico to the sweeping plains of Colorado to prisons, saloons, and trailer parks across the South, weaving together love, friendship, violence, survival, and revenge

A boy and his father watch a German submarine sink an oil tanker as evil forces in the disguise of federal agents try to ruin their family. A girl is beaten up outside a bar as her university-professor father navigates new love and threats from a group of neo-Nazis. An oil rig worker witnesses a horrific attack on a local village while on a job in South America and seeks justice through one final act of bravery.

With his nuanced characters, lyrical prose, and ability to write shocking violence in the most evocative settings, James Lee Burke’s singular skills are on display in this superb anthology. Harbor Lights unfolds in stories that crackle and reverberate as unexpected heroes emerge.”

“Anna Fort wants to be a supportive wife, even if that means accompanying her husband for the winter of 1918 to a remote, frozen island estate so he can finish his book as the guest of an eccentric millionaire. When she learns three girls are missing from a school run by their host, Anna realizes finding them is up to her – even if that means risking her husband’s career, and possibly her life.

Her husband’s masterpiece-in-progress features strange meteorological anomalies along with wild speculations about ‘facts’ he believes scientists hide from the public. Most people think Charles Fort is a crackpot. That’s about to change now that wealthy Claude Arkel is his patron.

Yet Anna is sure something’s not right on Prosper Island, though the alarming return of her ‘troubles’ makes her question her own sanity. Is the figure in the woods really the ghost of her long-lost friend Mary, or a product of her disturbed imagination? Accompanied reluctantly by a fellow guest, the elegant and troubled Stella Bixby, Anna embarks on a dangerous quest to find the missing girls before Arkel finds her – or her own mind unravels.”

Also recommended: The Museum of Human History by Rebekah Bergman and Diavola by Jennifer Thorne.

“Carson Newman doesn’t wear tracksuits. He doesn’t have a consigliere or operate out of the back room of a restaurant. And as evidenced by his ever-growing Boston empire, he doesn’t get his hands dirty. Usually.

Joe DeMarco, on the other hand, is paid to get his hands dirty. So, when John Mahoney, the former Speaker of the House, calls, DeMarco knows it’s time to get to work. Brian Lewis, an intern for Mahoney, has been found dead, seemingly from a drug overdose. But Brian didn’t seem like a drug user, and even more concerning, he seemed to be on the cusp of releasing a report that identified a group of politicians who had taken bribes in helping dismantle a recent bill. Brian’s mom is convinced that Brian was murdered because of what he’d learned, and it doesn’t take long for DeMarco to come to a similar conclusion.

In a city full of shadowy agreements and duplicitous deals, DeMarco will soon learn that to get to the bottom of Brian’s death, he’ll have to look at people perched the very top of the world.”

Also recommended: Next of Kin by Elton Skelter and The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden

“Fifteen-year-old Ámbar has never known any parent other than her father, Víctor Mondragón, nor any life other than his. On any given Friday night, Ámbar longs to be at the arcade or a rock concert, but she’s more likely to be patching up Víctor’s latest bullet hole in a dingy motel or creating a new set of fake identities for the both of them.

When a tattooed mercenary kills Víctor’s best friend and vows that Víctor is next, father and daughter set off on a joyride across Argentina in search of bloody retribution. But Ámbar’s growing pains hurt worse than her beloved sawed-off shotgun’s kickback as she begins to question the structure of her world. How much is her father not telling her? Could her life ever be different? And will she survive long enough to find out? It’s kill-or-be-killed in this gritty, devastating coming-of-age thriller from the king of Argentine neo-noir.”

Also recommended: The Princess of Thornwood Drive by Khalia Moreau.

Leonora has made the same move for similar reasons. She’s living a short walk from Cole’s seaside cottage, preparing for her latest art exhibition. Though Cole still can’t figure out what went wrong with his marriage, and Leonora is having trouble acclimating to the hostile landscape, the pair forges a connection on the eroding bluff they call home.

Then, two young women activists raising awareness about gendered violence disappear while passing through. Cole and Leonora find themselves in the middle of a police investigation and the resulting media firestorm when the world learns of what happened. And as the tension escalates alongside the search for the missing women, they quickly realize that they don’t know each other that well after all.”

Also recommended: The Stars Turned Inside Out by Nova Jacobs and You Know What You Did by K. T. Nguyen.

machine HQ's Retro Pick!

Bond. Ruskin Bond. A respected Indian author, Bond writes all kinds of fiction, and not just scary tales of the supernatural. But since almost all the books featured above have a predilection for the darker aspects – be it murder, evil sorcery, dystopian societies or shady political deals – arg felt this fine collection of Bond’s ghostly tales would be just the title to bring this post to a close. So here it is, as a machine HQ’s Retro Pick!

“In Ruskin Bond’s stories, ghosts, jinns, witches – and the occasional monster – are as real as the people he writes about. This collection brings together all of his tales of the paranormal, opening with the unforgettable A Face in the Dark, and ending with the shockingly macabre Night of the Millennium. Featuring thrilling situations and strange beings, A Face in the Dark and Other Hauntings is the perfect collection to have by your bedside when the moon is up.”

…and that, folks, will have to do for this installment of Books read recently… Visit The Apocalypse Project [on Mastodon, twitter/X and tumblr], check out the machinstagram [where arg posts funky machine HQ visual stuff!] and stay tuned to machine HQ blog.

[anatomyofhorror]

Book Recommendation: “Exorcist Falls” by Jonathan Janz

(This recommendation comes with a couple of caveats.)

If an author can go too far, this guy managed to do it.

Jonathan Janz “Exorcist Falls” (which includes the novella “Exorcist Road”) grossed me out. I could hardly finish it.

Beware: it’s been a few months since I read it, but I do remember being annoyed by the sexism and heteronormative tone, and the entire book is fairly dripping with testosterone. But the writing is good, definitely above average.

Here’s an excerpt from a scene in which a young priest collides with a razor-wielding serial killer. This is an example of the level of graphic violence which the book manages to hit many times over (e.g. there are scenes of a demon torturing a child it has possessed, and they are brutal).

”My palm was slimed with blood, my black sweatshirt split horizontally in a foot-long swath across the navel. I realized with numb shock that something was bulging out of my stomach. I tried to cram my entrails back inside my belly, but Danny was hurtling toward me, his bloody carving knife flashing in the gloom. He thrust a forearm under my chin, cracked my head against the wall, and flicked the knife at my face. My nose became a blazing heat, a gushing wetness. Like a man suffering through his blackest nightmare, I let go of my bulging intestines and pawed at my nose, which was gone. Just a ragged hole through which blood and mucus popped and bubbled.”

The author’s homepage: https://jonathanjanz.com/

An interview with the author, Jonathan Janz: https://huntershea.com/2012/01/11/interview-with-author-jonathan-janz/

Where to find this book—(good luck!)

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/j/jonathan-janz/exorcist-falls.htm

Not an easy one to get, unless you want the audiobook. Last time I checked, the paperback was going for around $200. And good luck finding the ebook—unless you’re willing to take a dip into the ‘dark net’—see my [post] on accessing the evil Z-Lib of the Underweb to get your read on.

You can also try digging through the Fantastic Fiction list of sites: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/j/jonathan-janz/exorcist-falls.htm

[godlesshorrors]

𝗜𝗧'𝗦 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗡 𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡! Brennan LaFaro makes his Godless debut today (during The Big Deuce) with his new book, Illusions of Isolation. In a collection of 13 dastardly tales, in Illusions of Isolation, LaFaro dives deep into the world of loneliness to produce terrifying, hilarious, and heartwarming (that’s right… I said it) results. This is a 2-year anniversary treat. Welcome to the family, Brennan! Get Illusions of Isolation NOW for a buck cheaper on Godless for a LIMITED TIME! 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗡𝗢𝗪! https://godless.com/products/illusions-of-isolation-by-brennan-lafaro-1 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗛 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗪! https://godless.com/collections/french-press ________________ Illusions of Isolation by Brennan LaFaro Is anyone ever really alone? When a young man’s wife goes away for the weekend, he lies awake all night wondering what the otherworldly sound in the attic is and why only he can hear it. After her husband’s death, a mother who interacts with her son exclusively through stationery notes grapples with the strange ways her lost love seems to be haunting them both. And inch by inch, room by room, a young girl’s home is overtaken by a savage jungle, even while her parents are being gradually replaced by somewhat…wilder housemates. In this debut collection Brennan LaFaro, the author of NOOSE and SLATTERY FALLS, brings you these stories of creeping dread and much, much more. Contained within are thirteen tales of horror, humor, and heart, (including nine which have never before seen the light of day) and an introduction by the legendary Jonathan Janz. Is anyone ever really alone? Or are they merely suffering… 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗡𝗢𝗪! https://godless.com/products/illusions-of-isolation-by-brennan-lafaro-1 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗛 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗪! https://godless.com/collections/french-press ________________ #godless #godlessapp #godlesshorror #godlesshorrrors #horror #horrorbooks #horrorbookstagram #indiehorror #indiebooks #indiehorrorbooks #indiebookstagram #supportindie #godless2023 #ebook #brennanlafaro (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpQRESrpdIl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[caitlinmarceau]

I’m so incredibly grateful to Little Ghosts Books for including FEMINA, coming Dec 3 from DarkLit Press, in their December book box 🌺 If you’re looking to grab a box (which, in addition to FEMINA, includes a copy of The Dismembered by Jonathan Janz, Frightmarish issue 3, stickers and Little Ghosts Books bookmarks) be sure to order by December 1st! (Books will still be available to purchase afterwards, but you’ll miss out on the cool book bundle and swag!) 🥰

[duranduratulsa]

Spooktober Book 📖 of the day: The Darkest Lullaby by Jonathan Janz (2013) #book #books #fiction #novel #horror #thedarkestlullaby #jonathanjanz #2010s #SamhainPublishing #spooktober #halloween #october

[horrorfixxx]

Exorcist Falls (2017)

By Jonathan Janz

Horror Reading Recommendations

The Sweet Sixteen Killer is terrorizing Chicago, and the only person with any leads is a young boy suffering from symptoms of demonic possession. Father Jason Crowder finds himself tasked with saving both the boy and the entire city from the clutches of an ancient evil - but evil doesn’t go down without a fight.

This book, especially the novella at the beginning, is terrifying. I’ve read lots of horror over the years and few authors have ever made my skin crawl the way Jonathan Janz does here. If you’re looking for a modern spin on the classic exorcism story, or just for some horror fiction that packs absolutely no punches, then look no further than EXORCIST FALLS (2017).

[the-conquest-of-shred]

binging horror lately

I finished these last week which brings my total books for the year to 30

[raiyine]

EXCERPT: Blood Country by Jonathan Janz

EXCERPT: Blood Country by Jonathan Janz

The Raven #2: Blood Country Genre: Horror, Dark FantasyPublisher: Flame Tree PressPublication Date: 10.18.2022Pages: 316 Three years ago the world ended when a group of rogue scientists unleashed a virus that awakened long-dormant strands of human DNA. They awakened the bestial side of humankind: werewolves, satyrs, and all manner of bloodthirsty creatures. Within months, nearly every man,…

[llpodcast]

The sequel to Janz’s second instalment of his Raven series is an excellent follow-up.  Continuing from where the first book left off, we have the gang together and things are not what they appear as they fight to find the loved one that they left behind.

 The characters again are as strong as in the previous book but more drawn out with emotional depth and understanding brought to the foreground.  All the characters we loved show up as well as the undergound menace make an appearance but with more gusto then the predecessor.

 Janz has woven and indepth landscape for his characters to run around in and add slight nuances to the setting and characters that lifts this.  He is an experience writer enough to know that he gives bits and pieces of information from the last book to refresh the minds for this book but doesn’t over egg the pudding making this an enjoyable appearance.  Most often than not, most writers give us a hundred pages of what happened before to the point of exhausting, for example JK Rowlings Harry Potter series).  Janz doesn’t do this but peppers things through to create a strong unique narrative.

 Overall, this is a worthwhile book to read and enjoy and a real page turner.  The characters are crisp and deep whilst the villains are deviously dark but have enough meat on their bones to give them that extra dimension beyond the typical villain form.  Strong story telling and even if you do not read the first, this book still entices the newbies along with the story and if you have read the first, the book is even more excellent.  Highly recommend.  

[briankeene]

Swords In The Shadows

The Kickstarter for SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS — a brand-new sword and sorcery horror anthology edited by Cullen Bunn and featuring all-new stories by myself, Stephen Graham Jones, Joe R. Lansdale, Mary SanGiovanni, Hailey Piper, James A. Moore, Charles R. Rutledge, Wile E. Young, Allison Pang, Jonathan Janz, Mike Oliveri, Jonathan Maberry, and many more — is now live. Click here to back this project, learn more about it, and reserve your copy.