Mind Descending by Timothy Friesenhahn

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: Horror

Format: eBook

Pages: 160

Synopsis:

Mental health issues often go unnoticed, especially by friends and family. Sometimes, tragic outcomes stem from this neglect. Sometimes not only does neglect play a role in the tragedy, but so does past trauma. More times than not, when someone takes their own life, it was from being unheard.

For Dane it was trauma that aided in his calamity. His own self hatred as he struggled to find himself in a world full of hate. His pain became unbearable after the death of his mother. The guilt ate at his mind and his heart.

Vernon Briggs is an old man, living out the remainder of his golden years. After his wife's death, he is murdered and savagely violated. In death he meets a figure called The Ferryman. The Ferryman requires payment, and Vernon is presented with a second chance. In his second chance he sees life as he never had before.

Dane's guilt and struggle with his sexuality gives birth to his self-hatred. Self-hatred is a demon no one wants to tangle with.

Dane and Vernon's paths intertwine many times as one searches for a chance to reunite with a loved one and the other grapples with a personal demon.

This is a story of love, a story of pain and violation. This is a story of how quickly one's mind can descend. This is a story that offers a chance of redemption. This is Mind Descending.

Review:

"Feeling his right pocket he thought 'A woman and a boy.' For the boy he loved so dearly was just a boy, in society's eyes. But, in reality, he too was just a boy. A very troubled boy, but one, nonetheless. Life had been hard on him."

Dane is just a boy. A boy struggling with his emotions, his identity, and the death of the ones he loves. His journey is filled with hidden secrets, heartbreak, and fear. He is filled with self-hatred and suffers trauma that delves him into those dark places of the mind. 

Although Dane is the main character , the other characters are interconnected in Dane's life. His mother, his stepfather, his neighbor Mr. Briggs and the one he loves. They are all struggling with their own demons. Illness, depression, loss of life, and sexuality. 

There is also a story within where we are taken to meet the Ferryman. Where second chances are offered and a new look into humanity is presented. 

As the lives are introduced and each unfolding occurs, we are given a heartbreaking story of pain, love, and redemption. And in the end there is found peace.

"True love has no boundaries. True love doesn't bear the weight of time."

Hard hitting and heartbreaking, what Tim has written is truly dark, emotional and easily a connection to real life. The inner demons that many struggle to face or confront and keep hidden in the deep recesses of the heart and soul. Those that often cause pain and suffering and causes the mind to descend into the darkest places. But he reminds us that there is love, there is redemption, there is peace and hope. There is light in the darkness and it shines!

A warning from the author: Respectively: 
This book contains content not suitable for readers under 18. This book contains triggers. Please be advised that this book contains extreme horror content. Reader discretion is advised.

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Timothy-Friesenhahn/author/

Godless Links:

https://godless.com/collections/

https://godless.com/products/

Review Links:

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I'll Tell You My Secrets: Camila's Memoir by A. Lopez, Jr.

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: Occult Fiction

Format: Paperback

Pages: 369

Synopsis:

The complete series novel is here!

When Camila approached horror author A. Lopez Jr. in 2019, she had no idea that her life was about to change forever. Over the next two years, she shared her family's haunting story, and now, her chilling autobiography is finally here.

Growing up in a traditional Mexican-American family in Arizona, Camila was an ordinary girl with an extraordinary gift that would ultimately lead her down a dark and sinister path. In this gripping memoir, Camila shares her harrowing journey of coming to terms with her paranormal abilities, as she grapples with the shadows that lurk in her family's home and the malevolent presence that seems to have taken hold of her devout Catholic mother.

As Camila uncovers the truth behind her family's sinister secrets, she takes readers on a terrifying journey, filled with twists and turns, as she battles to rid herself of her debilitating curse. But with the fear that she may pass on her gift to her young daughter, Camila is left wondering if she will ever be truly free.

I'll Tell You My Secrets is a haunting tale, steeped in deeply rooted Mexican-American culture and beliefs, that shines a light on the shadows that exist just beyond the edge of reality. In this work of fiction inspired by true events, this gripping memoir will challenge everything you thought you knew about religion and science, leaving readers with a frightening glimpse into the dark forces that hunger for our souls.

Review:

Haunting and heartbreaking, "I'll Tell You My Secrets" by A. Lopez, Jr is a book that will give you spine tingling shivers, have you looking around corners, asking what that noise was, and unsettle you in the best possible way!

"We live inside her in the darkest of places. This is where souls go to die.”

Camila's stories are honestly not easy to read as her life was one of confusion and fear, it is only natural to feel her fear along with her as her stories unfold. To be one so young and to witness such disturbances in her family along with receiving the sight, she grew up in much turmoil. Her father and mother keeping their secrets from her, thinking that it would protect her, only made it much more difficult for her. Feeling isolated and alone, not knowing what she could do to gain some understanding.

All the darkness she endured lasted throughout her whole childhood and into her adult life. Always being haunted by an evil and sinister presence. Never truly finding a way to escape it. Her mother called it a "curse" and Camila is trying everything to lay it to rest in the hopes that it will not pass on to her daughter and to finally be free.

Junior sat beside her through her journey of telling her story, giving us insights to their meetings as he recorded and wrote her memoir. It truly took strength to do so, as this is a path through lingering and unrelenting darkness. Utterly chilling darkness! There is no doubt that this would affect anyone. It had an affect on me and I was just the reader! My heart truly broke and it is still lingering. It is not a story I will ever forget as it is seated into my heart and soul.

I fell in love with Junior's writing a few years ago after reading "Night Dreams: The Complete Series". 

Any fan of horror and possession stories, I highly recommend reading this one. This is one that is on my top 10 of 2023.

"As an authentic story based on true events, I’ll Tell You My Secrets is a gripping autobiography that transports you into a world where demons are real and one girl’s soul hangs in the balance. As a must-read for anyone who believes in the paranormal, this book will challenge everything you thought you knew about religion and science."

"Some things can’t be changed. Some things don’t want to be changed."

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/A.-Lopez-Jr./author/

Author Website:

https://alopezjr.com/

Publisher Website:

https://ace-hil-ink.com/home

Link to Book Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch

Review Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/

https://tbmhorror.com/

Purchase Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Tell-You-My-Secrets/

The Gentleman's Choice by Blake Rudman

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: Noir Crime/Erotic Suspense

Format: eBook

Pages: 369

Read: 07/15/23

Synopsis:

Caught in a whirlwind of adverse publicity following a viewer’s death, the streaming show, The Gentleman’s Choice becomes the target for a sadistic killer – and it’s up to PI Vanessa Young to put a stop to it before more young women are murdered.

A sleazy internet dating show blamed for a viewer’s death, a host with a dark, secret past, and a killer with a sadistic grudge…

Someone is kidnapping and murdering previous contestants from the popular streaming show The Gentleman’s Choice – a strictly-for-adults hybrid of The Bachelor and Love Island. Private Investigator, Vanessa Young, is hired by a victim’s family to infiltrate the show as a contestant to expose and capture the killer.
Vanessa and Cole Gianni, the show’s charismatic star, begin to fall romantically for each other, until Vanessa’s plan goes terribly awry when they’re drugged and taken to a remote location to take part in their captor’s own brutal, ultimately fatal, version of The Gentleman’s Choice.
With the clock ticking toward their fateful final night, Vanessa and Cole are forced into a battle of wills to survive their tormentor and escape with their lives before it’s too late…

Review:

"The vibrator looked much smaller than it did on the show, but for Tracy Hickersley, that wasn’t the most important thing at all."

"...every single one a man, all middle-aged or older; she’d guessed most of them to be married—made their way to what was purported to be a whole different, unpleasantly grubby world of glory holes and anonymous mutual relief."

The Gentleman's Choice, an underground streaming dating show. 5 nights with the star of the show, where the sex flows freely, and the contestants want to be voted in to achieve that last night with the star. 

The creator of the show is always looking for ways to up the ratings and gain more viewers, he incorporates what he believes the viewers want to see. He makes it spicey, but the man is also very dicey. He does not really care about the contestants, he only wants the viewers and the money. When the contestant's start showing up brutally murdered, he also sees this as an advantage. More controversy, more viewers, more money, that is his ultimate goal.

Cole is the star of the show, he is hot, sexy, and the women want to be the pick for the last night with him. As much as Cole loves being with the women, he is not truly happy, he has dreams for something bigger but is unable to achieve it. He also wants to find love and everytime he gives his heart away that also seems to fail. When he and a contestant are drugged and kidnapped, their lives hang in the balance. They must fight to survive or become the victims of the murderer. 

The premise is so unique and creative. The detailed descriptions throughout awakens the senses of the mind, delving into a spicey and very dark atmosphere. The characters are well developed along with some of them being likable and others detestable, irksome characters. The underbelly of society is a very dark, seedy place, and this story depicts it very well. It also being a noir thriller adds the element of excitement and an adrenaline rush. Dark secrets revealed along the way that adds to the mystery of the characters. 

Edgy and suspenseful with intense body horror, graphic scenes of gore, and a thrilling build up to the satisfying climax.

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Purchase Link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/

Author Website:

https://blakerudman.com/

Author Page on Hellbound Books Website:

https://hellboundbookspublishing.com/

Publisher Website Link:

https://hellboundbookspublishing.com

Review Links:

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Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: Occult Horror

Format: Paperback ARC

Pages: 352

Red: 07/08/23

Synopsis:

St. Vincent's Orphanage for Boys.

Turn of the century, in a remote valley in Pennsylvania.

Here, under the watchful eyes of several priests, thirty boys work, learn, and worship. Peter Barlow, orphaned as a child by a gruesome murder, has made a new life here. As he approaches adulthood, he has friends, a future...a family.

Then, late one stormy night, a group of men arrive at their door, one of whom is badly wounded, occult symbols carved into his flesh. His death releases an ancient evil that spreads like sickness, infecting St. Vincent's and the children within. Soon, boys begin acting differently, forming groups. Taking sides.

Others turn up dead.

Now Peter and those dear to him must choose sides of their own, each of them knowing their lives ― and perhaps their eternal souls ― are at risk.

Review:

"All of life is a great gift," he says. "Not because of what it gives us, but because of what it allows us to give others."

Harris Valley, Pennsylvania, 1898

We are introduced to Peter as a nine year old boy. A time when he lives through a childs worst nightmare. 

St. Vincent's Orpahanage, Deleware County, Pennsylvania, 1905

Peter is now 16 years old and has been living in an orphanage with many other young boys. They are being cared for and raised by the priests who run the orphanage. Their life is hard as there is lack of care and food. They must follow the order of rules or they will suffer harsh and brutal punishment. 

As winter is approaching with a harsh winter storm, some unexpected visitors arrive late in the night, one of which whom is wounded and upon death. As the priests fight to save not only his life but his soul, his death was imminent and it causes an ancient evil to be unleashed. It now becomes a fight for survival and a fight for their souls. 

Peter is the MC and his character is phenomenal. A young boy struggling with the decision between priesthood or following his heart for young love. He is a protector of all the other young boys and a true friend to all. The boys easily worm their way into ones heart as they struggle through their daily life and when it all starts to fall apart, it becomes so heartbreaking. The boys are very fragile and impressionable and many are affected by the evil. Will they lose their souls?

The beautiful prose is captivating, the characters engrossing, and the atmosphere foreboding and chilling.  From the begining there is a sense of dread and it builds throughout with disturbing moments that unsettle the mind and shreds at the heart. The ending broke me as my tears flowed. 

Darkly macabre, absolutely ingenious!

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Philip-Fracassi/author/

Author Website:

https://pfracassi.com/

Publisher Link:

https://tornightfire.com/

Review Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/

https://www.theboldmom.com/

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