Sisters of the Crimson Vine by P.L. McMillan

Rating: ★★★★

Genre: Horror/Folklore

Format: eBook

Pages: 114

Synopsis:

John Ainsworth nearly died in that car crash. 

Soon he'll learn there are worse fates. After a brutal accident, John awakens in the dilapidated Crimoria Convent under the care of thirteen unconventional nuns. Grievous injuries trap him within the borders of the ruined sanctuary and its strangely successful vineyard. When his body starts healing faster than nature allows, John's questions quickly pile up. A pair of Church auditors arrive to look into the convent's finances. It's obvious the pair are unwelcome guests, but John has bigger concerns. The order's annual ritual draws near and John begins to discover things that make him wonder if any of them are truly safe in the hands of the Sisters of the Crimson Vine.

Review:

“Old wounds heal and the scars remain to remind us,” she said. “It’s important to remember and appreciate each and every day.”

John Ainsworth is an auditor traveling to a convent. On the way there, he has a car accident and becomes debilitated. The sisters are welcoming and take care of him, but there are many occurrences that have him confused and questioning. There are seemingly many secrets and an underlying strangeness that surrounds the sisters and the convent. As the secrets are revealed, Mr. Ainsworth must make a difficult decision that will affect a life and all the lives of the sisters. 

In the vein of cosmic horror and folklore, this is an atmospheric novella where the unknown is dark and menacing. The sisters are the heart of the story as they are shown to be strong in their convictions and powerful in their commitments to each other, the convent, and the preservation of the land. They hold strong in their yearly sacrifice that is paramount to their survival. They follow the ways of the old and timeless. They are the "Sisters of the Crimson Vine."

Grim and foreboding. Isolating and unnerving. The dread is quietly built which leads to some shocking and horrifying details. It's ominous, uncanny, and has an evocative quality within the storytelling. 

“Year after year, the grapes are nourished in the soil that our sisters died on. Their blood fed the earth and, in turn, the earth feeds us,” Agatha said.

Goodreads Author Link:

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

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/P.L.-McMillan/author/

Author Website Link:

https://www.plmcmillan.com/

About the Author:

P.L. McMillan is a writer whose works have been known to cause rifts in time and space itself…

Well, not quite. But writing often makes her feel that powerful.

P.L. McMillan is a Canadian expat living in the States, after having taught English for three years in Asia. With a passion for cosmic horror and sci-fi horror, P.L. McMillan sees every shadow as an entryway to a deeper look into the black heart of the world, meant to be discovered and explored. Infatuated with the works of Shirley Jackson, H.P. Lovecraft, and Ridley Scott, her dream is to create stories of adventure, of chills, of heartbreak, and thrills.

Her short fiction has appeared in a variety of anthologies and magazines such as Cosmic Horror Monthly, Strange Lands Short Stories, Negative Space, and AHH! That’s What I Call Horror, as well as adapted to audio forms for podcasts like NoSleep and Nocturnal Transmissions. In addition to her short stories, McMillan’s debut collection, What Remains When The Stars Burn Out, and debut novella, Sisters of the Crimson Vine, are available now.

Besides being a fiction writer, PLM has experience as an editor (Howls from the Dark Ages and The Darkness Beyond The Stars: An Anthology of Space Horror), hosts PLM Talks on Youtube (interviewing peers and professionals in the horror industry), and is the co-host of a horror writing craft podcast, Dead Languages Podcast. On top of all that, PLM does digital illustrations and artwork for anthologies and her merch shop.

A Coffee and Thorn Book Tour

            Coffee and Thorn Website Link:

        https://coffeeandthorn.com/

Review Links:

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

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

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

Stitched Smile Publications: Stitched Box by Lisa Vasquez

*This box was created specifically for review purposes. 

*It is a VIP influencer box to show the quality of items.

*Books included: Signed by the Authors

The Horror at Pleasant Brook by Kevin Lucia 

At the edge of the Adirondacks, an ancient malevolence descends upon the quiet town of Pleasant Brook, setting the stage for a chilling battle between the forgotten and an unstoppable evil.

Standing resolutely in its shadow is an unlikely alliance—the remnants, the forgotten, the outcasts, and the underestimated. As the malevolence swells, they emerge as the town's last bastion of defense, its only hope against an ancient, remorseless force that brooks no resistance.

Yet, how can they hope to prevail against a power so ancient, so pitiless, so inexorable? The town of Pleasant Brook becomes the battleground for a confrontation between humanity's resilience and an evil beyond imagination.

https://www.crystallakepub.com/

The Other (1997): A Violent Indulgence by Joshua MacMillan & Megan Stockton

It was supposed to be the perfect Halloween...

On Halloween 1997, evil descends on the quiet town of Brookhaven in the shape of a 13-year-old boy.
Edward Glenn is possessed with the power and compulsion of a dark entity known to him only as The Other, which drives him to unleash a horrifying spree of violence that will haunt the town for decades to come.

After a night of trick-or-treating and horror movies, the best night of Jamie and Ronnie's collective lives is about to be shattered...red...

Independantly Published:

https://www.amazon.com/Other-Violent-Indulgence-Joshua-MacMillan/dp/

The Unfleshed: Tale of the Autopsic Bride by Lisa Vasquez

Young Morrigan, the daughter of a local aristocrat, is full of innocence and life. Angus Wulfe is an eccentric and devious doctor who stalks her while he cultivates a plan to win her affection. Their two worlds collide in a grisly twist of fate when the Plague arrives on the shores of their town. With no cure in sight, and bodies dropping incrementally every day, the doctor uses his influence, along with his reputation in medical advances - stemming from his clandestine and macabre experiments-to manipulate Morrigan’s father. In return for her hand in marriage, the doctor would save her life. Clinging to life, Morrigan begins to feel a change. Has the doctor cured her, or did her father make a deal with the Devil?

https://www.stitchedsmilepublications.com/about

★★★★★

All quality choices! I am thrilled to have them and look forward to reading them in the future.

Next up, all the swag:

-Limited Edition DnD movie poster

-Stickers

-Book Marks

-Magnet

★★★★★

All of these items are mentioned quite often in book groups, they are a big hit in the reading communities and well received. It makes our hearts happy to get these items with our book purchases. It adds a wonderful, personalized quality.

-Keychain from Killer Cords

-Handmade, glow in the dark art from Darque Pixie Designs

-Hand crocheted eyeball keychain by Larissa Bennett of Darque Pixie Designs

-Tealight by Waxing Moon Scentsations

-Tarot themed pendant

-Horror themed enamel pin (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

-Horror themed rubber wristbands

-Pen/Penlight

-Homemade crafted themed card

-Pennywise hanging ornament

-Treats

I also know that Lisa has partnered with Nerd Emporium, so look for these items in future boxes, they are fantastic.

★★★★★

I love all the items included! Unique and well crafted, as well as useful!

As you can see from all the books and items, Lisa put her heart and soul into putting together a well crafted book box. Every purchase will support indie authors and artists. I love that Lisa is offering many purchase options; such as one time purchases and add ons, which you will see when you click those links to find out more. I also feel the prices are very reasonable as it takes dedication, lots of work, and time to prepare these boxes to ensure quality products are sent to customers.

Link to the quarterly box:

https://www.stitchedsmilepublications.com/product/stitchedbox/

If you choose this option you will be charged prior to the quarter release and the box will contain two signed books and 3-5 items which will be curated from as many local artists as possible. It will always include amazing author swag. There are additional add-ons if you want, which can be purchased when you check out.

Click the link for more info.

Link to the monthly box:

https://www.stitchedsmilepublications.com/product/stitched-n-chill-monthly-subscription/

The “Stitched N Chill” monthly book club is one signed, hardback exclusive and the author’s chosen swag. It is charged the month prior to the release. It will start in December 2023 and  Lisa will be making announcements for which author is chosen for the box. 

Click the link for more info.

Link to the mystery box:

https://www.stitchedsmilepublications.com/product/Whats-in-the-box/

The mystery “What’s in the Box!?” Is a one time purchase and it will have 3-5 random items and a mystery gift, also dipping into the indie community as often as possible. This box may contain any dark fiction genre! It could dark sci-fi, dark poetry, dark fantasy, etc.

Click the link for more info.

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/houseofstitched

Pentagrams by J.D. Allen

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: Occult Horror

Format: Paperback

Pages: 487

Synopsis:

A young girl named Heaven struggles to survive on the cold, damp streets of foggy San Francisco with her dying mother who was kicked out of her family's home as a pregnant teenager after a miraculous Immaculate Conception.

Now, as a demon-summoning serial killer stalks young homeless girls in the City by the Bay, and a gang of teenaged, devil-worshipping thugs terrorize the denizens of the streets, Heaven and Hell clash in an unholy war over the soul of an angelic child.

With the help of a handsome priest and a dedicated homicide detective, Heaven stands toe to cloven-hoof against the evil entity that desires to possess her immortal soul. From the haunted piers of Fisherman’s Warf to the dark alleys of the skyscraper canyons, evil runs rampant.

Araziel is coming! Heaven help us!

Review:

"Evil feeds on the suffering and despair of the human spirit in torment."

Jango Death, a product of his upbringing, he longs for the acceptance and presence of the evil one. 

Detective Harwood, a good man working relentlessly to try to solve the murders that are occurring. Young, homeless girls with carvings of a Pentagram, showing the work of evil that stalks among them.

Little Heaven, a homeless 10 year old who loves her mama, both trying to survive the streets. When her mama dies, she is left alone, at which time her battle begins against not only the evils of the world, but an evil from the depths of beyond. 

Father Cherato, a man of faith struggling to stay strong in his beliefs. 

As their lives intertwine, they come to know their purpose in life. 

The battle has begun! Will good overcome evil and will faith and balance be restored?

"Help me return to your light."

In the beginning we are introduced to the main antagonist, a glimpse into his past life. We learn how difficult and unpleasant his upbringing was and the darkness that settles within him as he chooses the path of evil.

The character development was very well written as we are given a good understanding of each of their inner struggles, their strengths, and a foundation of things to be revealed as the story unfolds. 

We enter into a world of dark city streets where the homeless dwell and the evil feeds. Where the main protagonist begins her journey of survival. She is a child of angelic qualities, an endearing character, and one whom is easy to want to protect. Her strength and love leads her as she follows the path she has been given. She is "Heaven".

As it states on the cover, this is a novel of demonic possession. It is also religious horror and a battle between good and evil. Not one overshadows the other as there is a well written balance.

I personally enjoy possession horror/religious horror, so I really enjoyed reading this. 

A recommended read, but be prepared to walk beside Heaven because she will capture your heart and you will be rooting for her until the end. 

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.D.-Allen/author/

About the author

Born after midnight on the evening of Halloween, 1963, Joseph Dean Allen stalked the foggy enclaves of the San Francisco Bay Area, by moonlight, for much of his youth. Currently he haunts the rainy Pacific Northwest with his husband, Kyle, and the two gremlins, disguised as house cats, with whom they live.

Review Links:

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

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

Other books by J.D. Allen: