thomaswjoyce's review against another edition
4.0
A great debut collection from Thorn, showcasing his versatility and range. There are stories of body horror and psychological horror, terrifying creatures and disturbing human behaviour. His prose is captivating throughout, striking the perfect balance of intelligent insight and horrific action. The final story, "Remembering Absence", is an incredible piece of work that pulsates with pure, raw emotion. Different from the stories that came before, but incredibly well-written. I look forward to reading more fiction from Thorn. I only wish I hadn't waited this long to read the first collection.
ladilira's review against another edition
4.0
Just in time for the Halloween holiday, I had the pleasure to continue my horror education with Thorn's latest short story collection. Horror and I are beginning to become good friends, if I do say so myself.
Thorn has compiled a varied and creative anthology. I found that from story to story I was always pleasantly surprised. Naturally, some stories I enjoyed more than others, but overall I felt this was a solid grouping of tales.
The collection starts with a disturbing and repulsing addiction to hair. Can't deny that I said eww a lot. It was also enlightening because at the end of the day there is someone out there who is suffering from this sexual proclivity. It felt like a beginning to a Criminal Minds episode.
I found often drawn to certain sentences that Thorn crafted. They were clever and I liked his use of language. Some of my favorites included:
"My scholastic cock outsizes everyone else's"
"Herbert asked the bartenders breasts"
"Work like you want to work"
"Everything else, the chaos that came between the cradle and the grave, was unpredictable"
It is clear from Thorn's writing that he has spent some time in academia, as several of his stories star accomplished or struggling academic professors. It is obviously a familiar environment Thorn likes to capture. Whether the academic was a mouse mass murderer or an out-of-work biologist, Thorn highlights their struggles and peculiarities.
One of my favorites from the collection was Lucio Schluter, a creative writing piece that brings reality to art. I think it was my favorite because it felt like true crime. This was a story that I could see showing up in an FBI file. For me, the more realistically attainable the horror, the more intriguing and butt clenching the tale.
If you are looking for a quick and unpleasant (in good way) read before bedtime then look no further.
Also, I dig the cover. It reminds me of a home recorded VHS tape, which brings back the memories.
https://cellardoorbooks.wordpress.com/2018/10/03/darkest-hours-mike-thorn/
Thorn has compiled a varied and creative anthology. I found that from story to story I was always pleasantly surprised. Naturally, some stories I enjoyed more than others, but overall I felt this was a solid grouping of tales.
The collection starts with a disturbing and repulsing addiction to hair. Can't deny that I said eww a lot. It was also enlightening because at the end of the day there is someone out there who is suffering from this sexual proclivity. It felt like a beginning to a Criminal Minds episode.
I found often drawn to certain sentences that Thorn crafted. They were clever and I liked his use of language. Some of my favorites included:
"My scholastic cock outsizes everyone else's"
"Herbert asked the bartenders breasts"
"Work like you want to work"
"Everything else, the chaos that came between the cradle and the grave, was unpredictable"
It is clear from Thorn's writing that he has spent some time in academia, as several of his stories star accomplished or struggling academic professors. It is obviously a familiar environment Thorn likes to capture. Whether the academic was a mouse mass murderer or an out-of-work biologist, Thorn highlights their struggles and peculiarities.
One of my favorites from the collection was Lucio Schluter, a creative writing piece that brings reality to art. I think it was my favorite because it felt like true crime. This was a story that I could see showing up in an FBI file. For me, the more realistically attainable the horror, the more intriguing and butt clenching the tale.
If you are looking for a quick and unpleasant (in good way) read before bedtime then look no further.
Also, I dig the cover. It reminds me of a home recorded VHS tape, which brings back the memories.
https://cellardoorbooks.wordpress.com/2018/10/03/darkest-hours-mike-thorn/
fai_aka's review against another edition
3.0
Some stories are very interesting while some are just too confusing for me to enjoy reading them.
jeremyfee's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: The author gave me a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
If you like horror stories that really freak you out, I mean cause you to potentially feel like you're going to throw up in your mouth because they're so disturbingly good, then you will love Mike Thorn's short story collection Darkest Hours. Some of the stories are just bizarre, some are intriguing cosmic horror, some will freak you out, and some are truly disturbing.
The book contains author's notes after each story, which is really nice, because Mike Thorn explains his inspirations (both film and literature) for writing each story. After the short story section, the author also includes essays about horror.
If you like horror stories that really freak you out, I mean cause you to potentially feel like you're going to throw up in your mouth because they're so disturbingly good, then you will love Mike Thorn's short story collection Darkest Hours. Some of the stories are just bizarre, some are intriguing cosmic horror, some will freak you out, and some are truly disturbing.
The book contains author's notes after each story, which is really nice, because Mike Thorn explains his inspirations (both film and literature) for writing each story. After the short story section, the author also includes essays about horror.
wpsmith17's review against another edition
3.0
When Mike Thorn is cooking, he's making some absolute freaky feasts like Long Man, Fear and Grace, Satanic Panic, and Fusion. Brutal, fun, frightening.
However, I didn't quite have the same connection with some of the others. Still, Long Man was an absolute gem of an urban legend story.
However, I didn't quite have the same connection with some of the others. Still, Long Man was an absolute gem of an urban legend story.
robert_bose's review against another edition
5.0
A delicious, yet horrible, collection of darkness. Recommended!
the_bookubus's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
The stand out story for me was The Auteur which is about a horror fan who goes over to a co-workers place so she can show him some of her own horror films. Super dark and creepy and wonderful! I loved everything about it.
A few of my other favourites were: Hair, A New Kind of Drug, Fear and Grace, and Long Man. All excellently written and each had their own flavour of horror.
The rest of the collection was a mixture of some good and some that I didn't really care for (as is usually the case with short story collections). I rated each story individually and came out with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5, so overall a good collection and I would recommend it because the really good ones were fantastic!
The stand out story for me was The Auteur which is about a horror fan who goes over to a co-workers place so she can show him some of her own horror films. Super dark and creepy and wonderful! I loved everything about it.
A few of my other favourites were: Hair, A New Kind of Drug, Fear and Grace, and Long Man. All excellently written and each had their own flavour of horror.
The rest of the collection was a mixture of some good and some that I didn't really care for (as is usually the case with short story collections). I rated each story individually and came out with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5, so overall a good collection and I would recommend it because the really good ones were fantastic!
sheepyreads's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Mike Thorn for gifting me an advanced reader’s copy of his short story collection!
Darkest Hours is the horror collection equivalent of a big ol’ bowl of vegetable soup. Each horror sub-genre within this collection represents an element meant to warm your belly with its goodness. Looking for some gross body horror? Check. Creature feature? Check. Something more psychological? Double check.
I thoroughly enjoyed each and every story in Thorn’s collection (my favorites being Hair, Lucio Schluter and Satanic Panic) and just kept wanting to read on to see what the next story would consist of.
Probably what I found most impressive about Darkest Hours was the author’s ability to perfectly incorporate humor into those few stories that fell into that category.
If you’re a horror fan, (even if you don’t like vegetable soup) you need this.
Darkest Hours is the horror collection equivalent of a big ol’ bowl of vegetable soup. Each horror sub-genre within this collection represents an element meant to warm your belly with its goodness. Looking for some gross body horror? Check. Creature feature? Check. Something more psychological? Double check.
I thoroughly enjoyed each and every story in Thorn’s collection (my favorites being Hair, Lucio Schluter and Satanic Panic) and just kept wanting to read on to see what the next story would consist of.
Probably what I found most impressive about Darkest Hours was the author’s ability to perfectly incorporate humor into those few stories that fell into that category.
If you’re a horror fan, (even if you don’t like vegetable soup) you need this.
readbydusk's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars rounded up! Darkest Hours is a terrific collection where the author’s passion for all things horror shines through. The clarity and confidence in the writing made these stories come alive. I liked the accompanying author’s notes which highlights the influences and background of each story.
The book opens with a bang with Hair, a distressing story that describes a horrifying physical condition. A New Kind of Drug is a hallucinatory terror in light of an unexplainable phenomenon. Long Man is a fresh look at the boogeyman and it will make you think twice before looking into the mirror. Sabbatical takes on the dissertation writing process and turns it into an absolute nightmare. Lucio Schluter portrays the power and seduction of art with disturbing results.
The second half of the book features essays and criticisms of horror cinema and I enjoyed this section too. The films covered include Halloween (2007), Diary of the Dead (2007) and My Soul To Take (2010). There are also in-depth discussions on films by Rob Zombie, Tobe Hooper and M. Night Shyamalan. If you love horror in books and films, you don’t want to miss this collection!
Thank you to the author for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
The book opens with a bang with Hair, a distressing story that describes a horrifying physical condition. A New Kind of Drug is a hallucinatory terror in light of an unexplainable phenomenon. Long Man is a fresh look at the boogeyman and it will make you think twice before looking into the mirror. Sabbatical takes on the dissertation writing process and turns it into an absolute nightmare. Lucio Schluter portrays the power and seduction of art with disturbing results.
The second half of the book features essays and criticisms of horror cinema and I enjoyed this section too. The films covered include Halloween (2007), Diary of the Dead (2007) and My Soul To Take (2010). There are also in-depth discussions on films by Rob Zombie, Tobe Hooper and M. Night Shyamalan. If you love horror in books and films, you don’t want to miss this collection!
Thank you to the author for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
erinxmegan's review against another edition
4.0
*Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.*
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, short story collections are such a great way to really see what an author can do. It allows the opportunity for the author to try their hand at different types of sub genres and just explore their writing abilities.
This is something Mike Thorn does really well with this collection. There is truly a story for everyone. You prefer body horror? You got it. A fan of the more psychological? You got it. You like a bit of comedy in your horror? You got it.
The collection starts off with the story ‘Hair’ and boy does that one start you off on a wild journey. It’s a really gross one that you just can’t help but keep reading to see what happens next. After I read it, I knew this was going to be a fun collection.
My favorites were: Hair, The Auteur, Fear and Grace, Long Man, Satanic Panic, and Lucio Schluter.
They are all so different, but each made me feel a certain way while reading them.
At the end of each story he goes into some detail about what really inspired the story and I think that’s always fascinating. I love knowing how authors get their ideas and why they went into the direction they did.
Included at the end are 17 articles dedicated to horror film as well.
Overall, this is a really cool and unique collection that I think a lot of people will have fun with.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, short story collections are such a great way to really see what an author can do. It allows the opportunity for the author to try their hand at different types of sub genres and just explore their writing abilities.
This is something Mike Thorn does really well with this collection. There is truly a story for everyone. You prefer body horror? You got it. A fan of the more psychological? You got it. You like a bit of comedy in your horror? You got it.
The collection starts off with the story ‘Hair’ and boy does that one start you off on a wild journey. It’s a really gross one that you just can’t help but keep reading to see what happens next. After I read it, I knew this was going to be a fun collection.
My favorites were: Hair, The Auteur, Fear and Grace, Long Man, Satanic Panic, and Lucio Schluter.
They are all so different, but each made me feel a certain way while reading them.
At the end of each story he goes into some detail about what really inspired the story and I think that’s always fascinating. I love knowing how authors get their ideas and why they went into the direction they did.
Included at the end are 17 articles dedicated to horror film as well.
Overall, this is a really cool and unique collection that I think a lot of people will have fun with.