Andrew Van WeyRezensionen

For fans of the last season of Stranger Things and I Know What You Did Last Summer…

Imagine you’re out on a fishing boat, pulling up crab traps, and in one of those traps is a human head. Arguably a head plus a little bit, but a head without a body, at any rate. What if that head wasn’t dead?!? What if it could read your mind and telepathically communicate, and what if that head wanted—neigh, commanded you—to do terrible things, or else?

Well, then you’d be hauling around a duffel bag with part of a missing girl, Oksana, whose death defies natural law and who is set on revenge. A former Ukrainian boarding school student, her backstory is a complicate mess of lies and betrayals set among a group of former friends in the 90’s.

I’m a 90s teen myself, so this story hit on a note of nostalgia that transported me back to my younger years with pagers and Hot Topic, pay phones and the Blockbuster rental heyday. A time when I was just old enough to be aware of Cold War issues and of world events, like one, in particular, that I won’t include in this review so as not to inadvertently spoil the mystery.

Andrew Van Wey does a commendable job revealing just enough details in each chapter to make this book an absolute page turner.

What happened to Oksana? What about Megan and the group of high school friends now plagued by unusual dreams and memories of things better left forgotten? How in the heck is this head alive? And how is she slowly regaining autonomy? Gasp!

You might not believe me when I tell you this, but the reveal is actually like, “Huh, okay. That might happen (kind-of, not really).” The history is plausible in the way Twilight Zone or Twin Peaks makes you question the existence of alternate realities. Talk about world building!

Head Like a Hole is my first foray into reading body horror, and my first read by Andrew Van Wey, who sets a high bar for the subgenre as a whole. Hole. Hee hee. Part mystery and certainly gross, this book straddles two of my favorite genres (horror/mystery) perfectly. Highly recommended as one of my favorite recent reads. I look forward to seeing what this author cooks up next.

Meh. I might have enjoyed this more if the characters had been more likable. And the horror aspect would have benefited from the book being shorter, allowing the horror to be more concentrated. That said, the creepy scenes were very creepy. Van Wey wrote this in a very visual style: it sometimes felt like a movie in my head, the images were so clearly described. But ultimately, it just felt too long for the amount of "meaty" material.

Fun fact: I spent two hours finishing the book right before bed, and as soon as I fell asleep, I dreamt of a cosmic horror that was watching me from above. Woke up with a start, thinking what an immediate and visceral reaction I had!

Judging by the way I couldn't put it down once the plot really got going in the last third of the book, I enjoyed this story quite a bit. The pacing was somewhat off - the beginning started off strong, then the middle lagged, but after the 70% mark it picked up again and finished strong. It's both plot- and character-driven, and I liked the uncle-niece dynamic of Mark and Zelda, one we don't see too often in literature. Both fish out of water, both struggling with loss and their sense of self, both searching for meaning and a place to belong, a sense that I think a lot of readers can relate to.

Zelda and her friends felt a little too 'Stranger Things' or 'IT' to me - other readers mentioned Scooby Doo (as did a character in the book) but I did like the dual parallel perspectives of the adults and the children - having just one or the other might have been too one-note. I also felt that the constant detailed delving into technology was unnecessary, serving to distract the reader rather than ground them in the story, and the teenage jargon was a bit much.

The copy I received needed to go through another round of copy editing, as there were minor errors peppered throughout - spelling a character's name alternatively as 'Stacy' and 'Stacey', or using 'peddling' instead of 'pedaling'. Still, I enjoyed Van Wey's writing style, direct and engaging.

I don't typically read a lot of cosmic horror (although I do love horror of many stripes) so this sub-genre was a bit of a departure for me and I enjoyed it! Everything came together nicely and the setup and resolution was clever. I'll be excited to tune into the next installment of the series.

I struggled with the length...could have been done with much less detail to keep readers interested.

Insanely creepy but a very interesting, mind bending read!

This book had me on the edge of my seat until the very. A really interesting and thrilling read, definitely a “curl up on the couch and read at night” type of book. At times it did get lengthy, but overall, a worth-it read.

A wonderful horror book! I enjoyed it immensely and had a hard time putting it down. The characters were dynamic and the story was engaging.

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way.

By the Light of Dead Stars was creepy AF. It had some Head Like A Hole vibes but was it’s own special nightmare factory. I was so happy to find out that it’s the beginning of a series. Andrew Van Wey is a wonderful addition to the horror genre.½

Review of eBook

Ten-year-old Daniel and thirteen-year-old David are playing tag with the other children in the orphanage. The brothers hide in a deserted house, determined to be the last ones found.

As always, this game . . . and its terrifying ending . . . formed the basis of the nightmare. Dan, now a university art professor, is married; he’s the father of two children, nine-year-old Tommy and five-year-old Jessica. Home, with his wife, Linda, the children, and the dog, Ginger, is his reality now.

But when a strange painting arrives at the university, its cryptic message . . . Here in art, denial . . . doesn’t help him determine what artist created the macabre painting or who might have donated it to the fine arts department. It’s Dan’s job to find the answers.

A suspicious fire in the Archive at the university destroys many paintings, but the mysterious artwork survives. Dan decides to take it home.

And strange events begin, haunting Dan even as they resist understanding. Who created the painting? Who sent it to the university? And what does “Here in art, denial” mean, anyway?

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Definitely not a tale for the faint of heart, this particularly brilliant creep-fest is sure to give readers goosebumps. Filled with not particularly likable [but definitely relatable] characters, the story continually builds the undercurrent of suspense guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

As Daniel’s life begins to unravel, readers will find the “scary” continues to build until “scary” fails to define the evolving horror. The story unfolds at a brisk pace with no wasted moments, no wasted actions. Mysterious, compelling, sometimes gruesome, and always downright terrifying, readers who enjoy horror will find much to appreciate here.

Highly recommended.

Very engaging storyline and descriptive content. Desperately needs to be edited to about half its length and rearranged a bit. It starts with high intensity energy and then has sections that are more detailed than finance textbooks. New characters were still being introduced in the last 1/4 of the book.
The plot keeps shape shifting, which may be intentional. It kept feeling like one kind of story but too many red herrings to really tell until later in the book what it was actually about.
Would be a good audiobook that you can listen to while doing other things. Looking forward to reading more of the story but hoping that the writing is refined a bit.

~I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review~

Horror reads are not my normal genre, but with that being said, I really enjoyed this book. I feel like the author was able to create an engaging and interesting story set in a place that I already find both beautiful and haunting. One of my favorite parts of this book was how convincingly the author made the antagonist entity feel scary. Additionally, I thought the characters were well crafted and both relatable and likable. My only critique of the book is that at times the dialogue and character thought monologues felt a little clunky and underdeveloped. I'm genuinely looking forward to reading the next book in the series and see how things progress in Greywood Bay.½

When Louis Harding finds a woman's head in his crab pot, he has no idea the hell he is about to unleash. Until she opens her eyes and he is bewitched.
Megan and her prep school friends are about the have their dark past come to the surface.

Not a bad story, but not overly exciting either. The end was like a Twilight Zone ending.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read.

Review of eBook

Mark Fitzsimmons has, more or less, a comfortable life in Madrid. Despite the four flights of creaky stairs, he had a nice apartment, a sometimes-girlfriend, and a teaching job at the university.

But the death of his sister, Maya, and her husband, Juan Carlos, leaves their thirteen-year-old daughter, Zelda, in his care. Despite lawyers and threats from Zelda’s grandparents, Mark and Zelda settle into a new home in the Raven’s Valley development in Greywood Bay. A place to heal, a place for a new life for both of them.

But there are secrets in Greywood Bay, an unknown terror stalks the residents of this community, and while there are many questions, there are few answers.

Can Zelda and Mark find those answers? Can they survive the terror stalking Greywood Bay?

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In this, the first in the author’s Beyond the Lost Coast series, readers meet Zelda and Mark, the central characters in this eerie, haunting tale. Well-developed characters, a strong sense of place, and a truly twisted plot all work together to keep those pages turning. Not all of the characters are likeable, but some interesting twists in the evolving story may change the way readers see each of them. Look for fire that takes on a persona of its own, frightening and malevolent, chillingly evil.

And here, in Greywood Bay, there’s a mystery, a mystery in how [and why] Zelda is a protector, a mystery in how [and why] the dogs of J’harr came there to feed. And who [or what] is J’harr?

Throughout the narrative, there’s a tenseness, an aura of suspense that continually grows, as if it were feeding on the telling of the tale. As readers might expect, there are some questions left unanswered, presumably saved for subsequent tales. But as this spine-chilling tale unfolds, readers will find much to ponder . . . and much to fear.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from the author

“𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥? 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦?”

Whoa. This book was unexpectedly revolting and twisted in all of the best ways. If I had to compare it to something, I would say it read like a mix of Stranger Things and American Horror Story. It is gruesome, descriptive, bizarre, otherworldly, and creative. Honestly, as repulsive and strange as this book was, I absolutely loved it.

This is a beautifully sick and disturbed story that includes multiple POVs and bounces back between the past and present. The majority of the story takes place in the mid-90s in New England. The author includes tons of nostalgic references, which worked well for me as a reader born in the late 80s. I enjoyed the time hopping and multiple perspectives. It was easy to follow, but you cannot ever trust the narrator. Or can you? I still don’t know.

It is a story of five friends with too many secrets to count. There is murder, fire, memory loss, art, unexplainable creatures, and an investigation.

I truly believe it is best to go in blind like I did, but please, please DM or check the content warnings. Because there are many. Not for the faint of heart (or stomach).

👏🏼👏🏼𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙 to those who enjoy horror with sci-fi components.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre🎭: Horror
Pace🏃🏼‍♀️: Fast
Reminds me of: Stranger Things + American Horror Story
⚠️CW⚠️: 𝐋𝐎𝐓𝐒 – please DM or check with author

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way.

Head Like A Hole by Andrew Van Wey is a delightfully creepy, fast paced horror novel that really pushed my 90’s nostalgia button, hard. I’m not sure how to review this book without spoiling any of the twisty surprises. I’ll just say that an unfortunate fisherman pulls something out of the water that would be better left there. Bad stuff happens. I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading more by this author.

**LibraryThing Early Reviewers Win**

I love horror and this was a good addition to my growing collection. The story kept me going page after page. This is my first book by this author and I was glad to get a copy.

There's a mysterious dead woman dredged up in a net and some teens who are caught up in the terror ensuing. This is set in a New England town in the '90s (the best time ever!) and the setting was nostalgic as it was creepy. There were several scenes that some readers may find a bit too graphic/grossed out but keep going. The suspense was well laid out.

**All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

O. M. GOSH, I was so scared but I couldn't stop reading!! Poor Meagan lost her parents, and the car accident took her memory. I liked that she reached out to her friends after three years to find out her fuzzy memory, and she opens up a powder keg. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED AS THIS IS MY FIRST TIME REVIEWING THIS AUTHOR, BUT NOT MY LAST!!

WOAH. This book and author came out of nowhere! There is so much for horror fans to love in this 90s-nostalgic thrill ride. A group of friends end up bound in an I-Know-What-You-Did-Last-Summer way. To complicate things, Megan was in a terrible accident that leaves her with no memory of the details of the incident or how one of her friends has disappeared (in real life and also mostly from her memory). But all of the secrecy and amnesia around the past starts to unravel when a fisherman makes a disturbing discovery and the friends seek each other out to make sense of their unsettling premonitions.
There are so many great tropes here: the possessed town dullard à la It, shared and forgotten secrets, an “other” force that inhabits human and other kinds of flesh. The 90s references are also delightful for any of my fellow elder millennials or Gen Xers. I highly recommend this book to horror enthusiasts and murder-mystery lovers who like a touch of the weird and unusual.
Thank you so much to LibraryThing and the author, Andrew Van Wey, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOAH. This book and author came out of nowhere! There is so much for horror fans to love in this 90s-nostalgic thrill ride. A group of friends end up bound in an I-Know-What-You-Did-Last-Summer way. To complicate things, Megan was in a terrible accident that leaves her with no memory of the details of the incident or how one of her friends has disappeared (in real life and also mostly from her memory). But all of the secrecy and amnesia around the past starts to unravel when a fisherman makes a disturbing discovery and the friends seek each other out to make sense of their unsettling premonitions.

There are so many great tropes here: the possessed town dullard à la It, shared and forgotten secrets, an “other” force that inhabits human and other kinds of flesh. The 90s references are also delightful for any of my fellow elder millennials or Gen Xers. I highly recommend this book to horror enthusiasts and murder-mystery lovers who like a touch of the weird and unusual.

Thank you so much to LibraryThing and the author, Andrew Van Wey, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't put this book down and read it very quickly! It was soo good.

I received a free copy of this eBook from the author.

Review of Advanced Reader Copy eBook

Podcaster Anwar Fariz, tracking down a story, convinces Megan Collings to sit down for an interview, insinuating that he knows everything about the past she believes remains buried.

Oksana Samarina.

A name from the past. From Tenbury School. A long-forgotten chapter in Megan’s life. It’s not her story, she tells the podcaster, it’s her love story.

Although crab season ended a few weeks ago, Louis Harding heads out to check his crab pots. And beneath the scuttling crabs in the last pot, he finds something terrifying.

And it’s alive.

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Set in the 1990s, the narrative follows a lone fisherman and a group of college friends who, over the years, have lost track of each other as life took them in different directions. Their intersecting stories weave a thread of horror throughout the telling of the tale, leaving the reader to wonder exactly what they’ll discover when they turn the page in this unputdownable tale.

But the premise is mesmerizing and a constantly-building apprehension accompanies the revealing of long-held secrets. What consequences will emerge from their revelations?

Well-developed characters, a less-than-likeable podcaster, and an intriguing mystery filled with unexpected twists and surprising reveals work together to pull readers into this horrorfest. The unfolding story, filled with unexpected twists, keeps readers guessing right up to the final surprise [and it’s a doozy].

Highly recommended, especially for both horror fans and science fiction aficionados.

Oksana...I never thought a name could invoke such terror. Andrew Van Wey successfully takes his readers along with Megan down memory lane into the 90's when pagers were on hips and Clinton-Gore bumper stickers plastered everything from Civics to Escorts. You are deliciously hooked from the start and dragged helplessly through a chain of events that leaves you utterly breathless. This terrifyingly detailed horror novel makes you think twice about your strange next door neighbor, stepping into the ocean or ordering escargot from a French restaurant.

What just happened? That's my high level review. This book definitely departed from the predictable horror genre. It was a quick, fun read that will be enjoyed by true crime (the narrator runs a true crime podcast), horror, and sci-fi fans. It's full of twists and turns and characters to root for.

I am close in age to the author and enjoyed the 90's nostalgia aspect. It's hard to imagine a story now without cell phones and constant access to communication. The author tied in just enough historical context to add value to the story without making it feel forced.

Overall an enjoyable read.

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review

Review of Advanced Reader eBook Copy

As the Cold War drew to a close, only Project Clearwater, with its secret legacy, remained. Here, Doctor Robert Chase created decoherence, allowing any of the twelve military test subjects to travel the world with their minds and kill with a single thought.

But now only one remains, one connected to Clearwater, one holding the key to the future.

She’s the one who stopped the God’s Breath Killer, who exposed governmental transgressions. For her, a blink separates mind from body. Clearwater has morphed into the Foundation’s continuing research project Day’s Bane, hidden away on an oil rig in Alaska . . . and they want Caitlyn. They need to understand the difference between her mind and the minds of the other test subjects. Why is Caitlyn different?

And so the young woman runs. Joined by the Foundation’s one-time agent Michaels, the two set sail from Mauritius. When they reach Kenya, the hunters are waiting and they barely escape capture. But now they know the Foundation is searching for Caitlyn.

The two race to stop the technological horror that promises to shatter the very fabric of the world. With her unique skill set and his insider knowledge, they just might have a chance . . . if they can elude the relentless hunters that will stop at nothing to capture them.

Together, will Caitlyn and Michaels be able to stop the development of this heinous new weapon? Or will the all-powerful Foundation manage to bring about the dawn of mental warfare? Will they unleash war waged in shadows?

Or will it be something worse?

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Second in the author’s Clearwater Conspiracy series, “Refraction” picks up where “Blind Site” ended with more than enough backstory for those new to the series. [But readers should definitely consider reading the first book.]

As the imaginative, intriguing plot twists and turns, the ever-present undercurrent of tension keeps the suspense building. Readers will find themselves pulled into the story from the beginning; the machinations of those in power send the story in surprising directions. The revelations surrounding the development and use of decoherence are spellbinding; readers are sure to find the evolving story compelling.

The characters are well-defined [but not always likable]; readers will find themselves rooting for Michaels and Caitlyn to succeed. There’s a strong sense of place throughout the story that ties the science fiction thriller to familiar places and strengthens the credibility of the tale being told.

Despite a few gritty scenes within the telling of the tale, readers will find this book absorbing, daunting, and unputdownable.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from the author

This techno-thriller had me on the edge of my seat for most of the story. It was action packed and had an interesting storyline that captured me for the duration of the book. It was well written and had compelling characters. A few warnings, it is graphically violent so that may turn some readers off and some of the jargon is difficult to understand. Neither of these things impacted my enjoyment of the story but they are worth noting. I found this book to be very entertaining and would definitely check out more by this author in the future. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review through the early reviewers program.