Richard-Michael Calzada

Genuine Demonic Horror

The story has a visceral and gruesome opening. I found myself anxious to see how Destiny would overcome her demonic possessor, Belias.There are a couple of places, such as in chapter 6, when the past and present tense get mixed up, but this didn’t really pull me out of the story. I was impressed by Destiny’s quick thinking and how genuine her fear felt. In chapter 12, she reflects on how she will never have a normal night in at her dorm, or at any campus parties, ever again, which was deeply moving to read. The story ramped up to a tense climax. This is a solid, gory, and terrifying tale.

Vivid horror that crackles

As a first-time reader, I was engaged from the start. The dialogue and characters come to life in every chapter. I felt completely immersed in the story about a cursed VHS and the scrappy kids who come together to fight it. There are plenty of references and homages to classic horror works. I wish the chapters were just a bit shorter. Overall, this is a wonderful work in the spirit of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Agatha Christie.

Bereft in Space

Is There Anybody Out There? is a short but super powerful read. The author has a great grasp on their narrator's voice and inner thoughts. There is plenty of despair and haunting imagery. The only problem I had was with reading the final chapter; even using a mirror didn't make it much easier. Once I was able to decipher it, the last chapter did hit me hard. There is a wonderful sense of style and pacing here. I definitely recommend checking out this book.