Tor, 2012
ISBN: 0765331047
Available: Hardcover & Kindle

Commedia Della Morte is the twenty-fifth Count Saint Germain book, but readers shouldn’t worry. While there is some continuity, the books are quite readable as stand alones as well. In this novel the Count must answer the pleas of his dearest love, the vampire Madeline who has been imprisoned by the revolutionaries of eighteenth century France. Determined to rescue Madeline, while also balancing the unsure affections of a theater troupe leader and her jealous, angry son, Saint Germain must also keep his own identity under wraps since the resentment of the populace could easily turn on even an ″exiled Hungarian noble″.

Commedia Della Morte is a lush, sensuous historical tale, much heavier on the historical rather than the horror. Despite ghouls and vampires running amok it’s the people who are the real terrors (as always with Yarbro’s books.) The tension is excellent, but not threaded throughout the whole story. Yarbro’s characters are, as always an enchanting strength. Still, this book won’t be popular with more impatient modern horror fans. Recommended for collections avoiding the extreme side of horror, or with readers who have more of a love of historic detail and vivaciousness than gore and terror.

Contains: Sex

Graveside Tales, 2009
ISBN: 0980133858
Available: Paperback

Sideshow PI is an acquired taste. It’s the tale of a group of sideshow freaks who have settled down in New Ramoth, a seedy city on the edge of a clone recycling plant, and it’s rude, crude, violent, and disgusting. It’s almost like the characters want the reader to know they deserve to be society’s outcasts, and for more than just their deformities. Eddie Gnash is the wolf-boy parental figure that keeps them all together. Following a long depression after ending the show, Eddie rediscovers himself by becoming a P.I., and helping his friend Cletus hunt down whoever is killing johns on the city streets.

Sideshow PI boasts some amazing writing; splendid wrapping on a decent package. The vivid descriptions of vivisections and sex can go overboard, distracting even the characters from the plot. The book will certainly not be to everyone’s taste; it’s best for readers who love extreme horror and wallowing in the ultra-pits of human despair.

Contains: sex, violence, rape, mutations, cannibalism

Amazon, 2012
ASIN: B004ZZT3BI

Available: Kindle Edition

Zombie Hospital is a snarky short story about a pair of nurses at a low-quality hospital struggling to deal with a zombie uprising. It’s a fun read, but abbreviated, like the opening chapter of a longer tale. There is a lot of zombie material out there, but this one is solid and funny and worth the $.99 for budding ebook collections.

Contains: Violence, Language

Bared Teeth Publishing, 2011
ISBN: 0615571670
Available: Paperback & multiformat ebook

Broods of Fenrir can’t decide if it’s urban fantasy or horror, so of course, I loved it. Brand is the rightful king of the Broods (lines of werewolves) but after growing up under the cruel rule of his father, he rejects the Broods to live a solitary life. They force him to return using his one weakness—protecting women. Of course, one has to wonder how a man raised in such a horrible, violent environment manages to survive with any respect for women (or men). But let that question drift away with others like ″Werewolves”?

Broods is engaging, vivid and energetic. And moody. Moody, moody, sexy alpha males, barely holding onto their rage, a “one rightful king to save them all” plot line, and brightly realized characters (spiced with Norse mythology) make for an enjoyable read. Definitely recommended.

Contains: Rape situations, violence, language, sex

Del Rey, 2011
ISBN: 0345512111
Available: Paperback, Kindle ebook

Switchblade Goddess is the third book in Snyder’s Jessie Shimmer series. I strongly advise you start with the first one, not just so you know what’s going on, but also so you understand the extremely graphic nature of the author’s style.

In the last book Jessie faced down Miko, a half-demon daughter of the Japanese death goddess. In Switchblade Goddess, we get a good look at Miko’s past, and learn that as bad as she is, she’s only an instrument in an eons-old battle for human souls, a battle in which Jessie is now a prize. Jessie’s pretty busy tying up loose ends in this book, as she struggles against a deadly infection and tries to save the life of her familiar (who has been infected with lycanthropy) while also attempting to mend things with her boyfriend Cooper and his brother, The Warlock. Unfortunately, for each problem she solves, another one appears… and she still has to defeat Miko for good, as well.

The Jessie Shimmer books are outrageous and enjoyable, total standouts from the rest of the urban fantasy scene. They’re a hardcore, punk view in a middle class genre (not that there’s anything wrong with UF in the first place). Recommended for public libraries with strong audiences for horror fiction and dark fantasy.

Contains: Sex, violence, language, rape