Review: Widow's Point

Widow's Point by Richard Chizmar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This review is for the WIDOW'S POINT novella, published in 2018 by Cemetery Dance Publications.

Richard Chizmar and Billy Chizmar (AKA W.H. Chizmar) really knock it out of the park with this creepy-as-hell take on an old-fashioned, haunted lighthouse story!

Thomas Livingston is a successful author of a number of non-fiction, supernatural/paranormal books and he has made his way to Harper's Cove in Nova Scotia to gather material for his next book about the Widow's Point Lighthouse, the scene of many unusual deaths since it's construction in the 1830's. After many attempts, he has finally received permission from the lighthouse's owner to spend the weekend locked inside, with the hope of being able to document supernatural activity. To avoid accusations from skeptics of tampering or forging "evidence" he is only allowed to bring in a few pieces of recording equipment, notebooks and pens, some food and water, and a lantern and flashlight.

The story unfolds through a series of audio transcripts of Livingston's observations about what he sees, his recounting of previous events at the lighthouse, and his reading of entries from a diary he found while looking through the lighthouse rooms. As his stay within the lighthouse continues, the audio recordings convey his increasing concern and eventual terror.

Richard & Billy do a fantastic job of conveying what appears to be Livingston's descent into madness as they ramp up the suspense through the unique "found footage" narration style. The story's pacing is superb and the reader can't help but feel that he/she is right there with Livingston, experiencing the frightful and inexplicable events with him.

This is a fantastic and scary read. Fans of horror and supernatural tales will enjoy it. Highly recommended.

A much longer, expanded version of this novella, Widow's Point: The Complete Haunting was published in 2025. The extra material makes it even better than this earlier version. You can find my spoiler-free review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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Review: Ants Waking

Ants Waking by R.J. Huneke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ANTS WAKING by R.J. Huneke is a unique, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ dark fantasy tale of identity, loss and discovery. The Massachusetts setting may be familiar to many but Huneke has imbued it with an almost Victorian feel. I think Dickens would have felt right at home walking these streets along with Erica, the main character, as they seek to undo the mistake that caused the death of their best friend before midnight while fighting the Dark and a vengeful god.

While it features a trans character It is not, to my mind, a "trans" story. Rather it is the story of anyone who's had to find their identity, deal with not being accepted for who they are, wrestle with their past, overcome both internal and external obstacles, and find the strength to move forward.

Erica is fascinating - a protagonist with challenges and a surprising strength of character. Someone who is able to do what's needed while recognizing and owning the cost.

The story presents an interesting mythology in the appearance of Lobodomar Devorador, recounted against the backdrop of a city unknowingly falling to the coming of the Dark, with seemingly few beings aware of and able to defend against it. I hope that there will be more stories set in this world and that we learn more about the evil of the old gods that Erica battles.

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Thanks to author R.J. Huneke for providing me with an ARC of ANTS WAKING to review.


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Review: The Neverending Story

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A story can be new and yet tell about olden times. The past comes into existence with the story.
-- Michael Ende, The Neverending Story


Published in 1979, THE NEVERENDING STORY by Michael Ende is a wonderful fantasy tale that was brought to life with a film adaptation in 1984. The film, however, covered only part of the tale of Bastian Balthazar Bux, a bullied schoolboy who finds escape from his tormentors one day as he reads about the magical land of Fantastica in a book called The Neverending Story. He is swept up in the adventures of a boy named Atreyu and the Luckdragon Falkor as they race to learn how to save The Childlike Empress and all of Fantastica from the Nothing that is destroying the land.

The film tells only a little of what happens to Bastian, Atreyu, Falkor and Fantastica AFTER the cure for The Nothing is discovered. As the adventures continue in the second half of the story we find lessons about losing what really matters in the pursuit of acceptance and popularity, and the value of friends who love and accept you for what you are.

The story is filled with many amazing, dare I say fantastic, adventures, creatures, places and characters. Young readers in particular are sure to be entranced by both halves of The Neverending Story, and while there are lessons to be gained from the story, it is not a "preachy" tale by any stretch.

As an older reader, I was charmed by the story and can highly recommend it.

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