Huge shout out to Under The Covers Book Reviews for this fantastic review. I’m blown away.
Here’s the review in full:
“If you love short stories, particularly of the horror or dark fantasy varieties, Mark Young should absolutely be your go-to author.
I’ve had the honor and privilege of contributing stories to two of the same books as Mark…so I already knew I loved his writing. I swear, I think I could pick out his work from hundreds of other writers. His voice is distinctive and he has a lovely style I adore. He is definitely a rising star in the horror genre.
As a side note, he also has a beautiful voice and accent…I want to pay him to read to me all day long. 😂🖤
The Heartbreaker: 13 Dark Fantasy & Horror Stories, as the title states, has thirteen amazing stories, ranging from classic vampire tales, to government experimentation, to bullies who get their comeuppance.
Here is a brief description of each of the stories included:
The Heartbreaker – A brilliantly written story about a military man with special gifts…gifts which his government is abusing. It’s a very satisfying, highly plausible story. And terrifying…did I mention terrifying?
Black Mist – A young girl, abused by her step-father, makes a life-altering decision. This story had a Needful Things vibe to me, and I absolutely loved it.
Curse of the Dreamweaver – A rich, famous, good-looking athlete ruins his life by drunk-driving…and then some. This was one of my favorites…I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
The Artist – An actress meets an artist…and then weird things begin happening. This was a super cool, creative premise.
Let’s Not Talk About Kevin – A young boy is locked away by his parents…but why? This is a quick, entertaining story. I would have liked a bit more background about what happened to Kevin and his sibling…but I still really enjoyed his thoughts.
Heavenly Waters – I love sea creature stories…and this one was epic. What if you were out fishing and found THIS in the water? I think most women will find a guilty satisfaction while reading this short. 😉
The Good Boy – A man whose young son disappeared years before…might have new information about his whereabouts. This was so well-written, and, reading as a parent, so heartbreaking. I love how Mark can bring out such an array of emotions.
Living With Your Parents Can Be Murder – What happens when you move back in with your parents at age 42? Nothing good, I’d imagine. This story gave me a good chuckle.
The Vanished – Something about this story screamed Dean Koontz to me. A massive storm hits, and a boy’s one wish comes true…much to his detriment. A special shout out to Wolf, the best character ever!
The Unforgiving – A man, whose son is being bullied, is forced to confront his past. And it’s not pretty. This was deliciously evil and heartbreaking all at once.
Gone – A man is bitten by a mosquito…or is he? This story is gory, weird, and brutal…and I loved every zany minute.
The Diary of Ethel Edie Brown – A modern look at a classic horror monster…I loved the diary entries and alternating timelines. This was a beautifully executed short story.
Protégé – A journalist meets a renowned doctor in the deep woods…and lives to regret it. This definitely brought to mind The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Overall, I enjoyed every single story in this book.
Recommended!
4.5 stars rounded to 5
Available now!“
The full review can be found on Facebook, Goodreads and Amazon.
It’s free on Kindle Unlimited and available to purchase on Amazon.
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Mark Young 