Joshua Gage Archives - Page 9 of 10 - Cemetery Dance Online

Review: Meaningless Cycles in a Vicious Glass Prison: Songs of Death and Love by Anton Cancre

Cemetery Dance OnlineNovember 12, 2020November 8, 2020ReviewsAnton Cancre, Joshua Gage, Meaningless Cycles in a Vicious Glass Prison, poetry, Reviews, Songs of Death and LoveLeave a comment

cover for Anton Cancre's poetry collection Meaningless Cycles in a Vicious Glass Prison: Songs of Death and Love by Anton Cancre
Dragon’s Roost Press (October 2020)
114 pages, $9.99 Paperback
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

In Meaningless Cycles in a Vicious Glass Prison: Songs of Death and Love, Anton Cancre creates scenes of death and works to capture them in short, poignant poems. Cancre works within various horror tropes but does his best to keep the ideas fresh and visceral for the reader. This is an interesting collection, and while the poetry is inconsistent at times, fans of horror poetry will enjoy perusing it.Continue Reading

Review: Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera

Cemetery Dance OnlineOctober 14, 2020October 12, 2020Graven Images, ReviewsBOOM! Studios, Columns, Graven Images, James Tynion IV, Joshua Gage, Reviews, Something is Killing the Children, Werther Dell'EderaLeave a comment

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera
BOOM! Studios (May 2020)
128 pages, $13.41 paperback; $12.74 e-book
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

Something has been taking the children of Archer’s Peak. At first it was just one girl, and the police assumed it was a typical family kidnapping perpetrated by an uncle. But then, young James and his friends have a sleepover, and when it’s over, James is the only survivor. There are bodies and blood. The whole town is in chaos. Then, a stranger with an uncanny knowledge of things who talks to her stuffed-animal octopus arrives and says she’ll take care of things. Something is Killing the Children is a really strong series from writer James Tynion IV and artist Werther Dell’Edera.Continue Reading

Review: The Harrowing of Hell by Evan Dahm

Cemetery Dance OnlineSeptember 16, 2020September 15, 2020Graven Images, ReviewsEvan Dahm, Iron Circus Comics, Joshua Gage, Reviews, The Harrowing of HellLeave a comment

The Harrowing of Hell by Evan Dahm
Iron Circus Comics (August 2020)
128 pages, $15 hardcover
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

In Christian theology, The Harrowing of Hell is the story of Jesus Christ descending into Hell after his crucifixion and rising, triumphant, three days later on Easter. Evan Dahm has taken this story, as well as some details from apocryphal gospels, and created a very dark graphic novel that, while still religiously based, is sure to appeal to horror readers as well.Continue Reading

Review: Twelve – Poems Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairytale by Andrea Blythe

Cemetery Dance OnlineAugust 28, 2020August 22, 2020ReviewsAndrea Blythe, Brothers Grimm, Interstellar Flight Press, Joshua Gage, Reviews, TwelveLeave a comment

Twelve: Poems Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale by Andrea Blythe
Interstellar Flight Press (September 7, 2020)
64 pages, $9.99 paperback; $5.99 e-book
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

Andrea Blythe is a well-recognized name in speculative poetry. She is a widely published author, as well as a podcast host. Blythe is most known for her work with fairytales and folktales, and her newest collection, Twelve, based on the Brothers Grimm fairytale of the twelve dancing princesses, is a potent and exquisite addition to her already impressive body of work. Continue Reading

Review: On Quiet Earth: A Zombie Apocalypse Novel by Chris Kelly

Cemetery Dance OnlineAugust 12, 2020August 9, 2020ReviewsChris Kelly, Joshua Gage, On Quiet Earth, Reviews, Severed Press, zombieLeave a comment

On Quiet Earth: A Zombie Apocalypse Novel by Chris Kelly
Severed Press (May 2020)
155 pages, $9.95 paperback
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

At first glance, On Quiet Earth reads like a typical zombie survivor novel. The plot is formulaic—survivors band together, try to outrun zombies, and live in a post-apocalyptic world. What makes Kelly’s take on this genre unique is his sparse prose which, coupled with the psychological aspects of the book, make for an interesting zombie read.Continue Reading

Review: A Route Obscure and Lonely by LindaAnn LoSchiavo

Cemetery Dance OnlineJuly 22, 2020July 17, 2020ReviewsA Route Obscure and Lonely, Joshua Gage, LindaAnn LoSchiavo, poetry, ReviewsLeave a comment

A Route Obscure and Lonely by LindaAnn LoSchiavo
The Wapshott Press (December 2019)
60 pages, $7.50 paperback
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

A Route Obscure and Lonely is a unique artifact in horror poetry. It’s primarily in blank verse, and while formal horror poetry isn’t rare, what makes LindaAnn LoSchiavo’s poetry unique is that she doesn’t let the form control her poems. While many formalist horror poets fall back on outdated tropes and clichés in their writing, LoSchiavo is able to use those tools and make a very rhythmic poem, while also using modern ideas and imagery to update her poems to 21st century pieces.Continue Reading

Review: Tea with Death: A Gothic Poetry Collection by Abigail Wildes and Jeanna Pappas (Illustrator)

Cemetery Dance OnlineJune 29, 2020June 28, 2020ReviewsAbigail Wildes, Alban Lake Publishing, Jeanna Pappas, Joshua Gage, Reviews, Tea with DeathLeave a comment

Tea with Death: A Gothic Poetry Collection by Abigail Wildes and Jeanna Pappas (Illustrator)
Alban Lake Publishing (February 2020)
101 pages, $19.99 hardcover
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

Gothic poetry is an interesting concept. Originally a nineteenth century invention and an offshoot of Romantic poetry, Gothic poetry was pretty much any poem that had elements of gothic literature. However, it was popularized by Romantic poets such as Keats and Coleridge, and became its own subgenre of poetry. Almost two hundred years later, it’s interesting that this subgenre of poetry is seeing a slight resurgence. Obviously, the advent of Gothic music and the Gothic subculture in the 1980s influenced this, but many speculative poets are returning to older models of poetry for inspiration. One such poet is Abigail Wildes, whose newest collection is Tea with Death.Continue Reading

Review: Bone Parish, Vol. 1 by Cullen Bunn (Author), Alex Guimaraes and Jonas Scharf (Illustrators)

Cemetery Dance OnlineApril 22, 2020April 19, 2020ReviewsBone Parish, BOOM! Studios, Cullen Bunn, Joshua Gage, ReviewsLeave a comment

Bone Parish, Vol. 1 by Cullen Bunn (Author), Alex Guimaraes and Jonas Scharf (Illustrators)
BOOM! Studios (May 2019)
112 pages, $10.83 paperback; $9.13 e-book
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

Bone Parish is described as a “chilling necromantic horror story.” The Ash is a new, popular drug sweeping the underground scene of New Orleans. As with any new drug, rival gangs and interests are fighting over the supply, while few know the true secret of its origin — it’s made from the ashes of dead bodies. The visions The Ash produces are spectacular and unique, literally allowing the user to experience someone else’s life, until they overdose and die from the high. Writer Cullen Bunn is able to combine the traditional Gothic milieu of New Orleans with a horror story of necromancy and a typical drug dealer anti-hero story into one really interesting experience for the reader.Continue Reading

Review: The Bedlam Philharmonic and Other Poems by Steven Withrow

Cemetery Dance OnlineApril 6, 2020March 31, 2020ReviewsJoshua Gage, Reviews, Steven Withrow, The Bedlam Philharmonic and Other PoemsLeave a comment

The Bedlam Philharmonic and Other Poems by Steven Withrow
Lulu.com (March 2020)
52 pages, $6.99 paperback
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

Steven Withrow is a poet, author, and teacher from Falmouth. He is also a reporter for the local Enterprise newspapers. His poems for children and adults have appeared in journals and anthologies worldwide, including the National Geographic Books of Animal and Nature Poetry, Calliope, and Cape Cod Poetry Review. He visits schools and libraries throughout New England working with students and teachers in reading and writing verse. He is a graduate of Roger Williams University and Emerson College. His newest collection is The Bedlam Philharmonic and Other Poems. Continue Reading

Review: Keeping Score: Angry Tanka by Susan Burch

Cemetery Dance OnlineFebruary 12, 2020February 9, 2020Reviewsangry tanka, Joshua Gage, Reviews, susan burchLeave a comment

Keeping Score: Angry Tanka by Susan Burch
Velvet Dusk Publishing (December 2019)
46 pages, $8.99 paperback
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

Susan Burch is a prominent composer of English Language Tanka. She began writing tanka in April 2013 after reading winning contest poems on the Tanka Society of America website. She loved the brevity of the form and submitted to Ribbons, which published her first tanka and encouraged her to keep writing. Since then she has placed in Mandy’s Page’s tanka contest, the World Tanka Competition, Diogen contests, the Haiku Poets of Northern California contests, the British Haiku and Tanka Awards, the TSA’s Sanford Goldstein tanka contest, and most recently, the Fleeting Words tanka contest. Her most recent collection is keeping score: Angry Tanka.Continue Reading

Review: The Apocalyptic Mannequin by Stephanie M. Wytovich

Cemetery Dance OnlineNovember 13, 2019November 11, 2019ReviewsJoshua Gage, Raw Dog Screaming Press, Reviews, Stephanie M. Wytovich, The Apocalyptic MannequinLeave a comment

The Apocalyptic Mannequin by Stephanie Wytovich
Raw Dog Screaming Press (September 2019)
114 pages, $13.95 paperback; $4.99 e-book
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

The Apocalyptic Mannequin is a collection of poetry about the apocalypse, and those who survived. Wytovich attempts to tap into the emotions of survivors with her poetry, creating a cast of characters who explore their fears and pain; however, while there are some really inventive ideas and clever survivor stories in this collection, the majority of the poems ultimately fall short due to craft issues.Continue Reading

Review: Sheet Music to My Acoustic Nightmare by Stephanie M. Wytovich

Cemetery Dance OnlineNovember 28, 2018November 23, 2018ReviewsJoshua Gage, Raw Dog Screaming Press, Reviews, Sheet Music to My Acoustic Nightmare, Stephanie M. WytovichLeave a comment

Sheet Music to My Acoustic Nightmare by Stephanie M. Wytovich
Raw Dog Screaming Press (December 2017)
162 pages, $14.52 paperback; $4.99 e-book
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

Stephanie M. Wytovich is an American poet, novelist, and essayist. Her Bram Stoker Award-winning poetry collection, Brothel, earned a home with Raw Dog Screaming Press alongside Hysteria: A Collection of Madness, Mourning Jewelry, An Exorcism of Angels, and her newest collection, also nominated for the Stoker Award, Sheet Music to My Acoustic Nightmare.Continue Reading

Review: When the Night Owl Screams by Michael H. Hanson

Cemetery Dance OnlineNovember 14, 2018November 11, 2018ReviewsJoshua Gage, Michael H. Hanson, MoonDream Press, Reviews, When the Night Owl ScreamsLeave a comment

When the Night Owl Screams by Michael H. Hanson
MoonDream Press (October 2017)
154 pages, $12.95 paperback; $1.99 e-book
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

When the Night Owl Screams is a collection of dark fantasy and horror poetry. It’s a wonderfully designed book with a very appealing cover, and features some very clever ideas. The poems, however, are clunky. Ultimately, this is a weak collection of poems.Continue Reading

Review: Frankenstein in Baghdad

Cemetery Dance OnlineOctober 17, 2018October 14, 2018ReviewsAhmed Saadawi, Frankenstein in Baghdad, Joshua Gage, Penguin Books, ReviewsLeave a comment

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Books (January 2018)
288 pages, $10.87 paperback; $11.99 e-book
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

Ahmed Saadawi is an Iraqi novelist, poet, screenwriter and documentary film maker. He won the 2014 International Prize for Arabic Fiction for Frankenstein in Baghdad, which was recently translated into English and published by Penguin.

Frankenstein in Baghdad is a Dickensian novel, focused on multiple characters. The titular character, also known as Whatsitsname, comes into being when Hadi, a junk dealer, collects the body parts of bombing victims throughout Baghdad and sews them together in order that there be a body to bury and perform holy rituals for. This piecemeal body gains consciousness and begins to take revenge on the people who are responsible for the death of its individual parts; however, once an individual part is avenged, it begins to disintegrate, requiring the body to constantly be updated with new parts. This starts a vicious cycle of finding parts quickly enough to replace the disappearing parts, and soon the bodies of terrorists and criminals are used, which causes a madness in the creature. Continue Reading

Review: Zombie Apocalypse in Ditmas Park

Cemetery Dance OnlineAugust 22, 2018August 12, 2018Reviewscoloring book, Joshua Gage, Kristine Scheiner, Reviews, Zombie Apocalypse in Ditmas ParkLeave a comment

Zombie Apocalypse in Ditmas Park by Kristine Scheiner
CreateSpace (May 2017)
32 pages, $6.99 paperback
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

Zombie Apocalypse in Ditmas Park: A NYC Coloring Book Adventure for Ghoulish Hacks to Chillax is exactly what it sounds like. New York is invaded by zombies, and the rich blew up the bridges, so Brooklyn is left to fend for itself. Readers follow the adventures of the Scheiner sisters as they prepare for a Zombie Apocalypse Party. What ensues is a joyful romp through a zombie-filled wasteland rich with in-jokes that would make any zombie fan or New Yorker proud.Continue Reading

FREE email updates!

Categories