Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: All In Fear: A Collection of Six Horror Tales
AUTHOR: Roan Parrish, Kris Ripper, KJ Charles, Steve Berman, Avon Gale, and J.A. Rock
PUBLISHER: Open Ink Press
LENGTH: 245 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 1st, 2016
ANTHOLOGY BLURB:
Horror wears many faces, and its masks can be tantalizing. Some of the top names in queer fiction come together to spin their own versions of horror. Worlds rife with dark beauty and mystery, the familiar becoming terrible, creatures ethereal and alluring—and all bearing the gleam of love. Does hope lie along these grim passages or only doom? It will become clear. All in time—and all in fear.
Six of the top names in queer romance join forces with Open Ink Press to bring you a deliciously unsettling horror anthology slated to release December 1st, 2016. All in Fear will feature chilling new and original stories from KJ Charles, Roan Parrish, Avon Gale, Kris Ripper, J.A. Rock, and Steve Berman. Coinciding with the winter holidays, the anthology will focus on the traditional macabre elements of horror coupled with the possibility for romance.
Company by Roan Parrish
BLURB:
Nick Levy’s family is falling apart and he has no friends, but at least he can escape into the world of his favorite comic book series, The Face of the Vampire. Naturally, when the vampire in question shows up one day, Nick is enthralled. After all, what could be better than his own personal fantasy made real? Except that Nick isn’t exactly sure whether Michel is real or not. And when the arrival of a new boy in school promises romance, Nick sees a side of Michel he never could have imagined. This Michel is cruel, jealous . . . and he’ll do anything to keep Nick for himself.
REVIEW:
This story had elements of paranormal, first love, and lust but I think overall what this story was was just plain sad. I mean this was overwhelmingly sad. I’m thinking Nick was incredibly mentally unstable so much so that it had a direct, negative impact on his life and personal relationships. Was Michel real? I don’t know? Was what he had with Nathaniel real? I don’t know. The reader is left with tons of questions at the end of this one. The only conclusion I can draw that makes the most sense is that this story was Nick suffered from some sort of mental illness or mood disorder to be able to conjure up Michel and for Michel’s presence to impact his life so much.
It was scary in the sense that you never knew when Michel was going to show up or what he was going to do.
Heartbreaking story but Roan Parrish is a masterful writer. I loved how Michel gave Nick a backbone at the beginning. This story does go to a dark place though so be prepared.
RATING: 
Love Me True by Kris Ripper
BLURB:
Palmer’s life is as good as it gets. Well, okay, so he hates his mind-numbing office job. But he’s found a hot, smart, incredibly kinky guy. The sex is explosive. The power play is off the hook. And if he gets his way, Jon will soon be his husband.
When Palmer asks, Jon says yes. For the first time ever, Palmer thinks things might be really good. Sure, bad things happen in the world—to other people. But this is all he needs: Jon at the end of the day, in their bed, arms around him.
How could he have possibly been so stupid?
REVIEW:
This story was intense and crazy and smokin’ HOT! I knew going into this that there was going to be a twist and I’ll admit this author was really good at drawing this out and building up the suspense. I really didn’t want this to turn out how I thought it would. I really wanted the ending to be different. But alas….this was definitely a thriller.
Palmer and Jon seemingly have the perfect life. The same interests, hobbies and a smokin’ hot sex life puts their happily ever after within sight.
Unfortunately all isn’t what it seems in their happy lives. People have gone missing and a serial killer is on the loose.
My favorite thing about this book was the connection that Palmer and Jon have. You can tell its true love.
Again this book is riddled with twists and turns leading the reader on an action packed ride towards the end.
RATING: 
The Price of Meat by KJ Charles
BLURB:
Johanna Oakley will do anything to save her beloved Arabella from the cruelty of Mr Fogg’s madhouse—but ‘anything’ turns out to be more than she bargained for when she finds herself working for a man suspected of worse than murder. As Johanna is plunged from the horror of Sawney Reynard’s barber shop into the foul, lawless labyrinth at the heart of London, can she or anyone get out alive?
REVIEW:
This was my first F/F romance and I was pleasantly surprised. While there was no sex in this story I really liked the glimpse into Johanna and Arabella’s relationship. Being an historical romance everything they felt was wrapped up tight but you could feel it glowing on the pages during their interactions.
Arabella is the heir to a great fortune. Unfortunately her family is money hungry and has her deemed unfit and locked away. Johanna, Arabella’s beloved goes to great lengths to free her from an insane asylum.
Agreeing to work for a psychopath barber puts Johanna directly into harm’s way.
This was an interesting take on an old story. I appreciated the romance/love elements amongst the gore and pain.
This author is an amazing storyteller and had me engrossed within the first few pages. Now I want more…
RATING:
His Mouth Will Taste of Chernobyl by Steve Berman
BLURB:
Joining Zeta Psi isn’t Steve’s dream, it’s his dad’s. Nevertheless his dad’s gift of the mysterious Bailey flask gets Steve an in to the frat house, and maybe his best shot at being accepted on campus. But the flask’s silver sheen may only be lighting his way into the darkness at the heart of the frat—and the darkness he’s learning is within himself. Steve wants to choose who he is, but choices are dropping like flies as he learns the true mystery of the Bailey flask. How does he give back a gift that’s also a curse?
REVIEW:
Now this story was BIZARRE!!! Like crazy bizarre…this one was more magic/spells than scary, in my opinion. I get what the author was going for though. This one focused more on what was causing these people to act the way they did in regards to this mysterious flask. Unfortunately though this one was probably my least favorite of the anthology but the visuals this author conjured up were visceral. The thought of “Noble” in general was nauseating but I liked how the author was so descriptive.
Steve just started college and at the demand of his father pledged a fraternity. He doesn’t do this empty handed however. Steve’s father gives him a flask that has been handed down. Steve quickly learns that the flask is more than just a simple flask.
This story captures the horrors of hazing and how hard college life is at times. There’s the insinuation of non-con sort of so be warned. There’s also the hope of a romantic relationship at the end which was nice.
This was an ok story and good for this anthology just for the bizarre factor alone.
RATING: 
Legion: A Love Story by Avon Gale
BLURB:
STAFF SERGEANT JASON ESSEX, YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING ORDERS FROM THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS:
REPORT TO: CAIN INSTITUTE [ADDRESS REDACTED]
ACTIVE DUTY COMMITMENT: GUARD AN ENTITY CURRENTLY HELD IN AN ENCLOSURE AT THE CAIN INSTITUTE. RECORD DAILY MEASUREMENTS. KEEP ANY AND ALL PERSONS FROM ENTERING OR LEAVING THE FACILITY. ENSURE THE ENTITY REMAINS COMPLETELY INCARCERATED. OBSERVE THE ENTITY WITHOUT ENGAGING.
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS: THIS ASSIGNMENT WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN FULL ISOLATION. PLEASE BE ADVISED.
REVIEW:
OMG….this was so friggin good!!! I need more, more, more….! I’m pretty new to this author but the way they worked this story was absolutely amazing. I was in suspense and on the edge of my seat throughout the whole story. I loved the build up and I loved every interaction between Cain and Jason. The writing and storytelling were so perfect…my only complaint is the fact that I need more!!!
Jason is a Marine who has just been given very top secret, mysterious orders. He quickly finds out that his assignment is a being that is anything but human. At first things go ok but then things start happening….nightmares, sleepless nights, the stress of isolation and he breaks the biggest rule of all. He starts engaging the being.
I was left with so many questions after reading this. It’s one of those books that would make an amazing TV show or movie.
Scary, thrilling, suspenseful, with a little forbidden passion mixed in. Plus, the ending…ahhh, I need more!!!
RATING: 
Beauties by J.A. Rock
BLURB:
When Dr. Lester Usole attends an event at AI developer Carnificiality, he’s introduced to Beauties: artificial beings designed to provide tailored sexual experiences for their human owners. Lester isn’t interested in sex—but he is fascinated by Ira, a Beauty too violent to be sold.
Lester convinces Carnificiality to give Ira to him. Lester has always wanted the chance to work with an adult AI, and around Lester, Ira isn’t violent. He’s strangely innocent, uncannily perceptive, and his company does much to ease Lester’s loneliness. Except something’s not quite right: Ira roams at night, even when Lester’s sure he’s locked Ira’s door.
Soon Lester is certain of only one thing: Ira has a secret. Something that will link their pasts and change the course of their future—if Lester is willing to face what’s on the inside.
REVIEW:
This was another intense, page turning, thrill ride!! I think of all the stories this was the scariest. Beauties is mostly scary suspense with some really nasty gory elements. I don’t think it’ll come as a surprise that I truly adore JA Rock. This author always captures my attention with every word they right. Beauties is no exception…
Beauties is set in a futuristic world where there are walking talking androids that are made. Lester’s job is the work with baby androids. Needless to say Lester is obsessed with artificial intelligence which in turn leads him to a conference where he picks up an android named Ira.
Ira is an android but isn’t. He’s smarter, more emotional and carries a lot of human qualities. Ira is also very volatile even with Lester who is always incredibly kind to Ira.
Like I mentioned there’s not romance here. This is purely suspense and it is riveting.
There are so many twists, turns, secrets, etc….I just kept going because I had to figure out what was going on.
This is such a great scary story. Recommend.
RATING:
OVERALL RATING:
BUY LINK: