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Messenger's Legacy: A Demon Cycle Novella (The Demon Cycle #3.5)
by Peter V. BrettAn aging Messenger takes his armor out of storage for one last adventure.Six-year-old Briar Damaj, a half Krasian boy in the tiny village of Bogton, is used to being tormented by his siblings, and the villagers who call him Mudboy. When an attack leaves him orphaned, Briar feels he has no choice but to flee into the demon-infested bog where chances of survival seem hopeless.Ragen, a Messenger and friend of Briar’s father, hunts for days through fetid swampland before giving the boy up for dead and retiring from his dangerous career.A decade later, Ragen receives news that Briar has survived against all odds, living alone in the wetlands like an animal. Unable to bear it, Ragen puts on his old armor and sets out for one last adventure to bring Briar home.A tale set between The Daylight War and The Skull Throne of Peter V. Brett’s internationally bestselling Demon Cycle series, Messenger’s Legacy can be enjoyed both as a standalone and part of the larger series, which has sold over 4M copies in 27 languages worldwide.Praise for Messenger’s Legacy:A great short story, and also a great lead-in to the fourth novel in the series, The Skull Throne. ... This series has my highest recommendation. A must-read.” — Civilian Reader“The amount of depth that Brett manages to get into his short stories and novellas never ceases to amaze me and Messenger’s Legacy is no exception [...] Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed getting stuck into Brett’s world and my only disappointment was that it ended so quickly.” — SFcrowsnestFriendship, love, bravery and survival against the odds are key themes in all of Peter’s work and you will find them weaved artistically within this novella – a wonderful addition to The Demon Cycle canon.” — Fantasy Faction
Mestiza Blood
by V. CastroA short story collection of nightmares, dreams, desire and visions centered around the Chicana experience. The stunning, star-reviewed V. Castro weaves urban legend, folklore, life experience and heartache in this intimate anthology of modern horrors.From the lauded author of The Queen of the Cicadas (which picked up starred reviews from PW, Kirkus and Booklist who called her "a dynamic and innovative voice") comes a short story collection of nightmares, dreams, desire and visions focused on the Chicana experience. V.Castro weaves urban legend, folklore, life experience and heartache in this personal journey beginning in south Texas: a bar where a devil dances the night away; a street fight in a neighborhood that may not have been a fight after all; a vengeful chola at the beginning of the apocalypse; mind swapping in the not so far future; satan who falls and finds herself in a brothel in Amsterdam; the keys to Mictlan given to a woman after she dies during a pandemic. The collection finishes with two longer tales: The Final Porn Star is a twist on the final girl trope and slasher, with a creature from Mexican folklore; and Truck Stop is an erotic horror romance with two hearts: a video store and a truck stop.FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing Independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
Metais Pesados
by Margo Bond CollinsConheça Blaze Silver, uma caçadora de monstros e uma maga da terra muito mal humorada que acabou sendo amaldiçoada por um demônio e que enfrenta lobisomens, demônios, vampiros e muitas outras criaturas nessa coleção de romances e contos de fantasia. Silver & Selvagens Blaize e sua prima Grace enfrentam lobisomens em Tombstone no Arizona, e ficam cara a cara com um problema muito maior do que esse! Sinos de Prata do Inferno Blaize e seu mais novo companheiro Lobo, seguem o Chamado até uma pequena cidade nas montanhas de San Juan no Colorado, onde há um segredo mortal escondido na neve. Resoluções Blaize e Lobo conhecem MaddieAnne Honeycutt e descobrem que ela pode ser a mais nova caçadora! Prata e Feitiçaria Blaize e Lobo vão parar em um rancho abandonado e acabam em uma batalha com um inimigo inusitado. Inclui também a história de Ruby Silver: "Presentes Indesejados"! Conheça como a ancestral de Blaze Silver acabou amaldiçoada com alergia à prata e com uma compulsão por caçar monstros.
Metal Pesado: Serie de Magia Heavy Metal: Historias de Origen
by Margo Bond CollinsCon una maldición por un demonio, la cazadora Blaize Silver se enfrenta a licántropos, chupacabras, vampiros, y otros seres sobrenaturales en esta colección de novelas e historias cortas. Salvaje & Silver Blaize y su prima Grace se enfrentan a los licántropos en Tombstone, Arizona, ¡Y se encuentran de cara con un problema mucho más grande! Campanas Infernales de los Silver La cazadora de monstruos Blaize Silver y su nuevo compañero Lobo siguen su maldición a un pequeño pueblo en las Montañas San Juan, en Colorado, donde la nieve esconde un secreto mortal. Resoluciones Blaize y Lobo conocen a MaddieAnne Honeycutt, ¡Y descubren que hay una nueva cazadora en el pueblo! Hechicería & Silver ¡Blaize y Lobo terminan en un rancho abandonado y se encuentran en un combate con un enemigo muy inusual! ¡También incluye la novela de Ruby Silver: Regalos No Deseados! Aprendan como la ancestro de Blaize Silver, Ruby, terminó maldita con alergia a la plata y una compulsión a cazar monstruos.
Metamorfosi Digitale
by Claudio Pardo MolinaSiamo in un secolo in cui la civiltà celebra il progresso della tecnologia digitale e la sua interferenza in tutte le interazioni umane. L'elettronica è diventata parte della nostra vita come una benedizione, che ci avvicina sempre più a ciò che supponiamo siano i poteri di Dio. Questa storia parla della vita di Gabriel Kafka, un giovane qualsiasi, che un giorno si risveglia fisicamente trasformato in un essere digitale mostruoso, e che cerca di inserirsi in una famiglia che lo apprezza solo per quello che può contribuire economicamente Nel mezzo di questo cambiamento fisico, e di fronte a una società piena di interessi superficiali, come il potere e la fama, cerca di rispondere alla domanda: cosa ci rende umani? Le nostre azioni, le nostre emozioni o il nostro corpo?
Metamorphosis
by James P. BlaylockMETAMORPHOSIS is collection of three short stories, written by three young students in collaboration by James P. Blaylock for a class taught by Tim Powers, who provides the introduction.Mirrors, shadows, and secret rooms: the houses in which we dwell are sometimes much stranger than they seem to be, as are the people we think we know. Here are three stories of haunted places that stand waiting for you to enter, their windows shuttered, but their doors unlocked.REVIEWSCoauthored by Blaylock and a trio of his high school students, these three reflective short-short stories employing Blaylock's signature nostalgic prose are individually strong in technique, but weakened by thematic similarities. The eccentric hero of Adriana Campoy's lighthearted "Stone Eggs" uncovers an entryway into a fantastic world while house-sitting for his uncle. In Brittany Cox's well-written but unexciting "P-38," Anderson revisits his imperfect childhood by assembling a model airplane from his father's former shop. Alex Haniford's "Houses" hurtles toward darkness when Michael returns home for his mother's funeral and accidentally unearths the chilling secret behind his father's spiraling dementia. While Tim Powers offers a short foreword and William Ashbless (Powers and Blaylock's joint nom de plume) provides a whimsical afterword, readers will recognize both as padding and be left wanting more real content. (Apr.)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Metamorphosis: A Collection of Short Stories
by Claire FitzpatrickMadeline will never become a woman. William will never become a man. Does June deserve to be human? Does Lilith deserve a heart? Seventeen stories. Seventeen tales of terror. If imperfection is crucial to a society's survival, what makes a monster?
The Metamorphosis and Other Stories (Norton Critical Editions Ser. #0)
by Franz KafkaA classic collection of twentieth century literature, beloved the world over. "The Metamorphosis" revolves around Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman who is suddenly transformed into a large, insectile creature while asleep one night. He and his family struggle to adapt to this change, with Gregor attempting to hide his visage as much as possible, and his family struggling to make ends meet without his paycheque. The result is a bleak, often absurdist, take on the banality of everyday living. This collection also includes Kafka's "The Great Wall of China," "Investigations of a Dog," "The Burrow," "In the Penal Settlement," and "The Giant Mole." Penguin Random House Canada is proud to bring you classic works of literature in e-book form, with the highest quality production values. Find more today and rediscover books you never knew you loved.
Methods of Madness
by Ray Garton"This is the first fiction collection from Garton...his writing is compelling." -- Publishers WeeklyRay Garton exposes himself as a master storyteller in METHODS OF MADNESS, with six stories centered on the psychotic, twisted deviations in human nature. Anchored by the riveting short novel, "Dr. Krusadian's Method," Garton's style is so real, so believable, he could be describing people you encounter every day. The couple upstairs, your neighbors and relatives, maybe even your own husband or wife. What kind of madness is really played out behind their shuttered windows? Also features the stories "Fat," "Active Member," Something Kinky," "Sinema," and Shock Radio." This is Ray Garton at his terrifying best."Garton is on his way to becoming a major name in any field he works in." -- Joe R. Lansdale
Mexican Gothic: a mesmerising historical Gothic fantasy set in 1950s Mexico
by Silvia Moreno-GarciaThe award-winning author of Gods of Jade and Shadow (one of the 100 best fantasy novels of all time, TIME magazine) returns with a mesmerising feminist Gothic fantasy, in which a glamorous young socialite discovers the haunting secrets of a beautiful old mansion in 1950s Mexico. He is trying to poison me. You must come for me, Noemí. You have to save me.When glamorous socialite Noemí Taboada receives a frantic letter from her newlywed cousin begging to be rescued from a mysterious doom, it's clear something is desperately amiss. Catalina has always had a flair for the dramatic, but her claims that her husband is poisoning her and her visions of restless ghosts seem remarkable, even for her.Noemí's chic gowns and perfect lipstick are more suited to cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing, but she immediately heads to High Place, a remote mansion in the Mexican countryside, determined to discover what is so affecting her cousin.Tough and smart, she possesses an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: not of her cousin's new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi's dreams with visions of blood and doom.Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family's youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family's past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family's once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness. And Noemí, mesmerised by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to leave this enigmatic house behind . . .
Mexican Gothic
by Silvia Moreno-GarciaAn isolated mansion. A chillingly charismatic aristocrat. And a brave socialite drawn to expose their treacherous secrets. . . . <P><P>After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region. <P><P>Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom. Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. <P><P>For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness. And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind. <P><P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Mexican Gothic
by Silvia Moreno-GarciaThe acclaimed author of Gods of Jade and Shadow returns with a mesmerising feminist re-imagining of Gothic fantasy, in which a young socialite discovers the haunting secrets of a beautiful old mansion in 1950s Mexico. He is trying to poison me. You must come for me, Noemí. You have to save me.When glamorous socialite Noemí Taboada receives a frantic letter from her newlywed cousin begging to be rescued from a mysterious doom, it's clear something is desperately amiss. Catalina has always had a flair for the dramatic, but her claims that her husband is poisoning her and her visions of restless ghosts seem remarkable, even for her.Noemí's chic gowns and perfect lipstick are more suited to cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing, but she immediately heads to High Place, a remote mansion in the Mexican countryside, determined to discover what is so affecting her cousin.Tough and smart, she possesses an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: not of her cousin's new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi's dreams with visions of blood and doom.Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family's youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family's past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family's once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness. And Noemí, mesmerised by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to leave this enigmatic house behind . . .(P)2020 Random House Audio
Mi cuento
by Erick Carballo Stefano PastorLa guerra entre los niños y los ogros nunca terminará. Gatto sabe exactamente cómo es el mundo, y conoce la diferencia entre realidad y mito. La realidad es que el mundo de los niños es una prisión donde los ogros los tienen encerrados. Ahí pueden vivir en una ilusión de libertad, pero son conscientes de que esa libertad algún día terminará. Cuando estén muy altos, el ogro llegará y se los llevará para comérselos, porque eso es lo que harán los ogros. El resto de lo que pase detrás de esa puerta no es más que leyenda. Ellos no saben nada. Todo lo que se transmite de boca en boca es vacío y confuso. Está a punto de descubrirlo, el momento ha llegado, pero Gatto aún no quiere aceptarlo. Cuando el ogro venga a buscarlo, él ya se habrá escapado. Huye y se pierde en un laberinto oscuro e incomprensible; pero lo que le ocurre afuera es algo inesperado; algo de lo que ninguna leyenda ha contado jamás. Un mundo lleno de obstáculos y maravillas, donde se esconde la respuesta a todas sus preguntas.
Mi entierro
by Leopoldo Alas «Clarín»La desbordante imaginación de Leopoldo Alas Clarín se condensa en este relato que mezcla cordura y delirio a partes iguales. Un viaje onírico que nos transporta de la vida a la muerte, de la realidad a la imaginación, dónde nunca sabremos si lo que Clarín nos está contando es verdad o invento. Tras salir de una taberna a altas horas de la madrugada, el protagonista de este magistral relato nos lleva de la mano hasta su casa, para ver como su propio cadáver está postrado en la cama a la espera de ser amortajado. Le acompañamos durante la comitiva fúnebre, escuchando de boca se sus conocidos cuáles han sido sus grandes logros en la vida. Hasta su entierro, y más allá.
Mi Hot-dog Cobró Vida y me Cogió
by Scarlet DeLorneObsceno, divertido y simplemente incorrecto. Mi Hot-dog Cobró Vida y me Cogió está lleno de chistes de salchichas y muchas acciones osadas. Escrito para aquellos que buscan reírse pero también quieren sacar su lado pervertido. El nombre lo dice todo.
Michael The Great: Children's Book / Suspense / Humour
by A. P. HernándezMonsters have never been so much fun. Meet Michael and discover his adventures as a monster hunter. Michael the Great to the rescue!
Michigan Mega-Monsters (American Chillers #1)
by Johnathan RandAMERICAN CHILLERS WHAT ONCE WAS A LEGEND . . . HAS BECOME A NIGHTMARE! When Rick Owens arrives at Camp Willow, he's ready for a week of fun. He's met two new friends: Sandy Johnson and Leah Warner, and the three are ready for an exciting week. But when Rick spots strange tracks around his cabin, the campers realize that they aren't the only ones at the small, lakeside summer camp. And what about the legends that speak of giant, terrifying creatures that roam the swamp at night? Soon, Rick, Sandy, and Leah find out that the legends of the Michigan Mega-Monsters aren't legends at all! The problem is: have they found out too late?
Mickelsson's Ghosts
by John GardnerGardner&’s final novel: a delicate tapestry of literary genres that create a wonderfully mysterious and ambitious narrative As Peter Mickelsson&’s brilliant career as a professor at Brown University winds down, he suffers from alcoholism and is on the brink of divorce. Seeking a new start, Mickelsson moves to an old farmhouse in the Pennsylvania countryside to take a position at Bingham University. But when mysterious supernatural events begin to occur, it becomes clear that these new surroundings will not provide a refuge for this troubled man, but rather prompt an introspective look into the ultimate value of his life&’s work. With distinctive style and linguistic mastery, author John Gardner weaves together a string of extraordinary plots that culminate in an unforgettable conclusion. This ebook features a new illustrated biography of John Gardner, including original letters, rare photos, and never-before-seen documents from the Gardner family and the University of Rochester Archives.
Middle School Bites (Middle School Bites #1)
by Steven BanksTom is desperate to fit in at school, but he's hungry and howling, not to mention half dead. Blame it on the vampire - and the werewolf - and the zombie - in this monstrously funny new series from SpongeBob SquarePants head writer Steven Banks."Fast! Funny! Fresh!" - Chris Grabenstein, #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series"What are you waiting for? Open this book right now!" - Tom Angleberger, New York Times best-selling author of the Origami Yoda seriesThanks to a series of unfortunate bites, eleven-year-old Tom is a triple threat: he's a Vam-Wolf-Zom. And just in time for the first day of middle school. So much for his Invisible Tom Plan. He never thought to make a What If I Turn Into A Vampire Werewolf Zombie Plan. Maybe it's time for a Run Away and Live Somewhere Else Plan?With the help of his irrepressible best friend, Zeke, Tom tries to accept his future. Zeke thinks being a Vam-Wolf-Zom sounds EXCELLENT! (Zeke thinks everything sounds EXCELLENT!) At least he'll be able to stand up to the sixth-grade bully. The question is will the rest of Hamilton Middle School accept the Vam-Wolf-Zom, too? Tom's toothsome saga is illustrated with clever, cartoon-style art on every spread. Created by an Emmy-nominated writer for SpongeBob, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, and CatDog, this new series is perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Last Kids on Earth. EXCELLENT!
Middle School Bites: Night of the Vam-Wolf-Zom (Middle School Bites)
by Steven BanksTom the Vam-Wolf-Zom is back—and so is the zombie that bit him—in this monstrously funny series about a boy who&’s dying to fit in.Eleven-year-old Tom was bit by a vampire, a werewolf, and a zombie right before the first day of middle school. It was a weird and crazy day. And he didn&’t even get excused from sixth grade! Now Tom is stuck navigating normal middle-school conundrums as the world's only Vam-Wolf-Zom. And ever since he accidentally caused some drama between the vampire and the werewolf who bit him, he's got to avoid trouble with them, too. Luckily the zombie who bit him turns out to be a super nice guy. (Go figure!) Even the nicest monster can't help when it comes to figuring out the rules for sixth grade, though. Looks like Tom is on his own as he deals with band arguments, a suddenly-friendly-but-formerly-mean bully, and even a first kiss. Created by an Emmy-nominated writer for SpongeBob, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, and CatDog, this hilarious series is illustrated with clever, cartoon-style art on every spread. Perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Last Kids on Earth.
Middle School Bites: Out for Blood (Middle School Bites #3)
by Steven BanksTom the Vam-Wolf-Zom is back--and so is the werewolf that bit him--in this monstrously funny series about a boy who's dying to fit in.Eleven-year-old Tom was bit by a vampire, a werewolf, and a zombie right before the first day of middle school. It was a weird and crazy day. And he didn't even get excused from sixth grade!Now he's being hunted down by the werewolf that bit him. Should Tom join a wolf pack? On the one hand, he could give up school and homework forever. (He really doesn't want to do his history report.) On the other hand, he'd miss his band, his friends, and Annie, his maybe-possibly-someday girlfriend. He might even miss his big sister, Emma.Then the vampire that bit him returns with a warning: the werewolf is dangerous. Perhaps Tom should stick with sixth grade--even if it's mostly talent show disappointments, detention, and chicken-turkey-salami-roast beef sandwiches. Created by an Emmy-nominated writer for SpongeBob, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, and CatDog, this hilarious series is illustrated with clever, cartoon-style art on every spread. Perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Last Kids on Earth.
Middle School Bites: Tom Bites Back (Middle School Bites #2)
by Steven BanksTom the Vam-Wolf-Zom is back - and so is the vampire bat that bit him - in this monstrously funny series about a boy who's dying to fit in."Fast! Funny! Fresh!" - Chris Grabenstein, #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series"What are you waiting for? Open this book right now!" - Tom Angleberger, New York Times best-selling author of the Origami Yoda seriesEleven-year-old Tom was bit by a vampire, a werewolf, and a zombie right before the first day of middle school. It was a weird and crazy day. And the worst part? Even a Vam-Wolf-Zom needs to go to sixth grade. At least his neighbors and classmates seem to have accepted him. Annie even wants him to join her band! Plus, there are some cool things about having vampire and werewolf traits. Tom has night vision now, and he's super-fast and strong. (There's nothing cool about being a zombie.) Maybe life as a Vam-Wolf-Zom will be as EXCELLENT as his best friend, Zeke, predicted. But when the bat that bit Tom shows up again, and speaks to him, he knows it's time for a new plan. Tom's laugh-out-loud adventures continue as he navigates normal sixth grade stuff - singing in a band, dressing up for Halloween, tolerating his older sister - despite being the only Vam-Wolf-Zom known to humankind. Created by an Emmy-nominated writer for SpongeBob, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, and CatDog, this hilarious series is illustrated with clever, cartoon-style art on every spread. Don't miss Middle School Bites, the first book in the series!
Middlegame
by Seanan McGuireNew York Times bestselling and Alex, Nebula, and Hugo-Award-winning author Seanan McGuire introduces readers to a world of amoral alchemy, shadowy organizations, and impossible cities in the standalone fantasy, Middlegame. <P><P>Meet Roger. Skilled with words, languages come easily to him. He instinctively understands how the world works through the power of story. <P><P>Meet Dodger, his twin. Numbers are her world, her obsession, her everything. All she understands, she does so through the power of math.Roger and Dodger aren’t exactly human, though they don’t realise it. They aren’t exactly gods, either. Not entirely. Not yet. <P><P>Meet Reed, skilled in the alchemical arts like his progenitor before him. Reed created Dodger and her brother. He’s not their father. Not quite. But he has a plan: to raise the twins to the highest power, to ascend with them and claim their authority as his own <P><P>.Godhood is attainable. Pray it isn’t attained.
Midget
by Tim BowlerSubject to strange fits, physically abnormal, and psychologically disturbed from the constant torment and abuse of his older brother, fifteen-year-old Midget finds himself in control of his life for the first time when he gets his own sailboat and discovers untapped mental powers.
Midnight: A gripping thriller full of suspense from the number one bestselling author
by Dean KoontzWhat is the dark and terrifying secret that haunts Moonlight Cove? Midnight is a gripping thriller from bestselling novelist Dean Koontz that explores a town haunted by a deadly presence. Perfect for fans of THE EYES OF DARKNESS and Stephen King.'A monster hit... In his own masterful way, Koontz slowly unveils the escalating horror... breath-taking' - Dallas Morning News A string of inexplicable deaths has occurred in the picturesque coastal town of Midnight Cove; sinister, shadowy figures stalk the streets in the dead of night and four people are drawn together by terrifying circumstance: a young woman determined to find the truth behind her sister's suicide; an undercover federal agent; a child on the run from her parents; and a wheelchair-bound veteran.As darkness descends, these four must confront the chilling nightmare of Moonlight Cove... What readers are saying about Midnight: 'The characters are exceedingly well drawn, the plot is compelling and the concept one that really engages''The book is thought-provoking, it's part adventure and part reflection of the darker side of human nature, but it's mostly just good, pulse-racing fun''Keeps you spellbound and wanting to keep the lights on!'