Nineteen pages into Night Creeps by Michael D’Ambrosio and I was already gagging. So much gore, so much alien sex . . . I LOVED IT! From the first page all the way to the (literally) bloody end, I was gripped by the story and the characters of good, evil, and even more evil. So much torn flesh . . .
The story is thus: small town Parmissing Valley soon “welcomes” three new visitors – aliens from another world who are bent on destruction, control of the “stupid” human masses, and eating human flesh. The aliens Grimwold, Shurek, and Kroll have the uncanny ability to turn humans into either flesh eating ravaging mutants or half alien half human beings that are linked through the mind. The three descend upon the town without a second thought and eat their way through with glee. They soon get the “brilliant” idea to turn three women – Jane, Suzie, and Pam – into their “companions”. However, all goes to hell in an entrails covered hand basket as the body count increases, betrayals are made with fanged glee, and long wiggling tongues are used in the most unique way. Oh and did I mention strange pulsing lumps of DNA? Or eggs with tentacles? Or jellyfish looking creatures with a higher intelligence than the entire planet????
Like I said earlier, this book had me gagging all the way through and yet I couldn’t put it down. Although the majority of the book was gore and really, really kinky alien sex scenes, the book held enough humour, action, and twists to make for a damn good read. This book reminded me of the film Tremors and in a good way (if you’ve never seen that film, I highly recommend watching it!) There are only four authors that have ever made me gag and want to vomit repeatedly – Alexander S. Brown, Jason Fedora, Clive Barker, and Michael D’Ambrosio. Yet, all four of these authors can tell a story rather well, showing off their creativity. Three of them I call good friends. Even if you take the gore out of their stories, they still are worthwhile reads. I highly recommend these four if you are into horror, splatterpunk, dark fantasy, and just good books.
While doing the social media research for this review, I noticed that there is a Night Creeps II on the AZ Publishing website. . . . . . I’m really not sure if I want to read it . . . . . yeah, I probably will!
Kim Richardson (The Nocturnal Aesthetic)
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This is book one of the Space Frontiers Series by the author of Fractured Time Trilogy.
”Will Saris, a young officer in the space Fleet wages his own war with the alien alliance which kills his parents. He finds the Fleet has contributed to their deaths and has a history of forms of genocide. In disobeying his commander’s orders, he is thrust into a fast lane of adventure, romance honor and horror, as he comes into the paranormal powers of himself and his wife-to-be.
This is rip-roaring adventure with a touch of humor. We have a master storyteller combining sci-fi and fantasy into a fun read. You’ll love this. ~~ Pam Allan (ConNotations)
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Michael D’Ambrosio’s latest sci-fi novel, ‘The Eye of Icarus,’ blasts off like a rocket aimed straight at the hearts of ‘Star Wars’ fans and beyond. This galaxy-spanning first installment of D’Ambrosio’s ‘The Space Frontiers’ series, comes front-loaded with a crisp, crackling plot full of intrigue, humor, adventure, close calls, and cliffhanger escapes, all driven by a lively cast of characters and stripped-down prose that never gets in the way of the action. Certainly, there’s a movie in D’Ambrosio’s future.
– Steve Starger
co-author of Wally’s World: The Brilliant Life and Tragic Death of Wally Wood, the World’s Second Best Comic Book Artist.
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Read an online review at: OnLine Review of Books
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Read an online review at: Swamy’s Online Book Reviews
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Exerpts from live Radio review from the Mona Miller Show on CRN Digital Talk Radio – See it now
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“Michael D’Ambrosio’s new book ‘The Eye of Icarus’ will surely bring him a whole new legion of sci-fi fans. His story is a treat for all those readers that appreciate a good story from outer space”
– Joe Mazza
Syndicated Radio Host
The Joe Mazza Show
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If there is a sci-fi author that other sci-fi writers are going to praise I think it will be Mr. Mike D’Ambrosio. Already some heavy hitters like Storm Constantine I hear are asking for a copy of his new book ‘The Eye of Icarus.’ When I interviewed this author on my Hollywood Film Flash radio show I saw immediately how this book would transition to a sci-fi movie from a major studio. Book brings to mind for me a favorite sci-fi movie from the 1970s called ‘Dark Star.’
– Rick Anthony
Radio Host
Hollywood Film Flash
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Michael D’Ambrosio infuses his new novel, THE EYE OF ICARUS, with all the necessary elements of science fiction, but then goes further to broaden the appeal to lovers of good general fiction. The result is a profound study of the human condition that affects both male and female readers alike. This is quite rare for science fiction, but Mike D�Ambrosio has mastered the art of reaching an audience. I was especially thrilled by the portrayal of the young shape-shifter, who rescues a lovely priestess in order to gain possession of a powerful crystal that foretells the future. D’Ambrosio knows how to force me to turn the pages!
– Vin Smith of MIDNIGHT BOOK WORM and Night Shift radio in San Francisco
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“Writer Michael D’Ambrosio possesses a marvelous sense of imagination and is a master story teller with the creation of this very curious and compelling book combining fantasy and sci-fi, The Eye of Icarus. When I saw the title of the book I first expected it was a reworking of the classic Greek myth, but was pleasantly surprised to find that the age old story actually inspired Mr. D’Ambrosio. The hero in this book travels to other worlds with his romantic other as they do battle with intergalactic evil forces in their mission to seek a powerful crystal that has the power to see into the future. This is a book for everyone to read, both kids and parents who love a good book with a good story. I recommend this very entertaining book from Mr. D’Ambrosio.”
– Jack Roberts, Cable Radio Network
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I can’t wait for the second book in the series! As I was reading, I could visualize the story unfolding on the big screen! You have a wonderful way of breathing life onto the pages, even if some of the life is not human. My favorite setting was Eve’s Garden of Paradise with Cookie, the bartender with 6 arms and a frog’s head! I would have loved to read more descriptions of Eve’s customers including what they drank, what they wore and what they looked like. On the other hand, I was impressed with the book’s no-nonsense fast pace. The battle scene in Chapter 10 is riveting. As I read it, I cheered and cheered for the Phantom. You left me wanting more, and that is a positive note!
You masterfully developed a complex cast of characters, each one unique yet integral to the story. As the mission unfolds, so too does the personality of each character. You made sure that “the expected” did not occur. Initially, I was certain that Maya and Will would end up together. Boy, was I wrong! I would have bet my car that Celine was a terminal loner. Wrong again. While Shanna’s first romantic encounter with Will shook me up a bit (and him too!), I grew to like her. Surprisingly, Jack turned out to be a decent guy! I was delighted with the character development and the interplay between them. Your ability to bring out the jealously of the other women, especially Zira, when they heard that Will and Shanna would be married was brilliant. You obviously have plenty of real world experience to understand women the way that you do.
The masterpiece doesn’t stop with the development of the characters. The new world created within the pages of the book is entertaining yet meaningful. A world with “tocks and “pogs” as time units, Dusselberries as the “sleep fruit” and Seers who can, with the help of the Eye, see into the future, is exciting. The symbolism in the book was touching. I thought it was interesting that Regent lost an eye but the crew rescued Kiera, his Seer girlfriend from Attrades, as well as the Eye of Icarus for Yord. While he lost an eye, he gained so much more. I felt terrible when Mynx lost her arm and her job with GSS! But, she was given the opportunity to have a wonderful life with her new team of friends. In mid-adventure, Will learned for certain that his father and stepmother were killed. But, through his adventure he gathered together a whole new family in the process. It seemed each character had lost something along the way (Will lost his parents, Maya had temporarily lost Baron and Jack, and Arasthmus and Regent had lost their people), but despite those tremendous losses, they came to discover new allies and opportunities to make their lives abundantly full.
– B. Walsh
Institutional Advancement
Delaware County Community College
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Live Radio review from Connecticut Public Radio – Listen Now
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Live online interview at Ghost in the Machine http//www.chroniclesofthenecromancer.com/page/page/5558014.htm and link
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Live radio interview from Renee Hand with Michael D’Ambrosio storiesfromunknownauthors on BlogTalkRadio