Category Archives: reads

Minoan Dreams

Posted on December 1, 2025 by Mark Hayes

a window on humanity soul, our pagan past, and the mythology that is the seed from which we grew. Yes these are modern interpretations and yes the are based on mere fragments, but even so these stories remind us of who we once were, of a common past. Something we all need once in a while. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, pagan, quantum pagan, reads | Tagged amreading, books, fiction, history, mythology, pagan, paganism, quantum pagan, reads, writing | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar 46 ~ The Premature Burial

Posted on November 28, 2025 by Mark Hayes

In 1844, the second great cholera pandemic (1826 – 1837) had been over for seven years, fear of the disease had not lessoned and minor outbreaks had continued to occur. More importantly perhaps than the minor out breaks that the … Continue reading →

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The Also By Anomaly

Posted on November 21, 2025 by Mark Hayes

I decide to do something different for Auguries of Euryale, my forthcoming anthology of my own work. I decided instead to write it in a more narrative style, telling a story of my novels and other works. I think it sort of works as a more interesting way to do the Also by pages… Continue reading →

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Friday book news

Posted on October 24, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Because one is as ever behind on reviews, as well as general book news here is a catch up in general on my book news and a few new releases form authors I have reviewed before and recommend. Firstly this … Continue reading →

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3 Turns Widdleshin’s: For she is Devine

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Whom ‘She’ is, is a matter for your conjecture. She could be ‘The Sibel’ of ancient Rome. She could just be a woman who claims that is the case to add mystic to her illegal den of vice and corrupted youth. A dark forbidding goth club named for an ancient standing stone. Continue reading →

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Dear Edgar 43 ~ Diddling

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Mark Hayes

‘Diddling’, or to give it it’s original title ‘Diddling Considered as One of the Exact Sciences’ is by way of a humorous essay pretending to be an academic work, rather than a story. It is certainly a fun little read, as long as one accepts this central conceit. Continue reading →

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Monsters in the to-read pile

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Mark Hayes

I have little doubt one day the police will break in my house after i have been ‘missing’ for several weeks to discover my body, under this pile of books.
There are worse ways to go. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, Harvey Duckman, horror, indie novels, indie writers, reads, supernatural, urban fantasy | Tagged amreading, book-review, bookreviews, books, fantasy, fiction, ghosts, Harvey Duckman, horror, reads, supernatural, urban fantasy | 1 Comment

Dear Edgar 42 ~ The Black Cat

Posted on October 1, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Pluto the cat was not named for Pluto the planet. Pluto the planet was not discovered until 1930 (though one suspects it was always there…) which was almost ninety years after this story was written. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, Dear Edgar, fantasy, horror, mental-health, reads, retro book reviews | Tagged amreading, book-review, books, edgar-allan-poe, horror, poetry, reads | Leave a comment

Turning Widdershins

Posted on September 29, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Three turns windleshin’s

Around the Lochfa’ston

Three turns windleshin’s

an’ call the other’s names Continue reading →

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The spirit of 76

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Mark Hayes

This book is a window on an era, a moment in musical history, a moment of social change and upheaval. The beginning of the end of post war establishment Britain. Punk had arrived… Continue reading →