Hello, Everyone I know it's been a while since my post. Living where I do the weather can charge drastically from day to day. Lately, that has been the case we were in the upper 90s with heat index in the triple digits, the next day would rain and the next cool weather. As a result my sinuses went hay wire and I got a ear infection so bad my right ear drum was on the verge of rupturing. This is why I have been a way I'm still stick but slowly better. I have read Through the Mirror, Darkly from Crystal Lake Publishing. Thank You Crystal Lake for sending me this book for review. I Love the concept of this publishers they are a horror genre. I love the fact the company name is after Friday the 13th.
Through the Mirror, Darkly by Kevin Lucia is the second book in the Clifton Heights Saga . This is a anthology
 Here is the synopsis: Arcane Delights. Clifton Heights' premier rare and used bookstore. In it, new owner Kevin Ellison has inherited far more than a family legacy, for inside are tales that will amaze, astound, thrill...and terrify. An ancient evil thirsty for lost souls. A very different kind of taxi service with destinations not on any known map. Three coins that grant the bearer's fondest wish, and a father whose crippling grief gives birth to something dark and hungry. Every town harbors secrets. Kevin Ellison is about to discover those that lurk in the shadows of Clifton Heights." "Kevin Lucia writes my favorite kind of horror, the kind not enough folks are writing anymore." - Kealan Patrick Burke, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Turtle Boy and Kin. "THROUGH A MIRROR DARKLY serves as Kevin Lucia's early-warning system to the horror field - Brace yourselves, folks." - Gary A. Braunbeck, Bram Stoker Award-winner of To Each Their Darkness, Destinations Unknown, and the forthcoming A Cracked and Broken Path "Literate and stylish, yet fast-paced and accessible, Through a Mirror, Darkly is a thoroughly engrossing read. Kevin Lucia is a major new voice in the horror genre." - Jonathan Janz "Through a Mirror, Darkly earns Kevin Lucia a literary place alongside these enduring philosophical horror crafters." - Mort Castle "He is a skillful guide through Clifton Heights, telling tales of mystery and horror in a town where dark secrets and ancient evils lurk to prey upon those who read THROUGH A MIRROR, DARKLY." - Rena Mason, Bram Stoker Award® winning author of THE EVOLUTIONIST. "With Through a Mirror, Darkly, Kevin Lucia proves once again that it's only a matter of time before he's one of the genre's biggest names." - James Newman (author of The Wicked and Animosity. It's a collection of shared theme short stories with a thin wrapper for some dark secrets in the town of Clifton Heights. The wrapper felt underdeveloped, so the meat was in the short stories and they're decent stories. They cover some classic horror situations, although they were of varying quality.

The first story concerns an Iraq veteran Chaplain recovering from a supernatural sighting while on tour, only to have the horror seemingly follow him home. This was a predictable story with no real surprise - even for the reveal at the end, but quite well told. It did introduce me to an aspect of the authors writing that impacted my enjoyment of the stories - repetition.

Repetition can be a powerful tool in story telling, it can lull the reader into false assumptions, it can reinforce core concepts, but it needs to be used sparingly. That isn't the case here, it is used far too often and isn't just repetition of concepts, but actual repetition of the same phrase - over and over again, It really spoiled the flow of the stories, and gave them an odd pacing. It also made them longer than they needed to be.
Overall it was worth reading, but felt that it needed much tighter development to really stand out.
There is a bit too much vulgar language for my liking. You can have a horror novel with less strong language. I don't mine some language but don't use it as a dialect. I give this book 3stars because I like the concept of this book and I love the fact the authors of Crystal Lake Publishing think out side the box. I wont be going on with the series but do recommend horror lovers give it a try. It may  be the novel for them. Please check out Crystal Lake Publishing.
Happy Reading!
A Ferret's Novel Tale
http://www.crystallakepub.com/
www.kevinlucia.com