Thursday, August 24, 2017

Two Bloggers One Book - Optical Delusion by Hunter Shea




This month Stormi and I are sharing our thoughts on yet another book by an author we are both starting to really enjoy, Hunter Shea.  In fact, next month's selection happens to be from him as well.  I think we are both in the mood for some good old-fashioned horror.  Anyway, make sure you stop by her blog at Books Movies Reviews, Oh My! to see her thoughts as well.


TITLE: Optical Delusion (Mail Order Massacres #2)
AUTHOR: Hunter Shea
PUBLISHER: Lyrical Underground
PUBLISHING DATE: August 1, 2017

FROM GOODREADS: OPEN YOUR EYES WITH “X-RAY” VISION!

Put on a pair of “X-Ray” glasses and things will never look the same! These almost magical specs will make you the hit of the party! Astonishing three-dimensional X-Ray visions of what your friends—and girls—look like under their clothes! And all for just $1.

THE MORE YOU WEAR THEM . . .

Martin Blackstone punishes his son for wasting his allowance on a pair of flimsy cardboard sunglasses X-ray vision . . . yeah, right. Martin tries them on just for the hell of it—and all they do is give him a headache . . . 

. . . THE DEEPER YOU’LL SEE.

Until he sees things he can’t possibly be seeing. Glimpses of things on the other side of a wall or beneath someone’s clothing. He wants to believe it’s just his overactive imagination but the “X-Ray” specs actually work. Then the fun novelty becomes a waking nightmare when the glasses burn into his face and he starts seeing horrifying apocalyptic visions no mortal man was ever meant to see. Images that alter his very personality—from a husband and father to a bloodthirsty homicidal maniac . . .

Because sometimes you can see too much.


MY THOUGHTS: "Optical Delusion" is the second installment in Shea's Mail Order Massacres novella trilogy and while "Just Add Water" remains my favorite so far, this one was still very enjoyable and a strong addition to the series. Martin Blackstone is a hardworking blue-collar worker who enjoys his time at home, especially if he has a good beer in his hand. His son is given a pair of cheap x-ray glasses by a friend and when he casually tosses them aside, Martin gives them a try just for fun. Before long, Martin is addicted to the glasses. He is initially shocked when he's able to use them as a voyeur on unsuspecting town women, but soon the x-ray abilities deepen and the glasses become harder and harder to remove.

This book is definitely full of blood, gore and is a lot of fun. The main problem I had is that I despised Martin. However, I'm sure Shea intended it to be that way because he is in no way some poor misunderstood character. Throughout the book, I often felt sorry for the people Martin encountered and although I think he had a decent enough relationship with both his wife and his son, I think they deserved better.

"Optical Delusion" is a book which is hard to review without giving too much away. It's a fast read and any horror lover would be missing out if they at least didn't give this series a try. There's one more novella coming up and I already have my copy and am just waiting for the perfect night to curl up and read it.


RATING: 3 PAWS 
 

20 comments:

  1. I definitely plan to read this one in horror month in October. I'm already setting aside the books I plan to read! Next month is apocalypse month and I'm so ready to dive in and read some EMPs and zombies again!

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    1. I think you'll like this one a lot. Although Martin is not likable, it's fun to see what happens to him!

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  2. This series sounds like fun, plus I love the idea of x-ray vision in a horror setting. Now I'm off to read Stormi's review:-)

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    1. Thanks. I love buddy reading with Stormi. We have so much fun and this series has really been enjoyable.

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  3. ven though I like dark stories, Massacres stories are not high on the fav list. Glad you enjoyed it though! I'll keep it in mind though, Maybe for Halloween?

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    1. I guess they are massacres in a sense but kind of B-movie fun massacres. It's a cool concept because they all center around those ads in the back of comic books.

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  4. AND.. Thanks for the book recommendation! omg LOOKS GOOD!!!

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    1. I think you'll love Sabrina. I'm posting me review here next week but I know you already saw it on Goodreads ;)

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  5. I should try this author's work. I really need to pick up something a bit scarier soon.

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    1. Yes, it's getting to be that time of year!

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  6. Yeah I think we had some of the same thoughts on this one. I really didn't like Martin but it was kind of fun to hate him so I could be like ha ha you deserve that...lol.

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    1. I don't know that the other one grabbed my attention, although I was thrilled to get an ARC. I'm interested in seeing what exactly it's about.

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  7. Ths sounds fun, I will check out Just Add Water,

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  8. I too enjoyed the first book more but enjoyed this one too. Can't wait to see how the next one goes.

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    1. I think Just Add Water was just so much fun with the kids and the wasabi and the stupid parents. I think it would make a fun movie.

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  9. I love that you guys are making your way through Hunter Shea's titles. I didn't realize this was a follow up to Just Add Water. I love that mail order horror premise!

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  10. Gosh this cover still gives me the chills! haha Great review!!

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