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Rewind or Die #12
Blood Lake Monster
Maribel Daniels is weeks away from escaping her hometown, but vanishes while walking home from work. The same night, a truck overturns on a bridge, spilling chemicals into the lake and turning the water red.Her sister, Anya, returns years later to find out what happened to Maribel, but every truth she uncovers reveals another lie. When she finally solves the mystery of her sister's disappearance, Anya realizes she's the only one who can put an end to the Blood Lake Monster.Is she willing to sacrifice everything for the town that ruined her life?
Book 12 in the Rewind-or-Die series: imagine your local movie rental store back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, remember all those fantastic covers. Remember taking those movies home and watching in awe as the stories unfolded in nasty rainbows of gore, remember the atmosphere and textures. Remember the blood.
Book 12 in the Rewind-or-Die series: imagine your local movie rental store back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, remember all those fantastic covers. Remember taking those movies home and watching in awe as the stories unfolded in nasty rainbows of gore, remember the atmosphere and textures. Remember the blood.
111 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2020
About the author
Renee Miller
49 books201 followersI'd like to say I hate talking about myself, but that would be a lie. I don't mind in the least. Will it be interesting? Meh, probably not.
Let's see, I write suspense, comedy, paranormal, horror and erotic horror fiction. Basically all the dark fiction.
Follow me on Instagram, Twitter (@ReneeMJ) and wherever else it's not creepy to follow someone.
Let's see, I write suspense, comedy, paranormal, horror and erotic horror fiction. Basically all the dark fiction.
Follow me on Instagram, Twitter (@ReneeMJ) and wherever else it's not creepy to follow someone.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 24, 2020
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
And so my Miller-time read-a-thon comes to a close.
In the last few weeks, I’ve read five of Renee’s works, all bringing me a ton of joy and filled with so much gore and carnage.
The last of the five is ‘Blood Lake Monster‘ part of Unnerving’s Rewind-or-Die! series, which has produced some outstanding 80’s B-movie novellas.
That is key going into this novella. This reads exactly like you’d expect an 80’s creature-feature to play out.
What I liked: ‘Blood Lake Monster‘ is set in a small Ontario town and focuses on Maribel and Anya Daniels. Maribel is tormented by some boys and ends up being accidentally killed. A toxic spill that occurs in the lake at the same time her body is dumped causes her to morph into a vengeance fuelled monster. Ehhhh! Ehhhh! You’d rent this VHS. Face it.
Years later, Anya heads back to try and find closure, only to find out her sister is now considered a myth and men shouldn’t swim in the water.
Miller crafts a story that is equal parts character-driven as well as carnage driven. Nothing is off-limits and as the book comes to a close, expect those typical cut scenes so prevalent years ago where more is revealed that will cause even more shock and horror!
Such a blast.
What I didn’t like: A few spots felt a bit rushed when Anya returned. I was hoping for a bit more story to draw things out, but the action gets ramped up right away. Additionally, a few times the creature almost becomes an afterthought.
Why you should buy this: Did you read the synopsis?! Seriously, a revenge-driven toxic-morphed, water killing-machine. Come on! 80’s schlock right there. Miller does this well and the book rumbles along with a joy that is shared between writer and reader.
And so my Miller-time read-a-thon comes to a close.
In the last few weeks, I’ve read five of Renee’s works, all bringing me a ton of joy and filled with so much gore and carnage.
The last of the five is ‘Blood Lake Monster‘ part of Unnerving’s Rewind-or-Die! series, which has produced some outstanding 80’s B-movie novellas.
That is key going into this novella. This reads exactly like you’d expect an 80’s creature-feature to play out.
What I liked: ‘Blood Lake Monster‘ is set in a small Ontario town and focuses on Maribel and Anya Daniels. Maribel is tormented by some boys and ends up being accidentally killed. A toxic spill that occurs in the lake at the same time her body is dumped causes her to morph into a vengeance fuelled monster. Ehhhh! Ehhhh! You’d rent this VHS. Face it.
Years later, Anya heads back to try and find closure, only to find out her sister is now considered a myth and men shouldn’t swim in the water.
Miller crafts a story that is equal parts character-driven as well as carnage driven. Nothing is off-limits and as the book comes to a close, expect those typical cut scenes so prevalent years ago where more is revealed that will cause even more shock and horror!
Such a blast.
What I didn’t like: A few spots felt a bit rushed when Anya returned. I was hoping for a bit more story to draw things out, but the action gets ramped up right away. Additionally, a few times the creature almost becomes an afterthought.
Why you should buy this: Did you read the synopsis?! Seriously, a revenge-driven toxic-morphed, water killing-machine. Come on! 80’s schlock right there. Miller does this well and the book rumbles along with a joy that is shared between writer and reader.
May 8, 2021
Maribel has always wanted to leave her small town trailer park for the big city. Maybe being there while in college she can put all of the buying she's faced behind her.
Before getting the change to leave, she disappears on her way home from work one night.
For the following 10 years many people die in the supposedly haunted lake near where she used to live.
Maribel's younger sister also returns to the trailer park hoping to finally solve her sisters disappearance once and for all.
An entertaining lake monster read with an I Know What You Did Last Summer / Lake Placid kind of setup. There's even a bit of an urban legend set up mixed in as well.
I didn't see the ending going the way it did at all but found it to be pretty fitting for the story.
Overall this was one of the great ones in the series that is definitely worth checking out.
Before getting the change to leave, she disappears on her way home from work one night.
For the following 10 years many people die in the supposedly haunted lake near where she used to live.
Maribel's younger sister also returns to the trailer park hoping to finally solve her sisters disappearance once and for all.
An entertaining lake monster read with an I Know What You Did Last Summer / Lake Placid kind of setup. There's even a bit of an urban legend set up mixed in as well.
I didn't see the ending going the way it did at all but found it to be pretty fitting for the story.
Overall this was one of the great ones in the series that is definitely worth checking out.
July 2, 2022
There was so much build up in this story, but, to me, the ending felt flat and rushed. Also since I saw the twist ending coming a mile away, I found the ending to be icky, and not in a good way.
July 17, 2022
What happens when you throw The Being and Revenge into a blender on high then make the materials into a book? Renee Miller’s Blood Lake Monster. If there’s one thing that I’m always going to be a sucker for it’s water monsters, ESPECIALLY when they’re mutated by chemicals, even more especially when there’s a strong metaphorical connection between these chemicals polluting a small towns water supply and the polluted mindsets that make up the small town. The plot is set up like a campfire story, complete with a monster born of revenge and mutation. The perfect setting for the themes at play here. Also, campfire story plot devices are honestly the coolest. A great read that I’m not sure wasn’t a Roger Corman movie that was never made. K thx.
July 24, 2020
BLOOD LAKE MONSTER is full of urban legend goodness. After Maribel disappears and an accident contaminates the local lake with toxic waste, the lake begins claiming victims. Maribel’s sister returns in search of answers and discovers the monstrous truth.
Miller does an excellent job of making the sisters relatable and the story moves along at a perfect pace. The themes of family, poverty, secrets, and bullying run deep. While the story has a fun Friday the 13th/Toxic Avenger mashup feel, it breaks new ground on familiar fun horror tropes.
The Rewind or Die series is full of fun novella-length tales of horror that bring all the goodness of retro horror movies to the page. I am a huge fan of the series, devouring each installment upon release. I’m so glad I preordered the entire 2020 series directly from the publisher.
Miller does an excellent job of making the sisters relatable and the story moves along at a perfect pace. The themes of family, poverty, secrets, and bullying run deep. While the story has a fun Friday the 13th/Toxic Avenger mashup feel, it breaks new ground on familiar fun horror tropes.
The Rewind or Die series is full of fun novella-length tales of horror that bring all the goodness of retro horror movies to the page. I am a huge fan of the series, devouring each installment upon release. I’m so glad I preordered the entire 2020 series directly from the publisher.
August 24, 2021
Not a bad little read. Nice monster weeks vengeance story that should have ended before its completely ridiculous twist epilogue.
September 27, 2020
This is write-up number ten for a book in Unnerving’s Rewind or Die series, and my excitement to pick one of these little ditties up has not diminished in the slightest. Kudos to Eddie Generous for, among other things, rounding up such a vast array of tropes in the process of introducing horror readers to so many new and wonderful authors. I realize now that Renee Miller has multiple books out, but this is the first I’ve had the pleasure of picking up. Blood Lake Monster follows up the aquatic horror in The Kelping, by Jan Stinchcomb, with a dose of swampy, land-locked lake creature.
Some of the titles in this series deliver exactly what they advertise - a VHS B-movie, popcorn munching good time. Some go a bit deeper, and this is arguably one of those. Maribel Daniel is treated not-so-nice by a lot of the locals, boys especially, mainly for being different - not acting like a giddy, flirtatious high school student. Not to mention having no fear of verbally cutting them down to size. Luke and his friends take this as a personal affront and when the boys try and teach her a lesson (how absolutely dare she!) things go awry.
Blood Lake Monster actually puts the focus more on Anya, Maribel’s younger sister, ten years after the inciting incident. Thirteen years old when everything happens, and having had lots of time alone with her thoughts to process the events, she returns to the trailer park where she spent her formative years, intent on proving her sister’s death was a murder and that Luke was behind it. The story deals heavily with revenge, and although you get gross-out half-fish swamp monster with razor sharp claws, blood, guts, and gore, the tale is accompanied by ethical dilemmas and discussion a plenty.
Unnerving continues the tradition of putting out phenomenal women authors who all have original stories to tell. Miller’s book stands up alongside Hailey Piper, V Castro, Jessica Guess, Jessica Quigley, and more in a series that celebrates marginalized voices and has, not remotely as a coincidence, put some of the best fun, horror fiction of 2020.
Some of the titles in this series deliver exactly what they advertise - a VHS B-movie, popcorn munching good time. Some go a bit deeper, and this is arguably one of those. Maribel Daniel is treated not-so-nice by a lot of the locals, boys especially, mainly for being different - not acting like a giddy, flirtatious high school student. Not to mention having no fear of verbally cutting them down to size. Luke and his friends take this as a personal affront and when the boys try and teach her a lesson (how absolutely dare she!) things go awry.
Blood Lake Monster actually puts the focus more on Anya, Maribel’s younger sister, ten years after the inciting incident. Thirteen years old when everything happens, and having had lots of time alone with her thoughts to process the events, she returns to the trailer park where she spent her formative years, intent on proving her sister’s death was a murder and that Luke was behind it. The story deals heavily with revenge, and although you get gross-out half-fish swamp monster with razor sharp claws, blood, guts, and gore, the tale is accompanied by ethical dilemmas and discussion a plenty.
Unnerving continues the tradition of putting out phenomenal women authors who all have original stories to tell. Miller’s book stands up alongside Hailey Piper, V Castro, Jessica Guess, Jessica Quigley, and more in a series that celebrates marginalized voices and has, not remotely as a coincidence, put some of the best fun, horror fiction of 2020.
September 16, 2020
This is one of those great stories that is exactly what it sounds like—just like all the best B-movie horror shlock of the 80s. You want a blood lake monster? You get it in Blood Lake Monster.
There was actually a lot more story here than I was expecting, which was great. The story begins from Maribel's perspective, but she soon vanishes and her sister Anya picks up the story. About half the story is set at the time of Maribel's disappearance and half is later, when Anya comes back to see if she can discover what happened to her sister.
I did get attached to Anya because she is well-characterized, but some of her decisions in the second half of the book were confusing. I was put off by the ending, which added in some details that I felt were unnecessary. But, I loved the rumor of the blood lake monster that was the town's urban legend, spread from kid to kid and embellished, but strangely reflective of the truth.
All in all, a fun Rewind or Die entry!
There was actually a lot more story here than I was expecting, which was great. The story begins from Maribel's perspective, but she soon vanishes and her sister Anya picks up the story. About half the story is set at the time of Maribel's disappearance and half is later, when Anya comes back to see if she can discover what happened to her sister.
I did get attached to Anya because she is well-characterized, but some of her decisions in the second half of the book were confusing. I was put off by the ending, which added in some details that I felt were unnecessary. But, I loved the rumor of the blood lake monster that was the town's urban legend, spread from kid to kid and embellished, but strangely reflective of the truth.
All in all, a fun Rewind or Die entry!
October 2, 2020
Blood Lake Monster is Book 12 in the Rewind-or-Die series, a series of novellas giving you that charming nostalgia of the glorious B-movies of the '70s, '80s, and '90s. Number 12, written by Renee Miller, takes its turn by channeling the voice of urban legend. As we are often lead to believe, this urban legend has its origins in the truth—in this case, of what really happened to Maribel Daniels. After Maribel Daniels disappeared, no one knew the reality of that night. Now her sister Anya is back to find the answers that eluded her all these years.
Miller has written a very character-driven story. Both Maribel and Anya well-fleshed out and are portrayed in a way to be relatable. What happened to Maribel is horrific and the reader is there to experience it along with her. Afterward, the focus switches to Anya and her drive to discover what happened to Maribel. Her arc and the evolution of her character is no less important than Maribel's.
While the B-movie "toxic avenger" trope is carrying the weight of Blood Lake Monster, there's a lot more here to be traversed. The trailer park that the girls grow up in and life of poverty is explored in some detail as is the obvious bullying that occurred. While Maribel's ill-timed pressured swim was badly fated to occur at the moment that a truck accident permeates the lake with toxic waste, under all that sludge is a story of a girl turned vengeful lake monster, able to enact her retribution angrily on all of the male species that dare to enter her waters. There's a bit of a twist at the end that didn't particularly sit well, but aside from that, Blood Lake Monster was entertaining and original.
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Miller has written a very character-driven story. Both Maribel and Anya well-fleshed out and are portrayed in a way to be relatable. What happened to Maribel is horrific and the reader is there to experience it along with her. Afterward, the focus switches to Anya and her drive to discover what happened to Maribel. Her arc and the evolution of her character is no less important than Maribel's.
While the B-movie "toxic avenger" trope is carrying the weight of Blood Lake Monster, there's a lot more here to be traversed. The trailer park that the girls grow up in and life of poverty is explored in some detail as is the obvious bullying that occurred. While Maribel's ill-timed pressured swim was badly fated to occur at the moment that a truck accident permeates the lake with toxic waste, under all that sludge is a story of a girl turned vengeful lake monster, able to enact her retribution angrily on all of the male species that dare to enter her waters. There's a bit of a twist at the end that didn't particularly sit well, but aside from that, Blood Lake Monster was entertaining and original.
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October 20, 2020Full review: https://monsterbookclub.com/2020/10/2...
April 14, 2021
Maribel has been bullied most of her life for being different: larger, not as pretty, more plain. Her biggest bully is Luke Wilson. Hell is not enough for Luke Wilson. After a night of heavy drinking, Luke and his friends confront Maribel coming home from work. She never makes it home, but anyone swimming in the lake near her trailer park is in danger of being killed by a mutant fish thought to be caused by a chemical spill.
Anya, Maribel's younger sister, comes back to town 10 years later. Her mother has passed away, and Anya feel comfortable finding clues to her sister's disappearance. She hopes and prays that her sister is still alive, but there's a legend about the Blood Lake Monster. Maribel was killed by Luke Wilson, and she became something else entirely in Blood Lake. Her desire for revenge, added to the chemicals dumped in the lake, have created a monster. She will not stop killing until she gets revenge on her killers.
Revenge stories are the best. I hated how Maribel met her end, but I was rooting for her completely. I did want a little bit more from Maribel's end, but I'm really glad with how the story panned out. It's got everything you want in an old horror movie: a good background, some revenge, and some great body horror. I can't wait to read more from Renee Miller.
TW: rape, body horror, grooming
Anya, Maribel's younger sister, comes back to town 10 years later. Her mother has passed away, and Anya feel comfortable finding clues to her sister's disappearance. She hopes and prays that her sister is still alive, but there's a legend about the Blood Lake Monster. Maribel was killed by Luke Wilson, and she became something else entirely in Blood Lake. Her desire for revenge, added to the chemicals dumped in the lake, have created a monster. She will not stop killing until she gets revenge on her killers.
Revenge stories are the best. I hated how Maribel met her end, but I was rooting for her completely. I did want a little bit more from Maribel's end, but I'm really glad with how the story panned out. It's got everything you want in an old horror movie: a good background, some revenge, and some great body horror. I can't wait to read more from Renee Miller.
TW: rape, body horror, grooming
March 10, 2022
This was a wonderfully fun book. Sheer B-movie goodness, making it a perfect fit for the Rewind or Die series. This book has several things going for it that the others in the series do not, however. 1) It's got more development of both plot and characters than most in the series and 2) it has very few errors (I counted 1 spelling error) as compared to the rest of the books that came before it, which would have 5-ish per page. Miller's leaps and bounds ahead of her companion authors in the series. I'll definitely look out for more that she's written.
August 5, 2020
Blood Lake Monster is simple, and it’s fun. Like other books in the Rewind or Die series, it’s a quick read. Most of the characters are little more than stereotypes, with the exception of the monster itself, which is undoubtedly the star of the piece, as you’d hope in a novel like this.
Full review at Ginger Nuts of Horror: https://gingernutsofhorror.com/fictio...
Full review at Ginger Nuts of Horror: https://gingernutsofhorror.com/fictio...
May 7, 2021
Urban legend campfire story fun!
My second book by Renee Miller. I love her writing style - draws you in and super easy to read. This would’ve been great to read while vacationing at the campground. I agree with the reviews that say it’s urban legend stories around the campfire fun!
My second book by Renee Miller. I love her writing style - draws you in and super easy to read. This would’ve been great to read while vacationing at the campground. I agree with the reviews that say it’s urban legend stories around the campfire fun!
July 24, 2024
What a great creature feature novella. Definitely 90s X-file vibes, but w/ more feminism. I just found out today that Ontario has more lakes than my home state of Minnesota. In fact, some of the creepiest lake towns I have been to are in Ontario. (Looking at you Tobermory). I look forward to reading more by this author.
May 7, 2021
All in all, a good story, but there was a lot of horror tropes that I’m not down for and were a little triggering (rape leading to death, the overused revenge trope, etc.), along with that twist that was simply gross and unnecessary (incest baby, really?).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2021
This had such a great campfire vibe, like scary stories to tell in the dark. I really enjoyed it the end threw me a little bit but the main story was great!
July 23, 2021
A fun book of revenge and violence and a nice little twist at the end.
December 5, 2022
That twist at the end... LOL. I'm so glad I discovered Renee's books. I always have a good time.
February 6, 2023
Interesting first half dissolves into a blah second half and the ending didn't work for me at all.
January 24, 2024
3.50 stars
March 30, 2024
A creature feature with heart. Maribel is attacked by local boys and thrown into the lake just when a big chemical spill occurs. Maribel now seeks revenge on the ones who killed her but while awaiting them takes it out on all men.
This was a lot of fun. We feel for Maribel as she has virtually no control over her circumstances. Her sister is also a likeable character until she does something dumb. Great book in the series.
This was a lot of fun. We feel for Maribel as she has virtually no control over her circumstances. Her sister is also a likeable character until she does something dumb. Great book in the series.
October 5, 2022
Maribel Daniels is ready to put her small-town trailer park behind her. But, just days before leaving for college, Maribel disappears. The same night, a truck overturns on a bridge, dumping red chemicals into the lake.
10 years later, the water is still red and Maribel’s younger sister is looking for answers.
Blood Lake Monster is a quick read that perfectly reflects the charm of the Rewind or Die series. The Rewind or Die series is a group of novellas that highlight the cheesy B-movie goodness that is retro horror.
The characters and setting are shockingly flushed out for the length of the piece, underpinned together by a wild urban legend and themes of sisterhood, secrets, bullying, and poverty. The plot (and twist) is fun, yet corny. Definitely corny. I loved it.
The monster itself is the best part of the novella. You say Blood Lake Monster? We say how deep!
10 years later, the water is still red and Maribel’s younger sister is looking for answers.
Blood Lake Monster is a quick read that perfectly reflects the charm of the Rewind or Die series. The Rewind or Die series is a group of novellas that highlight the cheesy B-movie goodness that is retro horror.
The characters and setting are shockingly flushed out for the length of the piece, underpinned together by a wild urban legend and themes of sisterhood, secrets, bullying, and poverty. The plot (and twist) is fun, yet corny. Definitely corny. I loved it.
The monster itself is the best part of the novella. You say Blood Lake Monster? We say how deep!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews