Bad Vibrations | Musings of the Monster Librarian

Influence by Lucy Leitner

Blood Bound Books, 2023

ISBN: 9781940250571

Availabilite: Paperback, Kindle edition

Influence is a 120 page book containing six of the author’s short stories, some were published previously in other analogies. The stories are all good to excellent, and Leitner makes good use of her scathing wit to destroy many of the habits of millenialls and Gen Z that people find annoying. People that enjoy stories about self-obsessed people getting their comeuppance will love this book, as will most horror/suspense fans.

There’s a nice bit of variety in Leitner’s style. One story is written wholly as a series of Instagram posts, another is the script of a podcast. The longest story, “Karen”, is also the best. Karen exemplifies all the bad traits of the younger generation that people love to hate: social media obsession, complete self absorption, superiority complex, etc. She also loves to run over obese people with her car, since (according to Karen) they are pathetic excuses of humanity. Her life changes when everyone around her is able to know what Karen really thinks about them, but would never say out loud. Naturally, the results aren’t pretty, but they are bloody, and readers will be cheering as Karen’s life becomes a living hell.

The other stories are also good fun, with the same traits that make “Karen” so enjoyable. “Get Me Out Of This Shimmering Oasis”, is an Instagram-styled story, Using ridiculous health trends as a jumping-off point, it succeeds in creating an intriguing tale of taking self-obsession too far, and also points out the silliness of people blaming health woes on obscure ailments that don’t exist. “Xorcize.me” has a wellness twist to it also, but in this, all problems are due to obscure demons. Those demons, of course, can be evicted from a person through a home exorcism kit, available for purchase online. This story wins the award for ‘most entertaining dialogue’ due to the snappy patter and sarcasm of the podcast host in the story. “The Shoe Box Challenge” is a nutty tale twined around the outrageous things people will do for their 15 seconds of YouTube fame. The other two tales are somewhat more straightforward, but no less entertaining.

Bottom line: if you like Lucy Leitner’s style before (one of her books, Bad Vibrations, was previously reviewed on this site) then this will certainly tide you over until she gets another full length one completed. The book would have been worth it for “Karen” alone, so getting the other stories is a nice bonus. The author has a knack for stories that mix originality with the ability to poke fun at modern conventions: this book should help to expand her fanbase. Recommended.

Reviewed by Murray Samuelson

Book Review: Bad Vibrations by Lucy Leitner

Bad Vibrations by Lucy Leitner

Blood Bound Books, Oct. 2022

ASIN: B0BB86Y3G7

Available: Kindle edition (pre-order) ( Amazon.com )

Bad Vibrations is a wonderfully crazy, somewhat satirical look at a cult of health-crazed nuts that take it to extremes, and how the folks of rural Pennsylvania react to them. It’s messy at times, and will make you laugh out loud at others. This book takes the “crazy cult” plot to a whole new level, and does it in slam-bang fashion.

Poor Valerie! She’s a nice young lady with a decent life and career, but she feels like she just isn’t reaching her true potential. Like many, she turns to the Internet for help and falls under the spell of Doctor, another self-help/health guru, who promises his followers to unlock the secret of “energy” in their lives. Valerie goes to the group’s compound for a weekend stay, but unfortunately, the local residents (who hate those damn health nut hippies) show up also. As you might guess, all hell breaks loose.

Part 1 of the book details Valerie and her introduction to the group, and that’s where most of the satire and humor is. The group’s methods are truly hilarious. Mastering that “energy” consists of things like hula hooping while bouncing on a trampoline, screaming sessions, sex with whoever is around, and the most important part… drinking each other’s blood each evening. No wonder the locals call them vampires! It’s highly entertaining, especially reading how the “healthies” insult strangers. “You have so many free radicals it’s like your body just liberated a gulag!” “Your vitamin D levels are so low they’re hanging out with you!” That part alone is enough to justify the price of the book.

Part 2 is the action section, and that’s where the author puts the pedal through the floorboard. Carnage abounds as tensions between the locals and “vampires” reach the breaking point, and it becomes a big mess of bullets, blades, bows, and flammable liquids. Valerie has to decide who to side with: does she truly believe Doctor and his teachings, or is everybody but her truly nuts? It’s non-stop excitement right up to the last page.

Bottom line: it’s nice to have a book that makes the old “psychotic cult” fiction trope interesting again, and Bad Vibrations does exactly that, it’s a thrilling satire that horror readers should flock to. Recommended.

Reviewed by Murray Samuelson