🩸 Horror Fiction

Stone Knives & Extra Lives

✍️ Matthew D C Hughes
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$12.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A romantic getaway turns into a magical survival battle in Wales.

Hughes combines his personal history of underground exploration in Wales with a love for horror to create this unique narrative. The protagonist faces escalating dangers after a botched proposal, forcing him to master magic and manipulate time. The story relies on the tension between mundane friendship dynamics and apocalyptic stakes. Readers familiar with tabletop gaming will recognize the influence of Dungeons and Dragons on the character interactions and plot structure.

Key Themes
survival horror Welsh mythology time travel
Literary Context

The author draws on his own adolescent experiences spending days underground in Wales, a mystical country. His approach reflects an unwavering love for the horror genre discovered at age fifteen, blending personal history with supernatural fiction traditions.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Clive Barker · Stephen King · The Descent (film) · Evil Dead (franchise)
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Independently Published 📅 2018 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781728928951

📝 Description: Stone Knives & Extra Lives

Matthew D C Hughes presents a horror fantasy novel that blends romantic comedy with supernatural survival. The story follows Chris and his girlfriend Jules, who travel to the Welsh countryside for a weekend getaway. Their plans are complicated by the arrival of three childhood friends, leading to evenings filled with Dungeons and Dragons sessions and unhealthy snacks. Chris intends to propose in a cave, but the location becomes a trap when monsters emerge from the earth to devour his loved ones. To save them, Chris must confront witches, learn magic, and travel through time. The narrative draws on the author’s adolescent experiences of spending days underground in Wales and his lifelong love for horror fiction. The plot resembles a mix of The Descent and Evil Dead, with elements of Stranger Things. This book suits readers who enjoy genre-bending tales where personal relationships collide with ancient magical threats. It may not appeal to those seeking pure historical horror or straightforward romantic narratives without supernatural interference.

💎 Our verdict on Stone Knives & Extra Lives

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Hughes successfully merges his background in underground exploration with a love for horror to create a distinctive narrative. The novel effectively balances the tension between mundane friendship dynamics and apocalyptic stakes, drawing clear parallels to works like The Descent and Evil Dead. By incorporating elements of Stranger Things and tabletop gaming structures, it offers a fresh take on survival horror. The blend of romantic comedy with supernatural threats provides a unique tone that distinguishes it from traditional ghost stories or vampires. This approach suits readers who enjoy complex character interactions under extreme pressure. While it may disappoint those seeking pure historical horror, its genre-bending nature appeals to fans of dark fantasy and psychological thrillers. The integration of magic and time travel adds depth to the survival aspect.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate genre-bending tales where personal relationships collide with ancient magical threats will find this book compelling. It offers a unique narrative that combines romantic comedy elements with supernatural survival, appealing to those familiar with the influence of Dungeons and Dragons on character interactions. The story is ideal for fans of horror fiction, gothic tales, and dark fantasy who enjoy seeing mundane friendship dynamics escalate into apocalyptic stakes. Those interested in cosmic or psychological horror may also find value in the protagonist's journey through time and magic. It is particularly suitable for individuals seeking a mix of tension and humor, where the threat is both physical and emotional. However, it may not suit those preferring pure historical horror or straightforward romantic narratives without supernatural interference.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Hughes successfully merges his background in underground exploration with a love for horror to create a distinctive narrative. The novel effectively balances the tension between mundane friendship dynamics and apocalyptic stakes, drawing clear parallels to works like The Descent and Evil Dead. By incorporating elements of Stranger Things and tabletop gaming structures, it offers a fresh take on survival horror. The blend of romantic comedy with supernatural threats provides a unique tone that distinguishes it from traditional ghost stories or vampires. This approach suits readers who enjoy complex character interactions under extreme pressure. While it may disappoint those seeking pure historical horror, its genre-bending nature appeals to fans of dark fantasy and psychological thrillers. The integration of magic and time travel adds depth to the survival aspect.

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