Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Misery Plaza by J.J. Alo follows Joseph Griffin, aka Sullivan, aka Potter, a former outlaw with a violent past, who is now a father trying to protect his children, Isaac and Clara, while on the run in the Old West. After settling in the remote town of Missouri Plaza, New Mexico, he hopes for a fresh start, but danger looms both above and below the surface. As lawmen close in, Joseph’s attempt at a quiet life is shattered when he uncovers an ancient, extraterrestrial presence buried beneath his property: a flying craft and a terrifying thing known as the Antiquarian. Facing threats from relentless bounty hunters and the unknown horrors awakening beneath his home, Joseph must confront his past and the otherworldly forces that threaten his family’s survival in this gripping tale of redemption and supernatural suspense.

Misery Plaza is a fantastically ambitious second installment in the Southern New England Horror Anthology, and author J.J. Alo nails it with a bold mix of history and futuristic elements, set in the Gilded Age between Reconstruction and the Progressive Era. Alo moves through multiple point of view characters, the standout of which are a tie between Sandy and the Antiquarian itself. Both are a testament to Alo's total creativity and proof that high concept, huge content, and cats can all coexist in science fiction. Coincidentally, as likeable as Joseph is and as effective he is as an anti-hero, his placement in the hierarchy of awesome characters is eclipsed, in the best possible way, by the man-creature-extraterrestrial and the many individuals that make contact with it. Overall, this is easily among the best books I've read this year. Very highly recommended.