506 ratings | 104 reviews | avg rating:4.22

more photos (16)

Justin’s Year In Books

Justin’s 2024 Year in Books

Take a look at Justin’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Justin’s 2024 Year in Books

Justin Alcala’s Followers (486)

Justin’s Bookshelves

to-read (68)
currently-reading (3)
read (511)
spy (1)
thriller (1)
young-adult (1)

Justin’s Friends (3,204)

Mandie

3,294 books | 209 friends

J.J. Johnson

2,879 books | 546 friends

Erik Graff

5,160 books | 1,738 friends

Marty

1,716 books | 104 friends

Jess | FairyTale Pages

924 books | 5,233 friends

Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader)

3,318 books | 1,292 friends

Ashley (gotbookcitement)

43,323 books | 1,035 friends

Jenny

935 books | 3,957 friends

More friends…

Justin Alcala

Goodreads Author

Born

in Chicago, The United States

Website

http://www.justinalcala.com

Twitter

https://twitter.com/JustinAlcala

Genre

Fantasy, Humor and Comedy, Horror

Influences

Jim Butcher, Andrew Smith, Christopher Moore, Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan ...more

Member Since

January 2014

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/justin_alcala

edit data

Justin Alcala is a novelist, nerdologist and Speculative Literature Foundation Award Finalist. He’s the author of four novels including Consumed, (BLK Dog Publishing) The Devil in the Wide City (Solstice Publishing) Dim Fairy Tales (AllThingsThatMatterPress) and A Dead End Job (The Parliament House). His short stories have been featured in dozens of magazines and anthologies, including It Snows Here (Power Loss Anthology),The Offering (Rogue Planet Press Magazine) and The Lantern Quietly Screams (Castabout Literature). When he’s not burning out his retinas in front of a computer, Justin is a tabletop gamer, blogger, folklore enthusiast and time traveler. He is an avid quester of anything righteous, from fighting dragons to acquiring magical ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Justin Alcala questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Justin Alcala’s books

Average rating: 4.1 · 324 ratings · 169 reviews · 18 distinct works • Similar authors

	A Dead-End Job 4.02 avg rating — 202 ratings — published 2021 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Consumed 4.12 avg rating — 50 ratings — published 2014 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dim Fairy Tales 4.29 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 2019 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Devil in the Wide City 4.53 avg rating — 15 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	101 Proof Horror by Tyler Jones (Goodreads Author), Edward Ahern (Goodreads Author), Justin Alcala (Goodreads Author) 4.67 avg rating — 9 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Power Loss: What Happens When the Lights Go Out Forever? by John Wait (Editor), Todd Cinani, Amber Benbow 3.45 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2020 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Beyond the Levee and Other Ghostly Tales by Peter Talley, David Antrobus (Goodreads Author) (Contributor ), Justin Alcala (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 4.17 avg rating — 6 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Forest Only Whispers: A PNR Short Story 4.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Running Wild Anthology of Stories Volume 3 by Barbara Lockwood, Justin Alcala (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 4.50 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Citizen Survivors: The Red Book by Various, Richard Denham (Goodreads Author), M.J. Trow 4.50 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Justin Alcala…

59 posts
Justin Alcala's Blog

A BIG Giveaway Thank You!!!

We want to thank everyone who entered our goodreads "A DEAD END JOB" giveaway. We had an enormous response, and are delighted that so many of you wanted to get a free copy. Stay tuned for more chances, and as always, thanks for being a weird-reader...like me!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

A Dead-End Job

by Justin Alcala

Giveaway ends October 31, 2021.

See the giveaway d

Justin is Currently Reading

Justin Alcala is currently reading

Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)

by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jan 15, 2025 11:39AM

Justin Alcala is currently reading

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

by Sangu Mandanna (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Oct 19, 2023 08:26AM

Justin Alcala is currently reading

No Secrets Allowed

by Kana Wu (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Aug 05, 2021 04:52AM

rss
Justin’s Recent Updates

Justin Alcala is now friends with Norah Alba
Sep 02, 2025 11:36AM · like
Justin Alcala rated a book it was amazing The Visitor by Mitchell Waldman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A unique blend of sci-fi and culture-fiction, this is a story unlike you’ve ever read before. “The Visitor” by Mitchell Waldman is an emotional thrill ride through otherworldly storytelling. Our protagonist, Ash, is a leaper of bodies, hopper of exist ...more
Aug 24, 2025 07:41AM · like · see review
Justin Alcala rated a book it was amazing Death by Midnight: A Young Adult Spy Thriller (The Secret Life of Anna Goode Book 1) by Nicole Nadeau (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
What are you going to do when you’re a teen genius whose parents have been taken by evil Russian entities? Get them back of course. “Death by Midnight” by Nicole Nadeau is a young adult thriller that’s fantastic for tweens and teens, as well as adult ...more
Jul 12, 2025 05:54AM · like · see review
Justin Alcala rated a book it was amazing The Invisible Cyber Bully: What it's like to be watched 24/7 by Expat Scribe (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
“The Invisible Cyber Bully: What it's like to be watched 24/7” by Expat Scribe is a dive into a narrator’s suspicions and evidence against government internet spying. It’s a delicate mix of story and reality which leaves the reader wondering “where a ...more
Jun 12, 2025 02:00PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Invisible Cyber Bully by Expat Scribe. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Invisible Cyber Bully by Expat Scribe <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Alcala rated a book it was amazing Aroha by Dan Williams (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Who doesn’t love a good ghost story? Dan Williams’ “Aroha” is a tale that follows literal s d figurative ghosts throughout the setting of an old house with bad memories a stagnant present, and dark future. Our protagonist, Johanna, is a barely cohere ...more
Apr 17, 2025 08:06AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Aroha by Dan Williams. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Aroha by Dan Williams <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Alcala rated a book it was amazing Echoes over Stormy Sea (Dual-time Odyssey Book 1) by R.F. Whong (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
”Echoes Over Stormy Sea” is a fantastic read for anyone who loves a good love story, an exploration of cultures, and self discovery. Its duel narration style was a great way to hop between the relatively current world around COVID lockdown and the fo ...more
Mar 20, 2025 08:04AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Echoes over Stormy Sea by R.F. Whong. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Echoes over Stormy Sea by R.F. Whong <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Alcala rated a book really liked it Redshirts by John Scalzi (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 07, 2025 01:18PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Redshirts by John Scalzi. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Redshirts by John Scalzi <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Alcala rated a book it was amazing A Flock of Vampires by Everlyn C. Thompson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A FLOCK OF VAMPIRES BY EVERLYN THOMPSON has a nice True Blood feel to it. There’s supernatural, adventure, romance, and comedy mixed together to tell a fun tale. Our story revolves around Stu the vampire warrior and Keltti. The pair faces internal st ...more
Feb 21, 2025 09:04AM · like · see review
Justin Alcala rated a book it was amazing In the Shadow of the Luminaries (States of Inversion, #1) by Kallen Samuels (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
In the Shadow of the Luminaries (States of Inversion Book 1) by Kallen Samuels is a unique idea where gravity is reversed, and society struggles to deal with this bizarre phenomenon. To cope, society transitions into a cloud-city like for society’s e ...more
Jan 16, 2025 10:28AM · like · see review
Justin Alcala is currently reading Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1) by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 15, 2025 11:39AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Justin's books…

Quotes by Justin Alcala (?)

“Which is the true nightmare, the horrific dream that you have in your sleep or the dissatisfied reality that awaits you when you awake?”
― Justin Alcala

tags: authors, horror, life-lessons, nightmares, nightmares-fear, reality-of-life

239 likes

“Non fiction? Non fiction?! Listen, reality is what got me into this mess in the first place.”
― Justin Alcala

tags: authors, imagination, non-fiction, reality

42 likes

“I don't remember ever signing up for weird. It just sort of happened.”
― Justin Alcala

tags: authors, horror, humor, weird

9 likes

See all Justin Alcala's quotes »

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Turn of a Page: June Monthly Readathon	77	104	Jun 19, 2022 06:55AM
The Lost Challenges: June, 2022 Judge A Book By Its Cover	54	37	Jul 13, 2022 03:52AM
A Million More Pages: Rocket City Trash Pandas	59	34	Jul 30, 2022 11:27PM
The Lost Challenges: June 2022 Scavenger Hunt - Summer	117	71	Jul 31, 2022 04:10PM
Nothing But Readi...: Team Helen	746	189	Aug 16, 2022 02:30PM
Grab a Book & Pla...: November 2021 Scavenger Hunt	39	18	Sep 08, 2022 03:17PM
The Challenge Fac...: 100 Book Genre Challenge 2021	51	192	Mar 08, 2023 12:00PM

More…

Justin’s Quotes

“We love the night and its quiet; and there is no night that we love so well as that on which the moon is coffined in clouds.”
― Fitz-James O'Brien, Classic Ghost Stories by Wilkie Collins, M.R. James, Charles Dickens and Others

tags: moon, night, quiet

170 likes

“Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality.”
― Edgar Allen Poe

2001 likes

“Experts in ancient Greek culture say that people back then didn't see their thoughts as belonging to them. When ancient Greeks had a thought, it occurred to them as a god or goddess giving an order. Apollo was telling them to be brave. Athena was telling them to fall in love.

Now people hear a commercial for sour cream potato chips and rush out to buy, but now they call this free will.
At least the ancient Greeks were being honest.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Lullaby

tags: comercials, consumerism, free-will, god, goddess, greek, p20

421 likes

“Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!”
― Bram Stoker

tags: dracula

2415 likes

“When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching -- they are your family. ”
― Jim Butcher

tags: family

2942 likes

More of Justin’s quotes…