This one was just ok for me. I really enjoyed Florence's character and her story with grief and figuring out her career and family life. The downside This one was just ok for me. I really enjoyed Florence's character and her story with grief and figuring out her career and family life. The downside though is that I don't think the romance was developed enough :/ I just wasn't feeling the chemistry here and I wish we got to see a deeper connection between the two instead of just a physical attraction.
A solid gothic tale with a surprising & fun twist.
Mexican Gothic follows a strong-willed and confident Noemi, who is sent to the large estate of HighA solid gothic tale with a surprising & fun twist.
Mexican Gothic follows a strong-willed and confident Noemi, who is sent to the large estate of High Place after receiving a frantic letter from her cousin claiming she is being poisoned by her husband, there are people in the walls, and she needs help urgently.
The Mexican countryside setting & the large, looming building that is High Place, make for a rich atmosphere for the story. With compelling characters, complex relationships, and a uniquely fascinating twist, this was a fun read! ...more
3.5 Stars. The Day Tripper is an emotional journey of a man trying desperately to right his wrongs. We meet our main character, Alex, in the year 1995 3.5 Stars. The Day Tripper is an emotional journey of a man trying desperately to right his wrongs. We meet our main character, Alex, in the year 1995 at the age of 20. He has a place at Cambridge University, a loving girlfriend, and lots of great friends. However, after a brief altercation on a night out, Alex wakes up the next day 15 years in the future. Every day that follows, Alex wakes up in a different year of his life, with seemingly no logical reasoning or explanation.
We follow Alex through the initial panic and confusion as he sees what his future looks like: an alcohol addiction, barely scraping by with money from busking, never having gone to college, and having no loving partner to come home to. But, Alex soon comes to learn that it isn't too late to change the past. We follow his personal journey as he jumps through time and tries to make positive changes. It's like a non-linear coming of age tale.
Full of raw emotions, heartbreak, and hope, with discussion of metaphysics, this was a delightful and pleasant read. I would say this leans more towards the general fiction genre, rather than sci-fi, as though there are time travel elements, the story itself is about Alex's journey and transformation. ...more
This was a fun slasher with an adult summer camp setting. The main character is known only as Willow. She has the life she always dreamed of - a succeThis was a fun slasher with an adult summer camp setting. The main character is known only as Willow. She has the life she always dreamed of - a successful acting career with her own Netflix show, a fiancée with a big flashy ring, and tons of fans. However, it all comes crashing down with one poorly worded tweet and Willow becomes the internet's most hated celebrity overnight. Now, wanting to disconnect, Willow signs up to attend Camp Castaway - where they lock up your phones, forbid all use of technology, and focus on building social relationships and a strong connection to nature instead. But, when people start turning up dead and it becomes clear there is an axe murderer on the loose, Willow finds herself in a fight to survive and figure out who she can really trust in this world.
Willow is a very easy character to connect to and as we learn more about her life, it is easy to really care about what happens to her. We also get to see Willow have a personal transformation in figuring out who she really is when the cameras are off. I also enjoyed the side characters and the secrets everyone is keeping as the story slowly unfolds.
Heads Will Roll successfully pairs a silly, fast-paced, classic slasher story with a deeper look into cancel culture, LGBTQ+ discrimination, and conversion camps. The author gives the reader a lot to think about while also keeping you on the edge of your seat and fully entertained the whole time. I would definitely recommend this and will be reading more from Josh Winning soon!
The only thing that wasn't my favorite was the romance subplot. It seemed a little bit insta-love and, just generally, is not something I'm a big fan of....more
The Babysitter Lives may seem like your standard horror story, a babysitter alone with kids the night befso happy to report that I loveedddd this one!
The Babysitter Lives may seem like your standard horror story, a babysitter alone with kids the night before Halloween, soon discovering that they are not alone in the home, but it is anything but. Stephen Graham Jones takes a haunted house/paranormal story and adds his own unique twist to it in The Babysitter Lives, and what follows is a terrifyingly mind-bending experience with fantastic imagery.
I really enjoyed Charlotte as a character and the depth that was given to her -from the struggles she has faced due to being Native, to the academic pressure placed on her, and to the fact that her girlfriend's parents are homophobic. In addition, after something almost went terribly wrong on her last babysitting job, she is determined not to mess up with the Wilbanks twins. This helps to add tension to the story and allows the reader to really root for Charlotte. Add in the fact that the family she is sitting for resides in a home with a very dark and disturbing past...
Another thing I absolutely loved is how everything Stephen Graham Jones put into this story was intentional. Every little detail mentioned comes back up in a way you would least expect but in a way that is vital to what is going on in the Wilbanks' home. This is a story that I feel can only get better and better with each reread as you see more of the little hints each time.
The horror was on point. The writing created some truly horrifying imagery as some of the ghostly apparitions are described. As well as graphic & nasty descriptions of injuries. This had me cringing at points and fully spooked at other points. Definitely would be a great audiobook to pick up around Halloween, set the mood and let the narrator take you away with this one.
TWs for suicide, death of children, racism, and a pervy dad....more
Bad Dolls is a collection of four short & strange horror stories which Rachel Harrison brings her signature narration style to.
In 'Reply Hazy, Try AgBad Dolls is a collection of four short & strange horror stories which Rachel Harrison brings her signature narration style to.
In 'Reply Hazy, Try Again' a woman feeling nostalgic picks up an old school Magic 8 Ball while at a flea market. It begins speaking directly to her and leads to a tale of obsession in search of her true destiny. I enjoyed this one but it was very mildly horror-esque and probably won't stick with me.
In 'Bachelorette' we follow a woman attending a bachelorette weekend for her best childhood friend. Tensions are high and the girls have some sinister things planned for the days that follow. I thought this was really fun and I enjoyed the dynamics of this group of girls!
In 'Goblin' a woman signs up for a rigorous diet & exercise program that comes with a literal goblin assigned to keep you in line. This was short and sweet but perfect horror wise & I loooovedd the ending. TW for talk of eating disorders/diet culture.
And the last story, 'Bad Dolls' follows a woman returning to her childhood home after the tragic death of her sister. She finds a creepy doll (of course) that quickly attaches itself to her and whom she believes to be her sister trying to communicate. I thought this was a fun, classic haunted doll tale that also delves into the deeper feelings associated with grief and losing a loved one to suicide.
Overall, a fun collection that was a quick read and gave me the perfect dose of Rachel Harrison that I've been needing. 3.5 stars....more
This is a great little novella that focuses on the complicated relationship between an abusive father stuck in the old ways and his sheltered daughterThis is a great little novella that focuses on the complicated relationship between an abusive father stuck in the old ways and his sheltered daughter who faces the brunt of his anger.
Silvie's father has dragged her and her mother out into the wilderness to join up with a class of anthropology students & their professor on a 2 week long project to live as if it is the Iron Age. They must hunt animals, forage for fruits and plants, and otherwise live off the land. Silvie begins to see a whole other way of living that she would not have been exposed to while living under her father's hand. Fearing the modern woman, Silvie's father takes matters into his own hands to keep his daughter in line, and along the way, ends up roping unsuspecting strangers into his dark and sinister plan.
This book does a great job examining the 'descent into madness' trope and the way cults form and function. How do intelligent, compassionate, and caring people get caught up in something so obviously wrong? How do they not realize something is amiss before it is too late?
I love the direction this story took, along with carefully crafted complex characters and lyrical writing, this was a great, but unsettling, one-sitting read....more
A classic in the folk horror genre, Harvest Home follows a couple - Ned and Beth - and their teenage daughter, Kate. They have decided to give up theiA classic in the folk horror genre, Harvest Home follows a couple - Ned and Beth - and their teenage daughter, Kate. They have decided to give up their city life and move from New York to a small town in the countryside called Cornwall Coombe - a farming town in which the corn crop is the most important aspect of anyone's life.
The story is about the family of outsiders learning and fitting in to the ways of the town and the superstitious beliefs of many of the townsfolk. As mysteries arise and secrets are revealed, Ned finds himself in a fight to save himself and his family.
Though it was well-written and had many beautiful quotes that I found myself highlighting, the story just moved too slowly for me to enjoy it. I feel like the intrigue only picked up for me over 70% of the way in. From that point, I loved how the story evolved and this is certainly an ending that will stick with me for a while. It just saddens me that it took me so long to enjoy this and, in the end, I spent more of the book having a negative reading experience than a positive one.
I would still recommend Harvest Home to fans of folk horror who want to read one of the classics and don't mind a (very) slow-moving story. ...more
The End of Her is a domestic drama following multiple perspectives. At the center is husband and wife, Patrick and Stephanie. Patrick's first wife dieThe End of Her is a domestic drama following multiple perspectives. At the center is husband and wife, Patrick and Stephanie. Patrick's first wife died while pregnant in a tragic accident. Stephanie has never thought twice about her husband and is happy with the family they created - including twin baby girls. Erica, a woman from Patrick's past, shows up one day and shares some information that changes the way Stephanie views her husband now and forever.
This was a pretty standard domestic story that didn't do anything above and beyond for me. It was repetitive at times but in the end it did hold my attention and I enjoyed the way it wrapped up so I can't fault it too much. ...more
This was an entertaining exploration of childhood friendship & deception that got into much darker territory than I was expecting. 3.5 Stars
We are reaThis was an entertaining exploration of childhood friendship & deception that got into much darker territory than I was expecting. 3.5 Stars
We are reading from three different perspectives: His: Jack, a detective investigating the murder of a woman named Rachel. Hers: Anna, a news reporter/journalist returning to her hometown to cover the story of Rachel's murder. Murderer: A fun, anonymous third perspective from the person who committed the crime.
As more bodies turn up and Jack & Anna realize they are both connected to the victims, we dive into a story full of twists and turns as more connections come up, buried secrets from the past are dug up, and the stakes get higher. Who will be the next victim?
Overall, this was really fun and I enjoyed all of the characters and their stories! Some questionable choices are made but overall this one had a reveal that I don't think I would've ever predicted ...more
The Ravening is a book that was different from what I originally expected. I believe this would benefit from a longer/more descriptive synopsis as I'mThe Ravening is a book that was different from what I originally expected. I believe this would benefit from a longer/more descriptive synopsis as I'm not sure I would have picked it up had it been explained better. We'll come back to this - but for now, let's talk about the book itself.
The story starts off with a very strong and very creepy prologue. 15 year old Jenna is traveling with her mother along a dark, empty road surrounded by thick woods. When they hit something with their car and the vehicle refuses to start again, Jenna's mother gets out to see if she can figure out what the issue is. Alone in the car, Jenna begins to get a sense that they are not alone out here - shortly after, her mother lets out a blood curdling scream - and is never seen again. There is no blood, hair, clothing, or any trace of her mother left.
Jump to 15 year later: Jenna is 30 years old and struggling. Her childhood has left a lasting imprint and Jenna has a hard time trusting people. Riddled with trauma and abandonment issues, Jenna finds it difficult to stay fulfilled in a long term relationship. However, with her current girlfriend Holly, she seems to be in a good place and experiencing feelings she hasn't had with partners in the past.
Now, this begins to bring us to the part in the book where I went *cue meme* What happened to the Original plot of the movie?! Jenna is shocked to find out she is pregnant with her ex boyfriend's baby. When she makes an appointment for an abortion - she is KIDNAPPED by this man and held captive within a house in the woods. His goal is to force her to carry out this pregnancy and deliver the child, and then he will forcibly impregnate her a few more times to pump out a few more babies. Huh!?! This is what I mean when I say this book could do with a revised synopsis. This is a HUGE part of the plot that is not mentioned or really even hinted at in the book's description and it really threw me off. I decided to stick with it but I can see people in the future DNFing after the story takes this unexpected turn.
Now, there are certain reasons why this is happening which does connect it back to the original plot but there was a good portion of this book - I would say between the 35% and 60% mark where it wasn't holding my full attention. I felt myself zoning out and had to reread a few parts. After that, it does begin to pick up and the intrigue came back for me as this book brings in some unique horror elements and we get to learn more about the creature that lurks in the woods..
It is important to note that this story mainly focuses on Jenna more than anything else. We get to know her really well and at its core, the story is about her trauma - who she was in the past and who she is becoming in the now. We study her actions, feelings, motivations, and journey of self exploration and self acceptance throughout the book - with the clear theme being 'love will prevail.'
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy: a creature feature, ancient evil, fantasy horror, bargaining, history of the occult, human greed, immortality, queer love, strong female characters, conversation about bodily autonomy, and character focused horror novels.
Overall, not a bad read but generally quite not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book to review....more
hehehe so fun, loved the characters, loved the plotline following the curse, and can't believe I'm saying it but- loved the spice hehehe so fun, loved the characters, loved the plotline following the curse, and can't believe I'm saying it but- loved the spice ...more
The Night Guest brings you right into the action as we meet our main character, Iðunn, at the doctor's office seeking help for strange symptoms. She'sThe Night Guest brings you right into the action as we meet our main character, Iðunn, at the doctor's office seeking help for strange symptoms. She's increasingly exhausted everyday no matter how much sleep she gets. When she wakes up, her whole body aches and she is often covered in bruises. What is happening to Iðunn during the night and how can she fix it?
Iðunn must navigate the health system which is both confusing and frustrating as no one is able to give her answers. Friends and family weigh in with their ideas for remedies: stay active, don't be stressed, stop drinking caffeine, try essential oils, etc. I enjoyed some of the commentary that this book was able to provide on such topics - especially the way women are often treated within the medical field and are often dismissed by (male) doctors.
As things progressively get worse, the reader is strung along for a bloody ride while Iðunn tries to solve the mystery and loses more and more of herself each day. I think this could easily be compared to movies such as ...more
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