“Some people believe in God, I suppose, and some people believe in nothing…And some people believe in something else.”
This was leisurely-paced, comin“Some people believe in God, I suppose, and some people believe in nothing…And some people believe in something else.”
This was leisurely-paced, coming-of-age, folk horror with accumulating dread. In spite of this book being set during a historic heatwave, the unease throughout gave me chills! Definitely a great read-alike for Shirley Jackson fans!...more
A southern gothic mystery thriller/romance set in a small town in Louisiana? Yes, please! Another book by author Ashley Winstead that I absolutely lovA southern gothic mystery thriller/romance set in a small town in Louisiana? Yes, please! Another book by author Ashley Winstead that I absolutely loved. Forbidden love, religious bigotry, a body found in the swamp. I had a good time with this one! ...more
Another monster-sized Chuck Wendig book completed and I loved every minute of it!
Reasons to check this one out: -small-town horror -occult vibes -forAnother monster-sized Chuck Wendig book completed and I loved every minute of it!
Reasons to check this one out: -small-town horror -occult vibes -forbidden fruit -things get culty! -big book, short chapters -large cast of characters -will make you want an apple real bad -will also make you never wanna eat apples again...more
My mother has killed me, My father is eating me, My brothers and sisters sit under the table, Picking my bones, And they bury them under the cold marble sMy mother has killed me, My father is eating me, My brothers and sisters sit under the table, Picking my bones, And they bury them under the cold marble stones.
I wasn’t sure about this book in the beginning. It moved at a leisurely pace in spite of the premise promising spectral portraits, ghosts, and a secluded small town. But to my surprise, by the very last page of Childgrave, I decided I loved this book.
The story follows Jonathan Brewster, a photographer and widowed father living and working in New York City. His 4 year old daughter Joanne makes it known that she’s made some new imaginary friends, which doesn’t seem out of the ordinary for a preschool aged child until Jonathan starts seeing these “friends” in the photographs he’s taking. When it’s discovered that the ghosts in the pictures have a connection to a small town called Childgrave, Jonathan develops an unusual fascination with its centuries-old secrets.
Now, in spite of that premise, Greenhall takes his sweet time letting readers get to know Jonathan, his daughter Joanne, and the small circle of people in their lives. Half the book has us in Manhattan and focuses on Jonathan’s infatuation with a woman named Sara, a mysterious and beautiful harpist who might have a connection to the spectral portraits. It’s not until halfway through the book that we finally get to the strange village of Childgrave where a culty population of townsfolk dwell, and this is where readers will lean in and begin to feel unease. Don’t get me wrong, there are moments in the book where readers will undoubtedly wonder where the story is going, but if they’re patient, the plot becomes very unsettling and everything starts to connect by the end.
This is a psychological horror novel that takes its time and one that I will personally appreciate for the fact that I can’t stop thinking about it now that I’ve finished it. It’s laden with religious themes, witty dialogue, and strange characters. Readers who are fans of Shirley Jackson might find themselves taking a liking to Ken Greenhall and his underappreciated horror gems....more
“And then Walter John sees them. Reaching for him. Out of the water, out of the heaving sea where no people should be. Hands and heads with dulled, dr“And then Walter John sees them. Reaching for him. Out of the water, out of the heaving sea where no people should be. Hands and heads with dulled, drowned faces coming to drag him under, drowned men and women walking up out of the waves to bring him home, except it is no home he wants to visit.”
This was a book that took me by surprise! It’s a thick 500+ pages (which can be intimidating) and a good chunk of it is a slow burn (which can be demotivating). But I’m so grateful for that slow burn because C.A. Fletcher's Dead Water is a book you really want to settle into. You want to make yourself a hot cup of tea on a day when you’ve got nowhere to be and just float through the plot as if you're riding a lazy river. Next thing you know, that lazy river becomes fast-moving rapids and the plot is taking off!
Readers are introduced to a large cast of characters living on a Scottish fishing island accessible by ferry. Long story short, a curse is exhumed and the island’s population starts to dwindle as they are turned into–get this–not the Walking Dead but the "Walking Drowned". That’s right folks, water zombies!!!!!
For me personally, this book had so many great factors going for it. Norse folklore, the isolation trope, developed characters, small-town setting, a creative use of the zombie trope, and compelling prose. Not to mention there were plenty of moments in the book that sent chills down my spine (as someone who's terrified of zombies). The book felt a little reminiscent of the supernatural elements found in Dir. John Carpenter’s 1980 film The Fog while holding much of the slow-building dread of Dir. Mike Flanagan’s Netflix miniseries Midnight Mass. But the character development and storytelling reminded me very much of Stephen King's writing.
Dead Water was *chef’s kiss* perfection and I’m so glad I waited to be in the right mood to read it. And the right mood really is important for a book like this because you don’t want to pick it up expecting fast-paced action on a day you’re craving fast-paced action. This would be an excellent book to bring along for a relaxing Summer vacation near the beach.
If any of what I've just mentioned above grabs you, I recommend this one for the patient "thicc" book readers who love folk horror, zombies, oceanic atmosphere, and fantastic characters....more
“Once you’ve seen a witch tear a man inside out from his arsehole, you’ve seen it all.”
I know I’m a bit late to the party but holy cheese balls this b“Once you’ve seen a witch tear a man inside out from his arsehole, you’ve seen it all.”
I know I’m a bit late to the party but holy cheese balls this book was bonkers!!! A vengeful spirit, a small-town curse, and lots of blood (we’re talking buckets of blood). If you’re someone who loves body horror, ghostly legends, and supernatural slashers all set in a small Scottish town during the month of October, then Maggie's Grave is pure spooky season perfection. I’m kicking myself for not having read this earlier! Bravo, David Sodergren. Bravo! ...more
Nina The Wandering Reader
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