Some creepy ideas illustrated here, but not all of the stories were cohesive or easy to follow along with. There’s also a super nasty/perverted sectioSome creepy ideas illustrated here, but not all of the stories were cohesive or easy to follow along with. There’s also a super nasty/perverted section that really has no business being with the rest of the collection. It’s like something from the depths of 4chan/pornhub. Totally ruined the entire book for me ...more
Gothic horror that builds the dread and eeriness as the story progresses. I’d say pick this one up if stories by Poe, the Brontë sisters, or even moreGothic horror that builds the dread and eeriness as the story progresses. I’d say pick this one up if stories by Poe, the Brontë sisters, or even more modern authors like Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Catriona Ward, and Isabel Cañas are your jam.
I can’t say I was a huge fan of the characters themselves, but the plot and writing was engaging and immersive.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Quill & Crow Publishing House for a copy!...more
At times this was a three star read; some moments (like the explanation/ending) had my rating dipping down to 2. The prose itself wasn’t terrible, butAt times this was a three star read; some moments (like the explanation/ending) had my rating dipping down to 2. The prose itself wasn’t terrible, but I couldn’t get invested in the plot and characters themselves. It was all just a little too bizarre of a story to settle into to.
I did like the historical setting, and how complicated grief was a present theme throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Crooked Lane Books for a copy!...more
Cute little scifi story, but I did find the audiobook a bit hard to follow along with. I definitely couldn’t multitask when listening to this one. LovCute little scifi story, but I did find the audiobook a bit hard to follow along with. I definitely couldn’t multitask when listening to this one. Loved the quirky characters and cool cover!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, the narrator, and Macmillan Audio for a copy!...more
A very odd story but strangely compelling. I wasn’t sure if I overly liked the plot, but was drawn back by the prose and characters.
I wish there was aA very odd story but strangely compelling. I wasn’t sure if I overly liked the plot, but was drawn back by the prose and characters.
I wish there was a bit more world building and history. It seems kind of like a future earth with a large self sustaining community cut off from the world by desert surrounding the Lake District.
We never find out if there are others beyond the wasteland, and as the story progresses, it isn’t clear why the sun is disappearing, or why the Beacons are appearing.
By the end, I was still left with a lot of questions, but the mysteries kind of added to the story I suppose.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Grove Atlantic for a copy!...more
That’s my summary of this story. If you liked “Maeve Fly” by CJ Leede, you should check Weird, wild, feral, unhinged, obsessive, abusive, conflicted.
That’s my summary of this story. If you liked “Maeve Fly” by CJ Leede, you should check out this book too. Some parts were pretty gross/disturbing so fair warning.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Abrams Press for a copy!...more
I loved the body horror and dark fantasy aspects of this story.
The narrator was fantastic as well.
What I didn’t enjoy so much was the frequent time juI loved the body horror and dark fantasy aspects of this story.
The narrator was fantastic as well.
What I didn’t enjoy so much was the frequent time jumps back and forth, especially with SO many characters and so much information right away.
This made it hard to absorb details, understand what exactly was happening, and I feel like I was thrown into the deep end with too much going on to get a firm grip on the edges of this dark academia tale.
The book flips back and forth from the beginning of the school year and graduation, with minimal meat in the middle. I never really grasped the scope of this magical world and the Hellebore Institution within it. Neither did I fully comprehend the lore/backgrounds/motivations/powers of the students.
So many random details come and go in every chapter, but ultimately did not contribute to the plot in any meaningful way. I’m still trying to figure out why the deer paintings/artist was important (yes I got that they found out who she was, but why did it even matter because then she was gone shortly after?). Were these red herrings? I feel like this may lean more towards the author’s style of prose instead (along with playing unnecessary thesaurus roulette).
Overall I think I somewhat enjoyed this work of fiction, but I also feel like I only reached a surface level integration; at the end of the day there are way too many characters and not enough time spent with any of them. Also, I’m kind of wondering what the heck the point of the story was. Defeating the iron grip the professors/adults had on the magical kids I guess? I’m just really confused after finishing this one.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, the narrator, and MacMillan Audio for a copy!...more
Calling all cosmic horror fans! You’ll want to add this one to your reading lists!
Follow two kids as they find a hovering wheel in the middle of the Calling all cosmic horror fans! You’ll want to add this one to your reading lists!
Follow two kids as they find a hovering wheel in the middle of the forest one night. It changes the trajectory of their lives for good and bad.
I enjoyed seeing Marley & Caleb grow up, deeply influenced and bound to an object beyond their comprehension. It was a quick story, almost a bit too short, but I really, really enjoyed reading it. The author has a wonderful imagination.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Dead Sky Publishing/ Death’s Head Press for a copy! ...more
I wasn’t able to get invested in this story initially. The characters just really threw me off. The concept, complex grief, writing were great. The paI wasn’t able to get invested in this story initially. The characters just really threw me off. The concept, complex grief, writing were great. The pacing/ending felt off and ultimately these were what drove my rating down from 3 stars.
Thank you anyways to NetGalley, the author, and After Dark Press for a copy....more
A group of friends attend an isolated desert healing retreat. The land has a blood soaked history and is rWhat a great addition to the slasher genre!
A group of friends attend an isolated desert healing retreat. The land has a blood soaked history and is rumoured to be haunted. When people start disappearing and a figure dressed in historic mining clothes attacks, it begs the question whether this is a supernatural or human attacker. Could it be a maleficent spirit or psychopathic person?
I was wholly invested and the farther I got into the story the wilder my theories got. The ending/reveal itself was a bit of a bummer compared to what the lead up was giving readers.
Definitely an enthralling and bloody book that is not to be missed.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Poisoned Pen Press for a copy!...more
A mystery thriller with spore and body horror throughout.
I can’t say I was a huge fan of the audiobook narrator, the dialogue just felt a bit off andA mystery thriller with spore and body horror throughout.
I can’t say I was a huge fan of the audiobook narrator, the dialogue just felt a bit off and I couldn’t tell if it was due to inflections used or the prose itself.
The descriptions of the forest and settings were immersive and fantastic, gross and bizarre, and atmospheric at times too. This really helped me get into the story.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and MacMillan Audio for a copy.
It’s more slow burning than thrilling, but does have weird vibes throughout which builds some dread. I liked thWasn’t particularly fond of this story.
It’s more slow burning than thrilling, but does have weird vibes throughout which builds some dread. I liked the different perspectives, the characters seemed to fall into some stereotypical tropes, but were fairly well written otherwise. I noticed some plot holes/points and general continuity errors that didn’t make total sense or give enough of an explanation. I personally need the details (who, what, where, why, when, and how lol) and can’t rely on blind faith in a book/author. Like tell me how all these things add up to give us this conclusion, because I’m still puzzled.
Anyways, pick this one up if you want a slow burning mystery (that may not be entirely plausible/clear by the end).
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Atria Books for a copy....more
I had my ups and downs with this story: at times not a huge fan of the characters and plots, other times amazed by the different realities/worlds theyI had my ups and downs with this story: at times not a huge fan of the characters and plots, other times amazed by the different realities/worlds they’d become part of. The pacing ebbed and flowed as well, so some parts were a bit more dry, and others very thrilling.
Overall more of a scifi adventure story than a straight up horror in my opinion. Definitely pick this one up if you like multiverse/ alternate reality tales, cat and mouse thrillers, and complex character dynamics.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Coronis Publishing for a copy!...more
What a surprising story! I was going in expecting that the authors would be getting picked off one by one, but I never expected such a deeply connecteWhat a surprising story! I was going in expecting that the authors would be getting picked off one by one, but I never expected such a deeply connected and twisting plot, as well as some supernatural elements.
If you loved “Puzzle House” by Duncan Ralston, definitely give this one a read, it’s got similar vibes.
I just overall found this to be a fun and thrilling read, enjoying every moment of it. The switching perspectives and narratives worked really well in my opinion, adding insights and new commentary. I would’ve loved to see the Queen Family’s history expanded upon a bit more though. Like how is some of this stuff happening? The riddles/clues could’ve been a bit more obscure, as it seemed kind of obvious what the answer would be each time.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Poisoned Pen Press for a copy....more
Kate Victoria
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