A surreal, haunting debut on otherness, motherhood, and generational cycles. Mind-bending and original, And Then She Fell is a dizzying and vivid lookA surreal, haunting debut on otherness, motherhood, and generational cycles. Mind-bending and original, And Then She Fell is a dizzying and vivid look at identity, what we piece together from our traditions, loved ones, and what we invent for ourselves. It is an examination of the power of storytelling, and how we decide how certain stories should be told, how language can both empower and ensnare us. This is a novel that tackles hard truths head on, looking at racism, misogyny, classism, and all the ways in which women, especially women of color and indigenous women, are told to “be good,” are expected to be the exception to the western image made of them, or to embody it perfectly. Honest and raw in its depiction of mental health and generational trauma, this is also an ode to the familial bonds, to traditions, to cultural pride and resistance to oppression. A dynamic, powerful debut that is as effective as it is ambitious, gorgeously written and long lasting in its unease. ...more
A deeply disturbing descent into chaos. Fast paced, with palpable tension and chilling depictions of horror and violence, The Ruins delivers a bleak aA deeply disturbing descent into chaos. Fast paced, with palpable tension and chilling depictions of horror and violence, The Ruins delivers a bleak and shocking journey that is guaranteed to haunt readers long after its conclusion. This novel is not only supremely suspenseful and dynamic, but surprisingly offers some deeply unsettling explorations of existentialism, the afterlife, and the consequences of disregarding local ecosystems and cultures. This novel is a knockout combination of man, nature, and the unknown, and is a true gem of this genre....more
A wistful and candid exploration of dreams, grief, and culture. Told through the dreams and memories of a young Cree woman processing a traumatic loss, Bad Cree is an exemplary work that walks the line between beautiful and horrific; it is disturbing but holds a great deal of love and forgiveness as well. This novel is a testament to the strength of family, especially to the woman who hold so much within themselves to preserve their children, culture, and future. Although bursting with elements of horror, this is ultimately a story of healing and of celebrating community and the power of dreams. Unique and heartfelt to its core....more
“My sister is a black hole my sister is a bricked-up window my sister is a house on fire my sister is a car crash my sister is a long night my sister “My sister is a black hole my sister is a bricked-up window my sister is a house on fire my sister is a car crash my sister is a long night my sister is a battle my sister is here.” ...more
A twisty descent into nightmares coming true. Filled with a growing sense of disorientation and dread, The Last House on Needless Street is a winding A twisty descent into nightmares coming true. Filled with a growing sense of disorientation and dread, The Last House on Needless Street is a winding labyrinth of trauma and hidden truths; it is a nail-biting thriller that unearths the chilling core of how far people go to protect themselves, the houses we build around our memories until they are a fortress with ever changing passages. ...more
Only Grady Hendrix can make possession via vengeful puppet both hilarious and endearing. Filled with gasp worthy horror and biting humor, How to Sell Only Grady Hendrix can make possession via vengeful puppet both hilarious and endearing. Filled with gasp worthy horror and biting humor, How to Sell a Haunted House is a dark and twisty ride that is as entertaining as it is spine chilling. This novel offers a glimpse into not only the terrifying consequences of spirits who won’t let go, but also a surprisingly heartfelt look at grief and forgiveness. It examines the way that secrets and guilt shape families, how the pain of what ifs can nearly overshadow the future. But it is also a tender look at the bonds between siblings, and the ways in which we use our parents as models for our own children and goals. This is another impressive horror comedy that leaves a lasting impression of wisdom beyond its initial scares. ...more
A gorgeous interpretation of one of literature's finest classics. This beguiling debut is dark, poetic, and filledhttps://instagram.com/p/Ctbzfy9L0Wp/
A gorgeous interpretation of one of literature's finest classics. This beguiling debut is dark, poetic, and filled with ambition, grief, and innovation. It highlights the struggle for women to gain rightful credit in a society that favors the voices of men, especially in the fields of scientific discovery. Our Hideous Progeny simmers with the passion for hidden knowledge, and the blazing desire to harness the unknown, to challenge the finality of death, no matter the cost. This novel was so enjoyable from beginning to end, its pages filled with rebellion, love, and yearning for those secret histories, mind-bending futures, those dark ripples beneath the surface....more
A brilliant debut on grief, family, and self acceptance. With gorgeously crafted prose that glows with longing andhttps://instagram.com/p/CrLg-t6rj-W/
A brilliant debut on grief, family, and self acceptance. With gorgeously crafted prose that glows with longing and hunger, Monstrilio is a visceral account of the lives we build around grief, the doors we must close to open new ones, the feelings we will go to any lengths to preserve. It is a reflection of all of the dark parts within us, the beautiful parts, the ones we piece from past and present to create something new; maybe not what was intended or desired, but something authentic, whole, and wonderful. This is as much a coming of age, a familial love story, as it is a tale of horror; this novel is incredibly unique and utterly moving, a memorable story that deserves to be shouted from rooftops....more
A bleak and immersive journey through faith, survival, and human connection against the backdrop of the apocalypse. Strange, eerie, and with the brashA bleak and immersive journey through faith, survival, and human connection against the backdrop of the apocalypse. Strange, eerie, and with the brash violence of a classic Western, Desert Creatures offers insight into the role of religion and storytelling in post apocalyptic worlds, how legends are both a blessing and a curse. The landscape, both literally and figuratively, is alive with horrors, but also hope. A unique and gritty journey for fans of The Last of Us and Annihilation. ...more
An exceptional debut that blends coming of age and legend to create an unforgettable tale of transformation. Disturbing and pulsing with life, ChlorinAn exceptional debut that blends coming of age and legend to create an unforgettable tale of transformation. Disturbing and pulsing with life, Chlorine is a reflection on the lengths someone will go to in order to become who they truly are, as well as a powerful commentary on the abuse young athletes, especially women, face to push the limits of perfection. Protagonist Ren is both tragic and triumphant, a blazing voice of determination and pride, of transcendence. This novel packs so many musings of power imbalance, misogyny, generational trauma, and perfectionism into its pages, weaving a tale that is entirely authentic and stunningly unique. An incredibly impactful read. ...more
Dazzling and hypnotic as a spell, this devastatingly lush farewell letter accounts the cost of obsession, jealousy, and manipulation. Poetic and seducDazzling and hypnotic as a spell, this devastatingly lush farewell letter accounts the cost of obsession, jealousy, and manipulation. Poetic and seductive, we see that the lines between love and infatuation, freedom and control, resentment and hurt, are almost never clearly defined. We see the whirlpool of abuse and power, the cycles of misunderstandings and malcontents, and the explosive conclusions that they result in. As the novel expertly details, not everyone is cut out to love. Love is so often seen through a self serving glass, as a means to an end, leaving destruction and harm in its wake. Love is the beautiful word used to disguise an ulterior motive, a hidden ambition, and is the scapegoat for desolation and deception. Gorgeously rendered, nuanced, and reflective, A Dowry of Blood is a dark and wonderfully thought out reimagining of one of the most seductive, bleak legends that there is. ...more
A beguiling and electric commentary on class, race, and trauma. With sensual and gritty prose, this tale of grief https://instagram.com/p/CpxXJ1yriJV/
A beguiling and electric commentary on class, race, and trauma. With sensual and gritty prose, this tale of grief and control expertly mounts unease and anger, mirroring the stages of grief and transformation with haunting ease. Magnolia’s journey from vulnerable and uncertain, to ensnared in webs of deception and desire, to independent and self assured, is one that readers will quickly become invested in; she is a champion of women who bloom at night, who know the call of the wind in the trees, who are nurturing their wings to soar. An amazingly strong and enchanting debut.
Thank you so much to Goodreads and to Monica Brashears for this ARC, please look for House of Cotton in April 2023!...more
A disturbing and ominous exploration of fear, manipulation, and the dangerous consequences of the brutal side of imagination. Visceral, impulsive, andA disturbing and ominous exploration of fear, manipulation, and the dangerous consequences of the brutal side of imagination. Visceral, impulsive, and wild, Jawbone pushes the boundaries of sexuality and violence, aligning beauty with ugliness, the feral with the feminine. It tests the limits of depravity and existentialism, blurring sanity and reality into a fever dream of unchecked tension and cruelty. Relentlessly unsettling and wholly unflinching, Jawbone is a black hole of mounting dread and discomfort, a siren song of the suppressed and the morbidity of boredom. ...more