I love the way Rivers Solomon writes. I’ll read pretty much anything they publish. Their writing is visceral and unsettling.
This one took me ages to fI love the way Rivers Solomon writes. I’ll read pretty much anything they publish. Their writing is visceral and unsettling.
This one took me ages to finish, not because I wasn’t interested, but because it was so heavy. The last 40% went really quickly, but I kept putting the book down in the first 60% just because of how depressing it was. To be clear, the last 40% is still depressing, but you also need to know what’s happening, so it’s easier to push through.
The story follows the Maxwell siblings, who are forced to return to their childhood home after their parents’ mysterious deaths. The house, and the white suburb it’s in, holds dark, unexplainable secrets tied to their family’s trauma. Solomon turns the haunted-house trope on its head, weaving in themes of racism, segregation, and unresolved trauma.
There’s a lot to unpack—racism, mental illness, sexual assault. It’s not an easy read, but it’s worth it.
I generally try to go into books knowing as little about them as possible. I picked this up because the cover and title are awesome, and I’ll read preI generally try to go into books knowing as little about them as possible. I picked this up because the cover and title are awesome, and I’ll read pretty much any sci-fi.
But there is one thing you need to know upfront is that this is a horror novel. A bleak horror novel. And if that’s not your jam, move on.
Temple (he/him) and London (they/them) are part of an exploratory expedition to terraform planets to make them fit for humanity after we destroyed Earth: Temple leads a group of terraformers while London is stuck alone in a small, sterile outpost. Their love is strong, but the distance is wearying.
In both of their worlds, things start to slowly go wrong, and Temple tries his best to support London while dealing with his own nightmares.
I don’t want to say more than that for fear of giving this away.
In a book that really focuses on two characters and their relationship, Davidson manages to cover big themes like environmental stewardship, living in a world you’re not suited for, and corporate greed and coverups.
I was initially going to give this three stars but had to round up because the concept and world-building were so well thought out and unique.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Timber Ghost Press!...more
Jack is one of my favorite Wayward Children characters, and while this was a little corny, it was also warm and horrifying and pretty much exactly whaJack is one of my favorite Wayward Children characters, and while this was a little corny, it was also warm and horrifying and pretty much exactly what I want out of these stories.
This was so delightful: one of my favorite books read in 2023.
Sheshenshen is a wyrm, a shapeshifting monster who has terrorized the humans around herThis was so delightful: one of my favorite books read in 2023.
Sheshenshen is a wyrm, a shapeshifting monster who has terrorized the humans around her lair and who would have continued doing it if it weren’t for meeting Homily, a human who rescues Sheshenshen and thinks she’s a human named Siobhan.
This book is somehow violent yet heartwarming and joyful.
I loved the folklore and horror aspects of this, but I never really got into it the way I'd hoped to. I think it might've been the three different perI loved the folklore and horror aspects of this, but I never really got into it the way I'd hoped to. I think it might've been the three different perspectives (Treasure then, Ozomena then, Ozomena now) that made it hard to keep everything straight. I usually like shifting perspectives, and Treasure's and Ozomena's voices are so different that they were easy to keep straight, but something about this just didn't hold my interest and took me way longer to read than it should have.
I do plan to read more from this author in the future!
This is a story of generational trauma told through the backdrop of La Llorna, the vengeful ghost weeping over the children she killed.
The story alteThis is a story of generational trauma told through the backdrop of La Llorna, the vengeful ghost weeping over the children she killed.
The story alternates between Alejandra in present day and her ancestors and the choices they made. The first ancestor we see is Atzi from the time of the conquistadors and their time colonizing Mexico. She has a terrible choice to make which sets off a generational curse.
The writing was beautiful although the story with all of its tragedy and trauma was tough to read. I loved how close the reader is to Alenjandra, hearing all of her thoughts.
This is a deliciously creepy story about old age, loneliness and memory. I’m a little hesitant to write more in this review as I think it’s best to reThis is a deliciously creepy story about old age, loneliness and memory. I’m a little hesitant to write more in this review as I think it’s best to read this knowing as little about it as possible.
I haven’t read any of Iain Reid’s work before, but I’ll definitely pick up another of his books after this. This book had an amazing introspective atmosphere, and though it was quiet, I still found it harrowing. It didn’t have your typical hallmarks of a thriller, but I kept turning pages as though it were one.
I received this book from Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
If you've been following me for more than a month, you know I'm a huge Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire fan. There's just something so satisfying about her bIf you've been following me for more than a month, you know I'm a huge Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire fan. There's just something so satisfying about her books: I love the pacing and her writing style and her thoughtfulness around her characters.
This one didn't disappoint and was the perfect quick read. Keep in mind that it's a novella, so you don't get to the same deep level the same story might have had in a full-length novel form, but it was excellent....more
Maybe not a retelling of Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher so much as a fleshing out and expanding
I really enjoyed this. It did have a lot of similMaybe not a retelling of Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher so much as a fleshing out and expanding
I really enjoyed this. It did have a lot of similarities to Mexican Gothic, but the author acknowledges that in the notes (“Oh my God, what can I possibly do with fungus in a collapsing gothic house that Moreno-Garcia didn’t do ten times better?”). The whole thing was atmospheric with great characters (Beatrix Potter’s aunt is a novice mycologist railing against the patriarchy!), and it was fun in a horrific way.
Easton, a retired soldier, visits an old friend when they receive a letter that his sister is dying. They immediately sense that something is very, very wrong with the house. The whole story takes place over just a few days and all on or near the grounds of the very creepy house and Easton is a great main character: introspective and witty and observant.
I received this book from Tor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
This had so much potential--and I will definitely be reading more of Veronica Henry's books--but the pacing was off and the character development left something to be desired. It felt like who our main character, Liza, was wasn't totally nailed down. I truly loved all the horror moments and the undercurrent of dread throughout the book....more