The nitty-gritty: Katrina Monroe explores the dark side of motherhood in this moody, psychological thriller. Everything about this book should have worked for me. Katrina Monroe’s atmospheric writing drew me in, creating a spooky, unsettling vibe and an intriguing mystery. But there’s barely a plot to grab onto, and once again I found myself reading […]
The nitty-gritty: Dragons, brutal action, deadly games and romance combine in this stellar fantasy series opener. “If Jack wants to kill me, he needs to get in line. Besides, I have a feeling Xaden Riorson is going to beat him to it.” Well, that was a bunch of fun! I’m happily joining in the hoards […]
The nitty-gritty: A grotesque but beautifully written tale of revenge and love. “I bite down on my smile instead, straightening, aware of how I must look: transparent hair, translucent skin, lips red as arteries. Iridescent eyes, stained-glass oceans, so large that they are nearly alien, their breadth magnified by thick, sweeping lashes. With every hour […]
The nitty-gritty: A lively tale combining family drama and otherworldly fairies, I enjoyed Rowenna Miller’s writing style and her take on the fae. Coin in the door for a visitor welcome Bit of old leather for a welcome farewell –Traditional bargain The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill was a surprise in many ways. I expected […]
The nitty-gritty: The Scourge Between Stars had plenty of thrilling action, but the story itself was too big for the short format. Horror in space is one of my favorite tropes, and Ness Brown’s story of a generation ship being attacked by a hidden predator was extremely tense and scary. I also thought it was […]
The nitty-gritty: An excellent sequel, Hel’s Eight brings readers more of Ten Low‘s desolate and dangerous desert setting and larger than life characters, with just the right balance of action and emotion. Last year I read Stark Holborn’s Ten Low and loved it, and I’m so happy that the author decided to continue Ten’s story. […]
The nitty-gritty: Epic in scope but intimate in characterization, Infinity Gate introduces a fascinating multiverse with a high stakes plot, plenty of twists and relentless pacing. M.R. Carey won my heart years ago when I read The Girl With All the Gifts, and since then his stories have never failed to impress me. And Infinity […]
The nitty-gritty: A promising idea turned sour for me, as the relationship drama overwhelmed the fascinating wolf plot. Feed Them Silence has an intriguing premise: in the future, an interface has been developed that will link the minds of a human and a wolf, thus enabling humans to better understand a near extinct species. Sean […]
The nitty-gritty: A sweeping family saga dripping with gothic atmosphere, The Girl From Rawblood is both a love story and a tragedy, filled with dread and shocking revelations. “When I try to think of Rawblood, to draw it with words, a muffling whiteness comes. I can’t describe it any more than I can my own […]
The nitty-gritty: A perplexing mystery and a second chance romance set the stage for this engaging science fiction series starter. This was such a lovely, gentle story with unique world building, and I really enjoyed it. If the description “cozy mystery set in space with a queer love story” gets your attention, then you will […]