The nitty-gritty: An ambitious writer experiences the dark side of publishing in Revenge Plot, a twisty, fast-paced thriller with plenty of unexpected surprises. “We’re in the storytelling business,” Claudia is saying. “There’s the story inside the book but also the story about the book. Like it or not, they’re of equal importance these days. Every […]
The nitty-gritty: Sumptuous prose, body horror and complex relationships make up a heady mix in Milkteeth, Caitlin Starling’s outstanding take on the vampire trope. “You will lose your own needle teeth soon enough. In your maturity, your teeth will be all but identical to your prey’s. Just sharpened, lengthened canines, the better to slice, your […]
The nitty-gritty: Get ready for monster karaoke, exploding cows and more in Monsters of Ohio, an absurd but heartfelt story about change. “There are monsters here, and they’re going to wreck our town. They’re just not us.” John Scalzi excels at a certain brand of humor, and once again he’s brought that humor to his […]
The nitty-gritty: Dark secrets abound in The Porcelain Sisters, a laugh-out-loud funny and heartfelt story about two sisters trying to uncover their weird family history. Daryl Gregory is one of my favorite authors, and I firmly believe more people should be reading his books. His latest is a novella revolving around two sisters, but the […]
The nitty-gritty: Tananarive Due mixes history and survival horror with well drawn characters and plenty of tense action in her latest, an entertaining tale with never a dull moment. “Sometimes good luck whistled for bad luck to follow right behind it.” Mazywood is one of the most surprising books I’ve read this year, for a […]
The nitty-gritty: Clever, charming and romantic, The Killing of a Chestnut Tree is the perfect bite-sized, feel good tale for our times. I’ve been a fan of Oliver K. Langmead since 2015 when I read and loved Dark Star, and he continues to surprise me to this day. The Killing of a Chestnut Tree is […]
The nitty-gritty: A weird, magical story with nods to Greek mythology, Find Me Where It Ends is full of raw emotion and thoughtful reflections on life and death. “As it moved, Antigone saw proof again of what it was: its pelt seemed to eat the evening light. It was a negative space, a hole cut […]
The nitty-gritty: Moody, dark and romantic, Bane Bloom combines intrigue and a bit of magic in an atmospheric setting, perfect for fans of Gothic romance. Sharon Lynn Fisher’s latest fantasy romance is the perfect book to cozy up to as we slide into the Fall spooky season! Bane Bloom incorporates so many of my favorite […]
The nitty-gritty: Hysterically funny, heartwarming and full of surprises, She’s a Doll is a weird, wonderful story of female rage and unexpected friendship. This is my first time reading Barbara Truelove, and it will not be my last. She’s a Doll is one of those happy surprises you experience once in a while, where you […]
The nitty-gritty: Relentless pacing, thrilling action and heartbreak combine in Christopher Golden’s latest, a violent but satisfying horror tale. This is my first experience reading Christopher Golden, and I’m not sure why I waited so long. Carry Me To My Grave was surprisingly well written, tense and unexpectedly horrific. Golden gives readers a unique, very […]