The nitty-gritty: Family secrets, unreliable narrators and a tell-all memoir make up the bones of this twisty, deliciously entertaining tale. I’m happy to say that The Dead Husband Cookbook hit many of the same highs for me as Danielle Valentine’s Delicate Condition, a book I absolutely loved. In her latest, the author has taken two […]
The nitty-gritty: Powerful, visceral and immersive, Angel Down explores war and angels, life and death, desires and miracles, in a surprising format that echoes the chaos of war. “and Goodspeed’s theory has a logic Bagger can’t quip aside, for if you were to forge new kinds of weapons, and those weapons flew farther and sailed […]
The nitty-gritty: A twisty haunted house story with lots of surprises, It Was Her House First is a suspenseful thriller with engaging characters—both living and dead. “Every stair, every step, Venita dragged 1932 behind her like the train on a wedding veil. Everything her wake touched lit up and returned to its original state. The […]
The nitty-gritty: The dark academia trope is turned on its head in Cassandra Khaw’s latest, a bloody feast with Gothic imagery, lush prose and ravenous characters. “Oleander and nightshade grew in pastel eruptions, Rosary peas sprawled everywhere, ladybug-patterned in their gray husks, vivid as a fresh heart. No small amount of the school’s namesake bloomed […]
The nitty-gritty: Unexpected twists and laugh-out-loud humor make this assassins-turned-good guys story an excellent sequel. “’Yo, snakes are attracted to sound,’ Booker says. ‘You a herpetologist now?’ I ask. ‘No, but remember that episode of The Simpsons where Lisa used stereo speakers to attract the snakes?’ ‘Okay, you are not a herpetologist. We don’t make […]
The nitty-gritty: A high-stakes, thrilling adventure, Shield of Sparrows is a well-balanced, well written fantasy, perfect for fans of Fourth Wing. Come for the monsters, stay for the delicious slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance. “I was surrounded by monsters.” Shield of Sparrows seems to be the buzzy book of the season, and count me in on […]
The nitty-gritty: A sequel that expertly builds on its predecessor, Another Fine Mess is another winning book in what’s turning out to be a can’t miss series. If you had fun with Bless My Heart, the first book in Lindy Ryan’s deep fried Southern horror romp, then I guarantee you’ll have a blast with the […]
The nitty-gritty: A young boy navigates the unexpected return of his dead father in this short, sharp horror story. Mapping the Interior was originally published in 2017 by Tordotcom, and this year it’s being rereleased in a beautiful new package by Tor Nightfire. I actually own the original edition, but for whatever reason I never […]
The nitty-gritty: A multilayered murder mystery with supernatural overtones, Senseless flawlessly captures the essence of seedy Los Angeles. Senseless is a Los Angeles based murder mystery full of twists and secrets, and I absolutely loved it. This isn’t your typical police procedural, though, although fans of that genre will find lots to love. Malfi adds […]
The nitty-gritty: A powerful and complex tale of revenge, Stephen Graham Jones’ latest is an emotionally draining but ultimately rewarding reading experience. “What I am is the Indian who can’t die. I’m the worst dream America ever had.” No one can write a raw, unflinching account of the Indigenous experience like Stephen Graham Jones can, […]