The nitty-gritty: A creepy and atmospheric retelling that pays homage to the original story while adding many unique elements, What Moves the Dead induces both laughter and dread, often in the same paragraph. “The mushroom’s gills were the deep-red color of severed muscle, the almost-violet shade that contrasts so dreadfully with the pale pink of […]
The nitty-gritty: A dark fantasy world, compelling characters a lively plot combine in this beautifully written and executed series opener. I usually hesitate when it comes to long books, as I haven’t had a very good track record finishing them. Also, as a review blogger, I want to read and review as many books as […]
The nitty-gritty: A delightful blend of humor and self-aware storytelling, A Mirror Mended is the fairy tale multiverse mash-up you didn’t know you needed. “I mean, sure, when one is looking for the lair of a cannibal queen, one expects to encounter a certain degree of spookiness. One might anticipate something resembling the Beast’s castle […]
The nitty-gritty: Bizarre, funny, and shocking, Glitterati is as sparkling and dangerous as the outfits worn by the characters. “From her clutch she had taken a tiny bottle of tears (sourced, no doubt, from only the cleanest unfashionables) and had dripped several into her eyes to make them fill and glisten. Currently, there was a […]
The nitty-gritty: Low-tech and futuristic space travel combine in surprising ways in this entertaining series opener. Last year I thoroughly enjoyed R.W.W. Greene’s Twenty-Five to Life, and so I jumped at the chance to read his latest book from Angry Robot. Mercury Rising is just as compelling but in a different way. Where Twenty-Five to […]
The nitty-gritty: A hilarious fairy tale, both dark and light, full T. Kingfisher’s trademark quirky and lovable characters. The bone dog came alive at dusk. It was not quite completed, but it was close. She was bent over the left front paw when the skull’s jaws yawned open and it stretched as if waking from […]
The nitty-gritty: There’s plenty of food for thought in this short horror story that takes the idea of perception and turns it on its head. “It had already started. The world was tipping, its weight shifting, and no one had really noticed how precarious the ground beneath our feet had become. Every image, every video […]
The nitty-gritty: Full of effortless humor, imaginative world-building, and complex characters, Stringers is a smart, bold sci-fi adventure—with pickles. “The Chime sounded, like, well, a chime. A really big chime. But still. If there truly was a sound evil enough to destroy the galaxy, wouldn’t it be something like pre-Black Album Metallica, or Justin Bieber? […]
The nitty-gritty: A true crime blogger uncovers some long-buried truths in this stellar murder mystery. This is my first time reading Simone St. James, and I was blown away! The Book of Cold Cases is an intricately plotted mystery with fully developed characters and a twisty plot that will keep readers guessing. The story takes […]
The nitty-gritty: A wacky science lesson with swearing, The Kaiju Preservation Society is full of humor, heart and just enough tension to keep the pages turning. “We did our job,” Kahurangi said. “We preserved a kaiju.” I don’t know about you, but every once in a while I need a book that’s fun, fast, and […]