The nitty-gritty: A tense slasher with an intriguing mystery makes Dead of Winter a must read for Darcy Coates fans. So far I’m two for two with Darcy Coates! I loved her last book, Gallows Hill, and Dead of Winter is completely different but just as good. Coates uses the tried and true locked room […]
The nitty-gritty: Evil takes over a boys’ orphanage in this gory, claustrophobic tale. I’m so glad I finally read a book by Philip Fracassi, and after my experience with Boys in the Valley, I’m eager to read more of his work. This is a tightly plotted, emotional horror story involving demonic possession, and I went […]
The nitty-gritty: The forest setting in R.J. Barker’s latest epic fantasy is the star of the show, in this well crafted adventure with high stakes and heart. “What of mushrooms?” she said. “I like a good mushroom.” “They are mostly fine,” he answered, “though some types will kill you if you eat them, and others […]
The nitty-gritty: A feel-good romance with substance and just a touch of the speculative, The Seven Year Slip was a delight from start to finish. Color me surprised. This horror, sci-fi lovin’ girl just fell for a contemporary romance, and I’m totally OK with that! I’ve enjoyed Ashley Poston’s YA series Once Upon a Con, […]
The nitty-gritty: Shocking and audacious, Maeve Fly combines repulsive violence with unexpected emotion, and I could not put it down. “Having stripped most of the flesh down with chemicals and the slow cooker, and having worked my muscles to a place beyond fatigue with the hacking, I now have to dry the bones outside in […]
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 twisty, fast-paced story that will keep you guessing. All is not as it seems in The Ferryman, Justin Cronin’s new novel, an epic, mind-bending tale that takes place in a future dystopian world. I had a blast with this book, and the twist was not what I was expecting at all. I […]
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: Ai Jiang explores grief and loss in this unsettling, beautifully written tale. “This town worships the dead, but it has no respect for the living.” Ai Jiang is destined to be an important author in the horror field, if she isn’t already. Linghun was one of the most unusual stories I’ve ever read, […]
The nitty-gritty: T. Kingfisher mashes together Southern gothic creepiness, a cast of unforgettable characters, and plenty of humor in A House With Good Bones, a thoroughly entertaining haunted house story. “There is probably something more awkward than the morning after you’ve found a jar of teeth and your mother has admitted she thinks she’s being […]