The nitty-gritty: A lush, bloody, sweeping saga of an unusual relationship that spans centuries. “Love makes monsters of us, Constanta, and not everyone is cut out for monstrosity.” I’ve been eyeing A Dowry of Blood ever since the self-published edition made a splash on social media, but it went out of print before I could […]
The nitty-gritty: With a strong beginning and a thrilling ending, I enjoyed parts of House of Hunger, especially the darker horror elements, but overall it turned out to be a mixed bag for me. Of this I am utterly certain: I will never again know peace. —VANESSA, FIRST BLOODMAID OF THE HOUSE OF HUNGER House […]
The nitty-gritty: Horror author Ronald Kelly looks back on his long career in publishing in this compelling and eye-opening memoir. “A story or novel is like a garden; despite how good you believe it is in your ‘writer’s mind,’ there are always weeds to eradicate and bugs to exterminate.” I rarely read and review nonfiction—make […]
The nitty-gritty: Creepy and unsettling, thrilling and terrifying, Gallows Hill is the perfect story to read with the lights off—if you dare. “”It might be easier to go over everything in three parts,’ Kant said. ‘Before the bells. After the bells. And once they’re in the house.’” I’m so glad I’ve finally read my first […]
The nitty-gritty: Rich world-building, finely developed characters, high stakes and plenty of emotional moments make The Mother’s Wheel a stellar series conclusion. “‘My name is Desper,’ the ape says. I can’t help myself. ‘What kind of name is that?’ ‘The best kind.’ Her eyes are round as coins and a deep, chocolate brown. ‘I chose […]
The nitty-gritty: Monsters, magic and murder take center stage in this trio of wild, weird and bloody stories. I love a good weird western, and I have to say these stories scratched that itch for me. West of Hell contains three short novellas written by three different authors, and while I didn’t enjoy all of […]
The nitty-gritty: Alan Baxter’s latest delivers chills, gore and a cast a colorful characters in this carnival thrill ride-like tale of otherworldly revenge, perfect for horror fans seeking a fun summer read. Alan Baxter really knows how to write small town folk horror, and Sallow Bend has all the markings of a good one. With […]
The nitty-gritty: A mind-bending mystery through time and space, Eversion takes readers on a dangerous journey of discovery. Eversion was such a unique book! This is one of those stories that doesn’t really come together until the very end, so readers will need to be patient. But the ultimate payoff was worth the wait, and […]
The nitty-gritty: Six Feet Under meets You’ve Got Mail in Megan Bannen’s outrageously funny fantasy rom-com, complete with zombies, human-sized animal mail carriers, and a host of quirky, lovable characters. Well, this was a delightful surprise! Humor can be hit or miss for me, but I’m thrilled to say Megan Bannen’s humor is just my […]
The nitty-gritty: The Book Eaters is a delicious, dark surprise, strange and compelling and utterly original. “A moment of perverse beauty: one child holding another, with Cai’s mouth on the baby’s ear. Almost a kiss, almost a cuddle. It was love and it was death and Devon thought that, for her, those things had become […]