The nitty-gritty: A bloody homage to the slasher film, My Heart is a Chainsaw is a slow build tale with an over-the-top ending that ultimately won me over. This is my fourth Stephen Graham Jones book, and I can now say without a doubt that even when he writes a book that doesn’t completely work […]
The nitty-gritty: The Offset presents a grim future, but gives readers plenty of food for thought. I’m not sure what I was expecting when I picked up this book, but it ended up surprising me in many ways. This is a dark, gritty look at a future where things are so bad that extreme measures […]
The nitty-gritty: Unsettling and bizarre, Eric LaRocca’s stories cut to the heart of relationships and buried human emotions. It seems Eric LaRocca is all over social media these days, or at least the social media accounts that I follow. So it was inevitable that I would eventually grab one of his books to read. I […]
“Gotta get used to making choices. It’s your will or someone else’s. Get mad and stay that way. It’s a lot safer. You got a gun? It’s not always whimsy and bullshit out here.” I love when a book surprises me, and that’s exactly what happened with Twenty-Five to Life. At first glance, it seems […]
The nitty-gritty: Short and powerful, In the River is a tiny, horrific masterpiece. I can’t believe I haven’t read anything by Jeremy Robert Johnson before now, but In the River might be the perfect place to start. This is a fairly short novella and can be read in a matter of hours, but it packs […]
The nitty-gritty: A lushly written tale rooted in folklore and magic, Wildwood Whispers has a lovely, homespun vibe as comfy as a warm blanket. I couldn’t resist this beautiful cover, and I’m happy to report that the cover is perfect for this magic-tinged tale. This is a quieter and more uplifting story than I normally […]
The nitty-gritty: More action, more danger, more twists and higher stakes, The Exiled Fleet is an enormously fun sequel. Space opera fans will not want to miss this series! I love when publishers choose to release a sequel only months after the publication of the first book, and now Tor has done that with J.S. […]
The nitty-gritty: Kira Jane Buxton does it again in this funny and poignant follow up to Hollow Kingdom, a unique genre mash-up that made me laugh and cry. I had been wrong to call Dee a flower. Dee was not a flower; she was a fucking weed. Beautiful and tenacious as a tiger. Misunderstood and […]
The nitty-gritty: A suspenseful thriller set in the Grand Canyon, Getaway is equal parts tension and solid character development. This is my second book by Zoje Stage, and she’s become a “must read” author for me. Getaway was not quite what I expected—and that’s OK. I enjoy the fact that Stage always seems to surprise […]
The nitty-gritty: Dripping with atmosphere and creepy characters, Tidepool is a treat for lovers of cosmic horror. Tidepool is Nicole Willson’s debut novel, and wow I had so much fun with this! This is a horror tale that takes place in 1913 Maryland and almost feels like a cozy mystery in the beginning. But watch […]