The nitty-gritty: Christina Henry masterfully tackles the haunted house trope in this riveting coming-of-age story, infused with otherworldly terrors and heart-wrenching emotion. “Nobody ever said the house was dangerous—that is, beyond the obvious fact that it was an old, rotting house. More than one kid needed an extra tetanus shot after going in there, but […]
The nitty-gritty: A tense murder mystery/time travel story with a twist, Extremity is the perfect mash-up of noir vibes and futuristic elements. Extremity was such a nice surprise! I went into it fairly blind, so I’ll keep this short to avoid spoilers. This is my first time reading Nicholas Binge, and it won’t be my […]
The nitty-gritty: Cosmic horror and urban fantasy collide in Jim C. Hines’ latest, a perfectly paced, heart-felt story with creepy monsters and humor galore. “The fourteen-inch Bowie had a bone handle and a blade sharp enough to cut a deal with a devil.” This is my first Jim C. Hines book, and boy, was this […]
The nitty-gritty: Ford, Neuland and Tilda are back for more paranormal action in this fun sequel to The Pale House Devil. The Flesh King is a fun sequel to Richard Kadrey’s The Pale House Devil, which I enjoyed a couple of years ago, and although this is a self contained story, I would recommend reading […]
The nitty-gritty: Jenny Kiefer takes the “religion versus gays” trope and sets her story in—of all places—a craft store, making Crafting For Sinners a uniquely horrific reading experience. What happens when you combine a religious cult with a craft store? Complete chaos, that’s what! Jenny Kiefer’s latest is a bloody tale of survival as a […]
The nitty-gritty: Ghosts both psychological and real haunt the pages of Christa Carmen’s latest, a unique, shiver-inducing take on the haunted house story. “So”—Adelaide’s eyes had that glint again, all fire and excitement—”what do you say? Shall we turn this place into a motherfucking haunted house?” This is my third Christa Carmen book, and while […]
The nitty-gritty: A unique, ghostly take on the Cinderella story, Cinder House combines both familiar and unexpected elements in unexpected ways. Cinder House wins the prize for being the most unusual Cinderella retelling I’ve read to date! This is a weird, magical story that incorporates all the familiar elements—the ball, the ashes, the shoes, the […]
The nitty-gritty: Louisa Morgan tackles the tale of King Arthur in this magical, imaginative, character focused retelling, perfect for fantasy fans looking for less plot-heavy stories. Arthurian retellings aren’t really my thing, but Louisa Morgan is my thing, so of course I was excited to read The Faerie Morgana. And because she’s a pro, Morgan […]
The nitty-gritty: A killer is on the loose in a retirement community in Philip Fracassi’s latest, a “slasher light” serial killer story with unexpected heart and humor. Who would think that a serial killer story set in a retirement home would work, but Philip Fracassi has proved the universe wrong and written a tense, horrifying […]
The nitty-gritty: Sex, drugs and rock and roll collide in Delilah S. Dawson’s latest, a tense horror story with a fantastic twist. Music horror is one of my favorite sub genres, and I’m so glad I had the chance to read House of Idyll. This short, fast-paced horror story takes the idea of “Be careful […]