The nitty-gritty: P. Djèlí Clark’s tale of otherworldly horror is one of the best I’ve read, an emotional tour de force of good versus evil, upsetting at times, but ultimately uplifting and full of joy. Sadie’s no sniper. But she ain’t lying. Girl can shoot the wings off a fly. Never one day in Uncle […]
The nitty-gritty: Mythology, romance, magic and intrigue collide in Sharon Lynn Fisher’s latest lively and sexy fantasy. Sharon Lynn Fisher continues her Faery Rehistory series in this sparkling sequel, which by the way, can easily be read as a stand-alone if you haven’t read The Absinthe Earl first. Although a couple of familiar characters from […]
The nitty-gritty: Short and brutal, these horror stories by much lauded and prolific author Pete Mesling are both shocking and eye opening. Horror comes in all shapes and sizes, and I’m glad I got the chance to read Pete Mesling’s brand of horror, which is an interesting mix of slasher fiction, Lovecraftian influence, and just […]
The nitty-gritty: A lively and compelling feminist story about grit and determination, sisterhood, and the hidden power of stories. “A witch is merely a woman who needs more than she has.” If ever there was a time for this book, that time is now. The Once and Future Witches is a love letter to women […]
The nitty-gritty: Two children enter a magical land and learn some hard lessons in this tale-within-a-tale by Seanan McGuire. “People say I look like a girl, but that won’t ever make me one.” Zib blinked. “You’re not? But I thought–” “Oh, I’m a crow girl, but I’m not a girl girl.” The crow girl’s smile […]
The nitty-gritty: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is pure magic, a grand yet intimate and emotional tale of art, love and memories, told as only V.E. Schwab can tell it. A new V.E. Schwab book is always cause for celebration, but this time the celebration is well earned. This might be my favorite of […]
The nitty-gritty: A vividly realized world with fascinating characters, The Hive Queen is a thrilling and satisfying sequel. Freedom is like a marsh with no path, a dangerous place where any wrong step might send me and my brothers to our deaths. I never imagined being free could be so hard. Or so deadly. Robin […]
The nitty-gritty: Spooky and unsettling, The Residence is full of subtle, chilling moments that sneak up on you. Do you enjoy atmospheric ghost stories with a literary bent to them? Then you will not want to miss The Residence, Andrew Pyper’s latest. I have only read one of Pyper’s books—The Damned—but I loved it as […]
The nitty-gritty: A bold, bloody high stakes plot, relatable characters, and a diabolical twist make this a standout book of 2020. I absolutely love when a book surprises me, and I’m happy to say The Phlebotomist is one of the best surprises I’ve had all year. This book is sure to make my Best of […]
The nitty-gritty: A weird, wild ride of a story about five sentient teddy bears who must work together in order to survive in the wide, wide world. Did Buddy have two sides? Did every teddy? He was both magical and ordinary—Made in America but Surface Washable. He had both a Real Silk Heart and Polyester […]