The nitty-gritty: I loved the 90s/New Orleans/vampire mythology vibe, but the pacing was inconsistent and the final reveals were too over-the-top for me. Mina and the Undead has a lot going for it: the New Orleans setting (with plenty of references to Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire), a creepy horror mansion with lots of […]
The nitty-gritty: Meticulously crafted and mind-bendingly creepy, Whisper Down the Lane is a riveting page-turner that’s hard to put down. Whisper Down the Lane is an extremely unsettling, paranoia-fueled psychological thriller that takes its ideas from some real life events and twists them into something new and horrifying. I wasn’t sure what to expect from […]
The nitty-gritty: Another strong entry in Dan Stout’s retro noir urban fantasy series, Titan Song is a rollicking good time. This is the third book in The Carter Archives series, and it’s still going strong, I’m happy to report. Stout has combined a unique set of elements—noir urban fantasy, a 1970s vibe that seems familiar […]
The nitty-gritty: Another beautifully written, carefully crafted tale from Oliver K. Langmead, Birds of Paradise is an imaginative glimpse into what became of the Garden of Eden. Oliver Langmead is such an underrated author and he needs a wider audience. Every time I read one of his books I’m reminded of how talented he is, […]
The nitty-gritty: King blends horror and crime into a fast-paced thriller, with a good balance of creep, humor and emotion. This is the first time I’ve reviewed a new Stephen King book on this blog, can you believe it? I read Later over the course of a day, something I rarely get to do, and […]
The nitty gritty: Dark and atmospheric, All the Murmuring Bones is an intriguing blend of fairy tale and mystery. Love is a barbed hook and family the line to which it is tied. It digs deep, and sometimes trying to remove it entirely does more damage than simply leaving the obstruction beneath the skin for […]
The nitty-gritty: A strange, sad, claustrophobic tale, with unexpected moments of beauty and hope. I can honestly say I’ve never read anything quite like We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep. This is a dark, atmospheric tale—verging on oppressive—that weaves together several unusual elements: a submarine called the Leviathan commanded by a religious zealot […]
The nitty-gritty: A thrilling, heartbreaking and satisfying end to one of my favorite series, The Fall of Koli is one of the best books of 2021. Jon stroked my cheek with one finger, a thing he did oftentimes to gentle me into sleep. “What do people look for out of a story, Spin? You told […]
The nitty-gritty: Filled with mysteries, magic and mayhem, The Ladies of the Secret Circus is a dark and layered tale of a family curse and the mysterious circus they can’t escape. I knew that Constance Sayers was going to deliver something unique with her latest release, but I was not expecting such an unusual, magical […]
I’m very excited to be part of the blog tour for The Second Bell, which releases today from Angry Robot! You can read my review below, but first here’s what the book is about: The Second Bell | Gabriela Houston | ISBN eBook: 9780857668912 | ISBN PB: 9780857668905 | PUB DATE: 9 March 2021 ANGRY ROBOT BOOKS, LONDON In a […]