The nitty-gritty: Shocking, brutal, funny, and heartbreaking, Mongrels is my new favorite werewolf story. This is the way werewolf stories go. Never any proof. Just a story that keeps changing, like it’s twisting back on itself, biting its own stomach to chew the poison out. I’m making an attempt to catch up with some of […]
The nitty-gritty: Rebecca Roanhorse does it again in this lush and thrilling tale of magic, adventure, betrayal and redemption. All the glowing reviews you’ve been reading got it right: Black Sun is a wonderful start to a new epic fantasy series based on a Pre-Columbian Americas world, and Rebecca Roanhorse proves once again what a […]
The nitty-gritty: This short, bloody revenge story had some interesting moments, but overall it was just OK for me. The Easton Falls Massacre grabbed my attention when I saw the cover and read the blurb, which promises a Bigfoot-centric horror story. Plus, how can you ignore the word “massacre” right there in the title? It […]
The nitty-gritty: Weird, unsettling and laugh-out-loud funny. How can you resist that combination? My breath came in great choking sobs while I tried to beat the dead thing to death a second time. It really was a joy to read a new T. Kingfisher (aka Ursula Vernon) novel, which turned out to be much in […]
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 […]