The nitty-gritty: Four childhood friends are forced to confront the past in Ronald Malfi’s latest, an epic, nightmarish tale with unforgettable characters. “Do you want to see a magic trick?” After absolutely loving Come With Me last year (which made my top five books of 2021), I was both excited and hesitant to read Ronald Malfi’s […]
The nitty-gritty: Cozy mystery, humor and futuristic sci-fi combine to make Eddie Robson’s latest a uniquely fun read. Reading an Eddie Robson book is such a joy. I absolutely love his writing style, his subtle humor and the interesting characters who populate his stories. Last year I read Hearts of Oak and loved Robson’s quirky […]
The nitty-gritty: A seductive, multi-layered story with family secrets, betrayal and magic, perfect for fans of dark contemporary fantasy. “We didn’t wonder where the magic came from, or why it worked. We never asked ourselves, Is this ours to take? We were three damp ducklings, green as leaves, believing with all our crooked hearts that […]
The nitty-gritty: I enjoyed the characters and the touches of magic, but the plot fell short and wasn’t as engaging as I had hoped. Half a Soul ended up being a mixed bag for me, unfortunately. You know how some books excite you right out of the gate? I guess I was expecting a “spark” […]
The nitty-gritty: A delightful blend of humor and self-aware storytelling, A Mirror Mended is the fairy tale multiverse mash-up you didn’t know you needed. “I mean, sure, when one is looking for the lair of a cannibal queen, one expects to encounter a certain degree of spookiness. One might anticipate something resembling the Beast’s castle […]
The nitty-gritty: Anne Heltzel brings several tried and true horror tropes to her latest novel, including cults, creepy dolls and motherhood. Just Like Mother was creepy and shocking, and yes, over-the-top at times. But I have to admit, despite it’s flaws, I had a lot of fun with it. Parts of it made me mad, […]
The nitty-gritty: A unique format makes this supernatural thriller a fun escape from everyday life. Hidden Pictures was a very good thriller with lots of surprises, and the book is full of illustrations which enhance the story and make it even better. There’s also a supernatural element, so if you enjoy thrillers with a ghostly […]
The nitty-gritty: Lovely writing and eerie ambiance couldn’t quite make up for a confusing plot and magic system. Book of Night was not at all what I expected (something I’ve heard from other reviewers as well) and that may have impacted my reading experience. When I think of Holly Black, my mind conjures up fairies […]
The nitty-gritty: An unusual sci-fi mystery with quirky characters, Rosebud is both entertaining and mind-bending. I’ve read some weird books in my time, but Rosebud might be the very weirdest! And I say that with fondness, because I really did enjoy it. Paul Cornell takes ideas like how an individual’s history shapes them, mixes in […]
The nitty-gritty: A hilarious fairy tale, both dark and light, full T. Kingfisher’s trademark quirky and lovable characters. The bone dog came alive at dusk. It was not quite completed, but it was close. She was bent over the left front paw when the skull’s jaws yawned open and it stretched as if waking from […]