The nitty-gritty: Unique ideas and a strong first half weren’t enough to save this ultimately confusing murder mystery set aboard a UFO. 30Seven should have worked for me—on paper it’s everything I love in a science fiction horror story. But despite a strong start, it devolved into a messy, over-stuffed tale with a bunch of […]
The nitty-gritty: Dark and romantic, Tea & Alchemy excels with its Gothic setting and intriguing mystery. I call Sharon Lynn Fisher the Queen of Vibes, and in her latest book, the vibes are off the charts! Tea & Alchemy is full of both cozy and Gothic elements, a combination that works perfectly for Sharon’s style. […]
The nitty-gritty: An epic tale of valor and love, The Everlasting will sweep readers off their feet with its intricately plotted story, high emotions and unexpected twists. “My pen was a hollow reed, clumsily cut, and my ink was gummy brown, but the words came easier than I expected. Like the lines of a poem […]
The nitty-gritty: Social media, cancel culture and a ghostly stalker merge in this interesting but uneven thriller. “Some secrets don’t live on the tongue, but the back of the throat, where they have to be swallowed again and again, a hundred times a day.” You Watched In Silence is a queer mystery/thriller with just a […]
The nitty-gritty: Stellar writing and characterization, imaginative world-building and unexpected emotional gut-punches make Outlaw Planet an unforgettable epic sci-fi adventure. “I made my life into a story and threw it into the well of my children’s hind-brains, so deep I couldn’t hear the splash when it hit. Some day they’ll need me, the story goes, […]
The nitty-gritty: A mysterious, secluded house traps a group of teens in this atmospheric, if somewhat uneven, YA horror story. The Devouring Light had some very creepy and disturbing scenes, and in that respect it succeeded. However, it also fell into some well tread YA tropes, and I didn’t care much for the characters, so […]
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: 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: 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 […]