The nitty-gritty: A focus on relationships rather than plot left me with mixed feelings for this cozy, science fiction alien invasion story. Key Lime Sky is the second book I’ve read by Al Hess, and although it has elements I love, like humor and interesting queer characters, it didn’t hit the highs I experienced when […]
The nitty-gritty: Weird and unsettling, The Unmothers explores folklore, belief, pregnancy and grief, a story told in flawless prose, dripping with dread. The Unmothers was not what I expected at all, but I really ended up loving it. I’ll admit I got off to a shaky start, because so many different characters are introduced, and […]
The nitty-gritty: A pounding disco beat is the backdrop to this tightly plotted, inventive vampire tale. Grab your fangs and join the party! Imagine if Louis and Lestat from Interview With the Vampire were gorgeous young female vampires who love to party all night at the disco, and you’ll have an idea of what to […]
The nitty-gritty: Twilight Zone-esque stories make up this top-notch collection by veteran horror author Darcy Coates. Scary, unsettling and emotional, read this with the lights on. I don’t read short story collections very often, but I’m so glad I picked up Ghost Camera, because it was excellent! Darcy Coates is one of my go-to authors […]
The nitty-gritty: If you’re looking for a fun, upbeat story, then look no further. Reading The Spellshop feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold winter’s night. Sarah Beth Durst says in her Acknowledgments that she wanted to write a story that captured the feeling of drinking a cup of hot chocolate, […]
The nitty-gritty: 80s nostalgia and slashers come together in this top notch coming-of-age story full of humor, horror and heart. Slashers are in Stephen Graham Jones’ blood, as evidenced by his Indian Lake trilogy and now his latest, I Was a Teenage Slasher. This time we follow the story through the eyes of the killer, […]
The nitty-gritty: A darkly sexy fantasy romance, Filthy Rich Fae is the perfect opening to Geneva Lee’s new series. This is my first time reading a book by Geneva Lee, and I had a ton of fun with it! Filthy Rich Fae is urban fantasy with a good dose of romance, but there’s also a […]
The nitty-gritty: A top notch horror story that touches on some tough themes, Incidents Around the House is a scary, emotional and uniquely told tale. “How long do you think we’d have to go without an incident for us to feel back to normal?” This is my first Josh Malerman book, and I have to […]
The nitty-gritty: Heists, found family and deep space adventure come together in Yume Kitasei’s thrilling space opera. Yume Kitasei has done it again—her sophomore book, after last year’s wonderful The Deep Sky, is just as imaginative and well written, and I may have loved it even more. As the author herself says, this is a […]
The nitty-gritty: Snappy dialog and plenty of action (and yes, romance) make Fiasco an excellent sequel that’s tons of fun. “My mother has a blaster taped to her thigh under her skirt and a knife in her bra. I didn’t even give her the knife. She just carries one there. And because she has voluminous […]