The nitty-gritty: The mysteries pile up in this solid sequel to The Luminaries, with even more impressive world building. “You either trust the forest or you don’t.” Please note: spoilers ahead for the first book in the series I struggled a bit with The Luminaries, but I’m happy to say I ended up enjoying The […]
The nitty-gritty: Sharon Lynn Fisher combines elements of Jane Eyre with the paranormal in this richly imagined story, dripping with Gothic intrigue and romance. I always look forward to Sharon Lynn Fisher’s new books, and her latest is a wonderful treat for fans of Gothic mysteries. Salt & Broom is a Jane Eyre retelling full […]
The nitty-gritty: Romance, humor and thrilling action combine in this fun sci-fi series opener. “I know all about you, Temperance Reed, and you’re a calamity waiting to happen. It’s my job to mitigate the damage.” Calamity is the first book published by Tor’s new Bramble imprint, which focuses on SFF romance, and judging by how […]
The nitty-gritty: An impressive, well-rounded debut, These Burning Stars is a must read for fans of intricately plotted and character driven stories. It was touch and go at first, but These Burning Stars ended up being a huge success for me. This is science fiction, but the story almost reads like epic fantasy. Think Fonda […]
The nitty-gritty: A twisty, tension-filled story about a dysfunctional relationship, My Darling Girl has some surprises in store for readers who like a bit of the supernatural in their tales. I always hear great things about Jennifer McMahon, so I’m very glad I finally got to read one of her books. My Darling Girl was […]
The nitty-gritty: Lina Rather combines cosmic horror and a fascinating historical time period in this engaging and uplifting tale. A Season of Monstrous Conceptions is an immersive story set in 1675 London with some wonderfully creepy cosmic horror elements. I loved Lina Rather’s Our Lady of Endless Worlds series, so I was curious to see […]
The nitty-gritty: Fans of eerie, gothic fiction will not want to miss The Daughters of Block Island, a contemporary thriller dripping with atmosphere. “She looks back to see White Hall looming behind her like a haunted house. Like a nightmare. Like the cover of a horror novel. It bares its teeth, beckons her through the […]
The nitty-gritty: Cottagecore turns bloody in this uneven slasher/romance. I’ve been looking forward to another book by Delilah S. Dawson ever since I read and loved The Violence. Bloom seemed promising, with it’s beautiful but disturbing cover, but unfortunately this was just OK for me. Maybe the novella length had something to do with that, […]
The nitty-gritty: Two paranormal mercenaries for hire try to outwit a demon in this short but lively story with plenty of humor and heart. This is my first Richard Kadrey book, and I’m not sure why I waited so long to check him out. The Pale House Devil is a fun, funny paranormal story with a […]
The nitty-gritty: Vivid imagery, body horror and the terrors of parenthood combine in this bizarre and heartbreaking mystery. “You looked like a ghost in your sonogram. The second I saw the foggy outline of your lima bean body, I remember wondering to myself, Is this boy gonna end up haunting me? Your mother thought you […]