The nitty-gritty: Threader Origins had a lot of potential, but a sluggish middle section made this an uneven read for me. Threader Origins has a great hook: a machine called the Quantum Power Source, designed as a solution to the world’s energy needs, misfires and pushes a young undergrad into a dystopian parallel world where […]
The nitty-gritty: Fancy some Eldritch nightmares? Then look no further. The Gulp is the perfect combination of weird, brutal and creepy. The Gulp has the honor of being my first horror book of 2021, and folks, it was a good one! Alan Baxter is a well-known Aussie horror author, and I had not heard of […]
The nitty-gritty: A low-key entry into McGuire’s popular series, Across the Green Grass Fields introduces a new character and sets the stage for more adventures. I’m always excited when a new Wayward Children book comes out, but unfortunately, this latest installment didn’t quite work for me. It wasn’t a bad book, per se, but it […]
The nitty-gritty: Inventive and engaging, Doors of Sleep is the feel-good sci-fi story you didn’t know you needed. If you’re looking for an upbeat, quirky, feel good story to start off 2021, then you cannot go wrong with Doors of Sleep. This book was such a happy surprise, and I can’t believe this is my […]
The nitty-gritty: A macabre glimpse into the mind of a female serial killer, In the Garden of Spite is a compelling page-turner, rich in historical details and fascinating characters. Halfway through the meal, Moira had to excuse herself, as she was feeling ill. I wished her a speedy recovery as she made her way upstairs. […]
The nitty-gritty: An ambitious genre mash-up that tackles such diverse topics as poverty, imaginary friends, space exploration and family bonds. We Hear Voices caught me off guard, but in a good way. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I didn’t realize this was science fiction/dystopian when I started reading it. It looks like […]
The nitty-gritty: Lovecraft meets The Twilight Zone in this fast-paced, monster-filled horror story. This was a lot of fun! I wasn’t sure what to expect from Eight Cylinders, and I definitely got something a little different, but I ended up really enjoying this book. As you might have guessed from the cover, there’s a Lovecraft […]
The nitty-gritty: An enjoyable but slightly uneven sequel in K. Eason’s imaginative Star Wars inspired space opera series. Last year I was surprised by how much I loved How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse, so I was very excited to read the sequel. And for the most part, I enjoyed it. Rory Thorne was more […]
The nitty-gritty: A thoroughly entertaining mystery with an unappealing protagonist, Voodoo Heart was a fun read but ultimately a mixed bag for me. I was eager to dive into this horror/noir mystery by the prolific John Everson, especially when I found out that the story is set in New Orleans and involves voodoo. Can a […]
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 […]