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 […]
The nitty-gritty: Two children enter a magical land and learn some hard lessons in this tale-within-a-tale by Seanan McGuire. “People say I look like a girl, but that won’t ever make me one.” Zib blinked. “You’re not? But I thought–” “Oh, I’m a crow girl, but I’m not a girl girl.” The crow girl’s smile […]
The nitty-gritty: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is pure magic, a grand yet intimate and emotional tale of art, love and memories, told as only V.E. Schwab can tell it. A new V.E. Schwab book is always cause for celebration, but this time the celebration is well earned. This might be my favorite of […]
The nitty-gritty: Spooky and unsettling, The Residence is full of subtle, chilling moments that sneak up on you. Do you enjoy atmospheric ghost stories with a literary bent to them? Then you will not want to miss The Residence, Andrew Pyper’s latest. I have only read one of Pyper’s books—The Damned—but I loved it as […]
The nitty-gritty: Fascinating world building and interesting characters make The Bone Shard Daughter a solid debut fantasy. Book hype can be a double edged sword. On one hand, it can call attention to a debut author who might not otherwise get noticed, but it also sets up high expectations for the reader. The Bone Shard […]