The nitty-gritty: A quirky, feel-good story full of gods, scorpions and lovable characters, Snake-Eater is the perfect cozy end-of-the-year tale. “On the radio, a song was abruptly interrupted by DJ Raven announcing that the aliens had been in contact again and they had agreed to postpone the invasion if Raven played more Alice Cooper. ‘I […]
The nitty-gritty: Cosmic horror and urban fantasy collide in Jim C. Hines’ latest, a perfectly paced, heart-felt story with creepy monsters and humor galore. “The fourteen-inch Bowie had a bone handle and a blade sharp enough to cut a deal with a devil.” This is my first Jim C. Hines book, and boy, was this […]
The nitty-gritty: Ghosts both psychological and real haunt the pages of Christa Carmen’s latest, a unique, shiver-inducing take on the haunted house story. “So”—Adelaide’s eyes had that glint again, all fire and excitement—”what do you say? Shall we turn this place into a motherfucking haunted house?” This is my third Christa Carmen book, and while […]
The nitty-gritty: Secrets and lies come to light as a family grapples with the death of their matriarch and her demon infested house. “Our family scapegoat is gone. Whose fault will everything be now?” I always know what I’m getting with a new Rachel Harrison book, and Play Nice is right in her wheelhouse. Harrison […]
The nitty-gritty: A bite-sized cozy fantasy with plenty of heart, A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence brings together folklore, friendships, and a touch of romance. Stephanie Burgis has written another delightful entry in her cozy supernatural series, and I can’t get enough of these characters. The basic set up is that Margaret and Lord Riven were […]
The nitty-gritty: Carnival horror meets gross-out humor in this wickedly funny, touching tale about memory, friendship and port-a-potties. “And you’re saying he’s coming in through the port-a-potties?” “Portal-potties. Sorta like Doctor Who, except the Tardis is a shitter.” “Tardis?” “Goddamn, Gaynes, like a time machine.” What if a port-a-potty was a portal-potty? That’s the idea […]
The nitty-gritty: The House on Utopia Way is a weird cabinet of wonders, set in a mind-bending, mystery-filled landscape. “It was a drawn breath of a day, sky the colour of a computer error screen, low wind.” The author told me this book was “too weird” for traditional publishing, but I read and review a […]
The nitty-gritty: Ashley Poston channels the joy of music in this funny, romantic story about following your heart. This is the fourth book in what I’ll call Ashley Poston’s magical realism romances, and I say, keep ‘em coming! Sounds Like Love is an ode to music and finding your passion in life. It’s also about […]
The nitty-gritty: Unexpected twists and laugh-out-loud humor make this assassins-turned-good guys story an excellent sequel. “’Yo, snakes are attracted to sound,’ Booker says. ‘You a herpetologist now?’ I ask. ‘No, but remember that episode of The Simpsons where Lisa used stereo speakers to attract the snakes?’ ‘Okay, you are not a herpetologist. We don’t make […]
The nitty-gritty: A spell gone wrong turns a prince into a horse in this funny (at times) fantasy where the horsey antics are the best part of the story. “Virtue of Mercy. I was married to a horse.” Behooved is a fun and silly romantasy that offers a lot of laughs and some feel good […]