The nitty-gritty: Another winner for Andy Weir, full of his trademark irreverent humor, non-stop action, and fascinating science. Like many other readers, I was a little scared to read Weir’s follow up to The Martian, which earned five enthusiastic stars from me a few years ago. By now you’ve probably read a bunch of reviews […]
The nitty-gritty: A terrifying trip to the sea, where monsters lie in wait. A couple of years ago I splurged and bought a small and beautiful book from Subterranean Press called Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant. I adored it for it’s shocking violence and fascinating subject matter (mermaids!). Fast forward to 2017 and […]
The nitty-gritty: A complex and unique story that delivers on all levels. Simply brilliant! I was initially drawn to The Nine because of it’s brightly colored cover, but believe me when I say the cover pales in comparison to the story that’s inside. This is one of my best, happiest surprises of the year, and […]
The nitty-gritty: A stylish and atmospheric tale, part ghost story, part psychological thriller, that sneaks up on you slowly. The creepy mirror was full-size and seemed unnaturally enormous hanging on the wall that way and reflecting only darkness. Framed in antique scrollwork, the glass within was pitch-black, and there was no image beyond the impression […]
The nitty-gritty: An action-packed and thrilling story that’s got something for everyone: terrifying monsters, stolen children, evil scientists, and of course, a circus sideshow full of dangerous creatures. Welcome to the show! “Run?” asked Annie. “Run where? The trees close in on all sides. If it’s the woods I need to fear, my fate is […]
The nitty-gritty: Strange and horrific, I loved this novella, even though it’s still giving me nightmares. Once, while they are sweating together, a molly appears in the doorway and joins them. It does not go bad while the three of them make love, and Molly kills it with regret and an ice pick the next […]
The nitty-gritty: Luminous and magical, The Rules of Magic is Alice Hoffman at her best. Today everything smelled earthy, the rich scent of mulch and decaying leaves and roots. It was an ending and a beginning, for the month itself was like a gate. October began as a golden hour and ended with Samhain, the […]
The nitty-gritty: A beautifully written and conceived tale of rival magicians, but with too many characters and ideas, it just seemed too big for a single volume. I have to admit it was my husband who “got” the title of this book. He took one look at the cover and said, “An Unkindness of Magicians. […]
The nitty-gritty: A multi-generational saga of a family of witches, with plenty of drama, familiars, and just a touch of magic. I’ve always loved multi-generational stories, although I usually associate them with historical and literary fiction, not fantasy. But Louisa Morgan has combined all three genres into a fascinating and far-reaching tale of a family […]
The nitty-gritty: A compulsively readable tale about the hidden lives of one married couple. Best Day Ever was just what I needed. I’ve been surviving on a steady diet of science fiction and fantasy for the last six years, so it was a nice change of pace to read a contemporary thriller for a change. […]