The nitty-gritty: Greek gods meet climate change in Priya Sharma’s latest, a short but memorable cautionary tale. A few years ago I had the pleasure of reading Priya Sharma’s Ormeshadow, a dark story about family secrets. So when she asked me to read Pomegranates, I didn’t even hesitate. This time, the author has written a […]
The nitty-gritty: Ai Jiang explores grief and loss in this unsettling, beautifully written tale. “This town worships the dead, but it has no respect for the living.” Ai Jiang is destined to be an important author in the horror field, if she isn’t already. Linghun was one of the most unusual stories I’ve ever read, […]
The nitty-gritty: A devastating exploration of woman’s place in a world ruled by men, On the Savage Side will haunt you long after the final page is turned. “I touched the water with my bare hands, and the river touched me back with hers. I wanted to leave my old life behind as easy as […]
The nitty-gritty: David Walton’s latest is part action-packed thriller, part fascinating dinosaur science, and 100% fun. I love David Walton’s books, so when he asked me to read and review his latest, I couldn’t say no. Walton has a flair for combining science and technology with fast-paced, high stakes plots and engaging characters, and his […]
The nitty-gritty: A garden full of poisonous delights, the stories in Effects Vary will catch you off guard and change the way you think about horror. You can tell from the disturbing cover art that this isn’t going to be your usual collection of short fiction. Effects Vary contains twenty-two short stories, and it’s one […]
The nitty-gritty: Rich world-building, finely developed characters, high stakes and plenty of emotional moments make The Mother’s Wheel a stellar series conclusion. “‘My name is Desper,’ the ape says. I can’t help myself. ‘What kind of name is that?’ ‘The best kind.’ Her eyes are round as coins and a deep, chocolate brown. ‘I chose […]
The nitty-gritty: Killer dinosaurs and Old West shootouts come together in this bloody and highly entertaining story. One of my favorite fantasy subgenres is “weird western,” and I can definitely say that Pteranodon Canyon fits the bill if you enjoy weird westerns as well. And what could be weirder than an alternate universe set in […]
The nitty-gritty: Eric LaRocca’s strange brand of horror is in full force in We Can Never Leave This Place, an emotional and at times upsetting glimpse into a young girl’s dangerous world. If there’s one thing you can count on with an Eric LaRocca book, it’s to expect the unexpected. We Can Never Leave This […]
The nitty-gritty: A dark, feminist fairy tale perfect for the times we are living in, The Girl Who Outgrew the World is a unique coming-of-age fable with an unforgettable heroine. “That is so you!” Rain gushed. So Lilly. Who she had been. And now, exponentially larger in every direction, this version of her was like […]
The nitty-gritty: Cosmic horror, shocking violence, colorful characters and black humor come together in Alan Baxter’s follow-up to The Gulp, a delightfully dark bunch of tales that will put you on edge—and keep you there. “There’s interesting and there’s fucked, mate. Nothing good ever came out of Gulpepper.” Is it possible to be fond of […]