The nitty-gritty: The Birds and Alien but with giant cicadas, The Swarm is not for the faint of heart and should be read indoors with all the windows firmly closed. If you’re not a bug person, you might want to think twice before picking up The Swarm. On the other hand, if you’re a fan […]
The nitty-gritty: A creepy, tension-filled story that will keep readers turning the pages, Snow Drowned was a pleasant surprise. I’ve been lucky with YA books lately, and I’m happy to report that Snow Drowned is yet another one I can recommend (with a few caveats). Jennifer D. Lyle knows how to create tension, and I […]
The nitty-gritty: A sequel just as good as the first book, Devil’s Gun excels at character development and world-building, with plenty of heart and emotion. “But I am not a soldier,” she said. “We are not fighting anyone or hiring out as mercenaries, are we?” “No, “ he said, coiling hoses to put them away. […]
The nitty-gritty: A high-stakes space opera with political intrigue, Dark Space succeeded in the first half, but lost me in the second. I had very high expectations for Dark Space, simply because Rob Hart co-wrote the book. So it pains me to say this was a mixed bag for me and didn’t even come close […]
The nitty-gritty: The Hollow and the Haunted is an impressive YA debut with humor, high stakes and a nicely done grumpy/sunshine romance. You probably know I’m not a big YA reader, and when I do read it, it takes a lot to impress me. I’ve seen lots of enthusiastic reviews of The Hollow and the […]
The nitty-gritty: A relentlessly paced survival story, Run is a violent thrill ride from start to finish. Run was originally self published back in 2011, and I’m so glad the publisher decided to reissue it this year. If you’ve read more recent books by Blake Crouch, you’ll see how far he’s progressed as a writer […]
The nitty-gritty: Funny, flirty and fabulous, The Nightmare Before Kissmas is the perfect holiday treat. The Nightmare Before Kissmas was such a pleasant surprise! This is the perfect book for the Fall season, since it deals with both the Halloween and Christmas holidays, and it’s a super sweet romance as well. The overall tone is […]
The nitty-gritty: Nicholas Pullen’s dark historical horror novel is bleak but well written, with interesting characters I came to care for. The Black Hunger is a very slow-paced, complex historical horror novel, and I thought about putting it down at times. But ultimately I’m glad I pushed through. There is something very compelling about Nicholas […]
The nitty-gritty: A young girl navigates a terrifying world in this dangerous and bloody story, full of thrilling adventure and unforgettable characters. “HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE LAST MOMENTS BEFORE THE WORLD ENDS: You won’t.” Spoiler ahead for dog lovers. I’ve been lucky enough to read a handful of exceptional books this year, and I’m happy […]
The nitty-gritty: Dark and weird, Tiny Threads explores racism and trauma in a glitzy fashion setting. I loved the idea of “fashion meets horror,” but I have to confess Tiny Threads wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. There are plenty of positives for me, but I also had some issues that I’ll explain below. Still, […]