The nitty-gritty: A surreal take on the asylum trope, Crypt of the Moon Spider is an unsettling, shudder-worthy start to a new series. This must be my “week of weird,” because I have a review for yet another very weird book. That isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy it, because I did. Crypt of the […]
The nitty-gritty: A weird take on the locked room mystery, Glass Houses was entertaining and unique despite some flaws. “When you were a woman in tech, you could either emphasize the woman or the tech, and the founders of Wuv clearly favored the former. A woman could do the whole jeans and ironic T-shirts thing, […]
The nitty-gritty: A focus on relationships rather than plot left me with mixed feelings for this cozy, science fiction alien invasion story. Key Lime Sky is the second book I’ve read by Al Hess, and although it has elements I love, like humor and interesting queer characters, it didn’t hit the highs I experienced when […]
The nitty-gritty: A novella sized book packed with intriguing ideas and an emotional storyline, Time’s Agent gives readers plenty to think about. Time’s Agent is such a unique story, and I’m so glad I had the chance to read it. Brenda Peynado imagines a future where pocket worlds—alternate worlds where time moves either faster or […]
The nitty-gritty: In her latest fairy tale retelling, T. Kingfisher once again proves she’s the master of dark fantasy with a healthy dose of heart and humor. T. Kingfisher is one of the most consistent writers I know, and I always enjoy her stories immensely. A Sorceress Comes to Call is no exception, a delightfully […]
The nitty-gritty: Weird and unsettling, The Unmothers explores folklore, belief, pregnancy and grief, a story told in flawless prose, dripping with dread. The Unmothers was not what I expected at all, but I really ended up loving it. I’ll admit I got off to a shaky start, because so many different characters are introduced, and […]
The nitty-gritty: Josh Winning mixes slasher horror and cancel culture in his latest, an entertaining blend of elements with layered characters and plenty of blood. Heads Will Roll was lots of fun, even if there were a few story elements that didn’t make sense. This is yet another entry into the “camp slasher horror” sub […]
The nitty-gritty: A pounding disco beat is the backdrop to this tightly plotted, inventive vampire tale. Grab your fangs and join the party! Imagine if Louis and Lestat from Interview With the Vampire were gorgeous young female vampires who love to party all night at the disco, and you’ll have an idea of what to […]
The nitty-gritty: Twilight Zone-esque stories make up this top-notch collection by veteran horror author Darcy Coates. Scary, unsettling and emotional, read this with the lights on. I don’t read short story collections very often, but I’m so glad I picked up Ghost Camera, because it was excellent! Darcy Coates is one of my go-to authors […]
The nitty-gritty: If you’re looking for a fun, upbeat story, then look no further. Reading The Spellshop feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold winter’s night. Sarah Beth Durst says in her Acknowledgments that she wanted to write a story that captured the feeling of drinking a cup of hot chocolate, […]