The nitty-gritty: History and magic combine in this engaging debut fantasy story. The Geomagician wasn’t quite what I expected, but I ended up enjoying so many elements, even if there were a few things that didn’t work for me. Debut author Jennifer Mandula has taken a real life figure from history—Mary Anning, an English paleontologist […]
The nitty-gritty: Shocking, gross and eye-opening, Nothing Tastes As Good is both hard-hitting and wildly entertaining. “We’re all hungry, aren’t we? You’ve made us all into monsters.” I read my first Luke Dumas book a few years ago and enjoyed it (The Paleontologist), but Nothing Tastes As Good is so much better in just about […]
The nitty-gritty: A mysterious cellar is at the center of this short but impactful tale about change and acceptance. The Cellar Below the Cellar is an odd little story with a strong folktale vibe, and I enjoyed it! It’s sort of a mash-up of different genres, so it’s hard to pigeonhole it into just one. […]
The nitty-gritty: Delightful and charming from start to finish, A Widow’s Charm melds magic, high stakes and relatable characters into a story that perfectly balances comedy and romance. A Widow’s Charm surprised me in so many ways, and I ended up absolutely loving it. First, I thought this was going to be a contemporary fantasy, […]
The nitty-gritty: Despite a solid story idea and plenty of tension, Crawlspace didn’t deliver on the horror. Crawlspace had so much potential, but unfortunately the execution did not work for me at all, which resulted in a slow paced space thriller with very little scares. It was also bogged down with page after page of […]
The nitty-gritty: An ambitious debut that combines history, magic, mythology and thrilling action, The Red Winter is a heady mix of horror and humor. “What a night of monsters it was for the good people at the Bow and Brace.” I’ll admit The Red Winter isn’t the kind of book I usually pick up, but […]
The nitty-gritty: Insect horror and Gothic mystery combine in T. Kingfisher’s latest, a tense and disturbing horror story with the author’s trademark humor and quirky characters. T. Kingfisher never disappoints, and in her latest she returns to the horror genre, although she manages to inject plenty of humor into the story as well. If you […]
The nitty-gritty: High stakes, big action, political intrigue and humor join forces in Gareth L. Powell’s latest, a fun, fast paced sci-fi adventure with heart. “Never forget, Copernicus, that just like the rest of us, you are the product of coincidence and luck.” Gareth L. Powell is one of the most creative writers I’ve had […]
The nitty-gritty: An intriguing mystery, tangled interpersonal relationships and a fascinating futuristic world make this sweet, humorous story a must read. I’m enjoying this series so much! Nobody’s Baby is the second book in the Dorothy Gentleman series, revolving around a generation ship on the way to colonize a new planet and focusing on various […]
The nitty-gritty: Mystery meets mind-bending supernatural terror in Dead First, a unique tale of revenge, redemption and murder. “Sometimes, people leave part of themselves in a horrible place, creating an eternal scar.” Dead First surprised me in just about every possible way. This is a gritty, violent and emotional story that mostly leans into mystery/detective […]