The nitty-gritty: Shipwrecks, sea monsters, and an engaging bunch of characters come together in this fantastic YA debut, full of thrills and plenty of mystery. Hi Dad, I’m going to write you until this pencil wears out. Until all of me wears out. I’m not sure what’s real and what’s not anymore, but these words, […]
The nitty-gritty: Creepy and atmospheric, this claustrophobic look at mental illness was surprisingly chilling. She had always loved sleeping and couldn’t understand people who didn’t. It was all of the best things about being dead, but without its permanence. What an unusual story! The Unsuitable is one of those books that blurs the line between […]
The nitty-gritty: Bennett’s complicated magic system dampened some of my enjoyment of this sequel, but the emotional connections between characters and exciting action sequences made up for it. If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that Robert Jackson Bennett always delivers a complex, entertaining and emotional story, and I’m happy to say that […]
The nitty-gritty: For fans of Christina Henry’s Alice books, this collection fills in some of the blanks and gives readers a peek into the emotional lives of her characters. Looking Glass is a collection of four interconnected novellas set in Christina Henry’s Alice world and gives readers some new glimpses into the lives of Alice […]
The nitty-gritty: A promising start deteriorates into some very odd plot choices and pacing issues, although I adored the author’s atmosphere-infused writing. Have you ever read a book that started out strong—I’m talking five-star strong—but later deteriorated into a much lower rating? Well unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to me with The Ancestor, I’m very […]
The nitty-gritty: History, witchcraft and romance collide in Louisa Morgan’s beautifully written story about a secret family lineage. I’m a big fan of Louisa Morgan’s “witch” books, and it’s a given that I’ll read every one she writes. The Age of Witches is another winner, with a wonderfully immersive story and solid writing. I fell […]
The nitty-gritty: A stellar start to a new series, The Book of Koli surprised me in just about every possible way. I’ve read every one of M.R. Carey’s books—or at least the books he’s written under the name M.R. Carey (he has an urban fantasy series written as Mike Carey that I’m dying to read!)—and […]
The nitty-gritty: A cleverly plotted sequel with plenty of mysteries, Titan’s Day is a strong entry into Stout’s fascinating retro/noir urban fantasy world. Last year I was surprised and delighted by Dan Stout’s debut, Titanshade, as were many other readers, and I couldn’t wait to get back into Stout’s unique world. And I’m happy to […]
The nitty-gritty: Clever and addictive, full of poignant emotion and colorfully drawn Southern characters, Grady Hendrix’s latest is a must read for everyone who loves a well told story. At this point in the month, I would normally be frantically trying to finish all my March review books. Thankfully, I have a weird sense of […]
The nitty-gritty: An inventive and quirky tale, Hearts of Oak was a surprise from start to finish. Well, this was an odd story! And I mean that in a good way. Whatever you think Hearts of Oak is about, be ready to adjust your perceptions, because it started one way, and at about the halfway […]