Review: What the Woods Took

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the pre-release copy of this book. Below is my honest review.

I really enjoyed What the Woods Took. It had a really good premise, had a real message, and had some really creepy baddies. The character development was on point, and it had a little bit of everything. My favorite part was the baddies though. I need more books with these things, so maybe we will get lucky and Gould will bring them back some day!!! Fingers crossed.

Highly recommended for fans of creature features, thrillers, YA, and creepy horror-lite stories. My only complaint was that I guessed one of the twists, but it was still done really well.

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Review: Demon's Bluff

Demon's Bluff by Kim Harrison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of Demon's Bluff by Kim Harrison. Below is my honest review.

What an emotional rollercoaster, and good grief, Kim, why do I have to wait for the next one???

This one definitely dredges up some historical events in the world of the Hollows, and rips open some old wounds for Rachel Morgan and crew. With the Coven breathing down her neck and a ticking countdown towards their punishment for her cursing Brad, a city to run, and all sorts of supernatural factions to keep in line, her plate is definitely full. Her attempts to find the item needed to uncurse Brad lead to a special trip, one that ends up including an uninvited and unwelcome tag-along. Back in a past where many of her allies were still enemies and where she can't depend on herself, she's stuck with a huge rival and has to look out for the unexperienced coven member.

But there's also the unexpected consequence of someone she cared about very deeply still being around then...

I loved this one, and really can't wait to see the ramifications of this story's events in the next book.

Highly recommended, but this one SERIOUSLY involves much of Rachel's history, so it's not the best place to jump in. Your best bet is to binge the series. It's fun, I promise! :D

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Review: You Better Watch Out: A Thriller

You Better Watch Out: A Thriller by James S. Murray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to St. Martin's and Netgalley for the pre-release copy of You Better Watch Out. Below is my honest review.

If you weren't sure before, this novel would have sealed your understanding that these two authors are movie and television writers, because this book felt like a fun, cheesy, gruesome horror slasher flick. The pacing, the deaths, the reveals... all felt very reminiscent of what you'd find in a Hollywood blockbuster, but on the page instead.

The deaths are quite gruesome, but you knew they would be going on, so don't pick this one up if that's a trigger for you. There's a lot of fun reveals along the way as well.

My biggest gripe? The blurb makes it seem like Jessica Kane is the protagonist, but really we spend the majority of the book inside the head of a character named Eddie. Just a weird little quirk that threw me off kilter a bit.

If you're a horror movie fan, give this one a shot. It's not breaking a ton of new ground, but it's fast-paced and a lot of fun for what it is, and I'd definitely recommend it.

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Review: This Cursed House

This Cursed House by Del Sandeen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for a pre-release copy of This Cursed House. Below is my honest review.

Now that was a fun debut novel! I'm a big fan of gothic horror, and This Cursed House delivered. Was it perfect? No. There were some places where the story felt like it was hitting the same beat a few times in repetition, and during the first few chapters, the repeated use of "hazel eye" descriptions pulled me out of the story a bit. But it was a great novel nonetheless. I wanted to know what was going on, and hung on to every word in hopes of figuring it out, craving just another supernatural moment.

This book also made me feel very uncomfortable, but in a good way. As a white person, it's sometimes easy to forget the historical systemic issues surrounding race, and how that celebration of whiteness and devaluation of blackness even affected how lighter-skinned Black people treated darker-skinned ones. While being set in the past, this novel did a great job of reminding us that while some things might have gotten better, we still have a long way to go in repairing the damage caused by racism and slavery.

All in all, a great read, and I look forward to Del Sandeen's next book! Definitely recommended for fans of Southern gothic horror (light horror, really).

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Review: I'll Be Waiting

I'll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.

I really enjoyed Armstrong's I'll Be Waiting, but it wasn't as near perfect as so many of Armstrong's books usually are. This one had some predictable twists, and there were some parts that dragged and felt a little repetitive.

Overall though, this one built good tension, set up an interesting plot, threw some entertaining characters at us, and threw some fun twists at us. I give it four stars and recommend it to Armstrong fans and horror fans. :)

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Review: The Hitchcock Hotel

The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of The Hitchcock Hotel. It was a fun ride! Below is my honest review.

What a super fun mystery novel! I loved the theme and the atmosphere. Hitchcock might not have been the best guy, but his movies were always top notch, and this novel really captured that style and modernized it.

The characters were complex, with fleshed out personalities and deep histories both together and as individuals. The story was paced well, with reveals being just when they needed to be. And while I guessed a bit of the twist, the ending still got me on some of the major points, which is hard for mysteries to do for me anymore, so I was thrilled!

All in all, really fun, great characters, great atmosphere, great pacing, great story. Highly recommended.

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Review: Sleep Tight

Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for the pre-release copy of Sleep Tight. Below is my honest review.

I haven't read anything by JH Markert before, but I think he's definitely going on my "to read more" list.

This one opens the day of a criminal execution, and pretty much zooms forward at a breakneck pace the rest of the book. It was a lot of fun to read (not a lot of fun for the characters to live out LOL).

I think my biggest gripe was the not-so-likable main character. I mean, who knows they're racing to find their daughter, kidnapped and in danger, and still pops some pills, potentially lowering their own ability to do what is necessary to get their kid back?

All in all, it seemed to be a movie screen-play turned into a book, and I'd love to see the movie.

Four stars, recommended for fans of mystery/thriller, cults, and gritty cop dramas.

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Review: The Darkest Night: 22 Winter Horror Stories

The Darkest Night: 22 Winter Horror Stories by Lindy Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.

I'm going to be 100% honest here: I requested this ARC because of a handful of the horror authors in it: namely, Rachel Harrison, Josh Malerman, and Darcy Coates. They're all authors I really love! Luckily for me, so many of the other stories really grabbed me, so now I have a long list of potential new horror authors to check out further.

Rather than do an average of scores, I'm going to give this one an overall four stars, because even the stories that weren't my favorites were still fun, which is just what I wanted from this anthology.

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The Mouthless Body in the Lake by Gwendolyn Kiste
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three and a half

Interesting concept and good writing, but not sure the ending hit for me. I'd say I'm intrigued enough to potentially check out more of her stories one day.

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Cold as Ice by Tim Waggoner
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four

Oh, this one was fun!

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Children Aren't the Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden by Josh Malerman
My Fan Status: Big Fan
Stars: Three and a half

Love Josh Malerman, but I didn't feel like this one had much of a plot. The twist at the end was clever-ish.

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The Vermin Moon by Hailey Piper
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three

I can't say I loved this one, but I didn't hate it either. It was... weird. But also heartbreaking.

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The Body of Lenora James by Stephanie M. Wytovich
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four and a half

Can we get a full length novel of this please? Loved!

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Mr. Butler by Clay McCleod Chapman
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four and a half

Albeeeeeeeee, Mr. Butler was creepy as heck! Loved the personal nature of this one, and really disturbed by Mr. Butler.

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Feast of Gray by Lindy Ryan and Christopher Golden
My Fan Status: New to me (Ryan) and Fan (Golden)
Stars: Three

I liked this one fine, but felt like it needed more.

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I Hope This Finds You Well by Eric LaRocca
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three and a half

That ending though!

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The Buried Child by M. Rickert
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three

Kind of confusingly written and muddled, brought me out of the story a bit.

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Father's Last Christmas by Lee Murray
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four

Lots of fun (for us) and reminiscent of Gaiman's Stardust (in a good way)

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The Warmth of Snow by Cynthia Pelayo
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three

Decent little shorty, didn't feel like much of a plot though

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Wintry Blue by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon
My Fan Status: Fan (Golden) and New to me (Lebbon)
Stars: Five

Absolute yes. I wanna see this made into a movie!

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Carol of the Hells by Kelsea Yu
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four

Man, that ending tore me up!

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Full of Toys by Jessica McHugh
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three

A poem on a creepy gross bloody Santa picture.

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Nice by Nat Cassidy
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four

You know what? There's not much creepier than kids in horror. Yikes.

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Thaw by Rachel Harrison
My Fan Status: Devoted Follower/Obsessee/Stan/Fanboy
Stars: Five+

I'm a huge fan of Rachel Harrison's. This story is no exception to that. Nothing quite like dealing with a jerk of a significant other AND a possibly living creepy snowman hunting you.

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Candy Cane by Thomas Hutson
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Five

Sometimes it's best to write what you know. Insert devil emoji here.

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Eggnog by Kristi DeMeester
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four

Don't mess with momma!

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Threads of Epiphany by Sara Tantlinger
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four

I'd read this full length novel!

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The Ladies' Society for the Dead by Darcy Coates
My Fan Status: Big Fan
Stars: Four

Nice twist!

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Being Nice by Jeff Strand
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Four

Interesting play on the Naughty/Nice List and last minute makeup points lol

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Ghosted by Mercedes M. Yardley
My Fan Status: New to me
Stars: Three

Decent little ghost story about a partner who died who you didn't really know

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Bruiser by Jamie Flanagan
My Fan Status: New to me/Fan of his shows
Stars: Four

Weird but I'd watch this show!


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Review: An Academy for Liars

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of An Academy for Liars. Below is my honest review.

Alexis Henderson really knows how to set up a new world. She's an expert, even. This one is no exception. Receiving a random entrance call like a letter from Hogwarts, the school for persuasion happens to have its own secret hideaway domain, out of view of the eyes of the rest of the world. From the phone call in the abandoned booth to the final paragraph, An Academy for Liars gripped my attention in a chokehold and wouldn't let go.

If you haven't read Henderson's works, this one is a fine place to start. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did. I can't say much more without spoiling things, but be prepared for some magic school fun and a lotta bit of darkness. Definitely recommended for fans of dark magical realist academia stories.

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Review: So Thirsty

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the early copy of this delicious novel. Below is my honest review.

I discovered Rachel Harrison last year, thanks to getting an early copy of Black Sheep from Berkley, and am really glad I did. Her horror novels are a LOT of fun, finding a perfect balance of gruesome and comedic, dark and snark, human and monstrous.

So Thirsty was a rollicking good time, and honestly, a lot deeper than you'd think when you picked up a horror novel. This isn't just your average vampire novel. This one delves into the themes of relationships... love, friendship, family, and most importantly, the relationship you have with yourself.

One thing I really love is that it does have some setup at the beginning, but it's sprinkled in as Sloane and Naomi hit the road on a friend-trip for Sloane's birthday, and the whole atmosphere just screams "this won't end well." Once they hit the resort, the gas pedal is pushed all the way down and doesn't let up. From creepy shadowy figures at their second floor windows at night to rattling chains in the basement to an unquenchable thirst for blood, this one will grab you by the neck and hold you while it drains you until late into the night.

Absolute gem of a novel. Highly recommended. I can't wait to catch up on Harrison's catalogue. I already have my copy of Such Sharp Teeth and will be taking a bite out of it soon.

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Review: Nightmare of a Trip

Nightmare of a Trip by Maureen Kilmer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Putnam for the pre-release copy of Nightmare of a Trip! My honest thoughts are to follow.

Maureen Kilmer's Suburban Hell was a highlight of my 2022 reading, and even though I somehow completely missed that she had a 2023 release with Hex Education, I'll definitely be getting my hands on a copy of that to catch up on.

I really loved Suburban Hell, so I was super-excited about Nightmare of a Trip. Unfortunately, I didn't love it. Did I enjoy it? Sure, but it just didn't have the same pacing excellence, lacked the strong character relationships, and had a very meh ending in comparison to Suburban Hell. I feel like the story struggled with some repetition (that I think was supposed to help build tension but didn't really accomplish that successfully).

I think my biggest issue was that it felt like we really just got a few fun ideas for horror movie scenes and then the story in between was "how can we get to those moments."

I still enjoyed it, and will definitely still pick up Hex Education to catch up (and read whatever her next release is), but this one just didn't nail it for me.

3.5 stars, rounded to 3. I'd still recommend it for Kilmer fans and fans of horror. It wasn't a bad read at all, just not as WOW after Suburban Hell set such a high bar.

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Review: This Book Kills

This Book Kills by Ravena Guron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for the pre-release copy! Below is my honest review.

This book was just FUN. The school setting was well done, the characters were entertaining and had depth, and the mystery unfurled over the course of the novel with really good pacing. I really enjoyed the development of relationships between characters throughout the story, which felt natural to me, and I very much enjoyed the diverse main character's perspective.

My only real gripe with this one is that, if you are a big mystery reader, you're probably going to guess the ending like I did. But that being said, it didn't really detract from the FUN of the novel, so I still chose to rate this one high.

Four stars, definitely recommend to mystery/YA fans. Give it a shot, and I think you'll enjoy it.

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Review: One House Left

One House Left by Vincent Ralph
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's for the pre-release copy of One House Left by Vincent Ralph. Here are my honest thoughts.

This one was a lot of fun, but it also had some pacing issues. I felt like there was a lot of repetition -

Family life: parents doing their thing, brother fighting and coming home late, sister crying on the phone, oh, I can't tell my family that I have friends

Friend group: I need to stay away. I don't want to. I'm gonna stay away. Okay, I'll hang out.

School: Oh look, another note/article.

All of this repetition made the first half of the book a bit of a slog, even though there were some interesting things sprinkled in to help make it still hold a bit of my attention, and I mean the urban legend parts, of course.

Once the 75% mark hit though, the story accelerated really fast, and skyrocketed straight towards an ending that was impossible to see coming because of the unreliable nature of the storytelling method.

All in all, it was really fun when it was fun, but the pacing issue knocked off a star for me. Recommended for Vincent Ralph fans, YA horror fans, and slow burns.

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Review: Angel of Vengeance

Angel of Vengeance by Douglas Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central for the pre-release copy of Angel of Vengeance. Below is my honest review.

Let's get one thing straight here: I'm a LONG-TIME Pendergast stan... like, 20 years I've been following this series kind of fan.

Angel of Vengeance ties up the trilogy started with Bloodless and continued in The Cabinet of Dr. Leng, and it concludes with a BANG. I really can't spoil anything here, but this one definitely brought the trilogy to a satisfying close. There's only one small thing that bothers me, and I can't say what that is because I don't want to spoil even the tiniest of things, especially because all in all, it's not really a huge deal.

I love the twists and turns in this one, and how they have to outsmart their vile ancestor with schemes within schemes. I love Constance's humanity in this one - her unwavering thirst for vengeance and desire to protect her loved ones. I loved Diogenes' semi-redemptive arc in this one... but seriously, Doug and Linc, we're going to need a new spinoff because of the events of this book.

I just really loved this one. Coupled with The Cabinet of Dr. Leng as two parts of a story that is set up by the machine introduced in Bloodless, this book duo really shows that even after all of these years, Preston and Child are still at the top of their game (even if I still think Bloodless is one of my least favorites in the entire series, these two more than made up for that).

Highly recommended, but seriously, don't start here. This is book 22. Not a good place to jump in, fellow readers.



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Review: The Pairing

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to St. Martin's and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. Below is my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one. Casey McQuiston just knows how to write queer love in a way that brings joy, and I love that so much.

This one had two bi main characters, so there was lots of love to go around! LOL.

While there was some drama, because of course there has to be, you could feel the character's pull towards each other like gravity and the backdrop of touring Europe was perfection. My biggest gripes were the detailed wine discussions, the nonstop misunderstandings due to the body count competition, and the constant "oh, everyone in all these countries clearly want to hop in bed with me!"

All in all, another solid book from McQuiston. I'll definitely be reading whatever they put out next!

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Review: Arkangel

Arkangel by James Rollins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for the pre-release copy of Arkangel by James Rollins. Below is my honest review.

First, if you're reading this review and you haven't read the rest of this series... what are you waiting for? Stop here and go on then! This is book 18, for goodness' sake!

18 books in and this is still one of my favorite series. I've followed it since the release of Map of Bones, and I'll continue to follow up until it ends (which hopefully is a LONG LONG time from now). (PS, in addition to these 18 books, some of the characters that join this series along the way are from his other works, like Subterranean and Deep Fathom, etc)

This one has some WILD stuff: lots of ice, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade style puzzle rooms, carnivorous plants (TERRIFYING), and lots of shootouts and chases and danger.

Highly recommend this series. It's so much fun. You can certainly jump in here if you want, but I'd definitely beseech you to start at the beginning. You'll miss so so so much if you don't.

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Review: Ghost Camera

Ghost Camera by Darcy Coates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the pre-release copy of Ghost Camera. Below is my honest review.

This one was a collection of novellas and short stories, which somehow I missed when I requested an ARC. I have to be in the right mood for an anthology, so I went in with some trepidation.

I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed most of the stories more than expected. Most of them had some really cool concepts, even if a few felt like retellings of movie plot lines that we've seen - they at least had much different takes on similar concepts.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this one, but not as much as the full-length novels of hers that I've read.

So, 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Recommended for Darcy Coates fans and horror anthology fans.

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Review: I Was a Teenage Slasher

I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Saga Press for the pre-release copy of I Was a Teenage Slasher. This is my honest review.

This was my first Stephen Graham Jones, and it definitely made me want to pick up the Indian Lake Trilogy sooner than my planned schedule. (Yes, I plan my reads. Yes, I have a spreadsheet. Don't judge me.)

The concept and execution of this one are really interesting. Honestly, the twists are made known straight from the beginning, but getting there is quite entertaining. I loved the whole "slasher is an infection" idea, and Jones really nailed a great story, which is shocking when so much information is revealed right at the start.

I don't want to spoil much, but I think if you like slasher movies and horror, you'll enjoy this one.

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Review: The Astrology House

The Astrology House by Carinn Jade
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.

This was a fun twisty little thriller, set in the coastal B&B known as Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat, where astrologer Rini hosts groups looking to find the star-sun-moon-and-planet connections to their lives. Of course, this group has some secrets, and they're all trying to keep them hidden.

Did I enjoy this one? Absolutely. Was it anything ground-breaking? Not particularly. The big twists were pretty easy to guess ahead of time, and overall, it was just very predictable.

It was an entertaining read, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it. Three stars.

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Review: Portrait of a Shadow

Portrait of a Shadow by Meriam Metoui
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt for the pre-release copy of Portrait of a Shadow. Below is my honest review.

I really enjoyed the concept of this novel - magic painting, mysterious disappearances, road trip with cute stranger boy next door. It reminded me of an episode of Charmed that revolved around a similar painting.

Alas, the execution felt a little lacking. The twist was predictable, as was the real situation surrounding the disappearances, and the ending was not satisfying. But I didn't hate it, and I was entertained still.

I liked the author's writing style, so maybe I'll try a future novel and see if there has been some growth.

Recommended with caveats mentioned above.

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Review: Bury Your Gays

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the pre-release copy of Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle. Below is my honest review.

Camp Damascus was a change of pace for Mr. Tingle, but it was really good. This one stepped it up even more.

I really loved the concept *AND* the execution in this one. The setup is really good, and the buildup is expertly done. The monsters coming after Misha and his friends were intriguing and well-developed - just enough creepy and just enough explanation to really make them believable without taking away from the storyline.

I also loved the message, about how we can and should overcome the tropes and should be pushing for happy, wonderful, queer joy stories.

Definitely recommended for LGBTQIA+ fans and horror fans.

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Review: Winter Lost

Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the advanced copy. Below you'll find my honest review.

I've been eagerly anticipating the next Mercy novel since the very second I finished the last one. If you remember correctly, the last one left Mercy's spiritual self a little damaged, and this one picks up that story thread. It also brings back the story threads involving her Coyote heritage, including her brother Gary. Throw in some seriously cool (cold joke, see what I did there?) Norse mythology, along with the addition of a new (to the series at least) Native/Indigenous American spirit.

We get a lot of Mercy and Adam's relationship, which is great, but we also get little Interludes that give a little more interaction with some of the other major characters, from the Pack especially, including an absolutely hilarious and awesome moment for Warren and Sherwood.

I loved this one, and now begins the long, long wait until the next Mercyverse novel from Patty Briggs. I believe it's going to be an Alpha & Omega one, too!

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Review: Incidents Around the House

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Del Rey for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.

This one was almost impossible to put down. The point of view is that of the child who is seeing this entity who told her to call it "Other Mommy" and its growing presence in her life. And boy does the tension build! Absolute page turner of a novel, and every page made me say "okay just one more." I can't really say more because I don't want to spoil a single ounce of your potential enjoyment, but I also can't recommend this one enough for fans of horror.



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Review: Horror Movie

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.

This one was a real treat. I am really impressed by Paul Tremblay in this one. I've previously only read one - The Cabin at the End of the World - and enjoyed it, but this one was a major step up. I'd go so far as to call it a Master Class in horror. It's got the perfect amount of slow burn tension buildup, hints dropping left and right about what happened in the past and intermingled in between stuff going on in the present.

I loved the format - there were "Now" sections and "Then" sections, and some of the passages were scenes cut out of the screenplay for the titular Horror Movie. I loved that you're left wondering throughout the book what's happened, what is the driving force, and I loved that the end really nailed the landing.

Highly recommended for fans of horror, horror movies, slow burns with the perfect amount of tension, and really compelling vibes. 5 stars.

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Review: Red Star Falling

Red Star Falling by Steve Berry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central for the pre-release copy of Red Star Falling. Below is my honest review.

I'm a long-time fan of Steve Berry and his Cotton Malone series, and I was super pumped when I found out that side character Luke Daniels was going to get his own spinoff trilogy, co-written with Grant Blackwood.

This one takes Luke into the heart of Russia, working with a turned asset to rescue an old friend. As Luke and this asset get deeper into the plot, their path begins to steamroll towards a Russian political battle that has the potential for massive, global fallout.

I really like Luke as a main character. I think he's got that something that it takes to lead a series, and I actually really hope we get more than three of these co-written books. For a second book in a trilogy, this one was still top notch. Usually book two in a trilogy can have some serious "filler" vibes, but Berry and Blackwood didn't slow down on the gas for this one, and it kept the same punch.

Looking forward to the third, and hoping that's not all we get of Luke - at the very least, fold him back into the main series, please!!!

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Review: Tidal Creatures

Tidal Creatures by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for the early copy of Tidal Creatures by Seanan McGuire. Below is my honest review.

The latest entry in the Alchemical Journeys follows manifestations of the moon goddesses from all sorts of cultures around the world. They follow the night sky over the Impossible City, shining their light over the City's residents. They also have their own special entryways into the Everything, providing paths to their Windows that let them perform their shining duties. Unfortunately, the alchemists have figured that out and are trying to find a way to use those moon goddesses to get access and claim the Impossible City.

Luckily for the rest of the world, a handful of misfits find their way to each other, including some major deals like, oh, the living embodiments of the Doctrine of Ethos.

I really enjoyed this one. It took a while to build, but once it did, we got to learn a TON about the alchemical world and met some really cool characters. I can't wait for the next one!

Definitely recommended, but please read the first two before picking this one up.

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Review: One Perfect Couple

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the pre-release copy of this one. Below is my honest review.

I am a big Ruth Ware fan. I'm also a fan of the cheesy reality shows like Too Hot to Handle, Are You the One, and Perfect Match. So when those two worlds collide, I'm obviously going to have to pick that one up and give it a read.

Ware's mind is so twisted! The brutality of this one, the darkness that eats away at the group as they sit on this island, fighting each other and the elements... so compelling to read. Watching them all lose their walls and their secrets come out was written so well.

And the ending... well, I'll say this - justice comes in all shapes and sizes, and can't always be doled out in the exact way we want. But dang, what an ending.

Definitely recommended for Ruth Ware fans, cheesy reality show fans, and fans of dark, twisty, murdery stories.

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Review: The Last Murder at the End of the World

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the pre-release copy.

This one was a wild ride. I'm not sure how Stuart Turton comes up with his over-the-top, super creative premises, but he absolutely knows how to create a twisty murder mystery with a wacky, never-before-seen world.

If you've read The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, then you know what I'm referring to. It's an entirely new take on a murder mystery, and was so conceptually entertaining. I haven't picked up his second novel, the one about pirates, but when I saw this one hit Netgalley, I had to request it.

This one is another high-concept mystery, this time taking place in the future when technology has allowed for some amazing innovations but the world has ended because some of those inventions didn't work out right. There's an AI character, too.

All in all, there was some predictability to the solution, but the execution was so original that that didn't bother me at all.

Highly recommended for fans of futuristic/dystopian sci-fi and murder mysteries. 4 stars.

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Review: The House that Horror Built

The House that Horror Built by Christina Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Berkley for facilitating my receipt of a pre-release copy! Below is my honest review.

So every time I read a Christina Henry book, I end up loving it. This one was no exception!

This one has the ambience, the slow burn buildup, the modern setting but still gothic style, the character depth.

My head had built up this whole theory about the twist that I thought was going to happen, and while the author went a different way, I loved the actual ending.

All in all, an excellent horror read that I highly recommend.

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Review: Disturbing the Dead

Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the galley of this novel. Below is my honest review.

If you've followed my reviews for a while, you'll know that I eat up pretty much everything that Kelley Armstrong writes. I really love this series, because it's like a mix between an The Alienist and Outlander with fun mysteries and a dash of a very slow burn romance.

This one ties up a few loose ends that have been dangling, but opens up a bunch of new cans of worms and dumps them everywhere. The mystery isn't as compelling in this one, at least to me, which was odd because I've always loved stuff surrounding ancient Egypt. For me, in this installment, what really drove the story was the character development, both on a personal level and in relationships.

I really love this series, and the new normal means that there should be many more to come. Personally, I can't wait for the next. Thank goodness Armstrong has multiple releases a year to tide me over.

Highly recommended, but I do suggest reading the others in the series first.

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Review: Archangel's Lineage

Archangel's Lineage by Nalini Singh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of Archangel's Lineage. Below is my honest review.

Another excellent entry into the long-running Angel and Vampire series by Nalini Singh. I love how each book has a strong central plot but also weaves in threads building the main storyline, all while following different couples from the world throughout the installments. This one was another Elena and Raphael story. Things have started to settle down after the Cascade and the fallout from Lijuan's betrayal that left the world devastated in many ways. Of course, that means something has to happen, right? Well, that something is the Refuge becoming unstable, which could have massive ramifications for angelkind and their balance with the rest of the world.

With ties to the ancient past and hints of the future, this one really delved into some of the key aspects of angel history, leaving some breadcrumbs towards some potential story lines that could be the next phase of the series.

Just a warning, the way this book goes almost feels like an ending and ties up quite a few things, so you can imagine my relief when I checked Singh's website and found "Guild Hunter 17 coming 2025." I would have been very upset had another favorite series ended and I didn't go into it prepared for that!

Highly recommended, with the warning that this series build on itself exponentially, so not starting from the beginning might dampen your enjoyment.

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Review: The Proper Thing and Other Stories

The Proper Thing and Other Stories by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for the early copy of this anthology. Below is my honest review.

More from Seanan McGuire? Absolutely yes. Many of these shorties were published through her Patreon, so I've read them before, but definitely had to pick this one up.

My favorite was either the one with the magical cheeses (the Proper Thing) or the one with the creatures of the dark going against the creatures of the light (Rise Up, Rise Up, You Children of the Moon). Phantoms of the Midway was a favorite too. I'd love more from these worlds!

If you like wild and weird and wonderful short stories and novellas, this anthology should scratch your itch.

Highly recommended.

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Review: Indian Burial Ground

Indian Burial Ground by Nick Medina
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of this one. Below you'll find my honest review.

This one was really interesting. It's a split narrative, with one story connecting past and present, following the two perspectives of an uncle and niece, each dealing with some tragic goings-on in their own adulthood.

The story does have some paranormal twists to it, and it's a really deep commentary on the effects of colonization on native groups and how that generational trauma also inflicts personal trauma as well, extending into the present.

I don't want to say too much and end up spoiling anything, but I'd say if you're a fan of horror or horror-lite, then this book is a solid one sure to entertain.

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Review: The Hungry Dark

The Hungry Dark by Jen Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for gifting me an advanced copy. Below you'll find my honest review.

Thanks to Jen Williams, now I want to read more books about "fake psychics" with actual powers, and I'm not entirely sure where to find more!

I really liked this one. It checked a lot of boxes for me - creepy old house, ghostly apparitions, mystery, powers, characters with fleshed out histories...

While I did figure out the "twist" at the end long before I got there, I still think it was well done and quite a fun book to read. There were some repetitive things and some slow paced sections for me, so coupled with figuring out the big moment, I decided to give it four stars.

I'll definitely be picking up more from Jen Williams and highly recommend this book to horror/mystery/paranormal/creepy ghost story fans.

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Review: The Book That Broke the World

The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the early copy. Below is my honest review.

Mark Lawrence is the master of plotting trilogies, and this middle book in his latest trilogy, The Library Trilogy, is no exception.

The last one ended with everyone scattered in the wind. This one documents them finding their way back together, but all the perils and pitfalls along the way.

I can't spoil anything for this one, but I will say - the twists and turns were wild, and I loved it. I can't wait for the final book, and I really hope we get more stories set in the world of the Library afterwards.

Highly recommended, but please read The Book That Wouldn't Burn first.

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Review: Three Kinds of Lucky

Three Kinds of Lucky by Kim Harrison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the early copy of Three Kinds of Lucky. Below you'll find my honest review.

I'm a huge fan of Kim Harrison's Hollows novels - both the original series and the recent continuation. I liked her Drafter novels and was disappointed we never got the end of the trilogy.

This one was a really good series opener. She built a cool world with an interesting take on magic, along with some great characters. I did figure out the "traitor" early on, but she did set it up to be obvious to the reader.

I had trouble putting this one down and absolutely loved it - except for one thing. I'll put it at the bottom so you can choose whether or not to read it. This will slightly spoil, so look away if you're not interested in a spoiler.

All in all, definitely recommend for Urban Fantasy fans or fans of The Hollows. 4 stars.




CONTENT WARNING

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THE DOG DIES.

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CONTENT WARNING


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Review: Murder Road

Murder Road by Simone St. James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.

A wrong turn leads a newlywed couple down a back country road where they find a bloody injured woman wandering aimlessly down the middle of the road. They pick her up and take her to the local hospital, and on the way, they're chased down by pair of headlights belonging to a speeding pickup truck. When they get there, the police show up and tell the couple not to leave town... because they're now suspects. Things go sideways when legends of a local haunting creep into their own investigation, raising the stakes much higher than anticipated.

I really enjoyed this one and will definitely pick up more by Simone St. James. The twist was a little predictable if you were paying attention, but guessing it ahead of time didn't detract from the story at all. The characters were full of depth and the story was dark and twisty.

Definitely recommended for thriller/light horror fans.

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Review: Aftermarket Afterlife

Aftermarket Afterlife by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and DAW for the prerelease copy. Below is my honest review.

I can't. There aren't words. I am struggling to write this review. Was the book good? Of course it was. It was five stars. It's Seanan-freaking-McGuire, so of course it was good. It was great. But...

It was also devastating. I wasn't prepared for this, even a little bit. I know Seanan can be brutal, but wow. WOW.

I don't want to spoil anything, so let me give you the quick rundown: All of the series leading up to this point has been about moving pieces into place. And those pieces? They're moved. And now, there is war. And neither the Covenant nor the Price-Healy clan are going to pull their punches.

Prepare yourself before reading this.

Also, this is one of those books that you REALLY need the context of the rest of the series going in, so do yourself the HUGE favor of reading all the fantastic books leading up to this one (including the three Ghost Road novels too, please and thank you). You won't regret it... though you might regret the trauma this book is likely to cause. *breaks down weeping*

HIGHLY recommended.

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Review: Rift in the Soul

Rift in the Soul by Faith Hunter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.

I love Nell Nicholson Ingram and her ragtag crew of strays that have formed not only her PsyLED team, but a little found family. This one throws them all into the middle of a very old vampire's machinations, which really gets complicated when the implications of Jane's Angel giving the vamps their souls back and removing the curse on weres comes into play. (This does beg the question - what happens to the grindylows? Because I love them!) In addition to that, Nell's connections to Soulwood *and* the creepy tree with a mind of its own also toss some crazy into the mix.

I really liked this one, and hope hope hope this isn't the end. With Jane ending last year, I'm not ready to lose Nell too. Fingers crossed!

Highly recommended, but please AT LEAST read the rest of the Soulwood series, but be warned that it does exist in the Jane Yellowrock world and is affected by events of that series as well.

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Review: A Fate Inked in Blood

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Ray for the pre-release copy! Below you'll find my honest review.

I put this one off for a bit because I wasn't sure I was in the mood for fantasy. Then I realized it comes out this month and that I needed to read it before release, so I dived right on in.

I shouldn't have hesitated, even a little bit. It was so good! The magic was really cool, and I really liked so many of the characters. Did Freya have some whiny moments? Sure, but she kind of has a lot going on in her life. Is it a little unfair that Bjorn is as sexy as he is but trapped in the book and not here with me? Definitely.

Once I really got going, the pages flew by. It was hard to put down and I just wanted to read a little bit more, a little bit more, to find out what happened next.

I can't recommend this one enough for fans of mythological fantasy stories with spicy romance mixed in. Five stars.

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Review: A Haunting in the Arctic

A Haunting in the Arctic by C.J. Cooke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with a copy of this novel prior to release. Below you'll find my honest review.

So, this one was a hard one to review. Mostly because it was insanely compelling and hard to put down, but had one major glaring issue - the twist is sooooo obvious. Like, neon lights big enough to see from space pointing at the twist saying "HERE! LOOK!" kind of obvious.

But the two timeline stories unfolding chapter by chapter, with a third timeline woven throughout with research notes, etc, really were so interesting to read. I was invested in both of the main storylines and just couldn't fight that "okay one more chapter" feeling late into the night.

There are also some MAJOR trigger warnings for this one when it comes SA/R scenes, so be aware going in if these things are difficult for you to read.

All in all, the twist being obvious didn't take away from the compelling nature of the read or the desire to see how and when the reveal would happen, so I rated this one highly.

Definitely recommend to fans of supernatural mysteries set in cold, remote climates and hauntings.

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Review: Island Witch

Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of this novel. Below you'll find my honest review.

I really liked the story in this one. It was an interesting setting, an interesting cast, and a really cool way to learn about another culture through a tale involving their beliefs, mythologies, and religious practices.

But it did have some downfalls. Namely, all of the twists are predictable. I knew every reveal before it happened, and it was obvious leading up to it. In addition, the use of words specific to their language is really neat, but the constant "here's a word, here's the definition" got a little distracting. And the main character's non-stop "my dad is treating me differently, what happened to make this change, etc" got very repetitive when it was in almost every chapter for over half of the book.

It did have a strong protagonist, which I liked, and while the definitions did become tedious, I did like that the author put in actual words and historical references that were really part of history. I also loved that the story was about a part of the world and a history that we don't have a lot of published novels about. I'm really happy to see more diverse stories being published to share those things with the world of readers.

All in all, I really enjoyed it, but felt like it needed some tweaking.

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Review: The Atlas Maneuver

The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.

I have a few things to praise about this one: I learned a lot about bitcoin and blockchain from this one, which was kinda cool as it's not something I knew much about. We also got more Cassiopeia Vitt, along with the return of Koger and TOO from recent previous stories. More Vitt = happy me. We also got a bit of backstory about Cotton's not-so-good history, meeting an old flame from the past, which was interesting.

I do have a few complaints as well. First, there wasn't enough Stephanie Nelle. I miss her! Second, Vitt and Cotton were separated the whole book, which sucked. Third, there were SO MANY SENTENCE FRAGMENTS, and so many of them starting with "which." Seriously, I don't recall Berry's work being this poor level of grammar before. Maybe there were lots of sentence fragments in previous books and my mind blocked them out, but this time there were so many that it took me out of the story over and over, making it hard to binge.

3.5 stars rounded up. Definitely still recommend for fans of the series.

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Review: The Boy Who Cried Bear

The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me an early copy of this novel. Below you'll find my honest review.

Haven's Rock is a fledgling little town, Eric and Casey's attempt to rebuild a better, stronger Rockton. This one really raises the stakes as we learn that the "neighbors" hinted at in the first book have built themselves up and are now a full-fledged mining camp, very close to Haven's Rock and threatening the safety of Haven's Rock's residents.

In addition, Haven's Rock has made some drastic changes from Rockton, including the acceptance of families with kids into the fold.

When one of those kids goes missing, Casey and Eric and the rest of the town go into full search and rescue mode, and are reminded yet again that nothing is ever as it seems in the wilderness of the north.

I absolutely loved this one. No complaints whatsoever.

Highly recommend, but please please please read the rest of the series (both Rockton and Haven's Rock).

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Review: The Book of Doors

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for the early copy of this novel. Below is my honest review.

As I started this one, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. There were a few repetitive phrases going on and an entire paragraph was in there twice, written two different ways. There was also some head-hopping within the same scene that was a bit distracting.

But after the first few chapters, the writing improved and the story really gripped me. The concept of the books with powers was super cool, and was really intriguing. Then you throw in the very twisty plot that could have been confusing but was well-plotted and clear.

I'm hoping we get a sequel. This one was fun.

Definitely recommended - pick it up if you like superpowers/magical artifacts and twisty plots. nd twisty plotting!

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Review: The Warm Hands of Ghosts

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Del Rey for the advanced copy of this one. Below is my honest review.

Katherine Arden was an instant request when I saw her newest book on Netgalley. Her series about Russian magic, starting with the Bear and the Nightingale, is absolutely divine, so I was pumped for this one.

Alas, it didn't quite live up to my expectations - which might be unfair of me to go in with them, considering this is a new book in a new world from Arden, but I couldn't help it. Really cool concept, really cool villain, a little repetitive and dragged for a large portion of the book. But it's still good - it's Katherine Arden after all! And of course, I'll still pick up her next novel.

3.5 stars rounded up.

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Review: Our Satyr Prince

Our Satyr Prince by Dylan Drakes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: 10 Hours to Go

10 Hours to Go by Keely Parrack
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for gifting me an advanced copy. Below is my honest review.

This YA suspense is an intense look into the flames of friendships and the sparks of old grudges. As these three girls start their ten hour journey home, old issues between them come cropping back up, but what starts as a potential prank is quickly swapped for a situation much more dangerous when local wildfires threaten not only their path home, but their very ability to make to through the night.

While I enjoyed the writing and think the author did a great job pushing the girls through the dangers of the night, I didn't love this one. It felt like there was a lot of hemming and hawing about past grudges, but then when it came down to it, the reveal was just meh. And while the fires definitely added a lot of tension and some great situational drama, but there was some wasted potential with the dropping of the "other people are dangerous" storyline. We got this whole situation with the scary guy and the disappearing people, but then it just got dropped completely.

All in all, if you enjoy some good character tension and environmental suspense with a YA spin, then you'll really enjoy this one. I think the author is great and will definitely try their next novel to see their growth.

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Review: The Tainted Cup

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and RHPG Ballantine Del Rey for gifting me an advanced copy. Below is my honest review.

Robert Jackson Bennett is an expert at creating interesting new worlds, and The Tainted Cup is no exception. I loved that Bennett stepped into a new genre - murder mystery - with his own unique spin on it.

I was going through a bit of a reading slump when I started this one, so it took me a bit to get into it, but as my reading mojo slowly returned, it got harder and harder to put this one down, and I tore through the pages like dappleglass bursting out of the victim's torsos in this one!

Definitely will be picking up book two when it releases. This one really left me wanting a sequel and to see more of Din and Ana.

Did I mention the alphabet representation? Yep. I loved it!

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Review: Your Shadow Half Remains

Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for gifting me an early copy. Below is my honest review.

This short novel is quite powerful. What happens to us when we can't look others in the face? When we lose all true connection and contact with people? How do we define ourselves when we can't even figure out if we're sane anymore? What happens when complete isolation is the new normal? Or, even more importantly, when someone decides to break that isolation without giving you a choice?

If you're a fan of Malerman's Bird Box or Saramago's Blindness (or their visual adaptations), this book will hit you hard. Just be prepared that you might not like what you see when you have to look at yourself as deeply as Riley does.

Definitely recommended for fans of psychological thrillers/suspense/almost horror.

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