Fantasy Quickie: Emily Wilde's Ecyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Available now

Emily Wilde's Ecyclopaedia of Faeries is a charming and enjoyable epistolary novel. In a world where the fae exist, and are known, Emily Wilde wants nothing more than to write the definitive book on the fae and is determined to do it all on her own. But Emily isn't the friendliest with the locals and her intense academic focus often gets in the way of her common sense, leading to many mishaps and awkward social situations.

Highly descriptive and quickly paced, Emily Wilde's Encylopaedia of Faeries is a delightful romantic adventure. If you love your fantasy more on the cozy side, full of descriptions of the every day, this is perfect for you. I found it quite charming and delightful way to escape for a few hours.

If you’d like to add this lovely fantasy to your shelf, you can find ordering information here or by clicking on the cover above.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may contain links, including Amazon Associate Links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Bad Cree by Jessica Johns

Available now

As the anniversary of her sister’s death approaches, Mackenzie finds herself plagued with strange and disturbing dreams. After a nightmare where she has to battle a murder of crows, she awakens to find the severed head of a crow in her hands. As the nights go on, her dreams become more vivid and she finds herself bringing objects from the dream world into the waking world. Her dreams keep sending her to her family’s favorite camp site, and to a memory that has disturbed Mackenzie for years. When her dreams become too disturbing to handle alone, she finds herself back home for the first time in years.

Her family, still grieving the loss of Sabrina, Mackenzie’s sister, and the recent loss of her kokum, comes together to discover what is behind her disturbing dreams and how to keep her safe.

This is a fascinating story. Mackenzie is a compelling character who is burdened by the grief of her sister’s death and her guilt over not going home for the funeral. Growing up, Mackenzie was always surrounded by family. From camping trips to late night card games and cousin sleepovers, Mackenzie has always been surrounded by her family. But Sabrina’s sudden death and Mackenzie’s behavior created a rift that’s she’s unsure of how to heal. Johns does an incredible job of expressing the different ways that we grieve and how that impacts our relationships with others.

When she returns home, Mackenzie discovers that her mother, aunts, and cousins have more experience with the mysteries of dreams and the supernatural than she realized. I really loved learning more about Cree culture and the myths that were shared in the story. Many of the women all had some type of special gift and it was a bit sad to hear how they felt the need to keep it secret, especially when it became clear that they needed everyone’s knowledge to solve the mystery and keep everyone safe.

I was a bit surprised to find a horror novel that was more of a slow burn and character driven. I found it very well written, the story very compelling, and the characters very interesting and realistic.

If you would like to add this amazing book to your shelf, you can find ordering information by clicking here or on the book cover above.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may contain links, including Amazon Associate Links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Available now

If you are new to Rachel Hawkins as a thriller writer, I am so jealous! This is a true gift for those that seek their thrills between the pages. I read this nearly a year ago and I still think about how cleverly it comes together.

I love a book about a Book. One that requires the Other to become something magnificent. That book that lets you believe that you may own such a Book and the adventures that could be found both between the pages and by simply owning it. That’s The Villa. It’s about Emily and Chess, and their inseparable friendship, even into adulthood. It’s about the lengths we go to as adults to hang on to those friendships that shape us and define us humans.

Emily and Chess, have been friends for years. The type of friends that should transcend everything. When they find themselves renting a villa in Italy for a much needed vacation and chance at reconnection, they discover the villa is the home to a legacy far deeper than either woman believed. Found in the villa’s library is a journal from the time the villa was home to some of rock and roll’s most famous murders.

This one is so good! Hawkins is so skilled at amping up the tension until you can’t possibly believe it will all work out and then, deliver a twist so sharp you can’t but help to be humbled by her skill. I loved this book. It’s full of complicated, sympathetic characters; kind of? Or at least, not feel guilty for supporting. There are some very real reasons for Emily to do what she does. While Chess was who I thought she would be, I was still shocked by the ending and fully invested in the story and characters. This is also one of those magical books that gives you two compelling stories: we get the complicated relationship between Emily and Chess and the intriguing story or what actually happened at the villa all those years ago.

It’s so, so good!

If you’d like to add this incredible thriller to your collection, you can find ordering information here or click on the cover. As always, this post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Affiliate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

The Nightmare Man by J. H. Markert

Available now

CW: child abuse, murder, torture, alcoholism, self harm, suicide

Buckle up! This is a dark one!

Ben Bookman is a successful thriller writer, crafting terrifying stories that have caused nightmares in readers across the world. His latest novel, The Scarecrow, was written in a frenzied haze in a single weekend at his grandfather’s home and its creation, and story, have caused a rift in his marriage. During a book signing at his local bookstore, a man claims that Ben has stolen his nightmare, destroying his life and driving him to take his own life right there in the store.

Not too far away, Detective Winchester Mills has been called to the scene of a horrifying murder. An entire family, minus the young daughter who was luckily found alive, have been found brutally murdered at their murder matches a murder found within Ben Bookman’s latest book.

As the police begin their investigation, it’s discovered that Ben’s books seem to inspire a copycat killer that has been terrorizing the area for years. As the investigation goes deeper into Ben’s life and childhood, dark and disturbing secrets about his family, their ties to a psychiatric hospital, and Ben’s own mental stability come to light. Detective Mills also has his own secrets to protect. His own nightmares and sleep troubles have plagued his life for years, causing a rift between himself and his only daughter, and now exacerbated by the latest string of killings.

As Ben looks more and more like the prime suspect, he tries to uncover what actually happened to him during that hazy weekend at his grandfather’s house. A house that contains a room off-limits to everyone; a room full of books with no words.

Whew this is a dark one! The murders are quite brutal and inventive in their cruelty, but the real horror comes from the town’s connections to the Oswald Asylum and how Bookman’s family was shaped by their time spent at Blackwood mansion. Ben Bookman grew up wealthy with a well-respected grandfather who specialized in treating sleep disorders. After Ben’s younger brother went missing as a child, his parents died tragically in a car crash, leaving him and his sister alone as young adults. Amanda, Ben’s wife, really dislikes Blackwood and is very vocal about how unsettling and disturbing she has always found the mansion. Within the mansion is The Atrium. The Atrium was off-limits to everyone and required explicit permission from Robert, the grandfather, to enter. Ben knows that he wrote his latest book in The Atrium, but has no memory of doing so, and, something happened in that room that caused their longtime nanny to abruptly quit. Located on Blackwood’s property is the Oswald Asylum. Robert built the asylum on his property and dedicated his life to treating those with sleep disorders and apparently worked a little too closely with local law enforcement to place patients there instead of jail. As the story unfolds, we discover that a startling amount of people connected to the murders received treatment for sleep disorders at Oswald as children. It also begins to feel like there is more to everyone’s dreams than anyone wants to fully admit.

This is a very dark, very compelling and complex thriller. There’s this incredible blend of supernatural elements and the very real brutality of humanity that keeps you guessing all the way until the end.

It has all my horror favorites: a creepy house, a disturbing hospital, mysterious books, and every single person having a secret to protect.

If you would to add this amazing book to your shelf, you can order it here or click on the cover above.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may contain links, including Amazon Associate Links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The Drift by C.J. Tudor

Available January 31, 2023

CW: child death, fatphobia, viral pandemic, violence

Buckle up! This is a wild one! Told through multiple POVs, The Drift is a story of survival in a world overrun with a deadly, zombie-like virus. A charter bus carrying wealthy private school students crashes during a blizzard, and the passengers slowly begin to realize that it may have been intentional. A cable car full of passengers on their way to the Retreat is stuck halfway up the mountain, also with a blizzard raging outside. At the Retreat, the storm seems more of an inconvenience, as they have generators and food stores. But electrical issues are causing headaches and tensions between the various inhabitants are beginning to reach a breaking point.

As the three groups face the deadly challenges before them, dark secrets from their pasts are revealed and cause even more strife and pit people against each other. Every person has a secret to hide and is willing to kill to survive.

This is one doozy of a book! It’s incredibly tense and violent with graphic descriptions of gore and trauma. My only complaint is the amount to casual fatphobia found throughout the entire story; I found that far worse than the violence. There is A LOT of fatphobia, please read with care. I will admit, I began to wonder to when the twist was going to be revealed, as this is a thriller, and it’s worth the wait! This is one of those stories that there isn’t a single character that you have any reason to care for. Every single person is horrible. Every single person has something to hide: an evil agenda, a person to protect, a grudge to be avenged. Every. Single. Person, Absolutely sucks. And also, there is a viral pandemic going on that causes people to become zombie-like and I understand the desire to survive in a world that would be just fine with you not being in it anymore. But the payoff at the end is, begrudgingly, earned. I was very surprised for the twist in events and found it very deftly done.

If you would like to add this book to your shelf, or add it your Library Holds Lists, you can click on the book cover or here, for ordering information. I was fortunate enough to read this title early through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. If you stuck around this long, did your read it? Love it? Hate it? Leave a comment and start the conversation.

White Horse by Erika T. Wurth

Available now

CW: murder, child abuse, child sexual abuse, parental death, suicide

This one is really, really good. It’s part horror, part thriller, and is my favorite type of story: one that feels incredibly true to life. Kari has always believed that her mother abandoned her at just two days old, and with her father suffering brain damage after an accident, hasn’t been able to be a traditional parent to her. When Debby, her best friend and cousin, finds a bracelet belonging to Kari’s mother in an attic, Kari is forced to confront the bitterness and anger she feels towards her mother. That is, until she touches the bracelet and begins to see visions of her mother and her mother’s past. Now convinced there is more to her mother’s disappearance than she was led to believe, Kari must use the bracelet and face her mother’s past.

I really love a story with complicated and realistic relationships. Kari and Debby are absolute best friends and have been through so much together and would go to the ends of the earth for each other. Debby’s husband Jack? He hates Kari with a passion. This really complicates Kari and Debby’s relationship, and Debby’s ability to help Kari on her quest to discover her mother’s real fate. Kari’s Aunt Squeaker doesn’t always give her straightforward answers about her mother and the power behind the bracelet, which frustrates Kari to no end. Her father isn’t able to answer questions about the past and Kari is still processing the grief of losing her best friend as a teenager. As if that isn’t enough, Kari’s favorite bar might possibly go up for sale and she wants to buy it but is terrified of the commitment. There is so much working against her at every turn, and it’s rarely the mystical that impedes her; it’s the people around her and their complicated relationships. How do you focus on following your mother’s ghost and having visions when your best friend won’t speak to you because you blew up at her husband again? How do you focus on bank loans and financial planning when you’re potentially hunting a killer? It’s the inclusion of all the normal that really made the book special. It draws you in and makes you root for Kari’s success, and closure about her mother’s disappearance, because you want Kari to buy the bar and live a happy life.

Kari is also a huge fan of Stephen King and there are some top-notch references to the author and his books. Truly a delight.

I absolutely loved this one. It was my November pick for Book of the Month and I’m really glad they included it as a selection because I haven’t seen this book get the love it greatly deserves.

If you’d like your own copy of this book, you can order it online here, click on the book cover above, or sign up for Book of the Month with my link.

As always, this post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Fantasy Quickie: Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

Available now

CW: homophobia, magical violence, aversion therapy

Even Though I Knew the End is a magically charged noir thriller that doesn’t hold any punches. Helen, a private investigator and warlock who sold her soul to save her brother’s life, is quietly putting her affairs in order so Edith, her longtime love, will be able to live out her dream of moving to California. When someone offers her one last job-a job that could get Helen her soul back, she can’t refuse.

Discovering the identity of the White City Vampire, a prolific and magical serial killer, places Helen and everyone she loves in danger. Helen and Edith race against time to save their lives, their souls, and their love.

Coming it at just 133 pages in the print version, Polk does a masterful job at creating an interesting and intricate alternate 1930’s Chicago. There’s romance, pain, magic, mystery, and a stark look at the hate and discrimination the queer community faced then, and now. It’s a brilliant story that I hope becomes the start of a new magical mystery series.

Grab our tissues, you’re going to need them.

If you’d like to add this magical sapphic mystery to your shelf, you can click on the cover or here for ordering information.

As always, this post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Mystery Quickie: Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen

Available now:

CW: physical assault, homophobia, police brutality, suicidal ideation

It’s 1952 and Evander “Andy” Mills is in a tragic place when he meets a woman who not only knows his history, but sees it as the selling point in selecting him as the private investigator looking into the death of her beloved wife. Irene Lamontaine was the wealthy head of a fancy soap empire until her mysterious death at her home that her wife Pearl, believes was actually murder.

Entering Lavender House feels like walking into a fantasy. Andy struggles to believe that it’s possible to live a life as openly and freely as the family and staff of Lavender House. Everyone who lives and works at Lavender House is queer. Together, they have created a sanctuary where they can openly love and live together.

As Andy investigates Irene’s death, he is drawn in deeper and deeper into the intimate lives of the family and the Lamontaine empire and discovers a world full of secrets.

I was instantly swept up in the beauty of Rosen’s writing. The characters are written with such love and care that you can feel their hearts breaking over and over again as they are faced with the discrimination and limitations that society throws at them. The story felt perfectly paced with enough twists and turns to keep you immersed in the mystery, but not so many as to feel contrived.

This is an excellent novel and I look forward to reading many more books from this author.

If you would like to add this incredible book to your collection, you can click on the cover or here for ordering information.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling

Available now

Welcome back to Graves Glen! This time, we get to see the witchy and romantic adventures of Gwyn Jones, cousin to Vivi from book #1, The Ex Hex. Gwyn is the owner of Something Wicked, a witchcraft shop that appeals to the many tourists that flock to Graves Glen each fall for the many festivals and fairs. She’s currently apprenticing three “baby witches” from the local witch college and is living a genuinely happy life.

Then Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow shows up. That’s right, Rhys’s brother who couldn’t be bothered to come to Vivi and Rhys’s wedding. Not only does he show up in Graves Glen, he has the audacity to open a similar store directly across the street from Gwyn. When their competitiveness takes a steamy turn, Gwyn and Wells find themselves in quite the predicament.

As Gwyn and Wells fight their attraction to each other, Gwyn finds her magic fritzing out more and more, especially now that a mysterious newcomer is in town. Can Wells and Gwyn work together to find a cure for her magical woes? Can they work together without destroying the town or Vivi’s honeymoon?

This book is so much fun! Gwyn and Wells play perfectly off of each other and the banter is top notch. Wells and Gwyn kind of know each other from college so while they have some history, it’s definitely more memorable for one of them than the other. Wells is a very straight laced scholar who likes to talk in a very classic and old fashioned way. Gwyn, has a more fun loving and open personality and she loves to poke fun at Wells’ suits and old-timey phrases. One of the best parts of this book is when Gwyn discovers that Wells is a truly talented filthy talker. Absolutely amazing dirty talk. It comes out of nowhere and lands quite the punch. These two just have stellar chemistry and they were a true joy to hang with.

In The Kiss Curse, we get a little more information about Rhys and Wells’ relationship with their father and other brother, Bowen. I really like how Sterling has crafted this tight knit family of Gwyn, Vivi, and Gwyn’s mom Elaine, but the Penhallows are very divided and can barely stand each other. I just found it really interesting how Gwyn immeadiately knows Vivi and Elaine have her back and Wells is just like, well my family is full of dicks so I guess I’m on my own…except for Bowen-I think there’s a preview for book 3 going on here. I think it all shows how the ladies want to protect and preserve their community and the Penhallows have been raised to see as a legacy and status symbol. Simon Penhallow is a true dirtbag and I’m hoping the next book really puts him in his place.

We also get to see Gwyn take on the responsibility of three “baby witches” and the friendship and admiration they all have for each other was great. Such a fun and funny dynamic between the four of them.

The Kiss Curse is an absolute delight and I loved every page. If you’d like to add this incredibly book to your shelf, you can click on the book cover for ordering options.

As always, the post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. These are also my opinions, and all mistakes are completely my fault.

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

Available now

This! This is the perfect romance novel! I know I just said this not too long ago, but now this book has my vote for the world’s best historical romance novel. I love this book so much that I know this is going to be a bit rambling but trust me, it’s amazing and everyone should read it. Now. Read it now. The incomparable Adriana Herrera has given us an incredible heroine with the character Luz Alana. Luz is the heir to a rum distilling empire where the workers are just as valued as the rum itself. Along with her sister and two best friends, Luz sets sail for Paris to showcase her rum at the Exposition Universelle where she discovers that her booth has been overtaken by two annoyingly attractive men and their whisky.

James Evanston Sinclair, Evan, if he finds you worthy, is determined to take over the family whisky distillery and turn it into something that will overshadow his father’s disgusting and devious behavior. When he discovers that a gorgeous and powerful force has boldly called him out for disturbing her rum display, Evan is immediately captivated. When he sees the incredibly rude treatment she receives from the sea of men around them, Evan is instantly angry and becomes invested in seeing her become successful at the exposition.

Luz has sailed to Paris to secure her family’s future and build her empire. Evan has traveled to Paris to destroy his father and rebuild his family’s name. They didn’t plan to fall in love…

But it’s a Romance and that’s what they’re going to do! This book is absolutely everything that I love in a romance. There’s incredible banter. Luz and Evan spar back forth constantly and it’s so hot! So hot. They have incredible chemistry and I found myself squealing and reading lines out loud to the Hubs. Evan is obsessed with keeping her happy and is incredibly protective but knows that he has to let her fight her own battles so she can earn the respect of the buyers and wholesalers. But, he really wants to mess a few of them up. Very satisfying.

Readers, Luz complained twice about hating corsets and the man goes and has a new bra designed for her so she’s more comfortable. I mean, the audacity of being such an amazing man.

Every single character is interesting and I would read an entire book about them falling in love. Even the gentleman that works as Evan’s master blender-why hasn’t Evan seen him smile before now? What’s his story? I want to read it. I also want to read the books about Luz’s two best friends and even one set far in the future for her sister Clarita. There were so many juicy little moments where looks were shared and characters made connections that Herrera has to have plans for these characters, right? I’m very hopeful.

The writing is absolutely incredible and it’s so seamlessly plotted that you find yourself flying through the pages. I read the first 90% in one sitting and couldn’t wait to finish it. Luz, Manuela and Aurora have fierce and fabulous friendship. They all play off each other so well and I really loved getting to see their devotion for each other.

This book is absolutely fantastic and I can’t recommend it highly enough. If you’d like to add this book to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

As always, this post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

Romance Quickie: The Rivals of Casper Road by Roan Parrish

Available now

This covers says it all!

It’s a Halloween Romance!!! I know that was Monday but I just got my hands on this one. Reader Friends, this one is so sweet and cute I just can’t stand it! Bram is a nature loving, dog loving, motorcycle riding rugged snack who has moved to Garnet Run to heal his broken heart after a horrible break up. Across the street is a grumpy, straight laced, no-nonsense architect who wants things done Just So named Zachary. Bram is also scared of all things spooky and Zachary is obsessed with horror films. They also happen to live on a street that has a notoriously competitive Halloween decorating contest.

Prank wars!

Small town!

A tight-knit queer community!

It’s so soft and sweet and funny and I loved it so much. SO much! Go grab it before it’s gone in print or pick it up in digital-it’s also at my Library so it’s probably at yours.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Resting Witch Face (Stay a Spell #5) by Juliette Cross

Happy Halloween and do I have a huge treat for you! Today is the release day for one of my most anticipated books of the year. I fell in love with the Stay a Spell series with the first book, Wolf Gone Wild, and the series continues to deliver super hot romance set in a well-crafted magical world.

Resting Witch Face by Juliette Cross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

CW: gore, violence
Friends, this book opens with a literal bang! We have been witness to the potent tension between Jules and Ruben for many books now and, in Resting Witch Face, the fifth book in the Stay a Spell series, we finally learn the history behind the longing and animosity. What we also get is more insight into the governing council of all supernatural beings and its history and power structure.

As Jules and Ruben travel the world, meeting with the leaders of the various covens to petition the inclusion of the werewolves into their guild, they are forced to come to terms with their attraction to each other and the complexities behind the failure of their relationship years before. Overcoming distrust, dealing with the effects of their gifts, and the constant need to balance work and family is a lot for any couple to grapple with, let alone two of the most powerful and respected members of their covens. There are real, complex reasons that their relationship collapsed in the past and Cross does an excellent job of showing two people who genuinely want to repair the damage and forge a new path forward.

Resting Witch Face is a hot, second-chance romance, full of political intrigue and danger. Cross is known for her dirty talking heroes and Ruben is no exception. This book is full of incredible banter, angst, and intense longing. I really, really loved it.

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.


View all my reviews

If you’re interested in adding this amazing book to your collection, you can click on the cover for ordering information.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling (Re-Post)

It’s a super busy spooky season around here and this book is too much fun not to share again!

Available now

This book is pure fun! If you’re looking for a romance with some wacky magic and family drama, this is the one for you. Also, be prepared for me to say over and over again that this book is delightful. It’s truly the best description. It’s absolutely delightful!

After Vivienne finds herself heartbroken after finding out her first love is engaged to another woman, she and her cousin may have broken the first rule of magic: don’t mix vodka with witchcraft. What begins as an innocent way to blow off some anger turns into a hilarious adventure of misfiring magic and finding a second chance at love.

Nine years later, Vivienne is all grown up with a successful teaching career at the local college when her life is turned upside down by the return of her first love, Rhys Penhallow. As a descendant of the original founder of Graves Glen, he must return to recharge the ley lines and give the speech at the annual Founder’s Day celebration. But things don’t go quite as planned. When his magic becomes unpredictable and he finds himself falling for Vivienne all over again, he discovers that there might be more going on. LIke, maybe she accidentally cursed him while drunk nearly a decade ago?

This one is so good! It is truly delightful from start to finish. VIvienne and her cousin Gwyn have this really close friendship and truly have each other's backs. If you love fun banter, they have it in spades. The curse they place on Rhys is   in its specificity. The best part? When they discover that one part of it really just curses all the women in his romantic relationships. It’s great. The small town drama surrounding Founder’s Day is really fun, especially Gwyn’s reluctance to get over herself and give in to her feelings for the beautiful and single mayor. Even the mysterious connection between Rhys’s curse and the magical mayhem is done in such a quirky way that the story never loses its lightness. 

The romance between Rhys and Vivenne felt very real and believable. I think it’s very hard to pull off a second chance romance. If the characters find themselves in a situation where the relationship truly must end, it can be very difficult to see them in any situation where they can work through the problems that originally split them up. Sterling has her characters wait nearly a decade before they see eachother again. While they both commit some low-key on-line social media searches, they don’t interact with each other until Rhys comes back to town. They both have grown up and matured significantly since their break-up and now have successful careers and places where they belong. They still dance around some subjects and should be more willing to discuss their feelings but hey, it’s a romance. That’s how they work. 

The Ex Hex is a truly delightful novel that made for a lovely reading experience. The characters are great, the magical system was really fun, and the story was compelling and moved along quickly. This would be a great way to dip your toes into paranormal romance if that’s a new genre for you, or to add a new holiday romance to your list. 

If you would like to add this hilarious romp to your shelf, you can find ordering information here: 

This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I earn from qualifying purchases.

#Review: The Hacienda by Isabel Caña (Re-Post)

It’s a super busy spooky season around here so enjoy some my recent favorite spooky reads!

Available Now

Reader Friends, this book is so spooky! I love a gothic horror novel and when you set it in post-War of Independence in Mexico with some major family drama you end up with a riveting combination of All the Things I Love. That’s right, we have family drama, political drama, a spooky house, a remote location, some mysterious deaths, and a tight knit group of people who have everything to lose if they come forward with their suspicions. 

Beatriz’s whole world fell apart after her father was executed and she and her mother had to move in with relatives who treated them more as servants than family. Desperate to have a home for herself and her mother Beatriz marries Rodolfo Solórzano, a wealthy politician who can guarantee safety and stability, but not love. When Beatriz arrives at her new home, she is not greeted with kindness or friendliness. She is met with iciness from the staff and even the house seems displeased with her presence. 

When Rodolfo leaves for the capitol shortly after her arrival, Beatriz is determined to make the home her own, not just a series of reminders of her husband’s first wife. As Beatriz works on redecorating and furnishing her home, she encounters more strange occurrences within the home that are both unsettling and terrifying. When she calls in help from a local priest, Beatriz finds herself, and those around her, in grave danger. 

It’s so spooky! The pacing in this novel is perfect. There’s just enough flashbacks and backstory to really set the stage and the right amount of horror and suspense to keep you glued to the page. I was enthralled by this book and found myself constantly thinking about it and wanting to get back to it. You know it’s good when I’m willing to give up my sci-fi shows to read. 

I loved the history included in the novel and the way it was written as known facts and not needing to be overly explained to the reader. You could feel the oppression the war had on those around Beatriz and how her father’s execution absolutely devastated her. Working for her mother’s family damaged her confidence and filled her mind with doubt that impacted so many of her decisions. Andres, the priest, had to be so careful with his knowledge and family legacy so that those around him weren’t threatened by the local law or ostracized by those around them. It was a constant weight felt through everyone’s decisions and actions. 

I absolutely loved this book and can’t want to see what else this author has in store for us. 

If you would like to add this amazing book to your shelf, you can find ordering information here:

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth (Re-Post)

It’s Spooky Season! Enjoy some of my favorite horror novels from the past few years.

Originally posted December 2020

Available Now

I have been on a creepy book kick lately and I’ve been lucky to have read a string of excellent books. Plain Bad Heroines kicks it up even further by being a creepy book about a book. Actually, it’s a book about a movie being made that is based on a book all about an obsession with another book. 

I swear. 

So, in the early 1900’s, at the Brookhant’s School for Girls, two girls became obsessed with a memoir written by Mary MacLane. Their obsession led to not only their own tragic and horrific deaths, but the deaths of three more people tied to the school. A century later, the abandoned school is now the center of a novel written by the brilliant and precocious author, Merrit Emmons, who was only 16 at the time. Her novel about the young women obsessed with not only each other, but the writings of Mary MacLane, is going to be adapted into a gothic horror film. As production begins on the movie, tensions between Merrit and the two young movie stars rise and mysterious events put everyone in danger. 

This book is a chunker - the hardcover edition clocks in at 617 pages and there is a lot of story to be found in those pages. I’m not exaggerating on the book about a movie about a book about a book. A lot of story. The book is constantly changing. In one chapter, you will be reading about the brutal murder of a young woman decades in the past, and in the next, read about a romantic and chaotic first date between two enigmatic young women in the present. There are so many elements of a classic gothic horror. There’s the dark and dilapidated boarding school where young women are sent to become ladies, but really discover that women are great at kissing. There are tragic and mysterious deaths that could be explained away as male violence, or, a curse. Layered on top of our gothic horror story is a coming of age novel about a young actress who needs to break away from her mother and make her own way in Hollywood. But how do you keep your wits about you when it seems that a curse is following you, you’re possibly in love with your co-star, and you know that writer thinks you’re unqualified? Like I said, there’s a lot of story.

I absolutely loved the writing style in this book. It read like you were listening to one of your best friends tell their famous local legend, while sitting by a fire and enjoying a boozy cocktail. It’s very conversational and snarky, with such compelling and campy writing that you are instantly swept up in the soap opera feel of what is really, a quite tragic story. The book is it full of black and white illustrations of our young, plain, bad heroines in all their tragic glory and has some of the best footnotes ever included in a book. Many provide historical context, many are just the narrator being sarcastic and hilarious and I’m pretty sure I sent screenshots of at least 10 pages to my boss within the first 20 pages of reading the book.

The characters are very well developed and incredibly interesting. Merrit is very prickly and slightly obnoxious while Harper Harper, yes that’s her name, is a glamorous and gorgeous chameleon of a character. To me, Harper was the hardest to figure out. Was she just an excellent actress and we never saw the real woman within? Was she just such a quick thinker that she could turn the acting on and off? She’s a puzzle. Meanwhile, Audrey is in a little bit over her head but really wants to make it as an actress and is far stronger than she believes. All three women are smart, interesting, and driven. They’re also all gorgeous, queer, and know that there is something going on at Brookhants. 

This book checked off a lot of my reader wheelhouse boxes-there’s a creepy school full of rich girls and their rich girl problems. It’s fast paced and the multiple timelines slowly reveal all the deliciously creepy scariness that follows everyone involved with Mary MacLane’s book. The characters are interesting and compelling and I was quickly invested in everyone’s survival. This book is also incredibly fun. It never takes itself too seriously, is very campy, and was an absolute delight to get lost in. I highly, highly recommend this for anyone who loves gothic horror, star crossed lovers, and a ton of snark. 

If you would like a copy for yourself, or to buy as a gift for your favorite book lover, you can find ordering information here: 

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Horror Quickie: What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher (Re-Post)

It’s Spooky Season! Enjoy some of my favorite horror novels from the past few years.

Available now

What Moves the Dead is a deliciously creepy Gothic horror that is deeply unsettling. T. Kingfisher has given us a gorgeously written retelling of Poe’s “Fall of the House of Usher” that is both atmospheric and utterly terrifying. Told through the eyes of Alex Easton, a retired soldier, this slim little novel takes us on a horror-filled journey to uncover the mysterious afflictions that have fallen upon Alex's childhood friends. With the help of mycologist Eugenia Potter and a doctor, James Denton, Alex battles forces no one is prepared to believe.

Fair warning: This book is incredibly graphic, incredibly horrifying, and gave me nightmares for weeks. I’m not complaining about the nightmares-I love when a book is powerful enough to be nightmare inducing.

Incredibly atmospheric and chilling, What Moves the Dead is sure to leave readers deeply disturbed and thoroughly satisfied. If you’re interested in your own copy, you can click the cover for ordering options or click here.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw (Re-Post)

It’s Spooky Season! Enjoy some of my favorite horror novels from the last few years.

Originally posted October 2021

Available October 19, 2021

CW: Suicide

This is a terrifying and chilling story that brings Japanese mythology to life. Set in an ancient mansion with a dark past, a group of college friends gather for a weekend of drinking and celebration. What should have been a joyous weekend celebrating the marriage of Nadia and Faiz turns into a gruesome nightmare when they awaken the spirits of the house.

From the cover, we know that we are in for a wild and horrifying adventure and Khaw does not disappoint. This is by far one of the scariest novellas I’ve read this year and I loved every single sentence. Khaw’s writing is quiet and almost delicate but packs a massive punch. The characters within are college friends who have grown both incredibly close and also far apart. Brough together for the wedding between two of them, stresses of the last year threaten to ruin the mood of the weekend but politeness and booze both help to smooth things over. It’s one friend’s massive amount of money that allows the friends access to such an ancient and haunted home, but it’s that same wealth that creates such friction between them. Our narrator Cat has recently experienced a mental health episode that may or may not be coloring her version of past events so her narration may or may not be reliable. And while the friends seem like such a close group-they were all gifted first class flights to Japan to stay in an ancient mansion that required government permits to visit, there is an unbearable tension between them. As their secrets unfold, the secrets of the house reveal a devastatingly dark history.

A horrifying, haunted mansion story that will chill you to the bones, Nothing But Blackened Teeth, is a must read for all horror fans. If you would like to add this to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post also contains affiliate links and as an Amazon associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.

It's Spooky Season! Slewfoot by Brom

Available now

CW: animal death and cruelty, human torture, patriarchal bs, horror related terror

It’s almost Spooky Season and this book needs to be on your reading list! It’s so creepy and dark and sad and infuriating and All The Things! I saw this title on a list of underrated horror novels and had never heard of it before and the title and cover immeadiately hooked me. I don’t know about you, but I’ve gotten pretty good at watching the clock app with my Library app up so I can immeadiately put books on hold.

Friends, this book gave me nightmares. You have to read it. It has illustrations! Incredibly creepy illustrations.

In 1666 Connecticut, a young woman named Abitha is facing eviction from her home and years of servitude to her brother-in-law after her husband’s tragic and mysterious death. After a desperate plea to the town’s leaders, Abitha is given one last chance to plant and harvest enough corn to pay off her husband’s debts and finally be free from her evil and overbearing BIL.

Deep in the woods, an ancient spirit is slowly awakening. Surrounded by impish and mischievous spirits, the ancient one struggles to remember his past and his connection to the woods around him. When he notices Abitha, he is drawn to her in ways he can’t explain. Intent on gaining her trust, he leaves her small gifts of food and offers protections against the threats of the local men and the law. His quiet and protective nature slowly begins to win Abitha over and when her situation turns dire, she knows he is the only one who can save her and the two begin a tenuous friendship.

Together, Abitha and Samson, the ancient one, work to thwart the threats against Abitha’s land, but end up inciting a war between the Pagans and the Puritans.

Slewfoot is a beautifully written horror tale set in Puritanical New England. From the first page, we know that Something is waking up in the forest. In that same forest, we meet Abitha and learn that this is not the life she dreamed for. Forced to cross an ocean and marry a man she had never met, she has to hide her mother’s Pagan teachings and beliefs and live the strict and austere life of a Puritan wife. She’s tired, cold, hungry and has lost their last goat in the woods. If that wasn’t enough stress, she feels guilty her husband isn’t disappointed in her and they return home to find his evil, nasty brother there to inform them he has sold their home to pay off his debts. Edward, Abitha’s husband, is a timid and meek man and really struggles to stand up for himself and his wife. Abitha can’t speak her mind without the threat of harm and punishment from the Puritanical town leaders. It’s this exchange that sets off a dangerous chain of events that pits Wallace, the BIL, against Abitha. The amount of patriarchal nonsense that we are forced to listen to from These Men! It was absolutely enraging to read but our Abitha is a fierce and determined soul who and it’s impossible to not root for her. Even at her lowest point, she never gives up and puts up an incredible fight against everyone who is wishing her her failure.

Samson, or the Ancient Spirit, is a fascinating character. He awakens with the help of spirits who look like small children in animal suits-and bizarre animals at that. A floating fish, a raven, and an opossum but with human children’s faces-you have to see the illustrations, they’re incredible. Samson is named for Abitha’s poor goat how was lured to his death to feed him. He has no memory and isn’t by nature a hateful or evil entity. Being around Abitha seems to calm him he is drawn to her in a way he can’t understand. As he grows into his power, he becomes more and more animated and friendly with Abitha, but he also grows incredibly protective of her. It makes for a fascinating dynamic because Abitha is convinced he’s the devil, but he doesn’t want to hurt her, and in fact, wants to protect her. Also, Abitha seems to have some powers of some kind…that are amplified by working her magic with Samson.

I don’t want to spoil the ending so I’ll leave you with this:

Abitha is incredible. I loved the journey her character ended up taking.

I loved this book and now I need everything written by this author.

Everything.

If you’d like to add this book to your shelf, you can click on the cover or here for ordering information.

As always, links are affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. As always, tell your Library they need this on their shelves because we can’t know about EVERY book even though we wish we could.

Happy Spooky Season!