The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

Available Now

I have absolutely fallen in love with this author’s books. They are this fantastic blend of horror, humor, and incredibly relatable characters. I loved the Hollow Places and couldn’t wait to get my hands on The Twisted Ones.

In The Twisted Ones, Melissa, who always goes by Mouse, is asked by her ailing father to help get her recently deceased grandmother’s house read for sale. What seems like a simple task quickly becomes overwhelming when Mouse discovers her grandmother was actually a hoarder. Piles of junk weave in and out of newspaper towers and the stench of mice and insects nearly cause Mouse to walk away and forget about any potential money from the sale. But Mouse knows her dad’s health isn’t good enough to take on this task, so she does her best to get started. As Mouse spends time in town buying supplies and hanging out at a coffee shop for the wifi and great drinks, she finds that she isn’t the only person who believed her grandmother to a terrible, horrible person. Dislike of her grandmother was a common theme amongst her neighbors and it became more and more puzzling why her step-grandfather every married her.

While cleaning out her step-grandfather’s room, she discovered that Frederick Cotgrave was obsessed with the idea that his wife had stolen and hidden a green book that belonged to him. Uncovering a typewritten manuscript, Mouse discovers that Cotgrave was convinced that there were creatures that lived in the woods and they were out to get him.

Cotgrave wasn’t wrong. As Mouse investigates further into what she believes are delusions of an unwell man, Mouse discovers that there are places within the woods that lead to dark, and terrifying lands full of the Twisted Ones. After her beloved dog Bongo goes missing in the woods, Mouse must save him from whatever fate the Twisted Ones have planned for him.

SPOILER

The dog lives.

I love how T. Kingfisher is able to write a horrifying novel that is also hilarious. There is the perfect balance of both in the two novels I have read and it’s just so well done. Again, my favorite trope of a book within a book plays out. Cotgrave describes in his journal a manuscript he wrote based on his memory of the Green Book that was given to him by a friend. Within that book is a story of a young woman who discovers small creatures that live in the woods and the journeys they go on together. By trade, Mouse is an editor and the way that she picks apart Cotgrave’s writing was so funny juxtaposed against the horrors he described in his writing. As Mouse uncovers more and more about the Twisted Ones, and her experiences become more and more unworldly, she is still cleaning out her grandmother’s house and describing what a horrible person she had been while throwing out multiple microwaves. The humor is very dark, and I loved it.

Kingfisher is able to create horror stories that are so close to reality that the terror level goes up with each page. Like in The Hollow Places, the threat to Mouse and Bongo is very close to home. It’s literally in their backyard and can attack at any time. Mouse is in a new area without any friends or family close and knows that it’s incredibly unlikely that anyone would ever believe her story. She doesn’t know if she believes her story. And worst yet, her dog goes missing! This book is so stressful and engrossing that it was one sitting read for me. If you love horror that contains more suspense, mystery, and fear of the unknown, as opposed to blood, torture and gore, this is a great book for you.

If you would like to add this book to your collection, you can find more information here:

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New Releases for December 8, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

It’s time for new books! Click on the covers for story details and ordering information.

For the Kids:

For the Adults:

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

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

Available Now

This book is so good! I’m pretty sure I read the majority of it aloud to the Hubs and giggled through 90% of it. It’s so, so, so good. So good. It’s so good that I know that anything I have to say about it won’t do it justice so just know, it’s amazing.

Ok, we have the three Eastwood sisters: Beatrice Belladonna, Agnes Amaranth, and James Juniper. It’s 1893 and the three of them grew up with a horribly abusive father who drove them apart, and because of many different events, they haven’t seen each other for over seven years. Agnes has been working her fingers to the bone at the cotton mill, keeping her head down, and trying to stay out of reach of the disgusting and grabby foremen. Beatrice has found a comfortable job as a university librarian and has lived a simple and quiet life on her own. After Juniper finds herself on the run from the law and wandering the city of New Salem, she discovers that her sisters have been in the city all this time, completely unaware of each other. The three of them are drawn together when Beatrice unknowingly recites a spell that creates a mystical connection between them and opens up the gateway to the magical library of Avalon, the center of all magical knowledge. Hurt and betrayed that her sisters left her alone with their abusive father while they began new lives, Agnes sets off to join the newly formed suffragist movement, but not to earn the right to vote. Agnes wants to bring back magic. 

That’s right-witches are real and Agnes and her sisters are all witches. With the help of women from all over New Salem, the three sisters set out to bring back the black tower of Avalon and restore magic to all women. 

I absolutely love alternate history, especially when it’s alternate history with magic. Magic is a known element in this version of New Salem and the men fear nothing more than a female witch. Men are allowed to practice magic but women are threatened with burning if they dare to cast any type of spell, even one as simple as making your hair look good. You can’t have a witch uprising without an evil witch hunter, and that part is played by Gideon Hill, a mysterious man of power that has a cult-like following in New Salem. This book also contains my absolute favorite catnip - books with hidden stories. The stories that were told to the girls by their grandmother held vital information disguised as fairy tales. As the story progresses, these hidden stories become a shared theme amongst many of the women who join forces with the sisters.

Of all the sisters, Juniper is my favorite. She is fearless, driven, and wants nothing more than to tear down the patriarchy. She runs headfirst into every situation and never backs down. Even though she feels her sisters betrayed her, she’s still willing to sacrifice herself to keep them safe. The relationship between the three sisters is very complicated. They all have their own secrets to protect, but they also have some serious misunderstandings about each other’s motivations. The sisters find support for their cause from women all over New Salem. I really enjoyed how it was such a diverse group of women, and a few men, who were so supportive in providing shelter, spells, ingredients, and moral support and there are some interesting ties to the history and lore of the underground railroad. 

This is another chunker of a book, coming in at over 500 pages in the hardcover version. My last few reads were all big books, but all moved very quickly and this one just flew by. In between many of the chapters, there are fairy tales from the sisters’ childhood that provide clues to the source of the witch’s magic and I loved seeing how they fit into the story. While the story itself is pretty grim, the women face torture and death if they are caught practicing magic, the book never feels bleak. If anything, Juniper’s drive to smash the patriarchy and her complete lack of regard for authority help to keep the tone lighter and it’s there are many parts that are downright hilarious. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to hear what others have to say about it. If you would like a copy for your own collection, or as a gift for the witchy book lover in your life, you can find ordering information here:

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

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth

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.

New Releases for December 1, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

Get ready to check some gifts off your shopping lists, this week has some great picks for kids. If you have anyone who loved Dog Man, they’ll love Cat Kid. Similarly, Max & the Midnights and The Smartest Kid in the Universe would be great picks too. If you haven’t seen Jingle Jangle on Netflix, stop what you’re doing and watch it right now. I’m not much for movie tie-in books, but I’m super excited that we have some for Jingle Jangle. It’s a delight, don’t miss it. Click on the covers for more details and ordering information.

For the Kids:

For the Adults:

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

New Releases for November 24, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

It’s a new week, we’ve got the lack of turkey on the brain because it’s 2020 and everything is cancelled. So, instead of being sad over missed turkey, let’s go buy some books. Click on the covers for more information and ordering options.

For Kids:

For Adults:

Construction is Taking Over My Life

Nearly 15 years ago, my wonderful, darling husband bought us our first house. It was a rental house that was owned by his dad and one that he was quite familiar with as he had helped with a few repairs. I, on the other hand, saw the house for the first time after we signed on the dotted line.

Then I spent the next two weeks crying.

The house was horrible.

Really, really horrible. I am not exaggerating Reader Friends. It had mismatched cabinets in the kitchen and a floor that was so unlevel, it was like riding a roller coaster. Every wall had been sprayed with an orange peel finish that was so thick and bumpy, it was nearly impossible to paint. The upstairs, which held some of the remains at it’s former hotel self, was a bizarre series of tiny rooms that the previous tenants had painted with spray paint. No joke. There was no railing along the staircase and I spent so much time up there convinced someone would step wrong and plunge to their death. Tin can lids covered holes in the walls and there were license plates covering holes in the floors. The bathroom had 17 layers of wallpaper, wallboard, tile, and paneling. Worst offense? The pink toilet in the only bathroom.

My wonderful, darling husband eventually broke the news that I could remodel any room I wanted. Any and everything I wanted to change, it would happen. Except, we were also planning a wedding, which we were paying for, and I was a student teacher so our budget was extremely small. Our first change? Removing every bit of plaster and lath in our upstairs, shucking it all out the second story windows, installing a door at the base of the stairs and not going up there for another year. Our next project was remodeling the extremely tiny bathroom before we moved in since it was the only one in the house.

And that’s how we did it. One room at a time, when our budget allowed. Over the next 15 years, we completely remodeled nearly every room in that horrible, horrible house. We’ve added on rooms, torn down walls, and laid countless pieces of wood flooring. The upstairs floor was laid while I was nine months pregnant. I don’t recommend doing that-it’s a bit stressful and hard on the knees. We made countless mistakes and ruined many, many sheets of drywall. We learned that the proper tools really do make a difference and trim covers a ton of mistakes. We discovered that every project went smoother when you had a beer in your hand, but a case of Berryweis will mean you don’t have closet doors because you screwed up the door opening. And, if you want to completely remodel a house, you have to do it all yourself. You have to learn to hang drywall, lay tile floors, and watch countless videos on how to cut crown molding because I can never, ever, remember the angle.

Or, be rich. Then you hire it all out and it doesn’t take 15 years. Needless to say, we did all the work.

In all these years, we have hired a contractor only one time-our new bedroom addition. We’ve done so many projects, like attaching our house to the garage giving me both a dining room and a laundry room, but a whole room addition with full on trusses? No way were we tackling that one. We had a great local contractor who framed it and roofed it and the rest is on us. This is by far, the most stressful project we have ever tackled and trust me, we have bought some rental houses that were a ton of work. This addition is taking over every part of my brain. I don’t know how people design entire houses from start to finish. There is so much to think about-how many lights, where do they go, where do the switches go, how big is a bed, what is the clearance for an in-wall heater, how many ceiling fans are too many fans, can a wheelchair work in this room? It’s an endless list of decisions.

But this addition means we will never have to leave this house. It puts everything we need on the ground floor with nearly everything wheelchair accessible. The Hubs is a decade older than I am, which I remind him of constantly, and everything was built with him aging into a wheelchair long before me. My son can finish out school in the district he started in and one we have been incredibly happy with. I will never have to pack up my house and move. How do you even move chickens, horses, goats, and crazy dogs? And cows? How? I’m sure people do it all the time but I’m not going too.

Random fact-according to county plat maps, our house was built sometime between 1860 and 1870. On those maps, houses are blank squares and business are shaded in and labeled with their business name. Our house is shaded in like a business but is never named on any map. We’ve been told it was once a hotel and over half of it was torn down in the early 1900’s. You realize what this means, right?

I live in a former brothel. I know, it’s amazing.

This week we started the drywall. Reader friends, there’s over 90 sheets of drywall to hang. My hands are tired, my brain is fried, I am so tired. But all this work means in a few months I will get to place my book collection on shelves that were designed especially for them. The entire room was designed around my books. There’s going to be a library ladder! I’m going to be Belle sliding from side to another, randomly selecting books to read. I will get to cozy up with a blankie and a fireplace to read.

So with all that said, I’ll be back in December, hopefully, with more books to share with you.

Happy Reading!

Michelle

New Releases for November 17, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

New releases for November 17, 2020. Click on the covers for more information and ordering options.

For Kids:

For Adults:

Vampires Never Get Old Edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker

Available Now

Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker have put together a stellar list of authors for this young adult anthology centered around vampires. In fact, this collection is so well done, even the verso page has a curse for anyone who dares steal this book. A curse. On the verso page. Chef's kiss.

Included in this anthology are some of the most influential YA authors: Tessa Gratton, Rebecca Roanhorse, Julie Murphy, Heidi Heilig, Samira Ahmed, Kayla Whaley, Zoraida Córdova, Natalie C. Parker, Laura Ruby, Mark Oshiro, Dhonielle Clayton, and Victoria Schwab. A few of these authors were new to me-I'm still working on upping my YA reading-but many were authors on my favorites list. If you love to learn more about authors and what influences their writing, I highly recommend the podcast Vampires Never Get Old: The Podcast. Each episode is an interview with one of the authors about the vampires books and movies that they love and influenced their writing. It's really, really good.

I have grown to love anthologies for their exposure to new-to-me authors and the way short story collections allow you to dip in and out form a book without guilt. Only have a few minutes? You can fit in one story and come back for more later. It's really hard to pick a favorite story from this collection, they are all so well done. This collection is as far from your typical collection as you can get-you will not find any white, straight, cis-gendered, buff men here. There's vampires of all skin colors, body sizes, sexual identities, and physical abilities. At the end of each story, Córdova and Parker include historical context and notes on the tropes found in the story.

This collection is a wonderful reimagining of the vampire myth and the variety of stories guarantees there's something for everyone.

Some fun t.v. news-"First Kill" by Victoria Schwab is going to be adapted!

Want to add a copy to your collection? You can find ordering information here:

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher

Available Now

This is one weird, weird novel. It’s so weird. It’s so wonderfully, chillingly, horrifyingly weird. 

I loved it.

After her divorce, Kara moves into her Uncle’s place to help run his eccentric museum. The Glory to God Museum of Natural Wonders, Curiosities, and Taxidermy is full of just that-lots and lots of taxidermy and curiosities. To keep her busy, Kara spends her days updating the museum's catalog of exhibits and helping customers in the gift shop. When her uncle suffers a knee injury, Kara is left to run the museum on her own. After a long day, Kara notices a hole in the drywall. Irritated that a customer damaged the wall and didn’t tell anyone, Kara asks her neighbor Simon to help her patch it up. Instead of a simple fix, the two discover an impossible hallway behind the wall that extends beyond the building’s dimensions. 

At the end of the mysterious hallway? A portal to a different dimension. That’s right, an entire world exists within the walls of the museum. Kara and Simon enter the mysterious world and discover a vast expanse of land that can’t possibly exist. Cryptic messages are found from former explorers within structures that seem like storm shelters but appear to be portals to other worlds. The more Kara and Simon explore, the more deadly and terrifying the world becomes. 

Readers, this book is amazing. Absolutely engrossing and thrilling. This is another one to add to my “Read In One Sitting” list because I just had to know what was happening next. T. Kingfisher crafted an impossible world that at the surface seems beautiful with it’s miles of willow trees, but is actually a horrifyingly deadly place full of nightmares. 

Kara and Simon are great characters. They are both completely relatable and their reactions to everything that was being thrown at them felt incredibly real. Kara is licking her wounds after her divorce and her devastation is quickly forgotten as soon as she discovers the other world. Slight spoiler, her ex calls her after she has a harrowing experience with the other world and her being truly pissed off that he is inconveniencing her with a phone was just great to watch. There is no romance between Kara and Simon, they’re just great friends. The two of them have a great dynamic between them and their mutual freakouts and fierce protectiveness of each other made for a great read. 

The Glory to God Museum and Natural Wonders, Curiosities, and Taxidermy is a character itself. I loved the descriptions of the different animals and the displays. The museum receives random donations from all over the world and Kara’s descriptions of some of the boxes were just hilarious. Uncle Earl also owns the coffee shop next door where Simon works, or the building at least, and the fact that they pay rent in coffee? Gotta love a small town. 

This is my favorite type of horror novel-an almost quiet, constant, tense and horrifying monster that you never really see. You can feel how scared Kara and Simon are but they hold that sense of disbelief because these events shouldn’t be happening. The unexplained horrors found within the willows are revealed slowly and deliberately creating a constant tension. I needed a muscle relaxer after this one-my shoulders were pretty damn tight.

I loved this one, truly, truly loved it. I haven’t read Kingfisher’s other book The Twisted Ones yet but it’s already on hold at the Library. If you’re looking for a creepy book that still has some lightness to it, definitely give this one a try.

Want a copy for yourself? You can find ordering information here:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. I borrowed this book from the Library and please remember, we love to hear reader recommendations so tell your lovely Librarian that you want them to buy this book.

New Releases for November 10, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

So many books, so little time, so many TBR piles. There are some wild choices for the kids this week. Lots of butts and butt-related topics. Adults seem to have a strong beer theme going on. Not going to lie, love me some beer and I’m looking forward to The Lady Brewer of London. Click on the covers for more information and ways to order.

For Kids:

For Adults:

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

I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening) by Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers (Copy)

So….news just dropped! Big news here in the U.S. I’ve never been shy about my politics so let’s just say, I’m buying champagne on my way home today! If things are going to be touchy where you are, might I suggest this book, which I first shared in February of 2019.

The hosts of one of my all time favorite podcasts, Pantsuit Politics, have written their first book!  I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening) is just as wonderful as the podcast.  Beth and Sarah are known for their ability to have tough discussions about difficult topics and do so without any shouting or insults.  In fact, they say that at the beginning of each and every podcast. Their ability to bring nuance to each and every discussion has led to a devoted following and one of the most informative and enjoyable podcasts available today.

I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening) is their guide to having these nuanced conversations in our everyday lives.  They provide real life tips and advice on how to talk politics with friends and family of differing political views and opinions.  At the end of each chapter, Beth and Sarah provide questions for the reader to help further the conversations that need to happen in real life and provide scriptures that have helped guide them in their own interactions.  

You can hear Beth and Sarah in this book.  It is true to their personalities and provides that seem level of grace, intelligence, and thoughtfulness that they give us each week in their podcast.  If you are looking for a nuanced take on politics and life, I highly recommend picking up this book and checking out their podcast, Pantsuit Politics.

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

Full Disclosure:  I received an advanced copy of this book from the authors-but I did also preorder this book.  All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Silver in the Wood and Drowned Country by Emily Tesh

The Greenhollow Duology

Available Now

I had seen a lot of buzz around Emily Tesh’s latest novella, Drowned Country, and never once did it click in that it’s the second book in The Greenhollow Duology. So, much to my dismay, I had to wait for book one to come from the Library before I could dig into it, but the wait was more than worth it. 

Both books in this series are novellas so it’s pretty hard to discuss them without major spoilers. In Silver in the Wood, we are introduced to Tobias Finch who has a deep connection to Greenhollow Wood. He protects the woods from harm and in return, the wood provides him shelter. Living in the woods for centuries, he has seen many landowners come and go but none have captured his interest like Henry Silver. Silver, young, intelligent, and fascinated by the lore surrounding the wood is even more interested in the giant man living in the woods. When a dark force returns to the woods and places Silver in danger, Finch must confront dark secrets from his past to save him. 

Drowned Country continues the story of the Greenhollow Wood and delves deeper into its secrets and history. We also get to know Silver’s mother better and she is a powerhouse of a woman! 

Both of these novellas are just wonderful. I love Tesh’s writing style. The stories feel very dreamlike and are incredibly atmospheric. You can feel the trees moving in the wind and the vines growing around the cabin. There are dryads, nymphs, and other woodland creatures that live in the woods and the way the woods will move and shift to protect Tobias was magical. Tobias is a quiet man, used to his own company and that of the wood. He is able to communicate with the wood and has a close relationship with the dryad Bramble who is very clear on her feelings towards Henry and his presence in her woods. Henry is the complete opposite of Tobias. Talkative, inquisitive, and brash, he turns absolutely adorable in the presence of Tobias. He is also obsessed with his study of folklore and is always writing notes in one of his many notebooks. The lore surrounding the wood was fascinating and I love how each book gave us insight into the history and magic of the forest. 

They are both very quick reads and incredibly delightful. It takes real skill to create such an atmospheric and magical world in so few pages and Tesh pulls it off beautifully. 

If you would like to add these books to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

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

New Releases for November 3, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

If you’re in the States, please vote. Just please, please, vote. I’m spending my day at the polls working as an election judge. It’s a slower week for new releases, but definitely take advantage of The Couch Potato if you have a younger reader in your life. Jory John’s books are always super cute and delightful. Click on the covers for more information and ordering options.

Take a breath, we’ve got this. Happy Reading!

For the Kids:

For the Adults:

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

Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline

Available Now

This is such an engrossing novel that I read it in one afternoon. Dimaline is a masterful storyteller, combining horror, supernatural elements, mystery, and legend into a dark tale of love, loyalty and family.

After a heated argument with his wife Joan, Victor walks into the woods to calm down. Nearly a year later, Victor still hasn’t come back. After countless hours of searching, Joan still isn’t ready to give up on him, even with her family pushing her to move on. After a hard night of drinking, Joan finds herself drawn to a revival tent set up at the local Walmart and is shocked to see her husband leading the service. But when Joan confronts him, he doesn’t recognize her and believes she is still drunk from the night before. As Victor, now Reverend Eugene Wolff, tries to convince her she’s mistaken, Joan loses consciousness and awakens to a disturbing man who tells her her husband is dead. After being taken away by paramedics and spending the night in a hospital, Joan wakes up to a flurry of messages from her family. A wolf has attacked and killed her grandmother. As the community searches for the wolf, Joan seeks comfort from a family friend, Ajean. Loud mouthed and swearing like a sailor, Ajean is an expert in the history of their community and is convinced that it wasn’t a wolf that attacked Mere, it was a rogarou. She also believes that Victor is still inside the Reverend and Joan is the only one who can remind him of who he is. Armed with the teachings of Ajean and with help from her twelve year-old nephew Zeus, Joan sets out to track down the church who has captured her husband. 

Reading more Indigenous authors has been a priority this year. Dimaline explores the history of the Métis people, their strength, and the stories they pass on from generation to generation. I was especially interested in the way she explores the effects of the Christian religion manipulating the local politics and economy. The traveling church is blatantly using its services to sow discord between the white settler population and the native people over land rights. 

The rogarou myth was new to me. A rogarou can enter the body of someone who betrays a person they love. The rogarou myth was used to frighten children into behaving and was a warning to rebellious teenagers to watch themselves after dark. When Joan went to Ajean for help with her husband, Ajean offered up some less than conventional-to white girl me-about how to save her husband. And Joan just goes along with it, placing her trust in Ajean without much question. I’ve read a few other books lately that take place outside of white America and it’s always so interesting to see young people follow the orders of their elders without question. There isn’t that hubris that the young people know better and there isn’t any question about the elder’s judgement.

There is a great scene where Joan has a less than pleasant interaction with a white guy at a bar and the way that she puts racism in its place-amazing. Empire of Wild gives us an unflinching view of the impacts of racism, colonialism, and the stereotypes inflicted upon Indigenous peoples. 

This book was a great read. The story moved quickly and the characters felt real and true. If you like horror that’s on the less bloody side-this is a good pick for you.

Want to add this book to your collection? You can find ordering information here:

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

The Ancestor by Danielle Trussoni

Available Now

I found this book through a list of gothic fiction, and sorry, I don’t remember who posted it. I have been on a kick of dark, spooky books about creepy houses that exude a feeling of oppression. Mexican Gothic, The Nesting, The Whisper Man have all been recent creepy house reads. The Ancestor checks all those boxes. It’s creepy, disturbing, uncanny, and just outside the realm of possibility that makes you wonder for days later if it’s possible it’s true…

Bert Monte never thought she would find herself the last surviving heir to an Italian Noble family. Bert never knew she had enough family to begin to form that illusion. Shortly before Christmas, alone and estranged from her husband Luca, Bert finds herself holding an envelope that will change her life forever. But, the letter is in Italian which means Bert will need help from her husband’s Italian grandmother to translate. If discovering her family came from noble blood was shocking enough, discovering they were fiercely despised is even more so. 

Now Bert finds a family lawyer at her doorstep informing her of the private plane waiting to take her to her family’s estate in the mountains of Italy. Bert and Luca decide to take the chance that it’s all legit and maybe, just maybe, this could be a fresh start for them. What begins as a glamorous and enchanting vacation quickly turns into a nightmare as Bert is separated from Luca and finds herself stranded at the estate with no way out. 

Within the crumbling walls of the estate, Bert finds a great-aunt by marriage Dolores and a handful of loyal servants struggling to maintain a dark and dreary mansion. It’s through Dolores that Bert discovers the darkest secret of her family’s heritage. Her great-grandmother is alive and it’s Bert’s duty to keep her safe. 

It’s from here that Bert discovers the legends from the village of Nevenero about a monster that roamed the woods hunting for children and stranded hikers. Along with the estate’s secretary, Bert discovers a trove of diaries that tell the tale of her family’s history, their dangerous past, and the threat they pose to those around them.

It’s so very hard to discuss this book without giving away spoilers so know this-it’s a dark and chilling story that fills you with an overwhelming sense of “wrongness.” This family went to a lot of trouble to cover up the existence of Vita, Bert’s great-grandmother, and her entire story is fascinating. The mansion-more like a castle-is full of antiques, unused rooms, winding staircases, and a labyrinth of hallways. It’s also full of family history in the form of diaries and personal papers. Any estate that can hire a private librarian has some major secrets to keep hidden. The staff members also felt like they were compelled somehow to stay loyal to the family. They know what’s going on and for some reason, they stay in that dark and dreary place and it doesn’t feel like it was by choice. It also plays the line of only feeling like it’s one tick off from reality so maybe there’s a possibility that something like this could be true? Maybe? 

I really enjoyed this book. It was one that I devoured during my days of being laid up with my faulty knee and it definitely helped take my mind off the pain. 

If you would like to add this book to your collection of spooky stories, you can find ordering information here:

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New Releases for October 27, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

New Diary of a Wimpy Kid! Go ahead and order it for every kid you know, they all love it. This is one of the few series that I order two copies of because it’s constantly checked out. The latest installment in the Morrigan Crow series is out for those young readers who love Harry Potter. This week has a great selection of romance titles and so many new cozy mysteries. Click on the covers for more information and ways to order.

Happy Reading!

For the Kids:

For the Adults:

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Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (Copy)

Available Now

I have seen this book everywhere and for good reason-it’s a perfect book. Just perfect. If you are someone who is remotely interested in a young adult paranormal romance, you must pick this up. Now. Go get it. 

Yadriel believes with all his heart that Lady Death will see him for what he truly is: a brujo. When his father refuses to listen to Yadriel and bans him from participating in his quinces ceremony, he knows the only way to prove himself is by performing in his own ceremony. With the help of his best friend and cousin Maritza, Yadriel defies all expectations and receives the blessing of Lady Death. When his cousin Miguel goes missing, the community begins a search for him but they are quickly overcome with the feeling of his death. Yadriel knows that he can help by summoning Miguel’s spirit and solving the mystery of his death but when Yadriel performs the ritual, he summons a ghost...the ghost of the high school bad boy Julian. 

Now, Yadriel must hide the existence of Julian’s ghost from his brujx family, no small feat, solve the mystery of both Julian and Miguel’s death, and prove himself to his father. I mean, no big deal right?

This is a fantastic book! I loved every page, every word. Yadriel is such a wonderfully written character. He is determined to live his life as his true self-a boy who wants to become a brujo. His mother was the understanding parent who accepted his transition but he still has his father and grandmother who struggle to see him as a boy and use his real name, not his dead name. The connection between Maritza and Yadriel is so pure and accepting. They are cousins, family, best friends, and completely honest with each other. Aiden Thomas gives readers an honest and frank look at the life of a trans teen and all of the ways their identity dictates everyday decisions. There is a scene where Julian finds out that Yadriel hasn’t used the boys’ bathroom at school because he’s afraid and it just broke my heart. Julian’s presence has a significant impact on Yadriel. He is openly gay and quite blunt about Yadriel’s interactions with his family and their treatment of Yadriel. Julian questions his loyalty to a family that is holding him back from becoming a brujo because he is trans and the two have conversations that provide incredible insight into Yadriel’s life.

The descriptions of the family’s belief system were rich and detailed. I love magic in all its forms and learned so much about Yadriel’s history and culture. The tight knit community and the closeness of the family members creating such an elaborate set of festivities to honor their dead was fascinating and beautiful. Be prepared for some incredible descriptions of food-I was starving the entire time I read this!

The story takes place on a very quick timeline-they must find Miguel’s killer and release Julian’s spirit before Dia de Muertos. I love YA that has a tight timeline the characters have to follow but still have to go to school. I love it. This urgency is really felt in the development of Yadriel and Julian’s relationship. What do you do when you fall in love with a ghost who only has a few days to remain on earth? It’s pretty incredible Readers. 

This book checks a lot of boxes: found family, family friendships, magic, history, culture, romance, coming of age, and so much more. Best part-this is a debut! I can’t wait to find out what wonderful novels Thomas has in store for us next. 

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

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