A pensive, tender account of the life changing love between Eliza Raine and Anne Lister. Told between a series of letters and flashbacks, Learned by HA pensive, tender account of the life changing love between Eliza Raine and Anne Lister. Told between a series of letters and flashbacks, Learned by Heart is a saga of first love and loss rooted in the true lives of two fascinating, convention defying women. Elegant and somber, this novel effectively captures longing, frustration, and the shattering realization that two hearts, once so fiercely knit together, could grow apart. Beautifully written and sensitive in a way that mirrors the little moments that add to something profound, this is a story that illuminates the pressures of classism, misogyny, and homophobia as well as uplifts the vignettes of the subtle ways that we defy those things, and fall in love passionately, heartbreakingly, lastingly. ...more
A chilling, claustrophobic reimagining of the horrifically doomed Donner Party. Mixing history with the supernatural, this atmospheric novel showcasesA chilling, claustrophobic reimagining of the horrifically doomed Donner Party. Mixing history with the supernatural, this atmospheric novel showcases the cruel indifference of Mother Nature, as well as the devastating consequences of discord, isolation, and misunderstandings. Fast-paced and assured, The Hunger blurs the lines between paranoia and reality; it carves out the truth from campfire tales and folklore, the figure separating from the shadows. Dark and bleak as a desolate landscape, this horror read may be a perfect nightmare companion on your next trip outdoors. ...more
A haunting account of an enslaved girl’s journey through the Deep South, and her transformative experience in the face of America’s most cruel and shaA haunting account of an enslaved girl’s journey through the Deep South, and her transformative experience in the face of America’s most cruel and shameful history. With the hellish environment and poetic language reminiscent of the Inferno, Let Us Descend is a breathtaking reimagining of slavery and spiritualism, of lineage and meaning of survival and freedom. Shocking and entirely necessary, this novel is one not only of the boundless cruelty of men, but also of rebirth, resilience, and the merging of worlds, of rediscovery, of forging an identity and a passion against the odds of ultimate oppression, of making one’s own agency, and of preserving the ghosts of the past. Spellbinding and lyrical, this bleak saga is not without its moments of love, comfort, and triumph. A gorgeous melding of tangible magic and hard historical truths. ...more
A riveting gothic novel that exposes the true to life horrors of systematic oppression and covered up injustices. With beguiling, atmospheric language that slowly builds discomfort and dread, this novel is not only an impactful ghost story, but an unfortunately recognizable social horror that can be found in contemporary lgbtq and feminist issues. From medical abuse to the personal and institutional ways that people are made to feel monstrous for living authentically, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a deeply relatable portrayal of fighting to live one’s truth amongst a society that will do anything to force people into premade boxes. Horror aside, this is also a love story; it is a tale of self love, of finding love and family in unexpected places, a love of pursuing passions and breaking free of past trauma. Sharp, honest, and a lore filled interpretation of a history that closely mirrors the present....more
A dark, sensual imagining of the creation of one of horror’s most universal masterpieces. Filled with atmospheric gothic imagery and the growing sense of displacement, grief, this novel is a compelling interpretation of the life and desires of Mary Shelley, the constraints against which she fought to express herself through her work, to explain the horrors within and around her. Winding through a path of ambition, longing, otherness, envy, the parallels to Frankenstein are a welcome examination of the ways in which we are pushed to the brink for the pursuit of creation, and the ways in which our own creations reveal our inner selves. Beautifully written and illuminating a new depth to the mother of monsters....more
A gorgeously written account of what makes a life extraordinary, and what inspires the dead to become captivated by the living. Briefly, A Delicious LA gorgeously written account of what makes a life extraordinary, and what inspires the dead to become captivated by the living. Briefly, A Delicious Life is a lush exploration of falling in love, of the tides and depths of devotion, romance, sensuality. It is an observation of creativity, what hidden things we find in nature, each other, to create something that lasts for centuries. It’s pages are a lush ode to the ways in which the human spirit carves a legacy, the ways our feelings are strong enough to last long after our bodies fall away. Brimming with longing and the divinity of human connections, this novel sheds light on the motivations that ghosts have to endure, and how death is sometimes the mere beginning of our journey of self discovery. ...more
A gorgeous interpretation of one of literature's finest classics. This beguiling debut is dark, poetic, and filledhttps://instagram.com/p/Ctbzfy9L0Wp/
A gorgeous interpretation of one of literature's finest classics. This beguiling debut is dark, poetic, and filled with ambition, grief, and innovation. It highlights the struggle for women to gain rightful credit in a society that favors the voices of men, especially in the fields of scientific discovery. Our Hideous Progeny simmers with the passion for hidden knowledge, and the blazing desire to harness the unknown, to challenge the finality of death, no matter the cost. This novel was so enjoyable from beginning to end, its pages filled with rebellion, love, and yearning for those secret histories, mind-bending futures, those dark ripples beneath the surface....more
A lush, intimate look at two of Europe's most gorgeous, misunderstood souls. Empty Theater is a testament to the pressures and shackles of royalty, the suffocating spotlight that royals cannot escape. For King Ludwig II and Empress Sisi this is especially true; these rulers, though surrounded by opulence and power, were held back from their true desires and ambitions until their untimely demise. Jac Jemc expertly weaves together fact and fiction, embellishing two already outrageously captivating lives into a compelling journey that is equally entertaining and tragic. This is a treat for history fans as well as those who can relate to sacrificing personal wants and welfare to preserve an outward image or goal....more
Loading...
