I'm not going to rate this because I didn't finish it. I was so on board with this 30% into it. The prose is sparse and the main character, Laura, is I'm not going to rate this because I didn't finish it. I was so on board with this 30% into it. The prose is sparse and the main character, Laura, is weird but interesting. A young woman who left home is now modeling for an art class. Around 40% the story leans into body horror; the detailed descriptions are very detailed and graphic--uncomfortable. 50% I had to tap out. The MC finds some photographs in a drawer and then describes them in explicit detail and I wish I hadn't read what I read. Fucking sick. TW for grotesque subject matter, unsexy sex stuff, and horrible disgusting shit with the corpses of children. Ugh. No. Bye....more
DNF I couldn't invest in the story or the characters. It wasn't developed; everything seemed hurried.DNF I couldn't invest in the story or the characters. It wasn't developed; everything seemed hurried....more
About 50 pages in, I decided this wasn’t appealing to me but it might be for you. Speculative/Literary, a secret society, post college age young peoplAbout 50 pages in, I decided this wasn’t appealing to me but it might be for you. Speculative/Literary, a secret society, post college age young people in powerful roles, mythology ...more
DNF Weird to title something so simple as "Horror Book" on a collection of Mystery/Suspense DNF Weird to title something so simple as "Horror Book" on a collection of Mystery/Suspense ...more
This was a DNF at 55% previously but I just went in for another effort and had a different experience. I'd say this tracks at a 3.5-4 star read. For faThis was a DNF at 55% previously but I just went in for another effort and had a different experience. I'd say this tracks at a 3.5-4 star read. For fans of: -Supernatural elements -Cursed objects/places -Sister dynamics/relationships -Marriage/Infertility (triggers for all of that) -Power in water -Folklore/Superstition -Death/grief -Mental illness -Visions/Nightmares
DNF I offered to send advanced reading copies of this antho to my bookstagram friends and Ben (Reading Vicariously) organized a read-along. This antholoDNF I offered to send advanced reading copies of this antho to my bookstagram friends and Ben (Reading Vicariously) organized a read-along. This anthology was not for me and I didn't finish it. A few strong stories were told by seasoned writers and then the wheels fell off, unfortunately. Here's the round-up of reviews on the Night Worms blog: https://nightworms.com/blogs/news/boo... ...more
DNF at 15% really intense child abuse leading to possible death? My heart just didn’t feel like going through it. The writing is totally there, the prDNF at 15% really intense child abuse leading to possible death? My heart just didn’t feel like going through it. The writing is totally there, the problem is me—I nope right out of movies, books, and true crime stuff if child abuse is like the main thing....more
A SAVAGE BREED by Patrick C. Harrison III is Book 6 in the Splatter Western series by Death's Head Press. The rest of the series looks like this: THE MA SAVAGE BREED by Patrick C. Harrison III is Book 6 in the Splatter Western series by Death's Head Press. The rest of the series looks like this: THE MAGPIE COFFIN by Wile E. Young (5 stars- a favorite book in 2020) HUNGER ON THE CHISHOLM TRAIL by M. Ennenbach (3.5 stars) DUST by Chris Miller (3.5 Stars) THE NIGHT SILVER RIVER RUN RED by Christine Morgan (4.5 stars) STARVING ZOE by C. Derick Miller (DNF)
And now, A SAVAGE BREED (DNF) You know you're reading a Western when the book starts off with a hangin' and standard racism against Native Americans. The outlaws in this tale escape their execution and go on the run. The breakneck pace of the storytelling doesn't lend itself to ample character-development, but the characters *do* begin to grow on you as the action permeates one scene after the next.
A young woman is introduced, Elizabeth Hughes, and immediately she's described with "budding breasts". *cringe* but I couldn't help liking her story as she storms out of the family homestead after her father's death and says, "Goodbye, Mama, you old hag." I was looking forward to reading more of her journey. Then Part II came, The Tate Brothers, and Jezzus. You have women tied up, the senseless killing of a horse and I was *this close* to tapping out, just like I did with the previous book, STARVING ZOE (women, including female babies, are called cunts. No thanks) but I found myself continuing. Chapter 4 introduces Father Ronald Milton and the rape of a Native American woman and that did it. I set the book down. Here's the thing: I think we are fully capable of writing authentic Western tales with a nuanced view of racism. Just because that was the prevailing attitude of people from the past, doesn't mean that today, writers can't elevate the genre by portraying characters from that time that maybe weren't racist. I am also tired of men writing rape scenes for their female characters to endure. This book also had some casual fat shaming. *sigh* Harrison is talented because even though I was struggling, the author's storytelling voice kept luring me back in and I really wanted to know what was going to happen, but I just couldn't. I really love the idea of these Splatter Westerns and I don't want authors to skimp on the extreme horror but I know for a fact there are ways to execute on this genre without leaning so heavily on racism and rape. This has always been true but it's even more important RIGHT NOW with Sports Teams even changing their names in an effort to stamp out systemic racism. We don't need to "change or erase" history but we can write our fiction to align with our 2020 vision for equality.
Thank you to Death's Head Press for hooking the Night Worms Team up with digital and physical copies of this series for our honest reviews & Night Worms Book Parties
DNF. I tapped out almost exactly halfway through. This was a buddy read with the host of the podcast VOX VOMITUS and we will be sharing our thoughts onDNF. I tapped out almost exactly halfway through. This was a buddy read with the host of the podcast VOX VOMITUS and we will be sharing our thoughts on this classic horror novel for a whole episode! https://radiopublic.com/vox-vomitus-8... Coming soon. I'll update this review after the show with all the reasons why I quit this book....more
DNF I can't wait this book anymore. It's very dry. This Lt. Kinderman guy has the most uninteresting thoughts rambling through his head while he's workDNF I can't wait this book anymore. It's very dry. This Lt. Kinderman guy has the most uninteresting thoughts rambling through his head while he's working a crime scene and it's distracting from the Gemini Killer storyline. I just got tired of skimming trying to find the threads of interesting bits. ...more
I'm going to set this book aside for the time being. It's not a DNF. I won't shelve it forever--I just think there are too many competing books for atI'm going to set this book aside for the time being. It's not a DNF. I won't shelve it forever--I just think there are too many competing books for attention and they keep winning out. I'm on a different wavelength with what I'm currently reading and reviewing--I'm distracted and I'd like to give this book a fair chance. It's just not engaging enough for me at this moment in time. Thank you to Copper Beckett for giving me a review copy. I promise I'll circle back to it soon. ...more
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I didn't (couldn't) finish this book because of these issues:
1. The Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I didn't (couldn't) finish this book because of these issues:
1. The protagonist, Rain, is unreliable and not likable. I spent too much time trying to grab at wispy strands of the story and getting frustrated with the character and her constant questioning.
2. I hear the book improves with the introduction of some more entertaining characters later on, but I didn't feel like being patient with 100 pages to get to that point.
3. I think that relying on past drug abuse is the lazy way of building paranormal or supernatural experiences and I have trouble wading through hazy, psychotropic, unreliable "dreamy" realities.
Anyways, I DNF'd this book very early on because I have a large TBR and I generally don't like suffering through a book I'm not enjoying-my other books are waiting. I'm genuinely not turned off on Maberry as an author though and would like to try again with something else....more
DNF Oh no! *covers my face with my hands* I'm sorry Clive Barker! This just was the wrong book to start with. Someone on bookstagram listed all the booDNF Oh no! *covers my face with my hands* I'm sorry Clive Barker! This just was the wrong book to start with. Someone on bookstagram listed all the books I *should* read of his and then told me "Mister B. Gone is for the birds." He was right. UGH. I just can't with this book anymore. Especially when there are countless books I really wanted to read in October. This was a buddy read with my dear friend, Emily. (book.happy) she managed to finish and I believe she rated it 2 stars. If I were to rate, it would be the same, maybe 1.5 There are no characters to relate to or invest in, there is no plot, really...it's just a discombobulated journey of a demon told in first person narrative and it gets old pretty fast. ...more
DNF. I’m out. I just can’t with this book anymore. *update an hour or so after I quit*
Listen, I'm not "faint of heart" I'm not a "gentle spirit". HorrorDNF. I’m out. I just can’t with this book anymore. *update an hour or so after I quit*
Listen, I'm not "faint of heart" I'm not a "gentle spirit". Horror is my favorite genre and I love my stories bleak and dark but sometimes we have to know our limits. Is nothing off the table? No. We have to be true to ourselves. As much as I think Ketchum is a powerful, brave writer who drew me into this story even as I was dragging my heels, I just couldn't hang with those details anymore. I was angry, upset, exhausted and I just didn't want one more image to enter my brain. As it is, from what I read, I won't forget. My heart breaks for the real 'Meg' who endured this horrific violation and for the boys who got drunk and stupid off their game of power led by an adult who was insane. It's really the sickest story of human depravity. I just don't want to know....more
DNF I'm not going to finish this book; at least right now. Maybe I'll be more tolerant of the slow pacing, exorbitant cast of characters and weak plot DNF I'm not going to finish this book; at least right now. Maybe I'll be more tolerant of the slow pacing, exorbitant cast of characters and weak plot line, later. Although I doubt it. I was 450ish pages into a 700 page novel and my suspicion is that this book was more of an Owen King effort instead of Papa King. I didn't see Stephen's fingerprints on this AT ALL. This book had no teeth, no edge, no bite. This wouldn't be the first time I DNF'd a King book, so I don't feel bad about it. He has so many hits for me, a miss is no big deal. This is a miss....more
DNF I'm probably just a jerk, but I didn't have the patience for this book. I resisted it the whole time. I think maybe I didn't find the meat of the sDNF I'm probably just a jerk, but I didn't have the patience for this book. I resisted it the whole time. I think maybe I didn't find the meat of the story engaging enough to put up with the format? Because the format is annoying. I'm sorry, but it is....more
DNF at 46% this book is a 3 star rating in terms of enjoyment factor for me. Heavy, Highbrow Sci-Fi is just not my jam. It had its moments, like some oDNF at 46% this book is a 3 star rating in terms of enjoyment factor for me. Heavy, Highbrow Sci-Fi is just not my jam. It had its moments, like some of the stories within the story were compelling but anytime it did its "science fiction world-building thing"-I was bored and confused. ...more
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