”I was stripped bare in a world where I did not belong. A world of monsters and visions, where past and future had little meaning.”
A swashbuckling goo”I was stripped bare in a world where I did not belong. A world of monsters and visions, where past and future had little meaning.”
A swashbuckling good time to say the least! The world building in this book is so intricately detailed; I could practically feel the winter chill on my skin. The plot is complex, the characters are developed, and the author is not afraid to delve into the darker aspects of the Other. The only reason I’m not giving this 5 stars is due to the pacing lagging just a bit in the middle, and I was hoping the romance would develop a little more steadily in this installment, but overall this was a compelling read. I can even see myself giving it a higher rating upon a reread with the audiobook when it is time to prepare for book 2’s release.
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*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
”You took all of your broken pieces and made them your weapons.”
This book. It completely snuck up on me in the best way possible, in the way books use”You took all of your broken pieces and made them your weapons.”
This book. It completely snuck up on me in the best way possible, in the way books used to before I became a jaded reviewer. It reminded me of when I was a kid and I used to pick out random books at the library that I’d never heard of (because no social media and no internet access at my house), would take them home, and binge them in a day or two while cooped up in my room over the weekend. The kind of book I’d rush to my librarian aunt who was a “cool adult” who still read MG and YA books and genuinely enjoys them so we could chat about it. I can’t quite describe the giddy nature I felt while reading this, but it made me feel like a kid again finding a new series to obsess over. Yes, some of it was formulaic and predictable, but the fact that even though these two aspects are true and it STILL is a knock out page turner full of suspense, action, and excitement tells me it is well written regardless.
”Kill without remorse. Live without regret.”
I don’t even want to recap the synopsis or plot because it’s really better if you can just jump right in and ride along with the characters, but if I had to compare this to other books I would say it appeals to fans of The Hunger Games and Warcross. Yes, the plot is different than those two books and yes, I do realize that making this comparison might set some readers expectations in a lofty place right off the bat, but if we’re comparing vibes and styles of plot, that’s the best I can do. Nightbreaker stands squarely on its own two feet though, and you should definitely read it for what it is-an action packed urban fantasy full of monsters, danger, unique world building, and even a little bit of second chance romance. Obviously this one ends as a set up for book 2, but I am THRILLED that the author didn’t do us dirty with a cliff that ends in the middle of a scene that has me reeling so violently I want to scream. I’m eager to continue the series, but we do get many answers to the questions plaguing this installment.
I know that the cover isn’t cool in the mainstream marketing way of flowers and swords that are uber popular right now (I do really dig this cover though), but if you’ll give it a chance, I think those looking for a fantasy to get lost in that is both well plotted in pacing and character development, do yourself a favor and give Nightbreaker a try. I loved this so much that I bought myself a finished copy for my favorites shelf, and you’d better believe it’ll be in my top 5 books of the year.
”…the people who always told you to rise above the rest will never be the ones to warn you how far you might fall.”
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
The premise behind this book is captivating, and I think with a higher page count and a one more editing pass, it could take this “good” book into the “great” category. At 256 pages, I struggled to find all the details and answers in the world building category as I would have liked. A bit more story to transition from the 80% mark to the conclusion would have helped the wrap up feel a less rushed, but overall this was a compulsive read. Elwood is a doll, and the ending is so bittersweet you can’t help but feel a yearning in your heart to see more of these characters in the future.
If you enjoy YA horror with dark romance vibes, definitely give this fast read a try!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
”Well, find your own magic, I suppose. The magic way to give your kids the perfect childhood that will turn them into better adu3.5 stars rounded to 4
”Well, find your own magic, I suppose. The magic way to give your kids the perfect childhood that will turn them into better adults than you could have ever been. The magic way to undo whatever damage your parents did to you, to keep your kids happy and safe and protected forever.”
If you read Hide then you probably have an idea of what to expect with Mister Magic. Not that the plots are exactly the same, but the formula of mysterious build up to supernatural horror/thriller is present again, and I think that this genre works really well for the author. The less you know about this one going in the better, so my review is going to be brief and vague, but know that this is a dark, enthralling, suspenseful read that dabbles in how The Mandela Effect might have influenced elder millennial memories. What makes it even more meaningful is the author’s note in the back, explaining where the inspiration for this novel came from. If you’re looking for a lightning fast read where you may not understand everything by the end of the book, but have a ball of a time reading, this book is for you.
”You were always the best part of me. If I could take back even one second of waiting for other people and other places and just be with you, I’d do i”You were always the best part of me. If I could take back even one second of waiting for other people and other places and just be with you, I’d do it.”
I was not expecting this book to hit me squarely in the feels, but I am suing SFM for emotional damages, because this book was exquisite. Going in, I didn’t really have a clue of what to expect, as it is my first read from the author. Would it be dark, like a Stephen King, coming of age, battle the evil giant sort of way? Well, it definitely is a coming of age tale, but it is SO much more than your typical small town horror novel. While parts are dark, the overall feel is more suspenseful and surprisingly hopeful.
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The balance between the past tense narrative as the gang discovers the houses and what magic they hold and the present tense search for Brandi and the truth of the 15 years they have been gone from town is perfectly done, and the atmosphere of the Arkansas Ozark felt like a character all in its own. An unexpected touch was how lovingly this book wraps up, with a HEA in every way imaginable. If you enjoy books that break genre barriers with a compulsive feel, do yourself a favor and check out The Wonder State.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
"Steeped in mythology, The Girl Next Door is a tale of omens, morbid bloodlines, revenge, and forbidden love that takes root in the darkest of hearts."Steeped in mythology, The Girl Next Door is a tale of omens, morbid bloodlines, revenge, and forbidden love that takes root in the darkest of hearts. This gothic tale is perfect for fans of Stranger Things, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the early ’90s The Last Vampire series by Christopher Pike."
”Myths are but lies breathed through silver.”-C.S. Lewis
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is the type of book that I go koo koo over. I want to colle”Myths are but lies breathed through silver.”-C.S. Lewis
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is the type of book that I go koo koo over. I want to collect all the editions of it (ebook, hardcover, and audiobook, check check check), hoard all the special editions and cover art, and make it my entire personality. Couple that with the fact that Roshani Chokshi is a national treasure and we should protect her at all costs, I can safely say that this book will be in my Top 10 of 2023 round up. It’s gorgeous prose, lush atmosphere, and gothic horror elements are cream of the crop, and each time I was able to listen to the audiobook or open the ebook felt like an escape, even though it isn’t a story I’d want to physically be drawn into. ;)
You warned me that knowing your secret would destroy us.
At first, it sat in our marriage like a blue-lipped ghost, hardly noticeable until a trick of the light drew it into focus. But you could always tell the days when it gnawed at my thoughts. You tried to comfort me. You stroked my face and curled my fingers to your heart.
You said: “If you pry, you’ll destroy our marriage.”
But oh, my love, you lied.
The less you know going into this story the better, and while I did have it mostly sorted before the reveal, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story. In fact, I feel like it added an element of suspense, building up to the climax to see if I was right and the journey of how we got there. There are many dark elements to this book, and I encourage you to check out trigger warnings before diving in if you need to, but otherwise, definitely go in blind. If you enjoy sensual and sumptuous tales that straddle the line of magical and grounded, this should be at the top of your TBR, and consider the audiobook if you enjoy a good male narrator. *swoons in Steve West*
*Many thanks to the publisher and LibroFM for my ALC and e-galley....more
When I saw this book started off with a bang; whew! This is my first read from the author, and I would definitely check out more that she has written.When I saw this book started off with a bang; whew! This is my first read from the author, and I would definitely check out more that she has written. City of Nightmares feels a bit like something Stefan from SNL would describe as the hottest new club. It has everything: nightmares come to life, giant human eating spiders, people with scales who turn into cockroaches, cults, vampires, etc. If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is.
One of my issues with this book is simply that there is SO much focus on breakneck plotting that we hardly get any character development or proper world building, something I look forward to when reading books that are fantasy or paranormal centric. If you enjoy pacing and chaotic storytelling, you definitely need to pick this one up. If nothing else, it’s a fun ride, and I appreciate that the author set this up for the conclusion in the duology, but didn’t leave us on such a horrific cliffhanger that we feel there isn’t any closure.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
I'm not sure how to review this, as I'm still trying to figure out what I just read. While this does classify as horror per se, it really fits more acI'm not sure how to review this, as I'm still trying to figure out what I just read. While this does classify as horror per se, it really fits more accurately under the fantasy umbrella. The idea behind this book is intriguing; an illustrator who can bring to life the drawings she creates? A small town full of dark secrets? The problem is there is very little world building along the way, and a major plot hole that I couldn't really get past with zero explanation. By the time I reached the ending, I felt like there wasn't enough closure or explanation to process what I had just consumed, but I'm wondering if this will be turned into a series based on my e-galley having a section titled SERIES: TBD in it? Either way, an entertaining story with some flaws, but would love to see more dark reads from this author.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
No one is more bummed than I am that I didn't love this as much as I thought I would. I had been eagerly anticipating Spells for Forgetting ever sinceNo one is more bummed than I am that I didn't love this as much as I thought I would. I had been eagerly anticipating Spells for Forgetting ever since the book was first announced, and maybe this is just a case of expectations vs. what the book actually is. I was hoping for more magic, a compelling murder mystery, and an enemies-to-lovers/second chance romance, but what I got was little-to-no magic (even magical realism is pushing it), a murder mystery that I lost interest in, and two main characters who's beige characterization made it impossible to become invested in the romance. If you enjoy atmospheric, slow paced novels with fall vibes, you might enjoy this more than I did.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
”We are not weird… My family is not weird… We are not weird… We’re as normal as every other family.”
Another year, another Grady Hendrix novel under my”We are not weird… My family is not weird… We are not weird… We’re as normal as every other family.”
Another year, another Grady Hendrix novel under my belt. While this one wasn’t my favorite, it still consisted of a well crafted, slow burning and thought provoking storyline that many will enjoy. The reasoning behind my middle of the road rating is more personal than objective, as it contains a horror trope that I’m just not a fan of. (view spoiler)[Possessed, killer dolls are a plot device that just will never speak to me. (hide spoiler)] I definitely encourage readers to try this for themselves, though, as it will be a favorite for many old school horror aficionados.
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Where this novel shines, in my humble opinion, is in the writing of this family’s broken moments of grief. We ride alongside this sibling duo and see them process their complicated feelings about their parents who have passed suddenly, and the ups and downs add some character depth as the suspense builds around the house that is haunted. Honestly, how many of us can relate to having complex emotions surrounding our family, immediate or extended?
If you have been waiting for Hendrix to return to a traditional haunting type of story, this is it. I appreciate how widely he can pen a story in the horror category, and I look forward to what he writes next. If nothing else, I’ll definitely make sure my attic is secured tightly before sleeping again.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
"I pray I'll see you again. You must come for me, Noemí. You have to save me."
WHEW. You think you know where this book is going, and then it goes ther"I pray I'll see you again. You must come for me, Noemí. You have to save me."
WHEW. You think you know where this book is going, and then it goes there. Mexican Gothic begins in such an unassuming way, where you think you're walking into a traditional haunted house story, and then everything shifts to pull you under like a riptide that doesn't loosen until you turn the final page. Before I dive into my review, I think it's fair to note that the majority of this book is atmospheric, character driven, and the slowest burn imaginable; for me, this worked spectacularly well, as I love to feel completely absorbed into the narrative in horror novels. And yes friends, this is most definitely a horror novel. I'll include content warnings in a spoiler tag below for those who are interested.
"Noemí's father said she cared too much about her looks and parties to take school seriously, as if a woman could not do two things at once."
Maybe the reason why this slow burn worked so well for me is because I instantly connected with Noemí; she is confident, intelligent, and the life of the party. When her father receives a suspicious letter from Noemí's cousin, Catalina, he sends Noemí to investigate and report back. As expected, everyone involved gets more than they bargained for, and what begins as a handful of unusual occurrences slowly morphs into a whirlwind of horrifying circumstances.
"This house, she was sure, was haunted. She wasn't one for believing in things that go bump in the night either, but right that second she firmly felt every spook and demon and evil thing might be crawling about the earth, like in Catalina's stories."
One of the things I loved the most about this story is how vastly different the haunted house felt. The author has successfully blended the traditional aspects of the old, decrepit, ghost filled residence and a new, more modern aspect, one I won't go into detail of for fear of spoiling the big twist. I think she nailed it on the head when she stated in her Goodreads interview that this book is for the reader who is both classy and trashy, because it has the high entertainment value that fast fiction lovers rejoice in, but it is also filled with beautifully devastating prose. If you, too, have a love affair with all things that go bump in the night, Mexican Gothic should be your top priority this summer. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to those who have a desire to spend long hours in a derelict house and an iron stomach.
"The truth was she was afraid of going to bed, of what nightmares might uncoil in the dark. What did people do after witnessing the horrors they had seen? Was it possible to slip back into normality, to play pretend and go on? She wanted to think this was exactly the case, but she was afraid sleep would prove her wrong."
*Content Warning:(view spoiler)[Sexual assault, incest, murder and gore, cannibalism, themes challenging white supremacy and eugenics, discussions surrounding the death of a parent and other family members, miscarriages and stillbirths, discussions surrounding suicide, and the consumption of alcohol and smoking. (hide spoiler)]
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
This has literally been the week from Hell, which is fitting considering I spent hours typing up a coherent review for a book featuring a heist in HelThis has literally been the week from Hell, which is fitting considering I spent hours typing up a coherent review for a book featuring a heist in Hell, that I thought I had copied and pasted, to in fact not have properly done so....more
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