2.5 Stars I really liked the premise of this one but ultimately struggled with the execution. I didn't find myself attached to the characters which mad2.5 Stars I really liked the premise of this one but ultimately struggled with the execution. I didn't find myself attached to the characters which made it difficult to care about what happened to them as the story progressed. Ultimately I found myself underwhelmed by this one and disappointed because I always hope to love the books that I pick up.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
2.5 Stars This is a horror story that just didn't work for me. It was action packed with a busy narrative. I have liked another book by this author, bu2.5 Stars This is a horror story that just didn't work for me. It was action packed with a busy narrative. I have liked another book by this author, but this one didn't work as well for me. I feel like the execution was lacking resulting in a narrative that did come together in a satisfying way.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
4.0 Stars I loved the premise of this one, with the focus on fashion culture. I will admit that I wasn't sure about this one for the first half but it 4.0 Stars I loved the premise of this one, with the focus on fashion culture. I will admit that I wasn't sure about this one for the first half but it came together in a satisfying dark way. I enjoy horror like this one where the ugliness is hidden under an deceptively pretty exterior.
I would recommend this one to readers looking for a story that explored the dark side of the fashion world.
Disclaimer I have received a copy from the publisher....more
3.5 Stars This is a case where some stories in this collection are stronger than others. As always, the illustrations were wonderfully creepy. My favou3.5 Stars This is a case where some stories in this collection are stronger than others. As always, the illustrations were wonderfully creepy. My favourite story was Just the Two of Us with Scarlest Circle coming in second. While not a personal favourite, this collection has enough going for it to make it a worthwhile read....more
3.0 Stars I can be hit or miss with haunted houses but I was actually enjoyed those aspects a fair bit. However I struggled with the characters. Clearl3.0 Stars I can be hit or miss with haunted houses but I was actually enjoyed those aspects a fair bit. However I struggled with the characters. Clearly they are meant to be archetypes of popular horror authors but that also made them feel one dimensional. As someone who has dealt with body dysmorphia, the fat phobic language in the story felt unnecessary. There were parts I enjoyed about this one but also parts that took away my enjoyment, making this one a mixed bag for me...more
As a horror novel about horror films, this one should have been easy to love. I have read and enjoyed previous books from this author so I was hopeful this could be another solid addition.
The story ended up being fine, but just fine. I didn't find it particularly interesting or memorable. This is very much a case of a missed opportunity.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
2.5 Stars I have always been haunted by the story of the Titanic so I hope that this historical horror retelling would work for me. Unfortunately I fou2.5 Stars I have always been haunted by the story of the Titanic so I hope that this historical horror retelling would work for me. Unfortunately I found myself underwhelmed. It was such a slow burning grind and I didn't think it had enough payoff to be worth it....more
2.0 Stars After really enjoying The Spite House last year, I was hopeful I would also enjoy the new book by the same author.
The premise of this one sou2.0 Stars After really enjoying The Spite House last year, I was hopeful I would also enjoy the new book by the same author.
The premise of this one sounded great but I found myself disappointed by the execution. My issue was that I found the character flat and the narrative surprisingly dry. I wanted to love this one, but it left me cold.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
4.0 Stars This was a surprising piece of psychological horror. I found that it started like a very familiar, simple narrative of a sleepwalker. I hones4.0 Stars This was a surprising piece of psychological horror. I found that it started like a very familiar, simple narrative of a sleepwalker. I honestly wasn't expecting much from the simple translated prose. However, this short novel used the chapter structure to create a remarkable experience. I was surprised how unsettling the novel became, creating an atmosphere of dread as it progresses through the pages to the ending.
I would recommend this horror novella to readers looking for a short read that packs a punch.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
4.0 Stars This was a solid entry in this slasher book trilogy. The first book in this series, Camp Slaughter, is still one of the scariest books I’ve r4.0 Stars This was a solid entry in this slasher book trilogy. The first book in this series, Camp Slaughter, is still one of the scariest books I’ve read. That prologue continues to live “rent free” in my head.
Unsurprisingly, this final entry was another bloody action driven slasher. The author is clearly a fan of slasher movies. I like how the author makes nods to the tropes without leaning too heavily into nostalgia for the movie genre. It’s not derivative but, rather, fresh and fun. It’s full of suspense with some gruesome moments. It has characters you will care enough about to worry about your fates.
If you enjoy slasher fiction, I definitely recommend this series but you’ll want to start back at the beginning.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the author....more
4.0 Stars As someone who has a “hit or miss” relationship with Stephen King, I am delighted to say that I loved Cujo. I enjoyed the blend of creepy det4.0 Stars As someone who has a “hit or miss” relationship with Stephen King, I am delighted to say that I loved Cujo. I enjoyed the blend of creepy details and nostalgic references.
I do credit that narrator who gave a performance that was reminiscent of NOS4A2. I understand this book was published first but I could certainly see the comparisons between father and son.
I found this one a bit longer than necessary but overall enjoyed this one. This encourages me to keep reading King....more
3.0 Stars The nature of anthologies means that some stories are stronger than others, which was definitely the case here. I appreciated the opportunity3.0 Stars The nature of anthologies means that some stories are stronger than others, which was definitely the case here. I appreciated the opportunity to experience horror manga from an author besides Junji Ito (who I love but dominates the translated market).
My favourite story was the first called Kamei. In my opinion it had the best creepy story, paired with a pleasing art style. The others stories were more inconsistent, either having weaker plots or weaker artwork or, in some cases, both.
That being said, I hope more of these collections get published in English so I can continue to expand my knowledge of Japanese horror manga authors....more
Once again, Ronald Malfi demonstrates his talent for writing small town horror. So much so, he literally made it the title of this novel.
This just felt familiar and nostalgic. The story is perhaps not the most original but the author handles these familiar plots so seamlessly that I did not mind.
I enjoyed the characters and plotting. This just felt easy and comforting to read. I did not find it the most innovative or scary book, but it didn't need to be those things to enjoy it.
I would recommend this one to fans of this author's work. This is also a good place to start because it is very representative of his work.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
4.0 Stars I enjoyed returning back to this vampiric tale after loving book one, Night’s Edge. That book quickly became a new favourite. I enjoyed this 4.0 Stars I enjoyed returning back to this vampiric tale after loving book one, Night’s Edge. That book quickly became a new favourite. I enjoyed this one as well but it didn’t quite reach the same level of excitement. I think it’s the case where the story felt less fresh and I tend to prefer tight short standalone over long running series. That being said, if another book comes out in this universe, I would happily read it.
I love the author’s prose. The writing is simple yet beautiful. I would read anything this author puts out so I can enjoy their writing again. These books are more slow paced and feel more slice of life. I would primarily recommend this one to read looking for a slower character driven story. If you are interested in this book, I recommend starting back at the beginning with Night’s Edge, which is fantastic.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
4.0 Stars Have you ever finished a book and thought… what the heck did I just read!?! Well I just finished this book and am wondering why I read such me4.0 Stars Have you ever finished a book and thought… what the heck did I just read!?! Well I just finished this book and am wondering why I read such messed up books.
This is such a strange, uneasy read. I can't say I fully understand everything the author was trying to accomplish with this book, but it was certainly a memorable read. I loved the mash up of themes, exploring pregnancy through the lense of a mentally ill Evangelical Christian family. The story was so disturbing and gross, which are huge pluses in my books.
Overall I enjoyed this twisted messed up story. The narrative was a little messy at times but I feel that was an intentional choice. I would recommend this one to readers who share my love for a f*ck up story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Merged review:
4.0 Stars Have you ever finished a book and thought… what the heck did I just read!?! Well I just finished this book and am wondering why I read such messed up books.
This is such a strange, uneasy read. I can't say I fully understand everything the author was trying to accomplish with this book, but it was certainly a memorable read. I loved the mash up of themes, exploring pregnancy through the lense of a mentally ill Evangelical Christian family. The story was so disturbing and gross, which are huge pluses in my books.
Overall I enjoyed this twisted messed up story. The narrative was a little messy at times but I feel that was an intentional choice. I would recommend this one to readers who share my love for a f*ck up story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
Given the premise, I was expecting a different novel. Perhaps my assumptions were unfair but I thought this would be a grittier story.
Instead this one was more an emotional character story. The novel was an easy read but without some "bite". The crimes committed in this novel are dark and perhaps I am a bit discentized but I wanted darker.
It took a while to hook me in but eventually I found myself caring about the copycat and wanted to see the criminal get caught.
I have read a lot of books about the "daughter of a serial killer" and it strangely is becoming a tired trope. I like when it's done well but this was just a safer story and I wanted more. For readers who are newer to this kind of storyline, I imagine the story will feel fresher.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
Christina Henry continues to write enjoyable stories. As a horror fan, it was easy to enjoy the setup of this premise. I wish the story had more of a foreboding tone, but instead made for an easy read.
I found myself disappointed by the ending which just missed the mark in my mind. It was one of those cases, where I read the ending and then had to reread it because it felt like my copy was missing pages. It seemed like the author didn't quite know how she wanted to end the story.
Overall an enjoyable read but not quite as memorable as I would have liked it to be.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
As someone eternally fascinated by kidnapping fiction, this book was made for me. I was immediate drawn into this dark narrative. The story was quite bleak in places and I couldn't look away.
The writing was gripping. The only aspect I didn't love was the non traditional narrative pieces, but that's more of a personal preference.
In many ways, this is more of character study than a traditional horror story. The inclusion of the deaf characters brought an interesting perspective to the narrative.
I really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend to readers looking for a story that is sharp and haunting....more
4.0 Stars I really enjoyed this sharp centric vampire novel dealing with a whole other level of toxic female friendship. The story reminded me a bit of4.0 Stars I really enjoyed this sharp centric vampire novel dealing with a whole other level of toxic female friendship. The story reminded me a bit of First Light by Liz Kerin, but with more narrative drive. I loved both but I would recommend this one to readers who found First Light too slow.
I would recommend this one to readers looking for a modern vampire story with some bite....more
Rachel (TheShadesofOrange)
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