Lori

I had picked up the authors other book Dead Silence and really enjoyed it. So, when I found out they had another book, I placed a hold as soon as I could. But this book is so different that I had to check it was the same author. Gone was the chilling atmosphere and the plot that kept you engaged.

This book was instead more focused on the characters mental well being. Which could have made for a great phycological thriller. But not this. I hated the characters and there was not much of a story in the background. There were a few parts that I had gotten caught up in that went no where.

The main character was not good. She didn’t even seem to be good at her own job and I can see why the others didn’t trust her. Was she really the person to send on this mission. There was a romance subplot that I kept saying no to.

This could have been better and based on the other story by this author it should have been. I am still going to want to read the author's next book, because the first was so good.

I picked this book up due to a reading challenge and just couldn’t put it down. I loved how each section of the book was focused so you are not jumping around through multiple ideas at once. Most sections dealt with the story of one girl with her friends, family, and co-gymnasts/figure skaters to help speak where they couldn’t.

This book at times felt scarier than some of the horror novels I was reading. It was an interesting read and the author mixes stories, interviews, and discussions to give you a good understanding of what’s happening.

I would love to read a more updated book to see what’s hopefully changed in these sports. There are some sections and stories that I just can’t stop thinking about. It maybe an older book but it is worth the read.

This is a romance book with out romance. The two leads develop a good friendship but not really a relationship. The was no build up to the romance. They are friends up to the point they kiss then they are just sort of together. Then parents as the secondary romance plot wasn’t great either since the focus was split. Both couples felt rushed and are together just because.

The women are too excited to be step siblings which just felt weird. Then they give up easily and somehow the last, last attempt just works out.

The friendship of the main leads was nice but I wish there was more longing, tension, or something else besides platonic friendship between the two. I wouldn’t know they are interested in each other with out the author just telling me they are.

I was just looking for a book that features a POC that experiences joy and not trauma for a reading challenge. I was recommended this book. Over all it is nicely drawn and was interesting to read but found that I didn’t agree with how somethings were treated.

One character has depression and is told not to take their medication by their friend who was earlier shown smoking. Then her depression is glossed over. Another character has someone interested in her but she brushes them off like not right now but then hooks up with someone famous just because. One girl has a stalker that shows up at her show then leaves once confronted by her friends and it’s left at that.

The book leaves so much unfinished. I can understand that this is supposed to be just a glimpse in the life but each storyline brought up to much issues and left it there. The stories didn’t feel in tone with what I thought was the vibe of the book.

This is not what I thought it would be. When I read the description I thought it would be a great slasher novel. Its not quite that. It was more of a rambling narrator for most of the book before a body count finally starts to build.

At first this book opened well with great atmosphere and felt like it was building up to the start of a good slashing novel. I like the main character at first but then it just went on. You get to hear her internal monolog about her encyclopedic knowledge of slasher flics. This was interesting at first but it never stopped. Not much happened in the story during this. As you trudge on you start to get annoyed with her. Just get on with the slashing.

There is mention of trauma and the story focuses mainly on the main characters terrible home life and its affect on her mental well being. This when on for so long that I thought the book was just going to stay that this was all in her head and she’s actually really messed up and needs help. Which the book sort of did.

Finally we get to the horror/slashing stage at about the last third of the book. As the body count builds up there is more questions of who is doing this and how are they doing it. Its not worth finding out. It was actually a little disappointing but I won’t ruin this for every one else. The major trauma event in the main characters life is finally laid out and she gets a sort of revenge.

This book didn’t really seem to address anything. It just wasn’t enough for me. I kept wanting more from the each part of the book. But this is not to say it’s an absolutely terrible book. The writing style is good and easily sucks you in. There are parts of the book with actual horror elements and the author nails these sections. It felt like it could have been a better book and that the author had the ability to do it.

I did place a hold on the next book of this series. I am not ready to give up on this. I might hate myself later but I hope it will work out.

Is this the best romance you will read? No. Is this a scathing satire ripping apart the whole genre? No. Will this be a fun read? Yes.

This was so fun to read. Its not a deep or inspiring romance novel. It’s for people who love to watch and make fun of hallmark films. Cheesy romances are my guilty pleasure, from the bad acting, over the top plots, to the questionable choices. This book is all of that in book form.

The choices are funny and some choices I just wanted to see where they went, and it was worth it. I laughed, snickered, and just enjoyed myself while reading.

My Favorite quote: “Without you, I am like a piece of generic Scotch tape and two pieces of literally anything: Barely holding it together.”

This book was good. It’s as simple as that. I read another horror anthology last year by BIPOC authors but found the stories to not be that horror focused and was worried this would be a repeat. I am so happy I read this! I enjoyed most of the stories but the ones I genuinely enjoyed and kept thinking about was:

• Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller
• White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse
• Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline
• Snakes Are Born in the Dark by D. H. Trujillo
• Before I Go by Norris Black
• Behind Colin’s Eyes by Shane Hawk
• Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp
• The Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
• The Prepper by Morgan Talty
• Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
• Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala
• Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice

This is not to say the rest are not worth reading. There are some great standouts in this collection that made me search for and place holds on these authors other books. Mostly from the stories above but also from other stories in the book. Other authors I look at were Marcie R. Rendon, Nick Medina, Tiffany Morris, and Mona Susan Power.

Most of the stories are actually horror focused but there are a few that focus more on the trauma of Indigenous people which in a way is a horror story. If you have already read this then you will notice that most of the stories, I liked above have a little body horror in it but that is not what makes them so good. There is an atmosphere to these stories that just embodies dark and dangerous.

I would recommend this book to others, and it will definitely be a re-read for me.