Meg

Catriona Ward can write a twisted book for sure.

Eve and her unconventional family are preparing for the end of the world. They live in an estate on a quiet island off the shore of Scotland. When their quiet and remote lives are threatened by a detective investigating a murder things start coming to light that shake their foundation and brings truths to light. And throws other truths into the shadows.

I'm not even sure how to summarize this book so that's my quick take. This gothic horror has the perfect setting to put you right into the story. The story is intriguing, hear breaking, and even hopeful at times and Ward does a wonderful job of really taking you on a journey with these characters. The way the book is laid out between past and present/future and between multiple points of view made the unfolding of the story interesting.

Though I enjoyed the story itself I can't say I enjoyed the whole experience of this book. It took me far longer than expected to read and I found certain parts too drawn out. While the multiple view points and switching between past and future helped the story it also made me confused at times as it wasn't necessarily past and present. It skipped between multiple decades in a non linear way. About mid way through I was ready to put it down and was a 2 star read but because I loved Ward's other book I kept with it which I'm happy I did. The ending really wrapped the story up nice and while I called the ending it was done very well.

With all of that being said, I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, which could have been my issue. If you enjoy historical fiction, gothic horror, and can stomach the TW's than this would be a great read for you.

TW's with possible SPOILERS BELOW:



TW's: cults, religion, child abuse, sexual abuse, pedophilia, starvation, animal abuse, animal death, infant death, abandonment, kidnapping, manipulation, drug use, body horror, blood

This was such an interesting read!

When 5 strangers meet in a cafe and decide to spend Christmas together they end up on a trajectory that intwines their lives. We get to see everything through the perspective of Ro who has a strained relationship with the Christmas season. However, it sets her up to become a horror author.

I know that synopsis seems a bit short, but this is a short book and saying too much more would give too much away in my opinion. The set up of this book is different than I'm used to reading but I very much enjoyed it. It spans a length of times and moves through it pretty quickly. The ending really threw me for a loop and I loved it. That moment the title makes sense is perfect.

I can't say too much as I think going into this as blind as possible is best, but I very much enjoyed the quick read and I highly recommend.

Darcy Coates does it again. Another book where every one of my nerves was on end for a majority of my read. Two of my favorite things about Darcy's book are the readability of them and the great story telling. Gallows Hill is set up where a lot of mystery surrounds most of the beginning of the book and this propelled me forward even though it felt a bit slow. The build up is worth it though as the last half of the book is filled with excitement that will leave your blood pumping. The supporting characters are well formed and really aid the story through along with a strong female MC. There are many things I want to say, but in doing so would give too much away. I think going into this book as blind as possible makes the experience of reading it so perfect.

Overall, this book will rattle your nerves and get your blood pumping while propelling you to the end. The mystery will keep you looking for clues. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC!

This book really got to me - but it was still an excellent slasher novel.

After surviving a town massacre Quinn, Rust, and Cole (the 3) are trying to deal with this new found fame and getting through the year anniversary of the massacre. However, not everyone is ready to put this tragedy behind them and soon the clown masks are back.

First, this is a great slasher book. It has everything you need for a great slasher sequel. The final people are just trying to move on while also completely living in that fight or flight space. The way the group ends up back in a similar predicament is not far fetched at all. Actually the motive behind this book is a lot more believable to me and sadly mirrors parts of society in general (at least in the US). There were times that I wanted to stop reading because my heart hurt knowing there are real people out there that think and act like this. But I managed to get through it and overall enjoyed the read.

Also, I have to add that I think Quinn makes it up there with some of the best final girls. She's a legit badass and honestly makes the book(s) for me.

This is a book of every weird kid's dream. It's refreshing that horror is becoming bigger in middle grade. I come from the generation that only really had Goosebumps and I was obsessed. Unfortunately as my reading level progressed they didn't do much for me but I wasn't quite ready for the adult horror. I would have LOVED having this book as a kid. It pushes the boundaries of middle grade. It's uncomfortable but also one heck of an adventure. But I will say....this is not for the faint of heart. It is creepy and cringey and downright weird. Just what a weirdo like me loves. It's also not dumbed down so it's perfect for kids that have a higher reading level.

I was lucky enough to to be apart of a book club meeting that the author attended. Something he said that made me like the book even more was that he wasn't writing it to have some great lesson bestowed upon the readers but to create a sense of wonder. And I liked that. I liked the idea that there are books out there that's only purpose is to fuel the imaginations of kids. Especially when it comes to horror. And adults like me I guess.

I would recommend this for teens/adults and middle grade kids that really enjoy some weird stuff and have a good stomach.

Grady Hendrix can write a strange and entertaining book.

After Louise's parents die in a car accident she comes home to her childhood house to make arrangements. On top of having to bury her parents she has to navigate her strained relationship with her brother, Mark. Worse of all, though, she has to handle the house that is filled to the brim with dolls and puppets her mom made that always gave both Louise and Mark a bad feeling.

First, I want to say that I love Grady Hendrix's writing. His stories are always incredibly entertaining and filled with comedic moments within the horror. My favorite aspect of this book is the terrible family dynamic and how it centers around Louise and Mark, but you slowly get to see how the rest of the family fits into it. It's heartbreaking and maddening at the same time.

This book was a rollercoaster of not wanting to put it down to then not wanting to pick it up and, sadly, it fell flat for me. The biggest thing that I disliked was that I felt like there were too many moments in the book that I felt like gave too much detail that just wasn't needed. I was keeping an open mind thinking that it would come around and tie-in throughout the book but it never did. It was just setting up the characters which could have been done with less in my opinion. I also just didn't vibe with horror parts of the story until the very end which redeemed a lot of it for me. Though that is definitely more of a personal view and I can see how many people would find this book terrifying.

Overall, it has a good backbone to the story and ended well but the pacing and good chunk of the basis of the story didn't do it for me.

The second book in the Indian Lake Trilogy did not disappoint. In fact, I think I enjoyed this read better than the first.

Jade Daniels, now going by Jennifer, returns to Proofrock after spending the past 4 years in prison due to the infamous events that people call the 4th of July massacre. Right when she returns, a convicted serial kill named Dark Mill South escapes his prison transfer convoy right near Proofrock during an intense blizzard. Jade (or Jennifer) is thrown right back into the world of slashers and will have to use her vast knowledge of horror movies that she's tried to forget to save her and the others in this town. But as before, Proofrock and Indian Lake are never quite what they seem.

First, I want to say that if you are a fan of horror movies, especially slashers, at the very least you'll appreciate the vast knowledge Stephen Graham Jones includes in this series. It's a dream for horror aficionados - I even wrote quite a view titles down that I wasn't familiar with.

While I enjoyed the first book, it was exhausting being inside Jade's head the whole time. Sometimes it was hard figuring out what was fact and what was just in Jade's head. I very much enjoyed how this book jumped between narrators. While it may seem confusing (and could be at times) I felt like I had a better understanding of what was going on. It also really allowed me to get a sense of just how impactful the Lake Killings of 4 years prior were to the town and people in it as a whole. The amount of characters are a lot, however, each one serves an important purpose and helped the many moving parts of this book to come together. This book also solidified my love for both Jade and Letha.

Overall, I highly recommend this horror series. To fully appreciate Don't Fear the Reaper I recommend reading the first book My Heart is a Chainsaw first.

As someone who has a fear of water and who loves a good fright I was ecstatic to read this one. From the very beginning I was gripped by anyone that wants to dive 300 ft under the sea. Once you get the mysterious sinking of a ship nearly 100 years ago, and the promise of some spooky things happening that only Darcy Coates can do, I was smitten from the first chapter.

This book switches between time periods; present day and the final days of the Arcadia's voyage. This did great in building the mystery. And let's just say it did a great job of also building the weird. During the present day you get the perspective from multiple people but there's no rhyme or reason on who you're going to get or when. This made how the story unfolded gripping and kept the mysterious aspect of it. In the past tense you see it from mostly one perspective but get another perspective occasionally. I think this allowed for an already hectic and confusing plot to stay within the realm of understanding.

The plot was a slow burn in my opinion. There were times that I just wanted to skip chapters to get to the juicy parts but those chapters were important to the overall story. And I love Darcy Coates' writing style that I never felt bored reading necessarily. Just impatient. Once the action started happening it happened. Sitting in my bed reading before going to sleep I'd catch myself holding my breath, tensing my muscles, breathing heavy, and even a bit of sea sickness. There were so many parts that I could just FEEL what was being described. Sometimes I'd feel like I can finally relax only for the next heart palpitating scenario to unfold. This lead me to read way past my bedtime but it was worth it.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. It has the action and thrill with the creepy elements that Darcy is known for.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is so easy to read. It kept me flipping through the pages.

Mallory Quinn has had a rough go of it. Fresh from a halfway house she finds a job as a babysitter/nanny for the summer for the Maxwells. She gets to live on the property in the family's small but cute cottage as well as spend time with their son, Teddy, who she immediately takes to. She loves it! It doesn't take long for things to start taking a dark turn. Teddy loves to draw but as each day passes Teddy starts to draw more and more sinister things that are definitely not drawings that a novice could do, let alone a 5 year old. Soon Mallory believes a ghost is using Teddy to communicate and she is determined to solve the murder mystery.

I very much enjoyed this book. There's a bit of unreliable narrator which keeps you on edge of wondering what exactly is going on which then keeps you turning the pages. All of the characters are so well done and the twist at the end had me shocked. The artwork that is included in the book adds the perfect touch. If you can get the physical book I highly recommend as it adds so much to the story because the details of the drawings are wonderful on page.

This is my first Jennifer Hillier book and I can see why people rave about her books. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story unfolds between multiple POV's and two timelines which I loved. It made the unfolding of the story more interesting and gave you insights that wouldn't have been the same from a single POV and timeline.

Even though most thrillers are filled with unlikeable or unreliable characters, I actually liked all of the characters in this book. Well, that's a lie....a few I loathed, but that was the point. The subject matter is heavy and there's some serious TW, but it was approached well. There are also a few different reveals and twists throughout, which I thought were predictable but still entertaining.

Overall, I enjoyed this and it was a quick read. I look forward to reading more from Jennifer Hillier.

As a fan of horror movies, tv, books, etc. this book called to me. It's fascinating to not only see that there are people out there like you, but to see the studies and science behind your favorite genre.

Nina Nesseth is a lover of horror and sets out in her book to give some science behind some aspects of the intriguing genre. From what makes horror so appealing (or unappealing) to the ways society has influenced horror over the decades this book brings some great science, history, interviews, personal anecdotes, and more.

While some of the science was over my head I really enjoyed this book. You can tell Nesseth is a lover of the genre and I related to her on that level. I learned a lot about this weird, polarizing, and wonderful genre (and all of the many subgenres). While this is going to make you think, it's also not a difficult or dense read. And also it has enough movies listed throughout the pages to keep you Watch List packed for a while!

This was by no means a feel good book, however, I ended up feeling so tenderly for Sally. She's the focus of the book as she addresses her sister before, during, and after her death. We get to grow up with Sally and learn all of the intricacies of dealing with loss and grief and the guilt and shame that go along with that. We also get a glimpse of the people that surround her, her family, friends, and people in her neighborhood and school.

There's also this forbidden love feel to it with Sally and her sister's boyfriend throughout Sally's life; from childhood into adulthood. To watch it play out over years is both cringey (for lack of a better word) and heartbreaking. I was cheering them on but also felt a bit weird about it. The writing of this book was beautiful. I listened to it through audio, and while I thought the narrator did a very good job, I wish I could have read it in print.

Overall the story and writing was beautiful. There were a few parts that I felt rather bored, but I think that was due to me listening to the audio book and only able to go at the pace it went. I think reading it I could have flown through it.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio.

I'm a big fan of Simone St. James books. They all have a bit of a true crime feel and a lot of haunted, paranormal vibes. This one was a bit different. The true crime element was much more prevalent and the paranormal aspect was more of a footnote than the main theme.

St. James does an amazing job at making female characters that are just the right amount of likable and tenacious, but I feel like she really outdid herself with Shea. I am a fan of true crime. I listen to the podcasts, read the books, and watch the documentaries. One thing that has always intrigued me are the people behind those podcasts, books, and documentaries. To go through the history of these people to create a story that is accurate and entertaining takes a special kind of person. Though, I have the interest and I believe the discipline, I don't know if I would have the stamina. This book was perfect, though fictional, for me to see what it's like to be someone that hunts for the answers of these cold cases. And not only are the MC's likable and complicated but the “villains” of the story usually are as well. There's always a loop or something that gives them multiple shades of grey instead of just black and white.

While most thrillers wait until close to the end to give you the big reveal this book reveals it in the middle of the book. While it does take away that need to read every page to get to the truth, I think it fit with this book. The big reveal in the middle of the book allowed for the story to take shape and allow no stone to be unturned. When you were finished with the book you had all of the answers and understood the motives. And it helped to understand how something that happened 40 years ago can be brought to the light today.

As I said before the paranormal/ haunting aspects of this book are light and more of a footnote but its done well. It starts right in the beginning that sets the tone of eeriness of the whole plot. It aids the unfolding of the story and the big reveals and helps explain a lot of motive. And makes the revelations of motive so much better.

I would highly recommend this book. If you are a fan of true crime this would be a great read for you. If you have read St. James previous work I would go in expecting some similarities to her previous work but also to keep an open mind.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for giving me an ARC for a fair and honest review.

Full review to come.

I think Novellas are becoming some of my favorite books. The synopsis sums of this book quite nicely.

This is a fast paced novella that will give you the creeps. It's suspenseful and keeps you turning the pages until suddenly it's ended. But don't think you're left hanging. Sometimes novellas can leave you wanting more because they're so short, but Jeremy Ray does a great job of writing a full fledged novella with all the details you could hope for. The FMC is lovable and you can't help feeling for her. It also covers topics of sexual assault and PTSD while making it seem clique or appropriating those topics for a story line. The author's note is also very important to understanding this. Also I'm always there for women helping women....which you'll have to read the whole thing to understand.

Definitely recommend!

Darcy Coates has done it again. The second book in the Gravekeeper series did not disappoint. The first book left us with some questions and the second gave some answers....and more questions. I love the pacing of these books. It is quick moving without feeling rushed. Keira regularly evolves. She has very little reason to be as compassionate as she is, but yet she continues to make decisions based on her need to help others. This book picks up right where the last one finishes and shows Keira learning more about her background, her gifts, and how to allow others to help her and be a friend. The town and the people in it are quaint and adds the perfect backdrop to the mystery that is Keira.

I would highly recommend this book! With every Darcy Coates book I read I fall more in love with her writing. This series is one I'm going to relish however many books come out.

Do you believe in ghosts? Do you NOT believe in ghosts? Are you interested in the intrigue around ghosts? Well, this book is for you. I will begin by saying that I do believe in ghosts but am also a huge skeptic. I believe in basically everything paranormal, cryptids, aliens, and the rest. However, if you were to provide me with proof, I would consistently try to poke holes in it and not believe. I LOVE watching ghost hunting shows, but also think they are mostly full of shit. So, this book was for me.
This book will take you through the history books that we did not learn in school. From ancient civilizations, to seances of the 20's, to today's said ghost hunting shows. It covers the stories, the technology, the intrigue, and the debunks. At the end, I was a bit disappointed with how much was explained. I like the wonderment of such things, however, there was just enough still unexplained that I wasn't too disappointed. The book is written very well and was easy to fly through. There are some amazing pictures, so I recommend a hard copy. I am now a Marc Hartzman fan and will be reading some of his other works.

They have done it again. The Wife Between Us is hands down one of my favorite thrillers. Every book that this duo comes out with I have read and enjoyed. This was no different.

The characters in this book are interesting and in my opinion, likable. However, you never really know if you're seeing the real person behind the character. And I went in prepared for this because 1. I know how this author duo rolls, and 2. I tend to always be skeptical of characters in thrillers. One of the main reasons I think I enjoyed this one so much is that I was obsessed with learning more about these characters. I had my suspicions (which turned out that I was spot on) but never knew for sure what was going on with certain characters.

Overall I devoured this book. I love the writing styler of these two. I could hate the story and still buzz through because of the writing. But in this case the story is great. In my opinion it was predictable, but I still was on the edge of my seat for the whole book. Highly recommend.

If you like paranormal thrillers set in a remote location, this will be the book for you. I was intrigued from the beginning of getting to know the MC's Tieg and Prentiss. Being a big fan of paranormal investigator shows and the like, I was excited to learn that that was the background these men had. And their goal in being in this remote part of the world was to create the next best show. So, I was a fan of the characters right away. The excitement in the plot really started right from page one. I could really feel what they were feeling being in this super cold, remote area in Siberia.

That's the next thing...it is cold. At first, I found the descriptions of the cold endearing and helpful. I can barely imagine, but I felt like this was the best I'd ever be able to get close to imagining. However, as the book goes on there is no way that you can forget it's cold. It's mentioned so regularly by every single character, multiple times. It went past proving the point to being a bit grating. However, this was only mildly annoying. I would quickly lose the annoyance of it when gripped with the issues that these characters end up facing. And those problems surmount as the book goes on.

Overall, I find this book to be exciting and unique. I enjoyed the writing style. There were times it did drag and felt repetitive, but overall a good book. The one thing that I think would have made this book so much better for me is if we got a bit more information on a big character/plot point. However, I don't feel like it was very necessary to elaborate on it for the story to be a good one.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC for a fair and honest review.

Ghost hunting is my jam. Well, not the actual ghost hunting, but the watching of the people ghost hunting. So this book with a group of ghost hunters was of course on my list (and the cover is amazing). I very much enjoyed this read. It was quick and easy and you could definitely tell it was a YA, but it did have some intense moments.

First, this group of characters are very lovable. Each person is unique yet they formed this friendship surrounding their hobby of ghost hunting. Each person is involved for different reasons and has a different view on it. As a watcher of ghost hunters, I enjoy when teams have a vary of different personalities, backgrounds, and beliefs/skeptics. I would definitely watched these guys YouTube channel.

There are some pretty exciting parts in this story. Overall, a lot is predictable and there are a few cringey moments considering it's a story following high schoolers. But I very much enjoyed it.

I'll premise this review with the fact that I LOVED Rachel Harrison's book The Return. It was the perfect spooky book. There was some gore, and mystery, and horror! As soon as I was finished I saw that she was releasing another book, Cackle, and I immediately added it to my TBR. Once I saw it on Netgalley I requested it. And waited. And waited. And FINALLY got the email that I was approved. In the meantime, I had read other reviews about how different this was from Harrison's previous novel. I try to never read reviews of books I have yet to read because I don't like being biased. However, I was happy I saw this because it allowed me to go into this book with the correct headspace. Instead of expecting the level of creep and grossness that The Return gave me, I went in just hoping for a good witch book AND I GOT IT!

This book is so fun. It really stays on the lighter side which was a nice break from the endless list of heavy, horror filled books I've been reading lately. It highlights friendship, sisterhood, and the reality that we are strong and capable alone, just as we are (maybe even more) in a relationship. It really gave me some girl power feels - and a strong feeling of self worth and capability. And gave me a strong dose of witchyness! This is perfect for the fall/spooky season. It made me want to grab my closes witch sister, head to the farmers market, then back to one of our houses to bake. I suggest grabbing a nice bottle of wine, finding a cozy spot with a comfy blanket, and settling in for a heartwarming book.

I suggest this to all fiction lovers. There's a bit of something for everyone. If you're looking for a dark and twisty tale, though, I'd go elsewhere (maybe try The Return).

*Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What. A. Wild. Ride. This book was such a surprise to me. While reading thrillers/horror as regularly as I do, I'm not always super shocked by the big twist. However, this one had me. This one will have you wondering what is going on and then when you get to the twist, there's more following.

I started this book all kinds of confused. I had read a few vague reviews and of course the blurb and my brain immediately tried to make sense of what was going on and what the “secrets” were. I have a bad tendency to try to learn the twists as soon as I start reading the first page. I think this added to my confusion. After getting a ways through the first half I finally decided to stop trying and to just embrace the story. I think that is when I started to truly enjoy it. The way the characters are woven together and each have their own story that adds to twists throughout the book was so beautifully done. It's hard to not have empathy for all of the characters, including the ones that are the “bad” characters. I thought this book had a lot of heart and did a great job at addressing the different ways trauma and pain can manifest. It's not something you see put out there that often. I listened to this on audio and thought the narrators did a great job.

Thank you Netgalley and

RIGHT. OUT. THE. GATE! This book had me creeped out after the first page. There isn't the false sense of comfort that some books put you into until the big reveal, that we all know is coming, that there is something more sinister happening. You know right from the beginning, this is going to be a ride. And a ride it was.

I just learned of Darcy Coates. I know what you're thinking; How are you a horror fan but have never heard of Darcy Coates? Well, I blame the fact that for the longest time I had no other horror read fans around me and I was occasionally finding things that I'd reach and ultimately be disappointed. Then I found my people. I found the people that love everything horror and have done the work and have recommended the greats. Now, I believe, I will never be lost and without a good, scary book ever again. Now....to the review.

With this being the first Darcy Coates book I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I had high expectations that I was going to love it due to the amount of people who have recommended her and the amazing reviews I've read from like minded reviewers. And this book did not disappoint. I went through the first half of the book thinking something was off. There was just something that I couldn't put my finger on. And then the reveal happens and it makes so much sense. It was easy to shift gears and view the story from a different perspective then. But then you realize the story is still off and you're trying to put together what is going on. And when you FINALLY learn all there is to know, and you are not disappointed. It's a ride. The characters are great, the story is GREAT, and the setting of this home that has become a living thing (another character basically) to me is spectacular. The story is also touching and has a lot of heart.

I highly recommend those who love a good ghost story!

*Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing a eARC for an honest review.

The next book in the Thirteens series starts with three friends, Eleanor, Otto, and Pip, anxiously waiting to see what Mr. January's sisters have in store for them. Soon they start realizing people are disappearing and there's a monster lurking around. Soon they are living in a real life fairy tale and are fighting for not only the town, but their families.

I enjoyed this one even more than the first one in parts. It seems that the stakes are higher, but this group has proven that they aren't easy to beat. With some characters being introduced and a chance for the grown ups to join the fold (even if they don't realize it) it made the story just hopeful enough, even when things are looking a bit dim for them. I can't wait to read the third book to see what happens to this group and this town.

4.75 stars
This was just a good story. I think a lot of books that I tend to read are very dark or very deep and this was like a breath of fresh air. Don't get me wrong, this book had its heartache and flawed characters. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if there wasn't. However, it wasn't hard to read. You got to learn about all of the different characters and how they were interconnected through an ongoing timeline. A week or a couple months could have gone by between one person's story and the next. And each one gave you a brief glimpse into some of the other characters stories. I very much enjoyed the writing style as well.
Overall, it was a quiet book that showed the things that people struggle with daily and how the ways people struggle are all different. What you see or perceive of others is not always the way they feel or perceive themselves. For that sake, I gave it more stars than I would otherwise. The pain, joy, love, friendships, romances, and everything in between that all of us have throughout our days and life were covered in a muted way. There wasn't a lot of drama, or characters that you couldn't love or that you loved too much and were too perfect. It was just a nice, muted story of humanity, in my opinion. Very much enjoyed.