Chrysalis is split into three sections, in which we learn about an unnamed woman from the perspective of her mother, her colleague, and a potential lover. Through their eyes, we learn about her journey from isolated childhood to unconventional social media guru. I love how the story unraveled; there are no “twists” in this Chrysalis, … Continue reading Review: Chrysalis, by Anna Metcalfe (Random House)
Review: Hazardous Spirits, by Anbara Salam (Tin House)
Another cracking “something’s not quite right” novel for 2023. Set in 1920s Edinburgh, Evelyn’s husband, Robert, has decided he can talk to the dead, and pivots from a career in accountancy to become a spiritualist medium. Evelyn and Robert become society darlings, but Evelyn is shunned by her family due to them being embarrassed by … Continue reading Review: Hazardous Spirits, by Anbara Salam (Tin House)
Review: Thornhedge, by T. Kingfisher (Tor)
Whoops! I finished this audiobook in a day, completely by accident. Once I entered Toadling’s world, I couldn’t leave. And after such a short time with her, I am now bereft. T. Kingfisher nails it again with her latest novella, Thornhedge. Toadling guards a tower, the contents of which are not immediately apparent. She stands … Continue reading Review: Thornhedge, by T. Kingfisher (Tor)
Review: Lone Women, by Victor LaValle (One World)
Which Victor LaValle book did you read first? Mine was The Changeling. Brutal, devastating, ambitious, and incredibly weird. It made me reassess what a literary horror novel could be. I'm excited for the TV adaptation. So of course, as soon as I had the opportunity to read LaValle’s latest book, Lone Women, I dived right … Continue reading Review: Lone Women, by Victor LaValle (One World)
Review: White Cat, Black Dog: Stories, by Kelly Link (Random House)
This is a review from 2022, that I forgot to publish! My views are still the same! For me, a new Kelly Link collection is an event. When White Cat, Black Dog hit my inbox, I gasped so loud that my husband thought we’d won the lottery. Which I kinda did (thanks, Random House!). White … Continue reading Review: White Cat, Black Dog: Stories, by Kelly Link (Random House)
Review: Good Girls Don’t Die, by Christina Henry (Berkley)
When the ARC approval for Good Girls Don’t Die hit my inbox, I put my hands in the air and exclaimed “holy shit” to my mildly terrified husband. To me, a new Christina Henry book is an event. Henry wrote two of my favorite books of the past few years (Lost Boy, and Near the … Continue reading Review: Good Girls Don’t Die, by Christina Henry (Berkley)
Exciting Books for 2022
Happy New Year! Please join me in ignoring all of the nonsense, and allow me to recommend some books for your 2022 reading pleasure. The Ones I've Already Read The Fell, by Sarah Moss (FSG) - March 2022 This is already out in Moss's native UK, but here in the US we have to hang … Continue reading Exciting Books for 2022
Review – All the White Spaces, by Ally Wilkes (Atria/Emily Bestler Books)
No spoilers, only that I really bloody loved this book. There is something innately terrifying about ice and snow. The unpredictable nature of sub-zero elements is not something I have a desire to experience. However, these circumstances can make for some cracking horror novels, such as Ally Wilkes’ brilliant debut, All The White Spaces. Jonathan … Continue reading Review – All the White Spaces, by Ally Wilkes (Atria/Emily Bestler Books)
Review – The Pastor, by Hanne Orstavik, translated by Martin Aitken (Archipelago Books)
It is only when I read a novel with a structure dissimilar to my usual favorites, that I realize how I am missing out on so many non-English-speaking authors. Hanne Ørstavik has been on my radar for quite some time, as her 1997 novel Love (translated into English into 2018) got quite a lot of … Continue reading Review – The Pastor, by Hanne Orstavik, translated by Martin Aitken (Archipelago Books)
“It rubs the lotion on its skin…”
WARNING: This post contains teeny-weeny plot details for The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, and Near the Bone by Christina Henry. I didn’t mean to read two books with themes of abduction and abuse back-to-back, but I did. Here are my highly scientific findings: I finally read The Last House on Needless … Continue reading “It rubs the lotion on its skin…”
California Reading 