The Caretaker, Marcus Kliewer’s follow up to his debut, We Used to Live Here, is perhaps one of the most highly anticipated horror books of 2026. Of course I grabbed it as soon as I could! And I was not disappointed. Young Macy is struggling financially to support herself and her younger sister. Macy is … Continue reading Review: The Caretaker, by Marcus Kliewer (Atria Books)
Review: She Waits Where Shadows Gather, by Michelle Tang (Poisoned Pen Press)
I really love it when I read a book that has very little fanfare, and it blows me away. This was definitely the case with Michelle Tang’s debut novel, She Waits Where Shadows Gather. Avery and Carlos’s marriage is on the rocks. Avery badly wants a child, whereas narcissistic Carlos cannot deal with having to … Continue reading Review: She Waits Where Shadows Gather, by Michelle Tang (Poisoned Pen Press)
Review: Rabbit Test, by Samantha Mills (Tachyon)
Pretty much every story in Rabbit Test and Other Stories punched me in the feels. In the first part of each story, I was getting the lay of the land, following the path so expertly laid out by Mills. I trusted this writer to lead me, as a reader. And by the end of each … Continue reading Review: Rabbit Test, by Samantha Mills (Tachyon)
Review: The Haunted Houses She Calls Her Own, by Gwendolyn Kiste (RDS Publishing)
It has been so amazing to see Gwendolyn Kiste’s career accelerate over the last few years. My first encounter with her work was her debut collection, And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe, which contains one of my all-time favorite stories, The Man in the Ambry. Her novels are also great, but especially The Haunting … Continue reading Review: The Haunted Houses She Calls Her Own, by Gwendolyn Kiste (RDS Publishing)
Review: Odessa, by Gabrielle Sher (Little, Brown & Company)
Gabrielle Sher has planted her weird fiction flag firmly in the ground, with her folklore-rich debut, Odessa. I had no idea what this book was about before I read it, and I recommend other readers go in with minimal knowledge. There are so many surprises in the narrative; I found myself yelling “oh no!” to … Continue reading Review: Odessa, by Gabrielle Sher (Little, Brown & Company)
Review: Morsel, by Carter Keane (Tor Nightfire)
Hooray for fun horror! In my opinion, novels that are genuinely funny, exciting, and scary are hard to get right. TK Kingfisher nails it pretty much every time. And Carter Keane has come out swinging with this fantastic debut, Morsel. Lou comes from a working-class background, has dragged herself though college, and landed an office … Continue reading Review: Morsel, by Carter Keane (Tor Nightfire)
Review: The Curse of Hester Gardens, by Tamika Thompson
The Curse of Hester Gardens is an incredibly impressive debut from Tamika Thompson. An epic story about gun violence, inherited trauma, and the supernatural. Nona McKinley is fighting an uphill battle. Her eldest son is dead, potentially killed by one of his childhood friends, and her husband is in jail. Nora puts all her energy … Continue reading Review: The Curse of Hester Gardens, by Tamika Thompson
Review: The Witch, by Marie NDiaye, trans. Jordan Stump (Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor)
Lucie is somewhat of a witch. She inherited powers from her mother, but these powers have mostly atrophied. However, she teaches her daughters how to mobilize this gift, and they take to it with a little more enthusiasm and pizzazz. Meanwhile, Lucie’s marriage is falling apart. Her husband is outright disdainful of her, even bringing … Continue reading Review: The Witch, by Marie NDiaye, trans. Jordan Stump (Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor)
Review: The Penguin Book of the International Short Story
The Penguin Book of the International Short Story is a dream tome for anyone who loves short stories, or translated fiction, or both! This anthology contains over 30 “international” stories (in this sense, international means non-US), translated to English from Persian, Swedish, Spanish, Polish, Korean, Chinese; the list goes on. Rabid Alameddine and John Freeman … Continue reading Review: The Penguin Book of the International Short Story
Review: Wolf Worm, by T. Kingfisher (Tor Nightfire)
It’s only early April and this is the second T. Kingfisher book I’ve read this year. It’s always a good time to be a T. Kingfisher fan. Wolf Worm is especially gruesome, and if you have a fear of bugs and creepy crawly things, you should absolutely give this one a miss. Sonia Wilson is … Continue reading Review: Wolf Worm, by T. Kingfisher (Tor Nightfire)
California Reading 