The small town of Cinderwich has a secret. Many years ago, a dead woman was found in a tree. Although there was no noose to suggest a hanging; it seemed like she was just placed there. And, if the recurring, mysterious graffiti is to be believed, the woman was called Ellen. This incident sparks the … Continue reading Review: Cinderwich, by Cherie Priest (Apex Book Company)
Review: Woodworm, by Layla Martinez, translated by Sophie Hughes and Annie McDermott (Two Lines Press)
I like to think I read quite widely, but in all honesty, most of my favorite books contain one, if not all, of the following:- A young woman coming of age- A haunted house- A general sense of unease- Witchcraft-fueled revenge on awful people (mostly men) Wormwood, the astonishing debut from Layla Martinez (translated to … Continue reading Review: Woodworm, by Layla Martinez, translated by Sophie Hughes and Annie McDermott (Two Lines Press)
Review: Supplication, by Nour Abi-Nakhoul (Strange Light)
Brace yourself, readers! Supplication is an intense, nightmare journey, following our unnamed narrator from one bizarre situation to the next. We join her as she wakes up tied to a chair, but her escape is just the beginning of her troubles. This book is relentless. There is no relief in the myriad of disturbing things … Continue reading Review: Supplication, by Nour Abi-Nakhoul (Strange Light)
Review: Bird Suit, by Sydney Hegel (Invisible Publishing)
There is an understanding in Port Peter, that if someone abandons their baby to the bird women who live on the cliffs, that baby will be cared for. But there are exceptions, like Georgia. Now in her early twenties, Georgia’s life is complicated. She’s in a strange three-way relationship with priest Arlo and his wife, … Continue reading Review: Bird Suit, by Sydney Hegel (Invisible Publishing)
Review: Bad Dreams in the Night, by Adam Ellis (Andrews McMeel Publishing)
I love Adam Ellis’ work. Not only do his online comics always look incredibly sleek, his work is always original and absolutely terrifying. Bad Dreams in the Night (fantastic title) is filled with some brand new stories to give you the creeps. Here are my favorites: Me and Evangeline at the Farm - A great … Continue reading Review: Bad Dreams in the Night, by Adam Ellis (Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Review: Myrrh, by Polly Hall (Titan Books)
Myrrh consists of three interwoven narratives, each intriguing in their own right. The titular Myrrh is trying to track down her birth father, who abandoned her mother shortly after impregnating her. She is also dealing with a goblin who lives inside her head. Marian is the wife of the aforementioned absent father, reflecting on this … Continue reading Review: Myrrh, by Polly Hall (Titan Books)
Review: A Better World, by Sarah Langan (Atria)
A new Sarah Langan book is an instant read for me, sorry TBR pile! Langan showed she is a master of domestic horror in her 2021 novel, Good Neighbors, and things get even more terrifying in her new book, A Better World. The planet is going to the dogs. Resources are scarce, and the air … Continue reading Review: A Better World, by Sarah Langan (Atria)
My Week in Reading, April 8th, 2024
What I’m Reading I finished Diavola, by Jennifer Thorne, which I loved. Her previous novel, Lute, is one of my recent favorites, and Diavola now joins that list. A family vacation in Italy goes incredibly wrong. I listened to the audiobook of The Purple Diaries, by Joseph Egan, which came highly recommended by a bookish … Continue reading My Week in Reading, April 8th, 2024
Review: A Different Sound – Stories by Mid-Century Women Writers, edited by Lucy Scholes (Pushkin Press)
Lucy Scholes does so much work to bring “forgotten” female writers into public consciousness. I am particularly thankful to her for ensuring the republishing of Kay Dick’s unnerving novel, They. With A Different Sound, Scholes has put together a fantastic primer for those interested in discovering some underrated women storytellers. The collection opens with The … Continue reading Review: A Different Sound – Stories by Mid-Century Women Writers, edited by Lucy Scholes (Pushkin Press)
Review: Tender, by Beth Hetland (Fantagraphics)
Oh man, this was a really tough read. Beth Hetland’s debut graphic novel is about the negative effects of social media, and how trying to “keep up” with societal expectations can prove to be our undoing. Carolann wants the kind of perfect life that she sees on Instagram. With no immediate romantic prospects, she engineers … Continue reading Review: Tender, by Beth Hetland (Fantagraphics)
California Reading 