On the surface, Such Pretty Flowers is a standard thriller; Holly is mourning the death of her brother, Dane, and it seems like his eccentric girlfriend, Maura is hiding something. Holly becomes suspicious, begins investigating Maura and Dane’s relationship, and uncovers something shocking. But it is the “something shocking” that sets this novel apart. Maura … Continue reading Review: Such Pretty Flowers, by K.L. Cerra (Random House)
My Week in Reading – March 7th, 2023
March?! Really? I'm not buying it. Anyhoo, here's what I've been up to. I finished The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas, which was obviously amazing and you all knew this. I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Victoria Villareal and Lee Osorio. I'm not a big fan of romance novels, but the romance plot is … Continue reading My Week in Reading – March 7th, 2023
Review: Monstrolio, by Gerardo Sámano Córdova (Zando)
I am a big fan of unconventional tales of parenthood. Raising a child evokes such a range of emotions that, as a mother, I often question what the heck is going on. So weird, supernatural tales about children make complete sense to me. And Monstilio, the debut novel by Gerardo Samano Cordova, is an incredible … Continue reading Review: Monstrolio, by Gerardo Sámano Córdova (Zando)
Review: Our Share of Night, by Mariana Enriquez (tr. Megan McDowell) (Random House)
It’s difficult to sum up this 600+ page novel in a paragraph, but Our Share of Night is about a weird cult called The Order, who participate in grotesque rituals in the pursuit of eternal life. Tied into that is Juan, a kind of decaying demi-god, and his son Gaspar. The Order hopes that when … Continue reading Review: Our Share of Night, by Mariana Enriquez (tr. Megan McDowell) (Random House)
My Week in Reading – Feb. 23rd, 2023
Gah, combo breaker! I was doing so well updating these weekly. But here's my excuse: Nothing major, I just missed a step in my Escher painting house and crumpled. Anyhoo... Mister Magic I did a little squeak of joy when my ARC request was approved for Kiersten White's latest novel. Her previous adult novel, Hide, … Continue reading My Week in Reading – Feb. 23rd, 2023
Review: Lost Places, by Sarah Pinsker (Small Beer Press)
If you’re not already familiar with Sarah Pinkser’s work, then heave yourself out from under that giant rock, and brace yourself. Lost Places is Pinsker’s latest collection of stories, all of which are beautiful in their own way. The collection starts with Two Truths and a Lie, Pinsker’s amazing Nebula and Hugo-winning novelette, about a … Continue reading Review: Lost Places, by Sarah Pinsker (Small Beer Press)
Review: Sister, Maiden, Monster, by Lucy A. Snyder (Tor Nightfire)
No matter how awful your experience of COVID-19 was, in Sister, Maiden, Monster, Lucy A. Snyder goes all out to speculate how it could have been so, so much worse. Sister, Maiden, Monster follows the progress of a deadly pandemic, from the perspective of three different women. Erin, recently engaged to Gregory, is quarantined due … Continue reading Review: Sister, Maiden, Monster, by Lucy A. Snyder (Tor Nightfire)
My Week in Reading – Feb. 14th, 2023
Happy Valentine’s Day! Unfortunately, my husband gave up on buying books for me many years ago, so no exciting gift news to share. Let's get to the good stuff. Episode Thirteen Riding high on the wave of awesomeness that is Grady Hendrix’s How to Sell a Haunted House, I decided to give another male-authored modern horror … Continue reading My Week in Reading – Feb. 14th, 2023
Review: My Men, by Victoria Kielland (Astra House)
If you are looking for a novel about a broken woman going on a murderous rampage, this isn't the book for you. This is a poetic, heartbreaking novel about a woman, Belle, who has endured a brutal act of misogynistic violence, and emigrates from Norway to America to start a new life. Once there, she … Continue reading Review: My Men, by Victoria Kielland (Astra House)
My Week in Reading – Feb. 7th, 2023
How to Sell a Haunted House Oh my sweet lord, this book! Grady Hendrix has written so completely disturbing and hilarious. What a ride! Hendrix really takes the time to establish his characters before launching into all-out mayhem; it's an incredibly well-written novel. There was a moment when I literally screamed "OH NO!" I listened … Continue reading My Week in Reading – Feb. 7th, 2023
California Reading 