C. J. Daley

A huge thanks to Scholastic/Chicken House for sending over a physical ARC. I said yes for the cover alone, look at its glory! Luckily the writing doesn’t disappoint either.

Faye Fitzgerald did something awful. She knows it, but she can’t seem to remember it. A dark and stormy night, the hole in the garden wall, and an incident that damaged an incredibly old yew tree, and her aunt! Faye was always a bit of an outsider, never wanting to stay in school, preferring to sit in the trees and read. So why would she have caused one damage? Her father can hardly stand to look at her, her aunt is bedridden, and this was the last straw. Sent away to a boarding school for troubled children on a remote island, Faye must struggle through mistreatment, misremembering, and more, all while the call of the forest is within nightly reach.

I really enjoyed the setting for this. The island is almost a character itself, the author allowing you to explore and map it out at the same time Faye does. Its placement in the 1930s allowed for some style in the writing, including some terms that have become dated otherwise, that actually raised this somewhat outside of the realm of middle grade or young adult. If possible, it lands somewhere as an elevated version of the two in a gothic mystery with elegant prose. I was hooked, the pages flowing, and I simply had to continue reading.

Faye is a great character. Referred to as “wicked” by the school’s owners, she constantly battles with that assessment, bearing her innocence, kindness, and love for others and nature to the world. She’s not some wicked thing, just a girl, a child, nothing more or less. Or, is she? The hints at magical realism, at the fantastical or supernatural, were plot points that had me so eager to read more to gain answers. Faye’s father, the botanist, the believer in faeries, the lover of trees and their eternal roots. That same love borne to Faye, that ache in her belly to be with nature. She is both intriguing as something possibly other, and as just a sweet girl in need of the right attention and love. To be nurtured within nature. You really can easily find yourself caring for her. Rooting for her.

Her friends on the island, which are made in secret or in shared trauma, Boudicca and Prince Filiberto, are both a great level of comic relief. I’m not certain the story itself needed levity, or that I expected it, but I was surely glad for it when it happened. Both bodacious, one is loud and proud, the other protective and dramatic. I thoroughly enjoyed them both. One of them refuses to submit, to bow down, the other, a survivor, manages to persist like something (less creepy though) from The Boy. Most importantly, they both accept, believe, and help Faye.

For me, the way the author manages to wrap everything up is what solidified it as a 5/5 read. The mystery is intriguing, but I had a few things pegged from the start—though this made it no less enjoyable. It was in how she took readers through to the end that sold it all for me. The emotional pull, the gut-punch of everything that’s been building, is very deftly handled. I got teary for sure. I felt for Faye, believed in her and her journey, so the ending was a grand slam. The relationships are so important to this story, and each of them were wrapped in a way that felt like a cozy blanket (albeit slightly emotionally barbed at first).

I think this would be the perfect read for kids that are fans of mystery or thriller, but also perhaps for those big-time young readers that want something with a tad more skill and weight to it. I will definitely be on the lookout for this author now!

I love the cover for this one, and I’m all for the found footage vibes, so I’ve been meaning to get to this one for far too long. I’ve read Hide by the author, which I did enjoy, but it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. MM on the other hand, was right up my alley. The narration by Rebecca Lowman was fantastic, perfectly embodying the hidden strength beneath Val’s memory losses.

Mister Magic, the beloved adult lead on the now impossible to find children’s show, has been missing since the 90s. The show met an abrupt end, and just like that, it was all gone. While many of the world’s children remember, even still scouring forums and late night chats hoping for info, Val knows nothing of it. She may remember nursery rhymes and little idioms, but for the most part her childhood is a veil. Living out the better part of the last 30 years working on a ranch, the death of her father closes one door in her life, but opens others in a multitude of ways. Cast members from the show make an appearance at the funeral, bringing up memories of their past, and even a proposition. A new podcast, aiming to bring the cast back together, is the first glimmer of hope people have found in all the years since the show’s ending … but what’s the catch?

Wow. I mean, this had me hooked from like the first sentence. Partly due to the narrator performance, but also the way it was structured. The opening hints something at least semi-sinister, then you jump right into Val at her day job, then Val losing her father. I particularly loved how chapters would end with a switch in focus, giving the reader more of the lore of Mister Magic through email threads, reddit forums, and online articles. The author’s use of the in-world peoples’ lack of knowledge really helped to hammer in the mystery. The show just disappeared. Even the cast is super shady on its ending.

Mister Magic, a cloak-toting shadowy figure, brings to mind something a little different for almost everyone. For me, the show and character made me think of the film Mr. Crocket, with its invitation to keep kids “safe,” the film I Saw the TV Glow, both for the TVs faint glow at night as well as the show feeling more like real life than television, and then for some reason I was thinking of these two as if they were hosted by Jack the Donkey from the movie Hokum. While the world seems to revere him, and the cast remembers life as much better with him, the looming mystery overhead had me thinking this guy was fishy from the jump. And it was super creepy, the fans’ near-cultish behavior surrounding it.

I thought Val worked well as a lead. She’s clearly strong, but her memory loss or suppression makes it so that nothing is a surprise for the reader. Well, in terms of her decision making! (The novel has plenty of twists and turns). Whenever something is revealed, you’re forced to wonder if she’s remembering it or experiencing it for the first time, and even if the memory is buried, that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t impactful in some way that’s formative for her. She was the cast’s leader, a protector, a guide, and there are traits of this on display throughout the novel long before the story makes this known.

I really enjoyed this cast of characters. I love how the “circle of friends” members each signified a form of regret, neglect, and nostalgia. Because that’s really what this is about right, nostalgia? Who doesn’t look back on their childhood years with a fond, teary eye? Who doesn’t remember turning the TV on at all hours and finding their favorite reruns on cable? For my part, various notes of this reminded me of Barney, Power Rangers, even Spongebob—that trusty sidekick of a show that was always on for us. Now I’m not sure I ever wanted those memories to bear the slight tilt of creepiness that they will now due to this novel, but I’m sure these characters never wanted to return to things just to realize the facade was pitted and scarred either. Alcoholism, drug addiction, work addiction, staying closeted, even being an overbearing parent, are all things that make their way to the surface as these people wish for “the way that it was,” but the thing that makes nostalgia such a bitch is that those things can’t be replicated. When we try, when we truly remember them even, they aren’t always worth that effort.

This is a horror, thriller, and mystery for fans of taking nostalgia and turning the creepiness up. For fans of stories twinged with the supernatural, the culty, the unsolved and unresolved. I even really enjoyed how the author tied being raised mormon into the story itself—certainly worth reading the acknowledgements to fully understand, too. This one worked wonders for me.

Grabbed this on audible in the late stages of my crusade to read all my fellow authors in FanFiAddict’s The Book of Spores Anthology. While I reference the author’s The Frozen Crown in my story, as it was so perfectly fitting for my short story featuring Ice Elves, QoDs spoke to me and the narration clicked so I went with it instead. I was not disappointed.

Balthazar is the leader of a group of thieves, but it wasn’t always this way. Once, his father was in charge of the entire island, but the governorship was stolen from him, and the family fell from grace. Now, they manage some pretty high stakes robberies. The latest of which, pits them against the very governor that killed his father and offers him a chance at revenge as well as a chance to make so much coin he can get his crew out of the game for good. Or at least, that’s always the hook. Instead, they barely escape a desperate attempt to keep a god from entering their plane of existence. Too bad the god’s only kind of gone but certainly not forgotten, and still clinging on for a second attempt.

Bal’s team is richly developed and seriously dysfunctional. Made up from the remnants of his family, he takes charge of his cousin and cousin-in-law, his illegitimate brother, his ex-bride to be, and his younger sister. The book says they are known for pulling off some crazy jobs, but woof, if the author didn’t say so I wouldn’t have believed it for all the bickering. This is a perfectly crafted display of a family torn apart but still grasping onto the threads. They all variably want out, can’t seem to agree on anything, and can’t seem to keep it together enough to get anything done. Even planning! So naturally, they come together either way by the end, just like family does.

The Queen of Days is one hell of a cool character. A mask wearing being, known for pulling off impossible feats, and all she asks for is the buyer’s time. I thought it was creepy and clever at the same time, not to mention the storing and powering up of this time reminded me of something you’d seen in like a Wolfenstein game or something. It’s definitely not something I’ve ever read in a fantasy. Orphaned through betrayal and deceit, and desiring to belong (although maybe not realizing that), she functions as a really important piece of the team. As a half-god, this is a nice addition, as it bridges the gap between their worlds, showing a possible coexistence, and her closeness with the team’s youngest member will pull at your heartstrings regardless of where she’s from. She is, of course, also a complete badass. Strong, mysteriously talented and efficient, and willing to sacrifice for the team.

The novel itself, which I saw tagged as ‘high fantasy’ on goodreads, is (at least to my mind) definitely more epic fantasy than anything. Bal’s crew utilizes guns, which gives the story a bit of a gas-lamp or flintlock flavor. They also reference the crew owning and operating an airship multiple times, which feels like almost a nod toward scifi. The most interesting thing to me though, is while this does sprinkle in notes that feel like Bardugo’s Six of Crows, Peloquin’s Queen of Thieves, and Kuhn’s Among Thieves, this still managed to feel like it’s own little pocket(dimension) of fantasy—carving out its own corner on the fantasy bookshelf. I hope you’ll pick this one up!

Thanks to Scholastic for the physical ARC! This is my first outing with the Graphix line outside of the Goosebumps ones. I love this cover.

The opening starts with a snowy road, a bus full of kids, and no cell service. After a crash, they are stuck in the freezing storm with little hope of getting help. A cabin in the distance seems like the best option for getting out of the elements. Too bad the knee deep snow is in their way, and too bad they’re not alone. Then, internet sibling sensations, Jen and Dante arrive, determined to get their daily stunt video shot in full. After racing down the mountain, and finding their helicopter empty, what seems like a prank gone wrong just might turn out to be more than they bargained for.

The opening chapter is a fantastic start. The snow storm, the lack of service, then the blown tire. The someone or something under the snow is so super creepy. I did find myself wondering, like with swimming underwater where it’s displaced, wouldn’t the movement beneath the deep snow move or even collapse what’s stacked above, but I don’t need all the answers. It’s a great hook. It really establishes that something’s wrong in record time.

I thought the art itself was fantastic. It meshes black and white with splashes of blue and grey hues to give more of a sense of depth and lighting. I particularly enjoyed the blood still being bright red though, it reminded me of The Walking Dead, especially the spinoff TWD: The Alien, which really goes all out on the red blood (and I read that one most recently). I also thought the swirling of the snow, which did in fact end of looking almost like a whirlpool, was a neat way to show off all the movement too.

The ending was equal parts silly, surprising, and absolutely rad. I mean, snow vampires? Frost vampires that are locked in a specific region that they can’t escape from? A region that just so happens to have the cabin built right on it? And Jen, Dante, and their team just so happen to end up there when it’s getting awfully dark. Their only way to survive is to make it through the night. Even with unexpected help, the vampires have been trying to infiltrate the cabin for hours … and they are getting bolder.

Put your believability aside, the author is telling you the frost vampires are there, are real. The longer you take to believe, the more of a chance they have to get inside. Sit back and enjoy this intense little YA winter thriller that brought to mind The Thing and 30 Days of Night if the casts were teenagers.

This one has been on my TBR for a minute and when I had the chance to bump it up for the Indie Ink Awards, I didn’t hesitate!

The erstwhile Tyler Kyle has received a video that looks to be proof of his missing mother having been on a remote island. But when his best friend, and YouTube channel counterpart, doesn’t receive permission to visit and Tyler does, he goes ahead without him. Even though they’ve received emails from some super stalker, he goes anyway … because that’s what you do when you’re Tyler Kyle. But as things begin to unravel, both on the island, as well as in Tyler’s life (and mind), he will struggle to find answers even at the cost of his own safety.

First and foremost, since I first saw this cover when the book was announced I honestly have thought the title was The Erstwhile Tyler Kelly, even going so far as to refer to it as such when thinking about it. So feel free to take anything I say with a pinch of salt, because apparently I can’t even read. Don’t judge a book by its cover? Don’t … read a book by its cover. I don’t know.

Anyway, I’ve been wanting to read this for a good while now. The main character of Tyler is one half of a cryptid hunting show that, even if unsuccessful in finding proof, has gone on to find some decent popularity. It made me think of my two best friends in BestGhost, and the author and I have even spoken about some parallels. After getting into this, I can see that the best friends in this certainly have a different dynamic to mine, often flirting with each other to the point of fans launching their own fan-fictions. The book features a rift between them, and a drunken mistake one night is actually why Tyler was so willing to go off alone all willy nilly. Well, that and the fact that there’s a chance for news of his mother.

Tyler is a complicated main character, often propelling himself into situational self-sabotage and unnecessary danger. However, with this being a novel and all, I can forgive him quite a lot, and I do find that I like him overall. As a man that has struggled with his own sense of self and purpose (and attractions), I can even see pieces of myself in Tyler as well, just not the manwhoring. I’ve never been huge on the use of smut or spice scenes in books, however this does do well with showing off how they seem to come at Tyler from all angles. More often than not, these things kind of happen to him, not directly because of him, but most definitely because of how unsure he is. I like that it’s an approach I would not have taken if it were my own writing, personally, and yet it’s an incredibly honest and spot on way to showcase his struggles with self worth. I try hard not to insert my own style onto other’s stories, however when doing so brings to light something that I think is particularly deftly handled, I’m all for it. Westenra has a distinct voice.

If being in love with your best friend and coworker isn’t enough. If your mom going missing and allegedly having stayed on an island with a mock-cowboy that’s definitely the head of a cult isn’t enough either, the author paints the island as its own separate entity. From a bunker in the woods that felt a la Lost (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42) that requires swimming through what is essentially a moat, to strange elk-ish monster noises, large “bear traps”, an “art display” of old skeletons nailed to trees, and an insane stray dog population, this place just seems to be one big ball of secrets and deception. This part really brought me enjoyment, I had zero idea where this was going and where it went to eventually my mind hadn’t even considered. I also love the tough conversation around being in any way LGBTQ, as the town’s initial purpose was to be a conversion camp, pushing the limits beyond what is socially, and even legally, acceptable. And I think it was really well developed and delivered in how the people in the town free themselves from one oppressor just to be trapped in a different cage.

Perhaps not the happy ending you’d imagine, but there is a sense of resolution. Between Tyler and Josh, between Tyler and Conrad, Conrad and his people, between the island and its stagnant and bigoted past. People might still be on a leash of sorts, but the taste of freedom is just the beginning for those willing to reach for it. Great for fans of mystery and thriller, with horror and supernatural elements, and a taste of romance—it’s even, in many ways, inherently, darkly humorous. This is unique in a way that I feel has some mass appeal, especially in the current market with CJ Leede, Brian McAuley, and Chuck Tingle’s works being on the rise. I think this would successful share self space with them. I hope you’ll check it out.

Huge thanks to Scholastic for the physical ARC. I thought the cover had the potential for a super creepy middle grade read.

Carter John has a problem with getting in trouble. His school teacher doesn’t seem to want to understand that his growing body is just foreign to him. He’s too tall, legs too long for the short school desks, his voice is newly deep and uncontrollable. And even though his best friend, Gianna, defends him and his actions, his teacher just doesn’t seem to care. But then they receive a partner project, and Carter John realizes the chance at an A could be what stands between him dragging Gianna down with him, and proving to his teacher and parents that he’s not a problem. After some brainstorming, the two friends settle on a historical figure that leads them down a path of racial discomfort that even links directly to something similar in their own town and library history.

Right off the bat I was really interested in how the author decided to weave history and historical figures into the narrative itself. What the middle grade reader will receive is this blend of mystery and suspense with a healthy dose of educational history and racial commentary. There is the history of the second black astronaut to go to space, Dr. Ron McNair, which I found incredibly wholesome that Gianna backs her friend’s interest in wholeheartedly, and McNair’s mistreatment at a recently desegregated library in his hometown as a kid. The author ties these factors back into the current narrative by the inclusion of the girl from the ashes. A ghostly girl that shows up only when Carter John is alone and she does nothing but stir up mischief. She’s angry, and that anger has festered until its burning so brightly and hotly that it’s nearly inextinguishable.

While the mystery itself for me was a little on the undeveloped side, I really enjoyed how the author handled this novel. How someone’s desire and will to read led to their almost eternal haunting of a library with a sordid past. How their mistreatment led to deep rooted anger, but also despair. And I thought it was well crafted that the author ties this all back into Carter John’s journey and possible mistreatment. Because it’s okay to say it, he’s the nearly six foot tall black kid—the one that too quickly started to look and sound like a man—and while he may be too gentle to outright see as a threat or “thug,” the implication is certainly there with words like “delinquent” and his teacher only singling him out. At best he’s viewed as the disruptive, loud, joke-cracking wise guy, but it’s so clearly tied to his race as well.

Ultimately, this novel features a deep through line on redemption. Shining a new light on Ron McNair and the tragedy of the Challenger disaster, giving peace and eternal rest to the girl from the ashes, who was wrongfully burned alive in a library fire, and Carter John with his pure heart and super eagerness to learn and explore. The story features strong friendship and understanding, teaches the concept of learning the whole picture before you judge, and displays deep love from concerned parents. It’s highlighting the issue with race in our country, but it’s not condemning us, it’s sharing hope for a road forward, and I think that is a very special message to share with young minds. Empathy and a willingness to learn with always trump anger, bigotry, and hate.

Bought this on audio as another in my quest to read all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores Anthology. Veronica Rotar did a good job with the narration, I enjoyed the main characters and the various accents used for the side characters.

A world that has mostly ended. A town stands alone. Surrounded by a malignant mist that is only held back by the teamwork of who’s left. Justine, a farming apprentice, and her sister, Anna, an engineering apprentice, must stick together through thick and thin. After the death of the ill farmer, the responsibility falls on Justine to reorganize and notify the townsfolk that rationing will be needed in order to make it through the winter. Discomfort often leads to anger. Starvation often leads to desperation. Mix the two together, and you’ve got the makings of a rebellion.

Now I don’t know much about the folklore, or if this was just accents chosen by the narrator, but this seemed to be at least, in part, some kind of Slavic inspired. I was unsure of why the kids wouldn’t have similar accents to those that raised them, but it may have been a stylistic choice to differentiate between the generations? Either way I really enjoyed the slight differences between the main sisters the most.

This reminded me of Ryan’s The Feeding with its walled off bastions of civilization, of Sansbury Smith’s Hell Divers with its unknown creatures in the mist feel, of Glukhovsky’s Metro 2033 with its showcasing of vestiges of civilization holding on through farming, community, and history. But unlike the three of those, this feels much more so in the world of fantasy. Even with its dystopian, post apocalyptic themes, it felt somewhat otherworldly to me. Probably because of the talk of mages, the mist, and the supposed creatures within it, but I suppose this could be an urban fantasy leaning scifi story as well. I think those possibilities are one of its strengths, not just in wider appeal, but its ability to deliver on an intriguing level of mystery.

My favorite part of this was the siblings. The sisters and their stepbrother, although all different and from differing educations/backgrounds, they stick together like a true family unit when things get bad. Even through all the doubt, they remain tight knit. Even when the worry pushing them to arguing, they are still 100% there for each other. I think it was really well thought out too that each has something different to offer. One an engineer, who created the device that pushes back the mist, another a town guard, fighter, and protector, the last a leader and wholly devoted to keeping the others alive. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a story like this where the cast is actually all siblings, but I certainly enjoyed it. I mean … even with some comps offered above, I’ve never read a story like this in any sense actually.

Not only is this unique, but it’s also a short enough story that you can enjoy it without bogging down your TBR too much. I’m a fan of chonky books as much as the next person, but sometimes a well written, well paced shorter story to fit in between just feels right. This will hit for fans of genre blends, dystopian or post apocalypse stories that still feature hope, and fantasy and scifi readers alike.

Huge thanks to the publisher for inviting me to give this audio arc a listen! I really enjoyed Bury Your Gays, so I jumped at the chance to give this one a listen. A simpler cover than my previous read by the author, but I love the colors. Mara Wilson(!) does the narration for this. She does a great job of bringing the main character, Poppy, to life.

Poppy is a social media influencer on the rise. The only thing about being on the rise, though, is that it’s not currently paying the bills. The problem with that is that an influencer has to be up on trends, fashion, lifestyle, all things that are evolving constantly. Things that are expensive. Let’s not forget that Poppy also has a daughter to take care of. Her solution? Stealing and selling corpses to the highest bidder. As you can imagine, that’s a night job that brings her into pretty close proximity with some shady folks … something awfully different from the glamorous life she portrays on her phone. But on the day her musical idols dies in a freak accident, she receives a call that changes absolutely everything, someone wants to hire her, for an unbelievable sum, and what they want is her recently deceased idol, Eddie’s, corpse.

One thing I’m picking up here, that I am also carrying over from my time with Bury Your Gays, is that the author will never hand us something that’s not actually a blend of somethings. While BYG was horror slasher and scifi, this one feels more horror slashery and supernatural. Yet it’s also more—body horror that plays in undead and even zombie tropes before stomping its way into otherworldly entity. It smacks readers with the eerie and uncanny, as Eddie Michaels is both genuinely dead and also not. It makes me wonder what exactly the flesh of a body counts for if the person, the being, is truly within.

This one felt particularly heavy. While there are things surrounding content creating, social media, and clout chasing in general, the undertone of what’s left unsaid hit me the most. In the age of indie writers, authors, blogs, and all-things reviewers, it can be daunting to progress in a world where social media is designed by an algorithm that mostly seems to award those that funnel funds into it. While this novel features an adult doing the chasing, there are warning signs for the younger ages that feel like these things are what really matters in this world. We teach children, and allow ourselves to be fooled too, that things like interactions, like counts, shares, and saves are the sum of our self worth, and that’s a mighty dangerous foe. And that’s before accounting for the literal murderous reanimated corpse!

I really enjoyed the dynamic that blossoms between Poppy and her daughter. From their first on-page appearance, where Poppy is more busy with content than parenting, to that burgeoning, growing, burning maternal need to get back to her baby. If love is real then Poppy spent too long being blind to it, taking for granted all the things that truly matter most. But the author hit a home run for me in their ability to tie this into the theme in the paragraph above. Poppy realizes slowly throughout the novel how blinded she’s been, how nothing whatsoever could ever be more important than her daughter. Spending real quality time with her. It works beautifully as a driving force in the novel, and is a powerful message for readers. There’s even the darkly humorous note that Poppy’s neglectful, downright nonexistent, father is to blame for her own parental awakening.

The action, which does happen quite often in this one, is really gruesome and gory. Eddie’s ability to remove people’s impulse control, to force them to do whatever he says, reminded me of the One Wish Willow in Obsession. However, instead of a one-time deal with the ability to erase all autonomy and self, Eddie can do so at will, over and over again. And he uses this ability with gleeful abandon. The amount of blood soaked people and locations left over from this one is astounding. And shockingly unique, too. By the end of this novel, Poppy has to be one of, if not THE most, injured character I’ve ever seen in any story. While a few people thought my Detective Williams faced too many injuries in Welcome to Cemetery, this one truly elevates that to infinity. While this does play into the supernatural, which affords more extended disbelief, I still wondered how in the hell she was alive, let alone standing too. Good for her! I’d guess it’s more of that maternal adrenaline-fueled need to get to her daughter again.

If you are not used to Tingle’s work, but are willing to give stories that are kind of out there a go, this one is perfect for you. The horror is on par with Leede’s new Headlights and does share a sort of otherworldly vibe if you need a comp. Vividly unique, wildly gory, and heinously deadly.

As you know; I grabbed the 1-3 box set on audio, so I decided to roll right on through them all. The narration is fantastic, I really feel like it embodies the character and the first person POV so well, so if you’re into audiobooks, my suggestion is to go this route for sure.

Book 3 brings back Ivy, her devilishly handsome Mage Lord, and a slew of side characters that readers both know and love at this point, and some that we may not too. This one sees Ivy recalled to the faerie in the woods, drawn back by the favor she promised to fulfill in book one. The author layers this over a murder mystery, where multiple shifters are being found dead. Both in, and outside of, their own territory. And how is it that every time tensions are on the rise, just when everything was tenuously held together, that it’s Ivy found right there in the mix of things? She’s charged with hunting down a fae talisman. The failure of which will surely kill her. Yet again, she’s also faced with juggling the possibility of war breaking out and the collapsing of the realms.

I will say in this one Ivy began to really grate on me. She’s brusque, sarcastic, plucky, and sometimes downright aggressive. It often lends nothing to the situation she’s in, too. That’s the name of the game with her, as I learned from two previous books, but wow she makes every professional situation way harder than it should be! And I get that it would be hard as hell to be calm and centered while almost everyone is at least against you (or actively trying to harm you), but I did question her hireability a bit in this one … although clearly it works its magic on the Mage Lord.

Fans will be pleased—read: screaming and raving from the stands and rafters—that Ivy and the Mage Lord do finally step fully into the realm of romance … just as I predicted at the end of my review for book 2. They are navigating the whole boss/subordinate thing, the constant battles and danger around them, and then of course the fact that Ivy refuses to listen, always throwing herself into impossibly mad situations with no regards for her own life, but hey, all that seems to be what mage-man is into. There is a hint there of Ivy being attracted to the mysterious, brooding, seemingly dangerous guy, but I think it’s going WAY far in the opposite direction here.

While unconventional, after three novels I think it’s safe to say that this is actually a sleeper “chosen one” story. Ivy is human. She never showed any signs of being a witch or mage or shifter, and she certainly isn’t faerie. I mean, sure, go grab the family tree or whatever (and this may get further addressed in a later book), but so far the stance has been that she is just human or “normal”. Yet through all of her trials and tribulations, she’s continually proven to be worthy, to not be found wanting, to surmount and surpass the odds and expectations. She may not be the classic farm boy, but this isn’t a straightforward fantasy either. I think that this works, especially in the ever changing landscape the author has set out to create.

I don’t know if this was originally set up to be a trilogy, but this one follows a sort of similar arc as one. Book 2 had a lull in stakes, but this one pulls it all back into what feels like a story-arc showdown. Bigger and badder enemies, including a possibly longtime buried dragon god (?!), and more injuries than you can count. And this has been what—a few days or weeks? I know with magic there are healing spells, but woof, they still feel it all! These folks must be capital-T Tired. And who knows as there are series that feature multiple sets, cycles, or even actual trilogies, maybe that is the set up here, as there are 4 more books to tackle currently and also a prequel short. If you’re looking for solid action and characters surrounded by an urban fantasy setting that’s magically charged, this is a series that can last you. You’ve got my stamp of approval to check it out.

A huge shoutout to Tor Nightfire for the physical ARC! While i did start this one a tad later than I originally intended, it did end up working out as I coincidentally just rewatched The Shining, Doctor Sleep, and Longlegs…look at that luck. The cover is another home run too, close to rivaling my love for American Rapture’s … I happened to love the insides too.

And just a friendly warning on this one, as it really hides a lot in its back blurb, there may be things I spoil here, even unintentionally.

Daniel has had enough. From a failed investigation, a failed marriage, the death of loved ones, it’s safe to say he’s a level or two past burnt out, defeated. But just as he’s about to take off, running once and for all, he’s pulled right back in. His old boss from the FBI, Jack, has appeared in the eleventh hour to tell him it’s happening again. There’s been another murder. Amnesiac kidnappers, skinned victims, a single hair tied around every tongue, and a few clues that lead back to people that just never connect enough to convict. This time, Danny is faced with tackling his trauma and the crimes, and time is dangerously close to running out.

So, like I touch upon above, this one has notes of The Shining, Longlegs, Silence of the Lambs, and even Weapons. Some of which are interwoven with the narrative itself, as DANNY’s mother says he shines, he’s just connected to things differently than others. And while The Shining is more on the nose, this does feel like a supernatural amalgamation of all of these things. Yet, the author does take it all and carve out something all her own. I was first drawn in by these things being mentioned, or things that seemed like nods, but then I was gripped by what’s woven on the page and good god it does not let up.

While this book is deeply imbedded with the supernatural, at its core, it’s still a family drama. And even if you’d argue that, it’s certainly about family trauma. Daniel’s past is blood splattered and speckled, he ran away before he could discuss his divorce, and he lost his adoptive parents too. And this is the kind of person that’s still processing the childhood stuff … memories abound, the past and present often sharing the page with little to differentiate what is and isn’t real. The author toys with readers that way.

And because of the way it all ends up tying together, I particularly liked how in the dark Daniel was. How often he’d question everything on the page. In that way he reminded me of my main detective, Williams, from Welcome to Cemetery. I feel like mysteries on the page sometimes have a way of falling into place … as us writers are literally plotting them out. But this one pauses for those beats to remind us that Daniel is more often than not bewildered but what’s happening.

The ending had notes that reminded me of Doctor Sleep mixed with wendigo-y vibes. I can see the finale working really well for others or rubbing them the wrong way. Personally, I would have liked to see more in the end of how the crime was wrapped up, especially legally, but I do understand that when it comes to the supernatural, “facts” rarely line up. I don’t think it’s so much as to be polarizing in people’s enjoyment, just that there is a hint of design here where not everything is perfect.

This is great for fans of King and The X-Files, fans of supernatural horrors, and readers looking for distinct author voices. Three novels in and Leede is letting fans know she’s writing exactly what she wants to.

As I grabbed the 1-3 box set on audio and loved the first, I decided to roll right on through to the next one. The narration is fantastic, I really feel like it embodies the character and the first person POV so well!

Ivy officially agrees to employment with the mages, still butting heads with the overly handsome Mage Lord. And while not so much time has gone by, the anger between fae is heating up again. The half-faeries seem to do their level best to piss off just about everyone, and worse, now there’s some kind of potion that sets them all into an unbreakable rage. To find the source, Ivy will have to go undercover, risking life and limb to once again stop an all-out war.

Right off the bat the mystery and magic starts up all over again. This serum that turns the fae-kind into rabid monsters of themselves was an interesting twist to the story. It allowed the author to play into the half-faeries biggest fear, a mortal life. And as the serum promises immortality, it’s understandable how up in arms they were to get their hands on it. To them it’s a matter of life and death—as they literally view living a normal lifespan to be a curse—and unfortunately some of them might just actually die in the process. I will say that as they are almost all shown to be stuck-up, incredibly full of themselves people, it’s a little hard to care. Ivy shows them zero sympathy too, but she can’t just stand by and do nothing!

To get to the bottom of things, Ivy must infiltrate and investigate from within. She hears that the winner of a faerie-only competition is being given the serum as a prize, so what does any intelligent woman with an overprotective boss do? She enters herself as a fighter. The only problem is her appearance. I enjoyed that the author gave readers some different kinds of magic throughout this one, and that included magically altering Ivy’s appearance. Making her seem like a different person kind of reminded me of M. J. Kuhn’s Among Thieves and her character that is a disguise expert, though here it’s Ivy’s witch roommate and best friend. The actual fights themselves kind of brought to mind Spider-man’s cage fight in the first Raimi movie, but it is virtually a magical fight club. And just remember, nothing is as simple as it seems.

Overall this one does feel kind of side-mission like, and although it seems faerie war is always on the line here, the fight club felt like lower stakes. Which, truly, is not necessarily a bad thing, especially as this one is a second novel and not the finale, but it’s just something to keep in mind. Ivy continues to be snarky, combative, and overall a little unpleasant, but the romantic tension with the Mage Lord will have you smacking your head. If enemies (or reluctant professionals?) to lovers is your thing, I’m telling you it’s incoming! Into book three.

I had the opportunity to read this for the Indie Ink Awards, and I just so happened to already own it on Kindle. It was on my list for a while, so I’m glad the awards allowed me to bump it up the TBR chain.

Seth has lived a troubled life. His parents, hell even his entire town, treat him with disdain, like he’s a stain on the community. But what has Seth actually done to deserve this? Then, he finds someone to confide in, someone to love and build a future with. It’s short lived, as she is kidnapped right before his eyes while he is murdered. What follows is a demonic and twisted tale of deceit, malevolence, struggle, and survival. Demon Seth must overcome his nature, one that was painstakingly crafted for an evil purpose. Luckily, there are those that would stand with him to defeat those that carry the blade of judgment.

This was truly a unique novel. The author takes bits and pieces from our histories’ religions and blends them with fantastical fiction to offer readers a wholly new experience. The prose is lofty and lyrical, giving the reader the chance to fall into step with Priore’s sentence work. The action is big (and often) but never falls into feeling like a superhero story, nor is it repetitive.

For me, the flipping back and forth between Seth’s first-person POV and the various other characters spanning through space and millennia, was a little eclectic and took some getting used to. I think, at least at first, it felt like two separate kinds of story competing with each other, with Seth falling somewhat to the back burner at the beginning. With that said, I think the main chunk with Seth being first person was the right choice, as you can center yourself on it over time. The side and supporting characters also offering some of the story’s juiciest bits too…including my favorite which was Virdeus.

To me, Virdeus represents some of the book’s best character work. An ancient man set on a path of magic and longevity. Every time he appears on the page he could deservedly be angry, could be vengeful, but he’s not. He has mastered his loss and emotions over time, and builds something important to the human race. This group—or task force, or dare I saw cult (depending on who’s asking), or secret order—thrives in the background, keeping many of the earth’s evils at bay as they hunt for demons and imps. Personally for me, this is where the novel felt truly alive. I was buzzing with the possibilities of other stories or spinoffs in their world, of limitless enemies felled. And again, this never felt superhero-y or corny. That’s an achievement.

With some overlying threads of Christianity and ancient mythology, this really does read like its own thing. Heaven and Hell exist, but the author has rewritten the code, changed their existence, rearranged even the smallest details you think you know. It could be called urban fantasy, for those needing a label, or it could be labeled a horror if not for its action base, however dark fantasy doesn’t seem to sit too well with me either. Look, it is certainly fantastical, magical, dark as hell, but to me it still felt like something worldly. No, I can’t make that make more sense, but at the moment fantasy just feels strange to attach to it. For those that like to try new things, that like genre blends that are a tad “out there,” this one could be something special.

Another read on my ever-present quest to read all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores Anthology. Grabbed books 1-3 box set of The Changeling Chronicles on Audible to help me get another checked off the list. Taking on a whole trilogy without prior knowledge of the story can be tricky, but this is certainly paying off. Luci Christian Bell’s narration is fantastic, bringing Ivy to life in such a compulsively listenable way.

Ivy Lane’s world is built on tenuous peace at best. Since the faerie invasion, there’s been little anyone can do to keep the fighting at bay. And while Ivy may have more reason than others to hate the folks the invasion left behind, she now uses her skills to investigate and stop rouge fae, ensuring their fates are continually intwined. Her magic, which she loosely tells people is from being a witch (although notably coven-less), is anything but, and despite her best efforts, she’s pulled into the deep end of a world of trouble. Human children kidnapped, a shockingly handsome Mage Lord, and a power struggle she wants nothing to do with but simply can’t let lie.

With notes of Carnival Row, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and The Nevers, this one also reminded me of Mawce Hanlin’s Under the Dragon Moon, in the sense that when urban fantasy is done well, I quite enjoy it. I am not well versed in changelings or faerie stories, I admit, but this one does a great job at setting up the world while still leaving mystery. I felt myself consistently wondering about the goings-on in the world at large, while also not feeling as if I was missing something. There’s a particular talent on display when an author can make you wish for more without coming off as purposefully vague or even misleading. Adams smashes toeing that line. Intrigue over mislead

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, I LOVE books that mesh or transcend genres. This proves that statement remains true. Fantasy laid over our natural world, a mystery that follows a typical investigation pattern regardless of magic or creatures, the hints of a romance even though the secrets kept are awfully piled high. I think this one is really great. As I type this it also brings to mind Benjamin Aeveryn’s Blackcap (another great genre blend). If genres and tropes have been done, and done again, mixing them up is a fantastic way to freshen things up.

The magic system is an interesting one. There are a multitude of magical creatures, so there are no hard rules here. As Ivy is unsure of her own powers as well, it allows for her to progress with them as the story goes on (and I’d imagine into the following books too). The fact that the world sets up witches, mages, necromancers, spirits, faeries (in the more traditional sense), and even hellhounds, I feel the possibilities are endless! Especially with Ivy doing odd-job investigations, there’s no telling where the series can go.

Ivy is a somewhat brusque, witty character. She certainly shines on with that millennial sarcasm. While that’s not really anything new for this kind of lead, it is crafted spectacularly. The author’s choice for a first person POV really sells it too, as her inner monologue is funny as well as relevant. Ivy is the exact sort of reluctant hero you can see yourself falling in with for a series of magical books.

Perfect for fans of urban fantasy, fantasy, faeries, and mystery. A Jack of all trades, this one.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio review copy! I was intrigued by the cover and wanted to give the author another read. I thought the narration by Andy Stevenson was really solid. It was creepy in a sort of banal kind of way.

This one surprised me! It was compulsively listenable and totally gripping even with there being zero feel-good emotions here on any level. It’s dark, obsessive, and super creepy.

Bob is the local courier. After the loss of his shop, he’s just sort of bumbling along. Daily life brings little joy, and there’s little to differentiate between separate days. That is until the day he brings a particular package with him on delivery. Until the day he finally sees you. A woman in need, an aggressive partner, and no end in sight. What is Bob supposed to do, let it go? But what would she do without him, her savior?

The first person POV worked wonderfully, tactfully placing readers into the mind of a truly troubled individual. From the driver’s seat to sickening fantasies, Bob is a character that will disgust you as much as he will intrigue you. The author does a great job of showcasing how curiosity can turn to fascination, from infatuation to unbreakable obsession. How dangerous that kind of feeling can be, and how obsession can turn into something darker still. From internal rationalization, social media stalking and catfishing, inner-circle infiltration, and even murder, the author gives an unrelenting tale that even has an uber satisfying twist. I for one, did not see it coming.

The inner-monologuing style of the story, where he is projecting this sort of storyteller take on explaining how he’s a savior, gave the reader the feeling of being right there with Bob, and while readers may not turn obsessive with him, it made for an interesting read. You won’t root for him, and shouldn’t, but you have to know what will happen next. A great psychological thriller.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for the audio ARC! I really like the cover for this one and the blurb relating anything culty to R. L. Stine is an instant yes for me. This didn’t disappoint. The audio by Jesse Vilinksy was fantastic. It really felt like she embodied Lindsay.

Lindsay isn’t your average troubled kid. With parents as emotionally cold as an iceberg, she has managed to get kicked out of just about everything ever, including expulsion from multiple schools. She cuts classes, smokes to get attention, and never stays anywhere long enough to even begin to make friends. Her parents are rich, seeming to believe that money is enough to hush things up and get her to graduation, when all she really desires is to be seen. Instead, they decide they’ve had enough of her antics and ship her off to stay the summer with her uncle and aunt. If the family estrangement isn’t weird enough, it’s also a kind of teenage reform house…and more importantly, where the hell is her uncle?

This novel does well to toe the line between reading almost new adult, while definitely having the air of a young adult story with its chosen POV. Some of the themes and language are dark, and the crimes and horror are pretty violent at times too. It also has a pretty positive commentary on sexuality and being perceived as different that I quite liked. There has been a somewhat recent push for young adult books to be more tame and “clean” but this one does the opposite. I think both are valid and deserve to exist, the same way no two kids are alike. If you are a jewish bisexual girl drummer that just wants love and attention from her parents, then you deserve to see it exist on the page too.

This is also a pretty well handled showing of how Christianity, bible verses more specifically, can be weaponized in a controlling manner. How the idea of God’s eternal glory can be tainted into something far from bountiful…and that’s not even really the cult stuff! Phin and Cass, these sort of ethereal, The Shining-esque twins, were really creepy to me. From their too-helpful nature to their old-timey accents that made me think of Leo in The Great Gatsby, I wanted no part of them. Of course they would live on an island that can only be reached during low tide, or via boat. Nothing strange going on there at all…

The cast of characters that are introduced as this sort of halfway house for troubled kids kids(?) were really enjoyable. With one of them being sent there for being gay and another for being trans, I felt it really gave the setting an eerie feeling—like even before anything happens it all felt like a sham. And of course the fact that they all turn out to be perfectly capable, caring, and helpful teens really tied together the entire arc for Lindsay. Found family that pulls on the heartstrings. If you’ve ever read Stine and desired a little more creepiness and a tad more character depth, this one might work perfectly for you!

Yet another down in my quest to read all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores Anthology. And a big thanks to Saga for sending me a physical arc! I did not realize I also had this on Audible, so I had copies all over. Zoe Mills did a fantastic job bringing the characters (especially Ryia IMO) and world to life.

Carrowwick is a city filled to the brim with secrets, theft, and worse. Ryia has become a prominent name in the thieving and assassination circles, her own crew not even knowing how she slips in and out the way she does. But she has a secret, one her crew doesn’t know either. And while they may all be out for their own good, they will have to work together, as their next (desperate) job is to pull off a heist on the Guildmaster’s very own island…the one who controls the most power, and the man who wants each of them gone.

This gave me notes of Assassin’s Creed, Six of Crows and Andy Peloquin’s Queen of Thieves. A ragtag crew of pirates, disguise artists, thieves and assassins, all led by one calculating mastermind. A thief/assassin (especially with the hood on the cover) will always bring AC to mind, a comparison I always love. With its collective group of desperate people this felt like an aged-up cast from the likes of Six of Crows, the climactic heist certainly adding to the feel. Then there’s the lead of Ryia, who brought to mind Peloquin’s thieves guild and main character, Ilanna, blending the feel of this one as somehow wholly familiar and yet unique.

The city reads quite bleak, an utter cesspit of unlawfulness, almost grimdark, while the characters themselves feel like they’re only there out of necessity. They’ve learned to navigate this darkness simply so they don’t succumb to it. I thought all of them were interesting on their own, and every single one of them has a secret part to play. I did find the shifting POV to be a little on the stranger side, as there does seem to be a leading arc with Ryia, but it added depth to everyone for sure.

The magic system, which felt similar to Krystle Matar’s Tainted Dominion in the sense that it is only revealed in general shape, not its entirety, was another piece that felt both new and familiar…a new sweater from the same brand. And what I particularly enjoyed about it is the fact that it takes a sort of seat on the back burner. It is both present and not the lead, and with that, the author can really go so many places as the world doesn’t rely on any hard rules yet.

This one has a sort of reluctant found family, an honor among thieves that melds into a kind of dysfunctional family. They rely on each other, they learn trust, but even family can be hard…and some of the family members carry axes.

I happened to see this was on sale on Audible, and I just couldn’t pass it up. As a big fan of Dark Bloom I was excited for more. The narration by Lauren Campbell is solid, and I think the character of Tess was brought to life very well.

Tess’ only plan is to take a relaxing weekend away from absolutely everything. No work emails and calls, no fuss, no real-world anything at all. But what she finds is anything but a reprieve. Lost on the first hike, which was supposed to be a simple trail, and with next to no actual outdoor experience, Tess feels almost lucky when she bumps into Aiden. And while he seems lost too, at least she’s no longer out in the woods alone. With his help, she manages to find her rented cabin, but there’s no end in sight to the horrors.

This one is certainly not for everyone. Unreliable narration and horrors popping off the page, just for them to disappear a chapter later or melt into something worse, this has all the ingredients for a folkloric, depressive nosedive into despair. Notes of this reminded me of the latest iteration of IT and Welcome to Derry, how Pennywise will alter what his victims see, feel and hear. The entity in these woods is after some similar mind-melting horrors too.

There is an air that nothing can be believed, that nothing is real, or that nothing happening actually is happening, that usually doesn’t really work for me in stories or movies, but this time it does. It double, triple, even quadruples down on the level of exhaustion and burn out Tess is struggling with. It is a blend of depression and being at your wits end that feels like you have to question what exactly she’s fighting so hard for. Perseverance or just general persistence of life. It reminded me of what I was trying to achieve with my own short, ‘When All I Feel is Pain’ from Tales From Cemetery. And while it’s not up to me to say if I was successful, I certainly think Molly is. Bleak yet strong. Depressive yet persevering. This is not just some hollow novella, but the good guys can’t always be in control, can’t always win.

Another read I grabbed on audible in my quest to read all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores anthology. While folks usually think to recommend me their darker, more horror-turning tales, I actually started with reading all fantasy and sci-fi. I was right at home. The narration by Cricket The Narrator was solid, particularly in voice, delivery and tone for the lead character, and I was engaged for the full four hours.

Charlus is a teen, a refugee, a person who has witnessed too much loss for her age. She’s also actively on the run while secrets from the past keep her in hot pursuit. But after a run in with a pirate crew, who take her in, you have to wonder if she’s found somewhere worth staying after all this time, if something good might finally stick. Not that it’ll be easy though…

This was awesome. Like a little pocket-sized space opera. It had elements that felt like Star Wars, with a droid that felt similar to K2SO, and a crew with hearts of gold. It also reminded me of iRobot with its AI genocide and threat of human extinction. And then with its subtle dark humor (like a ship called the MTV) it felt reminiscent of the crew from Guardians of the Galaxy. The blend lends itself to something that felt wholly Rook for me, as opposed to just an amalgamation of other things, and I be happy to see more of this world to come.

And while I did find multiple things about this one to be humorous, it also tackled some darker themes/topics. For Charlus to be toppled with the loss of her parents so early on, especially while on the run in a world where having a guardian could keep you going, she’s really shown to be a strong female lead. She sees death and destruction, she finds out the truth about secrets kept, and yet she keeps persevering all the same. It’s a testament to the author’s writing and also one of the things I think is the most crucial about the science fiction genre as a whole: hope. This novella displays it well. Even on the verge of human extinction, people pull together and pull through, and that’s a topic I will continue to read on and on.

I thought the ending happened a tad abruptly, too easily, but then I was of course faked out and there was a climax within the climax. I am happily surprised that even within such a short piece of writing I could forget to keep track of the things seeded throughout the story by the author. I’m hoping you’ll enjoy it too! This one needs more sci-fi reading eyes on it stat.

Grabbed this one on Audible in my continued quest to read something by all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores anthology. This one was on my radar for a while, but I won’t lie, its length made it a tad daunting! Thanks to the audio, with great narration by Felicity Munroe and Paul Woodson, I was finally able to tackle it.

Tashué has always been a man of the law, even when those very same laws cost him family. Tainted members of society must register or face imprisonment in the Rift. Even Tashué son, Jason, is not immune to the sting of resisting. His father visits him, sneaking in food and sweets, the fresh figs a desperate extension of love, grief, and guilt. But as he watches his son deteriorate, Tashué has to come to the dark realization that not all things are just, not all laws can be abided. As a caseworker, he was never meant to investigate the death of a child, a mutilated one at that. But he’s haunted by the death and what it could mean for his world. Will a new case, a costly mistake, and stumbling into love finally break down the cone of ignorance he’s built around himself for so long?

This author is one hell of a tale weaver. For a novel that’s blurb starts with “follow the law and you’ll stay safe. But what if the law is wrong?” I felt that the author really engaged readers in a deft manor. Readers, through Tashué, are not beat over the head with this. Rather they watch this seed of doubt grow into realization as he continues to lose and suffer at the hands of those that created his “just” laws. The plot isn’t forced, often even leading readers away from the point as he lives his life and experiences each new hurdle. The layering of him getting to experience rich people doing whatever the hell they want, the way his son is beaten and starved, how his new lover is in constant danger, and how horrifically the death of his son’s mother is handled, are just a few examples of how the author melds this change in him into his psyche. Tashué is complex and engaging, with all the natural drivers of a man and character, but he’s also allowed to come into this heroic, take-no-shit role by the end.

The world of the Dominion is really intriguing, giving readers this sort of gaslamp-grimdark feeling. It reminded me in a way of Sarah Chorn’s world in Of Honey and Wildfires, and the unidentified tattooed-child opener felt similar to Mushroom Blues’ (which I happened to read first). Tashué is a war veteran, cigarillo smoker, kind of victorian-era-dressing lead that also felt reminiscent of a cowboy. Then there’s the tainted, or rather “gifted,” which layer in a subtle magic system. We know that these folks can do different things with this magic, and although it is the reason for many of their imprisonment, the powers themselves are not the forefront of the story. That worked well for me and made it feel equally unique as well.

I will say this does leave you on quite a cliffhanger ending, which I was not expecting…and yet after a 23.5hr audiobook, I really just wanted to start right up into the second one! Beautiful prose, incredible storytelling, and a uniquely crafted world make this a must read for all fans of fantasy and even mystery!

Huge thanks to Scholastic for the physical arc! I thought the cover was good and the rest is history.

An older kid’s locker caught on fire. Everyone in school is speculating about it: arson, revenge, accident. Everyone seems to be an expert. But when four students who share the locker alcove where the fire started are called to the office, all that speculation now has faces to point the blame at. Can Gabe, Liam, Dani and Kate solve the crime before they’ve lost to the court of public opinion? And regardless of what happened to the locker, was there something more serious that caused it to happen?

For me, this was just a really nice, brain off kind of read. I read it on vacation, and while the mystery is quite simple, I did enjoy the characters. Gabe is a troublemaker, perhaps some would even call him a bully. But after seeing a fight go too far, he’s determined to turn a new leaf, even if others struggle to believe it. Liam is shy, nerdy, and uncomfortable being the new kid in school. While that temperament wouldn’t normally lend itself to vandalism, he was seen being interviewed by the locker’s owner. Kate and Dani are both part of the school’s paper, and if anyone was going to know secrets or gossip, their classmates are bound to assume it’s them. All four of them share lockers near his, and with minimal poking it could be blamed on any of them. But are they guilty?

This is definitely a mystery for younger ages. It isn’t overly complicated, and if you are looking for the clues, you can see the twist, but it is perfect for middle grade readers. The school features a diverse student body, which was very similar to the school I attended, but for those that don’t live in that type of area, this would be great to have on hand to show them.

For me, the best part of this is the main four. Some Scooby Doo references sprinkled in, this is just such an unlikely group to smush together. Liam could so easily have been one of Gabe’s victims, Dani and Kate are actual ex-best friends. The author does well to show how everyone can be complex and multilayered enough for introspection and growth. Sometimes the real bullies are those pretending to be the nicest.

Had the opportunity to read this for the Indie Ink Awards and happened to grab myself a copy on Audible. The narration, done by the author, was awesome!

I don’t usually read too many sailor/pirate books, but this intrigued me. The first sentence of the blurb mentions demon-binding and 200 ghosts trapped in someone’s head…what’s not to be interested in? Sally is haunted, not just by the ghosts, but by past decisions and mistakes. On the run from the navy, with only alcohol to drown out the tumult of voices, it’s not exactly like they are amounting to much. But with an offer from a navy captain—one promising enough coin for ghost eviction and a new life—it’s all a bit too enticing to refuse. They survive on a flooded world, landmasses being an almost entirely extinct thing of the past. These demons, or abyssals, come from far below and may even hold hints to the old world. And while the ‘why’ of the navy’s request might mean little to Sally, it might just end up carrying more weight than previously thought.

This novel carried a well written and easy to follow prose, with deeply imaginative characters, and world building to match. The idea behind the world reminded me of the movie Waterworld or the novel Blind Waves by Steven Gould, however this has a much more fantasy based feel. There are characters with powers, though they may seem more like curses, and the piratey, high-seas nature of this makes it feel more like you’d run into some kind of galleon rather than something scifi. And that feeling reminded me of Emmie Hamilton’s When Stars Become Shadows.

The character work is the real star here. Sally is the tortured soul, the destitute fellow. The ghosts require constant silencing, so even though there’s such natural talent, he must avoid going insane at all costs. The growth shown in both caring for the girl that helped keep him alive, as well as Mary, the ship’s first mate, displays a layer of depth readers needed to root for him. Mary, whose power is the opposite of Sally’s, which for some reason makes these people usually hate each other, is slowly turned toward caring due to the helplessness she witnesses at the hands of the ghosts. She’s not heartless, and won’t just stand by when she can help the suffering. I also really liked the captain, the large bearded guy that is exactly who you’d imagine the captain being, and yet he can also be a very soft person. One that doesn’t give up easily.

There are some great action sequences as well, with swords and destruction. I liked how the author weaved injury and powers into each other, a kind of reminder that this isn’t our world, but also that it doesn’t mean they can survive anything they want. Bedridden characters with the will to command demons from the depths to eternal service…

The ending was a little surprising in how muted it was. But I was glad that with its LGBTQ representation that not everything had to end in such suffering. For me, it ended up being kind of nice, even if it was a soft exit for the climax.

Huge thanks to the author for the eARC! I swear I uploaded my star rating much sooner, I’m just behind on written reviews!

Look at this cover, dudes! This might actually rival book one’s cover and that’s a tall order. It perfectly encapsulates those old school movie posters that you just know were gonna get slapped onto the front of the VHS release. Scantily-clad spring breakers, a religious fanatic, nods to the infected animals, and of course the cast and crew. I need physical copies of both, stat.

It’s just months after the recently titled (and covered up) Meteor Murders took place. With so much chaos, and so many lives lost, a mass funeral procession took place, and while Realene is sinking into her sorrow, something sinister is on the horizon. Nate tries desperately to get her out of her funk, to join in on the spring break plans. A trip to Canada, a week away from the sadness at home, and even better, all taken care of by Harmon. The family friend has continued to look after Realene since the death of her mother, but why Canada??

So, how does this stack up as a sequel? For me, leaps and bounds better than the first, and I thoroughly enjoyed book one. The character work is something special, the action is well crafted, and the location shift kept the setting exciting. The author even manages to shift the focus off of infected animals (although they are still there, and bigger than ever…), and we get to see the way it interacts with the human body. At first this gives it more of a zombie feature feel, but the author doesn’t seem to do anything in half measures. The memory loss is amped up, so those not infected with rage are losing what seems to be years of themselves. It was an added layer of anxiety-inducing close calls for the gang. The switch to Canada was a great idea. Dragging the gang out of Demise allowed for the introduction of new characters, overall made everything feel new, and the fact that they didn’t know where they were, in a blizzard no less, was just another thing keeping me on the edge of my seat.

Cold Snap also takes a darker turn. The fun-filled 90s references and neon colors are still there for us, but the subject matter is dark! Realene is deep in her loss and grief. She’s pushing away the only close people left. Not only that, but the climax’s reveal futures some implications for her that really successfully drove home the depths the author was taking us (as spoiler free as possible for ya). And of course, there’s Nate, the lovingly endearing bestie that can’t let her stay down. The juxtaposition of the best friends’ diverging paths after the Meteor Murders was deftly handled, and really made for such an enticing read. Nate lost his father, who frankly, was kind of a bad dude. So for him, his struggle is how he wants to move on with his life. His mother may be struggling to forgive him, but he also has a new girlfriend, so he has reason to look forward. If anything, Realene feels there’s little reason to look anywhere but back. While her mother was suffering from dementia before, and slowly losing herself, her abrupt death has now left Realene with neither parent. The author does a fantastic job of crisscrossing the friends’ behavior/mindsets by the end.

This sequel features one hell of a climactic twist. Not only that those close to you can deceive, but that your entire perception can shift at the drop of a hat…as if an alien worm that turns anything it touches into mindless, rageful freaks wasn’t enough. A military bunker and a whole bunch of secrets await those who read (and everyone should), and if I don’t get a sequel soon Dark Matter Ink will be hearing from me!

Huge thanks to Aethon for the hardcover review copy and to Andy Peloquin for setting it up! I requested this one based on the cover, and the fact that I do believe in CJ supremacy, naturally.

So, I have definitely dabbled in progression or progression-y books before, but I believe this is a first in LitRPG for me. I absolutely loved this. Like a video game world inscribed right onto the page. Including all the leveling up, experience and achievement farming, and action your heart could desire.

The floating rock of Fallen Reach is ruled by power, success, and status. Sadly for Hiral, he has none of these things. His people, the Makers, are powered by the sun. Unlocking this strength allows them to craft items from the tattoos on their bodies. And while Hiral can feel this power, has some of the most powerful tattoos available thanks to his artist parents, he still can’t seem to access it. They call him Everfail, ten years of trying, ten fails and counting. But during what should be a routine day at work, Hiral is thrust into unimaginable perils as he joins a group of Growers (a second class of people that live on lower, following rocks) on their trip to save family members…all the way on the ground. Surprise attacks, a mysterious big bad, dungeons with spawned enemies, and no way home.

I didn’t expect to dislike this, of course, but I was surprised just how much I liked it. Right off the bat I got into the flow of the writing. The opening took its time, which I think in a book over 500 pages its earned the right to, and it is a good thing too, as the rest of the novel is off-the-rails fast paced. It also lent the story a real-world feel, grounding itself in a fantasy/scifi setting for the RPG aspects to build on. This really felt like playing/watching through a video game. Travel interrupted by random attacks, character developing dialogue scenes almost like a game’s cutscenes, and full on battles. Like many games, some of the fights felt random or repetitive, but I think that is part of what you’re signing up for. And I personally thought the achievements were fun and a kind of cheeky way to add humor. The holographic doctor teaching the team at the dungeons reminded me of scenes from Horizon Zero Dawn, which really enhanced the game feel.

One of the surprises for me, was how solid the cast of characters were. Hiral is multilayered, juggling both a supportive(ish!) family and a past peppered with failure. He should be a fantastic Maker (if he only knew) and his perseverance is definitely up there with some of the top reigning characters in fantasy. Seena is a capable leader, both caring and competent. Her team is filled with different personality types, all of which coalesce into a pretty well developed sort of found family for Hiral. As social anxiety, as well as being used and mistrusting, are focal points in terms of tension, it was nice to see Hiral finally settle in on some solid trust with his adoptive team, both allowing them in and also believing their friendship is real. It was a surprisingly well balanced novel.

The action, which of course included progression—sometimes even involuntarily—allowed for dangerous and seemingly insurmountable odds to become just one more surprising feat. The idea that each fight, and even each dungeon, was just the next step in prepping the team for the mysterious bad guy actually worked for me. Layered in as if it was simply another piece of the story, it was so video game/RPG coded that I loved it.

Not only has LitRPG now been put on my mental map, it may have even progressed to hold a place in my heart. This was a fast paced, exciting first in the series, and I for one cannot wait for more.

Preordered this one as soon as I saw it was available. I absolutely love the cover and color choice. Luckily, and thanks to Blackstone and Netgalley, I was able to complete this way ahead of schedule with an audio arc!

I have not read any of his books, so I suppose I didn’t realize they were friends, but a foreword by Murr from Impractical Jokers was a real surprise. So was the AI joke right out of the gate. I too love Stine and his Goosebumps and Fear Street series, but I’ve never been asked for a foreword…

The Ferber family move into their new home on Nightmare Street. Twelve-year-old Joe finds it creepy, from the street’s name to the house itself. So is it any surprise that he immediately begins having nightmares? In these dreams, he dreams of a boy named Shawn, whose sister is Addie, and it’s almost as if Joe IS Shawn and Sadie (Joe’s sister) IS Addie. Are these just really detailed, really real feeling nightmares? What’s happening on Nightmare Street?!

In the introduction, Stine talks about how he had the idea for this story one day while eating an everything bagel. Many people’s favorite bagel features every topping, so what about a book with everything his fans love? Werewolves, haunted houses, spooky dolls, tombstones, spiders, dummies and more! For me, I love the idea, but when you throw everything at the wall, not all of it tends to stick. That happened here unfortunately.

The flipping between Joe and Shawn erased a lot of the character and emotional depth for me. It is nightmarish, as it’s intended, but it gives off this sort of fever-dream feeling where nothing seems real. And when things lose their base in reality, the stakes plummet for me as you’re sort of just expecting him to wake up again and again. It also kills a lot of the building suspense for the same reason. Sadly, this one needed more to make the “everything bagel” idea work. Stine promises something that will work for all ages, and while this could be considered somewhere between middle grade and young adult, and I happened to love all the horror pop culture references in the novel, it just felt like it needed to be twice as long. Building that otherworldly, lost feeling would have gone a long way for this, but then again, maybe I’m just not the targeted reader.

Perfect for fans of midway horror that’s fast paced and features a lot of fan favorites.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the audio arc! I liked the colors used for the cover, and thought the premise was interesting, so I wanted to give this a go! The narration by Andy Stevenson wasn’t but, but wasn’t my favorite. Just seemed like an odd choice for this mostly one character perspective.

The book opens on Carmen. She’s grieving the loss of her mother, the only true constant in her life. She’s been popping around just sort of adrift. Staying at AirBnBs with no real place to call home. Her stuff is in storage and she doesn’t feel comfortable enough where she’s staying for it anyway. So a bit of a house hunt ensues, and wouldn’t you know it, there’s an undervalued home in the town she wants! It just happens to be the site of a heinously graphic murder, but what could really go wrong? And look at the new appliances!

I remember thinking while listening to this that it felt like a haunted house story with a setup from someone that’s never read one. And I don’t mean that in any way as insulting or to sway readers against it, it just really stuck out as a thought to me. The opening is long, not really slow, but noticeably longer than the actual section of the book where things start happening. In that sense it felt kind of reminiscent of The Haunting of Hill House to me. I enjoyed the setup, and I think the writing was solid, but if you take your time to set up a character, the length of the story should suit their journey.

The second half of the novella, I did struggle a bit with. It felt like the beginning of a larger picture, like it was missing a part three or something. And while I am a fan of writing open endings, I’m not so sure about reading them personally. Carmen’s deterioration needed more explaining in my opinion. I did feel her grief, that desire to speak to someone just one more time, but I never felt like she was spiraling. And I think the reader needed that before there could be a satisfying break.

The more “choose your own” style of, is it possession or is it a mental breakdown, I did enjoy though. However, this does feature a rather rough sexual encounter that I can’t say I’m a fan of. I enjoyed the ghost “incidents” and even the fact that the murder in question was inspired by a true event, but wow was it dark. Even to read it fictionalized was a lot. It did read like setting up a story just to include that real-life murder, which is why I think it just needed a little more. I enjoyed what I listened to, just wish it was longer.

A murder-heavy haunting novella that blends grief and longing with an ending open to interpretation.