C. J. Daley

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 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.

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!

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.

Grabbed this on audible on my quest to read through everyone involved with FanFiAddict’s The Book of Spores. The narration by Shakira Shute was solid and I think she was a great fit for Sam.

A mysterious group called The Grays appeared and in one night the status quo had changed. No longer allowed free rein of the world, the vampires have been pushed back to First Light, the last remaining vampire city. And while there is safety in numbers, the relative confinement has let corruption and deceit run rampant. The poor get poorer, drinking only the weakest of blood, making them little more than human. The rich dine on expensive animal bloods, hosting parties and living lavishly, as if their support staff aren’t literally dying. And while all this is bubbling, the city’s ruler finds out his estranged son has been murdered, sending their world into further chaos. Sam, a maid, has an eye for books and is desperate for more. What will happen when their worlds collide?

I know this book is of course marketed with trending comps like Empire of the Vampire and The Justice of Kings (neither of which I’ve read yet), but to me this felt like a partial Agatha Christie novel stumbled on over into a Anne Rice novel. There’s also intrigue on the scale of Game of Thrones, and there’s an eternal cast like the Underworld movie series. The city itself and bleak world had me picturing the likes of Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, but with perhaps a more wolf-like take on the werewolf. And while there is power struggle, this is not a shoot em up story.

So how does it stack up? The characters are strong, and feature vampires, werewolves, and sorcerers as the main cast. Much of this focuses on the mystery or intrigue with characters holding multiple full length discussions that held my attention as much as they moved the plot along. As this is a novel without mortals, meaning ZERO humans, it was interesting to see how they were similar, but especially the little nods of how they were different. I hope in the sequels we get more explanation because I am so on the hook for how they all exist! Aren’t vampires and werewolves turned humans? Or is there something we’ve never seen before at play?

While there is a climactic finish, the story is definitely more of a slow burn. I think the world gets pretty well fleshed out, with even a commentary on capitalism—and/or classism, depending on how you view it—and I found it really unique how the author delivered on it in his world. Vampire servants on the cheapest blood still age over time, not only establishing that the “lowly” can’t live forever but also physically showing their differences. Almost like a group of vampires without access to universal “vampire” rights and healthcare. I mean there’s even an in-world commentary on fixed markets and the greedy gambling on them with the sale of sample flutes of new blood being offered before they go public. While the author does well to not make all this so over the top that you can’t enjoy the book without reading into these things, for me this added so much nuance and depth. It actually felt like there was a functioning city underneath the story.

Wildly unique, this one takes so many pieces of things I love and makes them entirely new. For fans of vampires, werewolves, magic, and intrigue.

As Klaus was a favorite of mine in the series, I’m so glad to have a prequel spinoff!

Klaus’ ability to commune with the dead has always been a struggle for him. He turns to vices to quiet the voices and pain they share, and while that is kind of understandable, dear old dad has certainly had enough. Just 18 years old, and Sir Reginald wants him gone, completely removed from the premises. And all Klaus can think to ask is, “will I still get my allowance?” Now out on his own, he heads to Hollywood where his ability to commune with dead actors keeps him from a life of turning tricks. However, his benefactor takes to enabling him—giving him powerful drugs that take him to the void (kind of like his “other place/mastering the dead” stuff from when he dies in the show)—continuing the cycle of his abuse for her own self gain. And of course, this one can’t get away that easily without its own fair share of weirdness, and features a subplot full of vampires in the Hollywood underbelly.

This miniseries was awesome. Klaus was one of my favorites in the show, mostly for his tortured soul and yet lightheartedness, but I’d also love to see the rest of the Umbrellas get the same treatment. We get a little snippet of Diego and Vanya in the short, Anywhere but Here, and some prequel-style scenes with Five in the past, but a full series would make them even better. There are endless options too! What exactly was Luther doing on the moon? Why exactly is Diego called Kraken—other than him just kind of swimming in Apocalypse Suite? What happened with Allison’s daughter? A miniseries of Five surviving the future? What happened to BEN (I have a feeling this is in Plan B though)? There are so many cool things they could do.

Focusing on Klaus was a great idea, he really is one of the most complex characters. For much of his life, his powers are nothing more than a hinderance, and at worst, a curse. The story allowed Gerard to deep dive into that, not just for character development and depth, but also allowing him a commentary on addiction. Klaus is numbing the pain, and not receiving the best/correct care from his family. After his father has had enough, he immediately falls in with an enabler, someone who looks supportive but is actually supplying his disease. If that wasn’t enough, there’s a chimp-vampire gangster looking for him as well in the hopes of capturing him for the use of his powers (just like the bikers in Hotel Oblivion). Without his siblings to turn to, his pain is just compounded over and over again as each face is another mask hiding selfish desires. And of course, the blood sucking vampires are a great metaphor and commentary on the greedy and dangerous nature of the film industry.

A great standalone that adds so much to our understanding of Seance as a whole. Can’t wait for Plan B to drop!

Volume 3 to me feels the most like an actual superhero comic book, still very much so the Umbrellas, but with a more fleshed out world. It is also somehow the most out there of them all. Completely insane.

The ragtag group that we can’t get enough of is back…and better than ever? As with all heroes, once they emerge, it seems as if there are villains appearing out of the woodwork. Why is it so perfectly timed that when someone has the strength to step up, magically there is someone there to try to bring them down? Well the same goes for the Umbrellas. Over the years, as more villains appeared, Sir Reginald sought a way to contain them so that they would stop coming back—assumably in the revolving door style we so often see in comics. The thing is, his plan worked, but for how long?

While I did enjoy the third season of the show, it differed from volume three much more than the other two and not just by making Hotel Oblivion into Obsidian. It also makes the hotel much more a real world location than a “pocket universe” and it meshed in the Sparrow academy too, which in 2026 is still a releasing volume…so not sure why they did that. I enjoyed the season, but I think I enjoy this volume way more.

Luther is magically fit again and he and Diego head to space—and then an alternate plain of existence—with a character that looks kind of like a caricature of Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli. Allison has a team up with Five, who is in a full on Agents of Shield-esque costume. Klaus is captured and put into seance work by a biker gang, much like in season 3 of the show. And Vanya is still recovering, but robot Mom is being awfully weird.

Hotel Oblivion is just that: Oblivion. A hotel filled with cockroach dinners and The Umbrella Academy’s very own rogues gallery. Until now, once you arrived at the hotel you were as good as gone, but some people just don’t know how to give it up. And believe it or not, you might see some familiar faces too! This whole volume felt to me like more of a natural superhero story than the first two. Not only does the hotel’s existence (and loaded up capacity) show the Umbrella’s legitimacy, but it also allows for the most climactic ending yet: a full on battle…with of course a Sparrow cliffhanger.

I am happy to see that Volume 4: Plan B is up for preorder. I don’t believe it was announced when I first ordered the 1-3 box set. I think this one would have worked well as an epic send off, not that there weren’t loose ends or anything obviously, and of course I am glad to have more. I hope it’s awesome.

Another solid entry! Onto You Look Like Death.

I’m so glad that I made time to roll right on through these after my rewatch of the show. As season 2 is my favorite, I was particularly excited for this.

After the cost of their “win” in Apocalypse Suite, each of them is a tad off balance. They’re separated, even those not split my distance, and there’s once again something brewing. Luther is drowning himself in sweets, Diego is too steadfast for his own good, so convinced he’s onto something, Allison still can’t speak, Klaus is now kind of famous and fine?? (which is actually atypical), except for the run in with death of course, Five is doing some racetrack betting (and worse), and Vanya is bedridden, barely having survived. Will they be able to reel themselves in, to save the world again?

This is pretty similar to the events of season two, however in a somewhat different order. The Commission and the Temps Aeternalis are heavily involved in this one, and we even get Hazel and Cha-CHA! With their masks they really make a splash on the page and they easily steal the show. The other Commission workers are much more colorful in the comic, popping off the page in stylized yellow and reds. And it makes for a more comic villain feel for sure…and of course, it’s even more wacky.

I always thought the show had Luther stuffing his face because of his giant physique, but he often does it when he’s stressed, so maybe it was actually a nod to this volume and his weight gain. I wonder why Hazel and Cha-Cha were introduced in S1 and they decided to have only Klaus take a stint in Vietnam. I enjoyed how in the comic more than one of them were there and how Diego took the reins. It was a bit strange to have the crew all over the place, but this felt like them spreading their wings.

While Apocalypse Suite introduced the gang and their personalities, Dallas felt more matured and lived in. It may be its own sort of alt-history, but it’s still a commentary on the hyper-violence in American history. It also felt like a step toward building into something that could run for quite a while. I’m excited for more.

A huge thanks to Saga Press for the physical arc. The hardcover with its naked artwork and sprayed edges is a real treat.

I requested this one off the blurb and the fact that it said the author was a writer for Netflix’s The OA series. Not only was I a fan, and it was canceled before its time, but it was also filmed in my high school and the new neighborhood that bordered it, which is a super cool thing to have happen.

A poem on an old rock speaks of a second coming. The sink is filled with floating rocks, clinging to gravity out of the endless friction in the sink. For many, there is only the concept of rising, of bettering themselves, but it is also based on fear. The Sinker has no such fear, and has sank further than many thought possible. If others are so afraid to sink, then next to no one is bringing information back and forth, leaving untold knowledge below. And that just might be important to what’s coming.

I will say off the rip that I think a book with this many terms created in-world has got to come with some sort of index. Maybe because I got it early it didn’t have it, so maybe that’s a me problem, but I just really hope it includes it. Things like “the sink” and the idea of people being “sinkers” or “risers" were pretty easy to pick up on, but there were others I would have liked to have an idea of. Again, that may be a me thing, but when a book—especially one with worldbuilding like this—has that many terms (I’m bringing to mind Toothsucker by Kaden Love) I’d personally read through the key first.

This book is certainly original. Worldbuilding unlike anything I’ve ever read, and I don’t think it can be mimicked either. The idea that right off the edge of your existence is an endless “world,” that all you have to do is take the leap, is really something special. I liked the idea of the sink just being this endless friction between spaces, that people could train on how to traverse it. It is a void much like outside our planet, yet it is unlike space. And while many may wear special uniforms to help with friction, it’s not really like being an astronaut or anything. Each rock has its own way to get by, to survive the void, and with so many staying put, they have different cultures and “codes” too. It was a bit hard to picture at first, but the idea itself leaves this really lush, lived-in feel where one rock can be farmers, the next gladiators.

The characters really shine too. The author has put together a cast that you really can grow to care for. If he was a part of the character growth on The OA, then I can really see why it’s so good. The Sinker, while only going by a moniker, is anything but a caricature. She’s complex with a harsh past, a driven story. She is pushed by anger and yet helps people over and over. She’s compelling, and likewise those she comes into contact with become the same as well. The Construct, a hulking amalgamation of rock, outcroppings, add-ons, and engines, is this wonderfully imaginative space. Led by the Garent, a seemingly ageless man with a fantastic winter wardrobe, and home to a disgusting set of insects. Hiram Goegal, who has probably my favorite name ever (and I loved the fact that he was called his full name almost every time) is also a great character. Technically part of the “villains,” perhaps, but truly thinks he’s on the path of doing what’s right.

Fascinating and unique, this meshing space sci-fi and fantasy into its own little new sub-genre. A bit of a slow start, but by the end you’ll be begging for book two.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, Tor Nightfire & Netgalley for the audio arc! I thought the cover was cool and was glad to be offered a copy.

This meshes notes of Peter Pan and Lord of the Flies with real world abuse and shared trauma. Riley and her brother, Oliver, are stuck in a troubled home after the death of their mother. A “home” where they are starved, emotionally abused with zero privacy, taught religion that’s wielded like a sledgehammer, and even forced to do hours of heavy lifting. But then there’s a knock at the window, an idea, a dream, taking shape. The idea that they could escape, flee. To make it to Nowhere. All their lives they’ve heard the stories of the Nowhere children, how they live alone, supporting each other and keeping adults and outsiders away. If they could just make it there, could it be the freedom they so desperately crave?

I enjoyed that this story was twofold. The added layer of not only adults, but investigative journalists/podcasters gave the story depth. Not to mention this sort of creepy-crawly feeling as they do their best to get to the bottom of what really happened, and is happening, at Nowhere. A movie star’s old burned down home where secrets abound. The group of children that only slip into the nearest town when they need to steal to keep going. It’s almost as if they’re ghosts.

I enjoyed the characterization of the children. Riley and Oliver in particular. Their familial depiction was a really solid showing of how strong the bother-sister bond can be (I have two) but also how tainted and complicated things can be as well. Because Oliver is so young, the damage caused at the hands of their abuser, their demon, is enough to keep coming back. With no one else but Riley, there’s no one else for him to blame, to lash out at. And Riley is a good depiction of unconditional love, even if that can be tainted too.

Nowhere is a fantastic name. I bounced between believing it was a place and that it was just the idea of safety and escape, that maybe nothing was really happening. And in that exact sense, it really is something along the lines of a very dark Neverland. Some of that darkness comes from Nowhere’s Lord of the Flies-esque past where the kids broke off into tribes that would fight for resources. And that being only briefly mentioned in the past kind of set up this looming threat overhead that it could happen again.

During most of my listen, I did enjoy the story, but I was leaning toward it being just okay/good. I wasn’t being blown away or anything, but the ending twist, to which I had several theories, really ended up getting me good. Like, I could not believe I didn’t see it all along good. And that really bumped up my enjoyment. It’s wild to me when it happens. Not just that I got it wrong, which although I do read horror/thriller/mysteries all the time does happen, but that I was so completely off.

A family drama that packs a punch with its dysfunction and yet also its perseverance.

This was a free comic book day short, and it’s still free to this day on kindle. It is also included in the back of volume one on the 1-3 boxset I own, so I’m glad it’s far from hidden.

This is a prequel short to the series. It really helps set up the tone and art of the series, and I think it’s a fantastic place to start. I almost wish we saw this and some other events (like the Paris rescue) at the opening of the show. I know fans received some flashback scenes, but there was not much in the way of heroics. It could have worked as a brief bit or shorts like the opening “4 years” sequence in the latest Fantastic Four. It would have given some depth I think, and seeing some of their villains would help explain why the world needed 6 child superheroes…

The Murder Magician and his helper felt kind of like a nod to Joker and Harley Quinn but without being a rip. This short gives us a snapshot into the stylized art that we’ll see throughout the rest of the series, and even offers readers an important snippet into how the Rumor’s powers work, which is different from the show. The idea that her sowing lies would actually create altered realities is really neat. I can see how that would get awfully messy for the show though.

Overall a swing-for-the-fences opener.

Huge shoutout to Angry Robot for the physical arc! I really enjoyed book 1 of the Ice Plague Wars series so to be offered the follow up was so cool.

Book 2 takes off running. While some of the South Pole Stationers have survived the climax of book 1, as well as the winter, there’s no reprieve in sight. If they want a chance in hell of getting off the ice they’ll need to put their heads together, to work as as much of a team as possible, and to overcome some pretty wild opposition. The northern McMurdo Station is expecting its summer influx of flights and an arrival of over 1500 workers. The CIA must get boots on the ground, must find out what happened to the symbiotes, and how to contain (or maintain) the problem before time runs out. Faces new and old will face off in this wickedly pulse pounding tale of survival. If this book does get a sequel, which I daresay is the plan, I think it will take on some real-world implications, finally making the big leap off of the ice.

This feels like equal parts Michael Crichton and Thomas Harris. It has the scifi thriller down pat, but it’s also so scientific and specific that it has that layer of detail that feels like Harris’ Hannibal series. If a zombie-adjacent contagion story were crushed into the isolated island-like Jurassic Park with the cannibal killer himself. Truly sharp writing and distinct prose make this hard to put down. Book 2 adds so much politics into the story, from the CIA to snooping reporters—exactly what you’d expect with a plague-level illness that threatens the Antarctic treaty, and it’s layered really well.

Rajan, Siri, and Keyon continue their partnership, and I think the way they move through this new layer of messed up makes sense. While they are now telepathically (or arguably even ‘symbiotically’) linked, they still have their own personalities and journeys. All they want is to make it off the ice. The only problem? Ben is not so gone as they thought, and he has nefarious intentions. This book adds a whole new layer of crazy, dangerously raising the stakes, and pushing these people ever closer to the edge of extinction. There are some climactic scenes that felt World War Z level tense.

Fast, bloody, and irresistibly good, this is one hell of a sequel that should be on every scifi/thriller reader’s TBR. If book one is about survival, book two is asking if those choices and decisions were even worth it.

Believe it or not, this was an instagram ad for me from Hot Topic? Super odd, but once I saw it was real I had to have one.

Delightfully, deliriously different. A love letter to Tolkien’s Legendarium and Edward Gorey’s art style. Each letter of the alphabet representing a person, place, or item, that found, witnessed, or welcomed death.

What a cool idea. One that started as a Inktober idea just as a fan, that then blew up on instagram, and later became an actual book deal. I feel like things like that don’t happen anymore, especially with something as legendary as the Tolkien Estate. This is one of those truly ‘dream big’ moments.

Breezed through this in one sitting. As it’s a stylized poem, with each letter receiving a single sentence, it’s not a time consuming read. However, the paragraph or so describing where each reference came from in the back of the book was awesome. This would be a really cool piece to get someone into the greater, deeper works of Tolkien, and the fact that the author cited his references, this might do just that. Middle-earth is an incredibly vast place with history and lore than many fans have only just scratched the surface on.

Here are two sets of favorites: “C is for Celebrimbor hung out to dry D is for Denethor who elected to fry”

“U is for Ungoliant whose last meal was gory V is for the Valiant “They are coming!” By Ori”

Beautifully, inventively illustrated, with both that Gorey style and yet still a Tolkien feel. A must have for Tolkien shelves.