Review: The Witches are Coming

The Witches are Coming by Lindy West
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for possibly writing a review.

I first saw Lindy West on Unapologetic with Aisha Tyler. That was enough to convince me to watch Shrill on Hulu. So when I had an opportunity to read her new book, I took it.

I liked her idea to turn witch hunt on its head. Each chapter is really a short essay on a topic with the witch hunt thread woven throughout. While there is humor, this is really more social commentary and there is plenty to not laugh about too. Throughout history, women who did not conform to societal expectations have been labeled and persecuted. Witch is one of those labels. But rather than deny the label, maybe we should embrace it and the power that comes with it.

If you like Shrill, you should read this book. If you liked Dietland, you should read this book. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you may want to do a little research before you buy this book or get it from your library. It isn't for everyone. Some probably will find it offensive. For those that do, just remember....the witches are coming for you.

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Review: Verses for the Dead

Verses for the Dead by Douglas Preston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 18th book in the Pendergast series. You could read this book as a standalone. There are few references to previous books but nothing that would make it difficult to understand what's going on. If you've never read Pendergast books before, this may not be the best introduction. He is not nearly as quirky in this book as he is in other parts of the series. This book was also much faster paced than many of the previous books. I wondered if this was setting us up for a spinoff for one of the new characters introduced.



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Review: European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman

European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club series. These books are LONG so be ready for an investment. I recommend reading them in order as the first book gives all the back story of the main characters and is referenced many times. As with the first book, this book also includes interjections from the various characters throughout. I'm really enjoying that aspect of these books.

In this book, the Athena Club sets out to Budapest via Vienna to rescue another young woman. In this case, they end up in my old neighborhood visiting Dr. Freud. The book brought back fond memories of my time in Vienna and my visits to Budapest. This time we're dealing with vampires. There's a steep learning curve for the Athena Club. There is also a showdown with the Society of Alchemists. It isn't all just creepy men experimenting on their daughters.

The great thing about these books is that they aren't just one type of book. They have romance, adventure, mystery, suspense, humor, and monsters. Who says you can't have it all?

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Review: Into the Drowning Deep

Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is a prequel, Rolling in the Deep, that I recommend reading before you read this one because there are many references to what happened in that book. The only caveat is reading them in order takes a little bit of the horror out of this one because you know what's coming. There's still plenty of suspense.

I do wonder why I read these books while living on an island. They will make you think twice about going in the ocean. Certainly, I'm never going to the Mariana Trench now. You'll probably also not think of mermaids in the same way ever again. The book is a great reminder of the arrogance of humanity. It also doesn't paint scientists in a great light, the lengths they will go to for a discovery.

On the lighter side, it opens in Monterey, CA taking me back to some great memories. There's also a diverse bunch of characters. Sign language plays an important role which you don't see often in books. And if you are looking for a book with strong female characters, there are plenty in this one.

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Review: Miao Dao

Miao Dao by Joyce Carol Oates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is part of the Dark Corners Collection of Amazon Original Stories. It is a standalone short story.

Amazingly, I have never read Joyce Carol Oates before. She is such a prolific writer that you would think I would have. Nope. When I saw this for free through Amazon, I thought it would be a good chance to see what she's all about.

This story is not for the squeamish. This is an examination of how hard it can be to be 13, a girl, and going through puberty. The taunting and teasing, the loneliness of physically developing faster than your peers, and the grossness of some adult males. If you are triggered by child abuse, I would not recommend this book to you. It's very uncomfortable. It is classified as horror because there are also two murders.

I almost gave this story three stars. I didn't enjoy it, and I would say maybe you aren't meant to enjoy it. In the end, I added a star for the feral cat plotline. While I didn't have the difficult childhood Mia, the main character did, I could relate completely to her fascination with the feral cat colony, the desire to befriend them, and the crushing despair when other people are cruel to them. In that sense, I was that little girl. That deserved its own recognition.

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Review: Violet

Violet by Scott Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for a possible review.

I had heard really good things about Scott Thomas, so I was excited when I was chosen to read Violet. I now understand the hype.

This book is a slow burn, and yet I didn't feel the need to rush through it. It's creepy, and you can feel that you are building to something worth waiting for. It's like watching a horror movie on the edge of your seat waiting for the moment something will jump out. The thing is I would call this more suspense than horror. There are some horror elements, but I wouldn't say they were scary as much as they just added to the skin crawl factor.

The book is set in the Midwest and feels authentic. The author captures the sadness of small towns dying out in a very real way. This story probably could have been set in a number of places (got lake? will do), but the choice of small town Midwest is it's own statement.

Bonus points because the main character is a vet and has always helped animals in need. That's my kind of character.

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