Review: Fang Fiction: A Novel

Fang Fiction: A Novel by Kate Stayman-London
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London from Dial Press Trade Paperback via NetGalley.  It is available for purchase now!

I don't usually read romance, but I make an exception for Kate Stayman-London.  Fang Fiction is really for anyone who is into vampires, romance or not.  With Halloween coming up, this was a perfectly timed read.  I mean, what if vampires are real?  And what if you accidentally found yourself thrust into their very dramatic lives because you just happened to be a fan-atic of a book series about vampires.  It could happen.  It might be a dream come true even.  It could also be your worst nightmare if you didn't really pay attention to the details.  Besides having interesting characters and a unique plotline, I love the way this is also told in an epistolary-type fashion with commentary from a variety of characters.  If you want something delightful, and a little steamy, to read this holiday, check it out!  If you aren't into romance, I suggest making the Kate Stayman-London exception.  

Bonus points: I usually reserve bonus points for a very particular inclusion in books.  I'm making another exception here.  Kudos to Kate for including diverse characters so that many people can see themselves reflected here.

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Review: Karma Is a Cat: The True Stories of Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button Swift

Karma Is a Cat: The True Stories of Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button Swift by Farrin Jacobs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Karma Is a Cat: The True Stories of Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button Swift by Farrin Jacobs from Ten Speed Press via NetGalley. It should be published on January 7, 2025.

Karma Is a Cat: The True Stories of Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button Swift by Farrin Jacobs is the PURRfect book for the Taylor Swift fan and/or the cat lover.  Some might think this is a children's book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it even though I am 50 years old.  Now, some might say I am a bit biased as I am a Swiftie and a bit of a cat lady myself.  However, I think I looked at this book through an impartial and critical lens.  It was so fun!  The illustrations by Katty Huertas are fantastic and really capture the spirit of this precious trio and their mother. Yes, I read it in one sitting.  Yes, I did go back to look at parts of it again and to enjoy the illustrations. Yes, you should buy a copy for the Swiftie(s) in your life.  They will thank you.  

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Review: Sinéad O'Connor: The Last Interview: and Other Conversations

Sinéad O'Connor: The Last Interview: and Other Conversations by Melville House
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader's Copy of Sinead O'Connor: The Last Interview: and other Conversations edited by Melville House from Melville House Publishing via NetGalley.  It should be available to the public October 29, 2024.

Sinead O'Connor: The Last Interview: and other Conversations edited by Melville House with introduction by Kristin Hersh is a collection of interviews with Sinead O'Connor that span her career basically from beginning up until her death.  Reading it made me miss her so much!  Not only was she an incredible singer, she always spoke her mind no matter what the consequences could be.  Not enough people do that in the world!  She had a tough life, faced so much criticism, and yet continued to make music that would smack you across the face with its beauty and insight.  She was so much more than the woman with the shaved head, or the person who tore up the picture of the Pope on Saturday Night Live.  If only people went after pedophiles as hard as they did Sinead after she did that.  How dare she call out child abuse!  Make no mistake, in reading these interviews, you can't ignore that much of what Sinead did was to call attention to all the different ways children are abused. She wanted a better world for her children and all children. She was way ahead of her time.  Now excuse me while I go listen to No Man's Woman.

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Review: Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre

Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre by Aaron Mahnke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre by Aaron Mahnke from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. This book should be available to the public after November 12, 2024.

I was very excited to receive a copy of Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre by Aaron Mahnke because I am a big fan of his podcasts on tales of the weird. If you've listened to his podcasts, the book is very similar. It is a collection of true stories of unusual happenings throughout history and the world. They are loosely grouped by theme. You don't need to read them in order. You could read it in small snippets or big chunks, however you like. Having listened to the podcasts so much, I could nearly hear Aaron reading the accounts to me. The writing is very similar to the way the stories are presented in the podcasts. Besides being interesting and entertaining, you can come away with some great pieces of trivial knowledge. You never know when that can come in handy!

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Review: The Last Dream

The Last Dream by Pedro Almodóvar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader's Copy of The Last Dream by Pedro Almodovar from HarperVia via NetGalley.  

The Last Dream by Pedro Almodovar is a collection of short stories, mostly fiction although some are/might be autobiographical.  If you enjoy his films, you should enjoy this collection as they explore similar themes and reflect his style. My favorite story was the titular, The Last Dream.  I won't spoil it by telling you what it is about, but it was so moving.  It made me think of my own experience.  I shed some tears.  But not every story tugs at the heart strings.  Some are fun or dark or fantastical.  It is an interesting read because you never know what to expect from the next story.  Of course, you don't need to read them in order.  You could read them however you want.  But definitely read The Last Dream.  And maybe have a tissue handy just in case!

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Review: How to Sell a Haunted House

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Apparently, I have been on a haunted house kick lately, specifically a selling haunted houses of parents who have recently passed away under suspicious circumstances kick.  How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix fits very nicely in that niche.  Maybe because I am currently dealing with cleaning a house full of my parents' things, this book hit me hard.  I could relate to Louise not wanting to rush to just throw everything away.  There are lots of memories.  Memories are tricky things, and boy, can they be skewed by different perspectives.  This house has an added bonus, creepy dolls and puppets!  I never really thought of puppets as the thing of nightmares until now.  Dolls I can definitely see.  There are plenty of movies that make that point.  Add a healthy dose of sibling rivalry, and you have the makings of a horrific tale.  Get to reading!

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Review: Model Home

Model Home by Rivers Solomon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Model Home by Rivers Solomon from Farrar, Straus, and Giroux/MCD via NetGalley.  It should be available to the public on October 1, 2024.  

Rivers Solomon was in the process of writing Model Home when they read a teeny excerpt at WisCon last year.  I wrote down the title and have been obsessively waiting for its release ever since.  I almost lost my mind when I received an Advanced Reader's Copy because I couldn't wait to read this before Halloween.  You see, Model Home is a ghost/haunted house story, and it will haunt the hell out of you.     When you have to deal with the death of close family members, like your parents, it brings up all sorts of skeletons from your past. How one deals with it varies greatly.  Rivers has a way of writing that really puts my senses through a workout.  I swear I could taste the late night diner pancakes.  I really wanted those pancakes.  Don't let the pancakes distract you! This is some deeply dark stuff we are dealing with, but wow, was it worth it. 

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Review: Raising Women

Raising Women by Shannon Waite
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Raising Women by Shannon Waite from the author via NetGalley. This book should be available to the public starting October 11, 2024.

When I read the description for Raising Women by Shannon Waite, I knew I needed to read it.  It is described as an interactive novel about growing into womanhood.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE a choose-your-own-adventure book, game, movie, whatever so this was a no-brainer.  I've also made it into womanhood successfully by many definitions, so how bad could I get it wrong?  Hint: I got it really wrong.  The good news is I could go back and try again.  Reading it on Kindle made it fairly easy to jump to the right section.  Going back was less easy.  This is not a sweet coming-of-age book. You are a teenage girl, but you have to deal with very adult situations and sometimes uncomfortable situations.  Keep that in mind if you decide to gift this book!  I still had a lot of fun ruining my life.

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Review: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix really had me steaming about the patriarchy.  As he says in the forward, this book is a tribute to the mothers who are the everyday, unsung heroes.  To all the people who dismay the "housewife" as someone without a job, you have no idea.  So, a group of housewives start a book club to help them escape the day-to-day for just a bit.  They like to read true crime.  As a fellow lover of true crime, I get the appeal.  Gruesome but fascinating!  Then things start happening in their neighborhood that they would be remiss to ignore.  While many people can overlook a lot, most can't overlook a potential threat to their children.  That's when the book gets uncomfortable.  It's also when the men in the book get so annoying, I wanted to get rid of all of them!  And yet, it didn't seem that over-the-top which makes me sad.  Even though it promises vampires, it reads more like true crime than straight horror.  When you finish reading it, don't forget to tell your mother you love her.

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Review: Murder Road

Murder Road by Simone St. James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Murder Road by Simone St. James is a story in the tradition of urban legends about ghostly hitchhikers.  There's many a haunted road in the United States.  They are almost always some long, unlit deserted stretch in a rural part of the country. People who have heard the rumors tend to avoid it just in case.  But sometimes you are just passing through. You take a wrong turn.  And that turns your life upside down.  Lots of good suspense with plenty of secrets.  You might want to take this one for a ride.

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Review: The Book of Gems

The Book of Gems by Fran Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Book of Gems is the third novella in the Gemworld series by Fran Wilde. I had been told you didn't need to read any of the other books to read this one, and that is true. I started here. This book was recommended to me because I like epistolary novels. It helps that it is short, so you don't have to worry about making a huge time investment into something you may or may not enjoy. In this case, I did enjoy it. There are definitely gems involved in new and unique ways. Don't upset them!

For a novella, there are a lot of interesting themes packed in here to chew on. You don't have to know anything about gemstones to appreciate the story even though they play a major role. It is more like a cautionary tale of colonialism and unethical archaeology. It made me think of early Egyptologists and the curses that supposedly plagued them.

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Review: I Did Something Bad

I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received a copy of I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.

Those who know me know I don't read much in the romance genre. Nothing against romance (I used to read it voraciously). I'm just in a different Era of my life now, and it hits different now. But, I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War grabbed my attention for two reasons: 1) The book title is also a Taylor Swift song, and 2) it was billed as a mystery thriller with romance. I was ...ready for it! The title could have been a coincidence. After reading the book, I don't think it was.  I have reasons.  It definitely was a mystery thriller with romance.  That's the kind of romance I can read.  I also seem to have a thing for books about a journalist writing a piece on a celebrity, so there's that. I almost forgot I was reading a romance, and that is some of the highest praise I can give. 

Now here is the other reason you should read this book. It takes place in Myanmar!  Pyae Moe Thet War is from Myanmar.  This is not someone pretending they know what Myanmar is like. For me, it was fun to be taken somewhere new and given insight into a different culture.

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Review: Rage: On Being Queer, Black, Brilliant . . . and Completely Over It

Rage: On Being Queer, Black, Brilliant . . . and Completely Over It by Lester Fabian Brathwaite
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Rage: On Being Queer, Black, Brilliant . . . and Completely Over It by Lester Fabian Brathwaite from Penguin Group Dutton/Tiny Reparations Books  via NetGalley.

Although I am not queer or Black, the title, Rage: On Being Queer, Black, Brilliant . . . and Completely Over It by Lester Fabian Brathwaite, captured my attention and made me want to read this book.  As a middle-aged perimenopausal woman, I am quite acquainted with rage. This book gave me a new and different perspective on rage. Lester has plenty of reasons to have rage.  It is kind of funny that the underlying source of much of his rage is similar to mine even though we have very different life experiences.  I found myself saying, "You are so right about that!" many times. You have to read the book to find out what that source is.  

This book doesn't mince words and deals with topics that may make some people feel uncomfortable. Personally, I think it is good to challenge your thinking and open yourself up to new perspectives. There are things I will never truly be able to understand because I am not Black or queer, but I can get a better idea of where people are coming from with their own rage.  Thanks, Lester!

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Review: The Saturday Night Ghost Club

The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson is an engrossing, fast read. It clocks in at about 222 pages. I burned through it on a flight. It falls under horror and mystery, but I found it to be really touching and appropriate for teenagers or adults. I would have loved to have had a family member who owned an occult store and took me on ghost hunts growing up.  I didn't quite have that, but my parents loved a ghost story, and my dad was a master at telling them. I think that added a layer to my enjoyment of this book.  Whether you believe in ghosts or not, people can be haunted in all different sorts of ways.  

In addition to the ghost stuff, I enjoyed the story of making friends when you are a bit weird and having that one friend that every adult thinks is a bad influence but that's just because they don't get why you are friends.  That was a really powerful side story.  This is great if you want some ghost stories but to still be able to sleep with the lights off.

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Review: Darkly

Darkly by Marisha Pessl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Darkly by Marisha Pessl from Random House Children's Delacorte Press via NetGalley.

Don't be fooled by the young adult categorization of Darkly by Marisha Pessl.  This book can certainly be enjoyed by adults because I loved it!  Maybe I am biased because I have read every one of Marisha's books and enjoyed them all. I was so excited to get this one because it promised to be what I love about her work: dark, spooky, and intellectually stimulating.  I love a good puzzle and a good board game.  Combine the two and I am in heaven. Escape rooms, murder mystery parties, all of that stuff, yes please.  When a group of teenagers are selected to solve a mystery related to a lost board game by their favorite game-maker, they find themselves in a real life version of the game.  It is fantastic!  It will have you guessing about whodunnit and who can be trusted.  You might be surprised.  Highly recommend it to anyone who wants a spooky puzzle to solve without a bunch of gore. 

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Review: The Masquerades of Spring

The Masquerades of Spring by Ben Aaronovitch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Masquerades of Spring by Ben Aaronovitch from Subterranean Press via NetGalley.

The Masquerades of Spring is a novella in the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch.  I have only read the first book in the series, so I can safely tell you that you could read this as a standalone.  While maybe reading the first book would help set up some information for you, it is not really necessary.  

I enjoyed the setting of 1920s New York City and Harlem specifically.  It was an interesting time in the United States, and the Harlem Renaissance was in full bloom.  You will also get a taste of ball culture which sounds spectacular to witness in person. 

It may bother some people that the language used is accurate to the time period.  There are terms used regarding black and queer people that would never be acceptable today.  If that bothers you, I would move along to another book. 

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Review: How to Train Your Dog with Love + Science: A Dog Lover's Guide to Animal Behavior and Positive Reinforcement Training

How to Train Your Dog with Love + Science: A Dog Lover's Guide to Animal Behavior and Positive Reinforcement Training by Annie Grossman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of How to Train Your Dog with Love + Science: A Dog Lover's Guide to Animal Behavior and Positive Reinforcement Training by Annie Grossman from Sourcebooks via NetGalley.  It should be available to the public on September 10, 2024

How to Train Your Dog with Love + Science: A Dog Lover's Guide to Animal Behavior and Positive Reinforcement Training by Annie Grossman is a good introduction to dog training.  There are some basic exercises you can do to start a foundation for training your dog.  More than anything, this book provides a good description of positive reinforcement training and how it differs from other dog training methods. This is really great for people who might be new to dog training or might be struggling to train a dog.  Even though my dog has been through training, I picked up a few tips.

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Review: Here One Moment

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty from Crown Publishing via NetGalley. It should be available to the public on September 10, 2024. 

I've read and enjoyed a few books by Liane Moriarty, but Here One Moment is my favorite so far. The book is told from various perspectives.  All the narrators were on a flight together.  One of them gets up during the flight and predicts the age and cause of death of all the others.  What happens after that is up to each of them.  There's a little mystery and suspense as we wait to find out if the predictions will come true.  More importantly, it makes you stop and think about what you might do if you were given the same information. Would you accept your fate or try to change it?  Be sure to check this one out!  

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Review: Red Side Story

Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have been waiting a very long time to read Red Side Story, the second book in the Shades of Grey series, by Jasper Fforde.  I haven't read a book by Fforde that I didn't like.  For some reason, this series about colors always reminds me of the public gardens in Vienna, Austria.  What if I couldn't see them in color at all?  Or only in shades of one color?  Red Side Story plays on Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story with people divided by a color hierarchy.  Purple at the top. Grey at the bottom. This time though the star-crossed lovers are way smarter and fighting for a better world.  Well, one of them is way smarter and the other just might be really lucky.  While it is fun to read, it also makes you think about our world and how class affects us.  Pro tip: Save your spoons. They may be valuable one day.

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Review: Black Sheep

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison checked so many of my boxes!  Taylor Swift references, making bad choices with bad boys, religious cult, and horror films.  The main character has spent her life trying to escape the fundamentalist religious group she grew up in. It is not that they are bad people, but she just can't find any way to share their beliefs. She can't help being curious though when she receives a wedding invitation for a childhood friend and decides to go back.  I did mention bad decisions, didn't I?  I recommend not reading any summaries before you read the book because it might spoil a really important point.  This is like if horror met chick lit and had a baby with all the best qualities.  Read it!


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Review: Fire and Bones

Fire and Bones by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Fire and Bones by Kathy Reichs from Scribner via NetGalley.

Fire and Bones is the 23rd novel in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs.  If you watched the TV show, Bones, it was inspired by this series.  You could pick up this book and start reading the series here without having read the previous books.  This could also be read as a standalone if you are not sure you want to invest in a series of 20+ books.  

I think what most intrigued me about this one is that it is set in Foggy Bottom in Washington, DC.  Having just started my retirement journey from the US Department of State, Foggy Bottom holds a special place in my heart.  I don't know if the Foggy Bottom gang was a real historical thing or not.  Doesn't really matter to me.  It was a good excuse to get into the history of the area.  There are a couple of different "mysteries" happening in here.  I won't spoil any of them, but you won't be lacking for puzzles to solve if you like that kind of thing.  The only thing I couldn't stop wanting throughout this book was a crossover cameo from Kay Scarpetta.  Maybe in the future???  I'll keep my fingers crossed.  

Bonus points for Chuck.  That chinchilla is going places!  However, I am not ready for Birdie to take a backseat just yet.

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Review: Ascension

Ascension by Nicholas Binge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ascension by Nicholas Binge is somewhere between science fiction and horror.  It is presented as a collection of letters written to the main character's niece that were compiled and printed posthumously to warn humans about a threat to our existence.  I am always going to give an epistolary novel a go.  I just love that style.  There are editorial asides which lend to making it feel real.  This did make me think a bit about the movie, The Thing.  A team of experts in their field end up in a very brutal environment trying to figure out what is going on but also what killed the team before them.  The main question is how does a mountain show up out of nowhere?  The only way to find the answer is to ascend.

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Review: The Writing Retreat

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz was a spectacular thriller.  If you favorite author of all time invited you to spend a month at a very exclusive writing retreat at their remote home with the chance to have your book published at the end, you would go wouldn't you?  Who would turn that down?  Some people might even kill for that chance.  Sure said author is an eccentric character who writes gothic horror and lives a life that reflects that.  The house itself has a ghastly history and may house a demon.  This isn't Stephen King and his corgis although it did give me The Shining vibes.

The main story is interspersed with excerpts from the book being written during the retreat so it is like getting two books in one.  Each story is crazy good in its own way.  Another book not for the squeamish! 

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Review: La empleada

La empleada by Freida McFadden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Housemaid is the first book in the Housemaid series by Freida McFadden.  My sister told me I needed to read this because she thought it was fantastic.  We don't often overlap in our taste in books, but it did keep coming up in other areas, so I thought I would give it a try.  I do like a good psychological thriller.  My library only had the ebook in Spanish.  Fortunately, I prefer to use my language skills for reading!  Millie is hired by Nina to do housekeeping and child care.  Millie really needs the job after a bit of a rough life start.  Nina has everything a person could ask for but only because she married well.  So it comes as quite a surprise that she seems to only want to make Millie miserable.  You have to read the book to find out why.

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Review: Gather the Daughters

Gather the Daughters by Jennie Melamed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gather the Daughters by Jennie Melamed hooked me because it is described as a book about a cult on an island.  I love a good cult book.  This one definitely delivered!  This book isn't going to be for everyone because it deals with some heavy issues including child abuse and rape.  The chapters alternate points of view of girls and women in the story.  Each of them deals with their society and their personal situations in a different way.  Rebellion...conformity...there doesn't seem to be a perfect solution.  One person's utopia is another person's nightmare.  

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Review: Magpie Murders

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Magpie Murders is the first book in the Susan Ryeland series by Anthony Horowitz.  You could certainly read this as a standalone.  I was actually surprised to learn there is a second book.  This is a perfect read for people who like epistolary format and whodunnits.  There is a mystery within a mystery, a book within a book.  Will you catch all the clues and figure it out before Susan does?  Just remember that life doesn't necessarily follow the neat rules of murder mysteries.  

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Review: The Omega Factor

The Omega Factor by Steve Berry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Omega Factor by Steve Berry is a standalone novel that takes place in the Cotton Malone universe but does not include any of those characters.  Instead we meet Nick Lee who works for UNESCO investigating crimes against cultural heritage locations and items.  Through a personal connection with a nun he gets drawn into a Catholic mystery involving art, Cathars, Joan of Arc and the Virgin Mary.  Yes, please!  As always, you get the great blend of history and action that Berry consistently delivers.  If you already enjoy the Cotton Malone series, give this a read!  If you have never read a Steve Berry novel, this is a good starter.

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Review: I Was a Teenage Slasher

I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones from Saga Press via NetGalley.

I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones is yet another amazing foray into slasher movies from the perspective of someone living in one.  Tolly Driver is just a teenage boy trying to graduate from high school in west Texas when he unexpectedly finds himself living by the rules of a slasher movie except he is the slasher.  That's not really a spoiler.  It is right there in the title.  The book is him telling his story.  He didn't want to be a slasher.  He didn't even watch horror movies!  Fortunately, his best friend did.  She's a smart cookie and picks up on the signs right away.  The only problem is those movies never tell you how to stop someone from becoming a slasher.  They try their best though.  It is odd to find a book with a lot of violence heartwarming but I'm going to use that word.  I really felt for Tolly and his predicament.  And everyone needs a best friend like Amber.  Lots of nostalgia for growing up in the 80s as well.  Good stuff!

Finally, if you have a peanut allergy, don't accept a soda from anyone in the south apparently.  I didn't even know that was a thing. 

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Review: The Book of Elsewhere

The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Mieville from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley.

The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Mieville is based on the BRZRKR comic books created by Keanu.  I haven't read the comic books, but the story sounded very interesting.  This is weird fiction.  You have to be ok with not knowing exactly what is happening in the very beginning. The story will reveal itself with chapters alternating between "present" time and stories from the past that tell the history of Unute aka B.  Not only does B come back from the dead, he also goes into rage states where he becomes a killing machine.  If you don't do well with violence, you might want to skip this.  Although B is the main character, I wouldn't define him as a hero.  He's not necessarily a villain either.  The first few chapters were very slow going as I puzzled things out.  Once it all started to click, the pace really picked up.  You had me at religious fanaticism and pig-worshipping cults!  If you have read the comic books, definitely pick this up.  If you haven't but are looking for something that is an atypical action thriller, give this a go.

Bonus points for incorporating Babe, the immortal babirusa.  Honestly my favorite character.  I could read a whole series just based on Babe's adventures through history.  

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Review: Skein Island

Skein Island by Aliya Whiteley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Skein Island by Aliya Whitely is a dark tale about Fate.  Yes, Fate with a capital F.  I put it on my list because it is about an island that hosts a women-only retreat.  That theme keeps appearing in my life, so I may just have to sign up for one soon.  Women apply for an invitation to spend one week, all expenses paid, escaping from the rest of the world in exchange for writing the story of their life.  Sounds like an amazing deal!  Turns out there is a catch.  There is always a catch.  That catch is a bit terrifying.  People into mythology may also like this book.

My edition contained a bonus short story set in the same world but with different characters.  I enjoyed it too.  

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Review: Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters

Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn is a delightful epistolary story with "a novel in letters" being a play on words of sorts.  Yes, it is told through letters, but it is also about letters, alphabet letters.  In an isolated island society, the local government decides to start banning the usage of letters of the alphabet based on a perceived divine intervention.  As letters get banned, the letters are written without them.  If you ever thought a letter was expendable, have a read!  The book is very cleverly written and can appeal to a broad audience but especially language nerds.  

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Review: Cat + Gamer Volume 1

Cat + Gamer Volume 1 by Wataru Nadatani
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cat + Gamer, Volume 1 is manga by Wataru Nadatani.  Easy to read in one sitting, Volume 1 introduces the story of a gamer girl who adopts a kitten.  She doesn't know much about cats, so she tries to user gamer logic to comical results.  As a gamer girl and an animal lover, this manga was made for me.  In my experience, cats tend to like video games, so this is a perfect combination.  It's a very cute and fun read.

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Review: Silence For the Dead

Silence For the Dead by Simone St. James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Silence for the Dead by Simone St. James is the embodiment of that phrase, "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you."  This is a ghost story wrapped up in gothic imagery.  An isolated mansion converted into a convalescence home for soldiers with what we would now think is PTSD set in the 1900s has to be haunted.  That's the rule.  This story is not particularly scary but haunting is a good description.  Nice if you are feeling gothy.

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Review: The 23rd Midnight

The 23rd Midnight by James Patterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The 23rd Midnight is the 23rd book in the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.  You could start here, but this book's storyline makes reference to a previous storyline that is worth reading first.  All your favorite characters get some time.  We also get some hints that at least one member of the club is thinking about retirement.  I had been wondering when that day might come.  It all has to come to an end eventually.  The good news is there is another book already out so that time is not yet.

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Review: Good Girls Don’t Die

Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Good Girls Don't Die by Christina Henry is dark feminist horror.  Have you ever read a book and thought you could do better than the main character in surviving whatever it is they are faced with?  What if you then woke up to find yourself in that situation?  That's what this book explores.  It appeals to fans of the Truman Show and the Hunger Games or even just reality TV but the reality TV that is like a Japanese game show where people are entertained by other people getting hurt.  Throw in an overdose of misogyny, and you have quite the recipe.  Would you make it out alive? 

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Review: Solo: A Modern Cookbook for a Party of One

Solo: A Modern Cookbook for a Party of One by Anita Lo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Solo: A Modern Cookbook for a Party of One written by Chef Anita Lo is exactly that.  There really aren't enough cookbooks in the world designed for single people.  Most recipes make too much food for one person and who wants to do the math to get it down to a single portion?  Not this woman!  I also loved that Lo focuses on making sure there is no waste and supports eating things other people would throw in the trash.  While many of the dishes have meat in them, there were plenty of veggie options or modifications to make vegetarian options.  Make sure you read the stories that come before each recipe too because that is one of the best parts!  

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Review: The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories

The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories is a collection of short stories written by Terry Pratchett long before he was ever famous for the Discworld series.  The stories are meant for children but can be enjoyed by anyone.  I had put off reading this for a long time because it is the last book I had on my list by Pratchett.  There will be no more books, and that makes me sad.  But, it was a pleasure to read his voice again.  

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Review: The Book of Cold Cases

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James is another mystery/thriller with a supernatural element.  It is told in alternating narratives between the woman investigating a cold case for her blog and the woman who is suspected of murder in the case. While it could be categorized as horror as well, it isn't really that scary unless you are worried about ghosts murdering you.  Maybe you should be...

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Review: The Library of Lost and Found

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick has a bit of a cozy mystery feeling to it.  There is a mystery although it doesn't involve a murder.  It is more family secrets in a quaint setting.  There are cake and books, which I always support.  The main character has a problem of putting other people's needs before her own as her way of connecting.  It seems like a great trait to have until you realize that you've lost yourself.  This book is about finding yourself and is a nice read when you need that boost. 

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Review: Snowflakes

Snowflakes by Ruth Ware
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Snowflakes is an Amazon Original Story by Ruth Ware.  It is only 31 pages, so you can read it in one sitting.  A little bit dystopian fiction, a little bit mystery, a little bit thriller.  In this crazy world, I could see this absolutely happening.  Check it out!

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Review: The Penelopiad

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood is a must read for anyone who enjoys Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.  This is the story of Penelope as told by her and the maids that were killed by Odysseus and Telemachus.  It gives you a very different and refreshing perspective.  Penelope was very clever and deserved her own book.  The writing is excellent.  The chapters told by the maidens are unique.  Thoroughly enjoyable!

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Review: Unnatural Death

Unnatural Death by Patricia Cornwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unnatural Death is the 27th book in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell.  You could pick up here, but at 27 books, there is a lot of history.  Still, even if you don't know all that history, you can enjoy this book.

It just happened that I toured the Cook County Medical Examiner's office at the same time as I was reading this.  It gave me a whole new perspective on the Kay Scarpetta series.  You never quite forget that decomposition smell.  I will think of it every time I read one of these.  This book added a new twist with a special government lab and Sasquatch???  We are also set up for another book, so get to reading!  

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Review: The Beast You Are: Stories

The Beast You Are: Stories by Paul Tremblay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Beast You Are: Stories by Paul Tremblay is a collection of short stories and a novella.  If you have read a Head Full of Ghosts, you will recognize some of the characters here.  If you haven't read it, you may want to read it before or after this.  It is really good too!  I highly recommend reading the story notes either after each story or at the end because they are really interesting and, in my opinion, will give you a greater appreciation of each story.  While each story fits into the horror genre, they are not all necessarily scary or gory.  I read them in order, but you don't have to.  

Bonus points for having a novella of anthropomorphized animals.  I am still haunted by Watership Down and always will be.  

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Review: Night Side of the River

Night Side of the River by Jeanette Winterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Night Side of the River is a collection of short ghost stories by Jeanette Winterson.  The stories are divided up into tech-related, location-related, and person-related and each section include at least one true story that Jeanette has encountered.  You can certainly jump around and read them in any order you like.  I really enjoyed the technology-related stories and Jeanette's true stories the most.  Jeanette thinks about tech and artificial intelligence in the same ways that I do.  I find myself drawn to her writings on that.  The stories are beautiful and not necessarily scary.  It is a good reminder that we all live with ghosts even if they don't manifest themselves in the way we traditionally think about ghosts.  

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Review: The Puzzle Master

The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Puzzle Master is the first book in the Puzzle series by Danielle Trussoni.  You will want to start here as it introduces you to Mike Brink and why he is considered the Puzzle Master.  This book appealed to me because it does contain puzzles. I enjoyed trying to solve them before their solutions were revealed to me.  There are also elements of religion, the paranormal, and secret societies which are always things I like to read.  If you liked the DaVinci Code, pick this book up.  

Bonus points for Conundrum, the smart dog, who I was more worried about then any person in the book.  

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Review: The Pallbearers' Club

The Pallbearers' Club by Paul Tremblay
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

The Pallbearers' Club by Paul Tremblay falls in the horror genre but it not necessarily scary.  It has an epistolary tinge to it with a character commenting throughout the book as if they were writing their own notes/review/reactions to what is presented.  It is a fictional memoir of a friendship with a suspected vampire. She is more like an energy vampire, so don't worry about a lot of blood.  I feel like this book will have extra appeal to Gen Xers.  I don't know why I feel that, I just do.  It made me want to listen to the Cure and all my alternative music while wearing all black, Gothy clothes and a pair of Doc Martens. 

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Review: Starling House

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow is a Southern Gothic, "haunted" house novel.  Dark, mysterious, a little scary, but also funny.  There are epistolary elements which immediately bumps it up for me. There is a lot happening in this book and yet it never feels overwhelming or difficult to keep all the pieces straight.  Some really good surprises.  Ultimately, it is a good reminder that we shouldn't try to bury the sins of our past as that will just backfire.  Also, and this won't come as a shock, racists and misogynists suck.  

Bonus points for the hellcat.  I have met that cat in more than one place in the world.  Always befriend the hellcat. 

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Review: The Atmospherians

The Atmospherians by Isle McElroy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Atmospherians by Isle McElroy is a satire of cults and the obsession with social media celebrity, particularly wellness influencers.  You may find this published under the name Alex McElroy.  While there is much to laugh about, it is also deadly serious and a bit horrific how on-the-nose it is.  I could see it easily becoming non-fiction.  There is definitely an element that I hope remains fiction, man mobs.  Although these days, anything could happen.  Pairs very nicely with the Conspirituality podcast.

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Review: How to Survive Your Murder

How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine is probably best categorized as fiction, it is also quite funny.  I loved all the 90s horror movie references.  The book is fashioned in a way that is reminiscent of those movies.  If you enjoy those, you will very likely enjoy this book.  There is a bit of a mystery to solve.  Is memory reliable?  How many people would you sacrifice to bring back someone you loved?  Lots of interesting, thought-provoking questions wrapped up in a fun, bloody package.

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Review: Shakespeare for Squirrels

Shakespeare for Squirrels by Christopher Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shakespeare for Squirrels is the third book in the Fool series by Christopher Moore.  This is a humorous take on A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Like Shakespeare, it is pretty bawdy.  There is a monkey named Jeff who is my favorite.  

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