I love short stories. A good short is able to deliver the same message/mood/emotion as their longer counterparts. I’m continuing my annual February choice with these titles…
Since we’re still in the middle of winter, and we have definitely entered dark times, I felt The Darkest Night seemed appropriate. This anthology has some of my favorite horror authors plus a few I haven’t had a chance to check out. Looking forward to starting this one.
After the People Lights Have Gone Off is an older collection (2014 I believe) from Stephen Graham Jones, another fav of mine. It’s been out of print for some time, and after searching for it everywhere, I was super excited to find out they reissued it AND a signed copy came in one of my NightWorms packages! I enjoy reading an author’s earlier works, it’s always fun to see how their writing has changed and grown over the years.
I’m also adding this anthology to the mix for this month as well. Recently released by one of my favorite new indie publishers, Bad Hand Books, this is an eclectic mix of stories and poetry that, well, the title sums up pretty well. I started reading it in late January, and as of this writing (early February 2), I’m probably going to finish it later today or tomorrow. I’ll let you know what I think!
As for January, I finished my monthly goal of 10 books. I’m still reading ACourt of Thorns and Roses, my pick for the month, but only have around 100 pages left. It’s been a mixed bag for me, but I’ve been enjoying more than I thought I would.
What are your reading goals for February? Drop me a line and let’s talk books!
Starting out the New Year with some great new books!
As usual, my monthly subscriptions did not disappoint. Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao (Fantastic Strangelings Club) is the tale of a woman who inherits a pawn shop where you can sell your regrets, and soon “…embarks on a magical journey when a charming young physicist wanders into the shop, in this dreamlike and enchanting fantasy novel.” Something about the cover blurb reminds me of an earlier FS selection, The Full Moon Coffee Shop, another magical realism story involving a mysterious “hidden” location. I’ve been on a fantasy kick since the holidays, so I put this one high on my to-read list.
From NightWorms — A novelist seeking inspiration moves into the historic home of a 19th century poet and spiritualist in Beneath the Poet’s House by Christa Carmen. I’m sure nothing good will come from that! Feast While YouCan (Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta) has a woman living in a small, isolated community who apparently awakens the evil forces in nearby caves. Sounds intriguing for sure.
Of course, I had to start the New Year by treating myself to a little online shopping (and to also serve as a distraction from current events). I’ve been searching for a copy of The Last King of California by Jordan Harper for a couple of years now, and was super excited to finally find a copy!! It arrived January 30, and I immediately pushed aside my current reads pile and dove right in (apologies to my current reads!). I’m only a few chapters in, but so far it is meeting all of my expectations.
I recently stumbled across the movie, Battle Royale, on a free streaming service. Seeing that it was based on a book, of course I had to look it up. How have I not heard of this before? A 21st century twist on Lord of the Flies, well, that immediately got my attention! At 627 pages, this isn’t going to be a light read in any sense, and definitely one I will need to be in the right reading mood to start. And no, I didn’t watch the movie…if you have, what did you think? Worth watching?
Have you received any great book mail lately? Or checked out any awesome reads from your local library? Drop me a line and let’s talk books!
Until next time, stay vigilant, stay safe, and Happy Reading!
I know that everything is going to hell in a handbasket right now, but I will not be commenting on those things through this blog. Books are my safe space, and this blog was created to share that. I will continue to be vocal on other platforms about certain things, but not here. I hope everyone can find time to lose themselves in a good book, whether it’s a favorite re-read or a new author, fantasy or romance, horror or comedy.
What I’ve Been Reading
I Might Be in Trouble by Daniel Aleman — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars
Novel. Author David Alvarez had a successful first novel, but his second was a total flop. He’s lost his boyfriend and is having trouble coming up with his next story. Things get even worse when he wakes up to find his latest one-night stand dead in his bed…. There was something about this book that I just couldn’t put it down. What starts out as a quirky comedy of errors turns into a heartwarming tale of a guy just trying to figure his life out. Yes, there were some outlandish moments, but that was part of the fun. By the end I just wanted to give David a big hug. A good choice if you’re looking for a lighter read with some memorable characters.
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim — 3.5 out of 5 stars
Novel. If you’re looking for a body horror novel narrated by an unreliable character as she descends into madness, this may be one for you. Ji-won’s dad has abandoned the family, her mom has taken up with a jerk, and Ji-won has become obsessed with eyeballs. This was a strange tale, but overall not bad. Fair warning: if you are squeamish about eyes in any way, you may not want to put this high on your reading list.
Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven — 2.5/3 out of 5 stars
Novel. A powerful hurricane rips through Florida, and employees of Fantasticland, a large amusement park/resort, are left stranded. They quickly turn on each other and fight to survive the next two months. First of all, I am soooo glad I did not buy this book when it first came out (and I was really tempted). A modern-day Lord of the Flies intrigued me, especially being set in an amusement park. But the whole concept of 18-25 year-olds losing their minds within the first five minutes of a power outage and starting to kill each other?? All because they couldn’t get on social media??? JFC. That got old really fast for me. There were some good chapters (each chapter is an interview with a different survivor), but wound up being a big disappointment for me.
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky — 4 out of 5 stars
Novel. Earth is a wasteland. The last remaining humans have set off across the universe to find a new home to inhabit. Meanwhile, an earlier space pioneer and scientist has transformed a habitable planet into a new Eden, but not necessarily the one she had envisioned. What will happen when these two groups meet? I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The pacing was good (it didn’t feel like 600 pages), and the tech-speak was just enough to explain and not so much to make my eyes glaze over. I would have liked a bit more character background or development with a couple of the mains. This is the first in a series, and one that I would highly recommend for sci-fi fans.
I love making lists (yes, I’m weird), so I love this time of year when I start sifting through my unread books, trying to decide which ones are “must-reads” for the new year. This year, I decided on 25(ish) titles, including the five nonfiction and fifteen fiction pictured below…
A rather eclectic mix, with new-to-me authors and longtime favorites, and genres ranging from crime thrillers to fantasy. I also went through my Kindle and picked out four more titles:
White Pines by Gemma Amor
Tin God by Stacy Green
The Things We Cannot Say by Mitch Sebourn
Stronger Than Hate by Robert Essig
Which leaves the 25th book, one that I can’t decide which direction to go. I’ve thought about tackling a classic (The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, The Monk by Matthew Lewis, or Emma by Jane Austen). But I also like the thought of diving in to a meaty 600+ page epic novel (Shogun by James Clavell, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara , The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon are just a few that are calling out to me). In the end, I probably won’t know until I start one of them.
As for Goodreads, I’m keeping my total for the year at 125 again. This is a nice comfortable number for me.
And for my January theme, I’m sticking with my favorite, “A New Year, A New Series.”
I am finally checking out this series just to see what all the fuss is about. Why now all of a sudden? Not gonna lie, I absolutely love the new covers on these books and wound up getting the first three of the series based solely on the covers. Now to find out if Sarah J. Maas lives up to all they hype I’ve been hearing for years.
Have you made your reading goals for 2025? Drop me a line and let’s talk books!
It’s almost time to say good-bye to 2024. Wishing you all a wonderful 2025! Set your sights high and never give up!
What I’ve Been Reading
Bruises on a Butterfly by Chad Lutzke — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars
Novella. Earlier this year, Lutzke announced on his Patreon page that he was taking a break from writing. Whether this is just temporary or winds up being a permanent decision, we will have to wait and see. Bruises is his “last” published work, and if he decides not to continue writing then I can honestly say that he stepped away from writing on an extremely high note. This story is everything I’ve come to love and expect from his writing: coming of age horror that will break your heart. I know I’ve recommended many of his previous works as good places to start if you are new to his writing, this one is no exception.
Wanderlust: Extraordinary People, Quirky Places, and Curious Cuisine by Karen Gershowitz — 4 out of 5 stars
Nonfiction. The title of this one pretty much says it all. The author has traveled the globe, and this book offers some short essays and commentaries on some of her more memorable trips. I love reading travelogues, and, for the most part, this was a very entertaining read.
Cozy Mysteries
My theme for December involved cozy mysteries. I had a few on hand I had planned on reading (I did finish Laura Childs’ Death By Darjeeling, a solid 3 out of 5 stars and a good introduction to her Tea Shop Mystery series), but a message from my friend, Mr Pink Ink, sent me down the rabbit hole of stories and series by Rosie A. Point. I found several Kindle box series for only 99 cents on the ‘zon so I picked up five different ones. Not sure where to start (and a bit overwhelmed by all the great choices), I decided on Strawberry SwirlMurder, immediately followed by Mint Freeze Murder (the first two in the Spies and Food Truck series, both 4 out of 5 stars for me). I loved the characters and the fast-paced narrative (with very good mysteries as well). But, as is pretty normal with me, I found out at the end of Mint Freeze that this series is tied in to a previous series with the arrival of two guests (I have a tendency to pick up a series in the middle, so this development didn’t really come as a surprise to me)…so that led me back to the ‘zon where I found the Bite-Size Bakery series that I am now devouring (pun intended!). Murder ByChocolate was a 3.5 stars, but things really kicked up a notch with Marzipan and Murder (4 out of 5 stars). At around 110 pages, these stories are perfect for a rainy afternoon or for those times I’m in the mood to read but don’t want to get involved in a longer novel. Thank you again Mr Pink Ink, two thumbs up!
To say this past year has been interesting would be an understatement. A year of ups and downs, with an uncertain future ahead, the one constant in my life has been reading. And this year was a great one for that!
I made two changes at the beginning of the year, which I think set me up for a more successful and enjoyable time. First, I set my reading goals to a more leisurely rate. I mean, where’s the joy in cramming ten books at the end of December just to meet some arbitrary number I picked twelve months earlier? Second, I ditched NetGalley. I’m still signed up (unless they eventually delete my account for inactivity), but I really have no intentions of going back. I found that I was overwhelming myself with books I “had” to read and review, rather than just enjoying the ones I already had at my own pace. Plus, I’m not an influencer by any means so I always felt that my reviews were just shouts into the void. Eliminating that stress was truly lifting a weight off of my shoulders.
But enough about that…what about the books I did read??
Going back through the titles from this past year, I think it was a very successful reading year. I have a lot of 3.5 and 4 stars, and some stellar 4.5 and 5 stars (and yes, there were a few duds, but they were easily forgotten). So, without further ado, here are my favorite reads from 2024!
In no particular order…
FICTION
Those We Thought We Knew by David Joy
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
The Elementals by Michael McDowell
Kill Your Darling by Clay McLeod Chapman
Bruises on a Butterfly by Chad Lutzke
She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister
NONFICTION
Red Sands by Caroline Eden
Beyond the Great Wall by Naomi Duguid and Jeffrey Alford
The Rocks Will Echo Our Sorrow by Elin Anna Labba
Monsters on the Couch by Brian Sharpless
Dinner on Monster Island (Essays) by Tania De Rozario
What were your favorite reads of 2024? Drop me a line and let’s talk books!
Maybe one of these days I’ll actually post updates in a timely manner! I’m thinking of creating a schedule for 2025. We shall see about that…
What I’ve Been Reading
Extreme Medical Services by Jamie Davis — 2 out of 5 stars
Novel. Who would have thought that a book about a paramedic who helps vampires, werewolves, and the like would be so fricking boring?? Dean graduated top of his class in medical training and was assigned a position at Station U, a relatively “secret” station that provides emergency aid to the large population of non-humans in the city. His partner, Brynne, is dating a vampire, but don’t get in her business ‘cuz she has it under control. The “action” is repetitive, the dialogue is awkward (and at times preachy), and unless you’ve watched every episode of E.R. or are a paramedic yourself, you will probably find your eyes glazing over at the medical jargon and tech-speak at every emergency. There is no plot development until the last five pages or so, when we get the dangling carrot and “stay tuned for the next book!” For me, this would have been a one star read if not for Gibbie the vampire and the zombie who was a chef when he was alive.
The Redemption of Morgan Bright by Chris Panatier — 3 out of 5 stars
Novel. This was one very strange story. After the mysterious death of her sister, Morgan Bright checks into the Hollyhock Asylum as a “troubled housewife” to find out what really happened. What seems pretty straight-forward quickly turns into a total mind-fuck as layers are peeled away to reveal the dark underside of the asylum (having an unreliable narrator doesn’t help much either). I had mixed emotions about this book. Overall I liked it, it was weird and, at times, creepy, but there were a few things that just left me feeling like I was missing something, leaving me with more questions than answers by the end.
Kill Your Darling by Clay McLeod Chapman — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars
Novella. Forty years ago, Glenn Partridge’s 15 year old son was brutally murdered, the killer never found. Still haunted by his death after all these years, Glenn’s wife enrolls him in a creative writing class, hoping this will help with his grief. But Glenn’s writing seems to have a life of its own… This is by far my favorite of Chapman’s stories, grief horror at its best. Beautifully written, haunting, and heartbreaking, I am still thinking about this one several weeks after finishing it. Highly recommend.
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby — 4 out of 5 stars
Novel. Titus Crown, the first black sheriff in Charon County, discovers things are not what they seem after a teacher is shot by a former student. As he searches for a reason behind the shooting, he finds himself spiraling down a rabbit hole of depravity and dark secrets. I have yet to read a novel by Cosby that I haven’t liked, and this latest offering is no exception. Strong character development, fast action, and some crazy twists make this a great read for anyone looking for a dark noir novel.
So, I realize that I forgot to post my theme for November!! November was Native American Heritage Month, and these are the two excellent books I read…
Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk by Sasha LaPointe — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars
Nonfiction. Sasha LaPointe shares her story of tragedies, abuse, and her search for herself in this amazing, heartfelt memoir. I grew up in the same small area as Sasha, so seeing her mention certain places brought her story to life even more for me (I can still smell the mix of stale cigarette smoke and frying grease as well as see the battered red vinyl booths at the Horseshoe Cafe). Her writing is amazing, at times I could feel the raw emotions coming through the pages. Don’t miss this memoir.
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars
Nonfiction. A compelling look at the murders that shook the Osage Indian nation in the early 1900’s and the long road to finding justice and closure. Grann does an excellent job with his research and with introducing the many key players. I’ve heard mixed reviews regarding the 2023 movie. If you’ve seen it, let me know what you thought of it!
NightWorms and Fantastic Strangelings did it again…
I was super excited for NW’s November theme, “Horror Royalty,” as it featured Stephen Graham Jones’ long out of print collection, After the People LightsHave Gone Out. I’ve been searching for this one for some time and any copies I’ve found online have been over-the-top expensive. Thank you Open Road Media for bringing this one back to life. Also included was Nick Cutter’s latest, The Queen. I swear, if this book has yet another turtle die horribly, I’m going to call it quits with this author.
The FS selection, Eleanore of Avignon, is set in 1347 Provence. Eleanore is given the opportunity to become apprentice to the pope’s personal physician. Add a pregnant disgraced queen and the fast-moving Black Death, and you have the makings for an intriguing historical drama.
A few months ago, one of my favorite authors, Chad Lutzke, announced on his Patreon page that he was “taking a break” from writing. Now, whether this break is short or long, temporary or final, is still unknown. In the meantime, I picked up two of his recent titles that hadn’t yet found their way to my shelves. Cannibal Creator was written as a sort of homage to those low-budget “B” horror movies, while Bruises on a Butterfly sounds like a true Lutzke style novella mixing coming of age with grief horror.
Did you pick up any new books in November? Drop me a line and let’s talk books!
The year is winding down (and rather quickly at that), so for my birthday month I’m focusing my reading on some fun cozy mysteries…
I read a lot of darker themed books for most of the year, so I like to have a few of these quick reads on hand to lighten things up a bit. Mint Chocolate Murder is the third installment in Meri Allen’s Ice Cream Shop series. I enjoyed the first two and I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble Riley and her companions find themselves in this time.
Laura Childs is a name that seems so familiar to me, but I have never read any of her books! Time to end that by diving into her Tea Shop Mystery series, starting with Death by Darjeeling. I was so optimistic that I would love a story set in a tea shop in South Carolina that I went ahead and picked up the second book, Gunpowder Green.
And as for Death of a Coupon Clipper…I saw it was set on a snowy day so I’m adding that to my monthly list as well.
As of this writing, I am two books shy of reaching my Goodreads goal of 125 books for the year. I also have three titles left on my personal “20 must-read” list: The Thicket by Joe Lansdale, The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker, and The Fisherman by John Langan. I’ve started all three and they are incredible (so far).
What are your reading goals for the month? Drop me a line and let’s talk books!
Compared to my September book mail, October was pretty quiet!
The theme for the October Nightworms package was “Voices to Fear” and featured new-to-me authors Del Sandeen and Sofia Ajram. I immediately dove into Coup de Grace as the blurb intrigued me (a man set on ending his life steps into a train station of endless rooms and corridors), and it did not disappoint. This Cursed House has a young Black woman who goes to work for an eccentric family, hoping to escape her own secrets and past. But this new family isn’t what they seem, and have their own demons (I’m not sure if this will wind up being figuratively or literally, can’t wait to read it and find out!).
The Bog Wife was the selection from Fantastic Strangelings, and I devoured this one! Five siblings living on a West Virginia cranberry bog must decide if they remain tied to their land and their strange family traditions. A mix of fantasy, folk horror, and family dysfunction, and one that I highly recommend.
Did you pick up any new reads for October? Drop me a line and let’s talk books!
All Dragons Read 