All Dragons Read

This past Sunday may have been Valentine’s Day, but around here, snow was the main focus!

We had over a foot of the white stuff fall over the weekend, but it didn’t last long.  It started raining early Monday and as I write this Wednesday morning, we have only a few inches left!

After our internet satellite was coated with snow and ice we were without internet access for a couple of days.  Honestly, I didn’t really mind!  It just gave me more time to catch up on some favorite television shows and read some good books!

The Week in Books

The Redwood Asylum: A Paranormal Horror by L.A. Detwiler — 4 out of 5 stars

What evil lurks behind the walls of the Redwood Asylum?  Young Jessica, trying to run from her own troubled past, takes a job at the imposing building and soon discovers a whole new world of nightmares.        This is one of those slow-burn, creepy psychological thrillers with plenty of the paranormal mixed in to keep you on your toes.  Detwiler does a great job creating an atmosphere of mystery and malice, as well as some characters that I think deserve to have  their own stories told.   I do want to say this:  my biggest complaint/pet peeve was the repetition of wiping away tears, all those damn tears!  Seriously Jessica, grow a pair and quit crying every other page!!    Other than my personal pet peeve, I enjoyed this story and I would love to see more tales from the asylum in the future!

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing an ecopy for review.

Clade by James Bradley — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars

A broken family finds their way through a broken world.    Starting with a scientist and his artistic wife awaiting the results of their latest IVF treatment, each chapter takes us further into a dystopian future through the story of another character, where natural disasters, global warming, and plagues are the norm rather than the exception (sounds eerily familiar, right??).  I rounded up to 4 stars on Goodreads because any book that keeps me reading until 3 am deserves a bump up.  And while the story was very good (and not too preachy), I was left feeling little towards most of the main characters.  I appreciated how quickly the story moved, but I wish there had been a bit more focus on character development.  If you like depressing dystopian fiction with a glimmer of hope, check this one out.

When We Were Animals by Joshua Gaylord — 1.5/2 out of 5 stars

This hot mess of a novel gives us a grown woman recalling her teen years in a strange small town where the full moon brings monthly changes to the youth of the community.  Nothing fun like werewolves though.  Nope, these teens spend three nights a month running around naked, gang-raping and brutally beating each other, then acting normal during the daylight hours.  While the story started out pretty good, by the mid-way mark I was rolling my eyes so much I thought they would pop out of my head.  Not much more to say here without going full-on rant, so we’ll move along…

Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies

The Number 121 to Pennsylvania and Others by Kealan Patrick Burke — 4 out of 5 stars

KPB is one of my fan-girrrl favs, and this collection just reaffirms his placement at the top of my list.  There are tales of ghost trains and the ghosts of lost loved ones, an interesting take on Jack and the Beanstalk, some totally weird stories I can’t begin to describe, and some of Burke’s dark humor mixed in as well (you better not light up a cigarette while reading Prohibited!).   With such a wide range of stories, this is a great place to start if you haven’t picked up anything by KPB before.  Highly recommend.

Anoka by Shane Hawk — 4 out of 5 stars

I was impressed with this debut collection from an up and coming dark fiction author.  He describes these as “tales of indigenous horror,” incorporating native folklore and modern issues into the stories.  There’s quite a variety in these six tales, from parents desperately wanting a child to a werewolf on Halloween (and it’s definitely not what you’re thinking!).  My advice is to make sure to read the author’s notes at the end.  They help to tie up a few loose ends.  I’m keeping my eye on this young author and can’t wait to see where his talent takes him!

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What have you been reading this month?  Drop me a line and let’s talk books!

Stay safe and Happy Reading!

A quiet week to catch up on some reading…

The Week in Books

Hit the Road Jack by Willow Rose — 4 out of 5 stars

The first installment of Rose’s Jack Ryder series, we find Detective Ryder chasing after a serial killer in Cocoa Beach, Florida.  This was a fast-paced thriller with a MC I could really get behind.  I thought the romantic interest was a bit too much, but if the rest of the series is as twisty and addictive as this one, then I’m all in!

Merciless by Bryan Smith — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars

This was a difficult one to put an actual star rating on.  When you have main characters, newlyweds Grant and Lindsey, who make Natural Born Killers Mickey and Mallory seem friendly and normal then you’re talking about a pretty twisted story.  The violence is extreme (author Bryan Smith has won awards for his splatterpunk  if that gives you an idea) and I have to admit I almost tapped out at one point.  But what kept me going was the writing.  Smith sucked me in from the beginning.  Every time I needed to put the book down to scrub my brain of the imagery, I would soon feel the pull to pick it up again, “just a few more pages.”  If you’re into extreme horror/splatterpunk, then give this one a shot.  However, if you have any triggers, avoid it as it hits them all.

Edge Case by YZ Chin — 2.5/3 out of 5 stars

Edwina comes home from work to find that her husband, Marlin, has packed up and moved out.  Where did he go and why did he leave so abruptly?       While this may seem like a pretty straight-forward storyline, don’t be fooled.  There are many threads woven in:  both characters having issues with parents (Marlin with his father’s death, Edwina with her over-bearing mother); both working towards the coveted green card;  Edwina’s unsatisfying tech job and her dealings with co-workers, to name a few.  But I felt that there were too many of these loose threads that ultimately never really came together.  I did enjoy the flashback chapters, but the rest just seemed muddled.  Another plus:  I did enjoy YZ Chin’s writing style, and I will be looking for more of her work in the future.

Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies

The Water Museum by  Luis Alberto Urrea — 4 out of 5 stars

Urrea’s stories are thoughtful and often heartbreaking, from the lasting pain of love lost (Mountains Without Number) to in-laws helping each other through grief (Bid Farewell to Her Many Horses, my personal favorite).  While there are really no truly uplifting tales in this mix, there are some lighter moments and some hints of mystery.  A solid collection I would recommend for everyone.

Singing With All My Skin and Bone by Sunny Moraine — 4 out of 5 stars

I don’t think I have the right words to adequately describe this collection of  unique stories that blend fantasy and horror with dreamlike narratives.  With subject matter such as self-mutilation, sexuality, and death (especially suicide), this is no easy reading by any means.  But each story called for my absolute attention and left me thinking about them long after the last sentence.  Highly recommend.

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Until next time, stay safe and Happy Reading!

I always think of February as a gray month, and these first few days have definitely proved to be that.  Usually the view from my porch includes the vibrant greens of my neighbor’s pastures and the distant hills, but lately the colors have been muted, the low clouds creating an almost claustrophobic effect.

To help kick the winter doldrums, I’ve started knitting again after not picking up the needles for several months.  I’ve been using the brightest colors I have, working on quick and simple projects like scarves and hats.  I’ve also been looking through the many seed catalogues that come in the mail this time of year, admiring the beautiful flowers and wondering which veggies I should plant for the summer.

And there’s always books, the perfect way to escape on a rainy day!

The Week In Books

Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars!

I am writing a full review that I will be posting both here and at Mr Pink Ink towards the end of February!  Stay tuned!

The Summer of Kim Novak by Hakan Nesser — 3.5 out of 5 stars

A coming of age story set in the 1960’s with an unsolved murder added to the mix is usually the makings of a really good book.  For the most part I liked Nesser’s tale of young Erik and his friend Edmund and their summer spent at the lake, swimming and fantasizing about the gorgeous substitute teacher, but it got to the point where I felt the build-up was being stretched out too much, and the ending was rather abrupt and unsatisfying.  This was one of those reading experiences where I was hoping for more mystery and less mundane routine.  I am a fan of Nesser’s writings though, so I see more of his novels in my future.

A Student of Living Things by Susan Richards Shreve — 3 out of 5 stars

One of my 20+1/2021 choices.  Part mystery, part family drama, it’s the story of Claire, who is trying to understand (and perhaps solve) the murder of her brother while dealing with her dysfunctional family.  There was a lot of potential with this one, and I probably would have given it a higher star rating if the MC Claire wasn’t so blah.  Still, not a bad choice if you’re looking for a novel with lots of secrets, eccentric family members, and a bit of mystery.

Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies

The Buck Stops Here by Sean Seebach — 4 out of 5 stars

One of the latest installments in the “Creature Feature” horror novellas that started out as a joke last year on Twitter, and now includes 4 stories (with more on the way) with all proceeds going to the featured author’s favorite animal charities.     We’ve all heard of werewolves, even wereleopards and werebears, but a were-deer?!?!?!?  That’s right, a were-deer just might be the creature responsible for some unsolved deaths in a small Ohio town.  Fast-pace horrific fun!

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Until next time, stay safe and Happy Reading!

Ah, February.  The shortest month of the year.  In the next few days and weeks, we will see if a groundhog predicts the end of winter, celebrate the loved ones in our lives, and start counting the days until the arrival of a new season.

Since I’m not much of a romantic (sorry, Valentine’s Day), this year I decided to highlight the short story in honor of the shortest month.  I’ve always been a fan of a good short story, and in recent years I’ve noticed a definite uptick in the number of anthologies and collections that are coming out.  Whether you’re into romance, fantasy, horror, literature, there’s a lot of greatness out there to choose from.

Why do I like the short story so much?  There are the times I’m just looking for a quick entertainment fix…you know, those days you only have 30 minutes of reading time and don’t want to commit to a 400 page book.  But I also find this platform to be the best way to discover new authors and to rediscover my favorites.  Multi-author anthologies have introduced me to some great new authors, many I probably wouldn’t have heard about otherwise.  I also enjoy checking out collections from a favorite novelist as, more often than not, they present works unlike their novels and allow the reader a look at some of their earlier works and experimentations with other genres.

After looking through my book hoard, I decided to put these two collections at the top of my TBR this month…

I think of Ron Rash as the modern John Steinbeck (one of my all-time favorite  authors) and I really couldn’t tell you why I haven’t read this collection sooner!  His stories are based in the Appalachia area of the southeastern US, with topics like poverty, nature, and societal tensions.  I know from past experience with his works that his writing is beautiful and often heartbreaking.  I can’t wait to start this one!

According to the cover blurb on Luis Alberto Urrea’s The Water Museum,  this collection ” (Examines) the borders between one nation and another, between one person and another…”, and with titles like Mr. Mendoza’s Paintbrush and Taped to the Sky, needless to say I am intrigued with this new-to-me author.

Still looking for some ideas for your February reading?  There are some good ones on my…

Goodreads Group Reads

Lakewood by Megan Giddings is a dystopian thriller, the story of a young woman who goes to work for a mysterious company doing some pretty shady- sounding experiments.  This sounds like something right up my reading alley and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on it!

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is the story of twin sisters who flee their small black community and how each shaped their very different lives yet remain closer than they may think.  This is another one I’ve put on my must-read for 2021.

Maynard’s House by Herman Raucher sounds like a very eerie psychological horror story:  a disturbed young war veteran moves to a remote cabin that was willed to him by a fallen comrade.  Then he gets snowed in.  I can’t imagine this ending well!

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So what’s on your February TBR list?  Feel free to drop me a line here or on Goodreads or Twitter.  I love talking books!

Until next time, continue wearing your mask, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

End of the Road by Brian Keene

5 out of 5 Stars!

From the Goodreads synopsis

…(A) memoir, travelogue, and post-Danse Macabre examination of modern horror fiction, the people who write it, and the world they live—and die—in. Exhilarating, emotional, heartfelt, and at times hilarious, End of the Road is a must-read for fans of the horror genre. Introduction by Gabino Iglesias.

Brian Keene is the award-winning author of several novels, short stories, and comic books, with the main emphasis on horror (he has also written mysteries and science fiction as well).  While I am only familiar with a few of his horror short stories that I recently read in his collection, A Little Sorrowed Talk, when I came across his promotion of this title on Twitter, I just knew I had to read it.

In 2016, Keene went on a nine-month book signing tour to promote two of his latest titles.  He joined up with the website, Cemetery Dance, to provide weekly blog posts to chronicle his journey.  End of the Road is this journey.

We travel with Keene to various stops across the United States, meeting indie bookstore owners and his fans, some who traveled for hours to meet their favorite author and offer a gift of bourbon (I believe at one point he had received 92 bottles!).  He meets up with old friends, remembering drunken hijinks from the past while embarking on new ones (hey, gotta do something with those 92 bottles).

But this is much more than a simple travelogue.  Keene explores the fall of the horror genre and mainstream book stores.  He grows introspective while processing the loss of his good friends and fellow authors. He worries about being away from his young son for such an extended period.  Oh, and he plans out a bit of grave-robbing as well (no, I won’t give any spoilers on that!).

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  There were some laugh-out-loud moments, as well as a few that left me a bit teary-eyed.  And thanks to Keene’s enthusiasm, I now have a list of books and indie bookstores that I will be looking for online in the months to come.  You don’t have to have read any of Keene’s works to fully appreciate this highly entertaining, highly personal journey.     Recommended for everyone.

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I hope this finds you all safe and well.

I have several nonfiction titles lined up for 2021 that I can’t wait to share with you in the coming months!  Until next time, take care of yourselves and, as always, Happy Reading!

Wow, this week got away from me!  Perhaps it’s due to being able to relax a bit and actually get some reading done!  So this week, let’s go straight to the books…

The Week in Books

End of the Road by Brian Keene — 5 out of 5 stars!

Be sure to check out my full review coming this weekend both here and over at Mr Pink Ink!

Fairest Flesh by K.P. Kulski — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars

While the synopsis makes this story sound like a fictional take on the infamous Lady Bathory and her murderous crime spree in the late 1500’s, it’s really more of a dark retelling of Snow White.  Not that that’s a bad thing!  Kulski’s writing style is very rich and poetic, but the story itself just didn’t grab me like I thought it would.  Still, I would recommend this to those who like dark fairy tales, you know, those ones without the happily ever after.

The Last Final Girl by Stephen Graham Jones — 3 out of 5 stars

I’m a huge fan of SGJ, but this earlier work just didn’t hit the mark for me.  The premise is good:  a sort of tongue-in-cheek tribute to the slasher films of the ’80’s and early ’90’s.  But the delivery?  Meh.  Written with a combination of film directions and regular dialogue, I found myself confused more than once and having to backtrack to figure out what I missed (not something I like to do when trying to enjoy a novel!).  And why the hell were these modern characters (2013 I believe) acting and talking like it was the 1980’s??  I’ll just say, this story was different and leave it at that.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare — 3 out of 5 stars

My choice for my January theme.  Since I’ve been hearing about this book and series for some time now, there weren’t many surprises for me.  I liked the storyline and a couple of the characters well enough, but it just didn’t wow me like some other YA fantasy series I’ve read.  Sure, at some point I’ll pick up a couple  more of the series to see where it goes, but right now it’s not at the top of my must read list.

Novellas, Short Stories, Anthologies

Starving Ghosts in Every Thread by Eric LaRocca — 4 out of 5 stars

Wow!  This was weird as hell…and I liked it!  A girl’s internalized feelings of guilt and depression manifest themselves as strange mutations on her body which in turn feed on the emotions of others.  Yeah, I told you it was weird!  There’s also a neurotic mother, eccentric neighbor, and mysterious new friend.  Oh, and scorpions!  LaRocca really packs a punch in this novella, and I look forward to reading more from him!  Highly recommend, but not for the squeamish.

Salix Marsh by Scott Donnelly — 2.5 out of 5 stars

A sasquatch-like being is spotted in Salix Marsh…is it responsible for the shenanigans going on around town?  A pretty basic storyline, simply written, and not a lot of build-up.  Too bad, as there was some potential with the plot but a failure with the delivery.

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This weekend I’ll be participating in a monthly read-a-thon hosted by 24B4Monday.  The goal is to read for 24 hours in a three day period.  I know I won’t come close to that (I usually average about 11 hours) but it’s always fun trying!

Short and sweet this week!  Until next time, stay safe and Happy Reading!

New year, new NightWorms goodies!

2021 started out a bit rocky for the NightWorms gals as one of the featured books was delayed in transit, pushing back the usual first week of  the month shipping date to mid-month.  But the way I see it, it was great timing.  After the ongoing stress of watching the near fall of democracy, I welcomed this latest monthly package with near giddy happiness…and it did not disappoint!

Grindhouse Press was the featured indie press this month, with three very different yet intriguing titles.  Merciless sounds like the love child of Natural Born Killers and Bonnie and Clyde, with a couple on their honeymoon embarking on a cross-country killing spree.   Tim Meyer’s Paradise Club is set at a posh resort, where the guests must learn to kill or be killed.   And Horrorama offers three novellas featuring a strange self-storage building; a camping trip that goes awry; and a cult looking for it’s next sacrifice.   And along with the signed bookplates and bookmark is another great product from Retreat Drinks, peppermint hot cocoa, perfect for this time of year!

Sadie and Ashley always do a great job, and I am looking forward to another year of awesome books from these hard-working NightWorms gals!

Until next time, stay safe and Happy Reading!!

We all love book mail!  Believe it or not, I still had some gift money left over from Christmas so these are my belated Christmas gifts to myself that have arrived over the past week…

My friend Michelle recommended the epic fantasy, The Deed of Paksenarrion, as something I must read, and after checking out the synopsis I totally agree!  Finding all three books in one was an extra bonus!  And as a fan of Louise Erdrich and Jane Harper, these were must-haves as well.

And, of course, there’s these…

I believe I’ve mentioned the Death’s Head Press series of “splatter westerns” they’ve been putting out over the past year, all written by different authors with the awesome cover artwork by Justin T. Coons.  I recently read the first in the series, The Magpie Coffin by Wile E. Young, and loved it!  However, I’ve been seeing mixed reviews on several others in this series so I decided to opt for the two that called out to me.

And as I was writing this up earlier today, our lovely mail carrier delivered this to my mailbox!!

I am a huge fan of Australian author Alan Baxter, and this collection of five novellas set in a strange small town with even stranger inhabitants called out to me when I first heard about it!  Can’t wait to visit The Gulp!

The Week in Books

Sin Child by Angela Howard — 4 out of 5 stars

This is not an easy book to read.  Angela Howard was extremely brave to come forward with her story of the systematic abuse and neglect she suffered throughout her childhood and teenage years, not just from sexually abusive stepfathers, but the emotional and physical torments from her own mother and grandparents.  I applaud Ms. Howard’s bravery, but from a reader’s standpoint I do wish things had been written a bit more cohesively, and perhaps extra attention given to the chapters highlighting her escapes and successes (unless there is a follow-up book in the works, in which case I understand not focusing on the good just yet).  Highly recommend.

Your Turn To Suffer by Tim Waggoner — 4 out of 5 stars

This is my first foray into Tim Waggoner’s mind and let’s just say, it was a trip!!  And I liked it!!  Lori is targeted by a group calling themselves The Cabal, demanding that she “confess and atone…or suffer.”  What follows is a mix of mayhem, violence, and a trip to one of the strangest and creepiest worlds I’ve read about in a while.  If you’re a fan of Lovecraft-inspired splatter horror, then this book is for you!  Thanks to Flame Tree Press for the early ecopy!

All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren — 3 out of 5 stars

I don’t know where to begin with this one.  I’ve been wanting to read this classic for some time now, and when I started it back in late September 2020 I was intrigued…for the first 75 pages or so.  Then **crickets** for the next 400+ pages, with a renewed surge of interest in the last 100 pages or so.  This is not the story I was led to believe it to be.  Everyone talks about this prize-winning novel as showcasing the rise and fall of politician Willie Stark, and how Willie Stark should be considered one of the best fictional characters in modern literature.  I’m scratching my head on that.  The bulk of the story is about Stark’s lackey and the story’s narrator, Jack Burden.  Let me put it this way:  there is nearly 100 pages devoted to stuff that happened in the mid 1800’s that have nothing to do with Willie Stark, let alone the current timeline narrative;  it’s all Jack and his “family.”  I was expecting something totally different, and while I appreciate the writing and understand why this won a Pulitzer, I was beyond disappointed that it was nothing like it’s been portrayed to be…of course, that IS how politics work so….hmm…

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Stay safe and Happy Reading!

The highlight of this past week was by far my son’s 17th birthday on Sunday.  Our little celebration (just the three of us with a few presents and a lot of chocolate cake) helped remind me that there is still good in the world, and to take time away from the darkness on the daily news to celebrate the things in life that bring us happiness and hope.

The Week In Books

Gone to See the River Man by Kristopher Triana — 4.5 out of 5 stars

Lori is a woman haunted by her past, in love with an imprisoned serial killer, and willing to do anything to win his love.  That’s the simple synopsis, but this story is so much more than that.  Triana gives us a macabre tale, exposing the depths of human depravity.  I’ll admit that even I had to put this aside for a day after reading about Lori’s past.  But there was an unmistakable pull to continue, and I found myself reading nonstop to the bitter (yet strangely satisfying?) end.  The story is dark and gruesome, the characters unlikeable, but Triana’s writing pulled me in and left me wanting to read more of his work.  Definitely not for everyone, but highly recommend.

Buried by C.J. Carmichael — 2.5/3 out of 5 stars

This was one of those books I wish I had read some of the reviews before wasting my time with it.  I thought it was a stand-alone mystery, but no, it’s a cliff-hanger, part of a trilogy that I will not be continuing.  The initial mystery is good (a best-selling author gets anonymous emails regarding cold case murders of librarians in his home state of Oregon), but the whole schlocky soap opera vibe just didn’t do it for me.

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Stay safe and Happy Reading!

What a quiet beginning to the new year…

… and yes, this is me getting into my hibernation mode for the next two months or so!

After the holidays are over, the decorations put away, and the house is back to somewhat normal again, I always feel like burrowing between some warm blankets, brewing endless pots of tea, binge-watching favorite shows, and reading some great books.  Granted, that pretty much sums up most of last year, minus the warm blankets during the summer!

I’m currently reading some longer books that I felt I needed a little break from (not that I don’t like them, I just have to be in the right mood to read them…we all know that dilemma!).  So I decided to read a couple of longer novellas in my collection, one being a 20+1 choice, the other from a new-to-me author who I’ve heard many great things about.  Totally different genres, but both are great reads to start out the new year!

The Week In Books

Golden Fortune, Dragon Jade by Alan Baxter — 4 out of 5 stars

This is a total departure from Baxter’s usual horror/sci-fi stories, and I loved it!  It incorporates Asian mythology and religion, Australian history, and lots of martial arts fight scenes!  It’s a fun, quick read that I recommend for everyone, and I really hope Alan Baxter plans on a follow-up (hint hint!)!!

I’m From Nowhere by Lindsay Lerman — 4 out of 5 stars

So, for the other end of the spectrum!  This story centers around Claire, recently widowed and trying to figure out who she is without a husband, child, or job.  This sounds pretty straight-forward but it’s not.  Lerman examines grief in it’s different forms, with a main character I personally didn’t care for but I  couldn’t stop reading about.   Check this one out, you might be surprised by the feelings you have after reading it.

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Until next time, Happy Reading!