All Dragons Read

Tis the season…

My favorite personal reading challenge is in full swing, and as of today, October 3, I’ve finished sixteen stories (from short stories and novellas to 400 page novels) and am currently reading three other titles with scary Halloweenish vibes.  There have been a couple of real knock-out tales in the first half of this challenge, including The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias and What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher.  I have a ton of great titles lined up for this month, including A Place For Sinners by Aaron Dries, No One Gets Out Alive by Adam Nevill, The Darkest Lullaby by Jonathan Janz, and a classic collection from one of horror’s greatest, Clive Barker’s The Inhuman Condition.

Aaaaand…I have some preorders heading my way around mid-October, including my monthly NightWorms subscription and a much anticipated tale from Eric LaRocca, They Were Here Before Us.

Whew!

What’s on your reading list this month?  Drop me a line and let’s talk books!

Until next time, stay safe and Happy Reading!

First, this year brought me a six-month-long reading slump.  Now that seems to be in the past, but a writing slump has now taken hold.  I’ve sat down to write this blog at least ten times in the past week and have drawn complete blanks every time. Sigh.

On the plus side, my favorite time of year is here!  And with that comes some great reads!

The Week in Books

The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars

(H  8/31)  Mario takes a job as a hit man in order to pay the medical bills for his young daughter.  When tragedy tears his family apart, he finds himself on a journey into the violent world of drug cartels, helping an associate hijack a cash shipment in exchange for a cut and hope for a fresh start in life.  But will Mario wind up losing his soul?  I would describe this as barrio noir meets the supernatural.  It’s dark, bleak, and disturbing, and the supernatural elements made my skin crawl.  I read one of the the author’s earlier works, Coyote Songs, a while back and knew this was an author to watch.  The Devil Takes You Home may be a brutal read, but it’s one that I highly recommend.

Anybody Home? by Michael Seidlinger — 4/4.5 out of 5 stars

(H  9/31)  This is one creepy-ass story that will have you double-checking your locked doors on a regular basis.  The premise: our unnamed narrator is walking you through the planning and execution (no pun intended) of a home invasion and the bloody aftermath.  The kicker is this is all being filmed (presumably for some twisted televised series).  The thought of someone breaking into my home is bad enough, and this takes that fear to a whole new level.  Highly recommend, but fair warning:  not a great selection for bedtime reading!

Dead Leaves by Andrew David Barker — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars

(H  10/31)  This “love letter to the horror genre” takes place in October 1983, when British parliament was vilifying horror movies, and three teen friends were hell-bent on getting an elusive copy of the movie, The Evil Dead.   A very nostalgic look at the ’80’s and the growing pains of facing adulthood.

The Loop by Jeremy Robert Johnson — 3 out of 5 stars

(H  11/31) One of my September selections.  Strange things start happening in a small town, directly linked to a large biotech company.  A small group of teens fight for survival in this violent new reality.  This was one that I thought I would enjoy a lot more than I did.  Characters, pacing, and storyline were okay, but I felt there should have been a bit more explanation for the mysterious company and these experiments.  I also wasn’t sure if this was meant to be marketed as a YA or adult novel (the set-up felt like a YA novel but the violence was definitely for more “mature” horror readers).

Fish Swimming in Dappled Sunlight by Riku Onda — ??? out of 5 stars

Set during the course of one night, Aki and Hiro spend their last evening together in their shared apartment, wondering what the other did during an earlier ill-fated mountain trek.  Is one of them a murderer?   Okay, this hooked me from the beginning as I love a good psychological thriller and unreliable characters.  It was great until…it wasn’t??  There came a point that I seriously thought some pages went missing or that I totally overlooked something from an earlier chapter.  The ending left me feeling both unsatisfied and confused.  Overall not bad, just not the thriller I was expecting.

Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies

Unquiet Spirits:  Essays by Asian Women in Horror — 3.5 out of 5 stars

(H  12/31)  Twenty-one essays blending themes of family, loss, and identity with spirits/ghosts of Asian folklore.  While this wasn’t what I was expecting, I did enjoy these very personal writings, as well as the backstories of the Asian spirits  and their roles in various cultures.

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Stay safe and Happy Reading!

Autumn is almost here!

After another loooonnng summer of hot weather and forest fires, it’s nice to feel that change in the air and to see the leaves starting to change colors.  I’ve started to decorate my house with autumnal colors…and a few spooky things have found their way out of storage already!

And my reading has taken a bit of an uptick with my 31 Books of Halloween.  I still feel like I’m on the edge of another reading slump, but hopefully I can keep it at bay with some great Halloween-inspired reads.

The Week in Books

The Forest by Lisa Quigley — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars

(H 3/31)  The community of Edgewood holds an annual fall festival, giving offerings to the surrounding forest for continued safety.  As Faye and her husband are about to take over as the town stewards, Faye discovers the forest really needs a more sinister sacrifice.    I really enjoyed this one from the start, as it really brings the tension and surrounds you with the creepy atmosphere.  I’m still not sure how I feel about the ending, which leaves this in limbo at 3.5/4.  Part of me felt it was rushed, part of me felt it was too…convenient?  No matter my opinion on the ending, this is one I would definitely recommend adding to your Halloween reading list.

Killer Pizza:  The Slice by Greg Taylor — 3.5 out of 5 stars

(H 4/31)  This middle grade/YA tale is about three teens who work at a local pizza place called Killer Pizza, which just happens to be a front for a company that hunts down monsters.  This fast paced story is the second in the series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone (however, I think if I had read the first one I may have had more interest in the main characters).  Something about this story reminded me of the Scooby Doo shows, only with more cartoonish  gross moments.  A good starting point for budding young horror enthusiasts.

Pearl by Josh Malerman — 3 out of 5 stars

(H 5/31)  What better way to start out the Halloween reading season than with a creature feature novel featuring a sinister telepathic pig?!?  If you have fond memories of the beloved Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web, well, these pigs will certainly become your nightmare fuel.  It’s not my favorite of Malerman’s works, but this fast-paced tale offers all the horror that a good creature feature should have.

The Doctor’s Demons by Maria Abrams — 3 out of 5 stars

(H 6/31)  Hannah Cohen is a child psychologist who discovers a knack for dealing with possessed children.  Then a new challenge comes her way…   I am a big fan of possession/exorcism horror and I was really looking forward to this one.  Sadly, it just fell flat in a big way for me.  There was great potential with this storyline, and there were some memorable moments, but I just couldn’t muster up any give a shit for the main character.  And don’t get me started on all of the editing mistakes!  Using the wrong names, misspellings, grammar errors, it just became annoying after a bit (please note I did not deduct any stars for the mistakes, otherwise this would have been a 1.5/2 star rating).

Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies

No Good Deed by Angela Slatter — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars

(H 7/31)  Angela Slatter has created a fantastical world known as Sourdough, and this chap-book was not only a great introduction for me to this series but also to Slatter’s beautiful writing.  This story is deeply rooted in fantasy but with creepy twists like vengeful ghosts and animated skeletons.  I’d been curious about the Sourdough series, and after this quick read I am now looking forward to reading more tales of fantasy and horror.

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Stay safe and Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to look for my Halloween reading countdown in the coming weeks, marked with Hx/31!

The Week in Books

Five Little Indians by Michelle Good — 3 out of 5 stars

The story of five Indigenous children taken from their families and sent to a  church-run residential school, and their lives afterwards dealing with the demons brought on by the horrific abuse by those in charge of the school.  Sadly, this sort of thing happened way too often to Native children in both the U.S. and Canada, and today the number of children who never made it out of the schools are just beginning to surface.  I feel that this is an important book to read.  My three star rating is based solely on my personal dislikes for some of the stereotypical actions and characters (almost like there was a checklist to make sure certain things were present).  This is a difficult book to read at times due to the abuse and neglect (among other things) but one I would recommend.

Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich — 3 out of 5 stars

One of my August TBR selections.  The eleventh installment in the long-running series featuring goofy bounty hunter Stephanie Plum offers up the same ol’ stuff as the previous ten books…and I think I’m starting to get a little bored with it.  We have the same ol’ love triangle, the same ol’ car bombings, same ol’ bail jumpers who try to outsmart everyone, you get the picture (of course, the comedic relief of sidekicks Lula and Grandma Mazur are always welcome).  When I first started the series, I loved the quirkiness.  Now, it just seems like cut and paste comedy.  I have a few more of the series in my tbr pile, I’m not sure at this point if or when I will ever get to them as I feel they will probably continue to be the same scenarios, just a different day in the burg.

Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies

The Hatred by C.A. Gleason — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars

(H1/31)  A musician looking to make a few bucks finds an ad in the paper for a housesitter.  After being accepted for the job, he arrives, expecting to make an easy $5000.  What he doesn’t know is the owner has other plans…   A fast read that was the perfect kickoff for my Halloween reading marathon.  There was good buildup and lots of creepiness.  I would have liked to know a bit more about Abby, I think that would have added another layer of horror.

Claire’s Apocalypse by K.T. Rose — 3.5 out of 5 stars

(H2/31)  Claire is the lead scientist behind a top secret government experiment, nine years in the making.  After the program is cut, she decides to quit…and take this deadly secret with her, to sell to the highest bidder.  What hell will be unleashed if put in the wrong hands?  Another solid short story that involves a heavy buildup to the final few terrifying paragraphs.  If you’re familiar with any story or movie that involves government experiments you’ll probably guess early on what’s coming.  Still, a great read to add to your Halloween short story list.

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Stay safe and Happy Reading!

Yay, it’s September, and you know what that means…my third annual 31 Books of Halloween personal reading challenge has commenced!  The most difficult part is where to start?!?!

There’s this cart brimming with tempting titles…

…and this assortment of classic and modern terror…

…and I can’t forget about these from two masters of horror…

Plus there is my theme for September, Sci Fi and Scary!  So, after much consideration and some help from my son, I picked these three to start out the month.

Dead Space sounds like a perfect sci fi and scary selection.  Hester is forced to take a dead-end job in security for a large company in the asteroid belt.  A friend from her past is murdered at an asteroid mine, and she sets out to uncover the truth.  Of course, that may not be in her best interests.

The Loop is described as Stranger Things meets World War Z, and I am here for it!  A small tourist town (in my little corner of the world, no less) is also home to a biotech firm.  A strange outbreak starts to infect everyone, and a group of local misfits struggle to survive while exposing the dangerous company.

The Forest sounds like true small town terror.  The citizens of Edgewood believe their autumnal tithes keep the darkness from the nearby forest at bay.  But Faye finds out about the real offering the sinister forest craves…

Never fear, my reading list is not all dark and creepy.  I also have some Halloween/autumn themed cozies and a couple of YA titles that look entertaining.  Be sure to track my progress in my weekly updates (look for x/31).

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

Stay safe and Happy Reading!

It’s almost time…

What titles will be chosen for my annual 31 Books of Halloween two-month-long reading marathon?  Stay tuned…

The Week in Books

Silas Marner by George Eliot — 4 out of 5 stars

Classic stories can be a bit of hit or miss for me.  Sometimes I fully embrace them, other times I loathe them from the first paragraph and find it almost torturous to finish.  Silas Marner turned out to be a pleasant surprise, and as Silas’ story unfolded, it made my cold bitter heart melt a bit.  If you are like me and find novels written in the 1800’s a bit daunting at times, give this one a try.  This story of the redemptive power of love is one not to be missed.

LaRose by Louise Erdrich — 3 out of 5 stars

I’ve been a fan of Erdrich’s work for many years, but this 2016 novel (and one of my 2022 TBR picks) just fell flat for me.  The story starts with a horrific accident that leaves one young boy dead and two families grieving.  As the story progresses, we learn more about the family histories, friendships and betrayals, the “standards” that Erdrich brings to her stories.  However, I just couldn’t embrace any of the characters, and the storyline felt almost forced at times.  Don’t get me wrong though, I would still recommend this novel, especially for anyone who has not read any of the author’s other works.  For me, it just didn’t seem as strong as the other stories I’ve read.

Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley — 3 out of 5 stars

I’m always up for checking out new cozy series, especially those involving food, so this tale featuring Delilah and her dream of opening a gourmet pizzeria in a quaint tourist town seemed like something right up my alley.  Overall I thought the mystery was good, and all the usual cozy elements were at play.  What I found disappointing was the main character herself.  There was something about Delilah’s demeanor that I just found annoying and distracting.  However, even though I didn’t fall in love with Delilah, I did like the cast of supporting characters and the writing so I will be looking for the next book in the series when it comes out.

Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies

Spinal Remains:  A Collection of Stories by Chad Lutzke — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars

One of my favorite authors has done it again, delivering another amazing collection of short stories!  Lutzke writes what I like to call “horror with heart,” and these are perfect examples of why he has become one of my favs in the genre.  There are stories that will leave you gutted (He Wears the Lake brought tears to  my eyes), while others may make you laugh, even if it’s a bit uneasily.  If you haven’t read any of Lutzke’s works, this is probably the best place to start.  Highly recommend.

If Only a Heart and Other Tales of Terror by Caleb Stephens — 4 out of 5 stars

A new to me author and one I can’t wait to read more from!  This collection of thirteen tales offers a great variety, with timelines from the 1300’s to modern day, and stories involving psychological, physical, and paranormal horrors.  Many of the stories incorporate the theme of loss at different levels and in often macabre and sinister ways.  This is a definite must to put on your Halloween to-read list!

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Stay safe and Happy Reading!

It seems like my weekly updates have turned into bi-weekly ones.  Ugh!  I guess that’s what ongoing reading slumps does to a person.  However, I am so looking forward to the end of summer and the beginning of my two month long binge, The 31 Books of Halloween!  I’ve been saving up my NightWorms books and, on top of my already large collection of spooky titles, I should have more than enough to choose from!  Stay tuned!

The Week in Books

On the Hoof by Jesse Alexander McNeil — 4 out of 5 stars

Writing up a review to share here and at MrPinkInk, coming soon!

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa — 4 out of 5 stars

On an unnamed island, things are disappearing.  Not just disappearing physically, but people’s memories are being erased of these items as well.  Some people are able to retain their memories, and those who can are subjected to the Memory Police.    Wow, I really didn’t know what to expect from this dystopian tale but it truly delivered.  I felt it dragged a bit at the beginning, but the characters kept me coming back.  And the ending?  I’m still thinking about it, several days later.  Highly recommend.

The Train Derails in Boston by Jessica McHugh — 3.5 out of 5 stars

Now this was a fucking wild ride.  I’ll sum this up as an erotic haunted house horror, but that doesn’t do it justice.  Alcoholic Rebecca, her wannabe writer husband, and horny teenage daughter move to a secluded estate.  Rebecca finds a haunted mahjong set and things start getting weird…including a whole “evil spirits having sex with humans in nearly every other chapter” storyline.  The main horror storyline is good, so if you’re looking for something really different for your Halloween reading (and don’t mind a rewind/fast-forward type of narrative) I’d say give it a try.

Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies

South Central Noir edited by Gary Phillips — 3.75/4 out of 5 stars

Another strong addition to the Akashic Noir series.  Fourteen stories cover a wide range of timelines and themes, from unsolved murders of young black women near the Dunbar Hotel set in 1935 (The Golden Coffin), the dark secrets at a 1960’s all-girls Catholic high school (The Last Time I Died), to a young girl dealing with life and the early days of Covid (If Found Please Return to Abigail Serna… ).  If you haven’t picked up any of the titles in this series, this would be a great place to start.

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Stay safe and Happy Reading!

Since my last update, I participated in a weeklong readathon through one of my Goodreads groups, Unexpected Readathon Time.  I have to say, even though I felt like I didn’t get a lot of reading time in,  my totals surprised me.  I wrapped up four books, and over the course of seven days logged 1,185 pages!  I guess the excessive heat we had that week made my brain believe I was reading slower than I was.   😀

The Week in Books

Creatures of Passage by Morowa Yejide — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars

I was mesmerized by this story, yet find myself unable to succinctly describe it.  Morowa Yejide has created a haunting tale that combines elements of paranormal fantasy, Egyptian mythology, horror, and magical realism, set in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington D.C., 1977.  With topics like alcoholism, racism, and horrific child abuse, it is not an easy read, nor should it be.  But even with such heaviness, the writing is beautiful and the story unique.  One of my top five favorites for 2022.  Highly recommend.

Ouch by Pug Grumble — 4 out of 5 stars

“A comical and quirky tale about a masochist, a sadist, and a klutz” is the byline for this tale, and sums up the story perfectly.  Masochist Sylvester is in a relationship with sadist Felicia, but when klutzy Natalie enters Sylvester’s life, he finds himself yearning for more than his next encounter with pain.  I found myself chuckling quite a bit throughout this funny yet somewhat dark love story.  Fair warning, there are some uncomfortable and icky scenes, but if you’re looking for a funny, fast read with just enough weird, you may want to check this one out.

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson — 3.5 out of 5 stars

An invitation to a teenager’s birthday triggers reflection on the past in this 2002 novel.  Told through the eyes of Kate, whose adoration for her older brother Matt changes through the years and after a multitude of various tragedies.  This is also the story of the neighboring Pye family, whose paths will intersect with Kate and her family in various ways.  The story is beautifully written, but by the end I guess I was just thinking that Kate would have gained more insight…or something!  A good choice for book club discussions.

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Stay safe, and Happy Reading!

What is your idea of the perfect summer beach read?  A light romantic comedy?  Maybe a fast-paced thriller or a head-scratching who-dunnit?

For me, I like my vacation reads fast-paced and fun, something light that I can spend a lazy afternoon with.  This month, I picked a couple of lighter reads, a sort of palate cleanser before my two month journey of darkness, The 31 Books of Halloween, begins on September 1.

First up is a new cozy mystery series from Mindy Quigley, Six Feet Deep Dish.  Set in a small resort town in Wisconsin, we have a woman opening a pizza shop who stumbles onto a murder and is aided by her quirky friend and an oversized cat named Butterball.  Basically, all the markers of a good cozy!  My other selection is one from a series I haven’t picked up in some time, Janet Evanovich’s Eleven on Top.  I think it’s been nearly two years since I last visited private eye Stephanie Plum and her weirdly chaotic world and I think it’s time to fix that!

July Wrap-Up

My July reading goal was to catch up on my 2022 TBR that I had set at the beginning of the year.  I did finish two from the list of twenty-two, Crow Lake by Mary Lawson, and You Will Be Safe Here by Damian Barr.  Both were good overall, but for my reading experience I felt they both fell a bit flat at times, thus my 3.5 star ratings for both.  I also started a third book from my 2022 TBR, The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa.  I’m only about 16% into it, but it’s shaping up to be a potentially intense and perhaps tragic read.

Goodreads Group Reads

The past couple of months, it seems like the same titles have been coming up in my Goodreads groups for their monthly reads, but Shine and Shadow has one that has been on my to-read for a bit now:  Five Little Indians by Michelle Good.  The story of five indigenous children taken from their families and sent to a remote religious residential school, their journeys into adulthood and their struggles to cope with the trauma they endured.  Not a light read for sure, but I’ve heard a lot of great things so I’m hoping to track down a copy soon.

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What is on your August reading list?  Drop me a line and let’s talk books!

Stay safe and Happy Reading!

The past two weeks have been rather strange for me, reading-wise.  I started six books but found it difficult to get any momentum to keep reading them…reading slump indeed!

But starting July 25, Unexpected Readathon Time will begin a weeklong event that I plan on participating in, partly to try to shake off this slump and partly because it’s going to be too hot to do anything else!  I haven’t decided on my TBR, but I do have one more July pick and a library book to finish before the 31st, so we’ll see how that goes.

The Week in Books

Aue by Becky Manawatu — 4.5 out of 5 stars

An absolutely amazing debut from New Zealand author Becky Manawatu.  Inspired by a tragedy that hit the author’s family, Aue is the story of two Maori brothers and a family split apart by drugs and gang violence.  It’s violent, it’s heartbreaking, and it may be difficult to read at times, but the trials of these “stronger than they know” characters captured my attention and kept me reading well into the night. I will remember Ari, Beth, and Taukiri for a long time.  Highly recommend.

Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office by Brian Baumgartner and Ben Silverman — 4 out of 5 stars

I am a die-hard fan of The Office, both the British and American versions, so finding this at my local library was a must-read for me.  This is a compilation of podcast interviews, featuring not only the actors (most of them, anyways) but some writers and producers as well.  Sorry folks, there’s no dirt dishing here, but it does give fans a glimpse into the making of this beloved series and the strong relationships between the cast and crew.

You Will Be Safe Here by Damian Barr — 3.5 out of 5 stars

One of my July selections.  Set in South Africa, this is a story in two timelines. The first is 1901, told through the diary of a woman who was forced from her home and relocated to a notorious concentration camp during the height of the second Boer War.  The second part starts in 1976 and travels forward through 2015, where a “school” for troubled boys, New Dawn Safari Training Camp, will alter their lives forever as well.    I agree with some of my fellow reviewers in that the first part of this book set in the concentration camp was much stronger and more engrossing than the modern storyline.  The second part just seemed…detached is the only word that comes to mind.  I would still strongly recommend giving this one a try, though, as it does deliver some powerful scenes.

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Stay safe and Happy Reading!