Tag: 9 Rating

Kate’s Review: “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes”

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Book: “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes” by Clay McLeod Chapman

Publishing Info: Quirk Books, January 2025

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eARC from NetGalley.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: From Vulture’s “master of horror” Clay McLeod Chapman, a relentless and emotionally charged social horror novel about a family on the run from a demonic possession epidemic that spreads through media, for fans of The Last of Us and When Evil Lurks

Noah Fairchild has been losing his formerly polite Southern parents to far-right cable news for years, so when his mother leaves him a voicemail warning him that the “Great Reawakening” is here, he assumes it’s related to one of the many conspiracy theories she believes in. But when his own phone calls go unanswered, Noah makes the long drive from Brooklyn to Richmond, Virginia. There, he discovers his childhood home in shambles, a fridge full of spoiled food, and his parents locked in a terrifying trance-like state in front of the TV. Panicked, Noah attempts to snap them out of it and get medical help.

Then Noah’s mother brutally attacks him.

But Noah isn’t the only person to be attacked by a loved one. Families across the country are tearing each other apart-–literally-–as people succumb to a form of possession that gets worse the more time they spend watching particular channels, using certain apps, or visiting certain websites. In Noah’s Richmond-based family, only he and his young nephew Marcus are unaffected. Together, they must race back to the safe haven of Brooklyn–-but can they make it before they fall prey to the violent hordes?

This ambitious, searing novel from “one of horror’s modern masters” holds a mirror to our divided nation, and will shake readers to the core.

Review: Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this novel!

I’m going to preface this review with the following statement: I’ve had a few interactions with Clay McLeod Chapman and he has always been INCREDIBLY kind. He’s always been very genial in the times we’ve chatted, be it at conferences or on social media or in messages exchanged in regards to his books and my reviews. I’ve always found him to be a super kind human being and I’ve enjoyed all the times we’ve spoken/written each other. That being said, he is also one of the authors that I feel PERSONALLY VICTIMIZED BY WHENEVER I READ ONE OF HIS HORROR NOVELS.

Just superimpose his face on Rachel McAdams, I say! (source)

This is in jest, obviously. But Chapman’s books always hit a nerve with me, and always get under my skin, and his newest book “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes” is his scariest one yet. And this is because of a couple reasons. The first being that Chapman is a master of suspense and horror imagery, being more than willing to push the envelope when it comes to the lengths he will take his reader within his stories. He’s usually pretty unflinching and brutal, and unapologetic about it, and that is definitely the case in this book. But the other, and more effective, reason is pretty straightforward this time around: “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes” is a satirical and incredibly gory spin on the way that far right propaganda has seeped into the collective consciousness of a huge percentage of the American public, and in this book it turns them into literal rage possessed zombies that want to destroy everyone and everything with their hate and need for violence. Jesus. Fucking. Christ. This is basically a book that is a manifestation of my mental health crises I had last summer and then again after the Election. So that’s great.

First, though, I want to talk about the straight up horror elements of this book. The basic premise is that a man named Noah, a liberal man living in Brooklyn, as noticed that his parents in Virginia have been becoming more and more obsessed with the right wing cable network Fax News (it’s blatant, and I’ll talk about why I’m fine with that later in the review), parroting talking points and becoming more and more paranoid and hateful. When he goes down to check on them after not being able to get in contact with them, or his brother and his family, he finds his folks basically wasting away watching Fax…. until something switches and the catatonic turn into violent, rage filled zombies. The zombies start attacking all non zombies while shouting ‘WAKE UP AND OPEN YOUR EYES!’ and ‘JUST THE FAX!’. He eventually finds his seven year old nephew and hopes they can make it back to Brooklyn. As far as the zombie-esque horrors go, it’s nasty, it’s violent, and it’s unrelenting. Once we are in an action moment, the pedal is to the metal and it’s VERY violent and gross. He also knows how to build up the tension as we see various characters start to succumb to the indoctrination/possession, with SO MANY nasty body horror moments and gory bits, things that even made me feel a little nauseated as I read (trigger warnings abound here too: animal death, sexual assault, school violence, it’s all here). It’s effective and disturbing, which is the exact right tone for this book.

Chapman doesn’t just limit himself to the low hanging fruit of Fox News and far right cable news (correct as this indictment may be), though, which makes this even more sinister and astute. He also takes on the all too real pipelines of wellness influencers and the Pastel QAnon movement with it’s anti-science/anti-medicine/anti-vax bent (with Noah’s sister in law), as well as the incel and red/black pill movements (with his older nephew). Both of these are mostly centralized online and on social media, and show up in algorithms like snakes in the grass. I think that the Fox News angle is pretty obvious (not that it’s incorrect!), but I know that I’ve had to explain to people about trad wives and the wellness to alt-right pipeline as well as incel bullshit, and how it is radicalizing completely different demographics into far right wing ideology, so to see him have THESE THINGS in this book made the satire that much more powerful. And scary. GOD this book is scary. Because while no, people like my grandfather was when he was alive aren’t mindless violence craving ghouls with no impulse control and a need to murder everyone in their vicinity, there are people who feel like they have lost their loved ones to a sickness of hate, fear, and bigotry, which can be violent and traumatizing in their own ways. Chapman really, really gets that, even if he has it under guise of blood soaked automatons that are killing machines and splattergore moments. And he doesn’t just have grievances for the brainwashed and hate filled, but he also indicts Noah himself (and other go along to get along liberals) as someone who just sat back and let it happen, like so many have done in the face of not wanting to rock the boat or to just be pleasant, until it’s too goddamn late.

Are the horror elements in this book over the top? Maybe. Is it absolutely NOT subtle? Completely. But I think that the time for subtlety has passed us. Chapman has his finger on the pulse of America right now. And I’m writing this as the new president elect is gearing up to take back his power, partly in thanks to these kinds of manipulations, propaganda, and indoctrination that this book has amped up to levels that may be fictional, but are rooted in a very bleak reality. And I’m honestly terrified.

(source)

“Wake Up and Open Your Eyes” is another top notch horror tale from one of the kindest authors I’ve met who still manages to personally victimize me Regina George style with his books (I mean that in the best way). It’s a must read.

Rating 9: Easily one of the scariest books I’ve read in a long time, if only because when you peel back the supernatural and satirical bits you find something that feels very, very real.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Wake Up and Open Your Eyes” is included on the Goodreads list “Horror to Look Forward To In 2025”.

Kate’s Review: “Tunis to Sydney”

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Book: “Tunis to Sydney” by Meriam & Christian Carnouche, & Sam Rapley (Ill.)

Publishing Info: Fairsquare Graphics, August 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eARC from the authors.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: Lilia and Bill enjoy a tranquil life in the heart of Sydney, Australia. Bill is a local, while Lilia hails from Tunisia, making them an unconventional but inseparable pair. Their happiness has always been unshakeable, until that day. 

When Lilia receives the devastating news of her parents’ tragic death in a car accident, a staggering ten thousand miles away. She’s consumed by a profound sense of shock. The weight of unspoken questions surfaces. Did she fail her parents by not being there for them throughout the years?

As they hastily journey to Tunis for the funeral, Bill stands steadfastly by Lilia’s side, offering unwavering support. Yet, this journey unveils the fault lines in Lilia’s life, leading her to confront a cascade of profound questions.

Dive into a poignant graphic novel that delves into the labyrinth of grief, resilience in the face of loss, and the complexities of human relationships.

Review: Thank you to Christian Carnouche for sending me an eARC of this graphic novel!

I am very fortunate in that I haven’t experienced a deep in my bones kind of grief in my life when it comes to losing people I care about. I know many people who have, however, and I kept thinking about this as I read the graphic novel “Tunis to Sydney” by Meriam and Christian Carnouche. When I saw this novel in my inbox, the description sounded interesting, in that the graphic novels I read tend to be more genre focused, or full on memoir. But this one really grabbed me, and I decided to give it a try, mainly because the idea of following a woman in grieving her parents, and returning to her childhood home in Tunisia. I am so, so glad that I took a chance on this one because wow did it deliver.

“Tunis to Sydney” is very much a ‘day in the life’ kind of book, though it’s more like a few months in the life. We follow Lilia and Bill, a married couple living in Sydney, Australia, though Lilia is originally from Tunisia. When she gets a horrible phone call that both her parents have been killed in a car accident, they return to Tunis to make plans for the funeral. The story is a path of Lilia’s loss of her parents and how she maneuvers through a deep grief and all the other feelings that come with it, like shock, guilt, and rage. I though that following this journey was very poignant, and that it touches upon the guilt of leaving loved ones behind for a new life as well as a sense of loss. But that loss is not only of immediate family, but of a place as well, as Lilia has returned to Tunis after being gone for so long, and readjusting if only for a little while. Watching her move through scenes of her former home was so bittersweet, and I loved the moments with the community, and within spaces that she hadn’t seen in so long, be it her mother’s greenhouse or even the market or Zitouna Mosque.

I also appreciated how up front and honest this story was with how grief and loss, especially an astronomical one such as the loss of not one but two parents, can consume a person. Lilia is reeling through most of the story, moving from shock to guilt to sadness to anger and back around, and her emotions and palpable and completely leap off the pages. She has her moments of being overcome by many of these differing stages, and while she has her moments of being unfair or even cruel to her husband after the loss as really taken its toll, there is always sympathy for her, and the story never makes her out to be right or wrong, nor does it judge her. It shows how grief and trauma of this type can be incredibly messy, and I thought that was such an honest point of view and route to take. It also made her journey feel that much more touching, seeing her resilience in the face of despair, while her loving partner and husband is there to support her in any way he can, even if that means dealing with difficult moments.

And I REALLY loved the artwork in this. Sam Rapley’s style is a mix of realism as well as a clear aesthetic that makes for very poignant imagery that is striking. There were moments and images that really took my breath away, and really added to the overall weight of the story.

(Fairsquare Graphics)

Overall I really, really enjoyed “Tunis to Sydney”. It’s heartfelt, quiet, and deeply emotional. Absolutely lovey.

Rating 9: A lovely and melancholy story about loss, grief, and healing. Incredibly moving and stunning artwork. Highly recommend.

Readers’s Advisory:

“Tunis to Sydney” isn’t on any Goodreads lists as of yet, but it would fit in on “Best Books About Grief and Grieving”.

Serena’s Review: “The Scarlet Alchemist”

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Book: “The Scarlet Alchemist” by Kylie Lee Baker

Publishing Info: Inkyard Press, October 2023

Where Did I Get this Book: own it!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist, of providing for her family by making alchemical gold and gems for the wealthy to eat in order to stay young forever. But for now, she’s trapped in her impoverished village in southern China, practicing an illegal form of alchemy to keep food on the table—resurrecting the dead, for a price.

When Zilan finally has the chance to complete her imperial exams, she ventures to the capital to compete against the best alchemists in the country in tasks she’ll be lucky to survive, let alone pass. On top of that, her reputation for raising the dead has followed her to the capital, and the Crown Prince himself seeks out her help, suspecting a coming assassination attempt.

The more Zilan succeeds in her alchemy, the more she gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. There are monsters lurking within the palace walls, and it’s only a matter of time before they—and secrets of Zilan’s past—catch up with her.

Review: Honestly, this is one of those cases where I didn’t check out a book in a timely manner based on the cover. I really have a hard time with covers that feature models. For some reason, they always make me feel as if the quality of the book itself will be on the lower side. I’m sure I’ve missed out on several winners with this mindset, but I can’t help it! Luckily, I subscribe to a book box that included this book and when I was going through the titles I hadn’t read yet, I decided I should probably give this one a go! And thank goodness I did, since I ended up loving it!

There was so much to enjoy about this book! But one of the things that stood out was the story’s themes of family and sibling relationships. Our main character has been adopted into her aunt and uncle’s family and raised as a sibling of her cousins. With this, comes a lot of baggage about her place. Throughout the story, we see her struggle with feelings of imposter syndrome and a need to justify the love and care she’s been raised with, though from all we see, her aunt and uncle love her like she is their own. More importantly, however, the story follows the close sibling relationship with her cousins. As the plot progresses, these relationships are tested again and again. This isn’t simply a superficial take on the complicated nature of siblings, but instead dives into the warring feelings of love, jealously, and even fear that can make up the deepest bonds.

On the fantasy and world-building side, I very much enjoyed the alchemy in this story. The author does an incredible job of fully fleshing out this magic system, giving it important limits and consequences. Nothing comes for free or easily, and as the story continues, we see the true power and danger of alchemy. At the same time, it’s not an easy answer to every problem. Indeed, half the time it feels as if alchemy itself IS the problem! Towards the end, I was truly wondering how many of these elements were going to be wrapped up. And I’ll be honest: this is the first in a duology, so many of them weren’t! Instead, we were left with a fairly killer cliffhanger in at least one important way!

I also really enjoyed the main character. As I mentioned in the bit about family themes, much of the story centers around Zilan’s feelings about her place in the world. But even as she struggles, her determination and unflinching view of the world carries her through.

There was also a romantic subplot to be found, those this definitely played second fiddle to the rest of the story. I did appreciate the slower build the author gave this element. For example, Zilan meets this character fairly early when he asks her for a huge favor essentially. She blows him off and then literally doesn’t think about him again for many chapters until he shows up in her life again. It’s always refreshing to see a realistic take like this. From Zilan’s perspective, this was some random guy and a brief interaction. There is no reason for her to fixate on him, and, blessedly, she doesn’t! I could go on an entire rant about my feelings about heroines who meet the MMC one time and then seem to devote a significant amount of their inner thoughts to him for the remainder of the book. This is a great example of how to include a romance in what feels like a natural, realistic way. It’s important to Zilan, but by no means the most important thing she is dealing with.

I really loved this book! As I said, it does end on a pretty big cliffhanger in certain ways. Luckily, I have been now rewarded by my own recalcitrance regarding the cover art and don’t have to wait since the sequel came out this fall! I’ll definitely be checking it out soon!

Rating 9: With an intricate magic system and a fantastic lead character, this one is sure to please all YA fantasy fans!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Scarlet Alchemist” can be found on this Goodreads list: Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Fantasy.

Serena’s Review: “The Songbird and the Heart of Stone”

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Book: “The Songbird and the Heart of Stone”

Publishing Info: Bramble, November 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Mische lost everything when she was forcibly Turned into a vampire—her home, her humanity, and most devastating of all, the love of the sun god to whom she had devoted her life. Now, sentenced to death for murdering the vampire prince who turned her, redemption feels impossible.

But when Mische is saved by Asar, the bastard prince of the House of Shadow with a past as brutal as his scars, she’s forced into a mission worse than execution: a journey to the underworld to resurrect the god of death himself.

Yet, Mische’s punishment may be the key to her salvation. In a secret meeting, her sun god commands her to help Asar in his mission, only to betray him… by killing the god of death.

Mische and Asar must travel the treacherous path to the underworld, facing trials, beasts, and the vengeful ghosts of their pasts. Yet, most dangerous of all is the alluring call of the darkness—and her forbidden attraction to Asar, a burgeoning bond that risks invoking the wrath of gods.

As her betrayal looms, the underworld closes in, and angry gods are growing restless. Mische will be forced to choose between the redemption of the sun or the damnation of the darkness.

Review: It’s both an enormous privilege and an enormous test of willpower to receive ARC copies of popular titles! Obviously, I was so excited to receive this copy months before publication. But on the other hand, I still had to diligently work through my review/reading order before getting to it, all while it glittered like the worst sort of temptation on my nightstand. Whining about having to be responsible and read it only 2 months in advance rather than 4 is quite something, isn’t it? Anyways, on to the actual, you know, review…

This is only tangentially related, but I do love fantasy authors who follow the trend of creating large fantasy worlds and then writing either stand-alones or shorter duologies all connected through this larger setting. In this way, you get the best of both worlds: incredibly detailed world-building, sprawling histories, and grand scale plot lines all while not having to commit to a huge, ongoing series that will leave you dangling for years on end before getting any sort of resolution. This is now the 4th book set in Broadbent’s Nyaxia world (I believe one is still slated to be released this coming spring, so I’ll review it then most likely), and it’s such a pleasure to return to a known entity with all of the greater insight this bestows. And for a book like this, that’s quite important. Not only are we following a character who was a significant side character in the previous duology, but the entire plot revolves around the ongoing conflict in the realm of the gods and the ways in which this pantheon is royally messed up.

Let’s start with the characters, as I always like to do. I very much enjoyed Mische in the previous duology, so I was excited that we were going to follow her story in the next series. That said, I did struggle a bit more to connect to her character than I have with other Broadbent leading ladies. However, this may simply be because Mische is very different than the other “touch as nails” warrior women that so often feature in the other books. Mische’s strengths are much more of the “soft” variety. She literally smiles in the face of danger; not because she’s reckless, but because a hard life has taught her the strength of disarming those more powerful than she is with cheer and optimism. But as the story progresses, the book dives deeper into her past and her relationship with the god she follows. There, we find the darker side of how this approach has developed. Through this storyline, the book tackles some deep themes of abusive cycles, self-defense, and, essentially, large scale gaslighting. It’s tough stuff, and I appreciated the very real conflict Mische feels when confronting the contradictions in her life. There are no easy answers and years of conditioning are not easily thrown off.

While it took a bit to truly understand and appreciate Mische’s character (though now I love her just as dearly as all of the other fantastic heroines in this world!), I immediately loved the romantic interest. I definitely have a type, and it’s the strong, silent, bookish, and too bound up in the rules brooder. Asar was all of this and more! Literally, no notes on him, he was just perfect. I also really enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine relationship between him and Mische. Too often I’ve read versions of this relationship where the “grumpy” one is just a jerk and the “sunshine” one is just an idiot. Neither is true here. Instead, we simply have differences in temperament, but still two characters who share passion, drive, and a growing respect for one another.

As for the plot itself, I really enjoyed this one! It’s essentially a quest storyline, with Mische, Asar, and a few other companions making their way through the depths of the underworld. There’s plenty of action and danger throughout, with each new level uncovering new terrors and deeper traumas that must be explored. I also appreciated the timeline here. This is no quick mission. The story takes place over weeks and even months, I believe. Not only does this make the entire thing feel more plausible and lived, it also lends much needed believability to the growing relationship between our characters. No instalove here! Indeed, it takes several weeks for them to even like one another.

I will say, however, that like “The Serpent and the Wings of Night” before it, this one does end on a massive cliffhanger. It’s gutting! So readers who want a resolved storyline may want to wait for the next book to come out. But, of course, there is no way in heck that I had the type of self-control to hold out for that! We’ve already been over my struggles to wait only a few short months…Either way, fans of Carissa Broadbent are sure to enjoy this latest entry and general romantasy fans should definitely give it a go!

Rating 9: Carissa Broadbent is one of the strongest romantasy authors writing today, and this book highlights once again the true highs the genre can reach!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Songbird and the Heart of Stone” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Epic High Fantasy/Romance/Mythology in 2024 and Fantasy Romance & SciFi Romance Books: Well-Written, Strong Character Development, and Good World Building! (“Fourth Wing” is first on this list, however, so take this title with a grain of salt!)

Serena’s Review: “Wheel of the Infinite”

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Book: “Wheel of the Infinite” by Martha Wells

Publishing Info: Tor Books, November 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: With her previous novel The Death of the Necromancer, Wells established herself as a skilled fantasy world-builder with the ability to blend mystery and intrigue with plenty of buckle and swash. Here she departs from more familiar pseudohistorical European settings for the Celestial Empire, a land where life moves in eternal circles and the wishes of departed ancestors can have as much influence as the living on day-to-day life. Itinerant ex-priestess Maskelle was once the Voice of the Adversary, vessel to a spirit created by the Ancestors and given the task of punishing injustice and evil. When a false message from an interfering evil spirit led her to commit murder, Maskelle left the faith, only to return now, years later, answering the summons of the Celestial One. Someone–or something–has corrupted the great Wheel of the Infinite, distorting the sacred patterns which must be faithfully recreated at the end of each year to ensure the continual existence of the world. The only way to repair the pattern is to find the being responsible for disturbing it, and so the Adversary’s Voice is needed once again, despite the past. Assisted by the swordsman Rian, a lordless bodyguard from distant Sitane, Maskelle uncovers an intricate plot whose roots were set into motion long ago–a plot responsible for the murder which forced her to leave the faith. Engaging characters and a convincing setting make this novel of ancient schemes and twisted magic an excellent and memorable read.

Review: I’m so pleased to see Martha Wells finally receiving the acknowledgement and credit she is due! She’s been putting out solid fantasy novels for so many years at this point, that it was criminal how rarely her name came up in discussions of great fantasy authors still currently writing today. I’ve been a big fan for many years, but even I still haven’t read her entire back catalog, so I was thrilled to see that Tor was re-releasing “Wheel of the Infinite,” giving me the perfect excuse to finally get to it!

If you’re a fan of Wells’ writing, there are some things that you come to expect: solid writing, no-nonsense characters, and, most importantly, incredibly creative and unique second-world fantasy settings! And this one came through on all counts. I’ll start with the world-building, however, as I truly think it’s what elevates Wells’ writing above many other fantasy works being produced today.

Like her other books, the minute you start reading this story, it’s clear that you are now suddenly in a totally foreign environment, complete with different cultures, religions, and magic. The premise of this book focuses heavily on the primary religion of this world and the ways in which it is used to essentially re-create the entire world every so often. I don’t want to go into details about how it all works as this way lies spoilers, but there are so many fascinating levels included in how it all works. There are enough points of references to concepts readers will recognize from our own world to make it all approachable, but as the story continues to spin, all of these concepts weave together into some truly great twists towards the middle point and then again at the very end.

I also was predisposed to love the main character of this book, as it features the rarest of rare fantasy leads: the middle-aged woman! And Maskelle highlights all the strengths that this sort of character brings to the story. She’s experienced, smart, and takes no-nonsense from those around her. Her power is earned through years of grit and she has a full life’s worth of experiences and mistakes to draw from that further pad out her current character arc.

Even more rare than the character herself, the romance was also a rare beast with the romantic interest, Rian, being about a decade younger than Maskelle’s mid-forties. Even better, there was no rumination on this fact. They simply met, were attracted to one another, and fell into a fairly straight-forward relationship from there. While I enjoy romantasy and romance novels, they are often full of what can feel like unnecessary drama and deception. It made it all the more refreshing to read this book about two adults who simply act on their feelings while never losing sight of themselves in the mix.

The only thing that prevents this book from reaching a 10 rating was the fact that at points some of the descriptions and world-building felt a bit repetitive and too much a focal point of the narrative. For example, while I appreciate the thought that went into the architecture of this world, there were times where I felt like these details were a bit excessive, especially when describing layouts and buildings that I still struggled to picture. It feels weird to complain about too much world-building, but such it is! And still, if I had to pick, I’d choose Wells’ approach here to many of the other fantasy books out there that are lacking in these details!

This is an excellent stand-alone fantasy novel, and I highly recommend it to all fantasy readers, especially those who may be feeling worn out on all of the current tropes making their rounds.

Rating 9: With a mature heroine, a fully fleshed-out world, and a mystery full of action and adventure, Wells proves that you can have it all in fantasy fiction!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Wheel of the Infinite” is somehow not on any Goodreads lists, but it should be on Best Fantasy with Unique Worlds.

Kate’s Review: “American Rapture”

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Book: “American Rapture” by C.J. Leede

Publishing Info: Tor Nightfire, October 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC from the publisher at ALAAC24.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: A virus is spreading across America, transforming the infected and making them feral with lust. Sophie, a good Catholic girl, must traverse the hellscape of the midwest to try to find her family while the world around her burns. Along the way she discovers there are far worse fates than dying a virgin.

Review: Thank you to Tor Nightfire for providing me with an ARC at ALAAC24!

Now that we are no longer in the fully acute stage of the COVID pandemic (not saying we are out of the woods yet, necessarily, as we are just getting out of another big wave here in Minnesota), I am far more able to read end of the world/disease based horror than I was four (or even three) years ago. So when I had to option to get a copy of “American Rapture” by C.J. Leede, an end of the world horror tale about a disease that makes its infected wholly uninhibited and wanting to have sex, and a Catholic teenager trying to survive, I was all in and excited to read it. And it takes place in Wisconsin! Sure, I’m a Minnesota girl, and while I too enjoy a good hearted border battle with our Eastern neighbors, I do really like Wisconsin for a lot of reasons, so that was a bonus.

As an apocalypse story I found “American Rapture” to be a unique take on a sub genre I have enjoyed for a very long time. I will say that I’m not wholly sure as to why I was thinking that the premise was going to be kinda fun when a disease that completely breaks down all inhibitions of an infected person and makes them only want to have sex with anything and anyone at ANY cost is the name of the game (in my defense, there is a tagline that uses the phrase ‘coming’ in a cheeky way and I thought that signaled light heartedness. IT IS NOT, be warned). But I really did enjoy this premise because it made for very intense horror moments as teenager Sophie is trying to survive and find her brother as the world around her crumbles to disease and danger. It felt a bit like the George Romero’s “The Crazies”, and I mean that in the very best way. I also liked how Sophie is wandering through Wisconsin and finding fellow survivors to cling to and lean on, as found family tropes in apocalypse stories always tug at my heartstrings and are one of the things I love most about the sub genre, and Leede really nails the tone, which in turn just raises the stakes even more.

But what made this book stand out even more to me was the fact that one of the major themes within its pages and story was that of religious trauma and religious fundamentalism and its damaging effects on its followers and also greater society. When we meet Sophie she is very clearly very attached to her upbringing and a true believer, though her faith has started to show cracks due to her twin Noah being sent away for being gay even before the outbreak has occurred. We are in her head basically the whole time and we get to see how her doubts and her anxieties about her faith have driven her to this point, and how the horrors that are unfolding are causing even more of a crisis within herself even as she tries to detach herself from the upbringing that has damaged her. Add in some wholly understandable PTSD responses as she interacts with fellow survivors while also trying to come to terms with her repressed upbringing AND the violence surrounding her and it is a wallop of a character arc. And even more chilling (and a bit too real given the way that just a couple weeks ago militias were out to get hurricane aid workers) is how religious fundamentalists from her community have taken up against relief and scientific efforts to try and stop the diseases from spreading, going so far as to commit violence like arson, torture, and murder all in the name of their faith. Leede doesn’t really hold back on the violence, both physical and psychological, and it elevated the horror levels to higher and more disturbing heights.

And with that in mind, I definitely want to make clear that this book has some pretty heavy content warnings attached to it, from religious trauma/abuse to animal death to sexual assault and sexual violence to child death. I didn’t feel like any of it was done in poor taste, but its still good to be mindful.

“American Rapture” is sure to stand the test of time as a new classic in apocalypse horror. I found it gut wrenching and tense, but also in some ways hopeful. I definitely need to check out more stuff by C.J. Leede.

Rating 9: Harrowing, terrifying, too real, and raw. “American Rapture” is a new classic in the end of the world horror sub genre!

Reader’s Advisory:

“American Rapture” is included on the Goodreads list “Horror to Look Forward to in 2024”.

Kate’s Review: “Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees”

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Book: “Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees” by Patrick Horvath

Publishing Info: IDW, September 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: Live, laugh, shed blood. Dexter meets Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy Town in this twisted debut graphic novel!

Don’t. Murder. The locals.

This is small-town serial killer, upstanding citizen, and adorable brown bear Samantha Strong’s cardinal rule. After all, there’s a sea of perfectly ripe potential victims in the big city just beyond the forest, and when you’ve worked as hard as Sam to build a cozy life and a thriving business in a community surrounded by friendly fellow animal folk, warm decor, and the aroma of cedar trees and freshly baked apple pie…the last thing you want is to disturb the peace.

So you can imagine her indignation when one of Woodbrook’s own meets a grisly, mysterious demise—and you wouldn’t blame her for doing anything it takes to hunt down her rival before the town self-destructs and Sheriff Patterson starts (literally) barking up the wrong tree.

Cute critters aren’t immune to crime in this original graphic novel debut by writer-artist Patrick Horvath.

Review: When I was a child one of my favorite toys was a doll house for a set of “Maple Town” toys. For those who are not late Gen X/Elder Millenials, “Maple Town” was a Japanese anime for kids that ran on Nick Jr. I didn’t have cable as a kid, but my grandparents did, and every once in awhile I’d catch an episode here or there, but I LOVED my toy set that involved Patty and Ricky Rabbit and Bobby Bear even without consistent exposure to the show. I hadn’t thought about “Maple Town” in years….. And then I saw the cover and snippets from “Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees” by Patrick Horvath. And my IMMEDIATE thought was ‘oh my God it’s ‘Maple Town’ if ‘Maple Town’ was about a serial killer!’ Which obviously meant that I NEEDED TO READ IT.

Me to myself as I threw it in my online shopping cart (source).

As far as a mystery thriller goes with a shady as hell protagonist, “Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees” is top notch, with small town secrets and an anti-heroine who is whip smart and incredibly unnerving. We follow Samantha Bear a small town woman with a good job at the hardware store, some community connections, a love for her small town…. and a drive for brutally murdering unsuspecting people in the Big City that is far away and untouched by her happy life with her neighbors. But when someone starts killing people in Woodbrook, not only does it make Samantha cagey that someone will perhaps find her out during the investigation, it also just pisses her off that the town she loves and has spared is being targeted by a serial killer as sadistic as she is. So we follow Samantha as she conducts and investigation to help her community and keep her own nose clean. That’s just so fun in a nasty kind of way, and Horvath really sets up a well plotted mystery that is only enriched by Samantha, who is simultaneously the very worst but also SO easy to root for. I really enjoyed the pace of her investigation, and the cast of characters who act as suspects and victims made for some well done surprises, as well as well done shocks (and sad moments. A couple really great characters don’t fare so well!). And for the most part the reveals made sense while not feeling obvious, as well as some well placed red herrings that don’t feel cheap or frustrating. It really does read like a “Dexter” arc, as referenced in the description, with Samantha making a great dual detective/villainess.

The mystery itself is pretty well done, but what REALLY makes this book stand out (unsurprisingly so) is the fact that all of the characters are cutesy forest animals that have been drawn in adorable anthropomorphized fashions. It is such a strange dichotomy watching these delightful creatures doing pretty horrifying things, as this book is VIOLENT, but man it really adds to the appeal because it’s so creative. There are also some pretty fun meta bits, one in particular with Samantha being the woods and meeting a bear that is just like a bear a human would meet in the woods. So seeing this serial killer teddy bear-esque bear interact with a more realistic bear was just kinda fun. I MEAN HECK, the whole idea of these cute forest animals being in this situation in GENERAL is fun! What a concept! I brings an already solid serial killer thriller up a few levels.

And Horvath’s graphics are just…. My God. They are visceral and so cute and gory and charming and it’s a bizarre combination that works wonders.

(source: IDW)

“Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees” is one of the most unique graphic novel experiences I’ve had this year. If you like serial killer stories, and completely precious animals, this is sure to delight.

Rating 9: Twisted and unnerving but also super fun and somehow kind of adorable in its own ways, “Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees” is a bloody thriller with cutesy forest animals doing terrible things.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees” isn’t on any Goodreads lists as of now, but if you like the “Dexter” series or really any stories that follow a charismatic killer, this will probably click with you.

Serena’s Review: “Monstrous Nights”

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Book: “Monstrous Nights” by Genoveva Dimova

Publishing Info: Tor Books, October 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: NetGalley!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: With her magic reclaimed and her role in the community of Chernograd restored, Kosara’s life should finally be back to normal—but, of course, things can’t possibly be that simple.

She is now in possession of twelve witch’s shadows, which belonged to a series of young, magically powerful women lured into the deadly marriage with the Zmey that Kosara only narrowly escaped as a young woman. Holding them may grant her unprecedented power, but that doesn’t mean they’re always willing to do her bidding.

Across the wall in Belograd, Asen chases the only lead on his latest case, one of several unsolved witch murders, even against the orders of his direct superior and the mayor. He’s convinced the smuggling kingpin Konstantin Karaivanov is behind them, and follows his trail to an underground monster auction—which leads him right back to Chernograd.

There, sinister events follow one after snow falls in midsummer, a witch with two shadows is found dead, monsters that should only appear during the Foul Days have been sighted, and cracks appear in the sky that only Kosara seems able to see. The barrier between worlds thins… and Kosara can’t help but feel her actions are the cause.

Previously Reviewed: “Foul Days”

Review: I’ve been eagerly awaiting this one ever since June when “Foul Days” took me completely by surprise with its excellence! Luckily, that book wrapped up enough that this wasn’t an excruciating wait. And even more luckily, this was one of those rare fast turn-around situations where the sequel came out almost on the heels of the first book! So, did this one live up to the highs that was the first in the duology? Let’s find out!

For the most part, I think this one turned out to be an excellent sequel and follow-up to that first book. I rated “Foul Days” a 10 which is a pretty hard number to follow, and this one got just about as close as you can get. Everything I enjoyed about the first book was back in spades, and I enjoyed some of the new challenges that our characters faced, especially with the brief looks we got into the struggles of these two cities/cultures that had been so long divided now suddenly brought together. And, importantly, while I appreciated these brief touches on subjects like immigration, culture clash, and the general fear of the other, I also liked that the author simply dropped these scenes into the book without letting them take over the story. Instead, the reader is presented with these brief looks that may feel familiar, even if they are happening in a fantasy setting, and left readers to draw their own conclusion. But these are largely events simmering in the background of what remains a very “fantasy adventure” story.

I really enjoyed Kosara’s story and the direction it took in this second entry. Now in possession of not one, but many shadows (the source of a witch’s magic) she is one of the most powerful women in the city. However, these shadows come with their own histories and baggage, being all that remains of the tragic wives and victims of the Zmey, and they don’t lie on Kosara’s shoulders lightly. Through flashbacks into these women’s lives, the book further fleshes out the history of the Zmey and the true terror that he was. Through these characters as well as through further exploration of the Baba Yaga-like character we met in the first book, we get a more detailed history of how the Zmey came to be who he was and, potentially, enlighten a pathway to his ultimate defeat.

I also enjoyed the Kosara’s personal journey. In the first book, we saw her struggle to trust others or to accept help. And here, we largely see the same. Yes, she has learned to trust a bit more, but now with her added power, she feels even more responsibility to solve the cities’ problems all on her own without endangering those she cares about. In this way, Asen was a perfect foil to Kosara’s struggles, serving as contented helper, showing up when he was needed whether she wanted him there or not. I also enjoyed the continued slow-burn romance between these two. As I said in the first book, this is the perfect balance of romance for me: sweet, slow, and a solid second-place to the primary plot.

However, this book marks a distinct shift from the first book in one way: we had chapters from Asen’s perspective. Surprising no one who reads this blog, this did bring it down a bit for me. Mostly because it felt very clear throughout much of the book that there simply wasn’t enough plot (either action itself or important themes explored) that was specific to this character. As I said earlier, this was still very much Kosara’s story. While Asen had a few specific plot angles, they had the distinct feeling of being almost a “side quest” to the larger story. There, but not overly necessary. And, as happens far too often, I don’t feel as if the peak into Asen’s head actually helped the love story, as it removed the necessity to actually show the romance developing, which is the best part and sorely missed when author’s go this route! That said, these chapters were still well written and Asen is an excellent character, so this falls mostly into a personal preference category (with some niggling questions about whether these chapters negatively affected the pacing and plotting with unnecessary subplots.)

Overall, however, this was an incredible sequel! It expanded the lore and history of the world, continued to build out the sweet romance at its heart, and placed due priority on the amazing characters who lead the way, especially Kosara herself. I highly recommend this duology to all fantasy fans, especially those who enjoy original fairytale stories!

Rating 9: A new author to keep an eye on, perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson and Naomi Novik!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Monstrous Nights” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Eastern European Fantasy and 2024 SFF Books with Female Leads or Co-Leads.

Kate’s Review: “My Vampire Plus One”

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Book: “My Vampire Plus One” by Jenna Levine

Publishing Info: Berkley, September 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eARC from NetGalley

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: Nothing sucks more than fake dating a vampire in this paranormal romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of My Roommate Is a Vampire.

Amelia Collins is by definition successful. She would even go so far as to say successfully single. But not according to her family, and she’s tired of the constant questions about her nonexistent dating life. When an invitation to yet another family wedding arrives, she decides to get everyone off her back once and for all by finding someone–anyone–to pose as her date.

After a chance encounter with Reginald Cleaves, Amelia decides he’s perfect for her purposes. He’s a bit strange, but that’s fine; it’ll discourage tough questions from her family. (And it certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s very handsome.) For centuries-old vampire Reggie, posing as her plus-one sounds like the ultimate fun. And if it helps his ruse of pretending to be human, so much the better.

As Amelia and Reggie practice their fauxmance, it becomes clear that Reggie is as loyal to her as the day is long, and that Amelia’s first impressions could not have been more wrong. Suddenly, being in a real relationship with Reggie sounds pretty fang-tastic.

Review: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel!

Last year I read and reviewed the romance novel “My Roommate Is A Vampire” by Jenna Levine, which introduced us to Cassie and her vampire roommate turned lover Frederick. I found it to be very sweet and very fun (and very steamy), and quite enjoyed it. One of the standouts, however, was Frederick’s sarcastic fellow vampire friend (frenemy?) Reginald, whose wit and snide remarks consistently made me laugh. So when I saw the cover for the sequel “My Vampire Plus One”, I immediately thought ‘oh my GOD REGGIE IS GETTING A BOOK!’, and requested it post haste. I needed to see what Levine was going to do with his character and a love interest that would surely be able to stand toe to toe with him. And folks, this didn’t disappoint. A fake dating romance is already a trope I love, and when you make a high strung accountant meet a vampire bad boy, I am even MORE desperate to read it.

Since it is Halloween Season and this is in my Horrorpalooza celebration, I will first talk about the general vampire mythos that Levine is continuing here. I am still quite enjoying the way that she is tackling vampires and how they are functioning in this version of our world, as they don’t feel shoe horned in, nor does the world feel very different from our own. Vampires like Reggie have vampiric traits that are familiar, though there are also some twists on them to make them feel unique (sunlight doesn’t kill them but it does cause some pain, different vampires have differing abilities, etc). I also liked the descriptions of “The Collective”, a long functioning vampire cult that is hunting down Reggie for a crime they think he committed centuries ago, but who all feel a bit bumbling and very “What We Do in the Shadows” in their silliness. To make things even more entertaining, one of the many epistolary devices used in this book is them communicating with each other on their hunt, and how their hunt isn’t going super well. There were many laugh out loud moments involving these kinds of chapter breaks (another of note: records from a bullet journaling chat room that Reggie frequents to ask for romantic advice. SO CHARMING). But even MORE intriguing? Levine has introduced the concept of witches in this world now, and boy I hope that if she does do a follow up we get a story centered around Reggie’s old potential lover Zelda, who is now running a hot yoga studio on the west coast.

Dare I dream we get to see a witch romance next?? Also, total side track, these two were the best and Joss Whedon did her so dirty. (source)

And I also just loved Reggie and Amelia, and all of the delicious chemistry they have together. For Amelia, it’s her slightly neurotic and incredibly ambitious personality that makes her a little tightly wound, though very endearing all the same. I enjoyed how she is competent and incredibly clever, and loved that by getting entangled with Reggie she starts to learn to loosen up a bit, but not in a way that criticizes her personality or her character. And Reggie? Well. It’s a been pretty common to see two kinds of male vampire potential love interest archetypes in modern vampire literature. There’s the serious, broody, kind of sullen one, and there’s the sarcastic, mischievous, kind of bad boy one. Louis, Bill Compton, and Angel are all the former, while Lestat, Eric Northman, and Spike are all the latter. I have ALWAYS preferred the latter. And if Frederick in “My Roommate is a Vampire” is a Louis/Bill/Angle type, Reggie is DEFINITELY a Lestat/Eric/Spike type. And readers, this means I automatically ADORE HIM. Reggie is funny, he’s a bit mysterious, he’s a BIT of a dope, and he is so endearing in his terribly suppressed sappy/emotional side (he has a scrapbooked bullet journal and if THAT isn’t Spike coded I don’t know WHAT is!!). When you combine that kind of personality with Amelia’s kind of personality it is an instant win, and my gosh do these two have fantastic chemistry. Which, of course, means that the slow burn romance is VERY satisfying as they banter, pine, and eventually consummate. I really loved these two and was so on board with their love story.

I loved “My Vampire Plus One”! Even more so than its predecessor, which is saying something because I also really enjoyed that one too. Jenna Levine continues to be a go to for paranormal romance with a goofy edge!

Rating 9: A delightful and incredibly humorous follow up to a stand out read from last year, “My Vampire Plus One” is sexy and witty and everything I was hoping it would be!

Reader’s Advisory:

“My Vampire Plus One” is included on the Goodreads lists “Spooky Season Reads”, and “Vampires!”.

Serena’s Review: “Buried Deep and Other Stories”

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Book: “Buried Deep and Other Stories” by Naomi Novik

Publishing Info: Del Rey, September 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: NetGalley!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: From the dragon-filled Temeraire series and the gothic, magical halls of the Scholomance trilogy to the fairy tale worlds of Spinning Silver and Uprooted, this stunning collection takes us from fairy tale to fantasy, myth to history, and mystery to science fiction as we travel through Naomi Novik’s most beloved stories.

In Buried Deep, we move from ancient Greece and Rome, through the Middle Ages and the Black Death, and into the modern era. We meet Mark Antony, Sherlock Holmes, and Elizabeth Bennet, in ways we have never seen them before. We visit exotic fantasy cities and alien civilizations among the stars.

Though the stories are vastly different, there is a unifying theme: the act of finding and seizing one’s destiny, and the lengths one will go to achieve that—be it turning pirate, captaining a fighting dragon, or shifting from marriage to seek your destiny with a sword.

And in the two tales original to this collection, we first reenter the remade Scholomance in the wake of El’s revolution and see what life is like for the new crop of students. Then, we get a glimpse at the world of Novik’s upcoming series, a deserted land, populated only by silent and enigmatic architectural behemoths whose secrets are yet to be unlocked.

Review: I don’t typically read short story collections because, with all honesty, I very rarely enjoy them. I’m the sort of reader who really wants to sink into a world and (ideally) follow a single POV character who I become wholly invested in over the course of the story. It’s all quite focused in to detailed character work and epic storytelling and worldbuilding, all of which are difficult to convey in the much smaller wordcount allowed to short stories. Beyond this, most of the collections I’ve read in the past were assortments of authors all contributing to one work, which left a lot of variability in quality throughout the entire read. All of this long winded intro to say, this week I’ll be reviewing not only one short story collection, but two! And they are each wildly different experiences.

Today, we’re going to start on the high note! It probably shouldn’t have been so surprising that I ended up loving this book, given the fact that I don’t think I’ve ever rated a Naomi Novik below an 8 (the vast majority of them have been 9s and 10s, even!). But as we’ve just discussed, I struggle with these sorts of collections. But, if anything, with this book Novik has convinced me that in the right hands, I can enjoy a short story collection just as much as the next person!

In fact, in many ways, it felt like this collection of stories was written just for me. Not only was I rewarded for being a reader of all of Novik’s previous series (we have two Temeraire stories, a “Spinning Silver” story, and a “Scholomance” story), but the other tales she tackled were also of peak interest for me. It was almost freakish! There was a Greek re-telling, a “Pride and Prejudice” re-telling, and a “Sherlock Homes” story that focused on Irene Adler! Can it get more perfect than that? Honestly, if I had sat down and picked out series/stories that I would have wanted to read short stories of, these would have been at the top of my list! And they were all done so well!

I don’t want to cover every single story in this collection (though I enjoyed them all, even if I had favorites), but I’ll talk about a few of my favorites. I really loved the aforementioned “Pride and Prejudice” story. Novik managed to not only re-tell the entire novel in an impressively thorough manner, but also adjusted it to fit within her Temeraire world. This version’s Elisabeth Bennet was a dragon rider and much of the tension with Mr. Darcy was derived from the fact that she’s a military member. It was both incredibly unique but also fit perfectly within the boundaries of the original story.

I also really loved returning to the “Scholomance” world. This story takes place after the events of the trilogy, giving readers a look into how the school operates now that El and Orion have done their work. Of course, it was great seeing some familiar faces (though, sadly, not El herself), but the new character to this story was also fantastic! Through her eyes, we see how other magical communities have dealt with the dangers of this world. There was also an added twist to certain aspects of the magic itself, which I felt was both very creative but also felt natural to this pre-existing world.

I also really enjoyed the Greek re-telling of the story of the Minotaur. Told from the perspective of the Minotaur’s sister, Novik infused the story with a whole new level of tragedy, but also beauty. The Irene Adler story was also good, though here I did feel that by the end of the story, I had been hoping for a bit more…I don’t know, point to it all. So, too, the “Spinning Silver” story was also good. It was a shortened version (I believe this was the first attempt at the story that was later expanded into the full length novel), but essentially hit the same beats, though had a different ending. While I enjoyed reading this one, it did hit home how much I loved the novel version. This one just didn’t pack the same punch, and I enjoyed the ending of the original novel better.

While none of the stories were misses, I did want a bit more from a few of them. The collection begins with a pirate story which I think is the weakest of the bunch (a bit unfortunate that it’s first). There’s nothing inherently wrong with it, but it also didn’t seem to have a lot new to say or offer. Likewise, there’s a story about fairy wishes gone wrong which I really liked, but then it felt like it ended abruptly, almost feeling as if it was the first chapter to an entire book. I was mostly just mad that I couldn’t keep reading it! And lastly, I also enjoyed the look into the new world that her next series will take place within, but this story itself also felt a bit listless. I wasn’t clear whether these were the characters we would be following in the next book or not, but as it stands, by the time the story ends, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it as a story on its own.

Overall, this was an excellent collection! I think I can even say that it’s my favorite short story collection of all time (take from that what you will, given my general lack of interest/familiarity with the genre). I think most any fantasy fan would find something to like from this book. Though I will say that it’s one of those collections that greatly rewards readers familiar with Novik’s entire catalogue of work; it’s practically a must for fans of her books!

Rating 9: Absolutely fantastic, introducing readers to entire new worlds while also re-warding fans with a return to beloved worlds and characters.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Buried Deep and Other Stories” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Collections of Short Stories and Books I’m Dying to Get My Hands On.