TL;DR: Oh my god, this scared the pants off of me. Genuinely, I was vibrating I was so unsettled. Source: Netgalley - Thank you so much to Kodansha! Plot: Hiroshi Mori helps a woman out, against his better judgement, and things go very badly. Characters: No one here is particularly lovable but you still REALLY... Continue Reading →
The Night Guest by Hildur Knutsdottir
TL;DR: I doubt I’ll remember this, I really do. It was… okay? Source: Netgalley, many thanks to the publisher! Plot: A short story about a woman loosing her mind to pain and lack of sleep. Characters: Our only real character of note is Iðunn and I have to be honest, she wins my rarely awarded... Continue Reading →
Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons
TL;DR: A bit long and drawn out, this read very episodic and fairly disconnected. Source: Netgalley! Thank you to the publisher! Plot: Divided into three parts we follow post robbery, with a cult, and running/back to the cult. It felt a little drawn out to be honest. Characters: I didn’t end up very connected to... Continue Reading →
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
TL;DR: Don’t like eyeballs? This one is going to mess with you! A revenge filled story about a girl obsessed and the racist and sexist people she targets.Source: NetGalley, thank you so much to the publisher! Plot: Ji-won’s father leaves the family and as her mother unravels then falls in love with an exceptionally disgusting... Continue Reading →
Tales From Cabin 23: The Boo Hag Flex by Justina Ireland
TL;DR: Fun and genuinely spooky! Think Goosebumps but much more modern. Source: NetGalley, thank you to the publisher! Plot: A tale of terror to test a new camper, it follows the story of Tasha as she hunts down the Boo Hag lurking in her new neighborhood before it comes for her grandmother. Characters: I wouldn’t... Continue Reading →
Bad Dreams in the Night by Adam Ellis
TL;DR: If you’re a fan or new to Adam Ellis’s work, these short horror comics are fun and unsettling. I really enjoyed these.Source: Netgalley - Thank you so much to the publisher! Plot: Each plot is quick and contained, I didn't leave any of the stories feeling unresolved and enjoyed the structure of each.Characters: These... Continue Reading →
Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes
TL;DR: S.A. Barnes hits that sweet spot of horror where the gore is high, but it’s not SUPER scary - because I’m a wimp. I enjoyed this immensely.Source: NetGalley - thank you, thank you! Plot: A bit of a well known trope but in a Science Fiction setting, this worked really well for me. Snowed... Continue Reading →
A Season of Monstrous Conceptions by Lina Rather
TL;DR: A dark novella about strange births and a woman caught between worlds. Not my favorite novella but nothing offensive or upsetting? Just okay.Source: NetGalley - thank you so much to the publisher! Plot: A young girl caught between arrogance, men and women and the power she holds. Pretty standard fair unfortunately.Characters: Fairly cold, I... Continue Reading →
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
Source: Netgalley, many thanks to the publisher!TL;DR: Perhaps not as strong as the first novel, but an interesting exploration of the world. Plot: Alex returns to their home country and is attacked by a spirit/ghost. Nothing too mind-blowing but creepyCharacters: I enjoyed the characters here more than the previous novella, though I wish Miss Potter... Continue Reading →
Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine
Source: NetGalley - So many thanks to the publisher!TL;DR: If you’ve a fear of being alone, have intense feelings of the pandemic or enjoy more topical mental hellscape type of horrors - this is for you. If you’re here for the creepy, the supernatural, or any type of humor or human endurance? Pass on this.... Continue Reading →