Source: NetGalley - Many, many thanks to the publisher!TL;DR: A fascinating concept but the characters truly let this one down for me Plot: I really enjoyed the idea behind this one, trapped in a library due to murderous owls, but I'm not sure I'm sold on executionCharacters: Fairly flimsy? I never completely connected, either due... Continue Reading →
Knock Knock Open Wide by Neil Sharpson
Source: NetGalley, thank you to the publisher!TL;DR: A really entertaining and creepy take on some classic Irish folklore. I really think it's worth a read! Plot: Alternating timelines and PoVs built a very interesting and spooky story.Characters: The interactions and characters were one of my favorite parts, I genuinely enjoyed them.Setting: The setting was very... Continue Reading →
Beholder by Ryan La Sala
Source: NetGalley, thank you to the publisher!TL;DR: If you like Spiders or Existential Dread in your horrors this could be for you, but overall pretty bland for me. Plot: Thought it felt a bit convoluted at the beginning the plot was pretty solid. The twist was interesting, though not whole unexpectedCharacters: Fairly standard fair for... Continue Reading →
Thoughts: Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi
Source: NetGalley - Thank you to the publisher!TL;DR: A tense and action packed horror novel I loved, highly recommend. Plot: Survive, a simple plot but one that Philip Fracassi packs a lot into with character choices and questions about futures that keep you reading.Characters: There were a lot of characters and while some didn't get... Continue Reading →
Thoughts: The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
Source: Netgalley- MANY, many thanks to the publisherTL;DR: A beautiful but gruesome horror book about a mermaid and plague doctor who stumble upon a village of children and their twisted Saints. Loved this, beautiful but NOT for the faint of heart. Plot: A short travel story that leads to a mysterious village with creepy children... Continue Reading →
Thoughts: A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
Source: NetGalley - Many thanks to the publisher!TL;DR: 100% Yes. Vultures and bugs and I loved this. Plot: This was a bit slower than some of Kingfisher's other works, but that lent a slow horror movie feel to it. Characters: I loved the characters in this, exactly what you'd expect from Kingfisher. Quirky but realistic.... Continue Reading →
Thoughts: Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy Snyder
Source: Netgalley, thank you to the publisherTL;DR: That's going to be a no from me boss. Plot: All over the placeCharacters: Three women who all end up feeling very similarSetting: Not important in the leastMagic: I mean, it's a eldritch horror apocalypse but as far as 'magic' goes it's vague and predictable in style. CWs:... Continue Reading →
Thoughts: The Black Guy Dies First by Robin R. Means Coleman, Mark H. Harris
Source: NetGalley - Thank you to the publisher!TL;DR: An absolutely fascinating and funny collection on essays that explore roles, trends, and stereotypes for black actors in horror Essays: Every essay was interesting, though occasionally bogged down with walls of text examples. I also felt two of the later essays could have come earlier - overall... Continue Reading →
Thoughts: The Best of our Past, The Worst of Our Future by Christi Nogle
Source: NetGalley - Thank you to the publisher!TL;DR: A fantastically strong collection, there were of course misses but mostly wins! Plot: Nearly every story had a good clear plot, some of the more experimental ones were harder to find but on the whole these were great.Characters: The characters were in general not the focus but... Continue Reading →
Thoughts: Episode 13 by Craig DiLouie
Source: NetGalley - Many thanks to the publisher!TL;DR: Diet House of Leaves - Not for me Plot: The first quarter was great but it slowly devolved in the House of Leaves of it all and I was outCharacters: I did like the characters! I really enjoyed the insight into their thoughts thanks to the format... Continue Reading →