This was an excellent little, short story! This is my fourth read from Grady Hendrix, and I just vibe with his writing style. Since this is only 29 paThis was an excellent little, short story! This is my fourth read from Grady Hendrix, and I just vibe with his writing style. Since this is only 29 pages, it gets right to the gore in a hurry. I honestly was wishing this was longer. I think it's the perfect story to read this time of year when you're in bed and wondering about what lurks beneath you. I hope you don't have to get up to pee ...more
This is not my favorite Paul Tremblay but per usual, I don't agree with the low rating. I think for someone expecting a straight up horror novel, thisThis is not my favorite Paul Tremblay but per usual, I don't agree with the low rating. I think for someone expecting a straight up horror novel, this probably isn't it, though it does have some unsettling scenes. I found it to be more of a slow-paced literary horror? I don't know...it's just an odd faux memoir which is more of an exploration of friendship, the good and the bad. This is my third novel by this author, and I have to say I am a fan of his style....more
This monster was book 3 of 17 in my Dark Tower journey.
This is another epic slow burn from SK where our main character, 70-year-old Ralph, experienceThis monster was book 3 of 17 in my Dark Tower journey.
This is another epic slow burn from SK where our main character, 70-year-old Ralph, experiences progressively worsening insomnia following the death of his wife. While Ralph sleeps a little less every night, things come to a head and shit gets real weird. This felt to me like kind of a fever dream. It is supernatural suspense, with a little horror sprinkled in. I think this really didn't need to be the almost 900 pages it was, and I thought the pacing was pretty off in the middle third.
What we do get in exchange for the length is the genius character work that SK brings to his novels. I absolutely loved Ralph as the protagonist. He might be one of my favorites so far. While his buddies are all curmudgeons, Ralph is just kind of a light. He's a bit crabby at times, but who can blame him? He hasn't slept in months! I thought the relationship between Ralph and Lois was the sweetest. The bizarro little bald doctors are never going to leave my head. And I am obsessed with all the little Easter eggs that are there for the Constant Readers. We return to Derry which is amazing.
Now, onto ❤ in Atlantis as I continue my epic journey through the Dark Tower. ...more
I figured out this year that grief horror is my favorite subgenre. I don't know what that says about me, but...this one totally scratched that itch. TI figured out this year that grief horror is my favorite subgenre. I don't know what that says about me, but...this one totally scratched that itch. This is too short to really develop super hardcore feelings towards the main character, but what one is willing to do to make sense of a tragic death is so relatable. It's ironic that denial is one of the stages of grief, yet we are all slowly creeping in that direction....more
A battle of good vs evil with a supernatural twist! The setting is so atmospheric. It’s cold, dark, and it even smells old. I was transported in histoA battle of good vs evil with a supernatural twist! The setting is so atmospheric. It’s cold, dark, and it even smells old. I was transported in history and there in this brutal environment with the characters. One would think that a book that takes place in a Christian orphanage with children would be a bit more wholesome. This is definitely not that. Some of the children are delightful (Peter ❤) and some may or may not be demonic. It is absolutely gruesome in spots, and there is one horrific scene that I won’t soon forget. I think the book did suffer a touch with some pacing issues about a third or so in, but everything else made up for that. I even teared up a little in the end. 4.5 stars, rated up....more
This was such a win for me. It takes place in coastal Scotland. The FMC, Muriel, is everything I could want from a lead. She is scrappy and takes no cThis was such a win for me. It takes place in coastal Scotland. The FMC, Muriel, is everything I could want from a lead. She is scrappy and takes no crap from anyone. The story read to me like a demented fairytale. It is gory, yet romantic. It is enraging, yet sweet. I loved it. I love Muriel. I hate all the rich a-holes from this US-based development company. This atmosphere is divine. This is my first read by this author and will certainly not be my last. One of my favorite horror novels I've read this year. ...more
This is gruesome. There are weird dynamics between the characters. These are both things King does really well. It started strong but the end got a liThis is gruesome. There are weird dynamics between the characters. These are both things King does really well. It started strong but the end got a little wackadoo, as King also sometimes does. I haven't read from his son yet, so I'm not sure where that dynamic came in. This was too short to say much more, but for a quick read, it was something I'll continue to think about for a while. The concept alone is really scary. ...more
This is my second T. Kingfisher, but my first horror. I was pleasantly surprised. What she does well is gets me engaged straight Actual rating is 3.5.
This is my second T. Kingfisher, but my first horror. I was pleasantly surprised. What she does well is gets me engaged straight away. I liked Sam, the main character, and her mom. I love the atmosphere and all the very fitting references to some creepy movies and folklore. Family trauma is really integral to the story but wasn't rammed down your throat; the generational differences and systemic racism were always there but really made you think.
I do like how the author uses humor, but I thought this was a bit too heavy handed to the point that it seemed a little like bad standup comedy. And the final conflict, probably the last 20%, just had me a little confused. It seemed rushed. ...more
I loved the first half or so of this book. It has a lot of scary tropey elements, many of which are getting into spoiler territory 3.5 ⭐, rounded up.
I loved the first half or so of this book. It has a lot of scary tropey elements, many of which are getting into spoiler territory so won't go into details. But I did love the Blair Witch vibes/feel I thought this story had. The house is creepy. The family that comes there in the cold wanting to be let in is creepy. I liked Eve as the anxiety-ridden, people pleaser protagonist, and I liked Charlie as her partner. Unfortunately for me, I felt the story was a bit too choppy. I was not a fan of the seemingly random articles, interviews, email elements, etc.; it kind of felt all over the place to me. And the ending was a disappointment in my opinion. That said, I can totally see this being an effective movie, and I would definitely watch. It is a solid debut, and as someone who rarely gets scared, this did have some scenes that had me on edge. ...more
Another solid short story by Mr. King. It was gripping, edge of my seat-type action. I enjoyed Em as a main character and felt for her in her struggleAnother solid short story by Mr. King. It was gripping, edge of my seat-type action. I enjoyed Em as a main character and felt for her in her struggles....more
This is my first book by this author. I love supernatural horror, and I think this was creepy AF. "Other Mommy" was low key horrifying to me. (I may oThis is my first book by this author. I love supernatural horror, and I think this was creepy AF. "Other Mommy" was low key horrifying to me. (I may or may not have checked under my bed for Other Mommy after reading this.) I would have never expected to enjoy a book told from the perspective of a young child, but this just worked for me. This is not a standard "creepy kid" trope, and I actually enjoyed Bela as a character. She definitely speaks as a child, and the format of the book reflects that (lack of quotation marks). It was spoken in a stream of consciousness style that was pretty age appropriate, but still I did not find her dialogue to be annoying or overly juvenile. She is just precocious enough to be believable as the only child of somewhat unconventional parents. Speaking of parents, the family drama that went down along the way I thought was pretty incredible. I can't wait to finally jump into this author's backlist. This was such a win! ...more
"And there a lot of people who just want to be beautiful. Should they be doing better things with their time? Maybe. Could they? For sure. But many of"And there a lot of people who just want to be beautiful. Should they be doing better things with their time? Maybe. Could they? For sure. But many of them are young women. They don't necessarily have much money, but they spend what they can bettering themselves. Maybe what we're doing is manipulative, but maybe it's important, too. I can't see where that difference begins or ends. Beauty has always been one of the only ways women have been able to access power, and I can't fault any of them for wanting more of it."
4.5 stars, rounded up.
This was a wild horror story with a sci-fi element. It was a really cool (and super gross) spin on the health/wellness/beauty industry on an extreme level. What lengths people are willing to go to in order to look young and what depths corporations are willing to sink to in order to keep turning a profit is not that farfetched. If folks 50 years ago heard that people would be injecting botulism into their faces to smooth out wrinkles, would they have believed it? This was insightful as well with commentary on race, class, and beauty standards. I had a difficult time putting it down, and I won't soon forget it this unique story....more
This is the unhinged woman story I didn't know I needed. Ji-won, the FMC, is my new favorite. It is a slow descent into madness. It is a revenge storyThis is the unhinged woman story I didn't know I needed. Ji-won, the FMC, is my new favorite. It is a slow descent into madness. It is a revenge story in the best kind of way. It has family drama, grief, and racism that will make you cringe. Enter George, the wealthy white, lying, racist, misogynistic POS boyfriend of Ji-won's mother. It was a pleasure to hate him.
This is an incredible debut by this author. I can't say I would very widely recommend this as it's not for everyone. It's not an edge of your seat jumpscare kind of story, if that's your thing. It's slow and gets there in a subtle way. It's absolutely gross, too, which I love. The ending, I thought, was perfection ...more
I can see why the opinions on this are so polarizing. After much reflection, I think I sit somewhere in the middle. Hence a 2.5 rating which I would lI can see why the opinions on this are so polarizing. After much reflection, I think I sit somewhere in the middle. Hence a 2.5 rating which I would love to choose but since I cannot, a 2 it is.
I really liked the gut wrenching and dead-on accurate descriptions of how HARD it is to be a parent. I liked how the FMC was constantly questioning her parenting skills, down to scrutinizing every parental decision she ever made including what to feed the demon child. There were a few spots where I thought the writing was really lovely...though I was annoyed by the incessant use of ellipses......more
3.5, rated up. I really wish Goodreads would get with the program with half star ratings, because I was really torn which way to go on this one, but I3.5, rated up. I really wish Goodreads would get with the program with half star ratings, because I was really torn which way to go on this one, but I think this deserves a bump up. I think a lot of the 1 star ratings I read were unfair. This is a slow burn. I love a good slow burn in horror, hence my love of Stephen King. But this was SLOW out of the gate. It has a heavy literary quality about it, and there is flowery language which is cool to see in a horror, but it did drag more than I cared for in the beginning. I can understand some lower ratings based on that.
Around a third of the way in, the story really picked up. By halfway in, I couldn't put it down but did because I was scared! I have been reading horror forever, and this genuinely had me skeeved out. I think this is a great debut novel with well done character development. Some of these characters are total a-holes, and this was done well. Some I was vacillating back and forth, and that was done really well too. This has a heavy mixed media element which I loved. ...more
A vacation in the picturesque Italian countryside...what could go wrong? Well, the house is haunted which is a real drag as far as vacation rentals goA vacation in the picturesque Italian countryside...what could go wrong? Well, the house is haunted which is a real drag as far as vacation rentals go. But the worst of it is the family staying there.
Anna Pace, the FMC, is unlikeable. When you meet her family, it all makes sense why. Mom is passive aggressive and never misses an opportunity to nag. Twin brother Benny is a whiney doormat. Benny's boyfriend Christopher is a pretentious piece of shit. Older sister Nicole is a control freak who is full of herself. There is not enough wine in Tuscany to make me want to stay with these people!
This is so beautifully atmospheric. I feel like I know the villa inside and out. The character development was fantastic. I loved the spooky history of the house and the lore that goes along with it. And the ending...amore.
I really enjoyed this one. I'm surprised by the lower rating. I thought it was an interesting premise. The pacing was a little slow going at times, anI really enjoyed this one. I'm surprised by the lower rating. I thought it was an interesting premise. The pacing was a little slow going at times, and the characters are not all that likeable, but I was still engaged. And there is a twist that made my jaw absolutely drop. I thought there was really interesting commentary on caste, class, and colonialism which did not feel forced at all, and I was fascinated by many of the concepts the author brought to the story. I read the physical book in tandem with the audio which was very helpful with the unfamiliar languages. As far as the "comic" description in the synopsis, that is out of left field in my opinion. The book delivered otherwise. ...more
This was such an easy 5 stars and I'm sure will be in my top of 2024 list.
Ana and Reid along with their nearly 1-"Know you're home. Know your home."
This was such an easy 5 stars and I'm sure will be in my top of 2024 list.
Ana and Reid along with their nearly 1-year-old daughter, Charlie, have won a NYC housing lottery which provides them the opportunity to live in a swanky building, the Deptford, which overlooks Central Park and is a Manhattan landmark. The top floor apartment is not ideal as Ana is paralyzed and in a wheelchair following an extremely rare childbirth/delivery complication. But this apartment is just too perfect otherwise. As expected, this old place has some secrets and shit goes down in such a good and creepy way!
I adored this book. The characters are so layered and beautifully complicated and well developed. Yes there is gore, and there is horror, but the story is such a wonderfully told exploration of grief and motherhood and family and responsibility and life. There is a spectacular afterword written by the author. It made me cry, and it further rammed home what the book was trying to say.
I immediately bought Mary by this author the same day I finished this. I can't wait to read it, and I can't wait to see what he does next. Whatever it is, I will read it. ...more
Well, that was an intense ride. It was a good story, perfect for a novella, and I enjoyed the writing. I found the ending a little predictable but wasWell, that was an intense ride. It was a good story, perfect for a novella, and I enjoyed the writing. I found the ending a little predictable but was quite satisfied with it all the same. I did spend a lot of time internally screaming at the FMC, like, girl...wtf are you actually doing?!?! But just like any great horror movie, nothing good and scary comes from making excellent choices. Sometimes it just needs to be done. Would recommend but do check content warnings if you decide to check it out. ...more
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