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She has all the confidence a deadly thing should: Reviewing Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy

Hello everyone! I’m back much sooner than I thought I would be. I try to pace myself when I read, but I get excited and speed through books. That means more content for you all, though! This book has also been on my TBR for a long time, so I’m happy to have finally gotten around to it. I’m going to go on for too much longer. Let’s talk about Mary: An Awakening of Terror.

Content Warning: Violence, Gore, Disturbing Imagery, Child Death, Animal Death, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny, Discussions and Depictions of Ageism, Sexual Assault

Mary has been feeling miserable lately. She’s starting to go through menopause, she’s lost her job, and she is incredibly lonely. That isn’t the only thing wrong with her, though. Every time Mary looks in a mirror, she sees the ghosts of dead women looking back at her and hears voices telling her to do awful things. An opportunity for a new chance at life arises when her estranged aunt calls, asking for her to be a caretaker. Mary packs up her little collection of porcelain figures and heads to her hometown. Everything gets worse. Soon, Mary is plagued by nightmares and begins auto-writing the same bizarre phrases that echo those of an infamous serial killer who died in her hometown. When a spate of murders happens soon after she arrives, Mary must find out how she is tied to these deaths and uncover some deadly, long-buried secrets.

Mary: An Awakening of Terror is a rare combination of insightful commentary and a full-blown splatterpunk gore fest. (If you are sensitive to gore, this is not the book for you.) This book ticks off so many horror sub-genres that it almost feels like it completely shifts from slasher horror to cult horror to existential horror. I appreciated the messages revolving around self-worth and self-doubt (even if it is in a warped and twisted way). It is a fast-paced read with plenty of gruesome action. What I appreciated the most about this novel was how the protagonist was a middle-aged woman just trying to cope with a part of life that most people don’t really address or think about. Women, in particular, have a particularly tricky relationship with aging and I liked how Nat Cassidy (who is a man) approached the particular topic without making any assumptions or playing into any stereotypes. Mary: An Awakening of Terror is unlike any horror novel I have read and I definitely recommend that you experience this one for yourself.

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To tend and to mend: Reviewing A Power Unbound (Book 3 of The Last Binding Trilogy) by Freya Marske

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I’m back sooner than expected. Before you read this review, check out my reviews for the first two books A Marvelous Light and A Restless Truth. I don’t know about the rest of you but I love completing a series. It’s always satisfying, regardless of whether the ending was good. Now, I won’t ramble on too much. Let’s talk about A Power Unbound.

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content, Harsh Language, Violence

Jack Hawthorn, Lord Alston and Earl of Cheetham Hall, went out of his way to avoid any unnecessary chaos. He just wanted some peace after losing his twin sister, losing his magic, and fighting in a war. He finds himself right back into the world of magic when he learns of a ritual threatening every British magician. Now, Jack lives with a ragtag group of disgraced upper-class magicians. The really wild card of their group, though, is the charming, albeit non-magical, journalist Alan Rossi. The two immediately butt heads over their class differences. They must, however, put their differences aside to save the future of magic in Britain as they know it.

A Power Unbound neatly wraps up Freya Marske’s enchanting trilogy. I could tell that Marske put a lot of thought and consideration into creating this world, which was fun to see through to the end. The romance between Jack and Alan was particularly intriguing as it was definitely an “enemies to lovers” with just a little bit of roleplaying. Aside from the spicy parts of this book, I liked how this was an ensemble cast featuring characters from the previous books. I would rather an author develop existing rather than create brand-new characters. The entire trilogy was super fun to read. If you want a series with plenty of action and romance, The Last Binding trilogy is absolutely the series for you.

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I’m willing to march into hell if I’m following you: Reviewing Out by Natsuo Kirino, Translated by Stephen Snyder

Hi everyone! I’m back and I hope you are all doing well. Summer is just around the corner and I have plenty of books to review for you all. I will be branching out from some of my usual genres, so I look forward to that. Before I begin this review, I just want to say thank you all for your continual support for this blog. I see a lot of you who stay up to date with my reviews and I am so grateful that you take the time out of your day to read my posts. It means the world to me. Now, without further ado, let’s talk about Out by Natsuo Kirino.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Harsh Language, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny, Gambling, Disturbing Imagery, Murder

At a local boxed lunch factory, a group of women form a bond as they struggle to make ends meet. One of the women, Yayoi, has a break and kills her abusive husband. Desperate for help, she calls her co-workers to help her dispose of the body. Masako steps forward to orchestrate the disposal of the body and ensure that her friends are not caught. The women all learn that the murder was only the tip of the iceberg and are caught in a tangled web of violence and crime. Their secret is far from safe. It is only a matter of time before they get caught.

Out is a fascinating and unputdownable crime thriller that offers fascinating insight into the lives of women who have reached their breaking point. The first thing I love about this novel is how realistic the characters are. They weren’t necessarily likable or even good but it was easy to sympathize with the main group of women. I liked the way that this book shifted perspectives seamlessly. I will note that this book does touch on disturbing subject matter in a rather in-depth way. At certain points, you get perspectives from the male characters and those gave me the chills because of how disturbing and hateful they were. It did highlight Kirino’s commentary on the depths of misogyny and how driven by hatred people (particularly men) can be when it comes to women. The best part of this book was the commentary that Kirino blends into this intense crime thriller. The only downside of this book is that is does drag just a bit at times but when it’s intense, it’s very intense. Out should absolutely be the next crime thriller you add to your TBR pile this summer.

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The only real escape from hell is to conquer it: Reviewing The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I also hope you all have been reading lots of good books lately. I have wanted to read this particular book for a while now. I plan on reading some popular authors I have never read before so that will be fun. You may be asking, at this point, if I do anything other than read? I do sleep. (I’m joking……but not really lol). Anyways, it’s finally time to talk about The Library at Mount Char.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Harsh Language, Self-harm, Animal Death, Child Abuse, Sexual Assault, Substance Abuse, Disturbing Imagery

Carolyn’s life is certainly unusual. Living in an infinite Library of infinite knowledge and being raised by a man who calls himself God can be considered unusual by most. On the other hand, Steve is a reformed criminal trying his best to practice Buddhism. One day, Carolyn finds Steve and promises him exactly $327,000 in exchange for using his skills as a former burglar. Steve takes the deal and soon finds himself lost in a world of impossibilities. A war is on the horizon and a battle wages over who controls the Library. Whoever controls the Library, controls the universe itself.

This was such a fun, surreal book with plenty of disturbing and fascinating imagery. I couldn’t help but compare this a bit to Neil Gaiman’s body of work, as Scott Hawkins utilizes the bizarre and the macabre to create his novel. I also liked the truly creative elements of world-building throughout this novel. It wasn’t just weird for the sake of weird, though, as everything came together in such interesting twists. I realize that I am being vague in this review because I don’t want to give away too much. The Library at Mount Char is definitely worth experiencing for yourself and is the perfect book to add to your summer reading list.

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Everyone deserves somewhere where they can be reminded of their potential: Reviewing A Restless Truth (Book 2 of The Last Binding Trilogy) by Freya Marske

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Before you read this review, feel free to check out my review of the first book in this series A Marvelous Light. It has been a while since I read that one but I enjoyed it greatly. I’m trying to keep on top of the series I read because I like to see a book series all through. If I decide to stop a series, it is normally deliberate. I also don’t want to read any series over five books. That is simply my preference. I just so happen to have the third book in this series because I accidentally bought it before buying the second book. (Slightly off-topic: I hate when book series don’t have the numbers anywhere on the book.) Now, let’s talk about A Restless Truth.

Content Warning: Violence, Harsh Language, Explicit Sexual Content

Maud Blyth is a quiet girl who has always wanted to go on a grand adventure. The opportunity arises when she becomes a travel companion to an older woman on an ocean liner. While on the ship, though, Maud is actually working to unravel a magical conspiracy that was discovered by her brother Robin. Maud’s plans are brought to a halt when her elderly employer is found dead on the first day of the cruise. Now, she must solve a murder with the help of the bold actress and fellow magician Violent Debenham. With everyone on the ship a suspect, Maud and Violet must solve the murder before the ship docks, or else they soon may end up dead in the water.

A Restless Truth was an enjoyable mystery with a quirky cast of characters and plenty of intrigue. While this is a bit slower-paced, I find myself wanting to see how the relationships were going to be built between the characters. I did enjoy the romance between Maud and Violet. There was plenty of spice and romance between the two. I also thought they made a good duo and that helped drive the story forward. While it has been a while since I read A Marvelous Light, I liked how this novel tied into its predecessor. Freya Marske has created an interesting magic system that I want to know more about, especially in the third book. In conclusion, A Restless Truth was a fun mystery that has a wonderful romance at its heart.

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I begged to no one, let me scream: Reviewing Angels Before Man by Rafael Nicolas

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well! I’m posting this review a little bit late right now. I always try to post as soon as I finish the book so it is fresh in my mind. Regardless of when you see this, I am grateful that it grabbed your attention. Maybe you even decided to give this book a chance. I don’t want to ramble any longer. Let’s talk about Angels Before Man.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Sexual Content, Scenes of Sexual Assault, Self-harm, Death of Animals, Implied Incest, Religious Trauma

Before Lucifer fell, he was an angel. He wasn’t just any angel; he was the angel of beauty. He lived in Eternal Paradise. His only purpose in life was to praise God and love others. One day, he crossed paths with the Archangel Michael. Soon, their friendship turned into something that had never been seen before in Heaven. Lucifer soon begins to ask questions. First, they begin out innocently but Lucifer quickly discovers that Paradise is not what it seems and God may not be as merciful as he once was.

Angels Before Man was such a profound and shocking take on the Biblical story of the fall of Lucifer. The writing is a fantastic mixture of prose and poetry. I was hooked all the way through and hated having to put this down. The book is specifically marketed as a “Queer Retelling of the Fall of Satan” and I absolutely loved the way Nicolas incorporates those themes, turning the tale into an allegory for religious trauma and sexual self-discovery. As beautiful as the novel is, it is also raw and visceral. My jaw dropped more than once. I don’t want to give away much more as I really want you to experience this novel for yourself. I implore you to read Angels Before Man as soon as you can.

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Did you truly see our gods die?: Reviewing Temple of No God (Sequel to Hall of Smoke) by H.M. Long

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well! I’m reading some longer books now so bear with me in between reviews. If you want to see what I am reading or my progress, feel free to follow me on StoryGraph (n0vel_ideas). I’m actually enjoying that app and I normally don’t care for many reading/reviewing apps. Before you read this review, check out my review for Hall of Smoke. Without further ado, let’s talk about Temple of No God.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Harsh Language, Death of a Child, Battle Scenes

Eighteen years ago, Hessa – High Priestess of the Eangen – defeated her own god. Now, she is maintaining a fragile peace between rival tribes through marriage to her second husband. Unrest is on the horizon, though, as multiple people are vying for the throne of the Arpa Empire. Whoever wins the throne will have access to raw, untamed magical power that could wipe out Hessa’s people. Along with that, a new cult has arisen and its members can drain life from anything they touch. With the fate of the world in her hands, Hessa must be prepared to make any sacrifice necessary to restore balance and restore peace no matter the cost.

Like its predecessor, Hall of Smoke is an action-packed adventure with plenty of interesting magic and mythology. I like how H.M. Long’s writing is the right balance of straightforward and poetic. Hessa is a great example of a dynamic female lead you continue to root for. While this isn’t a true romance, I did like the relationship between her and her new husband. It didn’t overshadow the rest of the story, though, as there were plenty of great battle scenes and interesting politics. Even though there is a gap in time between this book and the previous one, they did tie together just enough while still standing on their own. Temple of No God is a strong sequel with plenty of its own merits. You should, however, definitely read Hall of Smoke first.

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If we can’t seek the physical sublime, what are we supposed to look at?: Reviewing Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke

Hi everyone! I hope you are doing well. I’ve been having trouble finding this particular book in store so it took me a bit to get my hands on this one. I only live by bigger bookstores like Barnes and Noble so I don’t get the fun indie stuff. That’s beside the point, though. I have a fun review for you today so I won’t do my usual rambling. Let’s talk about Several People are Typing.

Content Warning: Some Harsh Language, Some Discussions of Sex

Gerald is a mid-level employee working for an advertising firm in New York City. Everything is going fine until his conscience gets uploaded into Slack, his company’s internal messaging system. Every time he reaches out for help his co-workers think he is just pranking them. One co-worker, who happens to be Gerald’s neighbor, discovers his comatose body in the apartment. Until they can figure out how to get Gerald back in his body, he must help his co-workers with a client’s PR disaster. The longer Gerald spends in Slack, though, the more he realizes that he may not be able to escape.

I immediately gravitated toward the unique writing style of Several People Are Typing. The entire book is told through Slack channels and instant messaging. If you have worked in a corporate setting, then you are probably very familiar with these kinds of messaging systems. (I personally know quite a bit about Microsoft Teams.) This book gave me major Black Mirror vibes with its commentary on workplace culture, social interactions, and privacy. Calvin Kalsulke uses this digital style to explore human interactions and the limits of technology. I also enjoyed how the novel incorporated a sweet little romance into this rather strange and existential narrative. Several People Are Typing was such a fun and unique read. Anyone who has worked in a corporate setting will enjoy this satirical novel.

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You and me, we’re endgame: Reviewing Midnight Ruin (Book 6 in the Dark Olympus series) by Katee Robert

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Before you read this book, you are welcome to check out my reviews for the other books in the Dark Olympus series. Katee Robert has quickly become an “auto buy” author for me. I might venture outside of this particular series. I tried a different one by her and didn’t particularly like it but I am willing to give her another try. I’ve also started to appreciate that she is one of the few authors who put disclaimers in her book for explicit content. I know what to expect with her work now but I still appreciate that she (and other authors I have read) have adopted the practice. Let me not ramble any further. Let’s talk about Midnight Ruin, the latest book in the Dark Olympus series.

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content, Some Harsh Language, Discussions of Abortion, Some Violence

Eurydice is used to being underestimated. Her sisters are all in powerful positions in Olympus while she has to sneak away from her bodyguard, Charon, to live life. What’s holding her back, though, is the heartbreak caused by her ex-boyfriend, Orpheus. Eurydice and Charon begin to explore their feelings for each other but Orpheus arrives seeking penance for breaking Eurydice’s heart. The three decide on an arrangement that will satisfy all of their needs. Outside of their budding romance, a new threat arises against Olympus. Eurydice, Charon, and Orpheus soon find themselves caught up in larger plot that threatens to tear apart their little haven forever.

I am going to give this newest entry to the Dark Olympus series credit where credit is due because it is definitely closer to the original myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. It’s one of my favorite Greek myths so I was definitely a little more excited for this book. Katee Robert has proven time and time again that she is great at creating chemistry and tension between her characters, even if the relationships are a little unconventional. (This is a throuple/polyamorous romance if that is what floats your boat.) This was certainly fun and spicy in all of the right ways. I also appreciate the overarching plot that links all of these books together. I am interested to see how that all builds up in future books. All in all, this was a pretty satisfying entry to this series and I am going to continue to recommend Katee Robert’s Dark Olympus series for an exciting and steamy time.

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Death is just another door: Reviewing Rouge by Mona Awad

Hi everyone! If you are reading this today, then happy Eclipse day! I got very lucky and was in the path of totality. It was a genuinely awesome experience. I hope that maybe some of you got to experience it or will experience it in the near future. Back on the topic of books, though, this is my third Mona Awad book. If you want, you can check out my reviews for her other books, Bunny and All’s Well. I think it’s safe to say I am a bit of a fan now. Let’s talk about her most recent novel, Rouge.

Content Warning: Discussions and Depictions of Grief, Some Depictions of Self – Harm, Some Harsh Language

From a young age, Belle had been obsessed with beauty and has spent her adult life maintaining a regimented skincare routine to preserve her skin. Her obsession began with her mother, who was always the most glamorous person to ever live in Belle’s eyes. One day, Belle receives a call that her mother has died in a strange accident. Now, she is stuck dealing with her mother’s California apartment and her many debts. At a memorial service, Belle meets a strange woman in a red dress who claims she can tell her how her mother died. This woman leads her to a strange, cult-like spa that promises to make Belle her “most magnificent self.” The more time Belle spends in the spa, the more she begins to lose herself. In order to regain her sense of self, Belle must face secrets that she has buried for far too long.

In my previous reviews for Mona Awad’s books, it used words like “dream like” and “surreal.” Rouge, however, is easily the most dream-like and surreal. The narrative feels as though you are moving through those dream-like movements where you are doing something due to whatever strange logic you experience in your dream. (I hope that makes sense.) Underneath all of the strangeness of the novel is narrative about grief, beauty standards, and mother/daughter relationships. All of this is tied together with some interesting fairy tale motifs that I thought helped add to the strangeness that Mona Awad is so good at crafting in these novels. This is probably my favorite of the three novels by Mona Awad that I read and I am going to give you my recommendation for Rouge.