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Only the impossible can do the impossible: Reviewing The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice

Hi everyone! I hope you are doing well. I’ve been really wanting to review this book for a while now. I am a huge fan of the TV adaptation of Interview with the Vampire and they just announced that there is going to be a season three based off of this book. If you haven’t watched Interview with the Vampire yet, go watch it immediately. You can also read my review of the novel Interview with the Vampire. Now, without any further preamble, let’s talk about The Vampire Lestat.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Sexual Content, Incest, Disturbing Imagery, Self-Harm

Lestat de Lioncourt has been many things. He has been an aristocrat, an actor, and a rockstar. Most importantly, he is a vampire. His journey from mortal to immortal is full of twists and turns. His maker, Magnus, had left him with a mystery that only he could solve. Over the centuries, Lestat sought out the origin of the vampires. Along his journey, he will make shocking revelations, powerful enemies, and choices that will forever change his undead life.

The Vampire Lestat is a dark, twisted, and darkly funny novel. Lestat is such a fun character so it was fun to see him in the spotlight. He is also such a complex character who is determined and dramatic in the best way possible. Anne Rice did such a good job creating her own vampiric lore, with plenty of complicated characters who struggle with immortality, life, and death. It is so easy to completely immerse yourself in this novel. Even the parts I thought were kind of slow were still enjoyable in their own way. I will definitely be reading more of the Vampire Chronicles and I recommend that you also partake in this dark and gothic series.

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For freedom, for salvation, for retribution: Reviewing When The Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen

Hey everyone! It’s good to be back with a new review. I am still working through my TBR list and I am re-reading some of my old favorites. I recently got a hold of The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson. It’s one of my all-time favorite classics. I won’t do a review of that one but I still highly recommend it. We are, however, getting back into the horror genre. I will try to save some of my horror novels for fall, but I firmly believe some are more fitting for summer. This is one of them, in my opinion. Now, it is time to talk about When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Discussions and Depictions of Slavery, Discussions and Depictions of Racism (Including Slurs), Sexual Violence, Violence Towards Children, Disturbing Imagery.

Mira fled her small hometown of Kipsen after a traumatic experience cost her two of her dearest friendships. Now an adult, Mira decides to return to Kipsen after her childhood friend Celine invites her to her wedding, along with their other childhood friend Jesse. Mira is shocked, though, to find out Celine’s wedding is being held at the infamous Woodsman Plantation, where many slaves suffered and died horrific deaths. Reunited once more, Mira, Jesse, and Celine must confront their own past as well as the horrific past that lies within Woodsman Plantation.

When the Reckoning Comes is a haunting debut novel that highlights the horrors of the past, particularly revolving around slavery in the American South. LaTanya McQueen confronts the disturbing reality of racism head-on. McQueen shows how history has been revised and sanitized over the years, even being made into tourist destinations for the sake of those who choose to ignore the horrific truth of America’s past. I like how the three main characters function as a microcosm of the larger themes being confronted in this novel. It is uncomfortable, but that discomfort is completely necessary for the purpose of this book. The details made my stomach churn. It is nearly unfathomable to me that these things happened but they did and the least I can do is face the disturbing reality of the past head-on, even in a fictional setting. All in all, When the Reckoning Comes accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do and I would highly recommend it if you want a horror novel that is also reflective and truthful in its narrative.

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Love is never wrong: Reviewing A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock

Hi everyone! I’m trying to get these reviews out as fast as I can. My TBR pile has gotten out of control but that is my own fault. I have so many thoughts and opinions I want to share with all of you. It feels like a lot of pressure having over 500 people who want to know what I think about books. It’s really fun, though, and I thank you for your interest in this blog. I think I should stop rambling and start talking about A Botanical Daughter, don’t you?

Content Warning: Violence, Graphic Bodily Injury, Animal Death, Sexual Content

Gregor Sandys is a botanist who specializes in exotic plants. Simon Rievaulx is a skilled taxidermist. The gentlemen make an unusual pair but a pair, nonetheless. In their estate of Grimfern, the men can live as they want and practice their strange hobbies. Gregor’s newest specimen, a fungus, changes everything they know when it begins to show signs of intelligence. Inspired by this shocking development, Gregor hatches a plan that will launch him into fame. The only problem is that he needs a corpse. Gregor and Simon quickly learn that they cannot control nature, especially not when it has a mind of its own.

Imagine if Frankenstein was actually kind of cute and you get A Botanical Daughter. Noah Medlock’s unique take on the story of the “manmade monster” is strangely tender and romantic. It’s a story of a group of strange people who love each other for their strangeness when the rest of the world has rejected them. While it is certainly gory in parts, it doesn’t take away from the romances that are at the heart of this novel. The character development was great to read too. Tt is nice to have a queer story where there is hope for the characters at the end. It can be difficult to find LGBTQ+ literature that isn’t depressing but Noah Medlock delivers a breath of fresh air. I wish I had finished this for Pride Month because it would have been perfect for that, but we can celebrate Pride all year round. With all of this being said, go read A Botanical Daughter as soon as you can.

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How do you know the moment when you cease to be human?: Reviewing Last Days by Brian Evenson

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I don’t have many updates for you all. I just want to say thank you for your support. I just reached 580 subscribers, which is absolutely incredible. This blog is just something I do for fun in my spare time and I can’t believe so many of you are interested in my thoughts on everything related to books. I will show my gratitude by continuing to post reviews as regularly as I can. With that being said, it’s time to review Last Days.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Self-Harm, Sexual Content, Disturbing Imagery, Religious Trauma, Some Harsh Language

Ex-detective Kline leads a quiet life after losing his arm during a case. One day, two men show up at his door and kidnap him. They belong to a cult that believes in worship through self-amputation. Their leader has been killed and they think that only Kline can solve the mystery. Kline must navigate the strange and twisted world of this bizarre cult. The deeper he goes, the more of himself he loses. Kline must decide how far he is willing to go to find out the goal of this cult, and potentially destroy them.

I say this as a compliment: Last Days does an excellent job of being deliberately confusing. There were plenty of “wait, what” moments that made me want to keep reading more. I think I could safely call this book an American Gothic novel because of the atmosphere and landscape of the novel. This book never slows down and delivers plenty of shocking twists. The violence is not terribly gratuitous but it is certainly shocking. I was thoroughly grossed out but that only benefited the reading experience. I would say this leans more towards psychological thriller with horror elements if you want something that is more plot-focused. Last Days was a fast-paced, shocking novel with plenty of twists and turns for any readers seeking some gruesome thrills.

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When the world is hard, love must be harder still: Reviewing The Stone Sky (Book 3 of the Broken Earth Trilogy) by N.K. Jemisin

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well and keeping cool during this intense summer heat. Before you read this review, read my reviews for the first two books in this trilogy, The Fifth Season and The Obelisk Gate. I have one more trilogy I am wrapping up after this and then I will be reading mainly standalone books. I got quite a few books for my birthday that I am so excited to read. I’ve been balancing that with some of my own creative writing. It pleases me to report that I am progressing on a potential novel (maybe two). If nothing else, I am excited to be writing again. Now, let’s talk about the final book in the Broken Earth trilogy, The Stone Sky.

Content Warning: Violence, Harsh Language, Grief and Mourning, Graphic Injuries, Grief and Mourning

The Moon is going to return, but that means humanity is doomed. Essun now wields an incredible power. She plans on using her newfound abilities to find her daughter, Nassun. Nassun, however, has discovered her own powers with the help of her mother’s former Guardian. While Essun is trying to save the world, Nassun is trying to destroy the world and, in turn, eliminate anyone who would bring her harm. It is a race against time as mother and daughter fight to try to control an ancient and powerful magic. Only one of them can change the world forever.

N.K. Jemisin has blown me away with this unique sci-fi/fantasy trilogy. The Stone Sky is easily the most emotional of the three books. The world-building is so strong and unique but it doesn’t outshine the characters and their journeys. At the heart of the book are themes of family bonds, self-acceptance, inner strength, and unwavering love. Jemisin explores the complications that come with differences in a society where differences aren’t accepted unless they are useful and/or non-threatening to others. There is an additional character point of view that showcases the fantasy elements of this story that I really appreciated. Granted, the book can be a bit tricky because some of the terminology is hard to follow but it is incorporated in the story so naturally that you forget that these are terms that exist only within the world of The Broken Earth trilogy. The Stone Sky was a strong end to an incredible series that I highly recommend to all of you.

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To live is to exist within time. To remember is to negate time: Reviewing Bliss Montage by Ling Ma

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. My TBR pile grew by quite a bit because my birthday just passed and I am lucky enough to have family who understand that I just want to read. I even got the complete Dune trilogy so I’m looking forward to reading that. I’m also pleased to say that I am working on some of my own writing in my spare time. It feels good to finally have an idea that I want to work on. If there are any updates on that, I will be happy to share them with you all. In the meantime, let’s talk about Bliss Montage, a collection of short stories.

Content Warning: Substance Abuse, Some Sexual Content, Discussions and Depictions of Domestic Abuse,

Ling Ma’s collection of eight short stories, Bliss Montage, explores feminism, immigration, friendships, and motherhood. A woman lives with her husband and 100 ex-boyfriends. A woman travels with her husband to his home country to participate in an ancient ritual that involves being buried alive. A designer drug threatens to tear apart a friendship. A professor discovers a portal in her office. These stories use surrealism to confront everyday fears, explore isolation, and examine toxic relationships.

While I am normally drawn towards short story collections, Bliss Montage offered a refreshing and poignant perspective that is as strange as it is meaningful. Each story stands on its own but, what I liked is how they all seemed to build on each other. In my interpretation, three of the stories had the same narrator but arguments could be made for the opposite point. Ling Ma does an excellent job giving her stories a dream-like feel, while still being rooted in certain realities. She is not afraid to dive into heavy topics like domestic violence and addiction. Ma’s approach is meaningful and her writing has a certain relatability to it. Bliss Montage is an excellent short story collection that is engaging, thoughtful, and darkly humorous.

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Eyes held high in pride are less able to see the uneven ground ahead: Reviewing Star Wars: Greater Good (Book 2 of the Ascendancy Trilogy)

Hey everyone! I hope you are keeping cool this summer. It has been a scorcher where I live and I am struggling over here. Before you check out this review, feel free to read my review of the first book in this trilogy, Chaos Rising. I have the third book in this trilogy ready to go. I also recommend checking out all of my other Star Wars book reviews. I’m still trying to find more to read. I might check out the High Republic books because I am watching Star Wars: Acolyte and I am enjoying it so far. Funny enough, I only became a Star Wars fan relatively recently but I rarely like anything casually I love to know about lore and backstories and other characters. Star Wars is the perfect franchise for this. Now, without further ado, let’s talk about Greater Good.

Thrawn’s victories have caught the attention of the Chiss and brought victory to the House of Mitt. Despite his unusual methods, he has earned the respect of his fellow officers. The threat to the Chiss Ascendancy, though, has not been eliminated. Their enemy lurks in the shadows and plays a different game, one that involves espionage and ulterior motives disguised by acts of generosity. This enemy has been sowing the seeds of discord with the goal of turning the Nine Ruling Families and the Forty Great Houses against each other. With civil war on the horizon, the Chiss must decide between family and the Ascendancy.

Greater Good may not be my favorite book in this trilogy but there was still plenty I appreciated about this book. Timothy Zahn takes full advantage of how vast and interesting the Star Wars universe is and creates these fascinating characters who might not be seen in any other Star Wars media. Thrawn isn’t heavily featured in this book, but there are plenty of other characters who are just as compelling. I like reading about how the Chiss society operates, the alliances, and all of the politics that come with it. It certainly wasn’t boring but I did prefer the battle scenes. Overall, this is a solid follow-up to Chaos Rising and I look forward to reading the next book in this trilogy.

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I will be a monster if it means we survive: Reviewing The Rage of Dragons (Book 1 of The Burning Series) by Evan Winter

Hi everyone! I hope you are faring well during these hot summer days. I am so excited to discuss this book because I wanted to finish it before Season 2 of House of the Dragon premiered. It only felt appropriate. Speaking of that, I want to read George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood. I may re-read The Song of Fire and Ice series in the future. It has been years since I read them but I may consider doing reviews, just for fun. I think you all know that I love fantasy books, especially fantasy books involving dragons. Needless to say, The Rage of Dragons was calling to me so let’s review it.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Harsh Language, Explicit Sexual Content, Disturbing Imagery

The Omehi people have been at war for hundreds of years. A select few of them are blessed with the ability to call dragons and others can transform into giant monsters. These gifted people have kept the Omehi people safe for so long. Tau Solarin is not one of these people. He doesn’t want to spend his enter life fighting in a never-ending war. His plans are changed when his father is killed and he decides to take revenge against the men who killed him. He promises to himself to become the greatest warrior. With the war raging on, Tau must make decisions that change his life and the lives of his loved ones forever.

The Rage of Dragons is an absolute must-read for all fantasy lovers. I was initially intrigued by the Game of Thrones comparisons that people were making about this book and I absolutely see the similarities. The Rage of Dragons, though, sets itself apart with its world-building that is inspired by Xhosa culture. This book is relentless and action-packed. I was genuinely surprised by how intense it got but that made me love it even more. One of my favorite aspects of the book was Tau’s character journey. I love how personal his narrative was, even among all of these sweeping battle scenes. If you love an underdog story, then you will enjoy Tau as the main character. I could rave for so much longer but I won’t. Instead, I will tell you to go experience The Rage of Dragons for yourself. I will buy the next book sooner than later.

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For every man, there exists bait he cannot resist swallowing: Reviewing Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Hi everyone! I’m back! Thank you for bearing with me during my brief absence. I still have plenty of books to talk about. My summer reading pile is pretty exciting and eclectic this time around. I like to branch out and buy books on a whim. Variety is the spice of life, you know? I’ve been waiting to talk about this particular book for a while, though. It’s time to talk about Night Film by Marisha Pessl.

Content Warning: Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Substance Abuse, Harsh Language, Self – Harm

Scott McGrath has spent most of his career chasing down Stanislas Cordova, a mysterious and controversial film director who had seemingly disappeared. McGrath gives up on the search for Cordova after the investigation nearly ends his career. He’s pulled back into his investigation when Cordova’s daughter, Ashley, is found dead. Her death is ruled a suicide but McGrath thinks that there is more to her death than meets the eye. With the help of unlikely friends, Scott McGrath is dives back into the twisted and bizarre world of Stanislas Cordova, where he might finally come face to face with the man who ruined his life.

Night Film is a fantastic mystery-thriller that was unputdownable. My favorite aspect of the book was that is used mixed media, like articles and websites, as part of the story. It helped heighten the mystery and I looked forward to those sections of the book because they were so creative. This is a longer book but it’s pretty fast-paced. Night Film hits the most important story beats that any good mystery should have. It didn’t rely heavily on gore or shock but there was enough there to make you keep guessing what was actually happening. Since this is a mystery novel, I am not going to spoil this for you. Go experience the fun thrills of Night Film for yourself.

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It is a terrible and unholy thing to behold: Reviewing Eynhallow by Tim McGregor

Hey everyone! I’m back again! I hope you didn’t miss me too much in between reviews. This book was short so I figured that this would tie everyone over until I post one of my longer reviews. I started my first Brandon Sanderson book so that is going to take me a bit to get through. I used to love really long books but my attention span has shifted over the years. I have been wanting to get back into books that are 500 or more pages. That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop reading novellas. Now, let’s talk about this novella, Eynhallow.

Content Warning: Domestic Abuse, Traumatic Childbirth, Death due to Traumatic Childbirth, Murder, Cannibalism, Some Sexual Content, Harsh Language

Agnes Tulloch lives a sad existence on the tiny island of Eynhallow. Her husband is a terrible man and she is struggling to raise her four young children. The quiet island is thrown into chaos when a wealthy stranger arrives on the island. His motives for arriving are unknown, which worries the islanders. Agnes is hired by the stranger to clean his cottage and bring him dinner. Despite her reservations, Agnes finds herself drawn to the enigmatic, amateur scientist named Victor Frankenstein. Where Frankenstein goes, death follows and Agnes is caught in the middle.

I have probably said this before but I’ll say it again: I am a huge fan of Frankenstein. It was a major part of my Master’s studies and I have re-read it several times. It goes without saying, then, that I was immediately drawn to this novella. I absolutely loved Tim McGregor’s take on Mary Shelley’s classic gothic horror. McGregor captures the unsettling yet compelling atmosphere that Shelley had so well crafted. I particularly liked Agnes’ perspective in this book as it shows just how terrifying and fascinating both Frankenstein and his creature were. I could do a whole five-page analysis on this book, honestly. It was also a truly tragic tale that I couldn’t look away from. You see the characters’ tragic fates from a mile away but you can’t look away and I thought that was a testament to McGregor’s understanding of Frankenstein. I desperately need other people to read this book. It is good on its own but you’ll appreciate it more if you are familiar with Frankenstein. Go read it immediately. You won’t regret it.