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Nothing but the impossibility of us: Reviewing Dark Restraint (Book 7 of the Dark Olympus series) by Katee Robert

Hi everyone! It’s my first review of the new year! Sorry for the delay but I am finally motivated to post again. Before you check out this review, feel free to check out my previous reviews of the other books in the Dark Olympus series. I don’t have much else to say so, let’s talk about Dark Restraint, the latest entry in the Dark Olympus series.

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content, Violence, Strong Language, Discussions of Child Abuse, Discussions of Assault

Ariadne Vitalis is in danger. After betraying her father, Minos, she has no choice but to join forces with the Thirteen. That means entering into a staged engagement with Dionysus. Asterion, aka The Minotaur, is determined to get Ariadne back – no matter the cost. Unfortunately, he is also being hunted down by Minos, his former employer. To be together, Ariadne and the Minotaur will have to do the impossible and flee Olympus, as well as Minos’ fury. The two might have to burn Olympus to the ground to be together, once and for all.

I have to admit that Dark Restraint, while it has its merits, is not my favorite out of this series. I think Katee Robert’s books (in this series) are the strongest when they are more accurate to the myths that they are based on. While I appreciated the references, it kind of felt like the names were just sort of tacked onto a different story. With that being said, as a romance, I still enjoyed the steamy scenes and the drama of this particular pairing. There was also plenty of action and suspense, which is what makes me want to keep reading this series. While this isn’t the strongest start to the year, it was still an enjoyable read. Go ahead and check out the Dark Olympus series. It’s a fun and spicy time.

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I pretend I am a different kind of monster: Reviewing The Pallbearers Club by Paul Tremblay

Hey everyone! I hope you are doing well this holiday season! I think I can get out at least one or two more reviews before the end of the year. I’ve been a little busy, but I swear I’m not neglecting this blog. I’ve actually been doing a lot of my own writing in my spare time. Hopefully, something will come of it in the future. If it does then you all will know. Before you check out this review, you can check out my other reviews of Paul Tremblay’s books. In the meantime, let’s talk about The Pallbearers Club.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language, Grief and Mourning

Art Babara was a bit of a loser in high school. He had no friends, a scoliosis-riddled spine, and a love of hair metal. He decided to start an odd new extracurricular club to meet people just as weird as him. That was how the Pallbearers Club was created. The members consisted of Art, Eddie, and a strange girl named Mercy. Art and Mercy quickly bonded over Mercy’s love of photography and weird obsession with New England folklore. Weird things happened, though, whenever Mercy was around. Art tried his best to ignore these things, and eventually, they parted ways. Decades later, Art decides to try his hand at writing his memoir. Mysteriously, Mercy re-enters his life and decides to offer her own constructive criticism. The line between fiction and reality blurs as Art tries to figure out what really happened all of those years ago.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Admittedly, I liked Tremblay’s other two books more. The Pallbearers Club does offer a unique format as this book has two narrators, each offering a different perspective of this story. It made the book feel much more personal and interesting. With that being said, I also thought the book was very long-winded and rambling when it could have used more focus. I understand that that is what Tremblay was probably going for, but I found myself skimming for the supernatural/horror elements. Tremblay still delivers with interesting scares, so that motivated me to continue reading. Overall, The Pallbearers Club was interesting but not for me. I think that someone else could appreciate it a bit more than me. I have, however, definitely become a Paul Tremblay fan.

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Death is not your end: Reviewing The Coven by Harper L. Woods

Hey everyone! Wow, I was gone for far longer than I had intended. Life got in the way of me reading more. You all know how it is with the holidays. I was so tired that I could barely make myself read. In fact, I actually fully intended to finish this book in October. It’s no matter now. I am here, alive, and I have another book review for you. Thank you so much for reading my blog. I appreciate all of your support and will link the donation form below. Let me not make any further excuses and let’s talk about The Coven.

Content Warning: Violence, Explicit Sexual Content, Harsh Language, Graphic Descriptions of Bodily Harm, Abuse, Dubious Consent

Willow Madizza was raised to be a weapon by her father. Her duty is to her coven, but she is torn between her duty and protecting her younger brother. After her mother passes, she has no choice but to travel to the secret town of Crystal Hollow to attend Hollow’s Grove University, a prestigious school for young witches. Willow faces an entirely new problem: her attraction to the devilishly handsome Headmaster Alaric Grayson Thorne. Just as Willow finds herself settled into Hollow’s Grove, murders of students begin to happen. As Willow investigates, she realizes that there is a larger plot happening that could doom all witches and humans alike and only she can stop it.

As far as dark fantasy/dark romance goes, this is one of the better books I have read in this genre. The plot and worldbuilding were interesting enough to keep my attention. The steamy scenes were well-written, and I appreciate the tension between Willow and Gray. Where it fell flat for me is that it can be a little cheesy. Willow is very much “not like other girls,” which can be annoying to read at times. The book honestly felt like it was trying to be something akin to The Vampire Diaries, which is all fine and dandy until it snags itself on tropes that are common in the dark “romantasy” genre. Was it a bad book, though? No. In fact, I actually have the second book, and I fully intend to read it. What I’m saying is that this is my soft recommendation for The Coven.

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Women like her have teeth: Reviewing They Drown Our Daughters by Katrina Monroe

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Normally, I keep these posts casual and impersonal. Lately, though, I have been struggling a bit mentally. There’s been plenty of inner and outer turmoil circling around. I feel like I am in a state of limbo currently. I’ll be fine, but the future just feels a little too uncertain for my liking. I wish I had more confidence at this moment, but I don’t. I’m treading a fine line between realism and idealism. From what I understand, though, there is no one right way to live. There are many ways that we humans can be resilient in the face of uncertainty. I don’t intend to back down, and I fully intend to keep sharing my favorite books with all of you. This is my incredibly long-winded way to say that I care about you and that you matter in this world. Thank you for listening to my vague rambles and thank you for all of your continued support. Let’s get to what you came here for and that is my review of They Drown Our Daughters.

Content Warning: Grief and Mourning, Violence, Harm Towards Children, Some Sexual Content, Some Harsh Language, Disturbing Imagery, Self-Harm

After separating from her wife, Meredith has no choice but to take her daughter Alice back to her hometown of Cape Disappointment. The locals say that the cape is haunted, and Meredith has never truly believed in the rumors. When she returns home, Meredith finds her mother struggling with the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Her mother begins to claim that the ghost stories and curses are real. Meredith assumes it is her mother’s mind slipping from her. After strange things begin to happen that put their lives in danger, Meredith must confront the past and break the curse that has plagued the women in her family for nearly one hundred years.

They Drown Our Daughters is part supernatural thriller, part introspective novel about identity and motherhood. This haunting novel provides plenty of chills while examining the struggles surrounding mothers who don’t receive any support. I liked Monroe’s approach to such a heavy topic. It is a genuinely heart-breaking book that can be difficult to read because it confronts so many realistic problems like divorce, postpartum depression, and aging. That is why I appreciated this novel. The paranormal elements don’t cheapen Monroe’s overall message. The two elements balance each other out and harmonize in a way. Katrina Monroe’s novel is absolutely worth the read if you are looking for a meaningful horror novel.

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All water is blood to her: Reviewing Follow Me to the Ground by Sue Rainsford

Hey everyone! I hope you are doing great! I also hope you are reading lots of good books. Funny enough, I put this book on my TBR list and then happened upon it at a book sale at my local library. I’ve also been getting books from the “little library” in a park near me. Don’t forget to check out to support your local libraries, folks. Even if you prefer to buy your books, you should get a library card anyway. That’s my little tangent for today. Let’s talk about Follow Me to the Ground.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Explicit Sexual Content

Ada and her father share the magical ability to heal people, whom they refer to as “Cures,” by temporarily burying them under the Ground, which is the source of their powers. Ada dedicates her life to curing people until she meets a handsome man named Samson. The two begin an affair that upsets Ada’s father and Samson’s sister. As Ada begins to imagine a new life for herself, she also comes across a discovery that changes her entire world.

Follow Me to the Ground is a strange but interesting book that uses ambiguity and poetic writing to its advantage. This is one where I had to re-read as I was going to truly absorb what I was reading. It is still a rather haunting read when it needs to be. Sue Rainsford utilizes different perspectives to purposefully muddy the waters of the plot, but that is what makes the book all the more interesting. I like the elements of dark magical realism and how it felt a bit like a folktale. The themes revolving around bodily autonomy and the relationship between nature and humans made the book feel a bit more grounded. Overall, Follow Me to the Ground is a thought-provoking and strange tale if you want something a little odd to indulge in.

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She didn’t run from her dark past. She moved in.: Reviewing Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly

Hi everyone! I’m back with some more books for spooky season. My spooky season books might bleed into November because I have not had a ton of free time on my hands lately. I also am very excited to announce that I have, not one, but two indie author reviews coming up. These will all be good ways to wrap up the end of the year. But that is the future and, in the present, we are going to talk about Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Strong Language, Substance Abuse

In 1992, Bill Wheeler killed his wife and three sons then himself, leaving only his infant daughter Dixie alive. Twenty-five years later, Dixie wants to know more about her family. The opportunity arises when she buys her childhood home where the grisly murders took place. She isn’t in the house for very long when she begins to see the ghosts of her family. Dixie begins to experience blackouts and other things that make her question her sanity. She decides the only way to save herself is by revisiting the murders. As Dixie begins to investigate her family’s deaths, she discovers something that will haunt her forever.

I don’t know if there is such a thing as “messy girl horror” but Theme Music definitely could be described as that. In fact, it reminded me quite a bit of Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. I appreciate horror novels where the victims aren’t necessarily perfect, because it feels a bit more realistic and relatable. T. Marie Vandelly is not afraid to share the gory details all throughout the book. It is as gratuitous as it needs to be but it is still pretty gory. If you have a weak stomach then this book is not for you. If you do like the bloodier horror novels, then you will certainly like Theme Music. It is a great mixture of a murder mystery and supernatural horror with just a dash of slasher. Dixie Wheeler is a great “final girl” and I liked her narrative voice. For a bloody good time, you should definitely check out Theme Music.

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Stop eating meat, and the world will devour you whole: Reviewing The Vegetarian by Han Kang, Translated by Deborah Smith

Hi everyone! I hope you didn’t miss me too much. I still have a couple of horror books I want to wrap up by the end of October. While this particular book isn’t technically a horror novel, I think it still fits the vibe. I’ve also been trying to read more translated books, so I have been keeping my eye out for suggestions. I actually got this book for my birthday (back in June) and have been holding off until now to read it. So, let’s finally talk about The Vegetarian.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Explicit Sexual Content, Sexual Assault, Animal Death, Self-Harm, Eating Disorders, Discussions and Depictions of Schizophrenia

Yeong-hye and her husband lived a perfectly harmonious, albeit boring, life. It all changes when Yeong-hye begins to have violent nightmares about blood and death. Disturbed by these dreams, she decides to completely swear off eating any meat. This decision throws her marriage and relationships with her family into turmoil. Her family’s concerns quickly turn into a desperate bid to control Yeong-hye despite her wishes. She begins to spiral and, soon, no one will be able to help her.

I am going to preface this review by saying that this book will not be for everyone. It covers a lot of heavy topics and does so with unflinching prose. The Vegetarian is, to me, reminiscent of The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins-Gilman. The readers are subject to witnessing this slow descent into madness, paired with other issues like marital abuse, the treatment of mental health patients, and psychosis. Like I said in the beginning, this is not a horror novel, but that doesn’t make it any less scary. Han Kang blends together different forms of prose, which enhances the message of the narrative. It is a bit of a bleak novel, but it is so interesting and hard to put down. At the end of the day, I am going to recommend The Vegetarian because it has such a powerful message amid haunting and brutal prose.

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What was found cannot be forgotten, cannot be unseen, cannot be undone: Reviewing Found: A Anthology of Found Footage Horror Stories, Edited by Gabino Iglesias and Andrew Cull

Hi everyone! I’m back with more chills and thrills for anyone partaking in the Halloween season. It’s also been a while since I have read a short story collection. I wanted to mix things up and introduce myself to new authors. I am also a fan of analog horror and found footage, so I had to pick up this book. Now, let’s talk about Found.

General Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language, Discussions and Depictions of Severe Mental Health Issues, Religious Trauma, Animal Death, Domestic Violence, Harm Toward Children, Stalking and Harassment (Content Varies Per Story, Reader Discretion is Advised)

From a group of online sleuths trying to solve a series of disappearances in a small town to a house that might be eating its residents to a fan discovering a cursed book, Found pulls together some of the creepiest tales revolving around things that were never meant to be found.

I particularly enjoyed this collection of short stories because of how varied and unique each tale was. I also enjoyed that the authors weren’t afraid to experiment with formatting. There is one story told almost entirely through texts and emails. Two of them are meant to look like online forums. Some incorporate diary entries as part of their narratives. All of them were equally as interesting and hard to put down. They definitely gave me so “creepypasta” vibes, if that is what you are looking for. Overall, Found is a perfectly haunting series of stories if you are looking for a fresh, interesting take on your classic haunted video story.

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All monsters are mirrors: Reviewing Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

Hey everyone! I’m back and I finally have a horror novel to talk about! This is not the first novel by Paul Tremblay I have read. Feel free to check out my review of A Head Full of Ghosts. I definitely recommend that one, especially if you like possession horror. Funny enough, this is not the only horror book I am reading that is centered around found footage horror. I think it’s a really interesting genre and I hope some of you are interested in exploring this with me. For now, let’s talk about Horror Movie.

Content Warning: Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Drug Abuse, Self-Harm

In the summer of 1993, a group of college students set out to make an ambitious movie simply titled Horror Movie. Despite the notorious reputation of this movie, only three full scenes have ever been released to the public. Almost all of the main cast and crew died in tragic circumstances, save for one. Over thirty years later, a big movie studio has decided to reboot Horror Movie with the surviving cast member, who was known for playing “the Thin Kid.” As shooting for the movie begins, the lines between the past and present blur as ghosts from the past come back to haunt the lone survivor.

Though this is only the second novel I have read by Paul Tremblay, I have come to appreciate is takes on classic horror tropes. Much like A Head Full of Ghosts, Horror Movie takes an intimate look at a horrifying occurance. Tremblay likes to play with the line between realism and the supernatural. I have come to expect an interesting, but subtle twist in his story telling style. Horror Movie is as much a love letter to amature film making as it to the found footage horror genre, with its own twists and turns. I definitely didn’t know where this novel was going as I was reading but that was the best part. Overall, Horror Movie is a nice solid, spooky read that is definitely worth checking out for any horror fans out there.

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This is how we fight: throw ourselves at each other and see whose parts give out first: Reviewing All Systems Red (Book 1 of the Murderbot Diaries) by Martha Wells

Hey everyone! I hope you are doing well! I also hope you are staying safe, especially if you live in the path of Hurrican Helene or Milton. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones. If you have to hunker down, maybe this post will distract you for just a bit. After this review, I will be getting into the spooky stuff so fear not! (Or fear a little because, you know, Halloween and stuff). Either way, I’m sending you all my love. Now, let’s talk about All Systems Red.

Content Warning: Violence, Strong Language

Corporations rule outer space. Missions are regulated and delegated by these corporations. Safety, though, isn’t much of a concern. Humans rely on specialized robots for protection on dangerous planets. One particular robot, who refers to itself as “Murderbot”, is reluctant to leave its serials and venture out with a team of human scientists. The mission quickly takes a dangerous turn and its up to the Murderbot and humans to figure out the truth.

All Systems Red is a fun, fast-paced read with plenty of classic sci-fi thrills and wry humor. What really helped this novella stand out is Murderbot as the narrator. I related to the Murderbot because I too don’t like being important at my place of work. Martha Wells manages to pack in a lot of interesting world building and concepts in less than 150 pages. I personally would have loved for this book to be longer because I loved Murderbot’s voice and wanted to know more about the world of this novel. I will probably be picking up the sequel some time in the future. If you are looking for your next sci-fi read, look no further than The Murderbot Diaries.

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