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All we can do is honour the lessons this brings, look honestly upon who we were and what we have done, and try to do better when the next sun rises: Reviewing House of Odysseus (Book 2 of the Songs of Penelope Trilogy) by Claire North

Hi everyone and happy holidays! With the hustle and bustle of everything, I haven’t been able to do much reading. I may be able to post one more book review before my annual favorites of the year post. It all just depends on my mood. Before you read this review, I encourage you to read Ithaca, the first book in this series. Now, let’s talk about House of Odysseus.

Content Warning: Violence, Strong Language, Spousal Abuse, Discussions of Sexual Assault, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny

Penelope, the queen of the Ithaca, struggles to maintain her power over the suitors that continue to ravage her home. With little hope of her husband’s return, Penelope relies on her wit and cunning to keep her place on the throne. Her troubles, though, had only worsened when Elektra and Orestes turned up on her shores. Orestes is mad with guilt over the murder of his mother Clytemnestra, and Elektra isgrieving her father Agamemnon and desperate to put her brother on the throne. Everything is thrown into further disarry when Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon and king of Sparta, comes to Ithaca in search of his murderous niece and nephew. Helen, the woman who broke the world, is also here to annoy Penelope. With Ithaca thrown into turmoil, Penelope must fight for her rightful place with the help of some unlikely allies. The queen’s plight, though, has caught the eye of the goddess of love herself, Aphrodite, who may give her a fighting chance.

Claire North continues to impress me with her ability to inhabit all of these characters and breathe life into them in a way that very few adapatations have in the past. This novel is part murder mystery, part family drama, and part re-telling. Its dynamic nature is what made it just as enjoyable as its predecessor. What I particularly appreciated about the novel was having Aphrodite as the narrator. Not to be a mythology nerd, but I always for Aphrodite to be one of the more underrated deities in the Greek pantheon. Her commentary about love and desire ties into the themes from the first book about women’s struggles in such a seemless way. Claire North does a fantastic job creating unique character voices that feel so rooted in reality in a strange way. With all of that being said, I am so excited to read the third book in this trilogy and I think that you should check this one out too.

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I rip out his tongue to stop the lies. I stab out his eyes to hide from his gaze. You will be free: Reviewing Shadows of Self (Book 5 of the Mistborn Saga) by Brandon Sanderson

Hi everyone! Happy belated Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans. I promise I wasn’t intentionally avoiding reading or writing in this blog. You all know how it is. Life happens. Stuff gets in the way. Motivation is lost. I’m back, though, and have plenty more reviews for you before the end of the year. I just picked a lot of long books to read, which is part of the reason why I have been slow to post. That, however, is the past. It’s time to revisit the Mistborn Saga once more. Let’s talk about Shadows of Self.

Content Warning: Violence, Some Disturbing Imagery

Waxillium “Wax” Ladrian is forced to give up his life as a lawman in the Roughs after forsaking his responsibilities as the lord of his house for too long. He hardly imagined that life in the city would be exciting, but an assassination attempt on a prominent governor proves Wax wrong. Soon, the city of Elendel is thrust into turmoil as riots break out among the workers, and churches are attacked. The culprit? An ancient being who may be sent by God himself. It’s up to Wax, Wayne, and their recently befriended constable Marasi to figure out what’s happening before the city of Elendel is destroyed by its own people.

Brandon Sanderson surprises me with every single book I read. Just as I think I’m hitting a lull or thinking that the plot is predictable, Sanderson provides me with literary whiplash. I say all this with love. As someone who is a fan of action and adventure, the Mistborn Saga continuously delivers with all of the best elements of a genre that is usually hard to encapsulate. Shadows of Self stands out because of how it connects back to the original Mistborn trilogy. Sanderson isn’t afraid to question his own texts and the motives of his characters. Most authors wouldn’t want to deconstruct their worlds or let their characters look too imperfect, but Sanderson isn’t afraid to change the rules without completely demolishing everything he created. It feels like a natural progression in the story. This particular entry in the saga was more like a mystery, but that is what I ended up enjoying about Shadows of Self. In case you couldn’t tell, I have been really enjoying this series, and I am going to continue to recommend it to all of you.

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Without faith, there is no refuge: Reviewing The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica, translated by Sarah Moses

Hey everyone! I hope your October is going well. As I write this, the temperature has dropped, and all of the Halloween decorations are up. I think it’s time for another creepy book review. If you would like to, you can check out my review for Tender is the Flesh, also by Agustina Bazterrica. It’s time, though, to talk about The Unworthy.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Sexual Assault, Disturbing Imagery, Animal Death, Religious Trauma, Psychosis

The world has ended. Sea levels rose, fires burned, and the population was all but wiped out by their own doing. The survivors grouped together to find some sort of salvation. One particular survivor joined a cult called the Sacred Sisterhood. Deemed one of the unworthy, she goes by unseen during the day but hopes that she might become one of the Enlightened. At night, she secretly writes her story in the hopes that someone will read it. One day, an enigmatic and charming woman named Lucia arrives, and the survivor is inexplicably drawn to her. As she develops a relationship with Lucia, the survivor reconsiders her past and realizes that she can no longer ignore the danger that lies within the Sacred Sisterhood.

Agustina Bazterrica is nothing if not intense, morbid, and profound in her writings. Much like Tender is the Flesh, The Unworthy is a speculative tale of a ruined world and desperate people. Unlike Tender is the Flesh, this novel is a bit more abstract in its prose. Bazterrica’s choice to have the nameless survivor as the narrator makes it all the more immersive. What drew me to the novel was Bazterrica’s use of religious imagery juxtaposed with stark images of a world ruined by humanity. With that being said, I can’t say I liked this more than Tender is the Flesh. The prose was a little too choppy, and there wasn’t enough “showing” for me. Just when I thought I was going to see something shocking or exciting, the novel would jump to something else. There was so much lore in this book, and it was packed very tightly into 175 pages. I would have loved a full novel of this book. With all of that being said, you may consider this my soft recommendation if you want something disturbing and atmospheric.

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When things felt right, it only meant there was so much more that could go wrong: Reviewing We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Life has happened. Things have changed. This blog remains. That’s my quick summary of how events have unfolded for me recently. I’m doing fine and have a lot to look forward to, but transitions are rarely easy. Thankfully, I have books as my steadfast coping mechanism. There are plenty of spooky books to read this October. It’s time the newest addition, We Used to Live Here.

Content Warning: Violence, Some Gore, Disturbing Imagery, Some Strong Language

Eve and her girlfriend Charlie bought an old house to renovate and resell. Eve finds the old house unsettling, but reminds herself that this is only temporary. One night, when Eve is alone in the house, she finds her dealing with some unexpected guests. A man who claims to have once lived in the house wants to give his family a tour. Despite her worry, Eve decides it wouldn’t be so bad to let this man take a trip down memory lane. Once the family sets foot in the house, everything goes wrong. The youngest child goes missing. The layout of the house changes. A ghostly figure appears. Terrified, Eve tries to get the family to leave the house but they don’t seem to want to leave. Worst of all, Charlie goes missing. Eve fears that she is going insane as her reality begins to change and the house won’t let her go.

We Used to Live Here is such an interesting take on the classic “the house is wrong” trope. It’s part liminal space horror, part supernatural horror, and part internet mystery all wrapped up in a dynamic narrative. Marcus Kliewer does a great job toying with ambiguity throughout this novel. That, to me, is what makes a story truly scary, or unsettling, at least. There is just enough in the material to give you a good idea of what’s happening, but there is not enough to give you any certaintly as to what is actually happening. There’s also these random little mysteries planted throughout the book, like Morse code lines, that make it all the more intriguing. It combines a lot of the things I like about online “creepypastas” without being obnoxious or heavy handed. It’s safe to say that I truly enjoyed We Used to Live Here and think you should add it to your TBR pile ASAP.

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I am no garden, but the woods, and if you ever come near me again, every bit of wildness in me will rise up to bite you: Reviewing Grey Dog by Elliot Gish

Hi everyone! Happy October! We are officially in spooky season! I wanted to kick it off with something interesting. There will be plenty of horror reviews coming up soon. I hope you are all excited! Let’s talk about Grey Dog.

Content Warning: Violence, Gore and Mutilation, Sexual Content, Sexual Assault, Miscarriage and Stillbirth, Child Death, Animal Death, Psychosis, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny

1901. Ada Byrd accepts a position as a school teacher in the tiny, rural town of Lowry Bridge. Eager for a fresh start, Ada quickly integrates herself into the town. She develops friendships, teaches her students about nature, and begins to feel confident in herself. Lowry Bridge, though, is not what it seems. Ada begins to experience strange things. She hears a disembodied voice. She sees animals mutilate themselves. Ada begins to believe that a mysterious entity, called the grey dog, is the one causing these disturbing things. Ada fears she is slowly unraveling after doing everything she can to hold herself together. One’s true nature, though, can only be hidden for so long.

Grey Dog is a slow-paced, atmospheric tale of oppression, madness, and the power of nature. Gish does a wonderful job building tension and creating uncertainty throughout the novel, which is told through Ada Byrd’s diary. She captures the spirit of rural Gothic horror with unabashed, gory detail. There is an underlying commentary, though, about the oppression experienced by women and the extreme lengths we have to go through to “unlearn” society’s standards. With that being said, it is also a bit of a cautionary tale against losing oneself completely. Grey Dog is ambiguous enough to allow the reader’s imagination to run wild, without avoiding the grotesque and macabre. This book would be the perfect way for you to kick off spooky season. I would hate for Grey Dog to go unrecognized so I implore you to read this novel as soon as possible.

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In the end, we all go west: Reviewing One’s Company by Ashley Hutson

Hey everyone! I’m back, and I have a great review for all of you! As you know now, I love surreal and experimental literature. More importantly, I love “messy girl literature.” I was overdue for some unhinged women’s literature. Let’s step into the surreal and strange world of One’s Company.

Content Warning: Violence, Some Graphic Imagery, Implied Sexual Content, Discussions of Sexual Assault, Attempted Self-Harm, Grief and Mourning, Discussions and Depictions of Severe Mental Illness and Psychosis

Bonnie Lincoln has lived a difficult life. As a child, she lost both of her parents to unexpected tragedies. As an adult, she is the victim of a violent robbery that leaves her reeling from loss and trauma. Bonnie finds solace in the hit 1970s sitcom Three’s Company. The only thing she wants is to be left alone with her quiet obsessions. When Bonnie wins the lottery, she decides to take her love of the show to the next level. With her winnings, she buys an isolated mountain retreat and transforms it into the world of Three’s Company. Bonnie’s groovy little paradise is soon disrupted by her former best friend, and she finds herself fighting against the trauma that threatens her illusion.

Full disclaimer before I begin this review: I know nothing about Three’s Company, so I cannot provide any insight or commentary on that aspect of the story. With that being said, One’s Company was dark, chaotic, and utterly unique. It’s a novel that examines the dangers of isolation and the pitfalls of nostalgia. Having Bonnie as the narrator allowed for a deeper exploration of the complications that come with grief. Ashley Hutson balances between Bonnie’s delusions and the reality of her situation. Hutson emphasizes the issues that come with avoiding dealing with trauma and how certain coping mechanisms can be dangerous, even bordering on self-harm. The narrative, though, isn’t unsympathetic towards Bonnie’s struggles. Despite the chaos that happens throughout the novel, we have a relatable protagonist who simply wants someone to care about her struggles. One’s Company was a wild ride that I didn’t want to put down for even a second. Needless to say, I think you might enjoy this one too.

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Love is a patient, exasperated emotion, and she knew it well: Reviewing Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

Hi everyone! Happy Fall! Well, it doesn’t feel like fall yet but that isn’t going to stop me from trying to participate in fall activities. I have my “spooky” book reviews coming soon and I know some of you are really looking forward to that. For now, I have some other things to talk about. This book will be my fifth review for a book by T. Kingfisher. I even have a sixth one ready to go. Feel free to check out my reviews of her other novels. Let’s talk about one of her latest: Swordheart.

Content Warning: Some Violence, Some Gore, Mild Sexual Content, Animal Death

Halla, a respectable widow, unexpectedly inherits her wealthy uncle’s estate. Unfortunately, she has to contend with her dead husband’s horrid family members who are determined to marry her off so they can have the estate. Halla decides the only sensible solution is to kill herself. The only tool she can find in her uncle’s estate that might do the trick is an ancient sword that was just laying around. When she unsheaths the sword, an immortal warrior named Sarkis appears and informs her that he is now her personal guard. Sarkis was not expecting his weilder to be a woman like Halla. He certainly wasn’t expecting to go on the run with her, fleeing from angry family members and murderous priests. As Sarkis and Hall grow closer, they must face dangers and figure out if there is a way to free him from the sword.

I’m going to be honest. I have often looked down upon “romantasy” as a genre because it always felt so formulaic and cliche. Leave it to T. Kingfisher to write a romantasy that I absolutely loved from beginning to end. The writing is earnest, humorous, and creative. I loved the world of this novel and the interesting fantasy elements. There were so many fun moments peppered throughout that made me smile. The romance, though, is the main feature of this novel and I loved every second of it. While there certainly were tropes, the novel didn’t rely on the tropes to make the romance happen. Sarkis and Halla had such great chemistry. I loved seeing them come closer together. I also loved that the relationship wasn’t perfect and they had to work through things to come together. They reminded me a lot of Wesley and Buttercup from The Princess Bride. The main reason why I liked this book is because it was very reminiscent of works like The Princess Bride. The romance was lovely, the humor was great, and I loved the world of this novel. Go read Swordheart immediately because there is going to be a sequel next year.

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There was a song in this forest, too, but it was a savage song, whispering of madness and tearing and rage: Reviewing Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I’m starting to transition into my “spooky” books for October, but I have a couple of others to finish before then. I’m not really going to ramble too much. Naomi Novik has been in my peripheral vision for a bit now, and this is my first experience with any of her novels. I also want to say thank you all so much for continuing to engage with my blog. It means more to me than you know. I hope you continue to read my posts whenever you’re feeling a little bored. With all of that being said, I’ll get to what you came to this post for. Let’s talk about Uprooted.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Disturbing Imagery, Sexual Content, Attempted Sexual Assault, Animal Death

Every ten years, a warlock who calls himself the Dragon comes to the village to pick a girl to take away. In exchange, he protects the village from the dangers that hide in the corrupted Wood. Agnieszka had never expected to be chosen by the Dragon. She and everyone expected Kasia to be chosen. The Dragon, however, chooses Agnieszka for reasons she cannot understand. Soon, she finds herself absorbed in the world of magic, court politics, and war. With no other choice, Agnieszka must fight against the evil Wood to save everyone she has ever loved.

I didn’t go in with any real expectations for this novel, and Uprooted exceeded my nonexistent expectations. Naomi Novik is insanely imaginative and well-written. This novel went places I didn’t expect it to go, and that made it all the more enjoyable. The book is so atmospheric, with classic fairy tale elements and interesting lore. There was also plenty of action. I was not expecting this novel to have any intense battle scenes, but there were some really cool scenes involving monsters and warlocks. I am going to cut this review a little short because I want to stay away from any spoilers. I highly encourage you to experience Uprooted for yourself. I will definitely read more Naomi Novik novels in the future.

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Hell is other people: Reviewing Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I could not be more excited to talk about this book with you. I’m sure many of you have heard the buzz around Katabasis and I am more than happy to give my take on it. If you want, you can check my review of Babel, another novel by R.F. Kuang. Let’s get to the point and talk about Katabasis.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Some Violence, Some Gore, Some Sexual Content, Grooming, Suicidal Ideation, Strong Language

Alice Law has sacrificed everything to become one of the leading minds in the field of Magick. With the help of her talented mentor, Professor Grimes, Alice has become one of the emerging stars in Cambridge University. Everything was going according to plan until Professor Grimes is killed in a magical accident. Alice, though, can’t let the man who can open every door for her rot in Hell. The only solution is to bring him back. She is not the only Grimes student with this idea. Peter Murdoch, her academic rival, convinces Alice to let him join her journey. Armed with nothing by chalk and academic texts, Alice and Peter must face the unknowable horrors of the afterlife and survive, lest they lose the one person who can write them a good reccomendation.

As I said before, there has been a lot of discourse circling around Katabasis and if its overly complicated or too academic. Here’s my consensus: what acutally happens in the novel is not complicated but the way the events are talked about is complicated. As someone who’s read a fair few academic articles and gotten a test of grad school, I understood what Kuang was “going for,” so to say. With that out of the way, I personally enjoyed Katabasis. It was dark, imaginative, and a little cheeky. Kuang’s take on the afterlife is visceral and strangely relatable. There is a quote that goes something like “hell is what you make it” and I think that perfecly sums up what Katabasis is going for. It’s as a much an analogy as it is a fun, dark fantasy with vivid and disturbing imagery. The more “academic” aspects of the novel don’t pull away from the tension of this dark journey. I thought the pacing was just a bit off at times, but that is honestly a minor complaint. Kuang goes out of her way to really flesh out her characters and make them so perfectly flawed. Alice is her own unique person, but she also serves as a mirror to anyone who is a bit hard on themselves. The other characters all felt three dimensional, even if they weren’t human or only appeared briefly. I appreciate Kuang’s attention to detail in her prose and her unflinching commentary on different social and political issues. With all of that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed Katabasis and I think it is fully worth your time. (You might have to do some Googling while you’re reading but I think that’s the fun part).

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The gods demand their justice, but we suffer for it every time: Reviewing Elektra by Jennifer Saint

Hi everyone! It’s been a bit, but I haven’t forgotten this blog. I like to think of myself as a reliable and dutiful source of book reviews. If you think otherwise, I completely understand. Guess what? I have another Greek mythology-inspired book for you all! This is also not my first review of a Jennifer Saint book. Check out my review of Ariadne if you so desire. I hope, though, that you are interested in this review of Elektra.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Sexual Assault, Disturbing Imagery, Suicide

Helen of Sparta goes missing, and Greece goes to war. Clytemnestra, queen of Mycenae and twin sister of Helen, is betrayed by her husband Agamemnon and quietly plots her revenge against the House of Atreus. Meanwhile, the Trojan princess Cassandra is cursed by the god Apollo and is plagued with visions of Troy’s fall. Elektra, the youngest daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, desperately wants her father to come home, but fears that her family curse will befall him once he sets foot in his home. Revenge, desperation, and love drive these women to do the unthinkable in the hopes of saving their families.

Elektra is a vivid, haunting, and unflinching look at three women who are often villainized or mocked in Greek mythology. Jennifer Saint allows her protagonists to be imperfect and scheming, while also being sympathetic and relatable. There is no right way to view these characters, and I think that is indicative of Jennifer Saint’s writing talents. I think it’s important to have female characters who are complex and, sometimes, cruel. It makes them all the more human. It is hard to read at times, but Jennifer Saint handles sensitive subjects with care. It is as grotesque as necessary. The writing is wonderful, and I actually really enjoyed the multiple POVs. It made the novel all the more dynamic and moving. I can’t recommend this book anymore. Elektra is a must-read for female-led novels and novels about Greek mythology.