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Love makes Fools of us all. Including the Muses. Including even the Gods: Reviewing We Love You, Bunny (A sequel to Bunny) by Mona Awad

Hi everyone! Happy New Year! Let’s hope for a great 2026! This is now my fourth review of Mona Awad. Feel free to go back and check out my review of this novel’s predecessor, Bunny. I’ll save all of my thoughts for my review below. Let’s kick this year off with my first review, We Love You, Bunny.

Content Warning: Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language, Sexual Content, Disturbing Imagery

Years have passed since Samantha Heather Mackey had her encounter with the Bunnies at Warren University. Now, she has a book out about her experiences with the stranger graduate students. Not everyone is happy for Samantha. The Bunnies want to tell their side of the story. After kidnapping Samantha, they force her to understand what really happened and why they did the things they did. Their captive audience will know about their inexplicable bond and their first foray into dark magic.

I wish I was starting this year out with a bang, but this review is going to be more of a whimper. Before I go into details, I will say that I still recommend reading Bunny and I still enjoy Mona Awad as an author. That isn’t where my positives stop. I enjoyed the writing of the novel. Awad is so good at creating bizarre and unique characters. This novel showcases Awad’s talent for writing twisted and poetic prose. I will also not diminsh the novel’s message about who art belongs to and the intensity of the creative process. With all of that being said, though, I just really didn’t like this book. It felt way too long and very little happened until the last half of the book. The Bunnies, while they are entertaining, do nothing for a majority of this book. I learned nothing new about them. I barely understood why they worked as a group, other than happenstance. The most annoying aspect of this book is how the main characters constantly scream at each other. Their intense, melodramatic emotions felt unearned. They weren’t unlikeable in a “fun” way. All of their work was glossed over in favor of the section of the book that is narrated by their first creation. I understand that Awad was going for a Frankenstein angle by having the creators and the creation each have their own stories to tell. The main difference is that Victor Frankenstein is a fleshed out character and the Bunnies felt so flat. The worst thing about this book is that it made me root for the main male character in a book that had plenty of interesting female characters to work with. The pacing also just didn’t help. I kept forgetting that the book is centered around them kidnapping Samantha from the first book. Not to keep ranting, but I hate these sequels/prequels that try to demystify the previous work. Unfortunately, We Love You, Bunny was a flop for me. I only take solace in seeing that other people had this book on their worst and/or most disappointing books of 2025 lists. Just read Bunny and don’t even bother with this sequel/prequel.

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When the whole world hurts, you bite it. Don’t you?: Reviewing The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all staying nice and warm this winter. This review will be my last review for the year. I fully intended to finish this book last month, but the hustle and bustle of the holidays hit me with full force. This book, however, felt appropriate as a winter horror book, so I finished it sooner than later. This is now my second venture into Stephen Graham Jones’ novels. Feel free to check out my review of My Heart is a Chainsaw. Now, it’s time to talk about The Only Good Indians.

Content Warning: Violence, Gore, Disturbing Imagery, References to Racism, Animal Death, Some Strong Language

Ten years ago, four childhood friends from the Blackfeet Nation went on a hunting trip. This trip would forever change their lives. Unknowingly, they unleash a vengeful entity after slaughtering a herd of elk. Since then, each of these men and their families has been plagued by tragedies that resulted in death. Now, with the inevitable creeping up on them, the remaining men must find a way to break the cycle of revenge before it claims them.

Stephen Graham Jones continues to deliver bizarre and compelling takes on somewhat traditional horror narratives. While I have read stories in the past of venegful spirits, Graham Jones stands out by providing a unique cultural standpoint. I felt immediately immersed in the cultures of the main characters and was fascinated by their perspectives. One of the best elements of the novel, in my opinion, was the narrative tone. It comes across as casual to the point of being conversational. It makes the horror elements more insidious and jarring because I felt like I was reading a stream-of-consciousness narrative at times. This, though, helped me better understand and sympathize with the characters, including the antagonist. With all of that being said, I fully plan to read another Stephen Graham Jones novel in the future and highly recommend giving that you give his novels a chance.

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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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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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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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I’m in your blood and your are in mine: Reviewing Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna Van Veen

Hey everyone! It’s time to get a head start on spooky season! I was going to hold off on this book until October, but I got too excited. I’ll have plenty of other books to review if you aren’t interested in horror. If you want some thrills and chills, then stick around. It’s time to talk about Blood on Her Tongue.

Content Warning: Blood and Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery, Loss of a Child, Grief and Mourning, Mental Health Crises, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny

Lucy is living a quiet life as a lady’s companion. Her peaceful existence is disrupted when she receives disturbing letters from her twin sister, Sarah. Soon after, she receives word that Sarah has fallen ill. In her delirious state, Sarah keeps rambling on about a strange old corpse that was found on her husband’s estate. Lucy must figure out how this discovery ties to Sara’s condition. Sarah, though, suddenly becomes violent. To protect her beloved twin, Lucy must work quickly to figure out what happened to her sister. In doing so, she will confront the darkness that lies in her sister and herself.

Blood on Her Tongue was absolutely not what I expected, and that is what I loved about this novel. I thought this was going to be a Gothic vampire novel. It is, indeed, a Gothic novel. Johanna Van Veen does a wonderful job creating a dark, tense atmosphere full of blood and secrets. It is, however, not a vampire novel, and that surprised me in the best way. I won’t spoil the “twist,” but I will say that I loved how this book steered away from being predictable or trope-laden. I loved the little bits of dark humor and all of the subversive scenes that are sprinkled throughout this novel. It does fall in the realm of “Good for her” horror, in the same way that Midsomar does. (If you know, you know.) I really don’t want to give away too much because this is a book that simply must be experienced. If you are going to choose any book to read for spooky season, I implore you to choose Blood on Her Tongue.

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The heart does not go backward. Only the mind: Reviewing The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

Hey everyone! How are you all doing? I hope you answered positively. If you didn’t , then I hope your day improves. I am currently drowning in books because of all of the summer library sales that are happening around where I live. There are a couple of “little libraries” in my neighborhood as well, so I like to check those from time to time for anything good. Unfortunately, I have no impulse control and will take home any book that looks remotely interesting to me. With that being said, don’t forget to support your local libraries and small bookshops. Anyways, you can check out my review of The Historian, also by Elizabeth Kostova. For now, we are talking about The Swan Thieves.

Robert Oliver, a reclusive and brilliant artist, is arrested for attempting to attack a famous painting with a knife. He is placed under the care of psychiatrist Dr. Andrew Marlow. Marlow is also a painter and wants to relate to his stubbornly silent patient. In an attempt to understand Robert Oliver, Marlow goes on a journey through his patient’s past. By doing so, Marlow finds himself enthralled in a tale of obsession, passion, and secrets. The key to all of this is through the love letters between a nineteenth century artist and her forbidden lover. Only through these can Marlow finally understand his patient and himself.

Where The Historian fell in to the category of “dark academia,” The Swan Thieves fits comfortably in “light academia.” Kostova’s prose is breezy, eloquent and uncomplicated. This style, though, does not simplify or demean the themes of the novel. It is a novel focused on the complexities of identity and love, all told with art history in mind. Kostova gives no clear answer to her characters’ motives, but paints a picture (pun intended) and leaves the reader to interpret what any of it truly means. This is all done, though, with no pretention or assumption. It is a presentation of the complicated lives of characters who feel so incredibly lifelike, even in a slightly idyllic fictional setting. Kostova is a ridiculously talented writer and I so wish she had more than two books out. With all of that being said, you should absolutely read The Swan Thieves and The Historian.

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Death is kind. It’s only life that holds suffering: Reviewing The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Geisbrecht

Hi everyone! I promised I would be back soon and I kept my promise. Happy Memorial Day to my fellow Americans. As for everyone else, I hope you are having a good day. After this review, don’t be shocked if you don’t hear from me for a while because the other books I’m currently reading are pretty long. As much as I love long books, I am also an impatient person. That is why I needed a novella or two to throw into the mix. Regardless of that, I have something for you. So, let’s talk about The Monster of Elendhaven.

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

Elendhaven is a town shrouded in darkness, nestled between a black sea and a silver mountain. In the town lurks a monster named Johann who cannot die. He amuses himself by killing at a whim. One day, Johann meets a wealthy and reclusive man named Florian. Florian has a secret and a plan that he needs help with. Johann is more than happy to join him in his quest for vengeance. In doing so, he might finally find out the nature of his peculiar condition. With a sinister pact made, the two monsters plot to bring Elendhaven the bloody justice it deserves.

The Monster of Elendhaven is darkly funny and morbidly gripping with every page. The book felt much longer than its 159 pages and I mean that in a good way. Jennifer Geisbrecht manages to pack in so many interesting ideas and concepts into this fast-paced novella. At the heart of this book, though, is a twisted love story between two characters who only want to find their purpose in the world. I just loved the Gothic atmosphere and detailed (albeit gorey) descriptions that pain a vivid picture. Needless to say, this was such a fun and gross read that I am going to strongly recommend, especially if you need to get out of a reading slump.

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Inevitably, with memory comes pain: Reviewing I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, Translated by Ros Schwartz

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. The weather is beautiful where I live and I have some extended time off so I am going to finish off some novellas that have been sitting in my TBR pile for some time. I continue to pile on to my book pile because I am unable to excersize any self-control in a book store. I am also fully expecting to get a few more books for my birthday next month, but that is exactly what I want. Anway, this particuar novella has been making the rounds in recommended reading so it’s time for me to talk about I Who Have Never Known Men.

Content Warning: Some Disturbing Imagery, Grief and Mourning

For seemingly no reason, thirty-nine women have been locked in an underground prison. None of them can entirely remember how they got there or what their lives were before they were imprisoned. The fortieth prisoner, a young girl, is shunned by her fellow prisoners. One day, for seemingly no reason, the guards flee from the prison and the women are able to escape. They realize that the young girl is their key to survival and their only hope in the strange world that awaits them.

I can see this book becoming a staple in literature classes in the near future. I Who Have Never Known Men is a tense, existential novella that asks broad questions about humanity, civilization, and gender. It is also a story of survival, friendship, and perserverance. Harpman keeps the reasons behind the circumstances for this novel frustratingly ambiguous, but that is one of the more compelling elements of this novella. There is plenty to speculate about and theorize, but we are ultimately left with a fascinating mystery. I don’t want to say too much because this is a book worth experiencing for oneself. You should definitely consider picking up I Who Have Never Known Men for your summer reading pile.