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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.

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I bite at myself, tear my skin off, but I never quite die: Reviewing The Deep by Nick Cutter

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I’m getting ready to wrap up some books so I can get to my summer reading. I’ve had good luck at some local second-hand bookstores. I’m sure you can all relate to lacking impulse control when it comes to books. At least, I hope it is not just a “me problem.” I think that is enough rambling for now. Let’s talk about The Deep.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Disturbing Imagery, Animal Death and Mistreatment, Domestic Abuse, Child Abuse, Body Horror, Claustrophobia, Thalassaphobia

The apocalypse started quietly. People began forgetting small things, then big things, they simply forgot how to function. Scientists discovered a strange disease, dubbed the ‘Gets, was causing the slow demise of humankind. The only hope for a cure is a strange substance called “ambrosia” that can only be found eight miles below the Pacific Ocean. The underwater lab goes quiet after sending out a strange message meant for one man and one man only. Luke Nelson’s brother, Clayton, is one of the scientists tasked with unlocking the secrets of this mysterious substance. Desperate to find out what happened to his brother, Lucas ventures deep below and encounters a darkness that no human mind can fathom.

I have to give Nick Cutter kudos for writing one of the most uncomfortable horror novels I have read in a long time. The layers of different fears make for a rather suffocating and tense reading experience. There’s body horror, aquatic horror, cosmic horror, and psychological horror all rolled into one relentless book. I am not terribly squeamish but I regretted eating dinner before finishing this book. The last 20% of The Deep had me squirming at the exquisite detail that Cutter includes throughout the climax of this book. It was a tough read but in a good way. This book will be especially difficult to read if you have a soft spot for animals. I appreciated that Cutter took the time to explore the characters’ emotions and go out of the way to endear me as a reader to them, and not just create characters who are meant to die. My only gripe about this book is that there were some discussions about sex that I felt were entirely unnecessary. With all of that being said, The Deep is definitely a book for the horror aficionado.

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We were monsters once…: Reviewing And Then I Woke Up by Malcolm Devlin

Hi everyone! I got lucky and had an unexpected day off today. Obviously, that means I’m going to do some serious catching up on my TBR pile. It hasn’t been this out of control in a while. I’m not going to be out of material for a while. Now that I have finished a book, let’s talk about And Then I Woke Up.

Content Warning: Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language

The world ended when diseased monsters ran rampant and killed innocent people. At least, that’s what they were told. A disease spread across the world, but what it did was affect how people perceive reality. Spence is one of the “cured,” living in Ironside, a massive rehab facility that is essentially a prison. He decides that he belongs here, away from the guilt and shame. A mysterious new inmate named Leila asks him to help her escape so she can find her crew of survivors. Spence agrees, drawn by her enigmatic past. Now, outside of his carefully designed world, Spence must reconcile with the past and confront the reality of the horrors he faced and caused.

Someone can rarely take a genre as straightforward as zombie survival and make it new. Malcolm Devlin, though, does just that. And Then I Woke Up serves as more of an allegory about propaganda and perspective, rather than a gory zombie tale. This book is about one unreliable narrator talking to another unreliable narrator, who is also relying on other unreliable narrators for their survival. It’s a quick, punchy read with plenty of dizzying moments of uncertainty and emotional whiplash. That is what made this book so effective in its message. There are still gory details here and there, along with dramatic scenes of fighting hoards of infected monsters, Those scenes, though, are not what makes this book so interesting. It really is a character study that examines the horrors of not being able to rely on one’s own mind. With this being a shorter one, it would definitely be a great book if you need to get out of a reading slump. It’s safe for me to recommend And Then I Woke Up if you want a unique horror read.

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The amount of pain we can endure is spectacular: Reviewing Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Thank you so much for your likes for my last couple of posts. I love to see that you are all still enjoying my little hobby after all this time. It makes me happy. Don’t worry because I still have plenty of books to review. I’m also going to be starting a couple of series in the near future, so I’m looking forward to seeing if I like any of those. I have plenty of standalone books if that is something you are interested in. With that being said, let’s talk about Ripe.

Content Warning: Substance Abuse, Sexual Content, Disturbing Imagery, Self-harm, Abortion, Emotional Abuse

After spending years at a prominent tech company in San Francisco, Cassie has had enough. She is exhausted, lonely, and frightened but does her best to mask her feelings. Cassie’s life takes a turn when she suspects she might be pregnant. On top of that, her boss asks her to take part in a sketchy plan to take down a rival company. With the pressure growing, Cassie must make a choice that will change her life forever.

I haven’t read any “messy girl literature” in a while and Ripe sits comfortably in that category. I do not label something as “messy girl literature” dismissively. Ripe uses a combination of magical realism and eloquent prose to highlight Cassie’s struggles that most peope relate to. Sarah Rose Etter tackles heavy topics like the endless and torturous cycle of capitalism, depression, emotional abuse from a parent, and substance abuse with brutal honesty and sympathy. The novel was just ambiguous enough and just specific enough to keep me locked in. It is uncomfortable to read at times but those uncomfortable truths are worth confronting. If you want something provocative and harsh, then Ripe is exactly the book for you.

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You hate. We love. I devour you whole: Reviewing The Archive Undying by Emma Meiko Candon

Hi everyone! I’m back! It feels like I have been away for too long. Some exciting life changes happened recently so my attention has been elsewhere. I just didn’t have the attention span to buckle down and finish anything. Until now, that is. Let me not ramble for any longer. Let’s talk about The Archive Undying.

Content Warning: Strong Language, Some Sexual Content, Disturbing Imagery, Intense Battle Scenes

The world has been ruled by AI gods for eons and, when a god falls, the city it rules dies with it. The city of Khuon Mo was one of these doomed cities. Its god, though, didn’t destroy everything. It left behind one survivor: a child named Sunai. In the seventeen years since the city was destroyed, Sunai has wandered from city to city, unable to die and haunted by the destruction he witnessed. He copes by throwing himself into work, drugs, and the beds of strangers. One of these strangers, an eccentric and guarded archivist, suspects that Sunai hides a secret. The two soon find themselves with a ragtag group of merchants who are tasked with finding a valuable artifact before a dangerous entity finds it. Sunai finds himself thrust back into the world of gods and machines where the stakes are higher than ever.

As I was reading this book, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to Gideon the Ninth. Funny enough, the quote on the cover is from Tamsyn Muir herself. With that being said, The Archive Undying is a standout science fiction novel with a vivid setting and compelling world-building. Emma Meiko Candon seamlessly blends a wry sense of humor with a kaleidoscopic, multifaceted narrative. Everything in this book was so vivid, from the massive mechs to the AI gods. It jumps between trippy visuals with existential questions about existence and religion, to intense battle sequences and great interpersonal drama. I desperately needed a good sci-fi novel and I am so glad I found this one. You should absolutely read The Archive Undying if you want a book that feels like a breath of fresh air in the sci-fi landscape.

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Fun Is Guaranteed!: Reviewing FantasticLand by Mike Bockoven

Hi everyone! I’m back yet again with yet another review! I know, I know; hold the applause and surprise. I’m glad, though, that you are all still enjoying these and engaging with my posts. Thank you all to my new followers and my long-time followers! I appreciate every single one of you and am happy to keep you entertained. Now, let me entertain you with my review of FantasticLand.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery, Discussions of Sexual Assault

In September 2017, FantasticLand, a beloved theme park, was struck by the enormous power of Hurricane Sadie. The hurricane laid waste to the Florida coast and left about 200 employees stranded in the park for five weeks. During that time, chaos reigned and once-civil theme park workers turned to murder. When they were rescued, the media circus that followed left a gruesome imprint on America’s imagination. Now, nearly ten years later, reporter Adam Jakes is determined to find out what really happened by asking the survivors. What he finds out is more horrifying than anything than he had imagined.

FantasticLand spends most of its narrative dancing between semi-believable and pretty unbelievable. The overall setup is interesting and I like how the novel is told through different testimonials. Each character’s voice is unique and there were a lot of interesting connections made throughout the novel. Where it sort of lost me was close to the end where the book has some weirdly convenient plot points, like the park having a stockpile of guns or a real working cannon. There were some other unnecessarily gruesome points that kind of took away from the initial premise of people stuck in a theme park trying to survive. That alone would have been interesting, but the book veered too much into “creepypasta” territory for me and took me out of the interesting parts that dealt with survival and bonding. With all of that being said, I am not going to not recommend FantasticLand. It had enough thrills to keep me entertained. I will say that this book is the most ideal for any fans of survival horror.

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