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I am the shadow below everything: Reviewing A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

Hello everyone! I hope you are all holding up in this chilly fall weather. There’s no better time to catch up on your spookier reads. As I have said in the past, spooky season is whenever you want it to be but something about October just feels different. The atmosphere is just perfect for chills and thrills of all sorts. I just finished the new Netflix series “The Fall of the House of Usher” and absolutely adored it. I’m a huge fan of Edgar Allan Poe and Mike Flanagan (who wrote the show and has done other horror series on Netflix). I highly recommend the series if you are looking for something horror-related to watch. Anyways, let’s talk about A Head Full of Ghosts

Content Warning: Violence, Harsh Language, Graphic Bodily Injury, Harm Towards Children, Discussions and Depictions of Religious Trauma, Discussions and Depictions of Severe Mental Illness, Self-Harm, Graphic Deaths

The Barretts had been a normal family living in New England. Their entire lives are thrown into disarray when their fourteen-year-old daughter Marjorie starts showing signs of acute schizophrenia. Her behavior quickly turns from disturbing to violent. In a desperate attempt to save their daughter, they turn to a Catholic priest for help. Father Wanderly believes that Marjorie is possessed by a demon. He agrees to help the family if they allow him to film everything for a reality show. John, Marjorie’s father, agrees in the hopes that it will save his daughter and save the family from financial ruin. The Possession becomes a reality television hit and the Barretts are thrust into the limelight. Tragedy, though, brings the show to an end but it continues to live in infamy. Now, fifteen years later, the younger Barrett daughter, Merry, is an adult who is still trying to grapple with everything that happened. As she talks to a journalist who wants to help tell her story, Merry begins to wonder what really happened to her family all those years ago.

A Head Full of Ghosts was a short but intense read with dizzying and gruesome details that leave you wondering what is actually happening at any moment. The “possession” sub-genre of horror tends to be a bit overdone nowadays. Paul Tremblay, though, blends the horror genre with psychological thrills. I think the most compelling element of the story is that most of it is told through Merry’s childhood memories, which add another level of doubt to the narrative. I also appreciated the overall commentary on the exploitative nature of reality television and how it can push already desperate people to extremes. This was quite a shocking read that will have you guessing until the very end and won’t give you the answers that you want. You should definitely pick up A Head Full of Ghosts.

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For you to find something, that thing must also find you: Reviewing Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

Hello everyone! Let’s keep the spooky season going with another review. I was particularly excited to talk about this book because I haven’t read any horror novels set at sea before. In my humble and non-scientific opinion, it is best to leave the ocean alone. The same goes for outer space. This book is also not the only horror novel I have that has to do with the ocean. I do plan on reviewing Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield before the end of the month. I have a good array of horror novels I’m planning on reading so I hope you find something you like. Anyways, let’s talk about Into the Drowning Deep.

Content Warning: Graphic and Disturbing Imagery, Violence and Gore, Graphic Bodily Injury, Animal Death, Some Harsh Language, Some Sexual Content

Seven years ago, a high tech ship called the Atargatis set sail to film a mockumentary about discovering mermaids. No one survived. Now, a new ship called the Melusine with a new crew is out to discover what really happened all those years ago. Among the crew of scientists eager to make themselves famous, Tory Stewart is seeking answers to what happened to her sister. Nothing could prepare her or fellow scientists for the horrors that lurk just below the surface.

This book was such a thrill to read and I didn’t want to put it down at a certain point. Into the Drowning Deep was an atmospheric and action-packed horror that felt cinematic. Mira Grant does an excellent job of creating a diverse array of complex characters and balancing that out with truly chilling horror elements. This was certainly a very bloody book with plenty of gore and tension. Survival horror can be a tricky genre and can come across as shallow (pun intended). Creature horror can also be rather trick but Mira Grant’s killer mermaids are just as fascinating as their human counterparts. Into the Drowning Deep balances out the scientific elements with the horror elements. If you are scared of the sea, you might not want to read this. On the other hand, if you are scared of the sea then you might feel a little more justified reading this. Either way, you should definitely consider picking up this book for some thrills and chills.

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There is a joy in fear: Review Jawbone by Monica Ojeda, Translated by Sarah Booker

Hello everyone! I’m doing my best to keep up the momentum for the month of October. I want to get through as many of my horror novels on my TBR as I can. In case you couldn’t tell by now, a lot of the horror novels I read can be rather “unconventional.” Modern horror is such a rich genre with so much nuance and analysis to it and I am absolutely loving these new releases. This book was also a “Book Tok” recommendation that I will pass a long to you, my readers. Enough chit-chat now. Let’s discuss Jawbone.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Explicit Sexual Content, Graphic Bodily Injury

Fernanda and Annelise have a bond that goes beyond friendship; they consider themselves doubles, conjoined. At the Delta Bilingual Academy, they form a tight knit group with other girls who are looking for such a sisterhood. Annelise introduces their friend group to the drag queen god she created and her god demands sacrifice. Despite Fernanda’s fear of Annelise’s vivid and dangerous imagination, she cannot seem to separate herself from this dangerously codependent relationship. Unbeknownst to the girls, their literature teacher Miss Clara is slowly losing her sanity as she tries to become her dead mother. Everyone has their breaking point and it is only a matter of time before someone finally snaps.

This book was incredible. I ended up finishing it all in one sitting. Monica Ojeda so perfectly captures the inherent violence and ferocity of teenage girlhood. While I wasn’t “feral” as a teen, I did start to lean into my “darker” interests so there were definitely parts that resonated with me. I loved how Ojeda captured the pop culture/internet culture phenomenon of my own youth. I got so genuinely excited in how she brought in the discussion of internet “creepy pastas” and their impact on new generations. I also loved the way this book delves into mother/daughter conflict, unhealthy female friendships, and philosophical discussions about religions versus cults. This book had a “fever dream” quality to it while still being cohesive in its messages. If I had to compare to another book I have read, I would say it gave me similar vibes to Tell Me I’m Worthless by Allison Rumfitt. (Feel free to check out that review). Overall, Jawbone was raw, visceral, dark, and absolutely unputdownable. This one is for the feral girls, that is for sure.

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Not everyone who reaches back into history can survive it: Reviewing The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Hello everyone! It is officially spooky season and I really wanted to kick things off on the first day of October. There are quite a few things coming out this month that I have been so excited for and I cannot wait to talk about them with you all. I did just get the most recent Percy Jackson book, which isn’t spooky but I have been looking forward to that. This book I’m about to review for you, however, definitely sets the tone I want for October. I started reading this book back in August and I have been itching to review it. Without further ado, let’s talk about The Historian.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Some Graphic Descriptions of Bodily Injury, Animal Death, Sexual Content

A young woman decides to finally ask her father, a mild-mannered professor, about his past and is soon plunged into a dark world where everything ties back to Vlad the Impaler and the horrors he unleashed upon the world. When the violence of the past comes the the present, the young woman must journey across Europe in a race against time to find her father and the location of Dracula’s tomb before evil rises up once again.

You already know that I have an inherent bias towards the vampire genre and that I have a particular love for anything related to Dracula. This book, however, was unlike any anything I expected and I absolutely loved it. Elizabeth Kostova blends together the past and the present in such an intricate and atmospheric narrative. There is so much care put in this book and the attention to detail is astounding. The book also had genuinely creepy parts which was due to the fascinating blend of myth and history. This book also definitely gave dark academia vibes that I have one really seen on books like The Secret History. The blend of narrative voices made everything in The Historian feel so vivid with every page. While this is a pretty long book, the pacing is perfect for the large scope of this story. I really can’t gush about this book any more. You should absolutely read The Historian sooner than later.

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Someone is always watching….:Reviewing Mister Magic by Kiersten White

Hello everyone! I wish it hadn’t taken me so long to get back to you with a review. Nothing major happened. You all know how it is: life gets in the way sometimes. I must work if I want to afford more books. If I get more books, you all get more reviews and you all seem to enjoy my opinions. I am definitely going to start reading more horror books with October being just around the corner. I always get so excited for this time of year. Early fall just feels wonderful, in my opinion. Now, let’s get to it and talk about Mister Magic.

Content Warning: Some harsh language, Religious Trauma, Child Abuse and Child Death, Some discussions of homophobia

Val Barrett had a nice life carved out for herself as a camp counselor. Everything was idyllic until her father passes away. At the funeral, a group of people show up claiming to be Val’s childhood friends. Not only do they say they were her friends, they also claim that they were all a part of a tv show called Mister Magic. Val, however, has no memory of her childhood or being a part of a mysterious tv show that seems to have never existed. Val and her friends decide to unravel the mystery of who Mister Magic really was and what happened that caused the show to seemingly vanish. The more she investigates, the more Val realizes that some things might be better off forgotten.

I will admit that my initial excitement for this book came from my love of “creepypastas,” which is the blanket term for a specific genre of fictional horror stories published on the internet. There is an entire subgenre dedicated to “corrupted” children’s shows or missing children’s shows that were actually more sinister than everyone remembers. (Candle Cove, anyone?) Kiersten White does seem to tap into this genre as the book is broken up with well-crafted mock internet posts that helped flesh out the world of the novel. It’s refreshing to come across an author who actually understands how the internet works and what it looks like. With all this being said, the novel did underwhelm me a bit. To encroach on spoiler territory (don’t read any farther if you don’t want to be spoiled): the whole book is essentially a giant metaphor for leaving a cult. In this instance, the cult in question was Mormonism. In the notes at the end, White does mention how she is ex-Mormon. While I can appreciate the intention of this novel, I felt that this aspect actually took away some of the horror elements for me. I would even argue that, outside of children being harmed, this book wasn’t even that scary and the initial intrigue fell apart at the end for me. Now, I have never experienced a situation like being involved in a religious cult so maybe I lack the experience to truly appreciate this book. I can safely say I didn’t dislike the book but I didn’t love it either. While it wasn’t my favorite book, I did appreciate what the goal was and I hope that someone out there can appreciate it in a way that I did not.

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Disposable and Finite and Vulnerable: Reviewing Dead Astronauts by Jeff Vandermeer

Hello everyone! I am finally back after being gone for longer than I would have liked. There is also a chill in the air and I have a pile of horror novels that I am itching to read. I am pacing myself a bit because I want to save all of the spooky stuff for October. That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop reading the weird and creepy stuff. This is not my first time reading a book by Jeff Vandermeer so make sure to check out my other reviews of his books. Now, it’s time to talk about Dead Astronauts.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Some Harsh Language, Discussions and Depictions of Abuse, Animal Abuse, Animal Death, Discussions and Depictions of Severe Mental Illness, Violence, Medical Experimentation

Different stories unfold, begin, end, and some never get a chance to be told. A blue fox travels through time and space to complete a mysterious mission. A woman who is haunted by a demon finds a mysterious journal that changes her life. Three astronauts fight in a war against a powerful corporation that has destroyed and twisted nature. A madman wanders the desert, followed by a monster of his own creation whose purpose and name he cannot remember. All stories begin and all stories end, but not always in the way that they should.

Dead Astronauts is a captivating yet disturbing mixture of prose and poetry revolving around a cosmic battle between man and nature. Jeff Vandermeer’s brand of eco-centric sci-fi remains unlike anything else I have read. He does not hold back when exploring an apocalyptic future where nature fights back against humanity’s attempt to tame it. (He some how manages to make a duck into a very creepy character.) From what I can tell, Vandermeer’s books all exist within the same universe, which makes it more interesting. I love how he delves deeper into this topic and isn’t afraid to be abstract. I like when novels blend together different styles of writing to enhance the overall themes and messages. If you love surreal literature, particularly surreal sci-fi, then look no further than Jeff Vandermeer and definitely give Dead Astronauts your attention.

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Who wants to be a nice girl anyhow?: Reviewing Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste

Hello everyone! I’m finally back with a review after trying to get through some of the longer books I am reading. Now that the weather is finally cooling down and fall is slowly making its presence known, I will definitely be reading more horror novels than usual. I personally think there is a difference between “summer horror” and “fall horror” but that is just me. One might even argue that there is such a thing as “winter horror” and “spring horror.” That is just me. I mostly pick books based off of my current mood. This book, however, has been on my TBR list for a long time so let’s finally talk about Reluctant Immortals.

Content Warning: Violence, Graphic Bodily Injury, Discussions of Domestic Violence, Some Harsh Language

It’s in 1967 in Los Angeles. Lucy Westerna and Bertha Mason (who goes by Bee) are both immortals who are on the run from the men who ruined their lives. Just as everything seems to have settled down, Rochester and Dracula make a shocking return. They team up to destroy the women who escaped from them and find new “wives.” Lucy and Bee make the decision to face down the men who killed them once and for all, even if it means dying once and for all.

If there is anything you need to know about me, you need to know that two of my favorite books are Dracula and Jane Eyre. I was practically ecstatic when I read the premise of Gwendolyn Kiste’s unique Gothic novel. I did write an entire essay about Bertha Mason’s horrendous treatment as “the madwoman in the attic” and I could also go on about how Lucy Westerna’s tragic fate has been overly glamorized in modern adaptations of Dracula. Kiste beat me to both of these and I appreciate her for it. This novel is a fast-paced, visceral exploration of the literary legacies of these famous characters. I appreciate how Kiste theoretically gives both of these women power in their stories and allows them to have closure. This was such a great reading experience and has easily become one of my new favorite books. Who knew that California in 1967 could be such a great setting for a Gothic thriller? Go pick up this book immediately, especially if you are a fan of Dracula and/or Jane Eyre.

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Maybe I am haunting myself: Reviewing Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt

Hello everyone! I hope you are in a good mood and, if you want to stay in a good mood, then you might not want to read any further. I have said this before but I am very much aware that many people are not interested in the horror genre. If you read the content warnings after this paragraph and decide that this book is not for you, I completely understand. We all have our limits, including myself. My morbid curiosity, however, tends to win out more often than not. I will not keep you in suspense for much longer. Let’s discuss Tell Me I’m Worthless.

MAJOR CONTENT WARNING: Graphic Violence, Body Horror, Graphic Sexual Content, Scenes of Sexual Assault, Scenes Depicting Hate Crimes, Harsh and Offensive Language, Discussions and Depictions of the Following Topics: Racism, Homophobia, Transphobia, Misogyny, Abuse, Self-Harm, Drug Use

Three years ago, three girls went into a haunted house. Only two of them left. Since that incident three years ago, Alice and Ila have struggled to cope with the things they saw and the loss of their friend, Hannah. Since then, Alice has been experiencing horrific dreams of what she saw in the House. Just as she thinks she is moving on, Ila reaches out and asks her to return to the House to find out what happened to Hannah. They must set aside their differences and face their fears, but the return to the House may just be the end of them.

Wow, this book was intense and dark and weird and abstract in ways that I may not be able to articulate to you all via this post. Allison Rumfitt does not hold back as she gives an unflinching look at how people are shaped by politics and how someone or something can become “haunted” by tragedy. It is difficult to explain but the way that Rumfitt explores ghosts and haunted houses as metaphors for the deep impact of history and tragedy was just fascinating to me. Also, this book is just stomach-churning with certain scenes that made me have to stop reading. Alison Rumfitt truly understands how disgusting people on the Internet can be. This book truly resonated with me in a way that horror novels rarely do. It was hard to look away as this was just such a captivating read. Even though this book may not be for everyone, I am going to say to absolutely give Tell Me I’m Worthless a try if you have the stomach for it.

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I, too, can create desolation: Reviewing Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill

Hello everyone! I hope you are doing your best, regardless of your circumstances. I am coming to you (again) with another unconventional summer read. I jumped at this book when I heard it was a bit of a sequel to Frankenstein. Most of my grad school days were spent consumed by Mary Shelley’s Gothic masterpiece so I am well-versed in the novel. I do also enjoy the genre of re-tellings or unofficial sequels to classic novels. If done right, it can be a great time. Let me not ramble on any further and let’s discuss Our Hideous Progeny.

Content Warning: Gruesome Imagery, Some Violence, Some Harsh Language, Loss of an Infant, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny, Discussions of Racism, Harm towards Animals

Mary has spent her entire life fascinated by fossils and dinosaurs. She wants nothing more than to be acknowledged for her contributions to the scientific community but keeps being dismissed because she is a woman. With her marriage in a rocky state after the loss of her infant daughter, she finds herself at a loss. That is until she stumbles across the records of her great-uncle Victor Frankenstein and his dreadful experiments. Mary is suddenly captivated by the idea of creating life out of death. She and her husband Henry set out to recreate her great-uncle’s experiment but with their own improvements to his methods. Their path to fame and fortune, however, takes a dark turn when their experiment takes on a life of its own and others seek to steal their only chance at success

I did not intend to finish this book so soon but could not put it down. C.E. McGill demonstrates an understanding of Mary Shelley’s original novel while putting their own twist on the story. Our Hideous Progeny is a well-paced, thrilling read that delves into the twisted tale of playing God through science. I loved how intense this novel became and the parallels to the source material which inspired this book. I could go into depth but that would require its own separate post that would be rather lengthy. While you could appreciate this novel without having read Frankenstein, I would recommend it more if you are familiar with the original story. What I’m really trying to say is: go read this gripping Gothic tale and be immersed in the gruesome world of Victorian – era science.

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Southern Hospitality to Die for: Reviewing A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

Hello everyone! I am wishing you all the best, as always. Just because it’s hot outside, doesn’t mean we can’t still be spooky. Before I get started with this review, feel free to check out my other reviews of T. Kingfisher’s books. This is now the fourth one of hers that I have read so it is safe to say I am a fan. I have also mentioned before that I love Southern Gothic novels and find the genre to be very underrated. I was then excited when one of my newest favorite authors was covering the genre. Now, let’s get a little dark with A House with Good Bones.

Content Warning: Disturbing imagery, Bodily Harm, Depictions of Child Abuse

Sam Montgomery is excited to return home for an extended stay with her mother. Well, she is only kind of excited. Sam’s brother, Brad, warned her that their mother seemed to be a little off lately. Sam brushes it off, trying not to overthink it. The longer she stays in her childhood home, however, the longer she starts to think something is terribly wrong. Sam’s mom repainted her colorful walls, took down her favorite art, and reverted it back to how it looked when Sam’s grandmother owned the house. She also notices her mom being paranoid of the house itself. Despite Sam’s best efforts to remain logical, strange occurrences like vultures circling the house and a jar of teeth buried in the backyard all lead to something much dark lurking in this seemingly normal house.

I would definitely begin off by labeling this book as a “cozy horror.” It wasn’t particularly scary but T. Kingfisher does a great job creating a foreboding atmosphere. I liked the humor and snarky wit that Sam as the narrator brings to the table. I especially like the way that Kingfisher incorporates nature into supernatural horror. I will say, though, that this probably isn’t my favorite novel out of the other books I have read by Kingfisher. That isn’t to say it isn’t enjoyable; it didn’t have the same impact as a book like What Moves the Dead. It is still a fun spooky read, especially for the summer so, if you’re looking for a quick and cozy horror then add A House with Good Bones to your TBR.