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We suffer, heal, and proceed: Reviewing Death in Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well! This is the third book by Ottessa Moshfegh I have reviewed. If you want, you can check my reviews for her other books, Lapvona and My Year of Rest and Relaxation. Needless to say, I am a bit of a fan now. I promise I have more “weird girl literature” to read by the end of the year. I’m planning on getting into my horror books so I will be prepared for spooky season. I think that’s enough rambling for now. Let’s talk about Death in Her Hands.

Content Warning: Grief and Mourning, Harm Towards Animals, Discussions of Death

Since her husband’s death, Vesta Ghul has spent her days hiking with her beloved dog. One day, she finds a note in the woods. It reads: “Her name was Magda. Nobody will ever know who killed her. It wasn’t me. Here is her dead body.” There is no dead body, though. Vesta becomes obsessed with this note, imagining who Magda might be and who could have killed her. Her morbid fantasies begin to bleed into her everyday life, and Vesta can no longer tell what is read or what she made up. During her search for the truth, Vesta must face the issues she has been hiding from since her husband’s death.

While this novel wasn’t as bizarre or gross as her other books, Ottessa Moshfegh still brings introspection and dark humor in Death in Her Hands. This book is written in a “stream of consciousness” style, which might not be for everyone. It does, however, benefit the reader as we get a better insight into Vesta’s situation as an elderly widow in an isolated town. I found myself drawn into Vesta’s imagination because, as someone with a vivid imagination that gets out of hand, I understood where she was coming from. It is a complicated and unreliable narrative, which I always enjoy. I like how Mosghfegh creates unreliable narrators because it adds a level of realism to the novel. Overall, Death in Her Hands was an interesting book and I am going to give it a soft recommendation.

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Only the impossible can do the impossible: Reviewing The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice

Hi everyone! I hope you are doing well. I’ve been really wanting to review this book for a while now. I am a huge fan of the TV adaptation of Interview with the Vampire and they just announced that there is going to be a season three based off of this book. If you haven’t watched Interview with the Vampire yet, go watch it immediately. You can also read my review of the novel Interview with the Vampire. Now, without any further preamble, let’s talk about The Vampire Lestat.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Sexual Content, Incest, Disturbing Imagery, Self-Harm

Lestat de Lioncourt has been many things. He has been an aristocrat, an actor, and a rockstar. Most importantly, he is a vampire. His journey from mortal to immortal is full of twists and turns. His maker, Magnus, had left him with a mystery that only he could solve. Over the centuries, Lestat sought out the origin of the vampires. Along his journey, he will make shocking revelations, powerful enemies, and choices that will forever change his undead life.

The Vampire Lestat is a dark, twisted, and darkly funny novel. Lestat is such a fun character so it was fun to see him in the spotlight. He is also such a complex character who is determined and dramatic in the best way possible. Anne Rice did such a good job creating her own vampiric lore, with plenty of complicated characters who struggle with immortality, life, and death. It is so easy to completely immerse yourself in this novel. Even the parts I thought were kind of slow were still enjoyable in their own way. I will definitely be reading more of the Vampire Chronicles and I recommend that you also partake in this dark and gothic series.

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For freedom, for salvation, for retribution: Reviewing When The Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen

Hey everyone! It’s good to be back with a new review. I am still working through my TBR list and I am re-reading some of my old favorites. I recently got a hold of The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson. It’s one of my all-time favorite classics. I won’t do a review of that one but I still highly recommend it. We are, however, getting back into the horror genre. I will try to save some of my horror novels for fall, but I firmly believe some are more fitting for summer. This is one of them, in my opinion. Now, it is time to talk about When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Discussions and Depictions of Slavery, Discussions and Depictions of Racism (Including Slurs), Sexual Violence, Violence Towards Children, Disturbing Imagery.

Mira fled her small hometown of Kipsen after a traumatic experience cost her two of her dearest friendships. Now an adult, Mira decides to return to Kipsen after her childhood friend Celine invites her to her wedding, along with their other childhood friend Jesse. Mira is shocked, though, to find out Celine’s wedding is being held at the infamous Woodsman Plantation, where many slaves suffered and died horrific deaths. Reunited once more, Mira, Jesse, and Celine must confront their own past as well as the horrific past that lies within Woodsman Plantation.

When the Reckoning Comes is a haunting debut novel that highlights the horrors of the past, particularly revolving around slavery in the American South. LaTanya McQueen confronts the disturbing reality of racism head-on. McQueen shows how history has been revised and sanitized over the years, even being made into tourist destinations for the sake of those who choose to ignore the horrific truth of America’s past. I like how the three main characters function as a microcosm of the larger themes being confronted in this novel. It is uncomfortable, but that discomfort is completely necessary for the purpose of this book. The details made my stomach churn. It is nearly unfathomable to me that these things happened but they did and the least I can do is face the disturbing reality of the past head-on, even in a fictional setting. All in all, When the Reckoning Comes accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do and I would highly recommend it if you want a horror novel that is also reflective and truthful in its narrative.

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How do you know the moment when you cease to be human?: Reviewing Last Days by Brian Evenson

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I don’t have many updates for you all. I just want to say thank you for your support. I just reached 580 subscribers, which is absolutely incredible. This blog is just something I do for fun in my spare time and I can’t believe so many of you are interested in my thoughts on everything related to books. I will show my gratitude by continuing to post reviews as regularly as I can. With that being said, it’s time to review Last Days.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Self-Harm, Sexual Content, Disturbing Imagery, Religious Trauma, Some Harsh Language

Ex-detective Kline leads a quiet life after losing his arm during a case. One day, two men show up at his door and kidnap him. They belong to a cult that believes in worship through self-amputation. Their leader has been killed and they think that only Kline can solve the mystery. Kline must navigate the strange and twisted world of this bizarre cult. The deeper he goes, the more of himself he loses. Kline must decide how far he is willing to go to find out the goal of this cult, and potentially destroy them.

I say this as a compliment: Last Days does an excellent job of being deliberately confusing. There were plenty of “wait, what” moments that made me want to keep reading more. I think I could safely call this book an American Gothic novel because of the atmosphere and landscape of the novel. This book never slows down and delivers plenty of shocking twists. The violence is not terribly gratuitous but it is certainly shocking. I was thoroughly grossed out but that only benefited the reading experience. I would say this leans more towards psychological thriller with horror elements if you want something that is more plot-focused. Last Days was a fast-paced, shocking novel with plenty of twists and turns for any readers seeking some gruesome thrills.

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For every man, there exists bait he cannot resist swallowing: Reviewing Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Hi everyone! I’m back! Thank you for bearing with me during my brief absence. I still have plenty of books to talk about. My summer reading pile is pretty exciting and eclectic this time around. I like to branch out and buy books on a whim. Variety is the spice of life, you know? I’ve been waiting to talk about this particular book for a while, though. It’s time to talk about Night Film by Marisha Pessl.

Content Warning: Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Substance Abuse, Harsh Language, Self – Harm

Scott McGrath has spent most of his career chasing down Stanislas Cordova, a mysterious and controversial film director who had seemingly disappeared. McGrath gives up on the search for Cordova after the investigation nearly ends his career. He’s pulled back into his investigation when Cordova’s daughter, Ashley, is found dead. Her death is ruled a suicide but McGrath thinks that there is more to her death than meets the eye. With the help of unlikely friends, Scott McGrath is dives back into the twisted and bizarre world of Stanislas Cordova, where he might finally come face to face with the man who ruined his life.

Night Film is a fantastic mystery-thriller that was unputdownable. My favorite aspect of the book was that is used mixed media, like articles and websites, as part of the story. It helped heighten the mystery and I looked forward to those sections of the book because they were so creative. This is a longer book but it’s pretty fast-paced. Night Film hits the most important story beats that any good mystery should have. It didn’t rely heavily on gore or shock but there was enough there to make you keep guessing what was actually happening. Since this is a mystery novel, I am not going to spoil this for you. Go experience the fun thrills of Night Film for yourself.

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The only real escape from hell is to conquer it: Reviewing The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I also hope you all have been reading lots of good books lately. I have wanted to read this particular book for a while now. I plan on reading some popular authors I have never read before so that will be fun. You may be asking, at this point, if I do anything other than read? I do sleep. (I’m joking……but not really lol). Anyways, it’s finally time to talk about The Library at Mount Char.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Harsh Language, Self-harm, Animal Death, Child Abuse, Sexual Assault, Substance Abuse, Disturbing Imagery

Carolyn’s life is certainly unusual. Living in an infinite Library of infinite knowledge and being raised by a man who calls himself God can be considered unusual by most. On the other hand, Steve is a reformed criminal trying his best to practice Buddhism. One day, Carolyn finds Steve and promises him exactly $327,000 in exchange for using his skills as a former burglar. Steve takes the deal and soon finds himself lost in a world of impossibilities. A war is on the horizon and a battle wages over who controls the Library. Whoever controls the Library, controls the universe itself.

This was such a fun, surreal book with plenty of disturbing and fascinating imagery. I couldn’t help but compare this a bit to Neil Gaiman’s body of work, as Scott Hawkins utilizes the bizarre and the macabre to create his novel. I also liked the truly creative elements of world-building throughout this novel. It wasn’t just weird for the sake of weird, though, as everything came together in such interesting twists. I realize that I am being vague in this review because I don’t want to give away too much. The Library at Mount Char is definitely worth experiencing for yourself and is the perfect book to add to your summer reading list.

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Everyone deserves somewhere where they can be reminded of their potential: Reviewing A Restless Truth (Book 2 of The Last Binding Trilogy) by Freya Marske

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Before you read this review, feel free to check out my review of the first book in this series A Marvelous Light. It has been a while since I read that one but I enjoyed it greatly. I’m trying to keep on top of the series I read because I like to see a book series all through. If I decide to stop a series, it is normally deliberate. I also don’t want to read any series over five books. That is simply my preference. I just so happen to have the third book in this series because I accidentally bought it before buying the second book. (Slightly off-topic: I hate when book series don’t have the numbers anywhere on the book.) Now, let’s talk about A Restless Truth.

Content Warning: Violence, Harsh Language, Explicit Sexual Content

Maud Blyth is a quiet girl who has always wanted to go on a grand adventure. The opportunity arises when she becomes a travel companion to an older woman on an ocean liner. While on the ship, though, Maud is actually working to unravel a magical conspiracy that was discovered by her brother Robin. Maud’s plans are brought to a halt when her elderly employer is found dead on the first day of the cruise. Now, she must solve a murder with the help of the bold actress and fellow magician Violent Debenham. With everyone on the ship a suspect, Maud and Violet must solve the murder before the ship docks, or else they soon may end up dead in the water.

A Restless Truth was an enjoyable mystery with a quirky cast of characters and plenty of intrigue. While this is a bit slower-paced, I find myself wanting to see how the relationships were going to be built between the characters. I did enjoy the romance between Maud and Violet. There was plenty of spice and romance between the two. I also thought they made a good duo and that helped drive the story forward. While it has been a while since I read A Marvelous Light, I liked how this novel tied into its predecessor. Freya Marske has created an interesting magic system that I want to know more about, especially in the third book. In conclusion, A Restless Truth was a fun mystery that has a wonderful romance at its heart.

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Death is just another door: Reviewing Rouge by Mona Awad

Hi everyone! If you are reading this today, then happy Eclipse day! I got very lucky and was in the path of totality. It was a genuinely awesome experience. I hope that maybe some of you got to experience it or will experience it in the near future. Back on the topic of books, though, this is my third Mona Awad book. If you want, you can check out my reviews for her other books, Bunny and All’s Well. I think it’s safe to say I am a bit of a fan now. Let’s talk about her most recent novel, Rouge.

Content Warning: Discussions and Depictions of Grief, Some Depictions of Self – Harm, Some Harsh Language

From a young age, Belle had been obsessed with beauty and has spent her adult life maintaining a regimented skincare routine to preserve her skin. Her obsession began with her mother, who was always the most glamorous person to ever live in Belle’s eyes. One day, Belle receives a call that her mother has died in a strange accident. Now, she is stuck dealing with her mother’s California apartment and her many debts. At a memorial service, Belle meets a strange woman in a red dress who claims she can tell her how her mother died. This woman leads her to a strange, cult-like spa that promises to make Belle her “most magnificent self.” The more time Belle spends in the spa, the more she begins to lose herself. In order to regain her sense of self, Belle must face secrets that she has buried for far too long.

In my previous reviews for Mona Awad’s books, it used words like “dream like” and “surreal.” Rouge, however, is easily the most dream-like and surreal. The narrative feels as though you are moving through those dream-like movements where you are doing something due to whatever strange logic you experience in your dream. (I hope that makes sense.) Underneath all of the strangeness of the novel is narrative about grief, beauty standards, and mother/daughter relationships. All of this is tied together with some interesting fairy tale motifs that I thought helped add to the strangeness that Mona Awad is so good at crafting in these novels. This is probably my favorite of the three novels by Mona Awad that I read and I am going to give you my recommendation for Rouge.

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Magic never dies. It merely fades away: Reviewing The Color of Magic (Book 1 of the Discworld Series) by Terry Pratchett

Hey all! I’m back sooner than I anticipated. For better or worse, I am a fast reader so I have yet another review for you. I did try to read this book years ago but didn’t retain may details at the time. I do enjoy Terry Pratchett. He is the co-author of one of my all-time favorite books, Good Omens. The Discworld series is a pretty long one so I endeavor to read a couple of books in the future. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though, and start from the beginning with The Color of Magic.

Rincewind may be the worst wizard to ever exist. After getting expelled from the Unseen University, he’s been aimless. That is until he becomes a tour guide for a strange little man named Twoflower and Twoflower’s sentient Luggage. Unfortunately, Twoflower is naive and Rincewind is inept. The odd pair soon find themselves among thieves, barbarians, dragon riders, and other unsavory characters. Despite their best attempts to avoid danger, Fate has other plans for the two.

The Color of Magic was a fun, fast-paced, and quirky fantasy that is just the tip of the strange world created by Terry Pratchett. I absolutely love Pratchett’s sense of humor. I found myself re-reading lines because I missed the joke the first time around. His is a really unique take on the fantasy adventure genre. Beneath all of the humor and strange characters, the novel does present poignant little thoughts regarding fate and death. This is easily one of the most imaginative fantasy novels I have read in a bit. There wasn’t anything terribly inappropriate in this book (some of the characters are depicted as nude but there are no graphic details) so I can see this being a good introductory fantasy novel. The Color of Magic was such a fun time. I can’t guarantee I will read the entire Discworld series but I will try to read some more.

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Why must you keep sending me innocent monsters?: Reviewing What Feasts at Night (The Sequel to What Moves the Dead) by T. Kingfisher

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Spring is finally around the corner and I am very excited for any new opportunities that await. Before you check out this review, I would recommend you check out my review of this novella’s predecessor, What Moves the Dead. You can also check out my other views of T. Kingfisher’s books: Nettle and Bone, A House with Good Bones, and The Hollow Places. (Needless to say, I have a new favorite author.) Now, let’s talk about the latest novella, What Feasts at Night.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Violence Related to War, Death of an Animal

After escaping from the horrors of the Usher house, Alex Easton is finally ready to be done fighting for their life. Alex wants nothing more but to go back to Paris but, instead, they find themself returning to their home country of Gallacia. They decide to make the best of the situation by sprucing up their family hunting lodge but find that the caretaker is dead and the lodge is in disrepair. At first, Alex assumes the caretaker died of old age but rumors begin to swirl around the village of a monster who steals people’s breath in their sleep. At first, Alex ignores these old superstitions but soon they begin having strange dreams that quickly turn into something far more deadly.

What Feasts at Night is an atmospheric, folk horror-inspired novella that delivers plenty of chills and thrills. While it is not a direct follow-up to What Moves the Dead, it does make some direct references and continues on the tradition of “eco-centric horror” (as I like to call it). I love how Kingfisher incorporates nature and folklore into this particular novella. It didn’t get really creepy until the end but I enjoyed the build-up before that. What Feasts at Night is yet another great read by T. Kingfisher. I have been really enjoying all of her books and will definitely continue to read the rest of her novels.