Posted on by bookreviews628

Let go of them in the water: Reviewing Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

Hello everyone! I hope you are all relaxing before the barrage of holidays. As much as I do enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas, I tend to pick up on other people’s stress around this time. That is why I read. I have some exciting reviews coming soon and can’t wait to share them with you. For the first time, I have had two (that’s right! Two!) people approach me with requests to review their books! You all will be getting those reviews soon. If you are interested in having me review your book, feel free to contact me. My email is available on my blog. Before I get too far ahead, let’s talk about Our Wives Under the Sea.

Content Warning: Claustrophobia, Some Harsh Language, Some Sexual Content, Some Disturbing Imagery

Something is wrong with Leah. Months ago, she left for an expedition for her marine biology research. Upon resurfacing and returning home, her wife Miri immediately knows something is different. Leah runs the bath at all hours, keeps her sound machine on constantly, and refuses to consume anything other than salt water. When Miri tries to reach out to the organization that sent Leah down there, she suddenly finds that it seemingly doesn’t exist anymore. With Leah’s condition getting worse by the day, Miri embarks on a desperate search for the truth behind what happened all of those miles below the surface of the sea.

It’s hard to classify exactly what genre this book is and that is why I enjoyed it in particular. If I had to exactly describe Our Wives Under the Sea, I would say it is a chilling, slow-burn thriller with an ever so slight sci-fi angle to it. Julia Armfield balances the strange mystery lurking below the depths with an intimate romance between two women who understand each other in such a beautiful way. Ultimately, the book is about asking what lengths someone will go to for someone that they love. Despite this book being about 200 pages, it feels a lot longer but in a good way. Armfield has great attention to detail that makes you as a reader feel really involved in this story. If you are looking for something a little strange, a little ambiguous, and a little emotional, then look not further than Our Wives Under the Sea.

Posted on by bookreviews628

The greater the magic, the greater the price: Reviewing Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno – Garcia

Hello everyone! There is a chill in the air and Halloween is just around the corner as I post this. I’m not planning on doing anything crazy since it is on a Tuesday. I’m probably going to make some chili (the perfect fall food) and watch a horror movie. Our neighborhood doesn’t have a ton of trick-or-treaters. That doesn’t mean I don’t still revel in the overall atmosphere of Halloween. I have a few more horror novels that will roll over into November along with some other exciting reads coming up. Let me not chatter on and on. Let’s discuss the newest released from Silvia Moreno – Garcia: Silver Nitrate.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Graphic Bodily Injury, Harsh Language, Graphic Deaths

Montserrat has struggled with her career as a sound editor. Despite her talent, the movie industry is dominated by men who are quick to dismiss her in favor of her male co-workers. It’s the ’90s and the Mexican film industry is run by powerful men who want quantity over quality. The only person who recognizes her talent is her childhood best friend, Tristan who is trying to revive his acting career after facing several scandals. One day, Tristan meets Abel Urueta who is a legendary cult film director whose career mysteriously came to a halt. Abel tells Montserrat and Tristan about a dangerous Nazi cult leader who believed that the silver nitrate used in film reels was the ideal element to use in his attempts to become immortal. The film that Abel started making with this man was never finished and he is convinced that he has been cursed ever since. The director asks Montserrat and Tristan to help him finish the film in order to lift the curse. As they help him, the two begin to find themselves being visited by ghosts of the past. Montserrat and Tristan begin to dig deeper into the world of the occult and find themselves facing a greater danger than they could have ever imagined.

To preface: this is now the fifth book I have reviewed by Silvia Morena – Garcia so it is safe to say I’m a fan. I was immediately intrigued by this being a horror novel set in the ’90s. This novel was a little slow to start but once it got going, it was hard to put down. Silver Nitrate combines classic staples of occult horror with an interesting look at the dark side of the film industry. Even though this novel was mostly a thriller, it delivered on the horror elements with plenty of gruesome details and high stakes. I liked the relationship between Montserrat and Tristan as it helped make the story feel all the more personal. Silvia Moreno-Garcia does a great job balancing out the fantastical elements of her novels with the personal relationships at the heart of it all. Overall, this novel has only further solidified my status as a fan of Silvia Moreno – Garcia and I would recommend reading this or any of her other novels.

Posted on by bookreviews628

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.

Posted on by bookreviews628

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.

Posted on by bookreviews628

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.

Posted on by bookreviews628

To fear, to hope, and to desire once more: Reviewing Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman

Hello everyone! Yes, I am back sooner than ever with a review. It is sweltering where I live, so I am not motivated to leave the house. I’ve also had some downtime at work so I steal chances to read. I’ve mentioned it before but I tend to read fast. It’s a skill I developed at a young age. Before anyone wonders, this novel is inspired by Greek mythology but not about Greek mythology. I know I read a lot of Greek myth books. If you like those, then stick around for this. It’s time to talk about Pandora.

Content Warning: Some Harsh Language, Graphic Injury, Graphic Death, Abuse, Animal Death

Dora Blake is an aspiring jeweler living in the antique shop that is run by her resentful uncle. The once respectable shop had fallen into disrepair since Dora’s parents died and is mostly used by her uncle to sell cheap forgeries. One day, a large Greek vase is delivered to the shop and it is unlike anything Dora had ever seen. She also notices her uncle behaving strangely and decides to investigate. She seeks the help of aspiring antiquities scholar Edward Lawrence to find out what makes this vase so important. The vase, as it turns out, is the key to finding out what really happened to Dora’s family. As Dora and Edward continue their investigation, they quickly discover secrets that change their lives forever.

This book fits squarely in my Venn Diagram of interests, falling in between “Victorian England” and “Greek Mythology.” I may come across as biased in this review but I did truly enjoy this fast-paced, enticing novel. Susan Stokes-Chapman blends together mystery, drama, and a little bit of romance in this clever retelling of the myth of Pandora. Only this time, I like what I found when I opened this metaphorical box. The book was well-paced and the mystery at the heart of it was handled well. This is definitely a good summer read that will keep you hanging on until the very end.

Posted on by bookreviews628

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.

Posted on by bookreviews628

Those born of darkness will carry it in their nature: Reviewing The Foxglove King (Book 1 of The Nightshade Crown series) by Hannah Whitten

Hey everyone! I’m still around and still reading diligently. Adjusting to a new sleep schedule is never easy at first. I’m also back with a fantasy novel for the first time in (what feels like) forever. Feel free to read my review of Hannah Whitten’s The Wilderwood Duology if you are so inclined. I don’t want to ramble on too much more so let’s talk about The Foxglove King.

Content Warning: Graphic Depictions of Death, Some Harsh Language, Some Sexual Content, Discussions and Depictions of Substance Abuse

From a young age, Lore has honed her wit and cunning to survive on her own. She was able to survive by running poison for a local cartel that gave her a second chance. Lore has also had to hide her ability to channel Mortem, a substance used in death magic. When a job goes terribly wrong, Lore finds herself in front of the Sainted King himself. Instead of sentencing her to death, King August offers her something else. Whole villages are being wiped out by some kind of death magic. The king suspects that his only son is somehow behind this. Lore must use her magic to find out what is happening or be sent to the pyre. Thrown into the world of court intrigue, Lore must carefully navigate the suspicious nobles. What she finds, though, could mean the beginning of the end.

I might have said this before but I think what I enjoy the most about Hannah Whitten’s books is that they remind me of the young adult fantasy series I used to enjoy, like The Mortal Instruments or The Vampire Diaries. This book, however, is elevated to a more “adult” level with fun yet complicated characters and circumstances. I like the way that this book incorporates bits and pieces of tropes (like a love triangle) but avoids making them cliche. I personally really liked how dark magic was at the center of this novel and how it wasn’t villainized in any obvious way. This was a fun, dark escapist fantasy and I will definitely keep an eye out for this rest of this series.

Posted on by bookreviews628

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find: Reviewing The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

Hey everyone! I’m back sooner than I thought I would be with another review. I also realized that I read a lot of books that deal with pretty dark subject matter. If you mind that at all, I completely understand. I don’t always intentionally seek out dark books, but I do have an inherently morbid sense of curiosity. This is also another book I saw circulating on people’s must reads for horror/suspense novels. If that is what you are looking for, stick around and listen to my review for The Last House of Needless Street.

Content Warning: Death of Children, Graphic Bodily Injury, Discussions and Depictions of Mental Illness, Alcohol Abuse, Death of Animals, Self-Harm

Ted Bannerman has done his best to live a quiet life. He keeps his daughter, Lauren, safe despite how much she fights him. His cat Olivia lives her own life, napping and reading the Bible when no one is around. A terrible secret is what keeps them together. Their secret is at risk when a neighbor moves in across the street and seems to know that Ted is hiding something. The thing is he is trying so desperately to hide, however, no longer wishes to be buried.

I am just going to come right out and say that I felt that this book was also a bit of a swing and a miss for me, as far as being a compelling horror or thriller. That is not to be too negative, either. I really did enjoy the different character voices that Catriona Ward utilizes and the ways that those voices begin to blend together was one of the best parts of the novel. It is also an atmospheric read with plenty of visceral and unique details that make the writing all the more interesting. I am, however, unsure how obvious the “twist” of the novel was supposed to be. I’m honestly feeling a little conflicted overall on this book. Spoiler Warning: The main “twist” comes from one of the character’s mental health conditions. I always get wary whenever something along those lines is being used as shock factor, in any capacity. I understand that the author was coming from a place of sympathy, based on the afterword. I tend to stay away from any sort of horror media that utilizes metal health or mental illness as something “shocking” or “scary.” I am not going to say to not read this book since, overall, it wasn’t a bad book by any means. I am saying, though, that sometimes we need to step back and think about what we find “shocking” or “scary.”

Posted on by bookreviews628

A Ghost Ship, A Salvage Crew, Unspeakable Horrors: Reviewing Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

Hey everyone! I hope all is going well for you. Things are starting to look up in my little world so I’ve been in a better mood as of late. I am starting some longer fantasy series and have finally started Priory of the Orange Tree, but don’t expect that review any time soon as I still have a ways to go on that book. Dead Silence, however, has been on my TBR for a hot minute now. I’ve been really getting into horror and I definitely plan on reading some intense novels in the future. If that is not your type of thing, I totally understand. I do have other non-horror novels I intend to read soon. In the meantime, let’s talk about Dead Silence.

Content Warning: Graphic Depictions of Death and Bodily Injury, Violence and Gore, Self-Harm, Depictions of Mental Illness Involving Hallucinations, Harsh Language, Drug Use

Claire Kovalik is the captain of the LINA, a small salvage ship that is meant to go back to Earth soon. Doing that means that Claire will no longer have a job and no longer have a purpose. That is what ultimately drives her to investigate a strange distress signal. The stress signal is coming from the Aurora, the first luxury space cruiser that disappeared over twenty years ago with no explanation. This discovery would give Claire and her team instant fortune and fame. When the crew goes onboard the Aurora, they find that all of the crew and passengers had met with a horrific and mysterious fate. In order to find out what happened onboard the luxury cruise liner, Claire must hold onto her sanity during her investigation, or else face the same gruesome fate.

I am still on the hunt for a mind-blowing, spooky sci-fi horror novel. I had really high hopes for Dead Silence as I kept seeing it popping up on almost everyone’s recommendations for horror novels. I will say that I thought the writing was good and that the first 80% of this novel was really suspenseful and seemed to be heading for a good plot twist. While, yes, there is a plot twist, I found it kind of underwhelming. There is a rather abrupt shift in the novel and, while I get why it happened, I just felt that it took away some of the “investigation” portion of the story. When it comes to a novel that involves some sort of haunted location, I always look forward to the investigation part and seeing that mystery unravel. This novel just didn’t deliver as much as it could have, in my opinion. I’m definitely not going to call this novel “bad” at all, but I will call it “mid,” as the kids say nowadays.