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The greatest glory that can ever be is to rise: Reviewing Shadows of the Dark Realm (ARC Review) by Tyler Edwards

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. If you are an American viewer, I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving. I am so excited to share my first ARC review with you! This is so exciting! First of all, I want to give a huge shoutout to Tyler Edwards for reaching out to me. I will list all of his social media links at the end of this review. Go send him some love and support. I’m all for boosting indie authors so feel free to reach out to me if you want a bit of a boost. Now without further ado, let’s discuss Shadows of the Dark Realm.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Graphic Death Scenes, Scenes of Major Bodily Injury, Some Disturbing Imagery

Long ago, the Dark Realm, Mortal Realm, and Spirit Realm were all connected. A fragile peace had been forged between them to respect the boundaries between the worlds. Praetor Rath, the Shadow King, broke that peace and invaded the Realms with his mighty army. The kings of Mortal Realm and Spirit Realm created the Dark Stone in order to seal away the Shadow Realm. Now, King Alistar of Parisia announces a quest to find the Dark Stone to protect his kingdom. A ragtag group of Seekers forms in order to find the magical artifact. Along the way, they realize that the danger is much greater than any of them could have anticipated. Secrets, betrayal, magic, and danger lurk around every corner as they journey to save the realms before dark powers threaten to destroy life as they know it.

As you all know, I am a huge fan of epic fantasy and Tyler Edwards certainly delivers a fantastic adventure. This was so action-packed and exciting. I truly had so much fun reading this book. I loved the world-building throughout the novel, in particular. It can be tricky to balance the two elements but it worked in this book. I also loved how unexpected the plot was as there were plenty of plot twists that made the book unputdownable. This book gave me major Dungeons and Dragons vibes with a nice hint of ’90s fantasy. Edwards does a great job taking traditional fantasy elements and making them unique to the world of his novel. Overall, I had such a fun time with this book and I am looking forward to you all being able to read it as well. Shadows of the Dark Realm comes out on 01/31/2024.

Thank you, Tyler!

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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.

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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.

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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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I swear myself to you and none other: Reviewing A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland

Hello everyone! Two reviews in one weekend! I know, it’s a lot but I am feeling productive with my TBR pile. I have some sequels to books I have previously read that I have been just itching to get around to. Today’s particular novel was brought to you by “Book Tok.” I’ve been finding really great suggestions through some of the people I follow there and I have a fairly comprehensive list of books I intend to read in the future. Enough chit-chat, though. Let’s finally discuss A Taste of Gold and Iron.

Content Warning: Some Violence, Some Mildly Graphic Descriptions of Bodily Injuries, Some Harsh Language, Mild Sexual Content

Prince Kadou of Arast is typically shy and soft-spoken, preferring to keep away from the court and politics. An altercation, though, puts him under the scrutiny of the royal court, his sister, and the father of his niece. In order to put himself back in the good graces of the court, Kadou takes it upon himself to lead an investigation of a break in at one of their guilds. At his side is a new bodyguard, a handsome and proper man named Evemer who was personally assigned to him by his sister. Kadou uses his ability of touch-tasting, which allows him to discern precious metals. Soon, Kadou and Evemer uncover a conspiracy that threatens the entire royal court and it is up to them to stop it.

A Taste of Gold and Iron is an enjoyable fantasy that weaves together a lot of fun tropes into Rowland’s own intricately created world. While I am not a huge fan of royal court fantasy, I did find myself enjoying how Rowland uses that setting to create so much delicious tension. The romance between Kadou and Evemer was such a good slow burn that was equal parts steamy and romantic. I know some people really love the “bodyguard romance” subgenre and this fits squarely into that trope as well. Romance that relies on specific tropes can be very tricky as sometimes it just comes across as cliche. Alexandrea Rowland includes just enough cliche to satisfy the romance part of the novel while balancing it out with an intricate fantasy setting. A Taste of Gold and Iron was certainly a great fantasy read that you won’t want to put down.

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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.