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The world was not made for ones like you: Reviewing You Weren’t Meant To Be Human by Andrew Joseph White

Hi everyone! I hope you are doing alright. It feels like it has been too long since I last posted. With summer starting to wind down, I’m trying to finish up some of my reading. I’m going to be fairly busy soon. In some exciting news, a little book cafe opened up close to my home. This has proven to be dangerous for me because I can’t resist a cheap, secondhand book. My TBR isn’t going to shrink any time soon. If nothing else, I can at least take one book off of my never-ending pile. With all of that being said, let’s talk about You Weren’t Mean To Be Human.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Strong Language, Explicit Sexual Content, Dubious Consent, Discussions and Depictions of Self-Harm, Attempted Suicide, Discussions of Transphobia, Graphic Scenes of Childbirth, Forced Pregnancy, Domestic Violence, Child Death, Disturbing Imagery

Several years ago, festering hives of worms and flies took root in various corners of America. These hives weren’t just clusters of bugs. They were aliens, intelligent ones at that. They promised salvation to those who served them faithfully. Soon, desperate people welcomed the influence of the hive. Crane is one of those people. After struggling with his identity, Crane decided to join the hive’s followers. He is living the life he wants. He can transition in peace, and he can be nonverbal without fear of judgment. He even got a boyfriend, who sucks, but at least he treats Crane like a man. Everything is going alright until Crane finds out that he’s pregnant. The hive demands that Crane bring this child into the world. His boyfriend, a loyal member of the hive, will ensure that the hive’s demands are met. Desperate and scared, Crane decides he will bring an end to the hive’s influence even if it means destroying everything he has ever wanted.

You Weren’t Meant To Be Human is a raw, visceral, and scathing horror novel about the fears and anxieties of those living in a world where their bodies and rights are constantly monitored. Andrew Joseph White doesn’t refrain from exploring overtly political themes surrounding trans rights and LGBTQIA+ issues. His prose is blunt, gross, and powerful. I don’t want anyone to think I am using “gross” as an insult towards this novel. On the contrary, I think the best thing that White did when writing this book was delve into body horror and the unpleasant parts of human life, specifically human reproduction. That is not to say that the book is without sympathy. The protagonist, Crane, is an incredibly sympathetic character, and I wanted him to survive this horrific situation. Speaking of the horrific situation, the aliens in this book were disgusting, and I had a hard time getting through some of the descriptions. That, however, is also meant as a compliment. You Weren’t Meant To Be Human is a difficult, yet necessary novel that serves a powerful political statement and stomach-churning body horror novel. This book will resonate with readers, in the best and worst ways.

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…But poison is everywhere, even in the places you least expect it: Reviewing The Eyes Are The Best Part by Monika Kim

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Yesterday, I went to a local book festival and had a wonderful time. Obviously, I did not walk away empty-handed. I got The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook (Book 3 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series) by Matt Dinniman, Our Share of the Night by Mariana Enriquez, Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito, and The Looking Glass Theory by Vivian Cafield. Ms. Catfield is an indie author whom I had the pleasure of meeting and her books sound immensely interesting to me. I will talk about all of those in the future. In the meantime, let’s talk about The Eyes Are The Best Part.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language, Discussions of Racism

Ji-won’s life is falling apart. Her father abruptly leaves after revealing that he was having an affair. This revelation leaves her mother in shambles and barely able to function. Between trying to mend her broken family and the pressures of college, Ji-won feels like a shell of who she once was. She begins having strange and disturbing dreams about rooms full of blue eyes. She tries to reason with herself that these dreams are a result of all the stress she is experiencing and tries to move past them. Ji-won’s life only gets exponentially more difficult when her mother starts dating a white man named George. He is obnoxious and self-important. He also clearly has a fetish for Asian women. Ji-won is disgusted with him, but finds herself captivated by his eyes. His eyes look just like the ones that she had seen in her dreams. She realizes then that maybe her dreams do mean something. Ji-won will finally satisfy her hunger for revenge…among other things.

It’s been a little bit since I’ve read a “good for her” horror novel, and The Eyes Are The Best Part is one of the best “good for her” books I have read in a while. Monika Kim’s award-winning horror thriller novel is a tense, exciting, and nauseating tale of rage and revenge. This book tackles plenty of issues, like the power imbalance between men and women, the dangers of “nice men,” and the insidiousness of racism. All of this is told through a fast-paced and visceral narrative. The highlight of the book, though, is its protagonist. Kim created a perfectly complex character in Ji-won Lim, who is a perfect balance of relatable and unhinged. I would be lying if I said I found the character to be unlikable. If anything, I found her to be a very sympathetic character (disregarding some of her more disturbing actions). It’s hard to find well-written, complex female characters, but Monika Kim delivers on this aspect of the novel as well as everything else. It is safe for you to assume that I loved The Eyes Are The Best Part and I truly think that you will too.

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For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me…: Reviewing If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant For You by Leigh Stein

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well in this heat wave. In some recent news, I turned 30! It feels a bit weird to say out loud, but it’s exciting. I thought about doing a post about 30 books everyone must read, or something like that. I, however, decided to simply enjoy the day. With all of that being said, I have another review for you. Let’s talk about If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant For You.

Content Warning: Some Strong Language, Sexual Content, Substance Use, Mental Health Crisis

Dayna Lev is having the worst day. Her entire life is turned upside down when she finds out her boyfriend wants to break up with her via a Reddit post. With nothing to lose, she decides to take up an offer with an old friend. She would become a content manager for young influencers at an up-and-coming hype house that was formerly a Hollywood landmark. Dayna sees the potential to turn this crumbling manor full of twenty-somethings into a spectacle. The house, though, is missing one key component. Becca Chambers, a tarot influencer, disappeared after posting a cryptic message. Dayna is not the only one interested in finding Becca. Nineteen-year-old Olivia is a burgeoning influencer and one of Becca’s biggest fans. Dayna and Olivia dig through the secrets of the house and its occupants (past and present) to find out what happened to Becca.

Typically, I am hesitant to read books that heavily feature social media in the narrative. Books like those tend to feel dated before you even finish reading them. If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant For You is not like that at all. It feels refreshing in a time when everyone is trying to make their novels as specific to the modern age as possible. Leigh Stein brilliantly explores the dangers of making one’s life available to the public, whether that be through traditional media or social media. While platforms like TikTok and Instagram play a role in the novel, those don’t distract from the atmosphere that Stein has created. The Gothic influences are undeniably present. I saw glimpses of Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, and Perkins-Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, among other notable works. Everything from the past and present blended together seamlessly in this endlessly interesting depiction of the state of social media. I was genuinely surprised and satisfied by this novel. I am certainly going to recommend If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant For You.

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Sometimes when people hurt for a long time, they start to think that hurting is part of who they are: Reviewing What Stalks the Deep (Book 3 of the Sworn Soldier Series) by T. Kingfisher

Hi everyone! I hope you are all surviving the intense summer heat. I can barely focus most days. Anyways, I wanted to give a nice short review while I put off the longer books that I am reading currently. I promise that I’ll get there eventually. Before I begin this review, I recommend that you check out my review of the previous two books in this series, as well as the rest of my T. Kingfisher reviews. Now, let’s talk about What Stalks the Deep.

Content Warning: Distrubing Imagery, Animal Death, Violence, Gore

Former soldier Alex Easton has seen enough for a lifetime. They have no desire to venture into any more strange and mysterious places where God-only-knows-what lurks in the dark. It seems that fate has a sick sense of humor. When a good friend asks for Alex’s help finding his lost cousin, they can’t bring themself to say no. Unfortunately, that means having to go to America, of all places. Even worse, his friend’s cousin went missing deep in the mines of West Virginia. Alex is a soldier, though, and will find this missing man, even if it means facing the otherworldly once again.

T. Kingfisher’s newest entry in this horror novella series is an utterly fascinating and thrilling read in a rather quirky way. I personally think that eco-horror is an underrated genre, so getting a book like this feels like a breath of fresh air in the current literary scene. Kingfisher is great at creating distinctive character voices that feel close enough to realistic to make the characters relatable. As the narrative voice, Alex Easton is a bemusing main character with actual survival instincts (which is kind of rare in horror novels). What I love about Kingfisher’s horror novels is just how creative the actual horror is. At no point in the novel did I figure out what the twist was, which made it all the more enjoyable. With that being said, if you need a quick chilling read during these hot summer days then definitely read The Sworn Soldier series.

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All I want is more. Even if it burns me at the end: Reviewing Tender Cruely (Book 9 of the Dark Olympus Series) by Katee Robert

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. In my previous post, I promised I would post something on Substack, but I am feeling creatively bankrupt at the moment. More than likely, I’ll start with a book review and go from there. For now, I’m sticking with this blog because I have been posting about this series for a bit now. Before you read this review, feel free to read all of my other reviews for this series. I’m unnecessarily committed to seeing the Dark Olympus series through. I figured that I’m in this deep, so I might as well talk about it. Dark romance and/or erotica is a tricky genre to navigate in general. I, however, believe in exploring all genres. I hope that this post resonates to someone in some capacity. It’s important to read for fun, even if its spicy. With that being said, let’s talk about the latest entry in this ongoing series.

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content, Violence, Strong Language

Olympus’ barrier has finally fallen. Circe’s people have breached the city and forced the citizens to evacuate their homes. The Thirteen are struggling to protect themselves and, in doing so, are tearing each other apart. Hera knows that she must kill her husband, Zeus, if she wants to survive this war. Zeus, however, finds himself drawn to Hera’s fiery personality. The two are forced to set aside their differences if they want to defeat their mutual enemies. As the city begins to crumble, Zeus and Hera find unlikely allies in each other. There might be something real in their arranged marriage after all. This might be the beginning of something new, or it could be the end of everything they have ever known.

After nine books, we are finally getting to the “war” part that Katee Robert has promised us. With that being said, Tender Cruelty has been one of the more engaging entries in this ongoing series. As for the romance aspect of this novel, I found Zeus and Hera to be much more compelling than I had initially thought. While the plot went where I thought it would, I appreciated that there was a slight element of uncertainty sprinkled throughout the novel. This book was significantly more tense than its predecessors in more ways than one, which made it all the more entertaining. As for the erotica elements, it was a tiny bit more on the tame side, but still immensely enjoyable. I liked the “will they, won’t they” element that Katee Robert adds to this particular relationship. Overall, I am happy to say that Tender Cruelty is one of the stronger novels in the Dark Olympus series. I hopelessly hooked to this series and have no intention of quitting any time soon.

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Ideas don’t die: Reviewing There is No Antimemetics Division by qntm

Hello everybody! I hope you are all doing well. This review is going to be…interesting, to say the least. There might be some context that I am unable to fully give to you as the reader. As someone who grew up on internet horror, I have had a long-time fascination with the fictional organization known as the SCP Foundation, which is an organization that controls all sorts of terrifying and strage creatures that are a direct threat to humanity. Essentially, it is an online creative writing project where writers contribute there own SCPs (aka creatures or beings) that have been captured and/or monitored by the SCP organization. It’s adjacent to CreepyPastas, but it has more of a structure to it. I fear I am not explaining this correctly. There’s plenty of videos and podcasts of people reading these entries. It is a fascinating project. The reason I am explaining this is because the author of this book originally published this as an SCP Foundation piece and then turned it into their own novel. I know that this is all chronically online, but the context matters. Now that I have laid out all of the groundwork, its time to get into the horrors of There is No Antimemetics Division.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Some Strong Language, Violence

The most horrifying things in this world are the ones you can’t remember. Beings exist with the ability to wipe the memories of those that they prey upon. They could be anywhere, even in the room with you right now. Some of these beings are harmless, but others could destroy the world. The only thing that stands in the way of these apocalyptic events is the Antimemetics Division. There is a war being waged every day to save life as we know it. Yes, you are fighting this war. No, this isn’t your first day. Welcome to the Antimemetics Division.

There is no Antimemetics Division is existential, paradoxical, darkly humorous, and one of the best reading experiences I have had in a long time. There are so many moving parts to the novel, and none of them entirely make sense, but that is the charm of this book. It was so wonderfully imaginative and morbid in its exploration of the unexplainable. QNTM (aka Sam Hughes) dances the fine line of ambiguity as he presents many anomalies. There is just enough explanation to make the premise somewhat believable, but not so much that it takes away from the novel’s mystery. Unfortunately, I can’t go in-depth because I would be giving away too much about this book. I will say, though, that this probably isn’t a novel for everyone. I explained what the SCP Foundation is in the beginning, and while you don’t have to be familiar with that, it is still a very bizarre concept to wrap one’s head around. If existensial horror is not your cup of tea, then I fully understand. If you are interested in the unexplainable and enigmatic, then I highly recommend There is no Antimemetics Division.

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But I’ll find a way, because I need to, and I’ll walk barefoot through hell for what I need: Reviewing Starling House by Alix E. Harrow.

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I’ve been dragging my feet a bit to review new books. Instead, I’ve made a point to re-read some of my favorites. I re-read Wuthering Heights in spite of the newest movie adaptation, and I’ve re-read Project Hail Mary because I’m excited for the new movie adaptation. I plan to reread Jane Eyre because it’s been a while, and I plan to reread The Odyssey because I am tentatively excited about the movie adaptation coming out this summer. All of that is neither here nor there, though. You are all here for my newest review. I have been meaning to read another Alix Harrow book since I read The Once and Future Witches some time ago. Feel free to check out that review. After so long, I am finally delving back into the world of Harrow. With that being said, let’s talk about Starling House.

Content Warning: Fantastical Violence, Sexual Content, Discussions and Depictions of Racism, Discussions and Depictions of Hate Crimes, Discussions and Depictions of Slavery, Strong Language, Forced Marriage, Domestic Abuse, Incest

The small, simple town of Eden, Kentucky, hides a dark secret. Among the failing businesses and coal mines, Starling House waits with darkness in its many rooms. No one would dare approach this home. Opal, though, isn’t just anyone. She dreams of the house every night and finds herself insatiably curious about why Starling House is seemingly calling to her. Starling House also just so happens to be the former home of Eleanor Starling, the author of Opal’s favorite childhood book, The Underland. When Opal is allowed to finally know the secrets of Starling House and earn money for her brother’s education, she jumps at the opportunity. Unfortunately for her, that means dealing with the manor’s enigmatic and standoffish owner, Arthur Starling. The longer she spends in Starling House, the more Opal learns about the true history that lies beneath the home. For once, Opal won’t run away. Instead, she’ll fight for a chance to finally live and overcome her own dark past.

Starling House is a darkly fun blend of Gothic vibes, fairy-tale allusions, and magical realism. I saw many different story elements here, such as Beauty and the Beast, the myth of Hades and Persephone, and a dark take on Alice in Wonderland. All of this is wrapped up in an interesting (albeit dark) story of American history. It is a bit of a slow burn, but that helps establish that dark atmosphere that seeps through every page of this novel. I appreciate Harrow’s sharp, atmospheric prose and her talent for building tension. Her characters are complex and endearing. I particularly enjoyed Opal’s bravery, wit, and kindness. She made for a compelling heroine and the ideal underdog. I also appreciated that the story was pleasantly unpredictable. I didn’t know where the story was going, and that was what made it such an enjoyable experience. There weren’t any sharp plot twists or intense reveals, but I didn’t know what to expect, which made it all the more fun. I think you can guess my overall thoughts at this point. I definitely recommend Starling House and plan on reading more Harrow books in the near future.

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We alone know what is coming for us, and we know it’s going to hurt: Reviewing One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford

Happy Hallow’s Eve, everyone! I was hoping to get one last review out before Halloween and I somehow managed it! I hope you are already for one last seasonally appropriate book review. Happy Halloween if you celebrate. Let’s talk about One Yellow Eye.

Content Warning: Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Body Horror, Some Strong Language, Grief and Mourning, Animal Death, Alcholism

The zombie apocalypse came and went, leaving London ravaged in its wake. Many of the survivors are going everything they can to move forward with their lives. Kesta Shelley, though, can’t move on. Her beloved husband Tim was tragically infected by the virus. She couldn’t bring herself to let him go, so she hid him away in their flat. As an accomplished biologist, Kesta is confident that she can find a way to cure him one day. When she finally gets the breakthrough she’s been waiting for, Kesta races against time to create a cure for Tim. The government, though, is cracking down on the project after discovering evidence of internal sabotage. Kesta is falling apart, physically and emotionally. All she hopes is that, in saving Tim, she can save the world…and herself.

It’s been awhile since I read or watched anything that had to do with zombies. I was excited when I saw this title and immediately realized that this was going to be a Frankenstein retelling involving zombies. One Yellow Eye is a noteworthy narrative that is less focused on zombies, and more focused on a story of undying love. Leigh Radford injects sympathy and tension throughout the prose. There are so many visceral moments that really put the reader in the shoes of the character. Kesta Shelley is an endlessly complicated character who makes for a perfect lead in a story that is hinges on the complexities of human nature, both biological and psychological. Radford’s zombie apocalypse is atypical in the genre, but it works for the world of the book. It doesn’t rely heavily on classic zombie tropes, which is kind a breath of fresh air in the genre. That being said, there is still enough gore and brutality to satisfy the zombie narrative. Overall, I truly enjoyed One Yellow Eye and give it a very high recommendation.

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Control was antithetical to life. To be alive is to be battered about. To endure and adapt and keep stumbling onward despite it all: Reviewing Diavola by Jennifer Thorne

Hi everyone! I hope you are still enjoying October. I might have one more horror novel review for this month, so stay tuned for that. I don’t have much else to say, so let’s just hop into it. It’s time to talk about Diavola by Jennifer Thorne.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Violence and Gore, Animal Death, Self-Harm, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Discussions of Abortion, Child Death

Anna Pace has one goal: to survive her family vacation. She’s sure she can make do in the sunny Italian countryside. Between her sister’s neurotic behavior, her brother’s new boyfriend, and her overbearing parents, Anna finds herself lost in the typical family chaos. The villa seems like the perfect place to unwind and forget about the past. Unfortunately for Anna, the villa holds many dark secrets. She begins to lose time, hear strange noises, and see glimpses of the souls who remain in the idyllic little home. Anna finds herself consumed by the villa’s dark past, and her own past, too.

Diavola was equal parts darkly humorous, macabre, and messy in all of the best ways. I thought the overall premise was pretty different from any other haunted house and/ or (spoiler) possession stories I have read in the past. Thorne creates perfectly imperfect characters who are just realistic enough to exist in the real world, but are also perfectly suited for a horror novel like this. This book was certainly a breath of fresh air, as there was just enough to make it stand out, while still embracing the fun tropes that come with ghost stories. What I personally like about Diavola is that it could easily be considered “messy girl literature.” With all of that being said, I truly enjoyed Diavola and encourage you to experience this book for yourself.

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I don’t fear death…but they do: Reviewing The Haar by David Sodergren

Hi everyone! I’m back with another spooky book review. I have at least one more to read for October, and then it’s back to the other series I have started. I hope you all have been enjoying these so far. It’s been a pretty good year for reading, in general, for me. Hopefully, I have a couple more good reviews for this blog. Before we get to those, though, we must talk about The Haar.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Self-Harm, Disturbing Imagery, Graphic Violence, Strong Language

Mrs. Muriel Margaret McAuley has lived her entire life in the sleepy town of Witchhaven in Scotland. She is content with her quiet life, even though she misses her dear and departed husband. Her peaceful existence is threatened by an American billionaire who intends to tear down the town and build a golf course. Muriel stubbornly refuses to leave her home, but mysterious deaths and large sums of money are making it difficult for her to remain. Just when Muriel considers giving up, a mysterious fog known as the haar engulfs the land. Along with this fog comes a creature that may be Muriel’s one hope at a serene life. She will have to come to terms with the bloody price she will have to pay.

David Sodergren has been on my radar for a minute now, and I am so glad that I finally read one of his books. The Haar was such a fun little gore-fest with a surprising amount of heart. I went into this novel expecting something like a splatterpunk book, but it was a bit more than that. It was a book about grief and acceptance. There was a surprising romance in the novel, albeit a twisted and bloody one. That being said, the descriptions in the book did turn my stomach a bit. You’ve been warned if you’re on the squeamish side. The violence, though, didn’t take away from tender moments. I found Muriel to be a well-written protagonist who was easy to sympathize with. Even with everything that happens, I found myself hoping for the best for her. There is a level of ambiguity that, I think, is necessary for most horror novels, and Sodergren does a great job incorporating that uneasiness through the narrative. I am going to recommend The Haar immediately and will be picking up another Sodergren novel sooner than later.