drakaina16's Reviews (2.21k)

Normally, I like my vampires to run towards the evil, bloodthirsty death machine type. Every once in a while, it's fun to give my brain a break from some of the heavier stories I usually read. Dark Roots does just that. It leans heavily towards dark fantasy, with an interesting premise. It's very well-written, and I had a good time with it. I'm interested in reading the rest of the trilogy. 3.75 stars

Thank you to the editor for providing a review copy. 

I was so excited when I saw this anthology was coming out. Nirvana is the first band I found on my own that I fell in love with. As with any collection, it is a very mixed bag. A lot of the stories were just okay, and I failed to see how some of them connected to Nirvana. However, there are a lot of gems here too. 3.5 stars 

Teen Spirit Forever by Eric J. Guigard ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very Ape by Nicky Martin ⭐.5
Wasted on the Youth by David D. West ⭐⭐⭐
Trichotillomanic by Akis Linardos ⭐⭐⭐.25
Oh Me A Candy Machine by Nikki Kossaris ⭐⭐⭐.25
Pennyroyal Tea by Meg Elison ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
She Should've by Dori Lumpkin ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle by C.J. Subko ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Science Project by Robert Bagnall ⭐⭐⭐
I'll See You Every Night by Sandra Henriques ⭐⭐⭐⭐
In the Pines by Kurt Newton ⭐⭐.5
On A Plain by Zack Zagranis ⭐⭐⭐.75
Molly Nash’s Mexican Seafood by A.W. Mason ⭐⭐⭐
Boxed In by Mia Dalia ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm Not Your Polly by Toshiya Kamei ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hitachi Buzz: Love in Verse by Violet Morningstarr ⭐⭐
From My Mouth to Yours by Emma Cole ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
A Pequena Morte No 2 Perfume de Mulher by B.J. Ferreira DNF
Dive in Me by Aleco Julius ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Clean Up Before She Comes (Back) by Pamela Morris ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Skate or Die by Matt E. Black ⭐⭐⭐.25
Oh the Guilt by Ian Clink ⭐⭐⭐
Pay to Play by Wendy Dalrymple ⭐⭐⭐
A Little Off the Top by Matthew Wallace ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Doll, Meat by Quinn Crook ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
As I Want You to Be by Tyler Clark ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Attic Rot by A.J. Cossey ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Aurora Terminalis by Dr. Jennifer Grimes ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Crystal Oubliette (A Sappy Remix) by Matthew Chabin ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25

Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for providing a review copy. 

Blaine Daigle can WRITE, y'all. I read A Dark Roux, and really loved it. I already knew that that he has the ability to really set a scene, and the setting is almost like another character in the novel. In this case, it's the Bering Sea, which mirrors the cold and bleakness of the narrative. Because the main character has amnesia, as the story unfolds we're learning right along with him, and I feel like it might be best to go in not knowing much at all. I wasn't sure how everything was going to wrap up, but the unique ending was very satisfying. 4.75 stars

I think Dead End Tunnel may be my favorite Nick Roberts book to date. (Keeping in mind I haven't read Mean Spirited yet.) I'm always a sucker for coming of age horror, and this book is everything I love about it. The boys feel very real and believable. The characters actually speak like boys their age in 1999 would. Speaking of 1999, there is some nice 90s nostalgia sprinkled throughout. 4.5 stars

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

This book made me have some really big feelings. The intersection of feminine rage and horror really works for me. The story is told through the point of view of the actual haunted house, and that made it so much more interesting to me than a typical haunted house story. There is a chapter near the end of the book that made me want to cry, scream, and cheer at the same time. I also loved all the queer representation in the book. 4.5 stars

I had to take a moment before writing this review. What an achievement this book is! I read Stolen Tongues, and I enjoyed it, but I also wanted more from it. I was not a huge fan of the ending. The Church Beneath the Roots delivers on every level. It contains one of the most distressing, heart-breaking scenes I've read in a very long time. The entire book maintains the creepiness level of the prologue of Stolen Tongues. The hype is absolutely real, and well deserved. 5 stars

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

This book is everything I love about coming of age horror. It's well-written, with realistic characters whom you can't help but love. Add in some aliens and *chef's kiss*. Aliens are a particular phobia of mine, so their inclusion always rachets up the anxiety and tension. I read 2/3 of it the first night, went to bed, and immediately finished it at the next available opportunity. 5 stars

I'll be completely honest - all the hype around this book initially turned me off from it. I'm contrary like that, not watching popular TV shows til years after they've gone off the air. But let me tell you, the hype is absolutely deserved. I was absolutely riveted by both intertwining stories. I was able to guess one of the big reveals, but that takes absolutely nothing away from what a good book BETA is. I probably would not have picked it up so quickly if it hasn't made the top 32 in the Books of Horror Indie Author Brawl. I could definitely see BETA going all the way. 5 stars

I'm so surprised that I didn't love this book, because I gave Suffer the Darkness 5 stars last year. The writing in this one just doesn't work for me. It's very "tell-don't-show" and I'm not a huge fan of that. I couldn't get into it. 

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy. 

I have to admit, I was not as enamoured with the second The City book as I was the first one. Characters come at you rapid-fire and none of them have the depth of characterization that made me root for Max and Ming. This one definitely means more crime than horror, and there is plenty of action. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series. 3.75 stars