drakaina16's Reviews (2.21k)

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

Megan Stockton never misses in my opinion. Lovely, Dark & Deep might be my new favorite. Her books are always well-written with engaging stories, but I connected with the characters on a deeper level in this one. Felix and Lyra are a two of the best characters I've read lately. The book also happens to be terrifically creepy with great action scenes. 5 stars 

Thank you to DarkLit Press for providing a review copy. 

Steeped in bleak atmosphere, this meditation on death and grief is one intense ride. The book keeps you guessing whether or not Karina is just a victim of intrusive thoughts and maladaptive daydreams or something much more sinister. It's beautifully written and the pacing ratchets up the tension. 4.75 stars

This book has a lot going on, but what a ride! Pine Lakes starts out as one thing, then quickly snowballs into an ever-evolving hellscape. And I'm here for every bit of it. There are some pretty heavy triggers here, so definitely check them. This was my first Christopher Motz book and I am highly impressed. 4.75 stars

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 
Color me impressed. I thought I was getting a standard exorcism story in a very famous historical house. What I got was so much better, so much deeper. I cared deeply for these characters and the book is very well-written and well-researched. There was a moment near the end when things start to come together that made my breath catch. The puzzle pieces came together, but when it happens, knowing what's coming makes it no less devastating. Father Diego is one of the most interesting characters I've read lately, and I would love to see more of him. Strong 5 stars 

If a horror book could be said to be liminal, Unworld definitely qualifies. (Liminal is defined as occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.) It definitely put me in mind of Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Don't get me wrong, they are two very different books, but Unworld definitely has that vibe. It's full of empty, eerie, vaguely unsettling landscapes with a very cool story at the core. Give this one a try if you like adventurous, eerie horror fantasy. 4.5 stars

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

What a thrill ride! Bleed gives you characters that you want to root for. The pacing fills you with dread and anticipation and the story gives you characters to root for. Despite the large cast of characters, each remains distinct, which is very important to me. Bleed doesn't rewrite the slasher genre, but it's a lot of fun and I'll be reading the next book. 3.75 stars

The constant time jumps made the narrative very hard to follow

What a fun ride! The plot twists and turns. I thought I had it all figured out, but I was quite pleased to be wrong. I had a hard time keeping the cast of characters straight at first, but things quickly came together as personalities emerged. The pacing was great and I felt compelled to keep reading. 4.25 stars

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

Firebug is a very solid creature feature, with a unique and interesting monster. The characters are fully fleshed out, with interesting back stories and they all show growth throughout the story. The main character was a total ass in the first part of the story, but he grew on me quite a bit. 4 stars

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

Dirt Maul is like a redneck Evil Dead, but somehow way, way worse. There are some pretty distressing monsters inside that flea market. It's also pretty funny, with some good action scenes. I did feel it ran a little long and got bogged down somewhat in the last half. Nevertheless, it was a fun read. 4 stars