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Home Before Dark by Riley Sager is a very eerie tale filled with twists and turns that centers around a mansion with a dark history. This is a haunted house story that you won’t want to miss!
This tale is about a woman named Maggie Holt who inherits a house that she thought her family had long since sold. When she was last at the house when she was five, something horrible occurred that made the family flee the house, never to return.
After they left, her father wrote a book and claimed that it was the true story of what happened to their family while they lived there. But Maggie can’t remember anything and she isn’t convinced that anything in the book actually happened.
When she moves back in while she renovates the house, planning to sell it, she begins making discoveries that align with what her father had written… and that makes her question everything.
The story is told as a duel narrative; one that was from the novel written by the father after they lived in the home for twenty days, and the other, the daughters’ return to the house decades later. I absolutely loved the way each of these key focuses built off of one another. I had such a hard time putting this down because each bit left off in a way that made me want to know what happened next as soon as possible.
I really enjoyed the main character, Maggie. It was very clear that she was fighting with a number of things inside her own head. I thought her determination to overcome her fears and set the story straight, all mixed with a fair dose of stubbornness, was a very powerful element for her character.
Then of course we have the ghosts. My goodness were these written in a spooky way! I didn’t know what to think about them. Just when I thought one thing, something would happen to make me second guess it. Needless to say, I thought that the ghosts were written very well.
Overall, the pacing was definitely quick and it was written in a way that totally captivated me. There was also a great sense of unease throughout, which grew more and more intense as the story went on and new things from the past were brought up, or odd things happened in the present day.
My Favorite Passages
Houses are always changing. Coats of paint. Rows of laminate. Rolls of carpet. They cover up the home’s stories and secrets, rendering them silent until someone comes along to reveal them.
Jess pokes her head out of the master bathroom, toothbrush in hand and mouth foaming like Cujo.
The kitchen is silent save for the sound of my heart — an audible drumroll coming from deep in my chest.
My Final Thoughts
Not only was the haunted house and ghost element right up my alley, but this tale also had a great main character and intriguing side characters that popped in and out. I also loved the underlying murder mystery element. This was another hit for me!
If you enjoy haunted house stories that will keep you guessing, I highly recommend this one to you.
This tale is about a woman named Maggie Holt who inherits a house that she thought her family had long since sold. When she was last at the house when she was five, something horrible occurred that made the family flee the house, never to return.
After they left, her father wrote a book and claimed that it was the true story of what happened to their family while they lived there. But Maggie can’t remember anything and she isn’t convinced that anything in the book actually happened.
When she moves back in while she renovates the house, planning to sell it, she begins making discoveries that align with what her father had written… and that makes her question everything.
The story is told as a duel narrative; one that was from the novel written by the father after they lived in the home for twenty days, and the other, the daughters’ return to the house decades later. I absolutely loved the way each of these key focuses built off of one another. I had such a hard time putting this down because each bit left off in a way that made me want to know what happened next as soon as possible.
I really enjoyed the main character, Maggie. It was very clear that she was fighting with a number of things inside her own head. I thought her determination to overcome her fears and set the story straight, all mixed with a fair dose of stubbornness, was a very powerful element for her character.
Then of course we have the ghosts. My goodness were these written in a spooky way! I didn’t know what to think about them. Just when I thought one thing, something would happen to make me second guess it. Needless to say, I thought that the ghosts were written very well.
Overall, the pacing was definitely quick and it was written in a way that totally captivated me. There was also a great sense of unease throughout, which grew more and more intense as the story went on and new things from the past were brought up, or odd things happened in the present day.
My Favorite Passages
Houses are always changing. Coats of paint. Rows of laminate. Rolls of carpet. They cover up the home’s stories and secrets, rendering them silent until someone comes along to reveal them.
Jess pokes her head out of the master bathroom, toothbrush in hand and mouth foaming like Cujo.
The kitchen is silent save for the sound of my heart — an audible drumroll coming from deep in my chest.
My Final Thoughts
Not only was the haunted house and ghost element right up my alley, but this tale also had a great main character and intriguing side characters that popped in and out. I also loved the underlying murder mystery element. This was another hit for me!
If you enjoy haunted house stories that will keep you guessing, I highly recommend this one to you.
Memory Clouds by Tony Moyle is a compelling YA Dystopian tale set in a world where technology rules, for better or for worse.
Before diving into this one, you’ll want to make sure your technology sources, your Apple Watch, SmartPhone, Google Home, Alexa, and other such things, are all turned off… trust me. You won’t want to think about someone listening or monitoring you as you enter this world that Mr. Moyle has created…
To be honest, I’m not big on YA Dystopian tales after getting burnt out after reading them back to back for basically two years in college. But when Mr. Moyle’s newsletter came out about this one, I knew I just had to give it a go! I’m so glad I did; I really enjoyed it!
Full Disclosure: I received an early release copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way. (I also purchased a copy of the final version as well.)
n a world where thoughts are binding and everything lives permanently in the Memory Cloud, the fates of each 18 year old is determined by an assessment of all of their past memories and emotions leading up to their eighteenth birthday.
This process requires each person to give up their “old life” and jump right into their new one as soon as they turn 18. The fates are reported to have a 98% success rating, but what happens to that 2%?
When this tale begins, we meet Jake Montana, a young man who has just turned 18 in the year 2054. On this day, Jake receives his letter that will determine his future, and while he dreaded the change, he could have never imagined what was about to happen.
When I began reading this story, I really appreciated that the first couple of chapters explained a lot about the world through the main character as he was thinking things over or discussing the process with his family. This was such a great way to get the readers immersed in the world. While it was a ton of info, it didn’t stray into info-dumping thanks to the quick thoughts and notes from the main chapter or his family members. When reading books that have a strong element of sci-fi or technology, I really need that foundation of information to get into the setting.
After the main character received his letter, the story took off pretty quickly!
Speaking of- we should touch on the main character, Jake. Poor Jake liked his life how it was. He had a pretty good relationship with his family, he had a girlfriend that he loved, and he liked where he lived (I LOVE that he grew up in New Hampshire!!). Of course, as he was a teenager, he was certainly filled with the usual teenage angst. But in this case, considering the situation he was in, it was a double dose of angst…
I was so excited to meet Jake’s guides that would help him navigate his transition into the next part of his life. I LOVED his guide, Dinah. She was so innocent and hilarious! She really brightened many situations that they found themselves in. His other guide, Job, was quite the downer at times! The two definitely balanced each other out wonderfully.
Most of the other characters had quicker roles in the overall story, so I’m very curious to see who comes back in the next book!
I thought that the whole technology element was incredibly spooky… I mean, just the fact that the surgeries happen before you’re three and that you don’t have a choice about the matter is wicked unnerving. Also, thoughts being a binding measure?! Man, I would probably be in trouble all the time if that was a world I lived in… I mean, how many commercials for things have I caught myself thinking, “Oh, I want that!” Goodbye money!
It was equally interesting and terrifying when the author explained that sleep was prime time in the cloud as advertisers could pay to promote products and drive the messaging into people’s subconscious minds. How intrusive?!
There were also many timely and scary things included in this story. Things like the discussion of the current state of the world with the intense seasons, or how many places are now underwater because no one wanted to fix the problem with the environment that was a long time coming. Of course, with most of Tony Moyle’s work, this was paired perfectly with humor to keep the balance. For example, this passage:
“Ah yes, twenty-sixteen, that was the year it happened for me. Most people hated that year, but as far as I was concerned it was one of the best, a pleasure cruise compared to twenty- twenty.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, even those who weren’t born until a decade or two later.
Man, for most of this book, I found myself either totally spooked at the thought or outraged at the unfairness of it all. This is a story that certainly had me on a rollercoaster of emotions!
My Favorite Passages
Please note that these quotes were pulled from the Beta copy and may have changed before the final edition.
That’s the problem with statistics. People focus on the majority and ignore the minority.
“You won’t know what the future holds until you go out there.”
If guides were supposed to put protégés’ minds at ease, his had failed miserably. A day that started with a heavy dose of apprehension had been firmly overdosed on panic. Not only was Jake holding his future in his hands, but he also had no way of escaping it or the insufferable Dinah and Job whose contribution would endure until it was no longer necessary. In Jake’s view that moment had passed about thirty minutes after their arrival.
“Ah yes, twenty-sixteen, that was the year it happened for me. Most people hated that year, but as far as I was concerned it was one of the best, a pleasure cruise compared to twenty- twenty.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, even those who weren’t born until a decade or two later.
“I think it’s best described as ‘where have my testicles gone?’ cold,” replied Job graphically. “And all year around, too.”
Tight moleskin trousers clung to his legs with a belligerence that suggested the only way to remove them would be as a result of prolonged starvation. A white shirt was equally tight- fitting, although the buttons at the top had been loosened to at least allow his neck and head a fighting chance of surviving suffocation.
Job would probably deal with someone’s broken heart by confirming no one really liked them. He was an emotional sledgehammer and everything else was a nut.
Once Dinah hit her confessional stride, she wasn’t easy to stop. Like an excitable child, ignorant of other people’s waning interest, she bulldozed her audience’s attention spans on her own personal truth crusade.
It didn’t matter what mark someone placed on you, it only mattered what you chose to do with your life. Either let their judgement destroy you or prove everyone wrong.
My Final Thoughts
I loved that on one hand, there were strong feelings of despair and anger, but on the other hand there was love and hope, and that these feelings teeter-tottered back and forth throughout the entire story. I had so much fun learning more about this dystopian world and how everything functioned.
Like I said at the start of my review, YA Dystopian isn’t usually my cup of tea, but I’m very happy that I was given the opportunity to read this one! I cannot wait for book two to see what happens next!
Before diving into this one, you’ll want to make sure your technology sources, your Apple Watch, SmartPhone, Google Home, Alexa, and other such things, are all turned off… trust me. You won’t want to think about someone listening or monitoring you as you enter this world that Mr. Moyle has created…
To be honest, I’m not big on YA Dystopian tales after getting burnt out after reading them back to back for basically two years in college. But when Mr. Moyle’s newsletter came out about this one, I knew I just had to give it a go! I’m so glad I did; I really enjoyed it!
Full Disclosure: I received an early release copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way. (I also purchased a copy of the final version as well.)
n a world where thoughts are binding and everything lives permanently in the Memory Cloud, the fates of each 18 year old is determined by an assessment of all of their past memories and emotions leading up to their eighteenth birthday.
This process requires each person to give up their “old life” and jump right into their new one as soon as they turn 18. The fates are reported to have a 98% success rating, but what happens to that 2%?
When this tale begins, we meet Jake Montana, a young man who has just turned 18 in the year 2054. On this day, Jake receives his letter that will determine his future, and while he dreaded the change, he could have never imagined what was about to happen.
When I began reading this story, I really appreciated that the first couple of chapters explained a lot about the world through the main character as he was thinking things over or discussing the process with his family. This was such a great way to get the readers immersed in the world. While it was a ton of info, it didn’t stray into info-dumping thanks to the quick thoughts and notes from the main chapter or his family members. When reading books that have a strong element of sci-fi or technology, I really need that foundation of information to get into the setting.
After the main character received his letter, the story took off pretty quickly!
Speaking of- we should touch on the main character, Jake. Poor Jake liked his life how it was. He had a pretty good relationship with his family, he had a girlfriend that he loved, and he liked where he lived (I LOVE that he grew up in New Hampshire!!). Of course, as he was a teenager, he was certainly filled with the usual teenage angst. But in this case, considering the situation he was in, it was a double dose of angst…
I was so excited to meet Jake’s guides that would help him navigate his transition into the next part of his life. I LOVED his guide, Dinah. She was so innocent and hilarious! She really brightened many situations that they found themselves in. His other guide, Job, was quite the downer at times! The two definitely balanced each other out wonderfully.
Most of the other characters had quicker roles in the overall story, so I’m very curious to see who comes back in the next book!
I thought that the whole technology element was incredibly spooky… I mean, just the fact that the surgeries happen before you’re three and that you don’t have a choice about the matter is wicked unnerving. Also, thoughts being a binding measure?! Man, I would probably be in trouble all the time if that was a world I lived in… I mean, how many commercials for things have I caught myself thinking, “Oh, I want that!” Goodbye money!
It was equally interesting and terrifying when the author explained that sleep was prime time in the cloud as advertisers could pay to promote products and drive the messaging into people’s subconscious minds. How intrusive?!
There were also many timely and scary things included in this story. Things like the discussion of the current state of the world with the intense seasons, or how many places are now underwater because no one wanted to fix the problem with the environment that was a long time coming. Of course, with most of Tony Moyle’s work, this was paired perfectly with humor to keep the balance. For example, this passage:
“Ah yes, twenty-sixteen, that was the year it happened for me. Most people hated that year, but as far as I was concerned it was one of the best, a pleasure cruise compared to twenty- twenty.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, even those who weren’t born until a decade or two later.
Man, for most of this book, I found myself either totally spooked at the thought or outraged at the unfairness of it all. This is a story that certainly had me on a rollercoaster of emotions!
My Favorite Passages
Please note that these quotes were pulled from the Beta copy and may have changed before the final edition.
That’s the problem with statistics. People focus on the majority and ignore the minority.
“You won’t know what the future holds until you go out there.”
If guides were supposed to put protégés’ minds at ease, his had failed miserably. A day that started with a heavy dose of apprehension had been firmly overdosed on panic. Not only was Jake holding his future in his hands, but he also had no way of escaping it or the insufferable Dinah and Job whose contribution would endure until it was no longer necessary. In Jake’s view that moment had passed about thirty minutes after their arrival.
“Ah yes, twenty-sixteen, that was the year it happened for me. Most people hated that year, but as far as I was concerned it was one of the best, a pleasure cruise compared to twenty- twenty.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, even those who weren’t born until a decade or two later.
“I think it’s best described as ‘where have my testicles gone?’ cold,” replied Job graphically. “And all year around, too.”
Tight moleskin trousers clung to his legs with a belligerence that suggested the only way to remove them would be as a result of prolonged starvation. A white shirt was equally tight- fitting, although the buttons at the top had been loosened to at least allow his neck and head a fighting chance of surviving suffocation.
Job would probably deal with someone’s broken heart by confirming no one really liked them. He was an emotional sledgehammer and everything else was a nut.
Once Dinah hit her confessional stride, she wasn’t easy to stop. Like an excitable child, ignorant of other people’s waning interest, she bulldozed her audience’s attention spans on her own personal truth crusade.
It didn’t matter what mark someone placed on you, it only mattered what you chose to do with your life. Either let their judgement destroy you or prove everyone wrong.
My Final Thoughts
I loved that on one hand, there were strong feelings of despair and anger, but on the other hand there was love and hope, and that these feelings teeter-tottered back and forth throughout the entire story. I had so much fun learning more about this dystopian world and how everything functioned.
Like I said at the start of my review, YA Dystopian isn’t usually my cup of tea, but I’m very happy that I was given the opportunity to read this one! I cannot wait for book two to see what happens next!
A Fresh Start by Somer Canon is a bone-chilling tale about a violent and possessive ghost that won’t let a family settle into their new home. Mixed with wonderfully heartwarming scenes, this novel will continuously convince you to let down your guard just to smack you upside the head with another terrifying scene.
Trigger Warning: A very good dog goes to the farm upstate very suddenly. RIP Dumb-Dumb.
In this story, a woman named Melissa has moved into a new house that she had build on an old farm plot next to the original barn. On just day two of living there, something happened that totally spooked her. She soon learns that she’s living on the land where a man killed his wife and two children. Unfortunately the soul of that man hasn’t left the property… and he’s got his sights on Melissa now.
OH MY GOODNESS. This book got me so many times. It was the perfect mix of happy and scary! There were plenty of heartwarming and calm scenes but then out of nowhere, we’d be slammed with a totally gut-wrenching or horrifying scene!
Speaking of gut-wrenching… The poor dog, Dumb-Dumb. I mentioned the trigger warning above so just one quick note here. You don’t actually “see” what happens. You hear about what happened through the kids explaining it and then you “see” the aftermath. This way of explaining what happened added to the terror! Like the poor pup meeting its end in John Wick, this dog death definitely served a purpose in the overall storyline. It was absolutely heartbreaking of course. In my opinion, the whole situation was extremely well done.
I was totally captivated each time I was able to pick this book up, especially because the sense of dread continued to build throughout the story until the explosive ending. The pacing of this story was absolutely wonderful and everything flowed very well. I adored each of the characters and their banter with one another. I especially enjoyed the relationship that grew between Melissa and Ida. And the descriptions that ranged from the scenery on the farm to the action sequences were all outstanding.
I found myself really attached to the main character, Melissa. While incredibly stubborn to the point of absurdity, I also understood why she was reacting the way she was. After all, after going through what she had been through in her recent past, having that one thing that she can try to control is something that I can really relate to.
While a shorter novel, this one packed so much into just 130 pages! I already can’t wait to revisit this story. I know it’s one that going to stick with me for a long time!
My Favorite Passages
Melissa dropped the bags she was holding and ran as hard and fast as she could to the house. Without thinking about the futility of the action, she locked and bolted the heavy front door and leaned on it, breathing fast and holding onto her chest, feeling her heart doing its best to make a dramatic escape.
“Some people never stop to thank the stepping stone the buried itself in the mud to keep others from getting muck on their boots…“
My Final Thoughts
I really wish that I had picked this one up on a day off so I could have read it cover to cover. Putting it down was incredibly difficult. I even found myself letting my mind wander during work hours, just so antsy to get back to it!
I absolutely loved everything about this story. The ghost was terrifying, the human characters were all wonderful, the pacing was quick, and the sudden scares totally caught me off guard and got my heart rate going. I loved how much this one spooked me. I was jumpy for a few days after finishing this one!
If you enjoy ghost stories filled with jump scares, violence, and a whole lot of heart, you have to check this one out!
Trigger Warning: A very good dog goes to the farm upstate very suddenly. RIP Dumb-Dumb.
In this story, a woman named Melissa has moved into a new house that she had build on an old farm plot next to the original barn. On just day two of living there, something happened that totally spooked her. She soon learns that she’s living on the land where a man killed his wife and two children. Unfortunately the soul of that man hasn’t left the property… and he’s got his sights on Melissa now.
OH MY GOODNESS. This book got me so many times. It was the perfect mix of happy and scary! There were plenty of heartwarming and calm scenes but then out of nowhere, we’d be slammed with a totally gut-wrenching or horrifying scene!
Speaking of gut-wrenching… The poor dog, Dumb-Dumb. I mentioned the trigger warning above so just one quick note here. You don’t actually “see” what happens. You hear about what happened through the kids explaining it and then you “see” the aftermath. This way of explaining what happened added to the terror! Like the poor pup meeting its end in John Wick, this dog death definitely served a purpose in the overall storyline. It was absolutely heartbreaking of course. In my opinion, the whole situation was extremely well done.
I was totally captivated each time I was able to pick this book up, especially because the sense of dread continued to build throughout the story until the explosive ending. The pacing of this story was absolutely wonderful and everything flowed very well. I adored each of the characters and their banter with one another. I especially enjoyed the relationship that grew between Melissa and Ida. And the descriptions that ranged from the scenery on the farm to the action sequences were all outstanding.
I found myself really attached to the main character, Melissa. While incredibly stubborn to the point of absurdity, I also understood why she was reacting the way she was. After all, after going through what she had been through in her recent past, having that one thing that she can try to control is something that I can really relate to.
While a shorter novel, this one packed so much into just 130 pages! I already can’t wait to revisit this story. I know it’s one that going to stick with me for a long time!
My Favorite Passages
Melissa dropped the bags she was holding and ran as hard and fast as she could to the house. Without thinking about the futility of the action, she locked and bolted the heavy front door and leaned on it, breathing fast and holding onto her chest, feeling her heart doing its best to make a dramatic escape.
“Some people never stop to thank the stepping stone the buried itself in the mud to keep others from getting muck on their boots…“
My Final Thoughts
I really wish that I had picked this one up on a day off so I could have read it cover to cover. Putting it down was incredibly difficult. I even found myself letting my mind wander during work hours, just so antsy to get back to it!
I absolutely loved everything about this story. The ghost was terrifying, the human characters were all wonderful, the pacing was quick, and the sudden scares totally caught me off guard and got my heart rate going. I loved how much this one spooked me. I was jumpy for a few days after finishing this one!
If you enjoy ghost stories filled with jump scares, violence, and a whole lot of heart, you have to check this one out!
Dead Daughters by Tim Meyer is a fast-paced murder mystery that blends horror and thriller aspects together wonderfully! Buckle up before you begin this one; you won’t want to put it down.
There was one night that I was reading this book, and I looked at the time and saw that it was just fifteen minutes before I wanted to head to bed. I told myself, just one more chapter… Of course, an hour and a half later, I was finally going to bed.
Trigger Warning: Of course, as you can likely assume by the title, this would be a tough read for someone who has lost a daughter.
When this story begins, Eve has thrown a surprise birthday party for her husband, Drew. The party goes very well and Drew has a great time celebrating with his family and friends. At the end of the party, and after they had put their daughter to bed, he opens up the cards he had gotten in the mail. But the contents of one envelope, one with no name, held something that brings time to a standstill.
Soon afterward, they realize that someone has been in their daughters room… and it only get more terrifying from there.
Gosh this book had me totally hooked, but I dreaded what would happen next! I loved that the author ended many chapters with things like:
I nodded, but something told me it wasn’t that simple.
And it wasn’t.
Not at all.
Or:
Something was wrong.
Very fucking wrong.
Or, the one that made me keep reading even though I really needed to be sleeping:
The next time we talked, the detective had news.
Big news.
Things like that made it impossible to put the book down! I just had to learn more.
Through absolutely wonderful character development, I found myself really attached to these characters very quickly. I just wanted the detective to hurry up and solve the mystery so the family of three could live happily ever after…
One smaller, but really spooky element of this story, were the letters that were added here and there. They were clearly from someone deeply troubled. These letters were rather puzzling until one bit of information drops and it all suddenly makes more sense. But one thing that I really wanted to know- when were these letters written?! Yikes!
In one of the letters, the writer was listing off things he’d kill for. One of the things on the list is an encore episode of Alf! That gave me a great chuckle. The mom on Alf is a family friend, so I always love seeing mentions of the show in books!
There is SO much about this book that I would love to rave about, but you really need to experience it on your own!
My Favorite Passages
My throat felt restricted, as if a snake had coiled around my windpipe and squeezed my breath away.
We live or die by the choices we make.
I walked over to the kitchen table, the soles of my shoes feeling like they were blanketed with chewed bubble gum. The muscles in my legs lost their feeling and my knees wobbled and knocked together. I reached out and put both hands on the chair to keep myself from going down.
My Final Thoughts
I felt so unsettled reading this one but I was hooked! That sense of unease began very early on, and it only got worse the further into the story that I read. There were many small instances that had me feeling wary about certain characters very early on. But while I had some suspicions and kept trying to guess at what was going on, I wasn’t even close to figuring out this psychological horror story.
This story has such a dark undertone with highlights of interesting technology-related aspects and a ton of love.
I highly recommend this to horror/thriller fans that enjoy read filled with twists that will keep you guessing and a dash of sci-fi that adds a very intense layer to the story!
There was one night that I was reading this book, and I looked at the time and saw that it was just fifteen minutes before I wanted to head to bed. I told myself, just one more chapter… Of course, an hour and a half later, I was finally going to bed.
Trigger Warning: Of course, as you can likely assume by the title, this would be a tough read for someone who has lost a daughter.
When this story begins, Eve has thrown a surprise birthday party for her husband, Drew. The party goes very well and Drew has a great time celebrating with his family and friends. At the end of the party, and after they had put their daughter to bed, he opens up the cards he had gotten in the mail. But the contents of one envelope, one with no name, held something that brings time to a standstill.
Soon afterward, they realize that someone has been in their daughters room… and it only get more terrifying from there.
Gosh this book had me totally hooked, but I dreaded what would happen next! I loved that the author ended many chapters with things like:
I nodded, but something told me it wasn’t that simple.
And it wasn’t.
Not at all.
Or:
Something was wrong.
Very fucking wrong.
Or, the one that made me keep reading even though I really needed to be sleeping:
The next time we talked, the detective had news.
Big news.
Things like that made it impossible to put the book down! I just had to learn more.
Through absolutely wonderful character development, I found myself really attached to these characters very quickly. I just wanted the detective to hurry up and solve the mystery so the family of three could live happily ever after…
One smaller, but really spooky element of this story, were the letters that were added here and there. They were clearly from someone deeply troubled. These letters were rather puzzling until one bit of information drops and it all suddenly makes more sense. But one thing that I really wanted to know- when were these letters written?! Yikes!
In one of the letters, the writer was listing off things he’d kill for. One of the things on the list is an encore episode of Alf! That gave me a great chuckle. The mom on Alf is a family friend, so I always love seeing mentions of the show in books!
There is SO much about this book that I would love to rave about, but you really need to experience it on your own!
My Favorite Passages
My throat felt restricted, as if a snake had coiled around my windpipe and squeezed my breath away.
We live or die by the choices we make.
I walked over to the kitchen table, the soles of my shoes feeling like they were blanketed with chewed bubble gum. The muscles in my legs lost their feeling and my knees wobbled and knocked together. I reached out and put both hands on the chair to keep myself from going down.
My Final Thoughts
I felt so unsettled reading this one but I was hooked! That sense of unease began very early on, and it only got worse the further into the story that I read. There were many small instances that had me feeling wary about certain characters very early on. But while I had some suspicions and kept trying to guess at what was going on, I wasn’t even close to figuring out this psychological horror story.
This story has such a dark undertone with highlights of interesting technology-related aspects and a ton of love.
I highly recommend this to horror/thriller fans that enjoy read filled with twists that will keep you guessing and a dash of sci-fi that adds a very intense layer to the story!
Following the Dead Tracks by Aiden Merchant is such an atmospheric and heartwarming tale!
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Let’s dive into this very quick review!
When Ben is invited to go for a walk on the Dead Tracks with his new boyfriend, Kyle, Ben is excited to see why Kyle goes for this midnight walk every week. Once they get to the tracks, Ben gets nervous, thinking that this is some kind of set up… But what he’s about to see will shock him more than a silly jump-scare.
Oh my goodness. This story was wonderful! It begins like a totally normal YA tale, but once we’re on the tracks, the upbeat atmosphere suddenly turns dark and worrisome…
I absolutely loved the flow of the story and I thought that the two characters were wonderful. What a great first read for me from Mr. Merchant! I cannot wait to dive into more!
And if you check this one out, make sure to stay tuned! In the authors note, Aiden Merchant mentions that he is going to continue this story in a longer form. I CANNOT WAIT! I’m so here for that!
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Let’s dive into this very quick review!
When Ben is invited to go for a walk on the Dead Tracks with his new boyfriend, Kyle, Ben is excited to see why Kyle goes for this midnight walk every week. Once they get to the tracks, Ben gets nervous, thinking that this is some kind of set up… But what he’s about to see will shock him more than a silly jump-scare.
Oh my goodness. This story was wonderful! It begins like a totally normal YA tale, but once we’re on the tracks, the upbeat atmosphere suddenly turns dark and worrisome…
I absolutely loved the flow of the story and I thought that the two characters were wonderful. What a great first read for me from Mr. Merchant! I cannot wait to dive into more!
And if you check this one out, make sure to stay tuned! In the authors note, Aiden Merchant mentions that he is going to continue this story in a longer form. I CANNOT WAIT! I’m so here for that!
White Pines by Gemma Amor is a tragical tale about a woman that inherits an old home from her grandmother only to discover that she has much more history there than she could remember. Unfortunately, before her memories begin to return, the area sinks hooks into her and it won’t her go.
This is a book that I highly recommend you go into as dark as possible! If you check out the synopsis, you’ll see that it’s very light, and I definitely think that was intentional!
As such, I will keep my notes light as well without any spoilers.
The tale was very character driven as we focused on the journey of the main character, Megan, from her abrupt move to the house she inherited to adjusting to the new town, and so much more.
In addition to Megs, there was also a man named Matthew that was incredibly pushy but also protective and sweet, a curious young boy named Luke, and various towns people from both the mainland and the island. I couldn’t help but keep anxiously reading, hoping for a happy ending for all…
I know I say that many reads are like rollercoaster rides… this one was more like going on the Tower of Terror, but getting in at the top and dropping right away before slowly climbing back up just to drop again and again and again.
Phew! I mean, the number of scenes that brought me to a complete halt as I just couldn’t believe what was happening…
I can’t wait for you to discover what awaits you in the pages of White Pines!
My Favorite Passages
But the memories linger like smoke in the air.
And at that point I realized, with a lucid type of panic, that I was dreaming. Dreaming, but unable to jerk myself awake. This was a nightmare, and, as with all nightmares, the rules of reality did not apply. But, unlike most nightmares, I found I could not escape from it.
I could not find a footing at all, emotionally. It was like someone else was sitting inside my brain, idly flipping through different feelings and memories without being able to settle on any one moment, or state.
One moment there were trees all around, the next, a bright moon shone down upon us, as if curtains had been thrown open to let the night back in. It illuminated the white tree trunks, and I could see they made a large, bright, surreal circle that stretched out before us, within which we now stood, tiny, insignificant, off to one side.
My Final Thoughts
This story is just screaming for an adaptation! Gemma’s use of description and overall character development and intense plot are just too good to pass up.
While reading this, I certainly went through a range of emotions! If you enjoy horror reads with a strong sense of mystery centered around a cult and a terrifying beast, then this will be a hit for you!
I cannot wait to pick up more of Gemma’s work soon!
This is a book that I highly recommend you go into as dark as possible! If you check out the synopsis, you’ll see that it’s very light, and I definitely think that was intentional!
As such, I will keep my notes light as well without any spoilers.
The tale was very character driven as we focused on the journey of the main character, Megan, from her abrupt move to the house she inherited to adjusting to the new town, and so much more.
In addition to Megs, there was also a man named Matthew that was incredibly pushy but also protective and sweet, a curious young boy named Luke, and various towns people from both the mainland and the island. I couldn’t help but keep anxiously reading, hoping for a happy ending for all…
I know I say that many reads are like rollercoaster rides… this one was more like going on the Tower of Terror, but getting in at the top and dropping right away before slowly climbing back up just to drop again and again and again.
Phew! I mean, the number of scenes that brought me to a complete halt as I just couldn’t believe what was happening…
I can’t wait for you to discover what awaits you in the pages of White Pines!
My Favorite Passages
But the memories linger like smoke in the air.
And at that point I realized, with a lucid type of panic, that I was dreaming. Dreaming, but unable to jerk myself awake. This was a nightmare, and, as with all nightmares, the rules of reality did not apply. But, unlike most nightmares, I found I could not escape from it.
I could not find a footing at all, emotionally. It was like someone else was sitting inside my brain, idly flipping through different feelings and memories without being able to settle on any one moment, or state.
One moment there were trees all around, the next, a bright moon shone down upon us, as if curtains had been thrown open to let the night back in. It illuminated the white tree trunks, and I could see they made a large, bright, surreal circle that stretched out before us, within which we now stood, tiny, insignificant, off to one side.
My Final Thoughts
This story is just screaming for an adaptation! Gemma’s use of description and overall character development and intense plot are just too good to pass up.
While reading this, I certainly went through a range of emotions! If you enjoy horror reads with a strong sense of mystery centered around a cult and a terrifying beast, then this will be a hit for you!
I cannot wait to pick up more of Gemma’s work soon!
Peck by Aiden Merchant is a short splatterpunk tale about a man that goes on a bender and then finds himself in quite a pickle…
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Let’s dive into this very quick review!
When this tale begins, I actually felt a bit wobbly reading the description of our main character who was drunk and stumbling around an alley. While quick, the scene was just so vivid that it really plays out in your head while reading!
In his drunken stupor, the main character runs into someone wearing a mask… And from there, we’re off on quite the dark and horrifying splatterpunk tale!
This short story really packed a punch! It also had a major unsettling vibe to it throughout. And my gosh… that ending. I got quite the chuckle out of it!
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Let’s dive into this very quick review!
When this tale begins, I actually felt a bit wobbly reading the description of our main character who was drunk and stumbling around an alley. While quick, the scene was just so vivid that it really plays out in your head while reading!
In his drunken stupor, the main character runs into someone wearing a mask… And from there, we’re off on quite the dark and horrifying splatterpunk tale!
This short story really packed a punch! It also had a major unsettling vibe to it throughout. And my gosh… that ending. I got quite the chuckle out of it!
Wild Minds by Aiden Merchant is a chilling tale about a man that isolates himself at a cabin to write. But at that cabin, there is something in the woods watching him…
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Trigger Warning: A brave dog goes to the farm upstate and as a reader, we see the aftermath.
My goodness. I just love tales centered around someone isolating themselves in a cabin! Take that, and add in both a snow storm that has blocked the roads AND a terrifying monster?! A perfect recipe for me!
This short story had amazing atmosphere! I love that we very quickly went from seeing the monster as a writing muse to being horrified by it.
I found myself feeling like I was getting a bit angsty the further into the story I got. When I finally hit the ending, it was with quite the pair of mixed feelings; both shock and relief that I could come up to breathe again. What a tale!!
I highly recommend this story to those that enjoy getting themselves lost in the darkness of a horror tale!
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Trigger Warning: A brave dog goes to the farm upstate and as a reader, we see the aftermath.
My goodness. I just love tales centered around someone isolating themselves in a cabin! Take that, and add in both a snow storm that has blocked the roads AND a terrifying monster?! A perfect recipe for me!
This short story had amazing atmosphere! I love that we very quickly went from seeing the monster as a writing muse to being horrified by it.
I found myself feeling like I was getting a bit angsty the further into the story I got. When I finally hit the ending, it was with quite the pair of mixed feelings; both shock and relief that I could come up to breathe again. What a tale!!
I highly recommend this story to those that enjoy getting themselves lost in the darkness of a horror tale!
Malorie by Josh Malerman is the fast-paced, heart-pumping sequel to one of my all time favorite books, Bird Box.
When the preorders for this one opened up, I ordered it immediately! I couldn’t wait to be immersed back in this terrifying world!
I think this is a book that’s best to go in as blind as possible, so feel free to stop here and scroll to the last section. This will be a pretty short one.
So first things first… my goodness. The first section set at The Jane Tucker School for the Blind… This scene had me absolutely TERRIFIED. It all happened so quickly and I loved that, per usual, the reader is left in the dark just like the main character, Malorie. I was so antsy to see if we would learn more about what had happened here before the end of the book.
That terror that I felt with that first scene continued through the first half of Chapter One as well. And boy were there some spooky parallels to a scene in the first book in this first chapter. It gave me goosebumps while reading, and it’s giving me goosebumps to think about each of the scenes again now while typing up this review!
After the initial dose of terror, the story absolutely did not let up until the very end. Needless to say, I was totally hooked!
Just like the first book, this story made me feel wicked claustrophobic and unsettled throughout. I loved all of the twists and turns as well as the overall sense of dread and fear mixed with a bit of hope.
My only very slight irk was that some of it felt like it went a little too fast. I would have happily read more to really dive into each setting rather than jumping quickly from scene to scene. I’m very curious to see if I feel this way after reading it a second time!
My Favorite Passages
She’s scared.
It’s not the nicest thing to realize. Because once it begins, once the initial, hot tendrils tickle your arms and legs, flow down your back and calves, it’s hard to stop the feeling from growing to its full size: panic.
The old constructs of good and bad have long been replaced with safe and unsafe.
My Final Thoughts
If you enjoyed the first book, I definitely recommend checking this one out! It was so much fun to see what happened next and get a little bit of closure on things. I certainly walked away from this one feeling satisfied!
Someday soon, I would like to re-read both of these books back to back! Especially after learning some key information toward the end of this one…
I can’t wait for you to read this if you haven’t yet!! Enjoy!
When the preorders for this one opened up, I ordered it immediately! I couldn’t wait to be immersed back in this terrifying world!
I think this is a book that’s best to go in as blind as possible, so feel free to stop here and scroll to the last section. This will be a pretty short one.
So first things first… my goodness. The first section set at The Jane Tucker School for the Blind… This scene had me absolutely TERRIFIED. It all happened so quickly and I loved that, per usual, the reader is left in the dark just like the main character, Malorie. I was so antsy to see if we would learn more about what had happened here before the end of the book.
That terror that I felt with that first scene continued through the first half of Chapter One as well. And boy were there some spooky parallels to a scene in the first book in this first chapter. It gave me goosebumps while reading, and it’s giving me goosebumps to think about each of the scenes again now while typing up this review!
After the initial dose of terror, the story absolutely did not let up until the very end. Needless to say, I was totally hooked!
Just like the first book, this story made me feel wicked claustrophobic and unsettled throughout. I loved all of the twists and turns as well as the overall sense of dread and fear mixed with a bit of hope.
My only very slight irk was that some of it felt like it went a little too fast. I would have happily read more to really dive into each setting rather than jumping quickly from scene to scene. I’m very curious to see if I feel this way after reading it a second time!
My Favorite Passages
She’s scared.
It’s not the nicest thing to realize. Because once it begins, once the initial, hot tendrils tickle your arms and legs, flow down your back and calves, it’s hard to stop the feeling from growing to its full size: panic.
The old constructs of good and bad have long been replaced with safe and unsafe.
My Final Thoughts
If you enjoyed the first book, I definitely recommend checking this one out! It was so much fun to see what happened next and get a little bit of closure on things. I certainly walked away from this one feeling satisfied!
Someday soon, I would like to re-read both of these books back to back! Especially after learning some key information toward the end of this one…
I can’t wait for you to read this if you haven’t yet!! Enjoy!
Last Case at a Baggage Auction by Eric J. Guignard is an eerie tale about two men that can’t resist the call of bidding on forgotten or lost luggage. But what they find in the cases isn’t always what they had been hoping for…
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Let’s dive in!
First things first, that cover rules! That table has such a spooky look to it with the wood panel at the bottom. I also love the overall coloring of the background and how well the text pops!
This story was character driven and centered around something that was found in one of the cases that was won at a baggage auction.
Speaking of, I gotta say that I had never heard of a baggage auction before. What an idea! I’ve heard of something similar that people do when storage rentals go unpaid and unclaimed. For some reason the thought of a baggage auction feels much much more personal, but much more spooky at the same time to me. Just thinking about what someone may have accidentally left behind…
This short book hooked me immediately and it just pulled me in deeper and deeper as I got further into the story. It was a book that I found myself doing what my husband absolutely hates- walking around while reading and not paying attention to where I’m going! I just couldn’t stop reading!
One of my favorite elements of Mr. Guignard’s writing style is how he describes the setting. In this book, he does it in a way that gives the reader just enough to start the outline of the room, but also leaves some of it up to the reader to fill in the finer details. There were so many scenes that I began reading and immediately found that I had mapped it all out in my head. For example, the main characters apartment, that first description was perfect.
The main character wasn’t super lovable for me personally, as I wanted to reach through my kindle screen to smack him upside the head numerous times for being silly! However, he was wicked intriguing and I couldn’t help but root for him! When I hit the end of the book, I realized that I would have happily read much more about what happened next. But I’m also totally satisfied where the book ended as it again, lets the reader fill in some of the blanks.
I don’t want to speak too much on the plot, as I think you should go into this one as dark as you can. So I’ll just say that it is one that will certainly stick in my mind for a long time with how creepy it was!
One more note- I thought that the illustrations created by Steve Lines that were scattered throughout were wonderful! I’m definitely going to need to snag this in print to see them on paper!
My Favorite Passages
1963 was half over and I felt old and slow, as if the year sped past, shooting clouds of dust at me as it blew by.
His apartment was about ten rooms down from the elevator bank. I had walked the distance a thousand times before, but never before with this sense of dread. Every footfall moved in slow motion, and the distance seemed to triple.
My Final Thoughts
A must read for fans of lighter horror mixed with elements of mystery and the paranormal.
I had so much fun reading this and cannot wait to return to it again soon! This is another tale that is just screaming for an adaptation!
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Let’s dive in!
First things first, that cover rules! That table has such a spooky look to it with the wood panel at the bottom. I also love the overall coloring of the background and how well the text pops!
This story was character driven and centered around something that was found in one of the cases that was won at a baggage auction.
Speaking of, I gotta say that I had never heard of a baggage auction before. What an idea! I’ve heard of something similar that people do when storage rentals go unpaid and unclaimed. For some reason the thought of a baggage auction feels much much more personal, but much more spooky at the same time to me. Just thinking about what someone may have accidentally left behind…
This short book hooked me immediately and it just pulled me in deeper and deeper as I got further into the story. It was a book that I found myself doing what my husband absolutely hates- walking around while reading and not paying attention to where I’m going! I just couldn’t stop reading!
One of my favorite elements of Mr. Guignard’s writing style is how he describes the setting. In this book, he does it in a way that gives the reader just enough to start the outline of the room, but also leaves some of it up to the reader to fill in the finer details. There were so many scenes that I began reading and immediately found that I had mapped it all out in my head. For example, the main characters apartment, that first description was perfect.
The main character wasn’t super lovable for me personally, as I wanted to reach through my kindle screen to smack him upside the head numerous times for being silly! However, he was wicked intriguing and I couldn’t help but root for him! When I hit the end of the book, I realized that I would have happily read much more about what happened next. But I’m also totally satisfied where the book ended as it again, lets the reader fill in some of the blanks.
I don’t want to speak too much on the plot, as I think you should go into this one as dark as you can. So I’ll just say that it is one that will certainly stick in my mind for a long time with how creepy it was!
One more note- I thought that the illustrations created by Steve Lines that were scattered throughout were wonderful! I’m definitely going to need to snag this in print to see them on paper!
My Favorite Passages
1963 was half over and I felt old and slow, as if the year sped past, shooting clouds of dust at me as it blew by.
His apartment was about ten rooms down from the elevator bank. I had walked the distance a thousand times before, but never before with this sense of dread. Every footfall moved in slow motion, and the distance seemed to triple.
My Final Thoughts
A must read for fans of lighter horror mixed with elements of mystery and the paranormal.
I had so much fun reading this and cannot wait to return to it again soon! This is another tale that is just screaming for an adaptation!