leahrosereads's Reviews (1.04k)

Love really is THE key!  This was such a good start to the duology and for those who may not love cliffhangers. This teases BUT there is a partial conclusion that really ties this book to a satisfying ending.

I adored the beginning and the end but there was a smidge in the middle that slogged just a tad (for me).  I loved the growth of the characters, and I'm still really hoping for more ik the second book.

I bawled twice and both were surrounding the same character (who I'm hoping to see more of in the second book)!

Got right down to the fucked up horror, which I appreciated. I'm already afraid of the dark, so this got me good! And now, it's time for bed 😬.

It's gonna be a night lights on kinda night.

Werewolf women will always be a good time! Sucks to suck for everyone else, but maybe they shouldn't have been jealous or a hunter.

Feel bad for the kids though.

I found the first Josh Malerman that I liked - this was an excellent short story.  The characters, lore, and setting were fantastic and haunting, and the imp! Woah! I really dug this one.

I'm honestly just really confused by this whole short story, and I have more questions than enjoyment or even thoughts about what I just read.

The cover ended up being more intriguing.

Focusing on the husband's pain, anger, and grief after a miscarriage is something that I haven't read before but Hill gave a really good insight into that grief in under 60 pages here.  It was well paced and long enough that I didn't feel like I was missing any of the story.  The concept of the town and its lore was so fascinating.

Poor poor Will. I dug the concept of this but I think I'd have preferred it if it were substantially shorter or more fleshed out, instead it's this lackluster middle where there wasn't enough explained or inferred until the last 2 pages and that point, I was already checked out even though I didn't want to be.

I'm definitely interested in checking out anything else this author has written because I think I'd give something else a solid 5 stars!

What a bizarre little novelette/long short story. Being in the mad scientist's mind the entire time was a bit maddening but boy was he an interesting character.

This was such an intriguing concept and I found myself unable to put my phone down until I had read through the last page.

I now also want to know more about Elvis Rooms and other similar urban legends.

This was an exquisite, heart-wrenching, contemplative short story of a familial bond bruised but never truly broken even amidst trauma, parenthood, and learning to forgive.

I'm child-free by choice but Etaf's strained memories and relationship with her mother is absolutely something I connected with deeply.

Revenge is a dish best served with brain eating amoebas... That's the saying right?

Political Suicide was my favorite story but there's not a miss in the bunch. This collection is gross, gory, and even orgasmic for one of the characters (strong side eye there lol).

Maybe pass if you're squeamish or don't read while eating.