There's something special about carnival-themed gothic horror - that unique combination of wonder and terror can really get under your skin… and linger long after the story ends. It's one of my favourite genres, and Quill & Crow has pulled together a fantastic collection with Carnival Macabre.

Some of the contributors got very creative when integrating the carnival theme into their stories - prepare to be surprised. My personal favourite from the collection is Penny For Your Fortune by Katerini Koraki, but all of the stories are as equally fun and terrifying. So, horror enthusiasts - give it a go! (You’ll thank me later)

Quill & Crow sent me an ebook for review. (And I loved it so much I bought the paperback!)

I had no idea the movie The Crow was based on a graphic novel. The artwork and story is fantastic, and the intro from O'Barr explains how it was inspired by a tragedy in his own life. It's heavy stuff, but definitely worth reading. 

An entertaining and faithful adaptation for younger readers. 

This is meant to be an adaptation for young readers, but it feels like they took too much out of the story. It made it feel too disjointed and I think would confuse the reader. 

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

 

As soon as I read the summary for The Honeys I knew I would love it. It’s a delightfully gruesome YA horror story featuring a non-binary main character, Mars. 

 

I adore how Ryan La Sala wrote Mars. They felt so real and solid; in fact I’d say all of La Sala’s characters were fantastically written. Because of that I found myself quickly drawn into the book and just could not put it down. As for the story, from the very first page it knocked me sideways, and left me questioning what was real and what was only happening in Mars’ head. There were also so many unexpected twists and turns in the plot that it kept me off-balance right to the very end. Just as well-written horror should.

I think this book is my favourite of the Lane Winslow series. Wonderfully written, with multiple mysteries intertwining in unexpected ways. I loved it.

Iona has further opened up the world of King's Cove by bringing in Canada's shameful history of First Nations erasure. In the afterward she explains her careful research into the history and cultural practices of the Lakes People, and you can really see it come through in the thoughtful way she wrote one of the central characters in the story. I really hope he comes back in future books.