roadtripreader's Reviews (357)

 The end of the world has exponential growth. - Signalman on outerspace "covid"

What's a horror without a cult, the occult and Crowley poking his nose in there for good measure? This has it all. Cultist ramblings into conspiratorial "gibberish" (that may or may not be rooted in some version of truth), a human who may or may not be of the super alien or demon variety, a host of shadowy government agencies of the three-letter variety and maybe just maybe some offworld-extraterrestrial heebie jeebies.

This novella wears many hats.   An ode to X-Files, olde classic scifi-fantasy Hollywood and yet, it is also Lovecraftian in a Color out of Space sort of way. Time jumping, pop culture, classics, maybe alien, with hints of eldritch otherness round out the edges to complete this first installment

Plot/Storyline:
Effectively  done "WTF did I just read" type of story.  All shadows and code and skulduggery. There is a Grimm undertone. What big Eyes you have., Paradise Lost and Dantes Inferno make an appearance and it is woven into the foundations of this horror.

-0.5 Perhaps thats one too many callbacks to different literature and art pieces to create whatever eery atmosphere it is going for.

-1 I love a non linear timeline as much as any temporal Scifi fan out there. Playing tricks with time to tell a story is usually one of my favorite literary devices.  It felt, at times, haphazard and yet meandering.

Characters:  
I really want to say that Drew was just a dumbass, a predatorial opportunistic and ultimately dangerous cockroach. A Charismatic nutjob. Would that I could.

Favorite scene:
The best foreshadowing never seems like foreshadowing.
8 year old Signalman watching a cursed Hollywood scifi-fantasy opera thst doomed everyone involved with the production.

Favorite Quote/Concept:
Some stains sink straight through to the soul and are never coming out.

Also, are we ever going to get the answers to Signalman's questions because I for one am beyond interested in the mythos behind Immacolata Sexton:
♤Is it true what they say about your mother?About your father?
♤About Berlin and the night the Wall came down?
♤Is it true what they say about the night you were born?

You can’t be scared and hungry at the same time, he says. If you’re scared, it scares the hunger out of you.

In names is all the power of a splitting atom, and if you steal names, you steal hope

StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Horror books by 2025 

 "This place is cursed, that place is cursed - you're not happy without a good curse"- The Mummy (1999)

I couldn't help it, this book made me go binge-watch my favorites: Brandon Frasier and Rachel Weiszin The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. What a good book to be able to do that. Yes yes it's horror but cmon; not-so-intrepid adventurers forming a little band off tomb raiders of to find ancient livery. I mean talk about nostalgia.

The Egyptology department is dead - well in this book it is and that's as much a tragedy as the death of a character who is only mentioned and recalled in memory; Clara.  She is the reason for this archeological expedition - to honor her memory. What ensues is classic Curse of the Antiquities story. Marvelous. 

In keeping with the overaching themes of faith, religion and unanswered prayers. I so love finding hidden gems and then "preaching the word" of great storytelling to anyone who'll listen. If I were going door to door - this would be one of the gems.

"Excuse me ma'am, do you have time to talk about the good word of The Eater of Gods, and a few more in my briefcase?" - Me in an alternate reality pushing books like a Jehovah's witness on a neighborhood crawl.

Plot/Storyline:   taking place in the exotic hellscape of Libya (post Gaddafi, current civil war, migrant slavery, hopelessness) these characters navigate a ravaged area filled with the tail end of what moral degradation in a society looks like at the end. Bullet holes everywhere. Only money talks, but in riddles and full of lies.

Hazred says of the God-Eater: As for some curse… let it come. If this thing is real, I hope she starts with Allah.”

Characters:   in the words of Norman: Fucking Cal but also, I pity everyone, let me mourn you all.

Favorite scenes:  Too many.
●“Growers and showers,” Charlie said around a second yawn. “Egyptian culture was all about the visible size because it’s an open desert, but not Libya. This place wasn’t always so arid. People out this way built down, not up.” (Charlie on the anticlimactic visage of The House of Kiya-ten.)

● -1 If we're being pedantic about explorers wearing biohazard protective masks to enter an ancient ruin, consistency demands that they wear the whole kit and kaboodle. Not just the masks. Spores enter the skin through every pore - face and elsewhere.


Favorite Quotes/Concepts:
●These things were ancient to ancient people. (Anita on the mystery of Kiya-ten)

●Grave robbing is like prostitution, it’s only illegal if you don’t film it and distribute it. Then it’s academic. Or pornography.” (Charlie on the essence of Excavative Archaeology)

●Ma’am isn’t an answer. A bomb is expanding gas in a sealed box. Gases expand until the pressure rips the box apart. This is a stone box. We are in the bomb. And get your hand off your gun when I’m talking to you or I’ll take it from you and have you sit in the corner. Do you understand?” (Anita on being a sensible badass.)

StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Horror Books by 2025 

Frozen Tundra Western Indigenous  Horror.

One of my "judged by the cover didn't read the blurb" choices. About six times out of ten, it's worked out positively for my mind. This is one of those times. How frightfully delightful.

No good ever comes from hiking in the wilderness, spelunking in caves and trying to crawl up mountains like furless monkeys. But without all the wondering around,  getting lost in deserts, jungles, forests and now cities, there'd be no horror or cautionary tales. Without all the stupid decisions and one wrong step, one missed turn - there'd be no thrilling horror.  Also, we live on a round space rockriddled with exploding drooling lava mountains and we float around a giant flaming fireball . What's a little "getting lost in the wilderness" at the end of the day?

So yeah, go wild in the wilderness if it means we get stories like these once in a while. That reminds me, I need to order some camping gear for my weekend getaway.

Plot/Storyline:  
- 1A ton of foreshadowing almost ruined the ending for me.  Oh yes and this: her mom, her mom, her mom her mom ad infinitum - it's the curse of third person pov ... possessive determiner repetition if you're not careful. It's tricky to write around that but Nola tried further into the story.

Vivid imagery, you can almost see the snow covered slopes, the ravine leading the the riverbed, the tall white furred creature stalking through the words. The writing plays on the senses, I could almost smell the rotting.

Characters: -0.5
I can't pinpoint why but something about this story and the characters was a tad predictable, like replaying the same old chess game and knowing where all the pieces on the board would end up.  So I focused all my attention on the Wendigo and in that, I was not disappointed .

Favorite scene:  Bishop the Bloodhound. The man, the myth, the legend.

Favorite Quote/Concept:
■Indigenous representation in modern literature is few and far between. I loved that so much of tbis, from Bishop"s character to the terrifying creature was steeped in Native lore.

■Casey's camping equipment and sponsored stuff sent me down a youtube rabbit hole and now I'm subscribe to a bunch of channels I'll be wondering why I joined 6 months from now.

StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Horror books by 2025

Yeah okay so, I skipped all the way to the novella because no way was I heading into book two without being certain these people were going to make it. Well, would you look at that - Aren and Lara managed to burrow a little deeper into my little heart and here I am teary eyed and satisfied with the outcome.

Romance: This one feels more like a love story and more to do with two people finding their way back to trust and understanding after lies and betrayals..

Plot/Storyline: The events take place after book two and there are maybe two or three light spoilers but technically it could be read as a standalone-ish because the characters basically summarise the events of the first book mainly in their inner monologue and a bit of the second book.

Characters:
We start out with Aren's point of view and he is apologetic and in awe of Lara. I love a good apology and big soppy declarations of love. They're cringey onscreen but in a book - bring it.

“I know your worth. I see it every time I look at you, know it every time I hear your voice. You have nothing to prove, but I do. I need to prove to you that I will always be at your side, no matter what we face.” (Aren to Lara.)

Lara is as fiery as ever and remains a badass even injured.

Favorite scene/quote:
Uhm...there is a whole scene where Aren and Lara are mid-coitus (yes it's exactly as it sounds), Nana is a hellhound with no regard for blushing, humiliation or privacy and the guards are standing there like idiots watching the whole scene. I cackled.

Also - Lara and Sharks, interesting.

 

BIRTHDAY REREAD: Also it literally fits my Under and Over The Seas Theme for March

Because Lara is badass even though she was brainwashed plus it's International Women's Day and my B-day and what better way to relax post-barbecue than with a book where a woman is so skilled she went snooping around naked through the bathing springs on her first day in enemy territory. I wish I was that committed to ... stuff.

It's a five this time around and it might just be the mass hit off dopamine and serotonin from having the best day ever but it's espionage, blue water, a hidden bridge, a sexy king and so much lush jungle I bloody loved it.
*******************************************************************************
You always look like you want to kill someone,” he remarked. “Possibly me.” - and we're off! This book shut down my Romantasy fatigue fast.

Espionage and Spy games full of intrigue. My wanderlust demands that I book travel to  Ithiicana (for the bridge not the humidity), Harendell, Maridrina, Amarid and Valcotta.  Hold on, wait a minute... is it visa-free travel or what? Either way, find me a carriage please. Roadtrip!

Romance: Misconceptions and  a slow burn frothing with tension.🌶🌶  I have enjoyed this.

Lara on her first impressions of Aren: As delightful as gutting her husband would be, it wouldn’t solve Maridrina’s problems.
Aren on his first impressions on Lara via Ahnna: Most precious daughter, my ass. I’d bet he has boots that are more precious to him than that girl.

Plot/Storyline: Great worldbuilding and playing both sides up to the reader. I can't hate the Ithicanians even though they're in a position of power but the cracks are there and no one knows this because massive masked soldiers make one hell of a PR statement: "Dont Fuck With Us, we're could be demons."  I can't trust the Maridrinian Royals fully- even Lara. And then, there are the surrounding kingdoms all ready to pounce on either nation.

Dialogue - 1. Honestly, the initial language and prose used in the dialogue between the characters was really time-period appropriate.  At some point it shifted, and I can't explain it but sometimes it would yank me out of the immersion. Captain Jor is hilarious though.

Poker was a lazy game to add to this world. I would have loved to see a game that is as unique as the first description of the bridge.

Characters:
■Vitex is the best cat ever. I wonder if he is a Maine Coon.
■I've given up trying to be weary of Aren.  He's just a good man who'd ratherplay soldier but has to be king - I find him endearing.
■ Lara came out swinging in the act and I'm not entirely convinced that she is not the ultimate snake on a jungle full of snakes. Crawling through the castle naked to find Ithicana's secrets after drugging two key characters has cemented her to my FMC Badass Hall of Fame talk about a committed spy.

Favorite scene/quote:

♡♡ Their steel helmets were sculpted like raging beasts with mouths full of snarling teeth and brows bearing curved horns. She could see nothing of the men beneath except their eyes, which seemed to glitter with malice as they watched her pass, hands on swords and pikes. No one spoke; the only sounds were the whistle of the wind between the two towers of rock and the call of the storm beyond  what a wedding.

♤♧A game of cards with King Aren.

◇●Lara's badass sneaky skills during the first Amarid Raiders attack on the bride. She is next level.

♡♡♡Her terror was a wild beast of a thing bent on consuming her. Her chest clenched, her lungs paralyzed, and stars danced across her vision. - that boat scene 

 See here Lady Taryn, being raised in Elfhame, you missed a vital no-brainer lesson from this shitty world of ours - sisters before misters. Comprende? Anyone else would have let the Nixies just drown them rather then make that deal.

This is what happens when one twin tries to manipulate another twin into forgiving her. This is an apology wrapped up in crafty, tricky woe-is-me prose. But Taryn sounds indignant, this is an I'm sorry but...the equivalent of an influencer putting on their worst t-shirt, standing in front of their worst backdrop and issuing the worst nonapology in the hopes that they can maintain their sponsorship deals. You're fooling no one.

Yes, both twins could be said to be self-involved but that's through no fault of their own. They've had to be hyper focused on me-me-me survival in a world where magical fingers point out the humans cruelly and they're met with sneers instead of smiles and tricks instead of treats.

Still, you can't manipulate your way into forgiveness no matter how aggrieved you feel you were in the lead up to plunging the knife in the back.

Bravo to Holly Black for creating a nuanced set of characters one could love and hate and be disappointed in and ultimately feel regret on their behalf.

Living desiccation is given a wide berth as it creeps and crawls its way the spine to become terror mixed with despair.  What a tragedy.  From the moment the mushrooms come into focus and as their stench assaults the senses right up to the emergence of the dilapidated architecture of a historically never-beautiful-always-threatening estate - this story is a slow suffocation to the senses.  I get the distinct sense that the house is suffering from Locked-In Syndrome.

Tinnitus is used as forewarning early one and I immediately turned down the sound on my headphones - granted, I was just listening to some fairytale ambience music but still, the imagery of a creaming high pitched tone rendering our main character immobile while his horse waited patiently was enough to put the fear of loss in me.

To anyone suffering from Tinnitus - my sympathies. This is a haunting masquerading as a few mental disorders beneath a thick coat of old school bigotry. It is unsettlingly poignant.

Plot/Storyline:   The chain of events that draw Alex Easton further in seem gloomy at best, but the story takes a turn, not a sharp turn but enough to change everything horrifically.
Characters:   Roderick and Madeline and that awful house have inspired a new post-it-note to self: Do Not go live in a mansion that looms, or even gives of a whiff of potential looming  Nope.
Favorite scene:  Easton's 4th wall intrusion to give the reader a Gallacian 101 lesson - this memory sequence juxtaposed with the collective held breath in the study watching Roderick and Madeline barely human and leaning more into ghostly form is really interesting.  One is robust and the tale of an expansion of Sworn soldiers and the other is the visual representation of wasting away.

Favorite Quote/Concept: This is one of those rare quotable books.  A few that stood out,
♡ I am a soldier, I deal in cannonballs and rifle shots. Death that simply comes and settles is not a thing I had any experience with. (Easton on Madeline's physical decline)
♡ Marlia Saavendotter is a Gallacian Badass!
♡"They say mushrooms spring up where the Devil walks.  And where faeries dance. (Angus on the cheerless house he "mislikes")

StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Horror books by 2025

 

 There's a bloody big werewolf on our lawn! - Nadja Antipaxos, What We Do In The Shadows, FX

Okay but seriously Nadja hasn't come across delectable werewolves like Jack, I love my vampires and werewolves in Horror and Gothic Fiction.  But thanks to Felix from Mead Mishaps - I've warmed up to this whole crossover into shifter romance.  I want to eat these romances with a spoon chasing it down with some glorious ice cream - it's so good.

Romance : Well If ever there was a time to cool down in an iceberg, I'd say it would be during the reading of this book yikes - I mean yum

Plot/Storyline: Fated mates, A curse, rejection, hunting, howling in the night, running for dear life - I did not know I like ALL of this.  Hhhmm, this subgenre of Romance tickles my fancy

Characters:I just realized this is my second werewolf MMC character in the romance genre and I do find Jack endearing. I do like a man who builds things up. I love that Belinda is so careful not to shine a light on what Jack fear most - his messed up midway-transformed form.  She is gentle and sweet.  Adorable.

Favorite scene/quote: My soul cries out for Jack.Belinda having "The Knowing" and navigating her job as a curse breaker as professionally as possible without blurting our that they are destined, fated and meant to be. 

Blink and you'll miss the slight of hand. Tricksters abound.

This book languished on the TBR for months as I cycled through uncontained excitement, to weariness and full on jaded by the hype and I was sure this book would fall short of my expections. I forgot about it for a while and then got the chance to read it this week through a Book-Buddy post and the rest is history. Thank you Birdii for making this insanely fun.

I've often said I would happily get lost in the woods if it mean stumbling into Faerieland. How disappointing that a wardrobe doesn't lead there, an inconspicuous wall doesn't open up and lead there - heck there isn't even a secret whimsical garden I can sneak into to take me there. Curses. I just want to pack my bags and move to Elhame postehaste.

Romance: The house doesn't fall when the bones a good - well the bones here are treacherous.  Started as passing enemies and ended as enemies. I'm waiting patiently for the To Lovers part of Enemies To Lovers.  I do enjoy a slow burn.

Plot/Storyline: -1 This Book could Easily be called "The Cruel Twin"
A compelling story. Royal Courts? bloodthirsty generals, power hungry daughters, outcast children and an outcast prince and something worse than The Red Wedding and scheming and plotting.  I need a bottle of wine and a good charcuterie for the next installment. Cheese will make everything better.

Characters:
♡♡♡♡♡Vivienne is my girl through and through and when I juxtapose the Duarte sisters response to their kidnapping and life in Elfhame.

Boooooh: Treacherous Twin you know who you are. *sigh* I just want to throw tomatoes at you.

♡♡♡♡Jude makes my heart actually ache. I wanted her to achieve her goals so badly. But her quest for power twisted her. She is Madoc's mirror and more.

♡♡♡♡♡Cardan: it took a while to show us who you are. Jude did you so dirty! And now we have a Wicked King.

♡♡♡♡Locke is a curiosity.  Despite the Lokiness of his betrayal, I do like him

Favorite scene/quote: there are way to many moments. I leave you with this gem:

Cardan: "Give up.”
“Never,” I say.
He smiles, smug. “Never? Never is like forever—too big for mortals to comprehend.”

That river-drowning sequence and Cardan's Bargain to Taryn. 

 A Modicum of Justice for the Lycanthrope Trope- 3.5

Remember when vampires and werewolves dominated entertainment- from Buffy, even Michael Sheen's Lucian in Underworld was worthy, to a lesser extent Hemlock Grove's werewolf, Marvel's Werewolf By Night and big mention goes out to Hugh Jackman's badass wolf in Van Helsing ? Werewolf cosplays were not side-eyed at nerdcon (I say this as a nerd) and there was much love for the dual-creature. And most importantly, it was a giant, bi-pedal wolfman creature. Good Times. 

Now, go back in time and remember Stephanie Meyer almost killed the Vampire and Werewolf genre taking a creative dump on it and muddied the waters turning werewolves into glorified takeout supersized wolves playing kickball with glittery vampires.  You know what - I can't even go there. I just upset myself all over again.

Yeah - this is not that wretched, blasphemous abomination. This is the wolfman, the werewolf, the lycanthrope of old. Less cool, less sexy suave more horrifying apex predator, wild beast and the best part - it could be anyone turning and then forgetting that they just ate their best friend or ripped the head of the local postman.  Although it is missing something - it is very much a werewolf horror Classic.

Plot/Storyline:   I found the month by month victim/prey stats, steady progression of fear to paranoia and uncertainty quite effective storytelling. It's an open buffet - no victim is too small or big, young or old, good or bad for this creature.
Characters:   This town was uncomfortable and filled with secrets long before the werewolf made this its hunting ground.
Favorite scene: Marty and The Fireworks and finally - Milt Sturmfuller receives payment in kind.
Favorite Quote/Concept: This werewolf might just be more than a predator, it might be a psychopath.

StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025 / Top 22 Male Authors (Sci Fi/Fantasy/Horror>
Challenge Prompt: 150 Horror Books by 2025 / Stephen King Series or 3 Standalones.