shawna_reads's Reviews (471)

"That's the thing though. Everyone went on vacation here when they were a kid. When you're on vacation you don't see the rot. You don't see the rust or the nasty words graffitied on hidden walls. You don't see the pain, the sadness, the evil, the dull, gray, never-ending boredom that leads people to drink and smoke and fight and die... You don't see a murder house. You don't see anything." 

After the death of her mother, Sarah's life spirals into depression and an overdose. It was an accident, but her kids don't think so. Her husband, Patrick, decides they all need a fresh start - move into his childhood home, known as the Murder House due to the deaths that occured in the past 15 years. Patrick believes they can bring life back into the home, but strange things start happening. Sarah knows something's wrong, and delves to discover the truth behind the house and Patrick's past. 

I think this book wins the award for most annoying characters ever. I've never been so frustrated as I raged at each member of the family - the lack of communication and responsibility, unpredictability, and the spiral into dysfunction. With that being said, everything about it is what made the book work. It was very well written to the point where I constantly thought, "Do I hate this person or do I feel bad for them?" Each character's personality fleshed out the story and kept the flow going. 

There were a lot of twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat. Everytime I suspected one thing, something else happened to have me re-evaluate the story. The more we delved into Patrick's past, the more lies came to light. I enjoyed how the story slowly unraveled itself and the ending was shocking. 

It's been awhile since I've read a psychological thriller that reeled me right in and held my interest. This book was dark and compelling!

"Suspicion is an insidious thing." 

Karen and Tom are a happy couple living in New York. One day, Tom returns home to find that Karen has vanished. The police show up to inform him that there has been an accident and takes him to the hospital. Karen has suffered memory loss from her concussion, leaving her unable to remember why she was found in a bad part of town where a murder had occurred. 

This was your average thriller filled with typical thriller tropes - lies, deceit, strangers, and unreliable characters. Karen is a suspect in a murder case after crashing her car near the crime scene. The police find it convenient that she doesn't remember anything, but when her memory slowly comes back it then becomes a race of deceiving everyone and proving her innocence. 

I'll admit, there were a few twists and turns I did not see coming that had me flipping through the pages quickly to see what would happen next, but other than that, the characters were bland and annoying, and the story itself was mediocre.

"He said that sometimes the universe swallows up a piece of itself. That there are hidden places in our world that only some are allowed to witness."

Clandestine House is known as the house that swallows people. Anyone who has lived there has disappeared without a trace. It has been empty until an out of town buyer, Hannah, decides to purchase it and start a new life. Soon she will know whether it was a good idea or not.

Alright, let's get down to business. The first thing I'm going to point out is the general format of the novella. There were formatting issues throughout where there were extra line breaks in paragraphs, but a new idea was not introduced (you know when it's suddenly double spaced you know a new idea or part of the story is about to start). Or random breaks in paragraphs where the last words of a sentence suddenly started in the next paragraph? I know, it makes no sense. Also, there were a LOT of typos and grammatical errors, it was embarrassing. I don't mind the odd spelling mistake in full length novels because nobody is perfect and it takes a lot to edit. But for a novella under 150 pages, there should not be a typo or grammatical error on every other page 😬

Now the story itself. I honestly don't have much to say, and that says a lot because my favourite horror trope is haunted houses. It was boring af and the characters were dull. Like who buys a house without seeing it or looking up its history? Dumb people, I tell you! The only thing I liked about this story (that actually made me bump my rating to 2⭐️) was the use of mirrors and how it acted like portals for the ghosts. That may be a spoiler, but I don't recommend this book anyway.

"Even a devil's heart isn't just for beating." 

Autopsy Bliss writes an ad in the newspaper inviting the devil to the town of Brethed. A boy named Sal suddenly shows up claiming he is the devil. Autopsy's son, Fielding, befriends him and welcomes him in his home. Soon, the townspeople start acting weird and strange events occur. Is Sal really who he says he is or is he just an intellectual 13 year old boy? 

I was not prepared for the emotional damage this book caused me 😭 There was SO much going on; themes of good vs. evil, love, homophobia, racism, and redemption were all present. This book really made me think and feel while exploring these important themes that McDaniel did a wonderful job depicting. 

I loved the narration, how it went back and forth from Fielding in present day as an old man to his childhood and the story of how he met Sal. I liked the fact that there were so many characters, but we got a good glimpse into each of their personalities, intertwining their lives together even when the town was going crazy because of the heat (or the devil). 

This was a beautifully written story from start to finish. A raw, powerful book that kept me captivated throughout. If you haven't read this yet, be prepared for the strong emotions evoked because it will happen 🥲

"The business of dying keeps different hours than the business of living."

Four friends at Cooper Chase, a retirement village, meet up once a week for the Thursday Murder Club where they investigate unsolved murders. One day, an employee of the residence is brutally murdered and the club finds themselves in the middle of a real life investigation. 

This was the perfect cozy mystery I was looking for to get me out of my reading slump. I loved everything about it, from the characters to the setting to the mysterious vibes. I enjoyed playing detective and trying to solve the murders alongside our lovely main characters. Everytime I suspected someone, more clues came up and I kept changing my mind on who the culprit was. This book was filled with so many twists and turns that kept me intrigued. 

The main characters were absolutely amazing! Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron were all pushing 80 yet they appeared to be energetic and lively. I had so much fun reading about them, and Osman did a great job in developing such wonderful characters and the different quirks they all brought to the table.

This was an interesting mystery that had me turning the pages quickly. It was fun, puzzling, and quirky. I now need to buy the second book asap knowing that the third one will be out soon. I can't recommend this book enough! 😁

"Bad shit happens to good people all the time. You can't help natural disasters, but people were the worst kind of disaster, hands down." 

Magdalena works as an exotic dancer to take care of her teenaged sister after the death of their parents. These sisters are part of the jaguar shifters bloodline, and the San Antonio Stripper Ripper is out looking for a specific kind of blood. 

This was a fun, quick read! It had strong female characters, Mexican culture, blood and gore, and shapeshifters. I've always read stories about werewolves so it was refreshing to have a story about a different shapeshifter. I also loved the relationship between the sisters and the supernatural elements sprinkled throughout. 

My only complaint was that I wish this novella was longer. It could have easily been a full length novel, developing the characters and plotline further. However, that didn't take away my enjoyment!

"The Gulp has a habit of swallowing people. But sometimes it spits one out." 

Strange things occur in the town of Gulpepper, known as the Gulp to those who live there. The residents are used to their small town, but they know it is like no other. The Gulp comprises of 5 horror stories. 

I really enjoyed this collection! The fact that all of the stories were interconnected in one way or another made it that much more compelling, catching people or events from previous stories in the next one. From a trucker who doesn't believe the stories of Gulpepper to teen siblings covering up the death of their mother to a creepy rock band to a man losing a drug shipment to a weird rock fisher, all of these stories bring something macabre to the table. 

I know for a fact that I would never want to take one step in this harbour town. Everyone seems to know or have heard of one another yet they all harbour their own secrets. The stories were dark, creepy and unsettling, building on this sense of dread as you move on from one tale to the next. Out of the 5 stories, The Band Plays On and 48 To Go were my favourites. 

I highly recommend this collection and I look forward to spending more time in The Gulp with The Fall! 

"We're all going to die. Because the dead are lonely in the dark, and they all miss the sun." 

An abandoned mansion in Japan rests on the bones of a bride and the girls that were buried with her as sacrifices - it is the perfect wedding venue for a thrill-seeking couple and their friends. However, a fun night soon spirals into a nightmare when the old bride appears. 

It's a shame that the cover is the only good thing about this book in my opinion. It had a lot of potential as the premise sounded very interesting, but unfortunately, the story itself did not deliver. It was filled with annoying characters who all seemed to dislike each other and have had some kind of intimate relationship with one another. It was tedious and strayed away from the main plot, making it feel less of a horror story. 

However, I was very interested in the Japanese folklore as I don't know a lot of cultural myths pertaining to Japan. I feel like the author should have explored more in-depth about the myth itself and fleshed out the Ohaguro-Bettari (I was fascinated so I googled it) to make the story more compelling and worthwhile.

"There are fears in the airs and on the earth that can call up a fire in your heart whose ash will blacken all hope." 

Set in colonial New England, a woman goes missing, or has possibly ran away, or possibly been kidnapped. She finds herself alone wandering a forest until she meets another woman. Everything changes as she goes on a journey that takes her deep in the woods while discovering herself. 

This is one of those books where nothing makes sense and you spend the entire time trying to understand what it all means. The main character, who comes to be called Goody, has one strange experience after the next that makes the reader unsure whether it is all a dream or if it's reality. 

So much happens in this book, but I don't want to go into too much detail as it's only just over 200 pages long and it's something you should experience for yourself. It is whimsical and bizarre, a story that looks at betrayal, revenge, and redemption. Other characters are introduced as Goody meets Captain Jane and Eliza, women of the woods who become a part of her adventure. We do not know their true intentions, yet they appear to be strong and knowledgeable. 

I am still unsure how I feel about books written like a fever dream. I enjoy strange books and I wanted to love it, but perhaps the confusion of it all got the best of me. However, the ending ties everything together nicely as it resolves some questions I had throughout. 

"People liked to see other people die, but hearing the process made it real. Made the experience that much more personal." 

Simon Hinch is a Gore Reporter. He spends his nights prowling for violence in hopes of recording something gruesome to sell to the highest bidder. One night, he comes across a dying man in the streets and, instead of helping, he records him. The video goes viral and life is good for Simon until a series of strange things start happening to his phone, effecting him and his loved ones. 

It is a sad reality how much people focus on likes and being popular on the internet. Recording videos of tragedies to have the best post go viral instead of helping those in need or, in this case, someone dying. I liked how Felix took this concept and twisted it into a compelling story. 

Everything about this novella was great - a selfish protagonist, death, strange occurences, karma, and a ghost. The supernatural aspect was perfect as it made for a gory and chilling story that had me glued to the pages until the end. I enjoyed the pacing of the book and the nonstop action. This definitely made for a great modern day horror story. 

I don't want to say anything else as it is a quick read, but I highly recommend it. This was my first book by Felix and certainly not the last!