3.25/5

After reading What Moves the Dead, I've been looking for more atmospheric, creepy horror books and was recommended this. We follow two unnamed individuals canoeing down the Danube. They set up camp for the night in a flooded area on a small island, despite warnings from locals. Soon enough they find out the warnings were based on truth.

- I loved how the book was vague about the characters as their details didn't really matter in way that added to the creepiness of the book. That vagueness also worked well for when things got more tense. There the prevailing debate of "was that real or am I imagining this" which made the experiences of the characters much more intense.

- The tension was built up slowly and well but ultimately I don't think it paid off. The ending left me wanting.

A decent creepy story. If you want a short horror read that's not overly terrifying, give The Willows a go.

3.5/5

Another mushy, festive romance to lighten my mood this winter. We follow Wren, whose house loses heat in the dead of winter, and Monroe, an employee of a large and unwelcome property organisation who has a secret of her own.

- Similar to Christmas, Pursued by a Bear, this is a light and short paranormal, sapphic romance. The tone is cute, the drama slightly inflated but altogether enjoyable and fun.

- The characters are super cute and it was nice to see the protagonists of the first Werebears book make an appearance. As well as sapphic rep there was also a nonbinary character too which I loved.

Fun and cheerful for the season. If you want something that reads like a slightly fantastical Hallmark Christmas film you then Bearly Together fits that vibe perfectly.

4/5

Following on from the events of Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Tanis and his band of friends find themselves facing new challenges. Split up during a dragon attack, the companions have to figure out how to survive against the odds in an increasingly dangerous odds.

- As with the first book, Dragons of Winter Night is very much D&D inspired. The events and twists could easily be stories from a home game but they are told really well and kept my attention from beginning to end. 

- One of my favourite parts of the book is the story arc of a particular character. Without going into spoiler territory, I was so engaged and impressed with how this character dealt with challenges to their world view and how they continued to uphold their values despite much opposition. The character arc was also finished beautifully and made me quite emotional.

A worthy second entry in this trilogy and series. I'm looking forward to seeing the conclusion of this story in Dragons of Spring Dawning.

4.25/5

Gothic horror set in 90s Northumberland. A university with a tragic past reopens anew. However, some of it's students are being affected by the echoes of the past. Reminiscent of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde.

- I loved how this book was simultaneously creepy and fun. There were light-hearted moments mixed in with violent and traumatic scenes in just the right way that it worked. It was also fun to switch between the two main protagonists POVs and get their different perspectives on events.

- The setting and the plot were amazingly chosen and work so well. Creepy university in an abandoned convent? Strange statues, mysterious figures, unresolved deaths and murders? Amazing.

- The writing was great but very much YA level. I enjoyed its easy to digest prose but if you're expecting adult fantasy style writing, you'll be disappointed.

Creepy, mysterious and very enjoyable. If you like fun, YA mysteries then check this out.

4/5

Sometimes as both a Dungeon Master and a player of D&D games, I need to read around and get some inspiration and mojo for my sessions. I decided to revisit and, hopefully this time, finish the original Dragonlance trilogy. Following Tanis Half-Elven and his band of comrades, the reader is transported to the world of Krynn where ancient deities are returning and a previously unknown draconic race is threatening the safety of the world's inhabitants.

- I'll preface with this: I really enjoy these book but I don't think they're for everyone. From discussions I've had with other fantasy fans, Dragonlance divides like marmite. As you would expect from a book based on D&D, this reads like a novelised home game. It is very episodic, you can almost tell when a session ended, there's a typical challenge to resolution to new challenge form to the plot, it's super easy to determine the classes of the characters. I like this and enjoy the ebb and flow but if you're hoping for a focused and smooth story, you won't find it here.

- As much as they fit into the clichés of classical D&D, I love the characters and enjoy how they change of the events of the book. My favourite is probably Raistlin the mage but they all have firm places in my heart.

- The world lore is deep and well done, as to be expected. Theres definitely a sense of a rolling world outside of the plot and that there are details that the authors know that the readers never will.

If you like litRPGs, D&D inspired fantasy and a good nostalgic fantasy romp, then give Dragons of Autumn Twilight a try.

3.75/5

A short but enjoyable sapphic romance about a photographer and a werebear who meet at a nature reserve. 

- A fun and fluffy book. Is it the height of sophisticated literature? No, but I don't think that's the point. It's a sappy little paranormal romance that is mostly lighthearted and it definitely has a feel good vibe to it.

-I enjoyed the concept of the book and although a little rushed the romance was enjoyable. Who doesn't like the idea of werebears and people connecting as a community?

- The prose wasn't exactly high brow and there were a lot of sections that relied heavily on dialogue and felt like I was being told rather than shown. It didn't affect my enjoyment particularly but I was definitely aware of how it felt occasionally forced.

Enjoyable, mildly festive as set in winter and a wholesome little story.

3.5/5

CW: Lots of sexism. Sexual assault is also a strong theme.

Graphic novels are a medium I really enjoy, especially when I don't have the energy for prose. They can, however, be a very strong medium for story telling. Beaton relates her experiences of the Albertan oil sands through a chain of images and I definitely feel she chose the right format for this.

- This book does have lighter moments but a lot of it is quite blue and serious. There are lots of frustrating moments encountered by the author in their experiences and the resentment and anger at what has happened seeps off the pages.

- Although in monochrome the artwork is beautifully done and is very expressive. 

- It is a slow read. The last third of the book was my favourite where we begin to examine and explore more poignantly the issues at the oil sands: sexism, drug use, mental health, sexual assault, environmental issues, abuse of the lands and people's indigenous to the area. These are handled really well though I wish there was more about them.

If you want a serious, slice-of-life graphic novel which deals with difficult subjects then Ducks will be excellent for you.

3.75/5

A fun graphic novel that follows a group of Lumberjanes (think Girl Guides) and their adventures at camp 

- The story is chaotic and wonderful. The story is split into self contained chapters with an overarching plot, each themed with a meit badge.

- The art style is chaotic and perfectly matched to the story telling. It adds to the character development and general crazy aura of the book.

Fun and crazy, perfect graphic novel for adventurous kids.

4/5

Do you like witchcraft, shattered friendships and 90s nostalgia? If so then Her Majesty's Royal Coven is the book for you. Following a group of friends who have grown up and apart, the coven faces new trials when a powerful young magic-user is found, causing already stained relationships to twist and reach breaking point.

- The story was winding, witchy and mostly interesting. There were points where I thought there was almost too much going on but overall the plot was enjoyable.

- The representation in this book was so good and the book did not shy away from addressing privilege and prejudice amongst power in power. This was probably my favourite element of the book as it really did not hold back and despite the magical backdrop, the LGBTQ+ experience was nuanced and accurate.

- Something else that made me smile was the way these characters regularly referenced their 90s upbringing. As a product of that era, having the Spice Girls and other elements of my childhood referenced played to my nostalgia in the best way.

An enjoyable urban fantasy. Perfect for those who fondly remember the 90s but also enjoy multiple points of view, segmented magic systems and the concept of found family.

5/5

One of my current new interests is mushrooms and when I read the blurb I knew I had to read this book. Based on a Poe classic, What Moves the Dead follows Alex, a retired soldier who goes to help their friends who are suffering from mysterious maladies in a gaunt and gothic landscape. As events begin to unfold, Alex discovers the horrible truth about what is happening to their companions.

- This book is wonderfully creepy and atmospheric. From the first page, where mushrooms are compared to sliced muscle, to the last lines, there is a pervasive dread and sense of wrongness that adds so much. Kingfisher has done an amazing job creating such a strong sense of the setting and story in such a short book.

- Although this book is under 200 pages long, the world building is too notch. The reader is introduced to the history of the fictional country of Gallacia and it's language (complete with neopronouns for different ages and vocations), mycology and the physiology of fungi around this world, the history of fictional wars and their effects, a short insert of the virtues and pitfalls of sheep breeding and so much more. The world is so nuanced and feels so well rounded and real in a way that many longer books fail to achieve.

- As a connoisseur of queer literature, especially those exploring gender outside the binary, this book delighted me. I loved the concepts of the neopronouns used and, despite it taking me a bit to get used to them, enjoyed their use and execution. I also like how the characters view and accept these as part of life and society, even if some consider it a little eccentric.

Creepy, gothic and just perfect for a haunting and thought-provoking read. I would recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy dread, creepy but theoretically plausible body horror and compelling yet mildly terrifying stories.