Can I Major in Faerie Studies Too?

 Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

My Rating:  5 out of 5 Stars.

My Review on Goodreads

I absolutely loved this book! I am such a nerd, that I am a sucker for books that adopt the format of journal entries, or an existing written book. This reminded me a bit of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, and I loved that aspect so much.

I can acknowledge that this book is not for everyone. Honestly, Emily is not the easiest person to warm up to. However, she didn't bother me. I actually really appreciated how her brain worked. I love how she uses facts that she learns, applying them in practical ways. I am such a nerd, so I appreciate characters who accumulate facts in their brain and use them, like Anthony Hopkins in The Edge. She had an egghead vibe, but she wasn't toxic about it, in my opinion. I think she just was used to being an outsider and at some point gave up on trying to be part of the group. Also, it was easier to hang onto her scientific objectivity instead of acknowledging her loneliness. Additionally, as I mentioned, the format would probably come off as dry for some readers. I loved how the story progresses through her journal entries, and the unique twists that go along with that format. Another thing that some folks may not like is the relatively slow pacing. Again, I was along for the ride, but I do admit, at one point, I thought the book was coming to an end, but I still had three hours left. It wasn't a bad thing, but it just threw me. If you want to spend time with a book and its characters, this one is for you.

I absolutely adored her relationship with Bambleby. And Bambleby is such a fun character. He's the polar opposite of Emily and it made their interactions so interesting and enjoyable. He's actually a very complex character, although he might be taken as a shallow person. He's not like Dean on Supernatural but I think they are both seen as really basic (or shallow, if you will), but they aren't basic at all. I loved how while Emily complained about Bambleby, they accept each other for who they are and I think they understand each other very well. I love how Bambleby helps Emily relate to others and he helps her come out of her shell. And Emily also grounds Bambleby.

I liked the secondary characters and how there aren't throwaway characters. They contribute to the story. I loved the faerie and how complex and developed the world-building was. I'm a sucker for anything Faerie, so I was all over that. I liked how they show the dark aspect of the Fae, but also there is a bit of humor as well, at times nearly laugh out loud funny. It was just very well done.

The female narrator was a bit nasally, but I grew quite fond of her. Wow, I loved Bambleby's narrator with his gorgeous Irish accent! It was like butter! I do recommend the audiobook, but I want to get a paper copy, so I can enjoy the annotations. I think this one definitely needs to be in my collection.

I enjoyed the heck out of this and I can't wait to read more books in this series! Highly recommend with the above caveats!

**Note: I started this a while ago, but it had to go back to the library. I ended up downloading it, and I just didn't get a chance to go back to it because of a busy schedule. I had to make time for it this late spring, and I'm glad I did!

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When Schools Attack

 

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

My Rating: Five out of Five Stars.

My Review on Goodreads

Here I am, almost three years late writing this review. I just never got around to it, until now. Yeah, I was so sucked into this book. It's really dark. This is about kids who go to a school that is literally trying to kill them because they are magic-users. The goal is to get to Graduation Day, which you hope that you can survive. And they are much safer in the school than elsewhere. It's giving moreso The Hunger Games than Harry Potter.

The narrator is El, and she is extremely sarcastic and negative, ill-tempered/grumpy. However, she has great reason. She is avoided and/or disliked by the other students because a prophecy says she's going to be the Dark Lord (or Lady). But the reader doesn't ever have any reason to see her that way. And it made me think hard about how we prophecy over people in our society (I mean in a non-religious sense). We put people into categories and assume that they will be this or that. That's a huge burden for anyone to carry, so it makes sense that it has made El the way she is, despite her sweet, kind, loving mother.

If it sounds like I don't like her, I actually loved her. I appreciated her snark and her smarts, and the vulnerability she managed to hide from most people shone through (a great choice for Novik to write this in first person).

I tend to avoid a lot of YA because I don't like the tone for most of them, but I'm irresistibly drawn to boarding school stories, and I love fantasy, so this was very up my alley. I'm also a huge anglophile and this book feels very British. As a feverish watcher of British television shows, this was almost a comfort read. Having said that, it is very dark because kids are constantly dying in this book. It's terrible how vulnerable this kids are and there doesn't seem to be a huge push from adults to save them. In that sense it definitely reminds me of fare like The Hunger Games and Battle Royale. I think the humor and the pragmatic and deadpan voice of El makes this book a lot more comfortable than it should have been on paper.

**A note about one aspect that I can see as problematic about someone's hair making them at risk for being preyed upon by monsters. I don't think it was meant to be culturally insensitive, but I completely acknowledge why it caused offense. I think that it's super important for authors to think about those aspects and get people from those communities to read their books so that doesn't happen.

I like romance, but I agree it can take over a non-romance book very quickly. I liked how the chemistry between El and Orion was handled. I'm not going to lie. Orion gave me a big Draco Malfoy vibe.

Yeah, this was fun, enjoyable, unputdownable. I'm so glad I listened to the audiobook because it made this such an immersive experience. I still need to listen to the next books in the series. This is the third book by Naomi Novik that I've read and this is another five star read for me.

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The Haunting is All of Us

 

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

My Rating: Five out of Five Stars

My Review on Goodreads

Honestly, this book took me through all the emotions. It was thoroughly entertaining, and also immersive. The family dynamics were spot on. While I get along very well with my sister, I can see the authenticity of the character work and the portrayal of family dynamics in my family at large. Even though my sister and I are really close, the damage that our family did on our psyches is something we have to intentionally work at to not allow it to impact our relationship.

What I really liked is how my sympathies and annoyance shifted back and forth between Louise and Mark. They alternated between being terrible siblings, but in a very human way. This book is a horror novel about family dysfunction and family secrets that were not every resolved and were allowed to fester to create literal monsters.

I am not a fan of puppets, ventriloquist-type dummies, or those porcelain dolls. They are too lifelike in a sinister way. Having said that, yes I enjoy Jim Henson and the Muppet Show-type puppets. But Grandy Hendrix brought out the sinister in them for me. This was compelling stuff. Hendrix did such an amazing job in peeling away layers and revealing how deep things really go. There are some really great humorous moments, but also some incredibly horrific aspects.

I am grieving right now, and this book was both triggering and therapeutic for me. I know exactly how Louise and Mark feel in many ways. It's like you love your parents and you are aware they are flawed, but their status as your parents puts them in this insulated category that makes it difficult for you to see and process who they are clearly, and you are both hard on them but also automatically extend them grace in a way you don't for other people. You may have issues with them, but you had to let go of that because all you want is for them to still be here with you in all their imperfections. Even when you have to pick up the pieces of the messes that they left behind, and you still carry the family baggage. This was described so beautifully.

If you are looking for a straightforward haunted house story, this book will challenge that assumption. While I loved haunted house stories, I was so gratified at how this diverts, subverts and dives deep below that genre designation.

There is so much I can say, but not without spoilers, so I'll leave it at this.

I have to give this five stars because it was a consuming read. The annoyances I felt were meant to be felt as it delves into the frustrations of human relationships due to the flaws we all have as people. It wasn't a fault in the writing, but it was authentic in showing human faults. I love how it looks a generational trauma and how that almost rewires your brain and has some kind of cursed power over the ways that people behavior as they become adults. While, depending on where you land in believing on ghosts, spirits, and supernatural entities, these can function both as metaphors and authentic haunting phenomena.

I think Grady Hendrix can really write. He writes something very meaningful in the package of entertainment. I can't help but appreciate that about his work with this as the other book I read by him, The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires.

I'm glad this was my first finished read of 2024. It set me year off to a very satisfying start.

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Where's the Magic?

 

The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy

My Rating: Three and a Half out of Five Stars.

My Review on Goodreads

Marya Lupu is a young girl growing up in her brother's shadow. In her society, girls and women have limited prospects because they are considered susceptible to being tainted by magic. While boys can grow up to be sorcerers who protect their country, girls have to have their magic suppressed. Her brother has been nurtured by her family because he has the potential to become a great sorcerer, which will make their fortune as a family. In contrast, Marya can't seem to do anything right, deemed a failure by her mother and ignored by her father. Marya and Luka don't get along at all due to the way their family has set up this competition by default.

Things come to a head, and when Luka's big day fails due to a variety of circumstances, Marya is blamed and shipped off to a boarding school for "troubled girls." At the school, Marya forms a bond with the girls in her incoming class, and uncovers a conspiracy that has wide-reaching circumstances.

I appreciate Anne Ursu as a writer and I have enjoyed all the books I've read by her. Each book is different and something very important to say about the childhood experience, with important themes and lessons. Out of the ones I've read, I had the hardest time getting into this book. I just couldn't figure out where Ursu was going with this book. Having said that, it was worth sticking it out. Ultimately, I think this story is more about the themes and the message than the actual plot. Basically it's about sexism, misogyny, and how the toxicity inherent in patriarchal systems does a lot of damage to societies. It's a deeper kind of concept, and I feel like maybe there needed to be a little more magic to go along with it, considering this is about a world/place where magic is a real thing. I say that because I kept questioning if magic was in fact real, and the threat was real or if it was political theater. And if this was just political theater, I felt like the target audience was probably too young for that kind of story. Also I felt like there was a bit more telling than showing, and showing really makes the difference in how a story that is higher concept balances the plotline with the underlying ideas.

This book had me thinking about how gendered the term witch was. Maybe that's why I don't like it. I think I prefer for there to be a gender neutral term for people who can use magic.

Another issue I had was the characterization of Marya. Was she socially awkward? Was she high functioning autistic? I wasn't quite sure. A repeating concept was that she had words stuck inside of her that she couldn't get out, and also she was emotionally traumatized at how her mother treated her. I feel like that needed to be dealt with more.

I always have to consider the fact that I am a grown woman reading middle grade fiction, and what I perceive about the story is different from what a younger read would. Having said that, I think that a younger reader might be a little bored with this story. I feel like if it's a story about magic, give us magic. If it's not about magic, but the way that people in power manipulate their citizens with theater, then that should be well conveyed as well.

I did like the resolution of Marya's relationship with Luka. They realized that the bond of siblings was being harmed by the toxic sexism in their society and were able to move forward by acknowledging that they didn't have to be enemies. That's probably my favorite part of this book. Although I also enjoyed Marya's turn as an amateur sleuth. Yeah I'd read more stories with her sleuthing. But please develop the magic more.

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars

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A Heart of Blood and Ashes (A Gathering of Dragons) by Milla Vane

My Rating: Four out of Five Stars

My Review on Goodreads

I started this one on audiobook a long time ago and it had to go back to the library before I was very far into it. But I was intrigued enough to buy a copy on Audible. I have been listening to this at night, which is not something that I'd advise. I would fall asleep and have to rewind it multiple times. I think I fell asleep on the same scene at least twice and had to rewind it. However, sometimes I do this when it takes a while for my brain to unwind. This alone is is why it took so long to finish. I was very torn about the rating and I'll discuss why.

Do you ever read a book where you instantly fall for one of the characters, but are rather 'meh' about the other? That was me with this book, I loved Yvenne. I love me a tormented heroine. I love when the heroine is vulnerable and unsure, but has a core of strength and has to gain confidence in herself. I was fully onboard for Yvenne and watching her evolution. I honestly didn't think that Maddek deserved her. By the end of the book I was a little more okay with him, and I loved how he proved himself at the end. But he put Yvenne through a lot of crap along the way.

While some aspects of the worldbuilding were not super clear, I did appreciate the uniqueness of the setting and the overall backstory. Honestly, I would have loved more of the dark fantasy aspects, but I get this was a romance book, so that had to take a back seat to the romance story. At times, that was what kept me reading. I was not always feeling the romance, so the fantasy aspect captured me. I loved how Yvenne was goddess touched and the goddess saw through her eyes. Her eyes were a very unique moonstone/silver blue color. Loved that. It seems like reptiles fill a lot of the ecological niches and that was weird in a good way. Would I want to eat some of the meat they ate? Nope! I liked the concept of the way Marrek's society/tribe worked. They felt kind of a like a semi-nomadic kind of group. I did get some Khal Drogo Dothraki vibes, and I'm okay with that. I liked their warrior culture. What I didn't like was how crappy he treated Yvenne. I realize that he was grieving and was angry and was looking for someone to blame, but I think it was pretty clear early on that Yvenne was a good person wasn't responsible for his parents' betrayal. But he just wanted revenge and that's all he saw.

I like a sexy bargain, I won't lie. I liked how Yvenne used what she had available to make a deal with Marrek. She knew he hated her, but he hated their mutual enemy more. I can see why he fell for her, but I don't see why she fell in love with him. Sorry, but I just didn't buy it. He was too mean and the safety he offered was negligible, only slightly better than what she faced with her father and brothers. However, she was in between a rock and a hard place. Having said that, it had kind of a Harlequin Presents (mean hero, sweet heroine) vibe in a fantasy setting that I was intrigued by.

I know it's a me thing but it was too focused on the eroticism for me. I know a lot of it is because I haven't been in such a romance novel kind of mood lately. I found myself getting pulled out of the story when the love scenes happened. Maybe because it seemed more like hate sex on Marrek's part. I liked how Yvenne told Marrek exactly what he needed to hear. He needed that "come to Jesus moment," although he still needed to pull his head out of somewhere. I loved the other members of his Dragon (which is his band of warriors). I grew to appreciate each and every one of them. I loved that they saw Yvenne more clearly than dumbo Marrek did.

The audiobook narrator was very good. They got me very engrossed into the storyline and I feel like they nailed the voices. She captured the fantastical moments and the action really well.

This is one of those books where the conclusion saves the book. I was thinking this would be a three star, but the ending bumped up the rating for me. I can do without a lot of the sex scenes, which were high on the erotica scale but it felt kind of excessive to me (ymmv), but I was intrigued by the story and I want to read future books in the series.

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 Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

For a fan of all things winter, this book was tailor made for me. Also, it's such a clever retelling of "Rumpelstiltskin", but so much more. It's a story about the difficult situations and the impactful decisions that women face for survival of themselves and those they love. The points of view of three different young women are explored: Miryem, the daughter of a Jewish moneylender, Irina, a duke's daughter, and Wanda, a local (the term peasant would be used) girl who becomes the servant for Miryem's family. Each character is a woman who has to make tough decisions due as a result of how her status in a man's world is viewed. They are placed into situations that are restrictive, if not outright harrowing because of their parents and how society deems them incapable of having autonomy or authority. This is the heart of the narrative, but it's intertwined into a familiar fairy tale mixed with folklore.

Everyone knows "Rumplestiltskin", but this novel takes this story to another level by weaving in Faerie and Slavic folklore into a historical fiction narrative, making for a spellbinding read.

The imagery is so gorgeous as a fan of winter. I felt like I was there in the deep cold of winter, and the artist in me was spellbound by the visuals of sparkling ice and shining silver. I see so many shades of blue here, from ice, almost white to deepest blue in my mind as I remember the imagery from this book. Novik develops the atmosphere so flawlessly, and makes winter its own character. Along with the distinctive character of winter, there are other creatures of myth and folklore, such as a dark creature who lives in the skin of a powerful man, and a Faerie king. The three women have to use their intellect and determination to navigate through nearly impossible situations, facing patriarchal societies and traditions, but discovering their own strengths and saving themselves and their people.

Well-plotted and engrossing, I absolutely fell deep into this world and didn't want to emerge. While this is fantasy, it feels as much like historical fiction (Russian setting when the Tsars still ruled, although not explicitly stated), but also has some lovely gothic fairy tale aesthetics. There are also moments that are quite scary. Yes, there is some romance here, and I ate it up. I loved how all the pieces come together for a very satisfying ending.

If you want to read a book with some very luxurious (is that the right word?) winter vibes, pick this one up.

*Writing this review now where we are having a very dry winter in Minnesota, I feel very jealous. I want my snow!

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Great Classic Haunting: Six Unabridged Stories

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

I decided to listen to this in October because I love classic ghost stories, and I wanted to re(read) The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales before I watch the Netflix show, and that story is included. This is free with the Audible membership, FYI. All but two are rereads for me, although I didn't realize it until I listened to a couple of the stories. I'll list my thoughts on each story:

"A Watcher by the Dead" by Ambrose Bierce

Another reread that I am ambivalent about. I do like some of Bierce's work. However, this is more about dark human nature and that fundamental evil. Not so much about supernatural evil, but couched in a story about a "haunting." 3 stars.

"The Body-Snatchers" by Robert Louis Stevenson

I think this is my third time reading this story. I am impressed at how easy RL Stevenson's prose is to digest for a modern reader. I think he's kind of an underrated author. This story seethes with dread and unease. It's as much about guilt as it is a supernatural tale. Sadly, some people are incapable of guilt and empathy, whereas others are often irrevocably damaged by their abundance of both. Although bodysnatching isn't really a concept nowadays, the atrocities that are still being committed on humans by other humans (and how we blithely go on with our lives despite this) is always going to be timely. 4 stars

"Adventure of the German Student" by Washington Irving

I really enjoy this story. This was probably my third time reading it as well. It's short but very effective. The descriptions are great, and Irving builds atmosphere beautifully. I feel like you know where this is going, but you still enjoy the journey. It reminds me of the story with the lady who wears a ribbon around her neck, for gruesome reasons. If you know, you know. I feel like the moody, sensitive hero always on the edge of a mental breakdown was its own genre in classic horror. 4 stars

"Dickon the Devil" by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

I thought this one was just okay. It didn't do much for me, honestly. I can't recall if I've read thsi before or not. Maybe it just didn't make that much of an impression on me, this time or the other time I read it. 2.5 stars

"The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe

I am definitely a big fan of EA Poe, but maybe I wasn't in the mood for this one at this particular time. It seemed really melodramatic and over-the-top. Yes, I know EA Poe predated Lovecraft and I much prefer Poe, but I was getting Lovecraft vibes when I was listening to this. I have to say, I love what T. Kingfisher did with this story in What Moves the Dead, and not that's my preferred version. This was has some good tension and it's certainly suspenseful and creepy, but too overdramatic for me (in my present mood anyway). 3 stars

"The Open Window" by Saki

This was so fun. Instead of being a serious story, this is humor. It's very short and quite cheeky. I do love the buildup and the conclusion was the perfect way to end this collection of stories. 3.5 stars


The narrator was Geraint Wyn Davies, who played Nick Night on the "Forever Knight" show. He has a great voice and a facility for accents. Overall this was a pretty good listen.

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars

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 Tales to Keep You Up at Night by Dan Poblocki

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

Let me tell you, Dan Poblocki has written quite a creepy, unnerving, and at times genuinely scary book of stories. While targeted for middle-grade readers, it definitely has appeal to older readers. This is quite dark.

The first story was so so good. It set such an excellent tone for the collection. It's still my favorite. I didn't love all the stories, but they were all effective, and I appreciated how they all tied into the frame story. Despite them all tying in, there was a little of every kind of horror. I don't enjoy seeing kids in danger or being harmed, so that was a little tough to take in, but there's nothing too gory with this book. I think it's more about the concept and the implications of each story that makes it so unnerving. I wish I had taken notes on the story titles, but unfortunately I didn't. I will say overall that this collection is worth checking out. I have already gotten the next book, More Tales to Keep You Up at Night from my library to listen to soon.

I definitely recommend this book to fans of kids' horror, even as an adult.

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The September House by Carissa Orlando

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars

My Review on Goodreads

When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued. I love haunted house stories. I was a little worried it might be too edgy, but some early reviews on Booktube suggested it was a cozy horror, so I was on board. Excitingly, my library had it available, and I was able to read the audiobook.

This book is written in a conversational style where the main character is telling her story. I loved this device as it involved me emotionally with the novel as I am being told the story by the participant. Margaret established herself as a sympathetic character early on. There is also an element of unreliable narrator as the story progresses. It throws a reader for a loop as they are prone to asking what kind of book they are reading. Is this a haunted house novel or a novel about familial dysfunction? You are seeing the haunting unfold through Margaret's eyes and she has done research and a couple of other people are aware of it. But there's also a question about whether this is all psychosis. Personally, one of my pet peeves is when stuff is happening and nobody believes the main character. I also admit that I don't want to read stories where the lead character is becoming psychotic. I was worried that this was going to be that kind of book. Without spoiling things, I am glad this wasn't that kind of book, because I would have been majorly disappointed. Instead, this book manages to address the haunting aspect while also affirming that mental illness is a real thing and should not be stigmatized, but instead, it's important for a person who's suffering in that way to get help.

This book is also about lifelong trauma and its effects on a person. That truly resonated with me because it reminded me of someone very close to me who experienced some really awful things in their life and always felt alone and that they had no one they could rely on and who understood what they were going through and supported them. Margaret is that person. What she has dealt with and continues to experience in this house that represents a lifelong dream, but instead in many ways has become a prison and a source of trauma.

I have to say I am not fully onboard with describing this book as a cozy horror. It has some humor and it doesn't end in a way that's depressing or soul-destroying, but this is not a situation that can be dismissed as light reading. Some truly messed up, awful stuff has happened in Margaret's house, and that can be very hard to read. This is not extreme horror, definitely not. Yet, there are some descriptions and depictions that are hard to read. I did have to turn it off a couple of times to get a breather. For me, it was about empathy. I felt things very deeply for Margaret and the past victims in the house. I also felt that it was relatable that Margaret's family had some toxicity and dysfunction that added to the whole picture of Margaret and her relationship to the house. While at times, I had some issues with her daughter Catherine (I listened to the audiobook, so I might be misspelling her name), it totally make sense why she's such an angry person. I appreciated the resolution of Margaret's relationship with her.

This book is quite scary in some moments, and quite disturbing. I was able to listen to it at night while I was cooking, but I wouldn't risk listening to it in bed. Even though 1st person POV can at times be limited, Orlando's imagery is so vivid and well-conveyed. The menacing aspect of the house is enough to send chills down your spine, especially the former owner of the house. It's also deeply sad as well.

Going back to the concept of being imprisoned by one's past. The house is a metaphor for this. Along with the cycle of assaults/attacks visited on Margaret every September. "Everything is survivable," is something that Margaret expresses regularly in relation to her situation with the hauntings that flare up in September. It also applies to the trauma she suffered in her marriage. The author shows instead of telling us how strong Margaret was. It's like she doesn't quite know it. I mean, she did know she was a survivor, but I don't think she realized how tough she was. And I kept thinking, how is this woman going through all of this? It's hard to judge her for wanting to keep her house. I can understand how important the house was to her. If you never had the stability of owning your own house, that means so much to finally be a homeowner. It's not something you'd easily give up or walk away from. Even though I understood this, I couldn't wrap my mind around how she could sustain the constant manifestations in that house that were constant, unrelenting physical, emotional and mental attacks.

I can't find much to complain about with this book. It's not quite a five star, but it's pretty close. I would love to read more from Carissa Orlando. I don't think I could watch this movie. It would be terrifying.

Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 stars

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The Agony House by Cherie Priest

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

Coming home to New Orleans has not been the grand welcome that Denise, her mother Sally and stepfather Mike would hope for. They have purchased a broken down house with the goal of refurbishing it and turning it into a bed and breakfast with the meager funds they are getting through a small business loan. Denise is less than happy to be leaving her friends behind, starting at a new school, and living in a funky, dirty, falling down house. Add on to the fact that it's haunted by two presences: a small woman and a big man. While the woman seems benevolent, the man is far from it. She finds a comic book in the attic from an artist and author who was quite popular in the 1950s, one that may unlock the mysteries of the house, which seems to fall apart quicker than they can fix it.

This was such an entertaining read. I listened to the audiobook, and I loved how there was actually a dramatic reenactment of the comic book with different actors. That was my favorite part of the book. I enjoyed the twist of the ongoing series in which its lead is the intrepid young woman who constantly has to save her boyfriend, who constantly is the one in danger. A nice turnaround from the typical scenario. Careful attention to this plot device will reveal much of the underlying themes and mystery in the book.

Along with the ghost story and mystery of the house, there's a good story about a young teen finding her feet in a new place and making friends. There is also some great commentary about Hurricane Katrina and the upheaval that the city has not fully recovered from. Additionally, the story explores themes of gentrification and racial profiling, but in a very organic manner. I do think some of that was simplified, but that's understandable as this is appealing to a younger audience.

I loved the characters, from Denise to her parents (both kind and caring with good sense of humor), to the friends she makes, her nosy neighbor Terry (an aspiring ghost hunter), Norman (a hunky young man who had about eight thousand jobs and is a potential love interest, and Dominique (who starts out as an abrasive potential enemy but becomes a friend in the end). I thought the ghostly presences were well down, and how things seem to escalate as the story unfolds.

Despite this being a ghost story with some dark themes, there's a lot of light here as the focus on family, connection and community prevails over the very present evil that the characters face. It wasn't exactly scary, but it was nicely spooky and a very good read for October spooky season.

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The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

This is an engaging, engrossing read. I listened to the audiobook, and I loved the narrator. I love paranormal/supernatural stories, and it is so awesome to read books about African American culture and stories. Set in 1919, Penelope sets the scene very well with real black history as the background. She doesn't shy away from discussing the travails of black people in that time period. The dangers faced by black people due to racism, racial violence, white supremacy and Jim Crow segregation. Neither does she downplay issues in the community such as colorism and elitism, and the extremes of the haves versus the have nots (often justified by Social Darwinism). Stuff that I know about due to my heritage is a part of this story. But I also learned something new. The lead character is based on a real life woman who was put on trial for shooting and killing a rioting white policeman who broke into her house and shot her and her father. In this case, Penelope gives it a paranormal element. However, it's a hair-raising story that is familiar even to this day as parallels to black people killed by the police in their own homes, such as Breonna Taylor and Atatiana Jackson, among others, and how justice is often elusive in those cases. Fortunately, Clara (and her true life counterpart)'s charges were dropped. With this history, it's not surprising that Clara is hardened to the world and others, and you find out as the story unfolds why she comes off as so misanthropic. It's more from a shell of self-protection as opposed to genuine antipathy towards others. She also has the burden of seeing ghosts her whole life, and is often petitioned by others in the community in need to contact the spirits, called Enigmas. Clara knows they will come to regret any bargains they make with the Enigmas.

The characterization in this story was flawless. I appreciate how each pivotal character gets a POV and a bio of their life. Why they have unique abilities and the trauma they have faced in their lives.
I like how they come together in a way that compliments each other as they face a terrible threat to everyone. Each character found their way into my heart and I wanted them to have a happy ending. I feel like Zelda is such a mysterious character, and I want to know more about her.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I feel like some of the plotting got a little muddled towards the end. There was a lot going on in the climactic scene and I had to rewind the audiobook at some points because I was confused about what was happening. That being said, the storyline has a distinct feel, and some moments were genuinely spooky. I wasn't mad about the fact that I ended up finishing this book in October, even though I can't count it towards my October Scare Fest challenge. Lots of haunting imagery, and something about Southern folklore of haints, root magic, and bargains made at crossroads (figuratively and literally) always appeals to me. As I wrote earlier, the mix of authentic history and allusions to legends and folk wisdom the author used added so much to the texture of this story. Penelope even includes well known figures from Black history such as Carter G. Woodson and Langston Hughes (his cameo is quite amusing). Even WEB Dubois indirectly. Despite the nods to history and folklore, the story that Penelope added feels very unique, successfully building the author's own particular world in which people are gifted but those gifts are often due to powers given by spirits who demand much in return. There are some romantic subplots that I loved. It reminded me that I am still a romance lover (even though I haven't read much romance lately because I've been burned out and I'm not in the best mental space for it right now).

I definitely recommend this book to readers who love historical fantasy/paranormal rooted in American folklore and legends, especially those looking for stories featuring the Black experience in the early 20th century. I hope to read more books by this author, and I honestly would love it if this was an ongoing series.

 Gallant by VE Schwab

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the Gothic atmosphere. Definitely the best thing about the book besides Olivia. The characterization of the house was so strong and well-rendered. I could see this as a movie very clearly. The imagery of this old, decaying manse and the darkness that surrounded it was quite impactful.

I feel like the characters were less well rendered, with the exception of Olivia. I do think I got to know Olivia very well and I felt very attached to her. I appreciated the viewpoint of a young girl who could not speak and how she was able to convey herself and define herself despite not having the ability to use her voice. She is trying to find out who she is and where she came from, and longs for a family. She was strong and determined, but also vulnerable. While she was rebellious, it was for a reason, as a young girl who had no control of her life and no security, she had to learn to advocate for herself.

I listened to the audiobook read by actor Julian Rhind-Tutt and I had some trouble initially with his narrative voice although I do like him as an actor. I feel like the book should have been narrated by a woman, honestly, or at least had a female and male narrator. The older male voice threw me off when I was supposed to be seeing the story through a young girl's viewpoint. Having said that, I did think his work was well done from the aspect of narrating the sinister moments and the point of view of the villain.

I also appreciated the unique elements of the plot. I haven't read a book like this. It took me a while to figure things out, to be honest. At first, it's not clear what is actually going on with Olivia or the house. I didn't feel like things are brought to life until close to the end, which was a source of frustration for me as I read the book. I am not a big fan of stories that drag out unnecessarily. There was a bit of that dynamic with this book. I feel like the pacing could have been better and things could have moved along more quickly. Despite that, overall, the ending what somewhat satisfying but sad in some ways.

It's a decent book, but it was problematic for me in the pacing, so this one sits at a three star for me for that reason.

The Legend of Sleep Hollow by Washington Irving

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

Reread (Listened on audio): here.

This story seems to stick with me, and I tend to want to reread it this time of year. I was glad to find an audiobook version on Youtube paired with some lovely paintings. It's a nice short listen, but full of atmosphere. Irving describes the scenery so well. It's pretty creepy to put oneself in the shoes of poor Ichabod Crane trying to get home on a dark night, traveling through a dark forest. For a book that is about 200 years old, this reads very smoothly. The language is a little more flowery and formal but it's not archaic and confusing to a contemporary reader, in my opinion.

As far as the characters, my sympathies did lay with Ichabod. I feel like Brom and Katrina deserve each other and Ichabod can do better than her. Yes, he's being materialistic in his pursuit of Katrina in part, which isn't great. However, Brom is a jerk, and Katrina is a very spoiled and immature person. If indeed Brom was playing a joke on Ichabod, it was very mean spirited, even cruel.

I confess I prefer the movie version of Katrina, played by Christina Ricci. (and yes, Ichabod is my favorite character that Johnny Depp has played). Plot-wise and story development wise, I did like how Burton's movie fleshes out the story. He takes some creative liberties, but honestly, I liked most of them.

But I digress. This is a very short read, so even if your schedule is busy, I recommend taking the better part of an hour to read or listen to this story.

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Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

I like werewolf stories. But I have a confession. I watch very few werewolf movies because I don't like the gore. The great thing about this book is it satisfied my appreciation for werewolf fiction without too much flying blood, guts and body parts. Having said that, it doesn't skimp on the body horror. What do I mean? This book is about the fear of change, transformation, and a lack of control over one's body/the loss of autonomy. The metaphor of undergoing a change into a beast with uncontrollable urges, along with the consequences of living with that monster under your skin for all the other days of this month is the essence of this book. The body horror is an inescapable component of such a story.

Rory is used to living life her way and doing what she wants to do. She left her childhood behind and avoids dealing with it as much as possible, including limiting her trips to the town she grew up in. When her sister gets pregnant and asks her to come stay with her and help her, Rory returns home. Not only does she have to deal with a difficult relationship with her mother, she's survives a brutal attack by a creature. Her troubles aren't over as she begins to develop physical changes that make her convinced she is becoming a werewolf.

Rory's POV explores repressed childhood trauma, the uncertainty of adulthood and relationships as not only do people around you change, but you do as well, juxtaposed to the horror of her changing body and realization that she is no longer just a regular human being.

I liked that Rory isn't strictly speaking, all that sympathetic. While she is a caring person, she has cultivated a layer of selfishness (likely for her own survival). She taught herself not to become emotionally involved with others (her sister being, in my mind, her only exception). When the truths about what happened during her youth are revealed, it's understandable why she lives her life the way she does. As this novel progresses, she finds herself becoming vulnerable to those feelings she always ran away from.

I really enjoyed her budding relationship with Ian. I was frustrated at how she pushed him away more than she let him in, but I understood why. Ian is a very good guy and I feel like Rory had trouble believing that someone like him would love her selflessly because I think deep down, she is a lot more insecure than she acknowledged (with her past, it's understandable).

I do think Scarlett's character was under-developed. For her to be such an important part of Rory's life, I feel like she should have been more described. I think the author expected us to take her reasons for being separated from her long-term boyfriend on surface level, but I think this could have been more explored.

Back to the horror, this is not going to be super scary for more seasoned horror readers (and movie fans). I didn't find it overly scary, but there were some very thrilling moments, and I think the descriptions of Rory's transformations were very well done. The climactic scene was a make or break moment and it made the read for me. I came to some conclusions before we got to that moment, but the reveal was still satisfying. I will say that if you want a big body count, this book isn't for you. For myself, I liked that about the book. For me, horror doesn't have to be about gruesome deaths, but it's just as much about the fear of the unknown, the loss of control, and the loss of identity. This book hits on a specific type of horror. Menstruation (the monthly cycle and shedding of flesh and blood) and pregnancy (the loss of control of one's body and the body being transformed into something different). As Rory finds her body changing into a werewolf, her sister Scarlett is in the last stage of her pregnancy and all the discomfort that comes along with it. Also the fear of the unknown that they both share. For Rory, it's the realization that she's a werewolf and everything that comes along with that. For Scarlett, it's the responsibility of having a new life.

Change is scary. That's what this book is about.

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.

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 Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

This was a bit of a slow starter, but I ending up loving it overall. One of Briggs' few books (that I've read) from a male perspective. At first, I struggled to find what I normally gravitate about her writing in this book, but it's an earlier book. However, It became clear as I stuck with it. Briggs has a way of writing pathos that is so distinctive and shall I say, impactful. Also, Ward fits in with her characters who are perceived as "flawed" by society. In this case, Ward has played the idiot to survive his cruel father. It's hard work pretending to be someone you are not, yet Ward has gotten exceptionally good at it. So much that when it's time to drop the act, it's much harder to allow his true personality to shine through.

I loved Ward as the main character. It's so refreshing to have a main character who would typically be considered the "muscle" or "brawn" foil to the "brains" character. And yet, he's a bit of both. I'm not saying he's brilliant, but he's very observant and is what you call a student of human nature. He is quite intelligent and excellent at strategy (playing the long game). Like children of abuse, he has learned very well to watch and learn and he employs those tool very well. He's a protector and manages to manipulate others who believe that have an advantage of him because they are unable to see his depths.

Briggs's books are always on the shorter side, but she packs a lot of story in that short page count. In this book, we get the intrigue (devious plotting, plans and machinations) that you'd see in a thicker epic fantasy like Game of Thrones. For sure, there's some of that kind of treachery and playing games with people's lives in this book. There's some really good action scenes (although not drawn out in gruesomeness). I was not expecting twists and turns in the story. And I will say that you have to be patient if you want the Dragon angle to pay off, but I loved what she did with it. I loved Auric's character as well. Auric has a tortured mien and an inner well of power that is a delightful juxtaposition. The slow development of their friendship and reliance on each other is intrinsic to this novel.


Joe Manganiello was the narrator for this audiobook. I will say that this was so quiet, I couldn't listen to it on a long drive out of state, but I enjoyed his soothing voice on short jaunts to and from work everyday. I appreciate that he used different accents and intonations for the different characters, so even though some of the names confused me at first, I was able to recognize and tell the characters apart based on their voices.

I am so in love with the Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega books, and I don't feel that same intensity towards this book. But by the end, I was very involved with the story and I loved the characterization (which is a strength of Patricia Briggs). That's why I gave it four stars despite the shortcomings. I feel like the short length of this book did leave me wanting more. The magic is more on the subtler side, although intriguing. Also, I wanted to explore Ward's relationships with his siblings to a greater degree. I'd definitely like more dragon focused scenes. I think this is a duology, so I'll be picking up the next book soon, and I imagine more of those elements will be in the second book. Having said all that I have, I would recommend this to fantasy readers who want a shorter book that focuses on characters, although with some good, albeit subtle fantasy elements.

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