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.

Fruiting Bodies

 

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

I have been on a T. Kingfisher glom since last year, and I don't see it ending anytime soon. I will be real here. I have loved Edgar Allan Poe since I was high school kid and we read some of his stories in class. I was that kid who loved scary, Gothic stories, and I haven't changed much. So this was so innovative retelling of his short novel, The Fall of the House of Usher, was definitely something I wanted to read. I believe I did read the original, or at least a part of it, but I don't remember it. I plan to listen to the audiobook this year to refresh myself. Having said that, I don't think you need to read the original to enjoy this story.

The Gothic atmosphere is flawless. A rotting ancestral manse, and an aristocratic family whose remaining members are dying on the vine. Enter a character who knows nothing about that life, but who is entangled with the remaining two Usher family members through friendship. As the reader, you are immersed in the story by that character's point of view. Along with the trappings of the Gothic, there is also horror of the body and contagious variety. Let me tell you, that is a really sore spot for me. I feel this type of horror on a visceral level. I have a background in biological science, so I know a lot about pathology, infectious disease and microorganisms, so I was cringing so hard when I read this. Having said that, I was entrenched and I was so invested. Kingfisher is very good at description without bogging down the story with details that are unnecessary. There's enough of the setting to draw a mental image and to bring things to life. But she also nailed describing what was happening to poor Madeline in an very visceral way, and how it impacted Easton, our main character. I was rooting for Easton to find a way to help their friends and keep themselves safe at the same time.

A note on the cultural aspects. Kingfisher goes into some detail describing through their own narrative, the background of the lead character, who is non-binary. I absolutely appreciated this. It felt very natural, and was in no way a preachy way of asserting the importance of self-definition as a person and conveying the struggles of those who don't fit neatly into the boxes that humans create for others and themselves. I often had to remind myself that Easton was nonbinary (female at birth but working and living in a masculine space), as their energy did feel a bit more masculine their personality exerts themselves as their own definition of gender. It made some sense as Easton spent more of their life in the military. The aspects of how the Galician (sorry I listened to the audiobook, so the spellings might not be correct) works and how soldiers are by nature non-binary.
was super interesting and enriching to me as a reader.

So let's talk about Fungi. How do you feel about them? Do you have a love or hate relationship to them? I love eating mushooms, but I am somewhat repulsed by fungi in most other ways. I understand their place in the ecosystem but I tend to think of them also as pathogens that invade and destroy. If you are like me or maybe you don't even like to eat mushrooms, be aware! I had to compartmentalize my feelings about my beloved edible mushrooms as I read this book. Having studied the biology of fungi, I am well aware of how they grow and their anatomy, and I had some very disturbed moments as that plays out in this story. I will say no more about that other than to say, wow, this story has such a unique twist.

I would be inclined to give this a 4.25/5.0 stars. I think it's not a five star because it's a little too short. I would have loved to spend more time with these characters. In my heart of hearts, I hope Easton returns for more adventures.

A note on the narrator: I quite enjoyed the narrator's vocal stylings. She made sure every joke by the very funny Kingfisher landed. I enjoy the heck out of dry wit, and there is a lot of that in spades. The observations that Easton made about people through their understanding really endeared this book to me. I laughed so hard while reading this. I am so glad that there is a lot of humor, and also deep emotional caring/investment in this story along with the disturbing body horror aspects.

I recommend reading this if you're not too squeamish. It's far from gruesome or over-the-top, but there are some squicky aspects if you are a germaphobe.

Check out my profile on Goodreads!

Reinventing Jane

 

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

My rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

This is the kind of book where you wonder what the heck you're reading. If you don't like those kinds of books, don't read this one. If you like books where the book is a journey as much inside of the character's mind as they are about plot progression, you might like this one. I really enjoy gothic horror, so that's why I picked this up. It definitely has a gothic feel. I feel like the focus on the house really nails that, and the atmosphere the author built was so effective. But is this predictable in any way? No. It was completely unlike what I expected. For some reason, I was thinking it was going in previously tread paths of classic gothic books I've read. No, it's not at all. It's hard to say what the book is about without spoiling the experience. Honestly, I'm not sure I can explain it.

While this is far from the best book I've ever read, and there was more than one moment when I asked myself why I was still reading, I got to a point where I didn't want to put it down because I felt I had gone too far to abandon the journey. Also I became emotionally attached to Jane. She went through so much in this book, and her refusal to give up on the important goal she held made me not want to give up on the story.

I'd give it an A for atmosphere. However, I think other than Jane, the characterization is a little thin, so probably more like a B- in that area. I feel that other characters seem like game pieces that are moved around, and are in service of Jane's journey of self-discovery. The concept is really high, but I do question how well it's executed, so that gets me into a dither of how to rate this novel. I feel that as a reader, being treated to something different, and being taken on a journey is something I definitely appreciate. Lastly, was my level of overall satisfaction to consider. The narrator was good, but her way of telling the story was a bit dry. There are parts that are pretty eerie, but I think with a different delivery, I feel they could have been more scary than the were. I was so glad to finish the book because I felt worn out by trying to figure out what was going on, so that's probably not ideal I feel like you should enjoy a book and be kind of sad when it's over. Having said that, I was satisfied with the ending, and I feel rewarded that I did finish the book. So, you can see why I had trouble rating this. Ultimately, this comes down to a 3.75 star rating for me. Despite my misgivings about pacing and characterization, I really appreciate what Starling accomplished here. It takes a gothic set piece to a different arena and explores the dimensions of what a gothic horror novel can deliver.

Trigger Warnings: Body horror, medical/surgical procedure descriptions

Check Out My Profile on Goodreads!

The Tree of Life and Death

 

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review on Goodreads

 I picked this one up as an audiobook from my library because I love middle grade books and I am quite drawn to horror books in this age genre. I feel like authors can be so creative about crafting a scary tale for readers of this age. I went into it knowing nothing, just wanting a creepy tale, and definitely got that.

The author nails the gothic atmosphere. It felt very grounded in the 19th century. The narrative isn't preachy, but it's clear that the author did research and understood his characters and the world they lived in. For me, that makes for great storytelling because their motives, choices and struggles are intrinsic to the story. Instead of being pulled out of the narrative by an interlude where you feel like the author is giving you tidbits on historical events, the history notes are fully part of the story. Now I love history, and I enjoyed reading a good fictional tale and learning more about the period it's set in. But I also think it's important to keep things organic, and that was done really well.

The story is about two orphans, Molly and Kip, who are Irish and have had terrible experiences. They are homeless and things are desperate for them. Molly is at the age where she might have to do some questionable things to provide for her younger brother. And Kip has a leg that is disabled, which limits what he can do to bring in money to help them. Sadly at this time, there are no lawes preventing children working and they have no other options. They end up traveling to a small town in the English countryside and seeking employment at a house that the locals avoid. But they are so desperate for a safe place of shelter, they are willing to take the chance. Molly is a born storyteller, a craft that she has used to insulate Kip about some tragic truths about why they are separated from their parents. Molly also uses her stories to keep her own hope alive. When she convinces Mrs. Windsor to hire her, Molly's gift of persuasion comes in handy, as the lady is reluctant to hire children as servants.

The story is from the viewpoint of both Molly and Kip as they encounter life with the Windsors in a house that feels deeply off. While Molly is highly resourceful and insightful, Kip also has a gift for seeing the essence of a situation and has a very strong compass that guides his actions. He has such a strong sense of determination and is both kind and practical. Their Irish heritage is looked down upon by many (a time when Anti-Irish bigotry was rampant), however, it is a strength for them as they draw from their upbringing (and the lessons their parents instilled in them) to navigate their difficult circumstances.

As I mentioned earlier, Auxier builds wonderful atmosphere as the story progresses and more become clear about the house and the dominating force of the large tree that is actually growing through the house. Each one of the Windsors has fallen under its spell as the tree has both enthralled and entrapped them. Molly and Kip are not immune, and that ratchets up the sense of threat for readers. It's very much a case of being careful what you wish for (that's all I'll say).

I appreciate how the true malevolent force was revealed and even that was entwined with the ongoing theme of storytelling. As a lover of books and stories, that resonated with me.

This story has some genuinely scary moments. It was also very thrilling. I got very involved in the plot as I listened. I cared about the characters and I wanted them to be safe. I like that Molly, Kip and the Windsors, the father Bertram, mother Constance, and kids Penny and Alastair, are all flawed humans, with good and bad points. While some of the characters may seem unsympathetic at some points, their inner vulnerabilities are revealed and it's clear that they have hurts and anguish, hopes and dreams that drive their choices. The theme of family and what you would do to protect yours, but also how much family matters to you is a huge part of the narrative.

I was glad I finished this one in October although I started it at the end of September, because it really fits the spooky mood of the month. Yesterday I was driving to and from work, and it was a blustery, rainy day, and it was just the perfect atmosphere. I think this book would be perfect to read on such a cold, rainy day curled up with a hot drink, wearing wool socks and a fleece blanket. Even better if you have a cat or dog hanging out with you.

The narrator was really good. Her accents were gorgeous. I loved her Irish accents for Molly and Kip. It was very involving and thrilling to listen to this story.

This was a solid four star read. I think I would have rated it higher if it hadn't take a while for things to get going. Initially I wasn't sure what I was reading and where the plot would go. It's not necessarily a bad thing if you want a story that slowly builds up. I think I wanted things to get spooky a little more soon. It appeals to me as a lover of classic and gothic horror stories, and I think the concept was very interesting, and it felt unique to me.

I do recommend this book to middle grade readers who like the spooky and creepy, and older folks like me who enjoy this theme and reading books for this age range.

Check out my Profile on Goodreads