If you were to publish an outline of this book, it sounds overstuffed and completely unworkable and unbelievable. But it somehow it does work, becauseIf you were to publish an outline of this book, it sounds overstuffed and completely unworkable and unbelievable. But it somehow it does work, because the author does such a good job of writing and balancing everything.
It has so many of my favorite PNR/urban fantasy things. Vampires. Cat shifters. Dragons. Wyverns. Strong, silent warriors. Incredible action scenes. Sexy sex. Purring. Pizza parties. Skeleton armies bursting through the fucking window. There’s so much to enjoy and I love how Shara has come into her power and already uses it so wisely.
More things done well: distinctly appealing characters, which is hard when you’re building a big reverse harem. Power dynamics that acknowledge alpha/shifter/harem culture but are respectful of individual feelings, agency, and consent. The sheer physicality of the way shape-shifting, magic, and mental and physical bonds are portrayed. The humor and care for others present throughout the story.
I think understanding that this series is independently published erotic PNR rather than your regular paranormal romance is important, as I can see how all this might be too much for some readers—and there are times when I’m worried at the dizzying speed at which the harem is growing and wild new creatures and lore are introduced, too. But for me, so far it’s been a ridiculously fun ride.
I quite liked what I’ve seen of the story, writing, and dry humor so far, but I’m stopping the audiobook 20% in because I’m finding it a little difficI quite liked what I’ve seen of the story, writing, and dry humor so far, but I’m stopping the audiobook 20% in because I’m finding it a little difficult to follow. I think it’ll be easier to understand this world if I read it via book. ...more
I loved so so much about this book. It starts out with Beth and Ryan stuck in a snowstorm, then moves to an isolated house called Witchwood,4.5 stars
I loved so so much about this book. It starts out with Beth and Ryan stuck in a snowstorm, then moves to an isolated house called Witchwood, where the heroine goes to meet her grandfather for the first time. He’s her only living relative, so it’s something that means a great deal to her.
I love the snowy survival parts in the beginning, I love her growing relationship with her grandfather and soon-to-be grandmother (though more of the grandfather stuff would’ve been welcome), and I adore the setting and the story of how the house got its name: it refers to a young woman with the gift of sight who disappeared one day, and her young lover who faithfully waited—in vain—for her return. It has moments of being deliciously, unexpectedly spooky in the way you might get a fine shiver down your spine when you’re alone. There is just a touch of the supernatural which is done in such a lovely way—the haunting scene reminds me of a pivotal moment in L.M. Montgomery’s Emily Climbs (and another, during Emily’s Quest) when an unearthly event makes Emily realize who her heart belongs to.
The things I didn’t love are really difficult to stomach. There’s a borderline cartoonishly rapey idiot nephew in the house, and Beth’s fluctuating behaviors in how she deals with Ryan are hard to follow at times. Ryan himself is supremely awful in the beginning and throughout much of the book—he insults her and berates her repeatedly, mocks her helpless response to him, and manhandles her. And while she stands up to the rapey nephew, and she isn’t a mouse with Ryan either (she argues with him with spirit and definitely stands up for and thinks for herself), Ryan gets too much of a pass for his behavior. I hated how he acted towards her, even after his suspicions about her motivations apparently went away.
I say apparently because there’s no “oh hey, I was wrong about thinking you’re a scammer” or even a big confession of his feelings, per se. But the way they do come together (his illness is the beginning of it, when his defenses are down) is really touching and I loved their meeting in the woods, which echoed lovers past.
So…huge caveats on this one. It’s full of problematic shit, but because it was 1979 and it seems generally accepted that you could be abusive towards women, the other stuff is good enough to be a mainstream gothic. I loved it, despite its troubling flaws....more
Great atmosphere, but lost a little bit of steam and punch towards the end, and I think the plot would have been much stronger without the (v3.5 stars
Great atmosphere, but lost a little bit of steam and punch towards the end, and I think the plot would have been much stronger without the (view spoiler)[reincarnation (hide spoiler)] aspects.
Fact and fiction are woven together in the infamous Whitechapel murders, ghosts, and the peculiar case of London H4.5 stars Love love love love love.
Fact and fiction are woven together in the infamous Whitechapel murders, ghosts, and the peculiar case of London Hospital's The Elephant Man, all from the perspective of a girl who has been severely disfigured by phosphorous necrosis. This story doesn't shy away from the gruesome nature of the crimes nor the rough realities faced by a woman without position, or a man who was put on display as a sideshow attraction. And yet it is imbued with a transcendent awareness of human dignity, and the beauty of soul and intellect.
Writing is textured and sharp, yet exquisitely restrained, the setting is vivid, and the historical details are seamlessly integrated. (I had such a good time looking up various figures and events referenced in the story!) I hope this author writes more historical fiction, because he has a knack for storytelling, an ear for dialogue, and an empathy for his characters that gives readers the rare sense of being completely immersed in the world he created. I felt the same level of excitement when reading this book as I did when reading my first Marcus Sedgwick and Sarah Waters novels, and I don't say that lightly.
Review to come. If you liked certain elements of THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER or THIS MONSTROUS THING, you'll love this. ...more
INSANE ASYLUM FOR GIRLS. That's enough to get anyone's attention, but unlike many slick, cheap-thrills books that quickly bore me, The Dead G4.5 stars
INSANE ASYLUM FOR GIRLS. That's enough to get anyone's attention, but unlike many slick, cheap-thrills books that quickly bore me, The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall is one of the most well-crafted YA horror books I've read in ages. It's a short but surprisingly thoughtful book, with good creepiness and suspense and sadness, as well as the right balance of teenage snark and feeling. It's hard to juggle humor and darkness, but the author does a great job of that here.
I would like to lock Lauren DeStefano in an attic so she does nothing other than turn out charming middle grade novels for the rest of her life. But II would like to lock Lauren DeStefano in an attic so she does nothing other than turn out charming middle grade novels for the rest of her life. But I suppose that would be unreasonable.
You'll love this book if the sad, tender pull between Liesl and Po tugged at your emotions, if you delighted in the dark humor and dire dangers of the Lemony Snicket series, or if you shivered ever so slightly at the delicious creepiness of The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls. This book is so comfortably appropriate for children (though perhaps best read reassuringly curled up against a loved one, for both comfort and discussion of serious topics--parents might also consider reading it first before giving it to younger children), even as it doesn't shy away from intelligent use of language or touching on scary topics. The real world can be a sad, scary place, after all. The author's preface was also very moving--the idea of this young cousin of hers clutching a beloved book for security after a death in the family brought a tear to my eye.
Review to come. I loved this, and am so looking forward to book two. I hope the author writes many more middle grade books in the future--particularly ones that so deftly show her rather infamous sense of humor, as well as a glimpse of her heart....more
3.5 stars An atmospheric, compelling book that kept the pages turning. Which part is a dream? Which part is reality? While I don't need every question3.5 stars An atmospheric, compelling book that kept the pages turning. Which part is a dream? Which part is reality? While I don't need every question answered, I'm not sure everything entirely worked or held together, and I would like to have gotten to know the characters better, and to feel more for them. But still, a strong debut with a style that keeps you suitably off-balance. Would definitely check out a future book by this author.
If you like Sarah McGarry's writing, you'll probably enjoy this.
Maybe a bit more of a review at some point. ...more
I love that these are horror stories from some of the best YA writers working today, some of whom don't normally write horror. Each story takes inspirI love that these are horror stories from some of the best YA writers working today, some of whom don't normally write horror. Each story takes inspiration from films, books, or music, and half the fun is seeing if you can guess the source.
I rated the stories as I went along:
Nova Ren Suma's "The Birds of Azalea Street" 5 stars Carrie Ryan's "In the Forest Dark and Deep" 3.5 stars Cat Winters' "Emmeline" 4 stars Leigh Bardugo's "Verse Chorus Verse" 4 stars Megan Shepherd's "Hide and Seek" 5 stars Danielle Paige's "The Dark, Scary Parts and All" 2.5 stars April Genevieve Tucholke's "The Flicker, the Fingers, the Beat, the Sigh" 3 stars Jonathan Maberry's "Fat Girl with a Knife" 3 stars Jay Kristoff's "Sleepless" 3.5 stars Stefan Bachman's "M" 3.5 stars Marie Lu's "The Girl Without a Face" 3.5 stars McCormick Templeman's "A Girl Who Dreamed of Snow" 3.5 stars A.G. Howard's "Stitches" 4 stars Kendare Blake "On the I-5" 3.5 stars
I knew that Jay Kristoff and Leigh Bardugo would have good ones--their usual writing is so well-crafted (and obviously, Kristoff's tinged with blood already), and I liked that they both switched from their usual genres and styles to try something totally different. Of course, Suma, Tucholke, Shepherd, and Winters delivered the kinds of eerie stories you'd expect, and I was pleasantly surprised by the new-to-me author Stefan Bachman (who's known for middle grade, but really must write more YA).
Overall, it's probably the strongest YA short story collection I can recall from recent years, and well worth seeking out if you like your stories not terribly gruesome or frightening, but a little grimy and torn and bloody.
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for this review.
Creepy, complex, genuinely frightening, thrilling, sad, and unbelievably tender and hushed and beautiful all at once. This is a dark, violent fairy taCreepy, complex, genuinely frightening, thrilling, sad, and unbelievably tender and hushed and beautiful all at once. This is a dark, violent fairy tale, it's a mystery, it's a fantasy, it's horror, it's historical, it's gothic, and it's also the story of a girl trying to find a place for herself among a grieving family torn apart by war. The family dynamics and sister relationship are so well done, as are the way the book handles loss and longing. And on top of that? Feminism and jazz and tea shops and plates and plates of cake! (view spoiler)[Not to mention shrieking dolls, shudder-inducing but poignant consumption of various things, and a fantastic play on the fears of parents re: changelings. (hide spoiler)]
I haven't read a middle grade book with this much nuance and wild imagination and feeling since The Golden Compass--and I'm betting those who liked Coraline or the original Grimm's fairy tales will like this. I was thrilled by the intense creepiness and dread of the mystery behind Triss' illness, I was outraged by what she has to endure, and I teared up over what was to become of her. Best read knowing as little about the plot as possible--just enjoy the wonderfully descriptive writing, the perfectly paced plot, and the experience of not knowing where the story will go next.
Love love love love love. And now I have to read everything else Frances Hardinge has ever written.
Review to come. But man, oh man--don't miss this one if you're a fan of SWell, this book is just crazy. (view spoiler)[CRAZY GOOD! :D (hide spoiler)]
Review to come. But man, oh man--don't miss this one if you're a fan of Stephen King. One of the few cases where that comparison in the marketing materials is not just an empty promise....more
4.5 stars This gorgeous, poignant retelling of The Phantom of the Opera has shudder-inducing moments, wistful romance, and protagonists who care deepl4.5 stars This gorgeous, poignant retelling of The Phantom of the Opera has shudder-inducing moments, wistful romance, and protagonists who care deeply about things other than themselves. AND diverse characters and class division and the most beautiful cover I've seen yet this year.
Recommended for fans of Cruel Beauty, The Winner's Curse, and other such dreamy but serious stories featuring forbidden love and atypical YA heroines.
4.5 starsAnother Little Piece is a deliciously dark and savage debut. Please don't mistake this for a typical YA paranormal story: it does not featur4.5 starsAnother Little Piece is a deliciously dark and savage debut. Please don't mistake this for a typical YA paranormal story: it does not feature any screeching heroines, cliched scenarios, or last-minute romantic rescues. Instead, this is a strange, startlingly original horror novel that is beautifully written, thoughtfully considered, and yet somehow leaves you longing for more. Its fractured structure and ambiguous nature mean that it's not a story that will work for everyone--but holy hell, did it work for me.
The full text of this review appears in The Midnight Garden. An advance copy was provided by the publisher. ...more
* Riveting beginning with fantastic scenes of horror * An uneven middle that I'd love to do all kinds of unholy surgery to, especially the over-emphas* Riveting beginning with fantastic scenes of horror * An uneven middle that I'd love to do all kinds of unholy surgery to, especially the over-emphasis on the uninteresting and rather tedious romance(s) * But saved by a great premise, awesomely freakish moments, solid writing, and a bang-up, untraditional ending.
Wendy Darling
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