Stephanie

Broke my heart. I'm happy with the ending.

I'd put this in a genre called Post-Apocalyptic Cosmic Horror. It was fun, it was scary in the sense of constant dread and anxiety. When your world is collapsing, what can you really do? Who is prepared for an alien invasion or zombies or even natural disasters? This novella touches on the fear of the unknown, the fear of survival and the fear of creatures out of this world.

What would you do to save your family from something unknown? The constant anxiety I felt through the MC made this book work. I couldn't imagine going through a similar situation. I like the family dynamic because that adds extra terror, especially as a parent. My mind immediately goes to the sacrifices I would do for my children. I love that this is a work of fiction but could easily be a very scary reality.

Thank you for NetGalley for the ARC

I've read a few books by this author and Witch Ever Way You Go is not my favorite. It could be personal taste because I'm not too big on splatter or sexual scenes etc The story was fun, sometimes it felt rushed but I would say it's overall fast paced and action packed. If you enjoy quick, lighthearted, fun action-horror with a Cult twist, this one is for you. I still would recommend Robert Herold as he is an excellent story teller.

Two spooky stories perfect for a quick read. I enjoyed the plot to both of these stories as well as pacing. Not too fast, not too slow. The writing kept me invested enough to finish and I wasn't disappointed.

The first story reminds me a lot of other popular thrillers. I especially like the whole “live in caretaker” element. It adds a nice touch of eerie mess, knowing our MC lives alone in a stranger's home.

I don't want to spoil too much, think The Housemaid vibes.

The next tale screams Folklore horror and familial horror with a dash of creature feature. Right up my alley. This was a spooky, shocking twist to Winter Solstice and the lengths we will go through for our family and wealth.

Overall I enjoyed this little palette cleanser. I will definitely read more from the author.

One tip I would suggest is editing the formatting but maybe that's just for the ARC. I think it should be double space or broken up into paragraphs or sub chapters. Other than editing and formatting, I would say nice work

Mastema enjoys his new meat suit, Crystal. Escaping the hospital, he wreaks havoc around Lakeview Falls. Meanwhile, Simone convinced her grandmother to stay and help save Crystal and what's left of their town. Simone discovers a shocking secret about her family, as well as herself. Together with the remainder of her friends, and a now human Jason, Simone tries desperately to defeat Mastema. But, who can they trust, and who is a skin flaying demon in disguise?

Meanwhile in Chicago, detectives Theresa and Sonie decide to investigate Lakeview Falls after Theresa hasn't heard from her husband who was on a secret mission in the town. Who will perish, who will survive and what will happen to Crystal as Mastema slowly destroys her soul?

Christine Germain once again delivered. This book is fast paced and action packed. There's never a dull moment. It's full of nail-biting suspense and a sense of doom as you watch character after character meet their gruesome demise.

I enjoyed the detective angle to this story and for those who don't like books from that point of view, no worries because it isn't overwhelming and there's a nice break up of chapters that don't include detective work.

Christine stands out for her diversity in characters. Her characters are mapped out so beautifully, full of personality and differences. It's hard to dislike any of her characters as she shows the humanity in even the most evil.

Christine's writing is so detailed and descriptive, perfect images of scenes and characters play out in your mind.

My favorite aspect about The Brother's Curse saga is how Christine throws the reader into all sorts of emotions. Have you ever experienced heart break reading a book? Well imagine that but multiple times as she swiftly kills off all of your favorite characters without much warning.

Christine is the queen of cliff hangers. Her endings pack a punch, and by punch I mean one directly to your face leaving you mind blown and often times in shock.

I loved this book. I'll probably reread it multiple times. This series gives me supernatural romance, horror, suspense, humor, diversity, sadness and heartbreak. If you haven't absorbed yourself into Christine's shape shifter world, you're missing out. Highly anticipating book 3.


On a side note, the book is aesthetically beautiful. Serpents above each chapter, the chapters titles were quirky and funny. And the cover is gorgeous with vibrant colors. Great job!

DNF at 25 percent.

I'm open to different sub genres of horror but this book had me confused. It was everywhere. When I started reading the book it felt like I was thrown into the middle of the story. I didn't care much for the characters or their personal conversations. I didn't like the book so I didn't finish it, so I'll leave it with no rating.

Review to come

I like the writing and the characters. Each character has their own personality and I can definitely see the characters as existing in small, close-knit towns. Thorne's writing really works for me because he doesn't “tell” you the story. Also, there are zero grammatical errors. (At least that I could see

Initially I thought this was a Christmas collection because of the title so it was a bummer to find out that it was a single story. However, I did enjoy the story. There's something about R.L. Stine's writing that hooks you in. I love the cliffhangers at the end of each chapter because they add to the suspense and anxiety. There was a part in the book that totally grossed me out even as an adult so I could imagine this being frightening for young readers. I wish it was a little more “Christmas themed,” but I dug the originality of the story. Cute, chilling Christmas tale, perfect for children.

I was so excited to see this. title on Netgalley.

I have read the previous graphic novels Delicates and Sheets and immediately fell in love with the story and illustrations.

Lights follows our main character Marjorie as she reconnects with old friends. Marjorie loves having multiple friends but Eliza feels betrayed. Why is Marjorie hanging out with the people who made fun of her? But really, why is Marjorie even interested in more than just Eliza? This volume deals with the many levels of friendships and different connections. On a side note, Wendell keeps having flashbacks of his past. He embarks on a journey with Eliza, and sometimes Marjorie by his side to discover the haunting truth behind his death, using bits and pieces of memories, and a mysterious stranger lurking in the shadows. Will Marjorie be able to keep all of her friends happy? Will Eliza get over her jealousy? Will Wendell uncover his past?

As always, Brenna Thummler writes wonderful, personified characters. Each with their own back story and events that shape and mold the story into a tale of friendship and breakthroughs. I love the color palette of all three graphic novels but this one most. It consists of beautiful pastels that blend together to bring vivid images amongst a wholesome story.

3 stars because although the initial premise had me intrigued, it fell short because the book was never-ending.

The idea about a psychotic, sexist indie author stalking and attempting to murder a book reviewer for a bad review was fun, and hit close to home. Although I haven't been stalked by an indie author, I have definitely taken heat for my one star reviews. That plus stalking equals, chilling, right?! Meh, the story lost a lot of its appeal because it dragged on. I wish there was more creepy stalking, because that's what scares me, because i was a victim of stalking, twice. I love plot twists but there is such thing as too much. By the end I was over it.

I will say I enjoyed the relationship between Lyca and Emma. Animal babies are always a plus. I also thought there were some genuine sad parts that made me feel terrible for the MC. I also have no complaints about the author's writing.

3 stars for keeping me slightly entertained.

Omg what did I just read!?

Although there are a lot of good stories in the collection, there are a number of boring ones that made it hard for me to finish, but I pushed through.

I enjoyed the stories that focused on creatures and folklore tales. I also enjoyed the stories that dealt with racism. I was pleased to see Cherie Dimaline in this collection. Her story was one of my favorites out of the collection.

All of the authors brought their A game when it comes to writing. Pacing is excellent, styles are cohesive. I would recommend people to read this collection because every story is written by an Indigenous author, which you don't see often in horror.

I love Neil Gaiman so when I saw this retelling of a popular classic fairytale, I was excited to dive in. The story is creepy, sad and warrants an important lesson. I love the dynamic between Hansel and Gretel.

The illustrations are simple, yet spooky. The illustrations truly tie into the atmosphere giving a creepy, eerie experience. My children absolutely loved this retelling. It was quick paced, easy to read and not overly childish. Definitely a good experience and a tale we will read many times again throughout the years.

I loved this book. This is my third Grady Hendrix book and my favorite so far. I couldn't put it down.

This book broke my heart. I loved every minute of it.

Plot felt rushed and predictable, overworked. Think of any popular action movie or trope involving action and you have this graphic novel.

Maybe I'm the wrong audience for it. The artwork is beautiful. Good coloring.

Set in 1990's Mexico City, Silivia Moreno Garcia's new book Silver Nitrate brings me retro/vintage vibes perfect for those who love the mysteries behind “cursed films” and occultism. Silvia Moreno Garcia blends together Nazis, film culture, tragedy, secrets and mysticism. It's so hard to put into words how ‘atmospheric” this book is. Her writing literally pulls you into the story. I found myself invested in the characters, and even more invested in the layers of mystery surrounding the cursed film.

From unique, intriguing characters to mysterious plot twists, this book had me hooked for days, recalling all the details before bed, almost as if I was part of the story. I love when writing is able to pull my attention in this way, blocking out the world fully immersed in an alternate life. There's something eerie about old films that gives me the spooks and I live for it. Easily one of my top reads. of the year.

Overall I enjoyed the book. I think Mr. Mercedes is the stronger of the two so far but it's not a bad book. The ending was the best part of it in my opinion which was nice because usually I dislike endings. As always King creates great characters. I can't wait to read the next one.

This book is ok.

The author had a good idea going but unfortunately there were a few issues with the book including a lot of grammatical issues, repetitive words and “telling” I wouldn't say this is a bad book hence the 3 stars over a one or two star read, but it needs an edit.

One thing is for sure, any book that showcases the evil and moral issues of the Christian religion gets a thumbs up
In my book. I love how the author showcased the ridiculous, outrageous views of Christians, especially the extreme ones. As much as this may offend some readers, I'll never believe in an organized religion that oppresses women or gays or controls what a person does with their own body. As far as I'm concerned, those people can go kick rocks. Kudos to the author for touching on a sensitive subject.

I'll admit that Sci-Fi is not my go to genre, but the horror/sci-fi collaboration worked. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and there were suspenseful moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. Dead Silence is written well, bringing the reader a story that throws you into an action packed adventure full of space, ghosts and surprises.

I must say I didn't particularly like the anxious, worry-wart main character, but characters are strong. If romance is your thing, there's a cute little love story between two of the main characters.

The ending is my favorite part of the book. I like how the author added a twist showcasing the greed of major corporations. It's much like the world we live in today. There's a nice lesson in there if you read between the lines.

Overall I did enjoy the story and there were a few moments that caught me off-guard. I would totally read more from this author.


Thank you TorNightfire and NetGalley for the ARC

Ooo this book!

I'm always looking for books about possession, but let's be honest there are not a lot of options. The Exorcist still stands as one of my favorite books of all time and I would easily say Incidents Around the House holds a flame to it. I devoured this book.

I literally stayed up late, couldn't put it down. The atmosphere is absolutely frightening and there were moments I had to look over my shoulder. I recall listening to all the bumps in the night and instantly thinking of this book. It's scary, it's creepy, it's full of surprises. The ending was unexpected and not typical which I adored.

Written from the perspective of a child, Josh Malerman slayed. It's like Bela is real and I could see a lot of her characteristics and interactions in my own daughters of similar age.

Characters are flawed, perfectly and the interactions between them are organic.

I don't want to spoil too much about the “entity” so go in blind and let go of every trope you associate with possession/demon books or movies.

Incidents Around the House is a treat for us seeking books about possession and one that will shock and wow you. I expect this book to have a lot of hype and it's well worth it.

Some spoilers

Omg this book is jam packed with emotions. I found myself moved to tears at a few parts because many of the events in this book hit close to home with my own relationships.

I would definitely say this book falls into the sub-genre of familial horror.

Night's Edge focuses on Mia and her mother Izzy. When Mia is only 10 years old, her mom is infected with a vampiric disease. They call the infected people Saras. Mia's mom had her own insecurities which often leads her to hook up with toxic men who manipulate and abuse her. Enter Devon, a Sara on a mission to turn and recruit as many people as he can for his own pleasure and agenda. Devon bites and turns Mia's mom forever altering her life. Mia and her mother must adapt to a new dangerous lifestyle. But will Mia sacrifice everything, including herself to keep her mom comfortable and protected?

This novel is absolutely gripping. It invokes so many emotions that I often had to put it down for a few minutes to let everything sink in. Codependency is a huge theme for the entirety of the book and it showcases how intense and toxic those relationships tend to become. The book also showcases how serious addiction can be as well as domestic abuse. Mia's mom assaults her several times and literally feeds by Mia draining her own blood. She also acts as if Mia is not allowed to be her own person or have her own life.


I felt so terrible for Mia the entire time I was reading this. It's almost as if you want to shout at her through the pages. It's easier to be the one on the outside looking in. There's more clarity.

Honestly this book felt too real but I sort of needed it to recognize some of my own issues with my parents.

I also really enjoyed how the author wrote this story with its own pandemic, including blood scanners that paid ode to temperature checks during Covid-19. We all went through a rough few years (and still going through it) so reading about something so similar adds extra tension and anxiety. It's too familiar. It's perfect.


I like how the book focused in on a mother-daughter relationship. Often times it felt like the roles of caregiver were reversed. It's sad because Mia's relationship with her mother should be different. You expect different from a mother and daughter. A lot of us experience similar situations where sometimes parents are not mature enough to make the right decisions. (Or they are going through some serious mental battles and demons of their own.) still, children are never to blame and that's a lesson a lot of adults need to learn.

I felt heavily for Mia when she had to grow up and grow up fast because I've been through that situation myself. No time to be a child, no time to live a carefree life. And remember, just because someone is family, doesn't mean you must put up with their constant abuse and toxicity.

Often times we forget that horror doesn't mean gruesome monsters or boogeymen lurking in the closet. Horror is human and very real.

Everyone needs to read this book.

Honestly I'm completely surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Hear me out. I didn't like Nothing But Blackened Teeth AT ALL! The writing was too flowery and heavy with purple prose. The characters were flat and nothing really happened, especially nothing horror related.

But The Salt Grows Heavy is nothing like Nothing but Blackened Teeth. The plot is unique. It screams gothic horror. I absolutely adored the theme of “the Hunt” incorporating characters like a Plague Doctor and a mermaid who eats humans. Characters were interesting and different.

She absolutely crushed it with the body horror. All I can say without spoilers is if you have a weak stomach, good luck.

Khaw's writing is beautiful in this novella. It was way less “purple” and it showcases how strong of a writer she really is. I'm happy I took another chance on her writing.

Khaw spun a love story amongst all the gore and body horror that really brought the story together showing that true love really can withstand anything.

The synopsis intrigued me but I feel like the book didn't live up to it. It's mostly small talk about the hunt between characters, and not much else. No back story of why the world is in the current state it's in. Not much description about the wightsights or much on them at all to be honest. I found a lot of it to be random and some parts to be rushed. Characters were a little dry and flat. I ended up skimming the end. These are my personal opinions. Obviously give it a try if you're super interested, but it's a no for me.