Stephanie

It was okay. It had some interesting information relating to weed and witchcraft but I feel like it was mainly focused on sex and there's way more you can do than just use weed for sex. I also feel like it's super specific to the author because as a heavy marijuana smoker/user I feel like I use weed for so many other purposes. A lot of other smokers I spoke to also said they don't use weed for arousal so it was odd to me how sex was mentioned in almost every chapter.
I'd understand if the title was “Witchcraft and Weed, a guide to using weed for sex magic” or something like that but considering it's supposed to be an overall guide, it's a bit much.

I don't get why the author wouldn't go heavy into the medicinal benefits of marijuana and it came off very basic.
I'm sure beginner or baby witches will benefit from this guide but as someone who has been into the craft for over 15 years I didn't get anything new from this.

One other issue I had with this is when the author writes about reggae stating that “if you don't know what reggae is it's probably because you're white.” To make such a bold statement when you don't even know your readers, especially one that has to do with race. I'm white and I love reggae, it's actually one of my favorite genres. Most stoners I know or have come across at festivals etc also love and know reggae too. Music taste has nothing to do with race. You may grow up listening to certain music because of your culture/family etc but just because someone is white doesn't mean they are ignorant to a specific genre. It leans a little bit on trying too hard to impress social Justice warriors. Also for someone to write that but go and mention Bob Marley it seems almost comical. Bob Marley is well known by everyone and he's not the only reggae artist. Seems like the author may not know much about reggae music herself but says that statement..

Very basic info, surface level that doesn't dive deep.

I thought this book would bring me more as a witch who uses weed in my craft but unfortunately I ended up wasting a credit on audible.

James doesn't believe in ghosts. So when a challenge arises to go to a local “haunted house,” he's all for participating. Even better, he's going to bring back an artifact for extra credit. Tagging along are his sister Lizzy, and his two friends Dawson and Evelyn. As the kids are exploring the old yellow house on Millard Road, eerie things start to happen around them. Is it haunted, or is just an urban legend?

The Haunting of the Old Yellow House on Millard Road is a fun middle-grade paranormal mystery book. Perfect for those who enjoy shows like Scooby-Doo, and books like Goosebumps. It's fast paced and entertaining. Characters are like able and have their own little personalities. I enjoyed the small details throughout the book as well such as James' affinity for fluorite, and the significance of the blood moon. Also, the author adds a story within the story which I thought was cool.

Children, young adults and even adults can enjoy this book and it's puzzles and mystery. A good book for readers wanting to get into Paranormal/spooky books. Love that cover!

I enjoyed Daphne up until the ending. I feel like the ending was rushed and it knocked a few stars off for me. I also would have liked more backstory on Daphne and the crimes she committed. Other than that, The story was fun, creepy and original. I also like the whole spin on “Bloody Mary” and chain letters etc.

As a fan of basketball it was cool to see it take center stage throughout the novel. I'm still a little bothered by the abrupt ending but I would recommend this his book to a friend especially if that person is a fan of the cliche happy ending.

Once again Stephen Graham Jones delivers a fun, entertaining slasher novel full of our favorite iconic slasher movie trivia and facts. Jade is back and after (coming to her senses)better than ever. She is after all a final girl.

I have no obvious issues with this book, but I enjoyed My Heart is a Chainsaw a little more. They do say the sequel never lives up to the original right?

I wanted more blood and gore. I wanted more amazing kills.
There was a lot of dialogue, and as much as I love dialogue, I would have liked more action.

One thing I totally loved was the twist SGJ threw in there surrounding who is commuting these serial killings. Although I figured it out early on, it was fun to see the utter confusion and shock from the characters when they eventually figured it out.

I'm looking forward to book 3!

What do you do when you catch your girlfriend in bed with your best friend? You seek revenge. Brutal, viscous revenge.

I absolutely loved this novella by Thomas Gloom. Thomas Gloom is an excellent story teller.

His characters are always above par and realistic. You can feel the despair and anger that the narrator goes through. I love Fiona, the mysterious, sultry witch, and ancient crone. She is my favorite in this short novella and as usual Thomas Gloom portrayed her perfectly. He has a talent for writing witches spot on and interesting. I also adore the Venus Fly Trap and would totally love having this plant to seek out my own revenge

Writing is very good, entertaining and builds a spooky, creepy atmosphere. The main character was interesting but a little underdeveloped. I love the overall gothic tones of this novella and I don't think it was a bad take on Poe's “Fall of the house of Usher.” However the ending was lackluster and a bit rushed. I felt let down to go through all that awesome ambiance and gothic feel to have a flat, boring ending that literally wrapped itself up in a few scenes. I did enjoy the story but the ending definitely knocked off a few stars for me.

Merged review:

Writing is very good, entertaining and builds a spooky, creepy atmosphere. The main character was interesting but a little underdeveloped. I love the overall gothic tones of this novella and I don't think it was a bad take on Poe's “Fall of the house of Usher.” However the ending was lackluster and a bit rushed. I felt let down to go through all that awesome ambiance and gothic feel to have a flat, boring ending that literally wrapped itself up in a few scenes. I did enjoy the story but the ending definitely knocked off a few stars for me.

Other than the fact I don't believe in God, I absolutely love this book.

Ten Days in a Mad House is a true story about a female journalist named Nellie Bly who traveled to NYC in search of work. She went around to various newspapers finally sneaking her way into one to cover the next biggest expose “life in a Women's insane asylum.” After being deemed insane by a Boarding house for feigning erratic behavior, she is sent away to Blackwell Asylum on a remote island. When she goes to the asylum she experiences brutal conditions as well as unfair treatment by the nurses. She tries to blend in risking exposure, hoping to push for better living conditions for the inhabitants of the asylum.

Let's start with the illustrations. The artist, Courtney Sieh, is extremely talented. Each drawing is detailed and you can see the utter terror and emotion on the character's faces. I love how it's black and white which really gives you that “old timey” historic vibe. Even without words, the reader is able to tell what's going on in the story.

As for the story, it was shocking, intense and harrowing. It's sad that it's true but there is a bit of light at the end. A small step towards a better society if you may. If you're unfamiliar with this particular story, it could come across as fiction, that's how horrific it is.

I enjoyed this graphic novel a lot and it piqued my interest in the topic of insane asylums which is ironic since that's exactly what Ms. Nellie Bly intended to do.

After Me, The Great Flood by Jayson Robert Ducharme does a good job portraying the descent into mental illness/depression. The reader can sympathize with the main character, as well as understand her mental decline. The book also sheds some light on dealing with addiction.

Ducharme does a good job with character development, specifically Ellis. Ellis is like-able, and interesting. The author does an excellent job showing relationships between characters, Lena and her mother, and Lena and Ellis.

For the first hundred pages not too much was happening and towards the end the plot was a bit everywhere for me. The well could be more of a focal point in the story considering it played a major role in the reason for the events. The ending of the book was interesting and I was eagerly waiting to read more about Lena's discovery in the well, ( I don't want to spoil that part) and would have liked to see more about the well in general (why it contains what is down there, etc)

Overall, an interesting read. I didn't dislike the book, I just wanted more horror elements and more story.

Petrified Women by Jeremy Ray

Harley is used to dating toxic men, but her current boyfriend Aiden isn't too bad. He has one special request; scaring Harley. Aiden absolutely loves pranks. The scarier the better. Harley sucks at pulling pranks but she's certain her most recent idea will give her the “jump” on Aiden. However, it's not always fun and games, and sometimes a prank becomes reality.

A warning that this book contains content that may be uncomfortable for some, so reader beware.

Petrified Women is a short suspenseful read. Jeremy Ray is a great storyteller and his pacing in the story is excellent. I definitely felt unsettled the entire time reading this book. The writing is detailed and I could imagine certain scenes perfectly. I literally flew through this book. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking of it. Characters were unique and interesting, although I found myself wanting to scream at Harley a few times to use her brain.

I've been seeing this book circulating around social media and Goodreads so I decided to give it a go on audible. First, I think the audio version is definitely the way to go. The narrator did a wonderful job and hearing the conversations made it all the more creepy and disturbing.

I noticed some low reviews, and I can't help but wonder if the point of the book was lost on some.

This is a well-written, disturbing psychological horror and it's frightening to come to the realization that there are actually people out there like these characters.

Zoe is a manipulative person and a perfect representation of why a person should use caution when engaging in online relationships with total strangers.

But the true messed up character is Agnes. The author shows her complete desperation by having Agnes immediately open up to a stranger that showed the smallest amount of attention to her. The whole time I was listening I was shaking my head and saying to myself “ why the heck would she do that?” Agnes is truly ill and the author did an excellent job showing mental illness. Mental illness is not easy to write about, but the author nailed it. The story about the egg shells and Agnes' aunt was a nice touch to show why Agnes may be sick as an adult. That and the complete isolation she felt when she came out as a lesbian. Remember in the early 2000s, being gay wasn't very accepted and a lot of people didn't feel safe being open about it. I felt disturbed down to my core listening to the desperation towards the end from Agnes. It's scary because it's possible.

The horror elements were also done well, specifically with the grotesque descriptions of eating tainted meat, the crucification of a child and the animal abuse/torture

I enjoyed that the story was written as a series of emails and instant messenger chats. It was a quick, disturbing read that really makes you think.

Rob has an interesting backstory. One filled with mysterious apparitions and violence. When she notices her oldest daughter, Callie, talking to what appears to be ghosts and collecting Animal bones she starts to worry. Is her perfect life falling apart? Rob knows exactly what to do. She takes Callie to Sundial, her family ranch. Sometimes our past comes back to haunt us, and there's no escape, but Rob will do anything to save both of her daughters.

Sundial by Catriona Ward is a psychological horror that digs its nails into you. I could not put this book down! It's full of twists and turns that throw the reader into a whirlwind of dread and terror. When you think you've figured it out, Ward pulls the rug from under your feet. With realistic characters and intense emotions, Sundial is a perfect roller coaster that plays with your emotions up until the very end.

It's hard to say much without spoilers but if you're a fan of psychological horror pick this book up. You will not be disappointed. Catriona Ward is becoming one of my new favorite horror writers.

Trigger Warnings: Suicide, Drug Use

This novella is inspired by the televised suicide of R. Budd Dwyer. A group of teenage friends were kicking it one Friday night and wanted to download some porn. Kind of like The days of Limewire and ThePirateBay. Well, in their search for Farrah Fawcett they come across an unusual, disturbing video of a man shooting himself in the head, ultimately killing himself (obviously) After watching the video, each teen has nightmares about killing themselves in the same fashion as Congressman Benjamin Hardy (the man in the video) They also experience disturbing hallucinations. Come to find out, each person that watches the video becomes haunted by it, almost like a chain letter.

I enjoyed this book for a few reasons.

First, Keislings writing style is great. It hooks you and makes you want to read more. He knows how to set the tone. I also felt some vibes from the movie The Ring with the whole chainletter/video arc.

That leads me to my second reason, and that's the tone and mood of the novella. I could feel the characters dread. Reading this book was enjoyable but uncomfortable at the same time. I like to be brought out of my comfort zone so Keisling put a good impression on me with this one.

Lastly I enjoyed this book because Keisling wrote from personal experience making the story more realistic and believable.

Overall Scanlines gets 4/5 stars for its overall creepiness, dread and interesting storyline.

I don't understand why this book is considered horror/dark fantasy/ cosmic horror. There wasn't much cosmic about it except for maybe the description of Iraxi's child. There's not much back story. Why is she carrying this creature child? How is her child a creature when the father is human? There are a lot of plot holes and gaps in the story.

Something that really bothered me was the depiction of pregnancy in this story. I'm not entirely sure if the author has children, or has experienced pregnancy, but a lot of the information surrounding it was inaccurate or lazily researched. Also as a mother of 3, I know for a fact no woman wants to have passionate sex while experiencing active labor, and that's with a human child, nevermind some cosmic creature shredding your insides. I also find it weird how often the author mentions the main character's vagina scent. It's odd.

Characters are flat and not interesting. I was confused the entire time about this messy love triangle that didn't make sense. There are barely any horror elements in this novella and honestly I feel like the plot was thrown together just
To set up for the final scene.

There's not a lot of information on who Iraxi is, or why she's having a hybrid baby/creature that can speak full sentences at its birth.

Overall a very messy story. The cover is beautiful and the writing is good so I'll leave it at a 2 star.

Thank you to TorNightfire and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Calisade Mountain College is like any typical party-school. If you're looking for a good time, go there. However, underneath the surface, something strange is happening. An alcoholic man hallucinates seeing his son that he never had. An officer of the law with a dirty secret for young coeds hears something strange on his radio. Amanda, a student at the college witnesses a suicide but when the police show, there's no body. One thing is certain, something is amiss, and there will be disaster in the near future.

Ungodly starts as a slow burn that builds a sense of mystery throughout the story. Each situation is unique and ties together, but how? The second half of the book picks up fast, and you're left racing to the end wondering how it will conclude. Ungodly is a book that you need to read through to grasp the story and enjoy it.

The book gives me a post-apocalyptic vibe, and delivers that “What if this really happened?,” fear and dread.

Braedon Riddick has excellent prose and his writing flows. Dialogue is kept light and not boring.

Ungodly has a creepy atmosphere that really absorbs you into the story. At times the story possessed Sci-if themes which I liked. I don't want to spoil it but I like what the author did with the “creatures” in the book. They were different which is always nice to see in horror.

Riddick's writing reminds me of Stephen King's earlier work and I love the similarities between the Dark Tower and the tower in Ungodly. All things serve the beam.

Book Review ✨ My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

Jade knows everything about Slashers. She can tell you every body count for every slasher. Okay maybe the better word for it is obsessed. After a body is found in the town lake, it's Jades time to shine. She knows this is how all slasher films begin, and she knows who the final girl is going to be and it's not her. It's Letha Mondragon, she's beautiful, smart, kind and a perfect final girl. Jade must prepare her for the inevitable, the Lake Witch killings.

I'm not sure if you're aware but I'm not a fan of SGJ's writing but this book has given me a little hope. At first I wasn't feeling it but around 30 percent I was hooked. I needed to know what was going to happen. SGJ tends to rant and go off topic and characters often speak in circles and the story becomes hard to follow. However, after around 30 percent, his writing becomes more fluid only going off track a few times. If he could cut out about 100-150 pages of extra details, rants and boring information about boring subjects, this book could easily be a 5 star read.

The plot is what won me over. It's fun to guess who the slasher is, only to be completely surprised at the end. I enjoyed his characters, especially the main character. She's absolutely tapped, and definitely interesting.

I will say SGJ added perfect amounts of humor at the right moments. His kill scenes are also cringeworthy. Like any typical slasher, he throws in lots of blood and gore, so beware if you are squeamish like me.

I almost feel bad rating this book 2/5 because the writing is phenomenal and the beginning of the story had me hopeful. The setting, characters and details gave me an eerie feeling and I thought I was going to be completely mind blown but the ending was a huge disappointment. I wish the author went a different route with this one because it could have easily been one of my favorite books of the year. If you're religious, specifically Christian, you'll enjoy this novella a lot more than I did. I could not get over the cheesy, ridiculous ending shrouded in support for the patriarchy

Synopsis: Abitha is new to the Puritan lifestyle, an outsider. She attends church and plays her role like a good Christian. But Abitha is also from a bloodline of Cunning women, more known as a Witch. After her husband mysteriously perishes, she is left alone to fend for her land in a patriarchal, misogynistic society that is hellbent on keeping witches and devils away from their land. Enter Slewfoot (Samson). Samson is unsure who he is, he is told he is “The Devil” but that doesn't feel right to him, he needs to know more. Together Abitha and Samson form a bond, using each other's gifts in a world where Witchcraft means a death sentence, desperate to discover their true nature.

“You think me worried about my soul? “ She laughed again, loud and fierce, locking blazing eyes on Samson. “I've no soul left,” she growled. “They've crucified my fucking soul!”

Let's talk Abitha our main character. I love her so much! Imagine that, characters written so well you become emotionally invested in them. She is a true badass. She speaks up despite the Puritan law, she takes no bs from any man, and she stands her ground at all times. Abitha is everything we want to see in a female lead. Strong, resourceful, brave, cunning, creative, intelligent and kind. Abitha's growth shines throughout the story, becoming one powerful being.

Characters in the book are fully developed with their own personalities and morals. Brom writes Samson so well, introducing a new image of “The Devil” in the readers mind. A God of Mother Nature with human thoughts and conundrums. Despite characters with strong, stubborn beliefs, some do show remorse and sadness for Abitha's fate, showing that not everyone was okay with the silly happenings of the church.

The story is beautifully written. The pacing starts slow, but stays interesting and engaging throughout. It's hard to talk about certain parts without spoilers but the parts about nature are written so descriptive it's like you're there spinning in a field of flowers, drinking in the sun and witnessing mother nature's growth and beauty. I specifically loved the wildfolk and the old gods. A certain bear that serves the beam may even make an appearance.

Merged review:

Synopsis: Abitha is new to the Puritan lifestyle, an outsider. She attends church and plays her role like a good Christian. But Abitha is also from a bloodline of Cunning women, more known as a Witch. After her husband mysteriously perishes, she is left alone to fend for her land in a patriarchal, misogynistic society that is hellbent on keeping witches and devils away from their land. Enter Slewfoot (Samson). Samson is unsure who he is, he is told he is “The Devil” but that doesn't feel right to him, he needs to know more. Together Abitha and Samson form a bond, using each other's gifts in a world where Witchcraft means a death sentence, desperate to discover their true nature.

“You think me worried about my soul? “ She laughed again, loud and fierce, locking blazing eyes on Samson. “I've no soul left,” she growled. “They've crucified my fucking soul!”

Let's talk Abitha our main character. I love her so much! Imagine that, characters written so well you become emotionally invested in them. She is a true badass. She speaks up despite the Puritan law, she takes no bs from any man, and she stands her ground at all times. Abitha is everything we want to see in a female lead. Strong, resourceful, brave, cunning, creative, intelligent and kind. Abitha's growth shines throughout the story, becoming one powerful being.

Characters in the book are fully developed with their own personalities and morals. Brom writes Samson so well, introducing a new image of “The Devil” in the readers mind. A God of Mother Nature with human thoughts and conundrums. Despite characters with strong, stubborn beliefs, some do show remorse and sadness for Abitha's fate, showing that not everyone was okay with the silly happenings of the church.

The story is beautifully written. The pacing starts slow, but stays interesting and engaging throughout. It's hard to talk about certain parts without spoilers but the parts about nature are written so descriptive it's like you're there spinning in a field of flowers, drinking in the sun and witnessing mother nature's growth and beauty. I specifically loved the wildfolk and the old gods. A certain bear that serves the beam may even make an appearance.

The writing is so easy to read. Very interesting and kept my attention but finding out the Boogeyman's identity was anticlimactic. I'll definitely read more and can't wait for the sequel.

After a Volcanic eruption of Mount Sengoku, mysterious golden, hair-like fibers flow through the air and stick to the locals giving them special gifts. One woman in particular has a full head of golden hair. There's something about her that has everyone mesmerized. A reporter becomes obsessed with finding her purpose, stumbling into a cult with more nefarious ideas in mind.

I absolutely adore Junji Ito. His artwork is phenomenal and disturbing. He is a master of body horror. With that being said, i was disappointed with Sensor. I guess he was looking to write a manga focused on Cosmic horror but it was boring and not scary aside from a select few scenes towards the end. The plot was weird and jumped around a bit. Characters weren't too interesting. If you're looking to read Junji Ito, do not chose Sensor as your first read

I enjoyed the story. It was a quick, easy and entertaining read. I like the references to other books and movies in the appendix. I didnt particularly like any of the characters or relate to them but the story was written well and researched well.

It took me forever to get through this book, partly because I listened to the audiobook. I fell in love with the cover and unfortunately I didn't enjoy the story as much as I anticipated. At first I thought this was going to be a good whodunnit, but it felt stretched out and the ending was confusing. I had a hard time liking the main character. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't like her either.

It was cool to hear about recipes and Filipino dishes, but it was overkill. I feel like the book could have been shortened and it would have been more enjoyable If some of the recipes were cut short, or taken out.

Also, it's strange how none of the characters seem bothered by death and crime throughout the story. I feel like the author half-heartedly put together a story without much effort. The detective was unrealistic, her own investigations were simple and rushed and this book was a disappointment.

Once we found out who killed Derek and why, It kind of sunk the ship for me. Once again, I feel like the author rushed to wrap up the story. The food and recipes were basically the main focus. It's almost like the murder storyline was thrown in.

I wanted to like this, but I'm happy it's over. Maybe it felt dragged out because I decided to go the audio route.

DNF@ 40%

So I wanted to love this and I kept pushing myself to read it but every time I did I would either fall asleep or contemplate putting it away. This book is so so boring. I'm 40 percent in and not much has even happened.

It's also CLUNKY. There is too much going on at once. There are multiple vampire species and all different names and cartels. It starts to feel like a history textbook. I honestly did not like the cartel aspect. Also, I found it weird that the author included an encyclopedia at the end of the book rather than describing vampires throughout the story. It was a bit confusing to read about a vampire you never heard of or can even pronounce.

I don't like the characters. Atl is flat, despite the author trying to make her appear mysterious and dark. The romance trope is poor as well and didn't need to be included.

It wasn't what I expected, and I cannot get through this. It needs more plot development and less focus on feeding information down the readers throat.

One positive would be the Aztec references and culture put into the book.

Thank you Tor Nightfire for an advanced paperback of Certain Dark Things in exchange for an honest review.

The Last House on Needless Street will disturb you, and surprise you. If you think you have it figured out, you most likely have no clue.

Ted lives with his cat Olivia in a ramshackle home. Sometimes Ted's young daughter Lauren visits. Something isn't right in the home, and something isn't quite right with Ted.

Dee is haunted by her sister Lulu's disappearance. She went missing years ago on a family trip to the beach. Dee is desperate to find out what happened to Lauren, hoping she's still alive. Dee moves to Needless Street and soon discovers that not everything is as it seems.

It's difficult to say too much without major spoilers but I will say that Catriona Ward is an amazing storyteller. I was absolutely immersed into the book. It's truly disturbing and if I'm going to be honest, sad. You will think you have it figured out hundreds of times, only to discover the haunting, shocking truth. It's definitely different and any fan of horror should read this book. Also, The Afterword is a must read. It shows exactly why Catriona decided to write this story.

I really want to say more but it's difficult without spoiling the entire plot.

One of my favorite collections by the master of horror Junji Ito. I love the Lovesickness story. Illustrations are hauntingly beautiful as ever.