The Darwin Affair by Tim Mason
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Words cannot accurately describe how much fun I had reading this book. I can liken the experience to discovering a delightful British series on PBS and losing an entire weekend curled up on the couch. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised.

This book reads like a movie and I wasn’t at all shocked to find out that the author is a playwright. The moment you turn that first page you’re drawn in, and the frenetic energy just pushes you through until the very end. It contains all the elements of Victorian England, gloomy and gritty, cold and pungent, but brightened by rich characters and perpetual wit. Throughout the novel are little bites of historical Easter Eggs, from Typhoid Mary, royal family trivia, references to Charles Dickens, and so much more.
Each vivid scene of this of this classic British comedy was filled with action, suspense, hilarious physical slapstick, and just a touch of well-placed lewdness that more than once made me laugh out loud. This would make a perfect BBC series with Hugh Laurie, Martin Freeman, and Bill Nighy in starring roles.
I wish I could read this book for the first time all over again.

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The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones


A truly scary story is one that doesn’t leave you, even after you’ve put down the book. You dwell on it, mull it over, everyday objects remind you of it, you find yourself losing track of your thoughts, only to find them thinking about the story and its haunting imagery. On multiple occasions, when I was reading, I was brutally startled to the present, screaming out loud as someone walked into my bedroom or said my name.

Spooky storyline aside, this book is rich with Native heritage, where past and present collide. Sweats with traditional drumming over a loudspeaker. Hunting and gathering in trucks with the spirits of the elders whispering the legends of the elk. Woven throughout the plot are traditions and storytelling, tales and rituals passed down for generations, explanations and ideas with cultural and paranormal origins.

For the best reading experience, I recommend inhaling parts two and three in one (or two consecutive) sittings, in the middle of the forest, next to a roaring bonfire. Don’t forget your cooler of ice cold beer.

I received a complementary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation Into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin by Megan Rosenbloom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was everything I wanted it to be, and more.

I first heard about Dark Archives on the Morbid Anatomy podcast, and I knew immediately that I had to read it, but it wasn't due out until October (quite appropriate but SO FAR AWAY!) I started following the author, Megan Rosenbloom, on Twitter and discovered that the book was available on NetGalley. I requested it immediately and crossed my fingers.

Until I heard Megan speak on the podcast, I had NO IDEA that books bound in human skin was a thing. How had my macabre sensibilities missed this gem? However, this book is more than just Megan's quest to search out true anthropodermic bibliopegy (fancy words for "books made of human skin"), it's an education and procedural in antique books, it's' a study in medical ethics past and present, and a behind-the-scenes look at the exciting world of a medical librarian! You get to follow Megan around the globe as she hunts down various legendary tomes and testing them to see if they're the real deal. Some turn out to be made out of animal skins, but a handful turn out to be the real McCoy.

Amidst the "treasure" hunt, you receive a brief education on the history of medicine in western world, how far doctors have come from paying grave robbers for bodies to autopsy to now using bodies that have been donated. It's a gruesome truth that is riddled with controversy when you consider how medicine has advanced from the dark ages on the literal backs of the poor, the murdered, and minorities. Collectors and librarians juggle their want and need to conserve history whilst trying to respect the memory of those whose bodies were used to enrich someone's personal library.

Dark Archives is a fascinating read that brings together so many elements to create a well-rounded text that is as enjoyable as it is informative.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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The Book of Rosy: A Mother's Story of Separation at the Border by Rosayra Pablo Cruz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Painful and heart-wrenching, this book gives a behind-the-scenes look at the difficult lives Guatemalans face in their home country that force them to make the trek and cross over to the United States. Rosy’s personal account of the trials she faced in Guatemala, her journey to United States, her time in a ICE detention center, her forced separation from her children, continued detainment, and more, is beautifully written yet difficult to read. The story is so well thought-out and outlined in such a way that creates a well-rounded and complete picture. This is an inspirational must-read about hope and faith, determination in the face of extreme opposition, and the amazing community that has rallied around these women and families who have suffered from “zero-tolerance” policies.

NetGalley gave me an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Little Creeping Things by Chelsea Ichaso
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was just too much teenage drama for my taste, especially since it’s not even specified as YA or otherwise. I had to talk myself into finishing this book. Multiple times I wanted to just put it down and walk away. The writing itself wasn’t bad, the author has an incredible voice and knows how to create an enthralling tale. My issue was with the characters. Throughout the entire read I was enraged with the main character, Cassidy, who proved to be a selfish teenager who plays victim while inflicting the same behaviors from which she suffers. A bully who spreads lies and gossip while decrying her own trauma and treatment. It was such a gross display of irresponsibility that it was hard to focus on the actual story because I was too busy being angry. Even with multiple opportunities to come clean, or be a good person, or just be honest, Cassidy refuses to take the higher road. Until the bitter end, she remains a petulant and possessive.

I was given an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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