The Temple House Vanishing by Rachel Donohue
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Gothic academia at its finest, this story of angsty teens in the 90s UK, moodily traipsing through the corridors of a decrepit mansion on a cliff by the sea, will scratch all your itches for an eerie and haunting tale. Inappropriate and taboo relationships take centerstage, stern nuns, invisible help, and plenty of mean girls are the supporting characters. Brains and beauties, the clash of the classes, all come together to tell a story of a mysterious disappearance and its consequences.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

Survive the Night by Riley Sager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Moral of the story? Maybe don’t get into cars with strangers. Is that a spoiler? Ha! No. Just good advice. What starts out as a bit of slow ride with lots of introspection and self-pity turns into a fast-paced thriller that refuses to slow down. The more you read the more you realize why this had story had to take place in the 90s, think how well Home Alone would do nowadays with cell phones and the internet at Kevin’s fingertips. Doesn’t make for a compelling movie, nor would it make for a great book if we didn’t rewind twenty years to the time before we could SOS anyone with a double tap or Facebook stalk just about anyone.

This isn’t just some straightforward story, though, the wrench having something to do with the main character’s trauma-induced hallucinations or dreams that can happen at any time and make you wonder if what’s going on is really happening or just a figment of her imagination. How far does this dream sequence go? Is she going to wake up at the beginning of the story with Toto and the tinman by her side?

It does get a bit tedious when it comes to the decision making of the main character. Aside from the obvious frustration with someone who jumps in cars with people she doesn’t know, it really gets annoying with the continued missteps this chick takes throughout the entire story. Yes, I realize that’s part of the arc, would there be horror movies if people were actually logical and didn’t go into the basement? No, but it doesn’t make me want to smack her any less.

Overall, I was pleased with the suspense and the outcome. There were twists and turns in all the right places and the accompanying soundtrack throughout the book brings back some solid memories. Now I’m off to listen to some grunge.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.


View all my reviews

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Logophiles will delight in the eloquent structure and vocabulary of this innovative thriller. As someone who enjoys writing and crafting sentences, reading this was an absolute treat, not only because it deals intimately with the writing process and the inner workings of publishing and authors, but every phrase is a lesson in terminology and verbiage aesthetics. Not to mention, you’re reading two different books at the same time, bouncing between the main story, and the story that is the reason for all the drama that makes up this book. Aside from this structural deviation, all the traditional anticipated twists and turns are present. There are times when it’s difficult to wrap your head around some of the wilder concepts of the main character’s amateur sleuthing, or the crazy cast developments, but it still makes for a compelling and worthy weekend read.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For a sci-fi novel, this book has something for everyone; it’s heartfelt, it’s funny, it’s definitely science-y with plenty of fiction, but overall, it’s a well-rounded, enjoyable read. Weir’s dry wit and humor that was prevalent in The Martian is back in full force. From the very beginning, I was laughing out loud and rereading passages to my husband because he wanted to know what was so funny. There isn’t much I can say in a review for fear of spoiling any of the surprises, but I’m anxious and excited for the movie version, since it’s already been optioned, because as much as I would love to see how they recreate some of my favorite scenes, part of me knows that they’ll undoubtedly fail to capture it in just the right way to satisfy my imagination. While the science talk can become a bit technical and would cause me to space out (pun intended) at times, most of it is written in a way that us laypeople can understand complex concepts and still remain interested and engaged. The structure of the novel, with well-placed flashbacks answering many of the questions that come up during the present timeline, keeps the story fresh and moves it along at a fair pace.

Everything about this story was fantastic and I cannot recommend it enough.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

The Dark Hour by K.J. Young


The entire mood of this book is as if you picked up a yellowing copy of a campy pulp fiction novel, the entire story played out in sepia tones. You can smell the musty pages as you turn each one rapidly, your heart pounding as you read each line of predictable but thrilling text. It’s a ghoulish and disturbing narrative set in the 1970s, a life of archaic isolation, before everyone was connected via cellphones and computers. It all lends to the creepiness and validity of the events that unfold, including a glaring abject lesson that further highlights the downfall of the “Me Decade”. With creepy cultish imagery and the built-in macabre of the ailing and aging characters, this is good old-fashioned horror at its finest.

I received an advanced copy of this book from its publisher. The opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What started out as an interesting historical fiction account of a black woman doctor as told by her daughter, ended up becoming a long, drawn-out, rebellious identity crisis that comes to a blunt and unsatisfying conclusion. The storytelling was there, but the plot tended to wander without ambition and no apparent objection. All the components needed to create a compelling narrative were there: fascinating characters, a time period ripe with potential, and an entire “lifetime” to play out on the page. Numerous experiences were glossed over that, if expounded upon, could have enriched the storyline, instead drawing out the more dull moments and adding miscellany that could have been omitted.

The synopsis held so much promise but did not deliver.

Algonquin Books gifted me an advanced copy of this book. The opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

The Lost Village by Camilla Sten
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What starts out feeling like a campy mockumentary quickly turns into a horrifying nightmare that will haunt you long after you finish this book. The story development is an insane tease, the back and forth of narratives and timelines creates an intense but delightful suspense. I could read hundreds of books like this and still want to read more. The combination of mysterious disappearances, crazy religion, murder, and abandoned buildings is my favorite bookish recipe.

While the characters were a bit melodramatic for my taste, it played well into the “mockumentary” vibe and was believable considering their age. As well as with many stories I read, I wanted so much more backstory, there was enough to keep me interested and entertained, but I still was left with questions.

Everything about this story was meticulous and well-crafted and deserves high praise.

Minotaur Books and NetGalley gifted me an advanced copy of this book. The opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MIND BLOWN! Hands down, best book I’ve read in 2021. Every emotion is touched in this beautiful piece of literature and I felt all of them in an immense way. The fact that this is Boulley’s debut is unbelievable. It’s an incredible story that expertly blends the real world (circa 2004) with Ojibwe traditions and culture.

Every single character in this book is important and necessary, their humanity is tangible. Daunis is young and strong, confident and forward, a refreshing face in an overwhelming sea of whiny, doormat female protagonists. She’s stubborn but not foolish, she’s intelligent but still manages to be age appropriate. Every interaction she has is natural and the dialogue is seamless. Even my romance averse reading preference appreciated the tender moments that happen between Daunis and Jamie and I couldn’t help but hope for their relationship to turn into something more.

Boulley doesn’t hold back, her writing style is eloquent but raw, tasteful but real. There were several moments where I swear my heart stopped, my breath wouldn’t come, and I had to fight back tears. Even though I had an advanced e-galley, I had to go out and buy a hard copy, I had to feel the power of it in my hands, experience it with every sense. I would recommend this book to anyone from young adult to elder, there is something to be learned and enjoyed for everyone. I will be singing its praises for a long time coming.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

THE PVRITAN by Birgitte Märgen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This scary slow-burn has words that leap off the page and images that will haunt you.

Nothing is creepier than a string of murders that seem completely unrelated except for one tiny, religious, detail. Detectives Marti and Neil hunt down a killer, leaving no stone unturned, investigating Salvadoran gang members, high schoolers, and satanic cults. Torn back and forth between Boston’s Puritanical past and the dark reality of the present, a delicious tension builds, a psychological and spiritual nightmare. Following the clues, the detectives wade through psychic tips and false confessions. Tramping through graveyards leads to gruesome discoveries and dead ends. Close calls and near misses keep you on the edge of your seat while wicked suspense will drive you through until the bittersweet conclusion.

NetGalley and the author granted me access to an advanced copy of this title. The opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an absolute dream this story was, at least one of my personal dreams, to stumble upon an obscure piece of history and mystery. I was absolutely transported with this book to one place in two different time periods and I just want to go back and sit in the apothecary shop and observe, a fly on the wall.

Such a delightful cast with a wide range of characters, from preteen to elderly, everyone had an important part to play and they were all beautifully put together. With a little bit of relatable drama, some historical details, and a lot of imagination, a wonderful story unfolds. My only complaint is that it wasn’t longer.

I have always been fascinated by early medicine and pharmacopeia, the use of herbs and plants in healing, so this book was such a treat. Additionally, what a joy it was to find some recipes (minus the poison) for tea and cookies in the back of this book. I can’t wait to try them out.

View all my reviews