Sunday, September 10, 2023

Review: All The Dead Lie Down

 



Title: All The Dead Lie Down 
Series: N/A
Author: Kyri McCauley
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: May 16, 2023
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, LGBQ
Reading Source: Kindle
Length: 368 pages
Format: e-book
  Cover Art: 5/5
 Overall: 5/5


 

The Haunting of Bly Manor meets House of Salt and Sorrows in award-winning author Kyrie McCauley’s contemporary YA gothic romance about a dark family lineage, the ghosts of grief, and the lines we’ll cross for love.

The Sleeping House was very much awake . . .

Days after a tragedy leaves Marin Blythe alone in the world, she receives a surprising invitation from Alice Lovelace—an acclaimed horror writer and childhood friend of Marin’s mother. Alice offers her a nanny position at Lovelace House, the family’s coastal Maine estate.

Marin accepts and soon finds herself minding Alice’s peculiar girls. Thea buries her dolls one by one, hosting a series of funerals, while Wren does everything in her power to drive Marin away. Then Alice’s eldest daughter returns home unexpectedly. Evie Hallowell is every bit as strange as her younger sisters, and yet Marin is quickly drawn in by Evie’s compelling behavior and ethereal grace.

But as Marin settles in, she can’t escape the anxiety that follows her like a shadow. Dead birds appear in Marin’s room. The children’s pranks escalate. Something dangerous lurks in the woods, leaving mutilated animals in its wake. All is not well at Lovelace House, and Marin must unravel its secrets before they consume her.
Review:

After tragedy hits Marin leaving her all alone, Alice Lovelace; her mother’s friend and horror novelist, askes Marin to be a nanny to her two small kids, Thea and Wren for the summer. 
Marin does not know what she is in for. Between the macabre children, eerie house and the terrifying nightmares, this is going to be a summer that Marin will never forget.  


Creepy and chilling novel. The children were real monsters, with all the pranks and tricks they played on Marin. Scary kids giving baby dolls funerals. Alice was odd to say the least. The romance between Marin and Evie felt authentic. I love a good romance subplot. 

Perfect for the upcoming Halloween season. 












Saturday, September 9, 2023

Review: What the River Knows





 
Series: N/A
Author: Isabel Ibanez
Publisher: Wednesday Books 
Publication Date: October 31, 2023
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Reading Source: NetGalley
Length: 416 pages
Format: e-book
  Cover Art: 5/5
 Overall: 5/5


 

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and an ancient golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

Review:
What the River Knows is a richly designed historical fiction story set in Egypt with an enemies to lovers trope. I can not stop raving about this book, it is so good. What the River Knows is a beautiful tale of Inez Olivera, a girl who seems to have it all, her world traveling parents. After the death of them, Inez is left with a fortune, a curious guardian and a partnership to an archeologist. Inez sails to Egypt to find answers to her mother and father's death. Upon arrival she finds a strong magic pulling her down a path of her parent's disappearance.  

 

I loved The Mummy movie and when that was in the description I knew that this book was for me and I was right! I can’t say too much about Death on the Nile because I don’t know that reference.
 Aside from Japan, my favorite setting to read from is Egypt, this one didn’t disappoint me. I loved the world. It was beautifully written. The writing seemed to just flow. The story was so entertaining from start to finish. The characters just seemed to come alive, they were so engaging. 


A huge thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this advanced readers edition in exchange for an honest review! 


 









Friday, September 8, 2023

Review: Rebel Girls



Title: Rebel Girls
Series: None
Author: Elizabeth Keenan
Publisher: Inkyard
Publication Date: September 10, 2019
Genre: Young Adult
Reading Source: NetGalley
Length: 432 pages
Format: e-book
  Cover Art: 5/5
 Overall: 4/5






“Echoing the punk-rock feminist movement of the early ’90s, debut author Keenan creates a timely narrative that will challenge teens to reflect on their personal values and engage in respectful discourse. A must-read.” – Kirkus , starred review

When it comes to being social, Athena Graves is far more comfortable creating a mixtape playlist than she is talking to cute boys—or anyone , for that matter. Plus her staunchly feminist views and love of punk rock aren’t exactly mainstream at St. Ann’s, her conservative Catholic high school.

Then a malicious rumor starts spreading through the halls…a rumor that her popular, pretty, pro-life sister had an abortion over the summer. A rumor that has the power to not only hurt Helen, but possibly see her expelled.

Despite their wildly contrasting views, Athena, Helen, and their friends must find a way to convince the student body and the administration that it doesn’t matter what Helen did or didn’t do…even if their riot grrrl protests result in the expulsion of their entire rebel girl gang.

Review:  
Rebel Girls is about Athena attending Catholic School in the 90s. When the rumors about Athena’s little sister start to fly, it’s hard for Athena to stay under the radar.

Rebel Girls is a blast from the past. My nephew says I need to get my head out of the 90s all the time and this novel just solidified my 90s obsession. Kids of today’s age just don’t understand.
Athena was such a down to earth girl, I could really relate to her. Helen was headstrong and had a lot of personality. Rebel Girls touches base with some pretty serious issues including bullying, racism, teen pregnancy, and abortion.

Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for this e-copy for my honest opinions.


 








Thursday, September 7, 2023

Review: The Lodge: A Horror Novel

 







Title: The Lodge 
Series: None
Author: Jeremy Eads
Publisher: Wicked House Publishing
Publication Date: July 28, 2023
Genre: Adult, Horror
Reading Source: NetGalley
Length: 258 pages
Format: e-book
  Cover Art: 3/5
 Overall: 3/5






A demon runs a bed and breakfast in southwest Virginia where sin never needs a reservation. A guilt-ridden retiree, two little boys, and a pair of meth making cousins will challenge America's most wanted black widow, a haunted southern town, and the Devil himself. The quest for salvation will lead to the darkest parts of themselves as well as the beating black heart of Summit Valley, Virginia. The Maple Lodge, a B&B where the turn down service is to die for.

Review:
Welcome to The Maple Lodge, a Bed and Breakfast where the service is to die for.

 
In this gothic horror novel, we visit a B&B set in a haunted town in southern Virginia, not just any B&B but one that is run by a demon. We follow a colorful cast of characters from a couple of little boys, a retiree, cousins dealing in some illegal activity, an infamous black widow and the Devil himself. 

The book just didn’t really click with me. The book jumped around a lot and the ending felt rushed. It had a lot of potential, but I don’t think it lived up to it. 
 This book is currently on KU (Kindle Unlimited) as of 9/7/23.


Thank you to Wicked House Publishing and NetGalley for this e-copy for my honest opinions. 

 









Saturday, September 2, 2023

Review: Parasite

 



 
Series: Parasitology #1
Author: Mira Grant
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
Genre: Adult, Horror, Science Fiction
Reading Source: NetGalley
Length: 513 pages
Format: e-book
  Cover Art: 5/5
 Overall: 4/5






A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease.

We owe our good health to a humble parasite - a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the tapeworm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system - even secretes designer drugs. It's been successful beyond the scientists' wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them.

But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives...and will do anything to get them.

Review:

Parasite was an adult futuristic horror. In this world SymboGen Corporation has developed a genetically engineered tapeworm. The tapeworm keeps people safe from illnesses and increases the immune system. Years after most everybody has a tapeworm thriving within them. And for the most part they are out of harm’s way until the parasites start to get restless. 

Parasite is the first book in the Parasitology series by the same author as The Feed series, I have not read that series yet. The thought of a parasite inside is just disturbing. It reminded me of the t.v. series Monsters Inside Me mixed with the book The Host. The strange thing about it is that it was a real “diet” plan back in the 19th century. People really did buy and swallow tapeworms. 

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.