booktrishandmagic's reviews
411 reviews

Coram House by Bailey Seybolt

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

3.0

Coram House delivers a chilling, atmospheric mystery with a richly layered plot and a haunting wintery setting. The mixed media chapters added a unique touch, and I appreciated the real-life inspiration from St. Joseph’s Orphanage. While I enjoyed the overall mystery and uncovering the orphanage’s dark secrets alongside Alex, the main character, the slow pacing and overly long narrative made it a bit of a struggle at times. The ending, though fitting, was surprisingly predictable. Ultimately, while this was an impressive debut, the writing style just wasn’t for me, which kept me from fully connecting with the story. 

 

Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy! 💙

Blood In The Water by Matthew R. Corr

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Blood in the Water is an absolute thrill ride from start to finish. The violence, gore, and sheer craziness had me hooked right away. It’s incredibly fast-paced and filled with tension—I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The characters are fantastic, each with their own distinct personality. Some you love, some you hate. There are even some unexpectedly funny moments that give the chaos a wicked edge. 

 

I really appreciated the strong LGBTQ representation throughout the book. The plot is unique, addicting, and packed with great slasher vibes. The spooky underwater setting adds an extra layer of terror—no thank you, terrifying. As a sequel to Camp 1985, it absolutely delivers, and I’m already counting down the days for the next adventure with Anders. Totally obsessed with this series! Also, I love how I went from space horror straight to underwater horror—clearly, I have a thing for terrifying settings. 

Demon Summer by J.J. Buffet

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This book was an absolute blast from start to finish. It grabbed my attention immediately and didn’t let go. I read it in one sitting, completely hooked by the nonstop, entertaining chaos. The gore and violence were over-the-top in the best way, with plenty of shock factor that had me laughing out loud. It gave serious B-horror movie vibes—campy, cheesy, and so much fun, which is exactly what I was hoping for. The brief mention of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a fun bonus, giving it an extra nostalgic, supernatural edge. Plus, the cover is fantastic. If you’re a fan of wild, blood-soaked horror with a dark sense of humor, this one delivers.

Thank you @snaxtimeusa for the gifted copy! You’ve got a new fan now. 💀🔥

Cold Eternity by S.A. Barnes

medium-paced

3.5

Barnes once again delivers a masterclass in space horror with her signature blend of chilling atmosphere and gore-filled, cinematic scenes. The tension is palpable, and the vivid, detailed writing makes every unsettling moment come alive. The sci-fi elements are wonderfully creepy, and the characters are compelling, drawing me deeper into the story.

That said, the political angle didn’t quite land for me—it felt a bit confusing and got lost in the otherwise gripping plot. Still, Barnes’ talent for creating eerie, suspenseful settings and her knack for gut-punch horror makes this a must-read. She’s an auto-buy author for me—I don’t even need to read the summary. While this one wasn’t my favorite of hers, it’s still an intense, atmospheric ride that fans of space horror won’t want to miss.

Gray After Dark by Noelle W. Ihli

5.0

Well, I cried. And I don’t like crying. But this book was terrifying and beautiful—a haunting, edge-of-your-seat thriller that completely hooked me. The atmosphere was intense, the writing so vivid and detailed that I felt every moment of fear and desperation. I was literally holding my face in anxiety and anticipation. The characters felt real, and I needed to know their fate. The epilogue? Perfect. Wrapped up beautifully. And knowing this was based on real events? I’ll definitely be reading more about the true story. No notes. Perfection.

With Friends Like These by V.S. Lawrence

4.0

If you love camp slashers as much as I do, this one is a must-read! With Friends Like These is a fast-paced, gore-filled thrill ride that kept me hooked from start to finish. It had all the classic slasher vibes but with a unique twist that set it apart from the usual camp horror stories. 

 

The plot took a turn I definitely wasn’t expecting, but I loved where it ended up. The characters were great—well, most of them. There was one counselor I absolutely couldn’t stand. But overall, this was such an entertaining and engaging read. 

 

I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say this: if you’re looking for a bloody good time, With Friends Like These delivers. Check it out—you’ll love it!

The Other People by C.B. Everett

medium-paced

3.0

I love a good locked-room mystery, but The Other People left me feeling conflicted. The plot was nothing new—your typical setup with strangers trapped in a house—but it kept me reading, mostly out of sheer curiosity (and confusion). I spent most of the book wondering what was going on and why the characters were making such terrible decisions. The final twist, though? That had *shock appeal.* I didn’t see it coming. The gasp I gused. 😆 

 

That said, a lot of the story felt unbelievable, requiring a serious suspension of disbelief. The characters? Hated all of them. But despite my frustration, I was engaged the whole time. If you like mysteries that leave you guessing (and slightly bewildered), this one might be worth a read. 

 

 

 

Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy!

Nowhere by Allison Gunn

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I have mixed feelings about this one—but one thing’s for sure: this book was CREEPY AS HELL. The atmosphere? Absolutely chilling. The Appalachian folklore? So eerie and well done. The ending? Completely unhinged in the best way possible. 😳 

 

That said… I hated the main character, Rachel, and her husband wasn’t much better. The domestic drama bogged things down for me, and if not for the sheer horror factor, I might have DNF’d. But wow, am I glad I stuck with it—because there’s a paragraph at the end of chapter 29 that will haunt me forever. 😆 

 

Creepy kids freak me out, the Appalachian setting hit way too close to home (literally—those mountains are spooky and I live right by them!), and while I could’ve done with less family dysfunction, this was an incredible debut. If you like horror that gets under your skin, Nowhere is worth the read! 

A Cold Dose of Murder by Emily George

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I absolutely love this series, and A Cold Dose of Murder is another fun, cozy mystery that had me hooked from start to finish! This book truly has everything I enjoy—murder, mystery, cannabis, and delicious food. The setting of the ice cream festival was such a treat (I’d totally go to that in real life!), and I’m already planning to try the ice cream recipe included at the end. 

 

One of the things that makes this series stand out is the creative way cannabis is woven into the story, especially through the café and all the infused recipes. As someone who supports medicinal cannabis use, I really appreciate how it's featured in such a positive and normalized way. 

 

The small-town vibes are perfect, and I love seeing the characters grow with each book. Honestly, Azalea Bay sounds like the dream place to live—if you can doge the occasional murder. 😆 

 

Overall, this was a quick, cozy, and super enjoyable read with a unique plot. I can't wait for the next one!

Only One Survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon

medium-paced

3.0

I was immediately drawn to Only One Survives by its gorgeous, atmospheric, and creepy cover, and the premise had me hooked—a girl rock band stranded in a cabin during a blizzard, with no way out and a possible killer among them. The snowstorm setting and locked-door thriller elements created an eerie, tension-filled atmosphere that initially pulled me in. 

 

However, while the book started strong, it lost momentum in part two. The pacing dragged on, and the last 100 pages felt unnecessarily long. I wish the story had ended at the cabin, as the events that followed felt far-fetched and took away from the tight, suspenseful setup. 

 

Unfortunately, the ending left me unsatisfied, and the story ultimately didn’t hit home for me. 

 

That said, if you enjoy isolated thrillers and slow-burning suspense, you might still find aspects to appreciate. But for me, this one went downhill and left me wishing for a tighter, more impactful conclusion. This book has received plenty of glowing reviews, so don’t just take my word for it—give it a read and see what you think!