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dan_tee's reviews
104 reviews
Hammers on Bone by Cassandra Khaw
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
We follow gumshoe detective John Persons as he discovers the lovecraftian horrors infecting the stepdad of a young London bot. Oh, and that boy asked him to kill his stepdad.
A solid novella. It's pretty short, but certainly sets a clear detective-noir tone from the off. The hard-boiled, pulpy vernacular is juxtaposed by a fairly modern London, which creates an interesting separation between our point of view and the facts of London town proper.
There are a few gross descriptions, some good lovecraftian creatures and vibes, and a fun couple of twists too.
So, a fun short read overall. Nothing new and spectacular, but fans of the genre will breeze through this in a couple of hours and have a fun time. I think I'll look at the next in the series, and I may try one of the authors stand-alone longer stories.
A solid novella. It's pretty short, but certainly sets a clear detective-noir tone from the off. The hard-boiled, pulpy vernacular is juxtaposed by a fairly modern London, which creates an interesting separation between our point of view and the facts of London town proper.
There are a few gross descriptions, some good lovecraftian creatures and vibes, and a fun couple of twists too.
So, a fun short read overall. Nothing new and spectacular, but fans of the genre will breeze through this in a couple of hours and have a fun time. I think I'll look at the next in the series, and I may try one of the authors stand-alone longer stories.
There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
I bloody loved this book.
The premise is a world very much like ours contains a foundation dedicated to stopping the weird ruining the world. So far, so x-files. Except we're talking weirder stuff than normal aliens; think more "we found out cthulu was real and put it in a box" type of weird.
So yeah, a cool premise for any sci-fi nerd. Within that organisation are, obviously, different departments. This book focuses on the antimemetics division. If a meme is a thing that propogates, an antimeme does the opposite.
You can learn a thing, but that information erases itself. Think of a book you can read which you then immediately forget everything about. Actually, that hits too close to home.
In this novel we see people trying to combat world-ending creatures that have antimemetic properties. So how do you fight against a thing which you can't remember exists?
That's the hook of the book, and it hits the bullseye repeatedly. It's a series of short stories set in this world which introduces us to some of the ideas listed above, and more. We follow a few key characters and see how the Foundation and the entities they try to contain effect not only reality, but their interpersonal lives and their worldview.
There's so much to love about this book. It's clever, somber, gross, and sardonic, but with enough of a dark sense of humour to not make it all feel overly dramatic or grimdark.
The author is apparently rewriting this book to no longer include the SCP foundation, which makes sense for proper publication. I'm sure a generic shady government organisation will make do instead.
The only thing I didn't really enjoy was theheaven stuff. It felt a bit vague, although I did enjoy Marion coming back to talk to Adam. Incredibly sad. The ending was also fine but frankly I don't know how you'd end this entirely satisfactorily, especially because of how far the story goes.
So yeah, loved it. Can't wait to read more by qntm!
The premise is a world very much like ours contains a foundation dedicated to stopping the weird ruining the world. So far, so x-files. Except we're talking weirder stuff than normal aliens; think more "we found out cthulu was real and put it in a box" type of weird.
So yeah, a cool premise for any sci-fi nerd. Within that organisation are, obviously, different departments. This book focuses on the antimemetics division. If a meme is a thing that propogates, an antimeme does the opposite.
You can learn a thing, but that information erases itself. Think of a book you can read which you then immediately forget everything about. Actually, that hits too close to home.
In this novel we see people trying to combat world-ending creatures that have antimemetic properties. So how do you fight against a thing which you can't remember exists?
That's the hook of the book, and it hits the bullseye repeatedly. It's a series of short stories set in this world which introduces us to some of the ideas listed above, and more. We follow a few key characters and see how the Foundation and the entities they try to contain effect not only reality, but their interpersonal lives and their worldview.
There's so much to love about this book. It's clever, somber, gross, and sardonic, but with enough of a dark sense of humour to not make it all feel overly dramatic or grimdark.
The author is apparently rewriting this book to no longer include the SCP foundation, which makes sense for proper publication. I'm sure a generic shady government organisation will make do instead.
The only thing I didn't really enjoy was the
So yeah, loved it. Can't wait to read more by qntm!
The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Bob, our protagonist, works in a mundane office job filled with internal politics, boring training seminars, and Escher-like occult computers which protect us all from an incursion of arcane horrors. Oh, and an audit is due.
So it's weird, quirky and filled with dry British humour that satarises office politics and manages to be it's own thriller while revelling in how daft and mundane saving the world is.
There are a lot of good hooks in this book (which is actually two novellas in one, which I was unaware of) - enough to make me want to continue the series.
There's nothing too deep here so far, but I enjoyed these first two books and will continue with the series in the future.
I look forward to seeing how the authors writing changes and develops over time.
So it's weird, quirky and filled with dry British humour that satarises office politics and manages to be it's own thriller while revelling in how daft and mundane saving the world is.
There are a lot of good hooks in this book (which is actually two novellas in one, which I was unaware of) - enough to make me want to continue the series.
There's nothing too deep here so far, but I enjoyed these first two books and will continue with the series in the future.
I look forward to seeing how the authors writing changes and develops over time.
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
This is a interesting short story collection which tells the tales of various modern women across Argentina (and Barcelona) who are experiencing distinctly un-modern things.
As a whole I'm not sure how I feel about this collection. I enjoyed most of the stories, and the fact that the longest one, Kids Who Come Back, was one of my favourite speaks to the author (and translators) abilities.
There is a general sense of apathy, acceptance, or even simple nonchalance from the characters in this book - at least, compared to how I imagine myself and others would act when presented with horrifying supernatural presences.
It's this almost absurd tone which leads us into the book, starting with Angelita Unearthed; a story about adisgusting dead baby who follows the protagonist around, morbidly running on its too-small legs, until the flesh is rubbed away and it runs on bone.
Moments like that poke out throughout the collection. A phrase or two in every short story which sticks in the mind. For me, this is usually a particularly gross description, or a haunting final line which sets the brain whirling.
To call it a horror collection seems like a bit of a stretch. There are creepy macabre themes running through most of the stories, some leaning on old religion, many on death and brutality, with some commenting on society and how we interact with others.
However, "terror" is rarely, if ever, evoked. The book is creepy and uneasy, a tone which is echo d by our relatively apathetic narrators. Some may find that resonates with them more than others.
Women are the narrators and protagonists of these stories, and they are all varied and interesting characters who feel well realised, even in a brief time. There are several scenes of masturbation that are intentionally unpleasant, even brutal, which are evocative. Where Are You, Dear Heart is possibly the most graphic story in the collection, but to me reads like a much more straightforward "horror" story. That isn't a knock, as it was possibly my favourite in the collection.
I didn't get something from all of these stories, unlike other collections I've read (such as Ted Chiang's work). The titular title did nothing for me at all, but that's the nature of short story collections and I'm sure others will find more than I did.
However, there's enough here for me to recommend it if you want something not too scary, with a knowing dark smile that has the ability to gross you out or give you a chill.
Ranked in order of preference:
1. Where Are You, Dear Heart
2. Kids Who Come Back
3. Back When We Talked to the Dead
4. Meat
5. Angelita Unearthed
6. No Birthdays or Baptisms
7. Our Lady of the Quarry
8. The Well
9. The Cart
10. Rambla Triste
11. The Lookout
12. The Dangers of Smoking in Bed
As a whole I'm not sure how I feel about this collection. I enjoyed most of the stories, and the fact that the longest one, Kids Who Come Back, was one of my favourite speaks to the author (and translators) abilities.
There is a general sense of apathy, acceptance, or even simple nonchalance from the characters in this book - at least, compared to how I imagine myself and others would act when presented with horrifying supernatural presences.
It's this almost absurd tone which leads us into the book, starting with Angelita Unearthed; a story about a
Moments like that poke out throughout the collection. A phrase or two in every short story which sticks in the mind. For me, this is usually a particularly gross description, or a haunting final line which sets the brain whirling.
To call it a horror collection seems like a bit of a stretch. There are creepy macabre themes running through most of the stories, some leaning on old religion, many on death and brutality, with some commenting on society and how we interact with others.
However, "terror" is rarely, if ever, evoked. The book is creepy and uneasy, a tone which is echo d by our relatively apathetic narrators. Some may find that resonates with them more than others.
Women are the narrators and protagonists of these stories, and they are all varied and interesting characters who feel well realised, even in a brief time. There are several scenes of masturbation that are intentionally unpleasant, even brutal, which are evocative. Where Are You, Dear Heart is possibly the most graphic story in the collection, but to me reads like a much more straightforward "horror" story. That isn't a knock, as it was possibly my favourite in the collection.
I didn't get something from all of these stories, unlike other collections I've read (such as Ted Chiang's work). The titular title did nothing for me at all, but that's the nature of short story collections and I'm sure others will find more than I did.
However, there's enough here for me to recommend it if you want something not too scary, with a knowing dark smile that has the ability to gross you out or give you a chill.
Ranked in order of preference:
1. Where Are You, Dear Heart
2. Kids Who Come Back
3. Back When We Talked to the Dead
4. Meat
5. Angelita Unearthed
6. No Birthdays or Baptisms
7. Our Lady of the Quarry
8. The Well
9. The Cart
10. Rambla Triste
11. The Lookout
12. The Dangers of Smoking in Bed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This isn't the sort of book I usually go for, and to say I "enjoyed" it feels disingenuous. This book is overarchingly bleak, and feels suffocating at times. But the time you spend with the main cast of characters and seeing how they develop and change throughout the years really endears you towards them.
When you realise what's happening, the ending
is inevitable. You watch as these characters you care for go through futile motions based on an existance they don't understand, working only within the confines of a system they aren't even aware of. It's heartbreaking, and frustrating.
Ishiguro captures the mundanity of human nature, personal morality and companionship in a way I've not seen before.
I'm glad I read this book. I think it's one which I'll think about going forward, and I'm intrigued to see what the authors other works are like.
When you realise what's happening, the ending
is inevitable. You watch as these characters you care for go through futile motions based on an existance they don't understand, working only within the confines of a system they aren't even aware of. It's heartbreaking, and frustrating.
Ishiguro captures the mundanity of human nature, personal morality and companionship in a way I've not seen before.
I'm glad I read this book. I think it's one which I'll think about going forward, and I'm intrigued to see what the authors other works are like.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Classism
The Ones Who Stay and Fight by N.K. Jemisin
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
A short story taking inspiration, or agitation, from The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.
A commentary on how walking away is not the last or only option when faced with a cruel, sick world.
You can fight, personally, for a better one. One where the paradox of tolerance is met with a fist.
A commentary on how walking away is not the last or only option when faced with a cruel, sick world.
You can fight, personally, for a better one. One where the paradox of tolerance is met with a fist.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I loved this book. It's fantasy-adjacent, slightly outside of my usual wheelhouse but I loved it. The writing is beautiful, and you can really feel the craftsmanship behind it, the attention to detail, structure and simple word choice that Victoria employs is tangible throughout.
Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
I...was disappointed that it ended abruptly. I thought the writing was pretty good, and the characters seemed distinct and fleshed out - perhaps a little artificially for a couple of them, but giving it the benefit of the doubt as it's so short.
The mystery was okay, but got solved too quickly and was very straightforward. I'll add a spoiler bit here when I figure out how haha.The mystery ended really early for me. I felt like once Tuck got bit, it was pretty obvious they were connected to the Incidents. The rest of it was interesting but there was no "mystery" as such after that. Also, The Last of Us ruined other mushroom-based stories for me haha.
Honestly I wanted more, despite me sounding like I didn't like it haha. I did! I just feel like we got the first 15 minutes of an apocalyptic thriller. Not bad at all, but not a whole meal, and not a horror either - to me at least.
The mystery was okay, but got solved too quickly and was very straightforward. I'll add a spoiler bit here when I figure out how haha.
Honestly I wanted more, despite me sounding like I didn't like it haha. I did! I just feel like we got the first 15 minutes of an apocalyptic thriller. Not bad at all, but not a whole meal, and not a horror either - to me at least.
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This is an interesting book. Less horror than psychological thriller, we follow Ted, a seemingly nice slow guy, and learn more about his life and how he might not be as nice as he seems.
I went into this completely blind, so the twists and turns worked for me. Took a little time to get going, but the last third had me speeding through it.
Spoilers below:
Ted is a person with DID. I had no clue that this would be a thing, and so this kept the mystery working for me. Dee, the missing girls' sister was also interesting; it was nice having someone to root for, and empathise with without feeling guilty..until you realise she was wrong about Ted. Ted's alters come from trauma inflected by his mother. You're led to believe she is..well, mildly abusive, but also caring and scared for Ted and what he is. Again, it's not until the last portion of the book we are shown his mother was more than a little abusive, and was in fact a serial killer and incredibly abusive both physically and psychologically.
So yeah. If you guess the twist, or have seen a lot of discourse around this, you probably won't get as much out of it. I enjoyed it as I was a blank slate.
Not the most beautiful writing, but an interesting premise reasonably well executed.
I went into this completely blind, so the twists and turns worked for me. Took a little time to get going, but the last third had me speeding through it.
Spoilers below:
So yeah. If you guess the twist, or have seen a lot of discourse around this, you probably won't get as much out of it. I enjoyed it as I was a blank slate.
Not the most beautiful writing, but an interesting premise reasonably well executed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
This Thing Between Us: A Novel by Gus Moreno
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A tough one to review. The writing was really good, the characters especially all felt incredibly real. Alex is an easy guy to relate too, but everyone we spend more than a moment with in the book feels like their own person - especially Diane.
I think the horror elements were well executed, tension was left to build appropriately and one or two scenes were particularly visceral.
The ending I'm a little unsure of. I think I know what the author was going for, but it fell a little short, or was perhaps murkier than I would personally have liked.
Going to look at more from this author though, and a short read definitely worth giving a chance.
I think the horror elements were well executed, tension was left to build appropriately and one or two scenes were particularly visceral.
The ending I'm a little unsure of. I think I know what the author was going for, but it fell a little short, or was perhaps murkier than I would personally have liked.
Going to look at more from this author though, and a short read definitely worth giving a chance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Violence