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house_of_hannah's reviews
257 reviews
Riding the Nightmare by Lisa Tuttle
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Thank you so much to RDS Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC; it is greatly appreciated.
This cover is perfectly suited to the first story in this collection, which also shares the book's name: Riding the Nightmare. The creativity that is shown throughout these stories is superb. There are subtleties, and things left unsaid that weave these stories into darker tales than you might think at first glance.
Horror might not seem like the correct genre at first, but these stories are meant to sit with you a bit and let the true horror sink in. I found myself reading the last paragraph or two of some stories over again to make sure that I really understood what was going on. It may be a quick read, but there are stories in here that will really grab your attention and make you shiver.
This cover is perfectly suited to the first story in this collection, which also shares the book's name: Riding the Nightmare. The creativity that is shown throughout these stories is superb. There are subtleties, and things left unsaid that weave these stories into darker tales than you might think at first glance.
Horror might not seem like the correct genre at first, but these stories are meant to sit with you a bit and let the true horror sink in. I found myself reading the last paragraph or two of some stories over again to make sure that I really understood what was going on. It may be a quick read, but there are stories in here that will really grab your attention and make you shiver.
The Yakuza's Bias 1 by Teki Yatsuda
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Thank you so much to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC; it is greatly appreciated.
The description is not wrong in comparing this to Way of the Househusband. The type of humor, and obviously that Yakuza flair, are the same, so if you enjoy that series then you will most likely enjoy this one as well. As someone who just got into Kpop a few months ago, I could relate to the main character, Ken, and how new and exciting it can be to join a fandom (and at the same time, overwhelming !).
It's obvious that the author themselves knows how the kpop fandom is. There is quite a lot in here that is surprisingly accurate, and I like how they call out a few things such as the ovepricing of photocards. I went down the kpop rabbit hole incredibly fast, and seeing that all translate into this manga was very entertaining.
I think most kpop fans will get a kick out of this manga. Each chapter is self contained, and there is an overarching story, but it's not the main focus. I definitely want to continue with this series and see more interactions between Ken, his idol, and the other kpop fans.
The description is not wrong in comparing this to Way of the Househusband. The type of humor, and obviously that Yakuza flair, are the same, so if you enjoy that series then you will most likely enjoy this one as well. As someone who just got into Kpop a few months ago, I could relate to the main character, Ken, and how new and exciting it can be to join a fandom (and at the same time, overwhelming !).
It's obvious that the author themselves knows how the kpop fandom is. There is quite a lot in here that is surprisingly accurate, and I like how they call out a few things such as the ovepricing of photocards. I went down the kpop rabbit hole incredibly fast, and seeing that all translate into this manga was very entertaining.
I think most kpop fans will get a kick out of this manga. Each chapter is self contained, and there is an overarching story, but it's not the main focus. I definitely want to continue with this series and see more interactions between Ken, his idol, and the other kpop fans.
The Street Between the Pines by J. J. Alo
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I immediately recommend this to anyone who enjoys detailed descriptions. The scene and atmosphere are always setup in a way that envelops you into the story, and allows you to feel what the characters are feeling. It never feels overdone though, and suits the book well.
If you are a horror fan you will be familiar with elements from this book. There were times I was reminded of Ash from Evil Dead, and of a certain company and character from Resident Evil. These were moments that I was really engrossed with the story, and enjoying the ride. There were a few scenes during the climax that did lose me a bit, and felt a little out of nowhere, but they did not take me out of the story completely.
There are multiple POVs, but they are infrequent and only last for a chapter at a time. The chapters are quite short, which I appreciate, so we do spend a majority of the time with the main character, Curtis. Everything flows well into each other, and the book reads fairly easily. You will probably learn a few new words of vocabulary.
Overall, for the first entry of a series the story stands complete on it's own, so you don't have to worry about any huge cliffhangers. Creature feature fans should consider this a must read, and Alo does not shy away from gore, so prepare for some brutal imagery !
If you are a horror fan you will be familiar with elements from this book. There were times I was reminded of Ash from Evil Dead, and of a certain company and character from Resident Evil. These were moments that I was really engrossed with the story, and enjoying the ride. There were a few scenes during the climax that did lose me a bit, and felt a little out of nowhere, but they did not take me out of the story completely.
There are multiple POVs, but they are infrequent and only last for a chapter at a time. The chapters are quite short, which I appreciate, so we do spend a majority of the time with the main character, Curtis. Everything flows well into each other, and the book reads fairly easily. You will probably learn a few new words of vocabulary.
Overall, for the first entry of a series the story stands complete on it's own, so you don't have to worry about any huge cliffhangers. Creature feature fans should consider this a must read, and Alo does not shy away from gore, so prepare for some brutal imagery !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Pregnancy
A Man Among Ghosts by Steven Hopstaken
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you so much to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC; it is greatly appreciated.
I was really into this book until about the 60% mark. From here it feels like it jumps the rails, gets a bit too ridiculous, and feels rushed. The last 40% has a different vibe in the writing compared to the rest, and it just feels off.
The characters were great, and it was refreshing to actually have a character that has a solid support system that he can confide in in a horror novel. Often times the MC is left to their own devices, so I appreciated the active side characters.
I don't mind how this book ended, but with the build up of the first half I think that last third can be done better. It really feels like the author was on a time crunch, and maybe was not able to give that section of the book as much attention.
Overall, it's an easy and quick read that will certainly deliver if you're in the mood for ghosts.
I was really into this book until about the 60% mark. From here it feels like it jumps the rails, gets a bit too ridiculous, and feels rushed. The last 40% has a different vibe in the writing compared to the rest, and it just feels off.
The characters were great, and it was refreshing to actually have a character that has a solid support system that he can confide in in a horror novel. Often times the MC is left to their own devices, so I appreciated the active side characters.
I don't mind how this book ended, but with the build up of the first half I think that last third can be done better. It really feels like the author was on a time crunch, and maybe was not able to give that section of the book as much attention.
Overall, it's an easy and quick read that will certainly deliver if you're in the mood for ghosts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, and War
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Hmm. I really don't have many thoughts about this book. I feel like this is one that I am going to forget quite quickly. The concept piqued my interest, but it's basically 300 pages of a woman listing the combination of drugs she's taking to stay asleep, which isn't enough to hold my attention. I did find myself skimming several times, because I just didn't care.
I was aware going into this that it's a "plotless" book, and that is something I can enjoy (see Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda), but I guess I just don't understand what this book was trying to accomplish in the end.
I was aware going into this that it's a "plotless" book, and that is something I can enjoy (see Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda), but I guess I just don't understand what this book was trying to accomplish in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
The Trees Grew Because I Bled There: Collected Stories by Eric LaRocca
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.5
Thank you so much to Titan Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC; it is greatly appreciated.
This is a reprint of a book from a few years back called The Strange Thing We Become and Other Dark Tales. It seems like a lot of LaRocca's books are getting reprints lately. I know some of his stories are harder to find, so this is definitely making them more accessible. Be aware going into this collection that most of the stories will at least mention the topic of cancer.
This is quite a cohesive collection of stories. There aren't a lot of characters in most of them, so it's a really personal and intimate exploration on the bonds of those closest to us. We have a huge range of emotions that are expressed from love, grief, hate, and everything inbetween. Nothing is straightforward, and humans are very complicated.
The following are the titles included in this collection, and my individual rating.
You Follow Wherever They Go - A father with cancer urges his child to introduce himself to the other children. 5 Stars
Bodies are for Burning - A woman struggles with intrusive thoughts about setting people on fire. 4 Stars
The Strange Thing We Become - A woman's wife is diagnosed with cancer, but that's about all I understand. It's told in the format of forum posts. 2.5 Stars
The Trees Grew Because I Bled There - A woman physically gives up pieces of herself to her lover, but he is not appreciative of what she’s sacrificed. 4 Stars
You’re Not Supposed to Be Here - Similar to the description of the book The Chain. 4 Stars
Where Flames Burned Emerald as Grass - A father on vacation with his daughter encounters a strange man who claims to be clairvoyant. 4 Stars
I’ll Be Gone By Then - A woman who has run away from her past in Italy must take in her elderly mother that she hasn't seen in years. 3 Stars
Please Leave or I’m Going to Hurt You - A son develops inappropriate feelings towards his elderly father. 2 Stars
Averaged together my rating comes out to 3.56 stars. As you can see there were hits and misses for me here, which is always the case in a short story collection. Some endings, like the last story, were just a bit too abrupt, and I feel like the meaning was a little lost on me. Overall though I think this is a very successful collection that horror lovers will continue to pick up for years to come.
This is a reprint of a book from a few years back called The Strange Thing We Become and Other Dark Tales. It seems like a lot of LaRocca's books are getting reprints lately. I know some of his stories are harder to find, so this is definitely making them more accessible. Be aware going into this collection that most of the stories will at least mention the topic of cancer.
This is quite a cohesive collection of stories. There aren't a lot of characters in most of them, so it's a really personal and intimate exploration on the bonds of those closest to us. We have a huge range of emotions that are expressed from love, grief, hate, and everything inbetween. Nothing is straightforward, and humans are very complicated.
The following are the titles included in this collection, and my individual rating.
You Follow Wherever They Go - A father with cancer urges his child to introduce himself to the other children. 5 Stars
Bodies are for Burning - A woman struggles with intrusive thoughts about setting people on fire. 4 Stars
The Strange Thing We Become - A woman's wife is diagnosed with cancer, but that's about all I understand. It's told in the format of forum posts. 2.5 Stars
The Trees Grew Because I Bled There - A woman physically gives up pieces of herself to her lover, but he is not appreciative of what she’s sacrificed. 4 Stars
You’re Not Supposed to Be Here - Similar to the description of the book The Chain. 4 Stars
Where Flames Burned Emerald as Grass - A father on vacation with his daughter encounters a strange man who claims to be clairvoyant. 4 Stars
I’ll Be Gone By Then - A woman who has run away from her past in Italy must take in her elderly mother that she hasn't seen in years. 3 Stars
Please Leave or I’m Going to Hurt You - A son develops inappropriate feelings towards his elderly father. 2 Stars
Averaged together my rating comes out to 3.56 stars. As you can see there were hits and misses for me here, which is always the case in a short story collection. Some endings, like the last story, were just a bit too abrupt, and I feel like the meaning was a little lost on me. Overall though I think this is a very successful collection that horror lovers will continue to pick up for years to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Kidnapping, and Grief
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book is 100 pages too long. We went through what 100% felt like the climax of the book, had a chapter tying up loose ends, a chapter that would have been a perfect bad ending, and instead there were 100 pages left. I put the book down for two days after that, because I just didn't feel like reading the same scenario all over again.
This is also a book where you have to get 100 pages in before anything happens. I was honestly thinking to myself, "Is this really a Grady Hendrix book ?" due to how serious and slow the entire beginning is. I was really struggling to care, especially with how unlikable the brother character was. I actually thought he was making the MCs unlikable so thatwe'd be rooting for Pupkin in the end. I honestly thought we were going to get a "bad" ending here.
I'm one of the people who didn't know this was a doll/puppet book going into it. As a child I found porcelain dolls terrifying, and my mom had a clown painting I was afraid of. I should have been primed to be scared by this book, but I think it was too ridiculous to actually come off as scary. This author writes camp, so that's to be expected, but usually his books have some brutal scenes that catch you off guard and really lean into the horror. Unfortunately, there was only one scene that did that for me in this one.
Honestly, the puppet is my favorite character in this book. He is so fucking ridiculous and I love him. I read a sentence here and there to my husband as I was reading, and now we're quoting a freakin' puppet at each other.
Overall, I felt that this book was too long, repetitive, and I didn't care for the ~family~ aspect at all. The story is completely ridiculous, yet too serious at the same time. I think campy horror is a formula that's tough to get right, and for me this one was a bit of a miss.
This is also a book where you have to get 100 pages in before anything happens. I was honestly thinking to myself, "Is this really a Grady Hendrix book ?" due to how serious and slow the entire beginning is. I was really struggling to care, especially with how unlikable the brother character was. I actually thought he was making the MCs unlikable so that
I'm one of the people who didn't know this was a doll/puppet book going into it. As a child I found porcelain dolls terrifying, and my mom had a clown painting I was afraid of. I should have been primed to be scared by this book, but I think it was too ridiculous to actually come off as scary. This author writes camp, so that's to be expected, but usually his books have some brutal scenes that catch you off guard and really lean into the horror. Unfortunately, there was only one scene that did that for me in this one.
Honestly, the puppet is my favorite character in this book. He is so fucking ridiculous and I love him. I read a sentence here and there to my husband as I was reading, and now we're quoting a freakin' puppet at each other.
Overall, I felt that this book was too long, repetitive, and I didn't care for the ~family~ aspect at all. The story is completely ridiculous, yet too serious at the same time. I think campy horror is a formula that's tough to get right, and for me this one was a bit of a miss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Self harm, and Pregnancy
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you so much to Zando Projects and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC; it is greatly appreciated.
"Her son dies in a child-sized bed, big enough for him but barely enough to hold her and her husband who cling to the edges, folding themselves small so they fit one on each side of him."
What a way to open a story ! The first 50% of this book is written in such a gorgeous and haunting way. I really felt like I was there with the characters and sharing in their grief.
This book surprised me in many ways. Firstly, it's tagged as horror, but it's really not what you'd expect at first glance. I suppose it would be called literary horror ? We follow different points-of-view throughout the book, but it isn't a back and forth; instead when we switch to a new POV we never return to the original one. Finally, there is a time skip 50% into the book that caught me completely off guard, and took me a good 6-8 pages to understand what was happening.
The first half of this story completely captivated me, and I was honestly shocked that this is the author's debut. Unfortunately, I just wasn't as into it after the time skip. I would loved to have read more about Monstrilio's transformation, how they introduced him to the world and explained his existance to others.
I really enjoyed how this book explored grief and love. Now that I think of it, every character in this book could be considered queer, but it's not something that's ever commented on. The characters are just who they are.
This author is definitely on my radar now, and I will be looking forward to reading whatever they publish in the future.
"Her son dies in a child-sized bed, big enough for him but barely enough to hold her and her husband who cling to the edges, folding themselves small so they fit one on each side of him."
What a way to open a story ! The first 50% of this book is written in such a gorgeous and haunting way. I really felt like I was there with the characters and sharing in their grief.
This book surprised me in many ways. Firstly, it's tagged as horror, but it's really not what you'd expect at first glance. I suppose it would be called literary horror ? We follow different points-of-view throughout the book, but it isn't a back and forth; instead when we switch to a new POV we never return to the original one. Finally, there is a time skip 50% into the book that caught me completely off guard, and took me a good 6-8 pages to understand what was happening.
The first half of this story completely captivated me, and I was honestly shocked that this is the author's debut. Unfortunately, I just wasn't as into it after the time skip. I would loved to have read more about Monstrilio's transformation, how they introduced him to the world and explained his existance to others.
I really enjoyed how this book explored grief and love. Now that I think of it, every character in this book could be considered queer, but it's not something that's ever commented on. The characters are just who they are.
This author is definitely on my radar now, and I will be looking forward to reading whatever they publish in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Excrement and Death of parent
Mothered by Zoje Stage
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Thank you so much to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC; it is greatly appreciated.
I have had this e-ARC since July, and since then I have seen this book everywhere. It seems to be on everyone's most anticipated list for the year, or at least it is in the horror community. There is definitely hype building for this book, but since this was my first read by this author I went in with no expectations, and an open mind.
Unfortunately, I was immediately confronted with something I don't wish to read about: the pandemic. There's actually an author's note stating how this did not start out as a pandemic book, and so that would not be a large part of the story. However, I'd have to argue that it is. Nothing in this book would have happened without the pandemic. It really seemed to be used as a plot point to put the characters in their appropriate places and mental states. The pandemic was prevalant throughout the entire story to where I'd say it was a character itself.
Most of the horror in this was subtle, which I've discovered recently is something I quite enjoy. That build up of tension, anger, and confusion is done well, and transfers as anxiety to the reader. Because of this I did not mind the slow plot, as I thought that the payoff, or "reveal", would bring everything happening into a satisfying conclusion. Unfortuantely, that didn't happen.
The last few chapters of the book felt incredibly rushed compared to the rest. We go from a slow, gradual build up, to entire personality changes overnight. I did not understand what was happening or why, and since we don't get any solid answers in the end, I finished this book feeling confused.
Overall, I'd say I enjoyed the first 80-90% of this book. It wasn't anything I hadn't seen before, but it was enjoyable and pretty quick to read. However, the last 10-20% just felt like a different book entirely and sucked my enjoyment out of reading it. If you are not a fan of dream sequences or reading about the pandemic, then I would pass on picking this up. If you enjoy a slow burn with little to no twists, and don't need answers to any questions, than give this a shot. I just don't think this author's style is for me.
I have had this e-ARC since July, and since then I have seen this book everywhere. It seems to be on everyone's most anticipated list for the year, or at least it is in the horror community. There is definitely hype building for this book, but since this was my first read by this author I went in with no expectations, and an open mind.
Unfortunately, I was immediately confronted with something I don't wish to read about: the pandemic. There's actually an author's note stating how this did not start out as a pandemic book, and so that would not be a large part of the story. However, I'd have to argue that it is. Nothing in this book would have happened without the pandemic. It really seemed to be used as a plot point to put the characters in their appropriate places and mental states. The pandemic was prevalant throughout the entire story to where I'd say it was a character itself.
Most of the horror in this was subtle, which I've discovered recently is something I quite enjoy. That build up of tension, anger, and confusion is done well, and transfers as anxiety to the reader. Because of this I did not mind the slow plot, as I thought that the payoff, or "reveal", would bring everything happening into a satisfying conclusion. Unfortuantely, that didn't happen.
The last few chapters of the book felt incredibly rushed compared to the rest. We go from a slow, gradual build up, to entire personality changes overnight. I did not understand what was happening or why, and since we don't get any solid answers in the end, I finished this book feeling confused.
Overall, I'd say I enjoyed the first 80-90% of this book. It wasn't anything I hadn't seen before, but it was enjoyable and pretty quick to read. However, the last 10-20% just felt like a different book entirely and sucked my enjoyment out of reading it. If you are not a fan of dream sequences or reading about the pandemic, then I would pass on picking this up. If you enjoy a slow burn with little to no twists, and don't need answers to any questions, than give this a shot. I just don't think this author's style is for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Medical content and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, and Vomit
We Spread by Iain Reid
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
I think this book will be in my thoughts for awhile. The concept is something we all fear. No one wants to lose themselves and forget. My grandfather had alzheimer's, so I'm familiar with the confusion and anger that someone going through that can experience when they just can't remember. That made this feel like a very personal story to me.
What makes this book so interesting is we truly do not know what is happening in the end. Is Penny's memory failing ? Could be, there definitely seems to be evidence for that. Is there something more sinister going on here ? Also a maybe, as there is evidence to support this as well. It could also be a little bit of both. You really can go either way with it, and interpret conversations multiple ways. What brings my rating down a bit though, is that there are a few scenes that don't make sense in either of the scenarios presented, and I'm a bit confused by them.
I do love the conversations here about the concept of time, how we always want more of it, and what eternity really means. The fact that most of the characters are nearing the end of their life brings us face to face with mortality and legacy. We need more books with older characters.
This book is also a super quick read. The formatting spreads out the dialogue and paragraphs so much that you are constantly turning the page. You could easily complete this in one sitting. The story is always moving forward, and I never felt any lulls in the pacing.
Overall, this is a book that you can interpret any way you wish. With an unreliable narrator we simply have no idea what's real or not. Decide for yourself what the true horror really is.
What makes this book so interesting is we truly do not know what is happening in the end. Is Penny's memory failing ? Could be, there definitely seems to be evidence for that. Is there something more sinister going on here ? Also a maybe, as there is evidence to support this as well. It could also be a little bit of both. You really can go either way with it, and interpret conversations multiple ways. What brings my rating down a bit though, is that there are a few scenes that don't make sense in either of the scenarios presented, and I'm a bit confused by them.
I do love the conversations here about the concept of time, how we always want more of it, and what eternity really means. The fact that most of the characters are nearing the end of their life brings us face to face with mortality and legacy. We need more books with older characters.
This book is also a super quick read. The formatting spreads out the dialogue and paragraphs so much that you are constantly turning the page. You could easily complete this in one sitting. The story is always moving forward, and I never felt any lulls in the pacing.
Overall, this is a book that you can interpret any way you wish. With an unreliable narrator we simply have no idea what's real or not. Decide for yourself what the true horror really is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Dementia
Moderate: Death
Minor: Animal death and Suicide