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leootherland's reviews
164 reviews
Whisperwood by Alex Woodroe
5.0
Beautifully dark and incredibly satisfying, Whisperwood left me wanting more, and craving answers the author and the story were determined to keep, and yet also left me feeling fulfilled. Wonderfully written and filled with rich characters and lush landscapes that thrill and terrify, this book is one I couldn’t put down. I cannot wait to have a physical copy in my hands, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have read an ARC copy.
There isn’t enough praise I can give for Whisperwood. Alex Woodroe paints a picture of a troubled town, hiding secrets, and instantly makes you love and hate the people in it at the same time. You fall hard for “heroes,” only to have them die before your eyes. You feel for those who offer kindness, only to discover how cruel they can be. Reading Whisperwood, you meet PEOPLE, not just characters.
And these people take you on an adventure as the narrator, Anna, walks through that same journey. As in life, there are high notes, and despondent sadnesses. Victories, and losses. Shame and regret, and also new beginnings.
Also as in life, there are questions that are never answered, and perhaps the story is all the better for it. Even in a land where terrors and the unknown are the norm, there are just some things which have no explanation.
What would life be if we had all the answers?
Something other than life, that is certain.
Whisperwood makes you feel this, and allows you to see the normal, simple light of day as a little brighter than it was before you entered the book’s pages. What more can you ask of any story?
Enter the woods if you dare, and find what waits for you there.
You can be sure it IS waiting for you.
There isn’t enough praise I can give for Whisperwood. Alex Woodroe paints a picture of a troubled town, hiding secrets, and instantly makes you love and hate the people in it at the same time. You fall hard for “heroes,” only to have them die before your eyes. You feel for those who offer kindness, only to discover how cruel they can be. Reading Whisperwood, you meet PEOPLE, not just characters.
And these people take you on an adventure as the narrator, Anna, walks through that same journey. As in life, there are high notes, and despondent sadnesses. Victories, and losses. Shame and regret, and also new beginnings.
Also as in life, there are questions that are never answered, and perhaps the story is all the better for it. Even in a land where terrors and the unknown are the norm, there are just some things which have no explanation.
What would life be if we had all the answers?
Something other than life, that is certain.
Whisperwood makes you feel this, and allows you to see the normal, simple light of day as a little brighter than it was before you entered the book’s pages. What more can you ask of any story?
Enter the woods if you dare, and find what waits for you there.
You can be sure it IS waiting for you.
The Librarian Reshelved by Sarah Allison
5.0
The Librarian books contain stories of hope, even in the darkest of times and situations. Perhaps it is no wonder this second volume contains so many tales of book burnings. I was struck by that, during the first days after picking up the book, when I read nearly the whole thing in a short amount of time. There are so many stories from authors across the world, of books being burned.
And all of them for the same reason.
Because those doing the burning fear what is in the books they burn.
Given the current climate of fear and intolerance, maybe it’s no wonder so many authors have come together with similar themes in their work when asked to write about a multiverse traveling librarian and books. To quote one of the stories, “There is no forbidden knowledge, only forbidden actions.” Knowledge is power. Power to know the best and the worst that is in us and to choose the best.
It’s impossible to make an informed choice without knowing all that is involved in the choosing.
But enough of that. People read reviews to learn about the book, not philosophy.
There are a number of striking pieces in this book. These are the ones that stand out to me, in order of appearance:
“Lifetimes.” One cycle leads into another, and not all needs are the same, but it doesn’t mean those who deal in stories and knowledge can’t be useful. This one is beautifully written.
“The Reference Collection.” This story, from which I drew my quote from earlier, is simple, but delightful. A tale of knowledge overcoming the rule ignorance and greed would enforce. An excellent read.
“The Front Lines.” This is the first of the stories dealing with book burnings, and those who rescue them. “Words destroyed in effigy of the people they represented.” This line always sparks to my mind the words of Heinrich Heine before the second world war, “Where they burn books, they will, in the end, burn human beings too.” With all the requests to ban books from libraries we are currently seeing, perhaps we could say, “Where they ban books, they will, in the end, ban people too.”
“Among The Pack-Ice.” In most anthologies there is one story that stands out as not quite fitting, even when it does. In the Librarian Reshelved, this is that story. It is gloriously written and makes you wish it was longer. I highly recommend.
“The Book Burner.” The second tale of book burning and attempting to control people through controlling knowledge.
“Keeper Of Stone And Memory.” This one is a beautiful landscape, depicting how knowledge is preserved and passed down, even where it cannot be written. The glory of the writing and the atmosphere it describes will leave you wishing for more.
“The Great Library Of Tchamral.” What happens when the books are burned and the knowledge is seemingly “lost” and we must begin again.
“Mr. Wozniak’s Seder.” I loved this one. Not only for its melancholy sadness, but for the touch of queerness so cleverly hidden between the lines. If you did not have some living experience of what it is to be queer and come out at a late age, you would never see it. But those touches are there, and this story is beautiful.
“Urtext Redux.” Have I mentioned this book contains an abundance of powerful tales of knowledge in danger of being destroyed? Well if I haven’t, here is another story that will show some of it.
“Significance.” When I wrote my story that ended up being published in the first of The Librarian volumes, a friend of mine wrote a piece of his own, and I’m happy to say it showed up here. We are all stardust, and we are all significant.
“What Was Left Behind In The Cradle Of The Nest Tree.” The story struck me because of its emotion, but also because of the inventiveness of its characters. You will love it.
“The Great Bunning.” As you might guess, this is the last of the stories dealing with book burning. Yet another tale that shows what we do when it feels like all is lost and we don’t know where to start again. We simply start at the beginning. With one item, and our courage.
And all of them for the same reason.
Because those doing the burning fear what is in the books they burn.
Given the current climate of fear and intolerance, maybe it’s no wonder so many authors have come together with similar themes in their work when asked to write about a multiverse traveling librarian and books. To quote one of the stories, “There is no forbidden knowledge, only forbidden actions.” Knowledge is power. Power to know the best and the worst that is in us and to choose the best.
It’s impossible to make an informed choice without knowing all that is involved in the choosing.
But enough of that. People read reviews to learn about the book, not philosophy.
There are a number of striking pieces in this book. These are the ones that stand out to me, in order of appearance:
“Lifetimes.” One cycle leads into another, and not all needs are the same, but it doesn’t mean those who deal in stories and knowledge can’t be useful. This one is beautifully written.
“The Reference Collection.” This story, from which I drew my quote from earlier, is simple, but delightful. A tale of knowledge overcoming the rule ignorance and greed would enforce. An excellent read.
“The Front Lines.” This is the first of the stories dealing with book burnings, and those who rescue them. “Words destroyed in effigy of the people they represented.” This line always sparks to my mind the words of Heinrich Heine before the second world war, “Where they burn books, they will, in the end, burn human beings too.” With all the requests to ban books from libraries we are currently seeing, perhaps we could say, “Where they ban books, they will, in the end, ban people too.”
“Among The Pack-Ice.” In most anthologies there is one story that stands out as not quite fitting, even when it does. In the Librarian Reshelved, this is that story. It is gloriously written and makes you wish it was longer. I highly recommend.
“The Book Burner.” The second tale of book burning and attempting to control people through controlling knowledge.
“Keeper Of Stone And Memory.” This one is a beautiful landscape, depicting how knowledge is preserved and passed down, even where it cannot be written. The glory of the writing and the atmosphere it describes will leave you wishing for more.
“The Great Library Of Tchamral.” What happens when the books are burned and the knowledge is seemingly “lost” and we must begin again.
“Mr. Wozniak’s Seder.” I loved this one. Not only for its melancholy sadness, but for the touch of queerness so cleverly hidden between the lines. If you did not have some living experience of what it is to be queer and come out at a late age, you would never see it. But those touches are there, and this story is beautiful.
“Urtext Redux.” Have I mentioned this book contains an abundance of powerful tales of knowledge in danger of being destroyed? Well if I haven’t, here is another story that will show some of it.
“Significance.” When I wrote my story that ended up being published in the first of The Librarian volumes, a friend of mine wrote a piece of his own, and I’m happy to say it showed up here. We are all stardust, and we are all significant.
“What Was Left Behind In The Cradle Of The Nest Tree.” The story struck me because of its emotion, but also because of the inventiveness of its characters. You will love it.
“The Great Bunning.” As you might guess, this is the last of the stories dealing with book burning. Yet another tale that shows what we do when it feels like all is lost and we don’t know where to start again. We simply start at the beginning. With one item, and our courage.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
5.0
A wonderfully tangled story that not even I, writer that I am, could fully unravel before the end. Delightful.
Lure by Tim McGregor
5.0
I find myself constantly excited to read what's next from Tenebrous Press and Lure did not disappoint. Everything the blurb describes and more this book kept my heart racing for several days as I spun in my office chair during slow moments at my job. I found myself following every twist and turn with hope and the certainty that this was horror and there was no happy ending ahead. The main character opens the world of the story effortlessly to the reader and makes you root for him right up to the last moment and the final words. This book is well worth every minute you'll put into it.
Merged review:
I find myself constantly excited to read what's next from Tenebrous Press and Lure did not disappoint. Everything the blurb describes and more this book kept my heart racing for several days as I spun in my office chair during slow moments at my job. I found myself following every twist and turn with hope and the certainty that this was horror and there was no happy ending ahead. The main character opens the world of the story effortlessly to the reader and makes you root for him right up to the last moment and the final words. This book is well worth every minute you'll put into it.
Merged review:
I find myself constantly excited to read what's next from Tenebrous Press and Lure did not disappoint. Everything the blurb describes and more this book kept my heart racing for several days as I spun in my office chair during slow moments at my job. I found myself following every twist and turn with hope and the certainty that this was horror and there was no happy ending ahead. The main character opens the world of the story effortlessly to the reader and makes you root for him right up to the last moment and the final words. This book is well worth every minute you'll put into it.
A Case of Madness by Yvonne Knop
5.0
This is one of those books that just has me wanting to make inarticulate happy sounds just thinking about it. Not particularly the best headspace to be in when you’re trying to write a coherent review, but definitely the place you want to be from a reader’s perspective.
A Case of Madness is one of those books I just kept hearing about. No matter when I was scrolling on Instagram, there it was! Calling to me. Reminding me there, there was a book I told myself I would read.
Like most things, I took my time about picking it up because my memory is shot full of holes, even when I’m being constantly reminded of something. I’m so glad A Case of Madness kept showing up on my feed. If it hadn’t, I would have missed out on a great read that gave me the happy feels for days, and left me bitterly wanting more when it ended.
I think what instantly grabbed me about A Case of Madness was the main character, Andrew Thomas. He reminds me so much of myself in so many ways: completely obsessed with and in love with fictional characters, adores pens, has exactly one real life friend who loves him and would kill for him, is utterly socially awkward (Oh, the horror of it all), just wants to be home in his own pajama all the time. Oh. And he’s gay. So totally, and sweetly gay.
A few paragraphs in and I was hooked by this fictional character that resonated with my soul. And that was fantastic because a few pages in and he swept me off on a grand adventure about life, love, and finding our place in a world that feels too big and scary for us. A world we just might not understand and that makes us want to go home and read a book in our pajamas.
Reading this book was like finding bits of my own life strewn across paper, and it made me feel I just might be strong enough to maybe face some of the heartache going on in my own life.
Thinking he’s going to die, knowing he’s gone mad, but going on despite it, Andrew Thomas talks with Sherlock Holmes, meets a whole cast of fabulous, queer found family, and delights with his anxious wit (Oh, the horror of it all). I spent a good three days (nights, actually) reading this book for hours on end and smiling like an idiot at my phone.
Honestly, my only complaint was that the ending seemed to come too soon and had a slightly rushed feel to it. There were a few story threads that I felt weren’t fully wrapped up and an extremely limited amount of confusion around the ending that I felt a couple extra pages could have remedied. The beginning of the book is incredibly detailed and exquisitely paced; some of that was lost near the end. I will say, I was privileged enough to read an advance reader copy (an ARC), so these issues could very well be resolved in the fully edited version. I have no way of knowing, until I get a physical book in my hands.
But let’s face it, if my biggest complaint is, “I wish there was more of this!” it isn’t much of a complaint.
A Case of Madness is well written, absolutely delightful, and something I highly recommend for anyone who just wants to read a beautifully crafted book and feel good while doing it. (Oh, the pleasure of it all.)
A Case of Madness is one of those books I just kept hearing about. No matter when I was scrolling on Instagram, there it was! Calling to me. Reminding me there, there was a book I told myself I would read.
Like most things, I took my time about picking it up because my memory is shot full of holes, even when I’m being constantly reminded of something. I’m so glad A Case of Madness kept showing up on my feed. If it hadn’t, I would have missed out on a great read that gave me the happy feels for days, and left me bitterly wanting more when it ended.
I think what instantly grabbed me about A Case of Madness was the main character, Andrew Thomas. He reminds me so much of myself in so many ways: completely obsessed with and in love with fictional characters, adores pens, has exactly one real life friend who loves him and would kill for him, is utterly socially awkward (Oh, the horror of it all), just wants to be home in his own pajama all the time. Oh. And he’s gay. So totally, and sweetly gay.
A few paragraphs in and I was hooked by this fictional character that resonated with my soul. And that was fantastic because a few pages in and he swept me off on a grand adventure about life, love, and finding our place in a world that feels too big and scary for us. A world we just might not understand and that makes us want to go home and read a book in our pajamas.
Reading this book was like finding bits of my own life strewn across paper, and it made me feel I just might be strong enough to maybe face some of the heartache going on in my own life.
Thinking he’s going to die, knowing he’s gone mad, but going on despite it, Andrew Thomas talks with Sherlock Holmes, meets a whole cast of fabulous, queer found family, and delights with his anxious wit (Oh, the horror of it all). I spent a good three days (nights, actually) reading this book for hours on end and smiling like an idiot at my phone.
Honestly, my only complaint was that the ending seemed to come too soon and had a slightly rushed feel to it. There were a few story threads that I felt weren’t fully wrapped up and an extremely limited amount of confusion around the ending that I felt a couple extra pages could have remedied. The beginning of the book is incredibly detailed and exquisitely paced; some of that was lost near the end. I will say, I was privileged enough to read an advance reader copy (an ARC), so these issues could very well be resolved in the fully edited version. I have no way of knowing, until I get a physical book in my hands.
But let’s face it, if my biggest complaint is, “I wish there was more of this!” it isn’t much of a complaint.
A Case of Madness is well written, absolutely delightful, and something I highly recommend for anyone who just wants to read a beautifully crafted book and feel good while doing it. (Oh, the pleasure of it all.)