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644 reviews
Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I quite desperately wanted to love this one, but sadly I ended up being fairly disappointed. This isn't to say that there aren't some good qualities to this book, but there are definitely a few things that really bothered me.
I read World War Z years ago and completely fell in love with it. The writing style, the story, the way it's told, I just loved it. So when I saw that Max Brooks was coming out with Devolution I was stoked. Big Foot isn't necessarily my favourite folklore creature but it's also something I don't come across often, so I was intrigued to see where this would go.
Devolution is written in Brooks' signature style, with a mixture of diaries and interviews. Although this one is from just a handful of these sources. We get Kate's diary, which makes up the majority of the substance of the book. We also get the author conducting interviews with a handful of people, who are all connected in some way. As most of the book is told through Kate's diary it somewhat loses the pace and intrigue that made World War Z the book it is. Brooks has the chance here to really dig into the characters and craft them in way he couldn't in World War Z. However, I found that the characters all filled a role and they never really developed past that. We have the useless boyfriend who finds his purpose in crisis, the too trusting group, the ones who fall apart in a crisis, and they all just stayed as these roles.
I found myself really wanting to get to the end of the book and to find out what happens. You know from the very beginning that the community is destroyed, and the main motivator for reading is to find out what exactly happens. It seems that at times the group are holding their own against the Big Foot tribe, but you know that at some point it all goes very wrong. It kept me hooked in that sense because I really wanted to know why it all goes wrong.
The human community live in a tiny town that is designed to be a place away from the city. They get weekly food deliveries, their houses are almost entirely computerised, and basically no one knows that they are there. So when the volcano erupts and severs the connection to the internet and the rest of the world it becomes an interesting look into whats left when the technology you rely so much on fails you.
There are some truly brutal moments in this book, and some of the parts between the Big Foot and human communities are horrifying. Especially some of the moments that happen off-page and just the aftermath is discovered. However, there are other moments that were almost laughable. After being attacked a couple of times by the Big Foot tribe they hear drumming coming from the woods. The humans drum back and suddenly believe that they have made friends with the tribe and everything is sorted! Things like this happen a few times and it just drew me out because I found it so unbelievable.
This is worth picking up if you want a quick read with some brutal moments. It's a quick read featuring a folklore creature that isn't often written about. However it had some bits that didn't work for me and sadly it didn't live up to the standard of World War Z for me.
I read World War Z years ago and completely fell in love with it. The writing style, the story, the way it's told, I just loved it. So when I saw that Max Brooks was coming out with Devolution I was stoked. Big Foot isn't necessarily my favourite folklore creature but it's also something I don't come across often, so I was intrigued to see where this would go.
Devolution is written in Brooks' signature style, with a mixture of diaries and interviews. Although this one is from just a handful of these sources. We get Kate's diary, which makes up the majority of the substance of the book. We also get the author conducting interviews with a handful of people, who are all connected in some way. As most of the book is told through Kate's diary it somewhat loses the pace and intrigue that made World War Z the book it is. Brooks has the chance here to really dig into the characters and craft them in way he couldn't in World War Z. However, I found that the characters all filled a role and they never really developed past that. We have the useless boyfriend who finds his purpose in crisis, the too trusting group, the ones who fall apart in a crisis, and they all just stayed as these roles.
I found myself really wanting to get to the end of the book and to find out what happens. You know from the very beginning that the community is destroyed, and the main motivator for reading is to find out what exactly happens. It seems that at times the group are holding their own against the Big Foot tribe, but you know that at some point it all goes very wrong. It kept me hooked in that sense because I really wanted to know why it all goes wrong.
The human community live in a tiny town that is designed to be a place away from the city. They get weekly food deliveries, their houses are almost entirely computerised, and basically no one knows that they are there. So when the volcano erupts and severs the connection to the internet and the rest of the world it becomes an interesting look into whats left when the technology you rely so much on fails you.
There are some truly brutal moments in this book, and some of the parts between the Big Foot and human communities are horrifying. Especially some of the moments that happen off-page and just the aftermath is discovered. However, there are other moments that were almost laughable. After being attacked a couple of times by the Big Foot tribe they hear drumming coming from the woods. The humans drum back and suddenly believe that they have made friends with the tribe and everything is sorted! Things like this happen a few times and it just drew me out because I found it so unbelievable.
This is worth picking up if you want a quick read with some brutal moments. It's a quick read featuring a folklore creature that isn't often written about. However it had some bits that didn't work for me and sadly it didn't live up to the standard of World War Z for me.
Of Honey and Wildfires by Sarah Chorn
I’m going to start by saying wow, I was utterly blown away by Sarah Chorn’s lyrical writing. It took me a moment to get used to because it’s such a different writing style to what I usually read, but quickly enough I was swept up in the writing.
Of Honey and Wildfires has a Western-meets-fantasy vibe. There’s the Company who control the entire region where Shine is found, and then there’s the people that live within this territory. These people seem to be lacking in terms of technology and medical care found outside the Company territory. It provides a great backdrop for this stunning story.
We follow two characters here, Arlen and Cassandra. Arlen being the son of the Company owner who has never been inside Shine territory before. Cassandra was bought up within the territory, and lived there all her life (mostly anyway). These two make for great point of view characters because they balance each other out really well. Arlen believes that the Company is good, and therefore his discoveries about what is actually happening are incredibly poignant. He comes at the story from almost a very innocent perspective. Cassandra however has grown up in the territory and is aware of what is happening/could happen. It is well known that her father is a criminal and therefore she lives in the knowledge that the Company are after him. For a lot of the story we see her as a child, so she has a certain childish innocence, but becomes a lot more aware of the issues with the Company early on.
I found myself tearing through the story at a rate of knots because I just wanted to know where the story was going. It’s so enthralling and perfect for both fantasy and Western fans alike.
Chorn’s writing is absolutely stunning. Her writing is lyrical, and soft, and she has the ability to reduce you to tears easily. It’s so easy to get swept up in her writing and it gives everything almost a soft edge to look back on. There are twists and turns that I didn’t expect, and it’s full of representation too.
Of Honey and Wildfires is well worth picking up, and with the sequel out imminently now is the perfect time to read it!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m going to start by saying wow, I was utterly blown away by Sarah Chorn’s lyrical writing. It took me a moment to get used to because it’s such a different writing style to what I usually read, but quickly enough I was swept up in the writing.
Of Honey and Wildfires has a Western-meets-fantasy vibe. There’s the Company who control the entire region where Shine is found, and then there’s the people that live within this territory. These people seem to be lacking in terms of technology and medical care found outside the Company territory. It provides a great backdrop for this stunning story.
We follow two characters here, Arlen and Cassandra. Arlen being the son of the Company owner who has never been inside Shine territory before. Cassandra was bought up within the territory, and lived there all her life (mostly anyway). These two make for great point of view characters because they balance each other out really well. Arlen believes that the Company is good, and therefore his discoveries about what is actually happening are incredibly poignant. He comes at the story from almost a very innocent perspective. Cassandra however has grown up in the territory and is aware of what is happening/could happen. It is well known that her father is a criminal and therefore she lives in the knowledge that the Company are after him. For a lot of the story we see her as a child, so she has a certain childish innocence, but becomes a lot more aware of the issues with the Company early on.
I found myself tearing through the story at a rate of knots because I just wanted to know where the story was going. It’s so enthralling and perfect for both fantasy and Western fans alike.
Chorn’s writing is absolutely stunning. Her writing is lyrical, and soft, and she has the ability to reduce you to tears easily. It’s so easy to get swept up in her writing and it gives everything almost a soft edge to look back on. There are twists and turns that I didn’t expect, and it’s full of representation too.
Of Honey and Wildfires is well worth picking up, and with the sequel out imminently now is the perfect time to read it!
Spec Ops Z by Gavin G. Smith
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I make no secret of the fact that zombies are my favourite horror monster by far. And that I will consume any and all zombie books I possibly can.
I generally tend to love zombie books because I'm such a huge fan of the genre. I am especially happy when it is more focussed on zombie/human conflict rather than the human/human conflict many books fall into. Therefore I was over the moon with Spec Ops Z. Not only is it very much about zombie/human conflict, and not only that, our main characters become zombies themselves. Thinking, intelligent zombies who hunger for human flesh but can control themselves. It's a twist on a genre I love so much.
We follow a Russian Spetznaz team as they travel to New York with no idea of what their mission might be. In a very populated area they unwittingly release a biological agent and the zombie apocalypse begins. These are fast turning, fast moving zombies and the chaos unfolds at quite the pace. Once the virus/agent is released there is no turning back and the true horror begins. The Spetznaz team are a highly trained group of special forces soldiers, but even that doesn't stop them from turning. I loved experiencing the apocalypse through their eyes. They have the hunger of the zombies, but they have enough humanity left to not start mindlessly attacking humans or the remaining human members of their squad. It presents a fresh view into this genre and I could not put it down.
We follow the team across a few places. From the middle east, to New York, and then as they try to outrun the apocalypse they started. A good portion of the book is set on a boat but it actually becomes some of the best scenes. Smith writes in such a vivid way that I found it terrifyingly easy to picture hordes of sprinting zombies, and everything that comes with this horror. Theres both a sense of huge scale but also it zeroes in on specific places and how they are individually affected. There's a particular moment on a beach that rivals some big movie moments for me.
Of course no zombie book is complete without some kind of human enemy. I have to put here that these particular humans have decided to align themselves with Nazi's, and as such there are many incidents of racism, sexism and things that come with those ideals. Smith doesn't allow human conflict to swamp the whole zombie apocalypse plot line, which I really appreciated. Perhaps the last quarter of the book is dedicated to the human problem, but it fits in really well with the rest of the story overall.
Spec Ops Z could be read a standalone but there is definitely potential for this to be turned into a series. I cannot express how much I hope this happens. With Smith's vivid writing and the stories he has introduced I hope we get to spend more time with the zombie Spetznaz group.
I generally tend to love zombie books because I'm such a huge fan of the genre. I am especially happy when it is more focussed on zombie/human conflict rather than the human/human conflict many books fall into. Therefore I was over the moon with Spec Ops Z. Not only is it very much about zombie/human conflict, and not only that, our main characters become zombies themselves. Thinking, intelligent zombies who hunger for human flesh but can control themselves. It's a twist on a genre I love so much.
We follow a Russian Spetznaz team as they travel to New York with no idea of what their mission might be. In a very populated area they unwittingly release a biological agent and the zombie apocalypse begins. These are fast turning, fast moving zombies and the chaos unfolds at quite the pace. Once the virus/agent is released there is no turning back and the true horror begins. The Spetznaz team are a highly trained group of special forces soldiers, but even that doesn't stop them from turning. I loved experiencing the apocalypse through their eyes. They have the hunger of the zombies, but they have enough humanity left to not start mindlessly attacking humans or the remaining human members of their squad. It presents a fresh view into this genre and I could not put it down.
We follow the team across a few places. From the middle east, to New York, and then as they try to outrun the apocalypse they started. A good portion of the book is set on a boat but it actually becomes some of the best scenes. Smith writes in such a vivid way that I found it terrifyingly easy to picture hordes of sprinting zombies, and everything that comes with this horror. Theres both a sense of huge scale but also it zeroes in on specific places and how they are individually affected. There's a particular moment on a beach that rivals some big movie moments for me.
Of course no zombie book is complete without some kind of human enemy. I have to put here that these particular humans have decided to align themselves with Nazi's, and as such there are many incidents of racism, sexism and things that come with those ideals. Smith doesn't allow human conflict to swamp the whole zombie apocalypse plot line, which I really appreciated. Perhaps the last quarter of the book is dedicated to the human problem, but it fits in really well with the rest of the story overall.
Spec Ops Z could be read a standalone but there is definitely potential for this to be turned into a series. I cannot express how much I hope this happens. With Smith's vivid writing and the stories he has introduced I hope we get to spend more time with the zombie Spetznaz group.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Racism
The Gottingen Accident by James F. Mordechai
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to James for sending me a copy of his book to review!
The Gottingen Accident is a novella that I absolutely flew through. Coming in at under 150 pages you get thrown into the action from page one.
Maths is not my strong suit, and it never has been. So starting a book that talks about Non-Euclidian Geometry had me a little worried, I had even googled the term before I started the book. Thankfully, you are in safe hands and I shouldn't have worried at all. Over the course of the start of the book Mordechai finds ways to weave in the meaning, and demonstrates it without using overly-complicated explanations. Once you get to the weirder portions of the book you'll be going right along with it. For me, I ended up picturing the Oldest House from Control (the super crazy sections) but with way less sharp edges. It worked for me and I hope this is somewhere near where Mordechai was going with it!
We mainly follow 3 famous scientists, Marie Curie, Darwin and Schrödinger. Almost everyone has some understanding of what these scientists did, and if not you'll learn the basics within the book. They make for great characters to follow, they're extremely intelligent and therefore help move the story along with ease. Our characters aren't confused by what is going on, they embrace it and try to stop the madness.
As for what is going on. Well, essentially our main character turns himself into a supervillan using this Non-Eculidian Geometry and starts warping the world around him. The sections that he is actively in are completely out there, with twisting spaces and places between places. Don't go in this trying to understand the ins-and-outs of the story, but go in with an open mind and the knowledge that this is going to be weird as hell.
I had a couple of issues with the book but ultimately they were overshadowed by the story itself. I sometimes found it hard to follow who was speaking, and occasionally I got a little lost with this. On occasion things didn't flow particularly well, or felt stilted. But, these are just small sections and are easily out-paced by the parts where you forget you're even reading a book.
My personal favourite character? Schrödinger's cat. Yes, the alive-but-yet-dead cat features in this book. I loved the way the cat was written and the way in which Schrödinger's ideas are dealt with in this way.
James Mordechai clearly has an incredible grasp on Geometry and on what these famous scientists did within their lives. It shines through as you read this book and helps everything come together in a truly weird and fascinating way. This is a story for fans of new weird and I can't wait to see what James might have up his sleeve next.
The Gottingen Accident is a novella that I absolutely flew through. Coming in at under 150 pages you get thrown into the action from page one.
Maths is not my strong suit, and it never has been. So starting a book that talks about Non-Euclidian Geometry had me a little worried, I had even googled the term before I started the book. Thankfully, you are in safe hands and I shouldn't have worried at all. Over the course of the start of the book Mordechai finds ways to weave in the meaning, and demonstrates it without using overly-complicated explanations. Once you get to the weirder portions of the book you'll be going right along with it. For me, I ended up picturing the Oldest House from Control (the super crazy sections) but with way less sharp edges. It worked for me and I hope this is somewhere near where Mordechai was going with it!
We mainly follow 3 famous scientists, Marie Curie, Darwin and Schrödinger. Almost everyone has some understanding of what these scientists did, and if not you'll learn the basics within the book. They make for great characters to follow, they're extremely intelligent and therefore help move the story along with ease. Our characters aren't confused by what is going on, they embrace it and try to stop the madness.
As for what is going on. Well, essentially our main character turns himself into a supervillan using this Non-Eculidian Geometry and starts warping the world around him. The sections that he is actively in are completely out there, with twisting spaces and places between places. Don't go in this trying to understand the ins-and-outs of the story, but go in with an open mind and the knowledge that this is going to be weird as hell.
I had a couple of issues with the book but ultimately they were overshadowed by the story itself. I sometimes found it hard to follow who was speaking, and occasionally I got a little lost with this. On occasion things didn't flow particularly well, or felt stilted. But, these are just small sections and are easily out-paced by the parts where you forget you're even reading a book.
My personal favourite character? Schrödinger's cat. Yes, the alive-but-yet-dead cat features in this book. I loved the way the cat was written and the way in which Schrödinger's ideas are dealt with in this way.
James Mordechai clearly has an incredible grasp on Geometry and on what these famous scientists did within their lives. It shines through as you read this book and helps everything come together in a truly weird and fascinating way. This is a story for fans of new weird and I can't wait to see what James might have up his sleeve next.
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite by Natalie C. Parker, Zoraida Córdova
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I debated for a little while the best way to review this book, it felt too general to just do a summary so I'm doing a bunch of mini-reviews for the stories we get within this anthology. Overall, I enjoyed this, there are some stand-out stories and a few that have already faded from memory. I feel that this is the case with most anthologies and with the exception of V. E. Schwab the authors are all new to me! Don't ask me how but somehow that's just how my reading has worked out.
These aren't your generic Twilight style Vampires, these are the darker, more mysterious ones that you probably don't actually want to meet. Of course, they centre around young adults, but thankfully we've left the romantic plots behind and we're into 'be afraid' territory.
I also feel the need to mention something that I found a little odd. At the end of each story the editors added their own little paragraph. Which in some sense picks apart the story to unearth the themes within, and then they tend to ask a question that asks you as a reader what you would choose. I both liked these and wasn't entirely sure why they were there. I liked that they gave some background as to the history of vampire legends, and the themes they carry. However, it also felt a little too fouth-wall-breaking in them talking to the reader. That is probably just me though!
Seven Nights for Dying by Tessa Gratton
This is a strong start to the anthology. We dive straight in with the teenage girl wants to become a vampire because handsome man has asked her/taken an interest. Sounds generic but somehow Tessa Gratton makes it her own. This deals with the death of a parent and the grief it leaves you with. Over the course of seven nights and seven drinks she gets to decide if she wants to become a vampire. This is a story filled with LGBTQ characters and is very sex positive!
The Boys from Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse
This was a stand out story for me, it's atmospheric and haunting. If you since the song you'll summon the boys, and then you'll end up with a choice to make. Trust me these are the vampires you do not want to be involved with! They're pretty morally grey and inevitably you find yourself wondering what choice our main character should make. It leaves you wondering what might happen in the future to our characters. The atmosphere and the legends contained within this one make it one of our darker stories.
Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy
Here we have a young vampire slaying cheerleader whose family is in charge of protecting the town from vampires. This one is a lot less scary vampires but about how vampires and humans might co-exist in the world. It's arguably one of the less formed stories coming in at less than 20 pages, but I liked the premise behind it.
The Boy and the Bell by Heidi Helig
You know how there was a time when coffins could have a hole and a little bell that the person could ring if they'd been buried alive? What if that person turned out to be a vampire? Here we follow a trans grave robber who digs up one of these people who was 'buried alive'. Set in a graveyard this has instant creep factor and I loved the idea behind it. Because what's more creepy than a bell ringing in a graveyard in the dead of night?
A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire by Samira Ahmed
Here we thrust vampirism into the modern day. You newly awaken as a fresh vampire and installed in your phone is an app that will tell you everything you need to know. With a couple of images to remind you that this story is in app form, the idea behind this story means theres some great world building going on. Some great comedic writing here and one of the best stories in the anthology.
In Kind by Kayla Whaley
Oft this one deals with some dark material. Starting off with a newspaper story about a man who has 'mercy killed' his disabled daughter she gets sired by a vampire and deals with the fall out of the death she almost experienced. Her disability is not cured by vampirism so she uses a wheelchair throughout the story. This one is dark because of the themes it deals with.
Vampires Never Say Die by Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker
Vampires are known for their manipulation right? Here a vampire joins Instagram and somehow finds a way around the whole 'vampires can't be photographed' thing. She meets a 15 year old and befriends her. This girl then throws a party for the friend she has never met but invites all of the vampires friends. This story is creepy because of the manipulation that is happening, and the idea that this girl has zero idea what she has gotten herself into.
Bestiary by Laura Ruby
Oh, I wish this one could have been longer. There was so much to explore and unpack that just couldn't be done in the short story it was given. There's a water shortage, a vampire who can talk to animals and a party being thrown by the man behind the water issues. I feel like it needed to focus on just one of these elements a little more because we kinda got everything glossed over instead. Huge potential and just a few more pages needed!
Mirrors, Windows, and Selfies by Mark Oshiro
This one felt like the opening to a full length book. I wanted more, I wanted answers and I was wrapped up in the story. Presented in a form of tumblr posts (including likes and comments) we discover the story of a young vampire who is being hidden away from the world. His parents hide things from him and like any young person he wants answers. We don't necessarily get any answers but the way this one is written means that you'll get caught up in the story.
The House of Black Sapphires by Dhonielle Clayton
Sadly this is one of the stories that fell a little flat for me. It felt like it was trying to explore something that just didn't click for me. There's this conflict between the vampires and the shadow barons but you don't know why and it seems like they all flaunt the rules anyway.
First Kill by V. E. Schwab
I'm a big fan of V. E. Schwab's writing and her story is one of the reasons I wanted to read this book. Of course it's Sapphic, it's mysterious and Schwab is a master at writing forbidden romances. This short story leaves you wanting more as it ends on a bit of a cliff hanger, but the story within and the relationships were developed well enough that I really didn't mind.
This is worth picking up if you're a fan of vampires, and don't mind something that is darker than Twilight but not true horror. With tonnes of rep and some great stories it'll be worth your time.
I debated for a little while the best way to review this book, it felt too general to just do a summary so I'm doing a bunch of mini-reviews for the stories we get within this anthology. Overall, I enjoyed this, there are some stand-out stories and a few that have already faded from memory. I feel that this is the case with most anthologies and with the exception of V. E. Schwab the authors are all new to me! Don't ask me how but somehow that's just how my reading has worked out.
These aren't your generic Twilight style Vampires, these are the darker, more mysterious ones that you probably don't actually want to meet. Of course, they centre around young adults, but thankfully we've left the romantic plots behind and we're into 'be afraid' territory.
I also feel the need to mention something that I found a little odd. At the end of each story the editors added their own little paragraph. Which in some sense picks apart the story to unearth the themes within, and then they tend to ask a question that asks you as a reader what you would choose. I both liked these and wasn't entirely sure why they were there. I liked that they gave some background as to the history of vampire legends, and the themes they carry. However, it also felt a little too fouth-wall-breaking in them talking to the reader. That is probably just me though!
Seven Nights for Dying by Tessa Gratton
This is a strong start to the anthology. We dive straight in with the teenage girl wants to become a vampire because handsome man has asked her/taken an interest. Sounds generic but somehow Tessa Gratton makes it her own. This deals with the death of a parent and the grief it leaves you with. Over the course of seven nights and seven drinks she gets to decide if she wants to become a vampire. This is a story filled with LGBTQ characters and is very sex positive!
The Boys from Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse
This was a stand out story for me, it's atmospheric and haunting. If you since the song you'll summon the boys, and then you'll end up with a choice to make. Trust me these are the vampires you do not want to be involved with! They're pretty morally grey and inevitably you find yourself wondering what choice our main character should make. It leaves you wondering what might happen in the future to our characters. The atmosphere and the legends contained within this one make it one of our darker stories.
Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy
Here we have a young vampire slaying cheerleader whose family is in charge of protecting the town from vampires. This one is a lot less scary vampires but about how vampires and humans might co-exist in the world. It's arguably one of the less formed stories coming in at less than 20 pages, but I liked the premise behind it.
The Boy and the Bell by Heidi Helig
You know how there was a time when coffins could have a hole and a little bell that the person could ring if they'd been buried alive? What if that person turned out to be a vampire? Here we follow a trans grave robber who digs up one of these people who was 'buried alive'. Set in a graveyard this has instant creep factor and I loved the idea behind it. Because what's more creepy than a bell ringing in a graveyard in the dead of night?
A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire by Samira Ahmed
Here we thrust vampirism into the modern day. You newly awaken as a fresh vampire and installed in your phone is an app that will tell you everything you need to know. With a couple of images to remind you that this story is in app form, the idea behind this story means theres some great world building going on. Some great comedic writing here and one of the best stories in the anthology.
In Kind by Kayla Whaley
Oft this one deals with some dark material. Starting off with a newspaper story about a man who has 'mercy killed' his disabled daughter she gets sired by a vampire and deals with the fall out of the death she almost experienced. Her disability is not cured by vampirism so she uses a wheelchair throughout the story. This one is dark because of the themes it deals with.
Vampires Never Say Die by Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker
Vampires are known for their manipulation right? Here a vampire joins Instagram and somehow finds a way around the whole 'vampires can't be photographed' thing. She meets a 15 year old and befriends her. This girl then throws a party for the friend she has never met but invites all of the vampires friends. This story is creepy because of the manipulation that is happening, and the idea that this girl has zero idea what she has gotten herself into.
Bestiary by Laura Ruby
Oh, I wish this one could have been longer. There was so much to explore and unpack that just couldn't be done in the short story it was given. There's a water shortage, a vampire who can talk to animals and a party being thrown by the man behind the water issues. I feel like it needed to focus on just one of these elements a little more because we kinda got everything glossed over instead. Huge potential and just a few more pages needed!
Mirrors, Windows, and Selfies by Mark Oshiro
This one felt like the opening to a full length book. I wanted more, I wanted answers and I was wrapped up in the story. Presented in a form of tumblr posts (including likes and comments) we discover the story of a young vampire who is being hidden away from the world. His parents hide things from him and like any young person he wants answers. We don't necessarily get any answers but the way this one is written means that you'll get caught up in the story.
The House of Black Sapphires by Dhonielle Clayton
Sadly this is one of the stories that fell a little flat for me. It felt like it was trying to explore something that just didn't click for me. There's this conflict between the vampires and the shadow barons but you don't know why and it seems like they all flaunt the rules anyway.
First Kill by V. E. Schwab
I'm a big fan of V. E. Schwab's writing and her story is one of the reasons I wanted to read this book. Of course it's Sapphic, it's mysterious and Schwab is a master at writing forbidden romances. This short story leaves you wanting more as it ends on a bit of a cliff hanger, but the story within and the relationships were developed well enough that I really didn't mind.
This is worth picking up if you're a fan of vampires, and don't mind something that is darker than Twilight but not true horror. With tonnes of rep and some great stories it'll be worth your time.
Seven Deaths of an Empire by G.R. Matthews
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I completely adored this book, I normally don't find fantasy books that fly by but this one absolutely did. It was one of those ones where you look up and you've read 100 pages without even realising. That's how engaged I was.
I'm deviating a little bit here for some context. In G. R. Matthews' bios it's mentioned that he has read and loved Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. Pawn of Prophecy is the start to a multi-series fantasy that was my intro to fantasy as a kid. I read and re-read these books more times than I can count, I challenged myself to read them in a day, I read them over and over again. Basically for a while my reading just consisted of David Eddings' work. This might seem like a bit of an odd deviation but basically what I'm saying is that Seven Deaths of an Empire gave me serious Pawn of Prophecy vibes and I was here for it.
This book has all the makings of a great fantasy. Big battles, political intrigue and magic systems. But somehow it doesn't get bogged down in all this. Matthews writes battle scenes with ease and with a grace that is hard to find elsewhere. I usually get a bit confused in battle scenes and just hope that at the end an overview is given of who beat who and who is still alive. However Matthews uses one of our characters to describe battles in a way that is easy to follow. You know what is happening, you can follow the beats and it just worked so well for me.
We follow two points of view, and they work in alternating chapters. You get General Bordan, who is all about duty and loyalty to the Empire, and is within the inner circle of the Emperor and his family. Then you get Apprentice Magician Kyron who is out in the war party, and is given the duty of escorting the Emperor's body home. These two alternate within wonderfully short and snappy chapters. It means you're never far away from one characters journey and it makes it easy to keep up with the more complicated aspects of the plot. They also make great juxtapositions to each other, as Bordan is so loyal to the Empire while Kyron is learning about life outside the Empire and how it might not be all that it seems. I LOVED this. It felt pretty unusual for the ruling empire to be taken apart in this way. Rather than Kyron seeing it as this purely benevolent force he begins to learn about why the tribes don't want to be conquered, and he begins to see the less-than-great elements of this Empire that he was raised to love. This is also something you experience in Bordan's chapters, where he has access to the Emperor's family, and more specifically his children. They act in ways that will shock you, and again, it's refreshing to be given that insight into why the Empire isn't quite all it's made out to be.
Kyron is an Apprentice Magician and so he's learning how to use and control his magic throughout the course of the book. It gives the reader a chance to learn how the magic system works without any long explanations. I hope the magic system is explored further as the series progresses because there's definitely more to it than meets the eye! This portion of the books gave me some serious Garion/Belgarath vibes and it made me love the book even more than I already was. (See why I felt it necessary to rant about Pawn of Prophecy at the start?).
Political intrigue is usually something I shy away from a little bit in books, because I find remembering names and attaching names to actions tough at times. However Matthews made it easy for me to keep up. Honestly for me this was a breath of fresh air and even with all the twists and turns I knew who and was who, and what they had been accused of. It meant that Bordan's chapters were something I looked forward to as we unravelled the plot and learnt more about those who ruled the Empire.
The last 50 pages of this book are a ride. Like usually books start winding down at this point and you start to maybe have some threads wrapped up. Instead Matthews takes his plot and runs full force towards the ending. I found myself completely caught up in the plot and I really didn't want it to end. Now I have that wait for the sequel and to be honest it's going to be a struggle.
If you want a fantasy you'll devour in a matter of days, this one is for you. It's somehow complicated but easy to follow. With some characters you'll completely adore and some twists that you'll never guess Matthews has written an absolute winner here.
I completely adored this book, I normally don't find fantasy books that fly by but this one absolutely did. It was one of those ones where you look up and you've read 100 pages without even realising. That's how engaged I was.
I'm deviating a little bit here for some context. In G. R. Matthews' bios it's mentioned that he has read and loved Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. Pawn of Prophecy is the start to a multi-series fantasy that was my intro to fantasy as a kid. I read and re-read these books more times than I can count, I challenged myself to read them in a day, I read them over and over again. Basically for a while my reading just consisted of David Eddings' work. This might seem like a bit of an odd deviation but basically what I'm saying is that Seven Deaths of an Empire gave me serious Pawn of Prophecy vibes and I was here for it.
This book has all the makings of a great fantasy. Big battles, political intrigue and magic systems. But somehow it doesn't get bogged down in all this. Matthews writes battle scenes with ease and with a grace that is hard to find elsewhere. I usually get a bit confused in battle scenes and just hope that at the end an overview is given of who beat who and who is still alive. However Matthews uses one of our characters to describe battles in a way that is easy to follow. You know what is happening, you can follow the beats and it just worked so well for me.
We follow two points of view, and they work in alternating chapters. You get General Bordan, who is all about duty and loyalty to the Empire, and is within the inner circle of the Emperor and his family. Then you get Apprentice Magician Kyron who is out in the war party, and is given the duty of escorting the Emperor's body home. These two alternate within wonderfully short and snappy chapters. It means you're never far away from one characters journey and it makes it easy to keep up with the more complicated aspects of the plot. They also make great juxtapositions to each other, as Bordan is so loyal to the Empire while Kyron is learning about life outside the Empire and how it might not be all that it seems. I LOVED this. It felt pretty unusual for the ruling empire to be taken apart in this way. Rather than Kyron seeing it as this purely benevolent force he begins to learn about why the tribes don't want to be conquered, and he begins to see the less-than-great elements of this Empire that he was raised to love. This is also something you experience in Bordan's chapters, where he has access to the Emperor's family, and more specifically his children. They act in ways that will shock you, and again, it's refreshing to be given that insight into why the Empire isn't quite all it's made out to be.
Kyron is an Apprentice Magician and so he's learning how to use and control his magic throughout the course of the book. It gives the reader a chance to learn how the magic system works without any long explanations. I hope the magic system is explored further as the series progresses because there's definitely more to it than meets the eye! This portion of the books gave me some serious Garion/Belgarath vibes and it made me love the book even more than I already was. (See why I felt it necessary to rant about Pawn of Prophecy at the start?).
Political intrigue is usually something I shy away from a little bit in books, because I find remembering names and attaching names to actions tough at times. However Matthews made it easy for me to keep up. Honestly for me this was a breath of fresh air and even with all the twists and turns I knew who and was who, and what they had been accused of. It meant that Bordan's chapters were something I looked forward to as we unravelled the plot and learnt more about those who ruled the Empire.
The last 50 pages of this book are a ride. Like usually books start winding down at this point and you start to maybe have some threads wrapped up. Instead Matthews takes his plot and runs full force towards the ending. I found myself completely caught up in the plot and I really didn't want it to end. Now I have that wait for the sequel and to be honest it's going to be a struggle.
If you want a fantasy you'll devour in a matter of days, this one is for you. It's somehow complicated but easy to follow. With some characters you'll completely adore and some twists that you'll never guess Matthews has written an absolute winner here.
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ten Low by Stark Holborn
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
I was sent a copy of this book by Titan Books in exchange for an honest review.
When a book is compared to Mad Max, Firefly and Dune you go in with pretty high hopes, and thankfully Ten Low surpassed my expectations! It took everything it promised and also gave me morally-grey characters, queer characters and a place called the Edge where you do not want to go.
This is a Sci-Fi set on a Moon at the edge of the Universe, where the reach of the Accord barely exists and lawlessness abounds. I loved reading a story about a backwater Moon where the rest of the Universe is clearly populated, if not entirely cared for. It gives the characters who live there a lot to fight for and not a lot to lose. The race across the landscape means you see farms where crops can't grow, towns built like prison hulks, and shining fancy transport that is at odds with its surroundings. Somehow Holborn has taken this space-desert Moon and filled it with life and with threats.
Ten Low has a small cast of characters. It is entirely told from Ten's perspective, and while she is a loner she ends up with a constant companion in the General. There are vast swathes of this book where they are the only two characters we see. Their relationship is built on mutual dislike and distrust, but also a need to survive. We get to meet other morally-grey characters along the way. While they help Ten and the General there is always this undercurrent of potential betrayal and relationships formed out of need. There is no one to save and it's every man for themselves on this Moon, so who needs heroes anyway?
Towards the last 50 pages of Ten Low I found myself wondering just how this was going to end. There isn't an overarching quest to complete and when plans are thwarted I wasn't sure how it was going to wrap up. After all, no-one needs saving and it's a fight for survival. I was very pleasantly surprised by the ending, and I actually feel like it wrapped everything up it needed to while keeping some things open.
At the beginning of the book you don't know much about Ten or the General, but as they travel together their stories begin to come out. Essentially they were both involved in a big war, and throughout the book you get to discover what they did, what sides they were on and why they are where they are now. Everyone was involved in the war so it's something that binds some people together and pushes others out.
One of my favourite parts of the book took place in the Edge. Essentially the Moon is at the edge of the Universe because past it is the Void, and it sounds utterly terrifying. The Edge seems almost like it's a part of the Void. It very much plays on the fear of the unknown and it led to some of the most engaging scenes in the entire book for me. There is also a faction called the Seekers who I think are my favourite group, not because they're good, but because they are mysterious and everyone is afraid of them.
A big theme of this book is fear of the unknown and the role that fate plays in out lives. Ten is haunted by 'them' or 'the Ifs', mysterious forces who prey on confusion and muddled thoughts. I don't want to delve too deep into the Ifs, but they add a sense of inevitability to the story.
Ten Low is an action-packed adventure, filled with morally-grey characters and mysteries that is utterly unputdownable.
When a book is compared to Mad Max, Firefly and Dune you go in with pretty high hopes, and thankfully Ten Low surpassed my expectations! It took everything it promised and also gave me morally-grey characters, queer characters and a place called the Edge where you do not want to go.
This is a Sci-Fi set on a Moon at the edge of the Universe, where the reach of the Accord barely exists and lawlessness abounds. I loved reading a story about a backwater Moon where the rest of the Universe is clearly populated, if not entirely cared for. It gives the characters who live there a lot to fight for and not a lot to lose. The race across the landscape means you see farms where crops can't grow, towns built like prison hulks, and shining fancy transport that is at odds with its surroundings. Somehow Holborn has taken this space-desert Moon and filled it with life and with threats.
Ten Low has a small cast of characters. It is entirely told from Ten's perspective, and while she is a loner she ends up with a constant companion in the General. There are vast swathes of this book where they are the only two characters we see. Their relationship is built on mutual dislike and distrust, but also a need to survive. We get to meet other morally-grey characters along the way. While they help Ten and the General there is always this undercurrent of potential betrayal and relationships formed out of need. There is no one to save and it's every man for themselves on this Moon, so who needs heroes anyway?
Towards the last 50 pages of Ten Low I found myself wondering just how this was going to end. There isn't an overarching quest to complete and when plans are thwarted I wasn't sure how it was going to wrap up. After all, no-one needs saving and it's a fight for survival. I was very pleasantly surprised by the ending, and I actually feel like it wrapped everything up it needed to while keeping some things open.
At the beginning of the book you don't know much about Ten or the General, but as they travel together their stories begin to come out. Essentially they were both involved in a big war, and throughout the book you get to discover what they did, what sides they were on and why they are where they are now. Everyone was involved in the war so it's something that binds some people together and pushes others out.
One of my favourite parts of the book took place in the Edge. Essentially the Moon is at the edge of the Universe because past it is the Void, and it sounds utterly terrifying. The Edge seems almost like it's a part of the Void. It very much plays on the fear of the unknown and it led to some of the most engaging scenes in the entire book for me. There is also a faction called the Seekers who I think are my favourite group, not because they're good, but because they are mysterious and everyone is afraid of them.
A big theme of this book is fear of the unknown and the role that fate plays in out lives. Ten is haunted by 'them' or 'the Ifs', mysterious forces who prey on confusion and muddled thoughts. I don't want to delve too deep into the Ifs, but they add a sense of inevitability to the story.
Ten Low is an action-packed adventure, filled with morally-grey characters and mysteries that is utterly unputdownable.
Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer
adventurous
dark
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
In all honesty I picked this book up because it was all over Instagram and it looked beautiful. Thankfully, this is one of those times where a cover buy works out and the story within is just as beautiful as the outside is.
This is a dual-perspective narrative from our characters Owen and Seren, one being a human boy and the other a tree siren. I loved that we got to see Seren's perspective because it would have been easy to write her off as a monster, but having this dual-narrative allows her to gain a bit of humanity. It also gives her Mother, the witch, an extra dimension, as we see her through Seren's eyes as well as the human stories that surround her existence.
It feels unusual to talk about the design of a book, but I feel that it's important to for this one. The design really lifts the story into a whole other level. Each chapter is headed with a design, one for each perspective. These evolve depending on where that character is in their personal story arc, and it actually took me a little bit to catch on but once you notice it it's a lovely detail. There are also other lovely little images throughout, such as in some paragraph breaks, and some pages have gorgeous borders.
Another lovely design feature is the way in which Seren's chapters are written. It starts off in this wonderful poetry-like style, that allows Meyer to really emphasise certain words and sentences. The writing style for Seren evolves as the story continues, and it defines Seren at each stage of her character arc. It was a really, really lovely touch that allowed you to see her transformation in more ways than one.
This book is classed as YA. Owen is 17 but he reads as more like someone in their early twenties. I forgot it was a YA book for the majority of it, because it has some very dark themes within. My only issue with the book was that there was definitely some insta-love going on, and I kind of wanted this explored more. Owen doesn't particularly take long to fall for Seren, and considering as he's lived his entire life in fear of the tree sirens I thought it was a bit speedy. However, I quite quickly forgot this issue as the romance isn't necessarily the centre point of the story. It's more a story of family, an ancient war and the lengths you will go to for those you love.
I really enjoyed Into The Heartless Wood, and I'd recommend picking up a physical edition if possible to really enjoy the design of the book.
This is a dual-perspective narrative from our characters Owen and Seren, one being a human boy and the other a tree siren. I loved that we got to see Seren's perspective because it would have been easy to write her off as a monster, but having this dual-narrative allows her to gain a bit of humanity. It also gives her Mother, the witch, an extra dimension, as we see her through Seren's eyes as well as the human stories that surround her existence.
It feels unusual to talk about the design of a book, but I feel that it's important to for this one. The design really lifts the story into a whole other level. Each chapter is headed with a design, one for each perspective. These evolve depending on where that character is in their personal story arc, and it actually took me a little bit to catch on but once you notice it it's a lovely detail. There are also other lovely little images throughout, such as in some paragraph breaks, and some pages have gorgeous borders.
Another lovely design feature is the way in which Seren's chapters are written. It starts off in this wonderful poetry-like style, that allows Meyer to really emphasise certain words and sentences. The writing style for Seren evolves as the story continues, and it defines Seren at each stage of her character arc. It was a really, really lovely touch that allowed you to see her transformation in more ways than one.
This book is classed as YA. Owen is 17 but he reads as more like someone in their early twenties. I forgot it was a YA book for the majority of it, because it has some very dark themes within. My only issue with the book was that there was definitely some insta-love going on, and I kind of wanted this explored more. Owen doesn't particularly take long to fall for Seren, and considering as he's lived his entire life in fear of the tree sirens I thought it was a bit speedy. However, I quite quickly forgot this issue as the romance isn't necessarily the centre point of the story. It's more a story of family, an ancient war and the lengths you will go to for those you love.
I really enjoyed Into The Heartless Wood, and I'd recommend picking up a physical edition if possible to really enjoy the design of the book.