Reviews

The Sea, The Stars by Tim Meyer

I’m a sucker for stories that toy with the secrets of waterfront communities. There’s something satisfyingly eerie about the depths of the ocean and what mysteries linger in its blackened waves and crawl upon their shores. Jean and Garrett Pryce, while experiencing different hardships in their lives, are faced with an oceanic entity that seems to want their family. The urge to know what it is and what it wants with the Pryce siblings made this book a page turner. It’ll also make you think twice about stepping foot into the ocean or picking up a random shell…

The Grip Of It by Jac Jemc

The Grip Of It raises the question of “Are we haunted or is the house?”. It’s an unusual spin on a classic horror trope, and I enjoyed every second of it. The story is told from the perspectives of James and Julie, a married couple who escape the city life and buy a home on the lake. However, they quickly realize something isn’t quite right with this house. Their elderly neighbor lurks in his window watching their every move, and strange happenings point to his involvement. Or do they? Julie and James’ experiences are both exactly the same and so very different. There’s an eeriness to this book that settles in your bones. Makes you question if you’ve ever seen something that wasn’t really there. Those are the kind of stories I love. The stories that make you ponder how the illusions of the world can tamper with your sanity

Graveyard of Lost Children by Katrina Monroe

As a first time mom only 3 months postpartum this book hit me on a deeper level than probably any other book I’ve ever read has. It’s equal parts eerie and heartbreaking. As a new mother, you tend to question yourself and your sanity. I saw glimpses of myself in Olivia. In the madness, depression, doubt, fear. It can be triggering, but I think that’s part of the beauty of this tale. Stories that touch the dark parts of you are what it’s all about for me. I recommend this book to any mom (new or seasoned) who’s struggling with handling this part of their identity because Olivia lets us know we’re not alone and we have the power to shine the light and illuminate the darkness within.

Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

Rachel Harrison is definitely the queen of cozy horror (and an automatic buy for me). But don’t let the word cozy fool you. Such Sharp Teeth has some deep, dark, triggering themes that bring you to places you probably haven’t visited inside of yourself in a while. As always, her protagonists grip you from the beginning and have you rooting for them the whole way through. We meet Rory, a city girl back in her hometown to help her sister through her first pregnancy, who stumbles upon something dangerous in the middle of the night on the winding backroads. Her life is forever changed, and you’ll be at the edge of your seat waiting to see how it all plays out. If you like feminine rage and power, cryptids, and a little bit of uncertain romance, pick this one up!

What Kind Of Mother by Clay McLeod Chapman

An unexpectedly gruesome tale of the lengths a mother will go to feel loved and needed. We meet a struggling palm reader named Madi who’s grasping onto the fading relationship with her daughter, Kendra, when she stumbles upon an old flame. Henry, a desperate father searching for his son Skylar, asks for the help of Madi’s intuition to guide to him to his son. This book was not what I expected it to be, and I mean that in the best way possible. There’s turns I didn’t see coming and the character arch was both rewarding and devastating to witness. Its atmospherics plant you right into the sweltering Southern heat and take you on such a peculiar adventure through the Piankatank River. You’ll almost feel the poking and prodding of tiny blue crab legs crawling on your skin.

Six Rooms by Gemma Amor

I truly felt like I was (un)lucky enough to acquire a ticket to the oh, so alluring Sunshire Chateau…

The characters are beautifully fleshed out. Some leave you heartbroken, some you want to kill with your own bare hands, and others you wish you had more time with…

The imagery is impeccable. As a writer, I learned a lot from her descriptions alone, which is something I always appreciate. The chateau isn’t just a setting, it’s a living, breathing character who lingers in the background…It seems to have the ability to latch onto even the reader’s mind…

This is a story within a story kind of book. Without going too far from the plot, Amor knew who’s stories needed more attention and who’s didn’t. I loved every single bit of it. 

I’m now a lifelong Gemma Amor fan! Pick this book up if you like mysteries, charming mansions/homes with dark histories, and ghosts…

Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth

I think a lot of us know what it’s like to deal with an overbearing mother-in-law. There’s this constant unspoken battle between moms and their children’s partners because a mother is never truly ready to hand over their baby to their significant other. It creates a lot of friction, resentment, and stress. Like some bullshit competition a lot of us didn’t sign up for when we fell in love. Motherthing captures this scenario perfectly.

What I thought was going to be a zombie-mommy story ended up being a pretty sad tale about depression, mother issues, and the toxic relationships some people have with their poisonous mothers, and how that ultimately affects a couples’ relationship.

The plot is character driven and by the end of it I was completely invested in Abby. Rooting for her the entire time because she’s not only fighting the unsettled, demonic spirit of Laura, she’s also fighting to save her husband Ralph from the depression he inherited from her and the manipulative hold Laura’s had on him since birth. Abby’s truly the hero in this book, and when you read it you’ll see why. It’s one of those books that you just can’t help but relate to. I saw myself and parts of my life on almost every page, and those are the stories I love the most. Stories I’m able to relate to and almost heal from.

If you’re looking for a book steeped in sadness, desperation, and love, pick it up!

Ghost Eaters by Clay Mcleod Chapman

Grief changes all of us in some way. Some people learn from it and heal. Others bury it and never let it see the light of day again. Then there’s the people who are consumed by it. Ghost Eaters gives us a glimpse into the warped world of those who refuse to move on.

Want to get haunted? That’s a recurring question the main character Erin is asked both literally and figuratively. She’s desperate to talk to Silas, her addict ex-boyfriend who overdosed, and is going to some pretty unconventional and dangerous extremes to see him one last time.

Ghost is a pill that allows you to see deceased loved ones, but as with all things that are too good to be true there’s a catch. Erin becomes consumed by this drug and its abilities, and thus the reader is exposed to her inner most workings.
This story is vulnerable. It hands us strangers, rips them open, and forces our hands into their warm innards. Erin quickly goes from protagonist to someone I know and care about. Dare I say someone who looks and acts a lot like me should I ever be given the chance to take a pill and see the dead.

I loved every second of this book. The imagery is to die for and I think it helps move the plot along. I felt myself waiting for the next batch of gruesome descriptions to put me right in the thick of the madness. It’s vivid, gory, and devastating. I’d even say the imagery alone would be a good enough reason to add this to your TBR list…

I recommend Ghost Eaters if you’re looking for a cathartic experience with a healthy dose of gore and unexpected twists and turns.

Cackle by Rachel Harrison

Cackle is basically my dream story, and I’m now a forever fan of Rachel Harrison.

Annie is a chronic people pleaser reeling from a catastrophic break-up. She moves from her boyfriend’s apartment in the city to the quaint town of Rowan and has anything but a normal experience. Then Sophie appears, and takes Annie under her wing. Shows her what she’s really made of. And the rest is history…

Annie made this story so intriguing because I saw a lot of myself in her. I actually learned something from her transformation, and I think that’s what storytelling is all about. When I’m able to gain something other than an enjoyable reading experience from a book, I know I’ve found something special.

It’s charming and enlightening. There’s magic, scares, mystery, love, sadness, wonder, comedy. I could go on and on, but I’ll let you see it for yourself. I highly recommend picking this up if you’re looking for a smooth, quick read all thanks to the fantastic voice of Rachel Harrison.

The Briars by Stephanie Parent

A haunted BDSM dungeon is a story I’ve unknowingly waited for my entire life, and Stephanie Parent does a remarkable job bringing that to life.

Parent plucked me from my house and placed me right in the middle of the dungeon, and it didn’t take long for me to feel like one of the girls. She’s got it down a science: the creepy, and rare cool customers, the various rooms filled the unmentionable props, the sisterhood of the workers, and the ominous presence of Lady Lilith, the original owner, looming in the shadows. She perfectly crafted the forbidden energy of a place where only those who have secrets enter, including the girls.

We first meet Claire, the sub who’s struggling between keeping the job she loves and saving the only relationship she’s ever had that made her feel human and loved. Then we meet Mara, the weird new girl who’s described as pale and inhumanly cold to the touch. Then there’s Ruby, the powerful dom who fears no one except the past she’s trying to erase.

As time progresses so does the paranormal activity, and it quickly turns from dripping faucets and lit candles to something much more dangerous…
The girls have to work together to defeat whatever it is that’s trying to bring The Briars crumbling down, but that doesn’t come without a price.

I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll leave you with my final thoughts:

If you want a slow burning, nail biting story of a world not a lot of us are familiar with, mixed with a little bit of romance, a lot of paranormal activity, some dark folklore, and tons of secrets, The Briars should be your next read!

Talk To Me (film)

Directed by: Danny & Michael Philippou. Produced by Samantha Jennings. Written by Danny Philippou & Bill Hinzman

It’s rare for a movie to leave me genuinely unsettled, and Talk To Me did just that.

The film portrays a group of friends with an unusual way of partying. Hayley and Joss have a ceramic hand that acts as a portal between the living realm and the realm of the dead, and everyone wants a chance to hold it to see what the other side has to offer them. Mia and Jade are two best friends who decide to give it a try and see if it’s a hoax or the real deal. When the pair host their own small get together to truly explore the hand’s powers shit goes left quickly.

I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’m going to leave it at that…

This is a dark, twisted story that plays with grief in a refreshing way. The way it handles the topic of death and what happens when we die is unforgiving and painstakingly realistic. That is what makes it so effective to me anyway.

If you’re looking for a genuine scare I highly recommend Talk To Me.