Spooky TBR

So I have a love for horror movies and books. It all started with R.L Stine books and escalated from that point until I had my favorite 80's horror movie villain. For me, there's nothing better than curling up in the Fall with a cup of tea and a book that'll have me jumping every time one of the cats storms through the house. Every year I tried to read a few classics and mix in some new stuff. This year I'm hitting a big on with The Shinning and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. My flatmate as been on my to read that latter for at least a year now, and I can't watch the Netflix show before a read the book. Otherwise I'll never be able to go back and read it without feeling weird. Which is the exact reason I've never read the first Harry Potter book.

I'm honestly really excited to read all four of the books this year. I've even got a few other's set aside in case I managed to read all of these before Winter comes. Cause I have some cozy little mysteries lined up for when it's too cold to function outside.

What spooky reads does everyone else have lined up for the Halloween and Fall season?

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes it's the cover that originally catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon! Some are by authors I already enjoy, some are the reason I gave the book a longer look. Either way they're all going to find their way here!

Hope had abandoned them to the wrath of all the waters.

In the last days of the twenty-first century, sea creatures swim through the ruins of London. Trapped in the abyss, humankind wavers between fear and hope—fear of what lurks in the depths around them, and hope that they might one day find a way back to the surface.

When sixteen-year-old submersible racer Leyla McQueen is chosen to participate in the prestigious annual marathon, she sees an opportunity to save her father, who has been arrested on false charges. The Prime Minister promises the champion whatever their heart desires. But the race takes an unexpected turn, forcing Leyla to make an impossible choice.

Now she must brave unfathomable waters and defy a corrupt government determined to keep its secrets, all the while dealing with a guarded, hotheaded companion she never asked for in the first place. If Leyla fails to discover the truths at the heart of her world, or falls prey to her own fears, she risks capture—or worse. And her father will be lost to her forever. 

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about what we have yet to read. Generally they are books that have yet to be released, but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

Once upon a time, a princess slept in a magical tower cloaked in thorns and roses.

When she woke, she found no Prince Charming, only a surfeit of hair and grotesquely long fingernails--which was, honestly, better than some creep who acted without consent. She cut off her long braids and used them to escape. But she kept the beard because it made a great disguise.

This is not a story about finding true love's kiss--it's a story about finding yourself. On a pirate ship. Where you belong.

But these are no ordinary pirates aboard The Puffy Peach, serving under Filthy Lucre, the one-eyed parrot pirate captain. First there's Vic, a swole and misogynistic centaur on a mission to expunge himself of the magic that causes him to conjure tea and dainty cupcakes in response to stress. Then there's Tempest, who's determined to become the first dryad lawyer--preferably before she takes her ultimate form as a man-eating tree. They're joined by Alobartalus, an awkward and unelfly elf who longs to meet his hero, the Sn'archivist who is said to take dictation directly from the gods of Pell. Throw in some mystery meat and a dastardly capitalist plot, and you've got one Pell of an adventure on the high seas!

Why I'm Waiting: Because I love this series so very much!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

The city of Elendhaven sulks on the edge of the ocean. Wracked by plague, abandoned by the South, stripped of industry and left to die. But not everything dies so easily. A thing without a name stalks the city, a thing shaped like a man, with a dark heart and long pale fingers yearning to wrap around throats. A monster who cannot die. His frail master sends him out on errands, twisting him with magic, crafting a plan too cruel to name, while the monster’s heart grows fonder and colder and more cunning.

These monsters of Elendhaven will have their revenge on everyone who wronged the city, even if they have to burn the world to do it.

Bunnicula - Review

Author: Deborah and James Howe

Genre:  Fantasy

Series: Bunnicula #1

Format: E-book

Pages: 98

Some how throughout my childhood this book never once made an appearance. Which is saying something because I read Dracula in elementary school, and since then have loved vampire fiction, lore, TV, etc. But, miss it a I did until years later while at Pub Quiz this was an answer and I felt betrayed. 

After a stressful couple of days at work my flatmate convinced me to borrow it from the library. I saw no flaw in her plan.

This was the cutest thing I've read all year. It's not hard at all to see why Bunnicula is considered a classic. It's a book that all ages can enjoy, and honestly was exactly what I needed after the last two nights on my long bus rides home. I have no shame and will giggle out loud. Which I did for most of this book.

Bunnicula told from Harold's, the family dog, point of view. I love when he describes anything about Chester the cat. Because I feel like it's all things we've thought about cats at one time or another.  I also really like that both Harold and Chester just aren't just pets, but part of the family. Harold sitting at the table is normal as long as feet stay of the table. Chester has his own chair. I also really enjoyed how these two characters weren't made to seem too human. Yeah they talked, but they still had the little animal ticks. Chester with his need to bathe, Harold's begging for bacon and chocolate cupcakes. 

As for the story itself, it's super cute, hilarious, and moves a quick pace. I loved the bits of lore we got as Chester tried to defeat the vampire bunny, and how Harold became attached to the cute little ball of fluff through out the ordeal. It was nice that between the schemes you get see the family as a unit, being together. Trying to solve the mystery of the white vegetables. I loved how it all sort of ended in the best way possible, with a vet visit. I even loved the changes they made to lore to make it a bit more kid friendly. Because when your a kid what's more scary than eating your vegetables?

There are also illustrations in every chapter, and they were also super cute. My favorite is definitely Chester's sad face when he stuck outside all night. I've got a cat who wouldn't enjoy a night sleeping outside either.

Honestly I don't have anything bag to say about the books. I'm sad these weren't apart of my childhood, but I'm glad I picked it up now. It was an adorable read after a long day on my feet. Something I could have read to my little brother when he was younger. The perfect Halloween bed time story.

Buy, Borrow, or Skip:  If you got little kids who like monster stories, I say add it to their collection. If your a kid at heart with a library card, borrow it from Libby. It's worth the space!

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes it's the cover that originally catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon! Some are by authors I already enjoy, some are the reason I gave the book a longer look. Either way they're all going to find their way here!

In 1991, Heather Cole and her friends were members of the Dead Girls Club. Obsessed with the macabre, the girls exchanged stories about serial killers and imaginary monsters, like the Red Lady, the spirit of a vengeful witch killed centuries before. Heather knew the stories were just that, until her best friend Becca began insisting the Red Lady was real--and she could prove it.

That belief got Becca killed.

It's been nearly thirty years, but Heather has never told anyone what really happened that night--that Becca was right and the Red Lady was real. She's done her best to put that fateful summer, Becca, and the Red Lady, behind her. Until a familiar necklace arrives in the mail, a necklace Heather hasn't seen since the night Becca died.

The night Heather killed her.

Now, someone else knows what she did...and they're determined to make Heather pay. 

HAPPY READING!!

Book Haul

Okay, so every year I pick one book to start kick my Fall reading. How does my Fall reading differ from the rest of the year? Well, it's the perfect weather to curl up on my patio, or in my living room, with something a little scarier, a littler creepier, than usual. Something could possible make me sleep with the lights on. Last year I was a bit disappointed with my pick. While this author has written books that freaked me right out, last the one I picked up left me wanting. So, this year I wanted to make sure I wouldn't be disappointed again.

And, wouldn't you know it I say the trailer for Doctor Sleep. I realized two things very quickly. The first was that I somehow missed that it was the sequel to the Shining, and the second thing was I couldn't remember if I've ever actually read the Shining. I know I've seen the movie. That is something you don't generally forget doing.

Just like that my problem was solved. This year I was going to make to read the Shining. So I put it on hold immediately. Because surely with Doctor Sleep coming out a lot of people were going to attempt to re-read everything. The answer is apparently not. Because the book arrived much quicker than I thought it would. Which means I've cleared a spot in my freezer for when I need a break, and let's me honest. I'm not going to wait until I finished my current read.

I'm going to need something to read to make world better while Stephen King tears it apart with what's about to happen inside this book. I know it's not going to be good, but I've got high hopes that I'm going to love it.  

Mini Reviews

This Volume absolutely gutted me! I was so happy that things were working out for Geoff and Phil that I should have known something was going to happen. But, it's great to see the kids coming into the powers and the family business. Plus, I'm always excited to see vampire pop anywhere in horror, especially when they look like Nosferatu. Though...really can Merle stayed dead please? I'm over him and his vendetta. He's clearly never going to win. Hopefully this time Geoff killed him dead. We'll see. Now I have to figure out how to get my hands on the next volume. Because there are two more, which I did not realize. And, after that ending I'm going to need to know how bad that discussion was. 4 Stars!

I loved Middlewest! There was a part of me that was afraid it was going to get a little to Wizard of Oz for my tastes, but it doesn't. Fox and Wrench are my favorite characters of the whole crew. Because doesn't love a robot and a trickster. The story itself is heart wrenching and that ending broke my heart. Poor Abel just wants to be good and have a family. The story moved quickly and the art work is amazing. The panels are careful and there's so much to look at, especially when you get to the carnival. I do have a few questions that this books has answered though. Where's Abel's mom? What's that pink stuff powering everyone's house? But, more importantly is Abel okay? I can't wait for Book Two to be released! 5 Stars!!

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about what we have yet to read. Generally they are books that have yet to be released, but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

Rory Thorne is a princess with thirteen fairy blessings, the most important of which is to see through flattery and platitudes. As the eldest daughter, she always imagined she’d inherit her father’s throne and govern the interplanetary Thorne Consortium. 
 
Then her father is assassinated, her mother gives birth to a son, and Rory is betrothed to the prince of a distant world.
 
When Rory arrives in her new home, she uncovers a treacherous plot to unseat her newly betrothed and usurp his throne. An unscrupulous minister has conspired to name himself Regent to the minor (and somewhat foolish) prince. With only her wits and a small team of allies, Rory must outmaneuver the Regent and rescue the prince.

Why I'm Waiting: I love a good space opera!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

The chimneys of industry rise over Adua and the world seethes with new opportunities. But old scores run deep as ever.

On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield, and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal's son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specializes in disappointments.

Savine dan Glokta - socialite, investor, and daughter of the most feared man in the Union - plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control.

The age of the machine dawns, but the age of magic refuses to die. With the help of the mad hillwoman Isern-i-Phail, Rikke struggles to control the blessing, or the curse, of the Long Eye. Glimpsing the future is one thing, but with the guiding hand of the First of the Magi still pulling the strings, changing it will be quite another...

HAPPY READING!!

The Rose and The Thorn - Review

Author: Michael J. Sullivan

Genre:  Fantasy

Series: Riyria Chronicles #2

Format: Paperback

Pages: 347

Nothing is better than watching Royce Melborn fall in love. It's the first time anyone sort of sees a human side to this character. A side that makes mistakes, that has to think to solve problems where the solution can't be killing everyone in sight.

Poor Hadrian though is still sort of stuck in his past. Stuck in his regrets, and nothing nothing that happen in this book really help ease that guilt. In fact, it sort of just adds to it. My heart broke for Hadrian in this one. Though it was good see that his friendship with Royce had grown over the year that took place between Book One and Two. They bicker like an old married couple and I adore it so.

This book also has a new cast of characters joining our two main guys. I'm not a fan of the Princess at all. She's a brat and I kind of want to high five in the face, which made it hard to feel bad for her toward the end of the book. The Prince is adorable and so are the Pickering lads, and I loved how they included sweet Reuben into their little group. Sweet, sweet Reuben who for the last three chapters gave me stress. So much stress. I also really loved his little side story inside the main story. Reuben is kind of trope character in fantasy. The bumbling, abused, hero. But, it's okay because I adore him and I was thrilled he got a happy ending. For now. I also really enjoyed the King and Queen in the chapters we got them. I wish we'd have gotten more of them. The seemed like decent people, which made the end of this book so stressful. 

Seriously, I ate half a bag of red vines dealing with this ending...

I also really loved Albert Winslow and how he was introduced to Hadrian and Royce. Such a great opening scene. He so different from the thieves, softer, but had some of the most important jobs throughout the story. He also had some really fun chapters that bit of light in a darker plot. He also gave a us really good outside view of how most people Hadrian and Royce.

The Rose and the Thorn takes places solely in Medford. So we finally get to see more the ruling city than just Wayward Street. Michael J. Sullivan crafted a wonderful city and an impressive castle. I loved the play on the church and castle being the parents sort of looming over their children as the two tallest structure loomed over the city. How Medford goes from paved streets and houses with spires to mud and despair. Each section of the city so different despite being the same place. A theme that plays out throughout the story.

The story itself is no different. Every chapter holds another piece of a puzzle, and now that I'm finished, I can see where this book is setting up others in the future. Despite not finishing the series, I do own them all. Which means I've read the back covers. So I know kind of what this book was setting up, but I'm not entirely certain who all the players are yet. Though I have quite of few theories. But, the story itself was great and moved really quickly. Only a few short days pass between start to finish, but once again so much happens.

As the story takes shape, I started to realize who should be trusted and who was lying. This one also got a little bit bloodier than the last one. Because not only did we see a more human side of Royce that was working through feelings of any kind. We also see his darkest side. The reason Hadrian smells death on him. We see the full of extant of what he's capable of it, and it was both gross and couldn't have happened to better people.

The story in The Rose and the Thorn both excited me and broke my heart. I had hard time reading the last few chapters because I feared for Reuben's fate as the story came to a close. It was everything I loved about The Crown Tower and more. I'm excited to pick up the next book and see Royce and Hadrian grow as partners. To see more of the bigger mystery start to unravel, and watch Gwen turn Royce stupid. Cause nice to see a male character stumble about while Gwen builds herself a tavern and continues to be a badass.

Buy, Borrow, or Skip: I'm all in with the series. It's one of the few I know I can read over and over again because I adore Hadrian and Royce. Not only that but Michael J. Sullivan had created a wonderful world filled with amazing characters. So, buy them all.

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes it's the cover that originally catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon! Some are by authors I already enjoy, some are the reason I gave the book a longer look. Either way they're all going to find their way here!

In this funny and frothy novella that picks up where the New York Times bestselling The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue leaves off, freshly minted couple Monty and Percy fumble through their first time together.

Monty’s epic grand tour may be over, but now that he and Percy are finally a couple, he realizes there is something more nerve-wracking than being chased across Europe: getting together with the person you love.

Will the romantic allure of Santorini make his first time with Percy magical, or will all the anticipation and build-up completely spoil the mood?

HAPPY READING!!

Book Haul

I love when library holds and days off line up so perfectly. The last volume of October Faction took no time at all to get to my library. Pretty much everything seemed to get to tied up in the last volume. So I'm interested to see what's going to happen in the next installment. This cover is probably my favorite of the three. I'll probably curl on my patio with this one later sooner, rather than later.

Lastly, and finally, Middlewest Book One arrived. It's a new series by Skottie Young. I loved I Hate Fairyland, Gert is very much my spirit animal. I'm excited to jump into another story by Skottie Young. Especially one that takes place somewhere similar to where I grew up in a small town in the heartland. This one probably won't sit on my TBR shelf for long either.

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

Sadly, while I do love the works of H.P. Lovecraft, I don't actually know a lot of about him. Just bits and pieces here and there. While this Graphic Novel doesn't dive deep into his life. It does hit the milestones, introduces a handful of authors he knew and wrote to, and showed how he struggled to get the publishing world to understand his stories. It's sad that he never got to see how many people who fall in love with his stories, but this Graphic Novel was a nice little introduction into the past of H.P. Lovecraft. 3 Stars!

I'm loving this series! It's the perfect way to slip into Fall and some of my more horror and thriller set books. I adore Vivian, Geoff, and Dante. This one is set not long after Volume One ends and it's Halloween. So Dante is able to be and about. We finally get answers about the hell Cope is, and find out just how weirdly disturbing that family is. A lot of action in Volume Two, and finally the kids are able to joint the family business. Though I'm kind of Fred and his high horse issues. He needs to get over himself. Super excited for Volume Three and to learn that Netflix has picked up this series!  4 Stars!

I was a little disappointed in this one. It's set as a prequel to the first John Wick movie. So maybe had sights set a little too high, but I was hoping for more of an origin story. What this really was how how John Wick got introduced into the business. It gave us a little snap shot at John's childhood, but nothing that really sink your teeth into it. While the artwork was great and worked with the kind of story that John Wick is, the story was clunky and just left me wanting more. This one really didn't answer any of my questions about John's past, just left me wanting more. 2 Stars.

HAPPY READING!!

Out of Control TBR

So some how throughout the year my TBR pile went from "I can totally handle this" to "what have I done". To be honest I'm not really sure how that, or even really when, it happened. However the other day I was laying in bed and all I could think was that pile is was good mischief away from falling and squashing the cat. You would think the fact that it wiggles when he sniffs at it would be enough of a danger sign for him to stop. But, sadly he's not so bright my Maxwell. Cute, but not so smart my cat.

So now I'm suffering what to read next syndrome, and the answer is always something not on this very precarious stack of books. There are so many good books on this pile that I want to get to this year, but there are also too many good books coming out still that I'm dying to get my hands on. Which means I've done what I always do when my TBR is starting to get out of control. I turn to my flatmate. She picked my next two reads, Six of Crows and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Which lead me to realize I still haven't read the two books that will follow, This Lie Will Kill You and The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein.

But, what else should I bump to the top of my list? A must read of 2019? 

Send help!

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about what we have yet to read. Generally they are books that have yet to be released, but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

It's 1875, and Alva Webster has perfected her stiff upper lip after three years of being pilloried in the presses of two continents over fleeing her abusive husband. Now his sudden death allows her to return to New York to make a fresh start, restoring Liefdehuis, a dilapidated Hyde Park mansion, and hopefully her reputation at the same time. However, fresh starts aren't as easy as they seem, as Alva discovers when stories of a haunting at Liefdehuis begin to reach her. But Alva doesn't believe in ghosts. So when the eccentric and brilliant professor, Samuel Moore, appears and informs her that he can get to the bottom of the mystery that surrounds Liefdehuis, she turns him down flat. She doesn't need any more complications in her life―especially not a handsome, convention-flouting, scandal-raising one like Sam. 

Unfortunately, though Alva is loath to admit it, Sam, a pioneer in electric lighting and a member of the nationally-adored Moore family of scientists, is the only one who can help. Together, the two delve into the tragic secrets wreathing Alva's new home while Sam attempts to unlock Alva's history―and her heart. 

Why I'm Waiting: It sounds not only like a perfect Fall read, but in the same vein as Crimson Peak.

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

Edgar Allan Poe may be a hundred and fifty years beyond this world, but the themes of his beloved works have much in common with modern young adult fiction. Whether the stories are familiar to readers or discovered for the first time, readers will revel in Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tales, and how they’ve been brought to life in 13 unique and unforgettable ways.

HAPPY READING!!