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 that 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.

Her city is under siege.

The zombies are coming back.

And all Nona wants is a birthday party.

In many ways, Nona is like other people. She lives with her family, has a job at her local school, and loves walks on the beach and meeting new dogs. But Nona's not like other people. Six months ago she woke up in a stranger's body, and she's afraid she might have to give it back.

The whole city is falling to pieces. A monstrous blue sphere hangs on the horizon, ready to tear the planet apart. Blood of Eden forces has surrounded the last Cohort facility and wait for the Emperor Undying to come calling. Their leaders want Nona to be the weapon that will save them from the Nine Houses. Nona would prefer to live an ordinary life with the people she loves, with Pyrrha and Camilla and Palamedes, but she also knows that nothing lasts forever.

And each night, Nona dreams of a woman with a skull-painted face...

Why I'm Waiting: I loved Gideon The Ninth, and while I haven't brought myself to read Harrow yet (I know it's full of pain) I'm excited about the third book!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

Be sure to keep your friends close . . . and your secrets closer.

Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favorite teacher—a story that made headlines after the teacher’s body was found by three Saint Ambrose students in the woods behind their school. The case was never solved. Now that Brynn is moving home and starting her dream internship at a true-crime show, she’s determined to find out what really happened.

The kids who found Mr. Larkin are her way in, and her ex-best friend, Tripp Talbot, was one of them. Without his account of events, the other two kids might have gone down for Mr. Larkin’s murder. They've never forgotten what Tripp did for them that day. Just like he hasn’t forgotten that everything he told the police was a lie.

Digging into the past is bound to shake up the present, and as Brynn begins to investigate what happened in the woods that day, she begins to uncover secrets that might change everything—about Saint Ambrose, Mr. Larkin, and about her ex-best friend, Tripp Talbot.

Four years ago someone got away with murder. The most terrifying part is that they never left.

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!

Her city is under siege.

The zombies are coming back.

And all Nona wants is a birthday party.

In many ways, Nona is like other people. She lives with her family, has a job at her local school, and loves walks on the beach and meeting new dogs. But Nona's not like other people. Six months ago she woke up in a stranger's body, and she's afraid she might have to give it back.

The whole city is falling to pieces. A monstrous blue sphere hangs on the horizon, ready to tear the planet apart. Blood of Eden forces has surrounded the last Cohort facility and wait for the Emperor Undying to come calling. Their leaders want Nona to be the weapon that will save them from the Nine Houses. Nona would prefer to live an ordinary life with the people she loves, with Pyrrha and Camilla and Palamedes, but she also knows that nothing lasts forever.

And each night, Nona dreams of a woman with a skull-painted face...

HAPPY READING!!

The Hunger - Review

Author: Alma Katsu

Genre: Horror / Historical Fiction

Format: Hardback

Pages: 376

I have not seen enough about this book in the blogging community, and after finishing that bums me out. Because there is a lot to like about this book, from the story itself, to the way Katsu writes, to the characters she's created. My only real issues with this book were personal because I don't think I'll forgive her for one of the deaths in this book. I'm also really bummed that this book was optioned as a movie, mini-series, or something, but hasn't happened yet. I would binge the crap out of that show. And, then be angry about one of the last deaths in the story.

I'm really ticked off about it. To the point, I sent a text to my roommate in all caps about it. Like, it was a good death but I wanted him to make out of this chaos final girl style. I even had in my reading notes from the day of starting this book on vacation.

Anyway, I've fallen from the point. I knew I was going to like this one because I loved Katsu's writing style in The Deep, which I read last year. So, going in there was no doubt that I knew I was going to enjoy the story. I will say that I definitely prefer The Hunger over The Deep. Both had solid stories and solid monsters, but I connected with the characters of The Hunger more. 

Ensemble casts are one of my favorite kinds of books to read. The switching point of view always feels like I'm allowed to get more of the story through different pairs of eyes, and different opinions. With The Hunger this works for several reasons: there is a lot of conflict at the start of the story, and it keeps focused on those and not the twists that are about to happen. I did call a few of the smaller twists throughout the story: Stanton's backstory, Reed's little secret, etc. I didn't however catch the web of a twist that Katsu was created with one single character that someone how connected all the characters together.

Because that last twist there at the end ties it all together. I was so busy looking over here at all the people dying, that I missed the connection. Thinking back on it though, it was all there staring me in the face. I just didn't realize that I should have been connecting dots.

I also really like that this wasn't the monster I thought it was. Going into The Hunger I was like this was going to be a wendigo, and maybe in some ways, it was. But, it wasn't at the same time, and think that sure-fire assumption was what made it hard to see the forest for the trees. Was I bummed, sure, but I really like the way this book turned out. Do I still hate Lewis despite the fact he seems to be the better of the men in his family?

Yes, he is the worst.

My favorite part of this book was the character I hated the most and had the worst time it toward the end. From her introduction I hoped she'd get a grisly end, and while it could have been worse in my opinion. I thought she went out in the book was very on point for that character. Though I would have loved to have been crushed by stampeding oxen or something.

Lastly, I do love who one of the last men standing was. While at first Reed wasn't one of my favorite characters, he kind of grew on me. Looking back on my notes I called him an absolute tool, and I still believe that. However, he was from a cowardly little worm to a man with a backbone, which means I was happy he got a bit of a happy ending.

This was an absolute gem and I cannot wait to share it with a friend of mine who I think we also adore it to pieces. At least I hope she does! I cannot recommend Alma Katsu's books enough. This was my second of her books. I will definitely be picking The Fervor next, Katsu's newest release that hit shelves back in April!

HAPPY READING!!

Book Haul

Okay, so I had no real intentions to go book shop again this month. Seeing is how I've done quite a bit of that already. But... Of course, there is a but. But, I got out of work early one day and wound up wandering around the thrift store on the way home. I wasn't planning on getting anything while I was there, just sort of wasting away an afternoon that I planned to be in the kitchen. I'm glad I stopped in though because I found some gems! 

The original covers for the Christopher Pike books have been really hard to find. So I'm always excited when I find one. While they haven't exactly aged all that well, they are filled with pre-teen summer's reading in the hammock at my parent's place. So there's that. 

And, I'm still kicking myself for getting rid of the massive Goosebumps collection. At the time I hadn't thought anything other, but hindsight and all that. Those also hold a lot of core memories for me. They are the first books I remember really creeping me out growing up. And I feel a need to go back and re-visit them as we finally roll into the Spooky Season.

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 that 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.

Arthur Crazy is drunk and seeing ghosts.

This is not a metaphor. The dead are walking and talking, and it doesn't matter that Arthur doesn't believe in them. They believe in him.

Too drunk to recall how he stumbled upon his nascent power, Arthur is burdened with newfound responsibility: he’s the only one who can hear the unfinished business of every dead guy in York, and he’s the only one who can help.

As forgotten legends and lost demons stir all over the cobbled streets and snickleways, Arthur finds himself at the center of an unfolding mystery—a light in the desert, a fart at a funeral—and he is about to discover that an unfortunate surname isn't the only thing that makes him stand out.

Arthur just wants to sober up, have a kebab, and go home, but his conscience is knocking loud and clear, demanding he open the damn door. He may not be the hero the dead need, but he’s the one they’re stuck with. Besides, one of those ghosts seems kind of cute.

Why I'm Waiting: I love a reluctant hero and this has a little bit of Dresden Files sprinkled in. Sounds like a combo I'd love.

HAPPY READING!!

Book Mail

Not just one surprise in the mail this last week, but two! I knew Night Worms was coming and was eagerly awaiting it to finally hit my mailbox. What I wasn't expecting was a surprise package from Quirk Books! It made a nice change from the usual junk mail I find in there! I honestly don't know which I'm excited about. On the one hand, I'm really excited to read the new Kingfisher book, it sounds like it'll keep me up way past my bedtime, and on my toes. On the other hand thanks to Quirk I got my hands on a finished copy of The United States of Cryptids. 

What Moves The Dead is definitely on the top of my Spooky Season reads. I've already seen some amazing reviews from other bloggers. And, I need to get some shelves up so I can show off both books I now have by JW Ocker. The covers are amazing and the spines brilliant. Not to mention both are fun and quick reads. And if you love creepy, but overly scary reads, I recommend both The United States of Cryptids and Cursed Objects!

HAPPY READING!!

Cross to Bear - Review

Author: Marko Stojanović

Genre: Graphic Novel

Format: eBook

Pages: 120

Huge thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this early.

Okay, let's start with the good. Right out of the gate I really liked the artwork. I wanted that the color palette changed from the London streets to when the story moved to the American West.  The American West had a warmer color whereas London was more dark and dreary. The wide shot panels were a lot a nice addition. It felt like a nod toward those group long shots in the old Western movies.

I liked the idea of this story, a secret society that hunts down creatures of the night. I'm also always a sucker for a Jack the Ripper story. So combining the two meant this graphic novel had my attention. And, I really liked where this one was going with the brothers, and the idea of the Ripper ending up somewhere in the American West. The story started out strong and held my attention, but the time the brothers were reunited was when it started to fall apart.

Maybe this should have been a longer story, broken up into several volumes. But, this felt like there were too many ideas all happening at once, and it felt busy. Just when I'd get more footing on the one storyline, another weird little turn would show up and add one more thing to the story. And, while these were supposed to be twists in the story, they felt more like they were dragging it down. Just another conflict to be handled, which was I think more volumes would have been better. Give that extra storyline its own pages. 

Ending the series with the big finale.

The end was also really weird. I was fine with the double cross, that way sort of caught me by surprise. I didn't even think about that option. But, at the very end, that statement. It was just another odd moment that didn't seem to fit. Like was he talking about Baltimore, or some other random character, or the women at the door? And, what was the point of her, other than to be the watcher? Okay, I understood the backstory she gave. It would have been a good cliffhanger, but it felt overplayed with the last few lines since there was no context.

This just wasn't my jam and I was a little disappointed.

 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!

Tesla Crane, a brilliant inventor, and an heiress is on her honeymoon on an interplanetary space liner, cruising between the Moon and Mars. She’s traveling incognito and is reveling in her anonymity. Then someone is murdered and the festering chowderheads who run security have the audacity to arrest her spouse. Armed with banter, martinis, and her small service dog, Tesla is determined to solve the crime so that the newlyweds can get back to canoodling--

And keep the real killer from striking again.

HAPPY READING!!

Garlic and the Vampire

 

Author: Bree Paulsen

Genre: Middle Grade / Graphic Novel

Format: Hardback

Pages: 160

This is the second graphic novel I've picked up my Bree Paulson, the first being Patrik the Vampire. Though it wasn't until I picked this up from the library that I made the connection. I couldn't even tell you how I made the connection. But, it made me even more excited to read it because I absolutely adored the Patrick the Vampire series.

Just as I thought this was absolutely adorable, both the story and the artwork. I love the idea of a Witch Agnes created these creatures to help tend her garden, but they somehow managed to take on a life of her own. But instead of freaking out, she just let them be and create this absolutely adorable little community. And in that community is the most adorable little Garlic just filled with anxiety.

I don't think I've related to vegetables more.

Paulsen's artwork is great and I love the color palette she uses for this book. It's fall colors, but nothing too dark. Very outdoorsy. Each panel is full of detail and a great addition to the story.

A story I think is great. This is definitely geared toward younger readers. The story is all about how you can't judge a book by its cover and finding bravery in yourself. Garlic is a great main character who starts out so unsure of herself, but thanks to Celery is forced to find a way to brave by facing the vampire that moved into the castle not far from Witch Anges' farm.

I think it's great for young readers with a great resolution to the story, but it's also a fun read for older readers. Garlic is an adorable main character and Paulsen has created an adorable world to put her in. I also really love Paulsen pulled some old vampire lore as well, like the counting of the rice. It's something I haven't seen a lot in recent vampire books. So that was fun.

Definitely a fun read, and a reminder that I adore Paulsen's stories, and I'm excited there is going to be another book in the Garlic Series!

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 that 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.

MEET THE CURE FOR THE HUMAN DISEASE

In an isolated chateau, as far north as north goes, the baron’s doctor has died. The doctor’s replacement has a mystery to solve: discovering how the Institute lost track of one of its many bodies.

For hundreds of years, the Interprovincial Medical Institute has grown by taking root in young minds and shaping them into doctors, replacing every human practitioner of medicine. The Institute is here to help humanity, to cure and to cut, to cradle and protect the species from the apocalyptic horrors their ancestors unleashed.

In the frozen north, the Institute's body will discover a competitor for its rung at the top of the evolutionary ladder. A parasite is spreading through the baron's castle, already a dark pit of secrets, lies, violence, and fear. The two will make war on the battlefield of the body. Whichever wins, humanity will lose again.

Why I'm Waiting: This book sounds like it's going to be a roller coaster ride!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

Everyone from Wakarusa, Indiana, remembers the case of January Jacobs, who was found dead in a ditch hours after her family awoke to find her gone. Margot Davies was six at the time, the same age as January—and they were next-door neighbors. In the twenty years since, Margot has grown up, moved away, and become a big-city journalist, but she’s always been haunted by the fear that it could’ve been her. And the worst part is, January’s killer has never been brought to justice.

When Margot returns home to help care for her sick uncle, it feels like walking into a time capsule. Wakarusa is exactly how she remembered: genial, stifled, secretive. Then news breaks about five-year-old Natalie Clark from the next town over, who’s gone missing under eerily similar circumstances. With all the old feelings rushing back, Margot vows to find Natalie and solve January’s murder once and for all.

But the police, the family, the townspeople—they all seem to be hiding something. And the deeper Margot digs into Natalie’s disappearance, the more resistance she encounters, and the colder January’s case feels. Could the killer still be out there? Could it be the same person who kidnapped Natalie? And what will it cost to finally discover what truly happened that night?

HAPPY READING!!

Bout of Books 35

Okay, so I got up this morning and decided that I was going to jump into Bout of Books 35. I've missed the last three because I wasn't in a space to add something else to my plate, but things have changed in my personal life. So it felt like a great time to jump back into Bout of Books. Like always I'm going to use it to lower the amount of screen time I've been wracking up. I've turned the usage timers on the apps I use the most, and I'm only going to allow myself to watch one show this week. The last thing is a way to not binge the entire Sandman Tv Show in one day. Because I'll do that.

As for my TBR, it's a lot of novellas and one ebook graphic novel I snagged thanks to Netgalley. I made it big on purpose so I don't feel trapped into a set of just these three to four books. Also, novellas feel less daunting to me because I am a slower reader, and I like feeling like I accomplished something during Bout. Even if it's only one or two books. I also really wanted to finish the book I started on vacation! It's really good, but I transferred into a new position at work all my energy over the last two weeks has gone into that and settling back into being home after a week of being away.

So yeah, you can click here to see how each day has gone, or jump onto my Twitter (@BookishShh)! I'll be doing a few of the Instagram challenges, so you can find me there at (@bookish_whispers)! If your joining up let me know in the comments what you're currently reading, and if you're not, still drop a comment on what I should read next!

HAPPY READING & GOOD LUCK!

Cover Runway Sundays

   

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!

Two sisters pick up a ghostly hitchhiker heading home from college, and horror follows.

HAPPY READING!!

The Dollhouse Family - Review

 

Author: MR Carey

Genre: Horror / Graphic Novel 

Format: Paperback

Pages: 144

I have to say as a whole I'm really enjoying the Hill House Comics series. Like all anthologies, and this is kind of what this ongoing series is, there have been some I liked more than others. But, all have introduced me to authors I'd love to read again. So that's always a win. The Dollhouse Family continues that trend.

As the owner of a creepy doll, I think they are cursed objects, more so when they came with a complete house. So I didn't even think twice about picking this one up. It had all the elements of a story I knew already creeped me right out. And, this definitely delivered on the creep. I wouldn't say that this book ever scared me, but it makes me shiver in a couple of places.

Cause it's super gross.

I really liked the story itself for The Dollhouse Family. It's a classic ancient battle with slumbering evils that Carey did a great job delivering. I liked how the story all connected together where it looks like it's all at random until near the end when you see how all the pieces fit together. I thought all of that was solid, and I loved how our 'good' guy managed to sneak out from its own entrapment. I was wondering about the creature, it kept popping up even in the flashbacks.

The art is great as well. I love that more muted tones were used during the flashbacks, almost like a sepia so you realize you're not in the present anymore. But, not just sepia just older looking. That helped when the timeline jumped. Because toward the end timeline was bouncing back and forth between panels. So the visual really helped keep in point with who and when everyone belonged in.

Personally, I thought the creepest, and kind coolest part, of the art, were the photos using the dolls that separated the chapters/issues. It's used also for the volume cover. Those were cool and super creepy foreshadowing.

I liked the character growth in this for our main character. Everything she's been through could have turned her bitter, instead, she was a great single mom doing her best. And, I was here for that. I also really liked that she really got to be the hero of this story and really didn't have to sacrifice all that much. This was a happy-ish ending.

Which I liked. Because is a little open-ended to what comes next, but allowed the main story to be tied up and finished.

I think my only issue with is at places the book felt a little rushed and the plot just barreled on, or something was faded to black and then quickly explained later. So I would have loved maybe a second volume or a couple more issues. But, that's just a personal thing because I enjoyed this and can't wait to pass it on to a friend of mine!

HAPPY READING!!

Book Haul

You know you have good friends when they are out thrift shopping, and come back with things for you! All of them have been well loved, but the damage isn't too bad. They will definitely make great books for the mantle above my fireplace. I love that they thought of me when they saw these, and even though I've definitely started running out of space again, I can't wait to find a way to show them off.

The Gingerbread Man book is a little, a lot, creepy, but I love it. This so-called Mafia cookbook is probably my favorite. I've only made it through the introduction pages, but this book is going to be a trip. I just can't get over absolutely terrifying the Gingerbread Man book is. It will have to make a Spooky Season appearance on the mantle!

Does anybody else scour the thrift store shelves for books?
 

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 that 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.

Ever since their on-again, off-again college romance, Erin hasn’t been able to set a single boundary with charismatic but reckless Silas, who’s been chasing the next big high since graduation. When he texts her to spring him out of rehab, she knows enough is enough. She’s ready to start a career, make new friends, and meet a great guy—even if that means cutting Silas off. But when Silas turns up dead from an overdose, Erin’s world falls apart.

When Erin learns that Silas discovered a drug that allowed him to see the dead, she doesn’t believe it’s real but agrees to a pill-popping “séance” to ease her guilt and pain. When she steps back into the real world, she starts to see ghosts from her Southern hometown’s bloody and brutal past everywhere. Are the effects pharmacological or something more sinister? And will Erin be able to shut the Pandora’s box of horrors she’s opened?

With propulsive momentum, bone-chilling scares, and dark meditations on the weight of history, this Southern horror will make you think twice about opening doors to the unknown.

Why I'm Waiting: Because I loved Whisper Down the Lane, and this sounds amazing! 

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

The Haunting of Hill House meets Knives Out in a bid for an inheritance that will leave Helen Vaughan either rich...or dead.

Helen Vaughan doesn't know why she and her mother left their ancestral home at Harrowstone Hall, called Harrow, or why they haven't spoken to their extended family since. So when her grandfather dies, she's shocked to learn that he has left everything—the house, the grounds, and the money—to her. The inheritance comes with one condition: she must stay on the grounds of Harrow for one full year, or she'll be left with nothing.

There is more at stake than money. For as long as she can remember, Harrow has haunted Helen's dreams—and now those dreams have become a waking nightmare. Helen knows that if she is going to survive the year, she needs to uncover the secrets of Harrow. Why is the house built like a labyrinth? What is digging the holes that appear in the woods each night? And why does the house itself seem to be making her sick?

With each twisted revelation, Helen questions what she knows about Harrow, her family, and even herself. She no longer wonders if she wants to leave…but if she can.

HAPPY READING!!

Book Mail

Okay, yes I did just go on vacation and come back with several new books. That is not the point. What is the point is I was out getting stuff for the battle jacket I'm going to make for a concert at the end of the month. In the process of get the jacket part, I found a little gem.

I mostly bought this because the cover is cool and I love cryptids. So from the outside this looks like a win.

I'm really hoping this book will just be ridiculous in the best way. There are plans to read this pool side, or beach side, as I soak up the last of the summer the PNW has to offer!

HAPPY READING!!