Mini Reviews

I grew up in the Middle of the USA. So I've been around a cicada or two in my time. In fact, I've been informed that we had a dog that used to carry them around for fun. So I can think of a dozen different ways that these could be creepy and unsettling. Which meant I put this book on hold the minute I saw one of the libraries I use was getting it. The downside is it came as a PDF file, or a non-Kindle version. That means I can only read it on my phone. Normally, that doesn't work for me, but I had a trip ahead that was going to lead to a lot of standing in line. So I thought maybe it was perfect. When I say I couldn't put this down. I started it in line at Hollywood Horror Nights, reading it all night while in line. Read it back at the hotel until I fell asleep, and the read it randomly throughout the next day. I loved this, I loved this ending, and I love how everyone got exactly what they deserved! From the start, you know what's about to happen, but it's all the little stuff in between that keeps you reading. It's got some great jump scares, some really gross parts, but there's this sense of terror throughout the whole book thanks to the main character, which just pulled me in. I was rooting for her the whole book.

I snagged this as something quick to read on the plane/airport because I like other Legends and Lattes. So I figured I would like that. And it was a lot of fun! I love that we get dropped into the middle of the mystery. The monk has already died, Miss Gentle has been summoned, and there is a cat. We learn things about the world, people, and circumstances as the story unfolds, and it's amazing what Travis Baldree managed in under fifty pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and it was the perfect little quick read I needed to kick off my little vacation last month!

When I originally read this, I had no idea what was going on. I mean, I kind of knew what was going on. Fawkes is a creeping creeper, and I hope at some point, Lewllyn gets a hold of it. But there's this whole side plot toward the end that I couldn't figure out what was going on. What was the point of all this? There's only one book left; why are we adding things now?! Only a couple of days later, all the puzzle pieces came together, or at least I think they came together. And things from the first couple of books came back to me. Maybe, just maybe, I actually do know what's going on, and I think I might know who Lewellyn actually is. Or adjacent to, maybe. I have theories and thoughts, and I cannot wait for my library to get volume 6 in. Because now I have to know how much I figured out.  

HAPPY READING!!

October Spotlight

 

Welcome to the dark. It has very sharp teeth.

Based on the internationally bestselling comic series, with millions of copies in print,​ the first full-length novel from the terrifying world of Something Is Killing the Children—a stunning collaboration between Eisner-winning co-creator James Tynion IV and #1 New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White

As a Black Mask, Erica Slaughter has a very straightforward job: find the monster, kill the monster, then do it all again. But when she arrives in Badwater, Idaho, nothing is simple. She can’t determine whether the horrific killer of a twelve-year-old was a bear, a person, or something much worse. Complicating matters is the charismatic doomsday preacher who is quickly leading the small town to the verge of hysteria. If Erica wants to save the surviving children, she has to figure out which kid’s fears might have summoned a monster—and fast. Erica must get to the truth before the Order and the town come to the same conclusion: to stop the monster, you have to kill the girl.

Hope Is a Knife is a chilling, original tale in SIKTC lore, where monsters are real and only the hunters of the Order of St. George are equipped to challenge them. Whether or not you’ve already devoured the Eisner Award–winning comics, this standalone vision of supernatural horror is a thrill ride of the highest order.

HAPPY READING!!

September Wrap Up

It's officially SPOOKY SEASON! The weather has already turned cold, and the rain has come back. I have pulled out my sweater and all the blankets. We're still struggling to close all the windows. It's been so nice to have the living room window open and listen to the rain. I'm also not ready to give up my shorts. Socks and extra blankets for the win! Also, it's tea season, so I'm excited for reading and tea. Reading and curled up under a nest of blankets. And soon it'll be time to light a fire in the fireplace.

But until then, first there are the September Stats: 

  

Books Read: 10
BINGO Books: 1

Pages Read: 1872

By accident, I managed to mark off the New York Bestseller book. When I started The Lost Tomb, I had no idea it was a BINGO. It wasn't until I was done reading it and checking if it hit any of the challenges I'm currently participating in. 

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we haven't yet 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 folks at Breaking the Spine.

Twenty nightmarish horror tales featuring folkloric beasts, apocalyptic disasters, and psychological terrors are brought together in a collection sure to keep readers up at night, from the very best voices in contemporary Nordic fiction.

Nightmarish tales of mystery and horror, from the best voices in contemporary Nordic fiction.

You know them from the stories whispered around the campfire. Sometimes, they’re dark creatures from tall forests or murky bogs, luring their victims to their death, or the apocalyptic roar of a volcanic eruption. Other times, they’re closer to home: an unsettling new neighbour, or the overly friendly people you meet on the train, or the bureaucrat who thinks he's saving the world.

Nordic Nightmares opens a window into the horror landscape of the Nordic countries, from Finland, Denmark, Greenland, The Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The anthology is expertly curated to showcase the work of twenty modern masters of horror – the majority appearing in English for the first time – to keep you company during long, cold nights.

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

 

Tread the drowsy shades of Sleepy Hollow with Edgar Award-winning travel writer J.W. Ocker in this spirited exploration of haunted corners, local lore, and America's most famous ghost story.

This immersive travelogue investigates the town that inspired Washington Irving's famous short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," and dives into the storied history of the Headless Horseman's stomping grounds. Within the pages you'll visit the village's graveyard where Irving himself is buried and explore all the present-day spookiness of one of the strangest towns in the country.

Blending cultural criticism and behind-the-scenes reporting, Ocker uncovers the tensions between tourism and tradition, profit and preservation, fiction and fact. With wit and curiosity, Chasing the Headless Horseman tells the story of how one small town reinvented itself as America's Halloween capital, complete with statues, street signs, and an 18-foot-tall Headless Horseman. A must-read for anyone who loves ghost stories, Halloween, or small-town drama, Ocker's new book does for Sleepy Hollow, New York, what his A Season with the Witch did for Salem, Massachusetts.

HAPPY READING!!

SHERLOCK: Short Story Anthology - Review

Author: Assorted Authors

Genre: Mystery

Format: Kindle Ebook 

Published: November 30, 2026 

Anything with Sherlock in the title will catch my eye, whether at a bookstore, library, or, as the case may be, NetGalley. But what made me grab this book was the fact that Joe Hill wrote one of the stories inside. That very much had my attention and apparently control of my hands because I requested it! What also helped was that there are a lot of authors attached to this that I've been meaning to pick up their books: Sarah Perry, S.A. Crosby, Janice Hallett, etc. So it really felt like a win-win for me. I can see Joe Hill doing his creepy thing with two of my favorite characters, and I can try out some new authors at the same time.

Now, when I jump into any short story collection, I always assume there's going to be at least one story I have to either force myself to finish, or one I just DNF and move on from. It's just the way sometimes with collections. Some stories hit; some unfortunately do not. So I prepared myself for that and then enjoyed a lovely introduction by one of my favorite comedians, Stephen Fry. He played one of my favorite versions of Mycroft Holmes! It wasn't until I'd made it to the last story that I realized I hadn't skipped a single story. Not only had I read them all, but I had also devoured them all.

Every single one of these authors came at canon in their own way, but I found myself enjoying their versions of Holmes and Watson. I assumed from the start that Joe Hill's story would be my favorite, and while I really enjoy it, it wasn't. Steve Cavanagh's story with Sherlock going mind-for-mind with an AI was hands down my favorite. Not only was it creepy, but you spend the whole story rooting for Sherlock to take the win. 

Altogether, this was a great collection by an amazing group of writers. You can tell that they love Sherlock Holmes in their own way, because they brought so much care into a world that already loved him. They knew what readers loved about these characters but still made the stories their own, and I enjoyed every single chapter and every single page. So on November 30th, 2026, wherever it is that you get your ebooks (because I sadly don't think this is getting a physical copy), snag this bad boy up. 

And if it does get a physical copy, this one I'll be adding to my shelves. I could see myself reading this one again!

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

   

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all do. Sometimes the cover catches our eye and draws us to take a closer look at a book. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday, I'll post some of my favorite book covers. Coming soon!

Nora Pacetti is a new stay-at-home mother, tired but coping while caring for her happy, healthy baby Olivia. But then one morning, something that looks like a feather starts growing out of Olivia's arm. Or at least, that’s what Nora’s mother, Giulia, thinks. Nora thinks her mother has probably spent too much time watching conspiracy videos on YouTube.

Nora’s husband thinks Olivia needs tests, specialists, hospitals. But Nora senses that whatever is happening to her daughter needs to be concealed—and a mother’s intuition is never wrong. Soon sinister people begin asking questions about Olivia, and Nora starts to wonder if there really is something wrong with her baby. But she’s determined to discover the truth about her daughter…no matter the cost.

HAPPY READING!!

the Lost Tomb - Review

Author: Douglas Preston

Genre: Nonfiction

Format: Paperback 

 

This was so close to a four-star read. It was right there because I super enjoyed it. It hit so many things I love about these kinds of nonfiction books. These were read stories, well vetted, but still a lot of fun. The book wasn't too dry. Most of these stories were original articles, so they were written to grab people's attention and keep it. So when I found the audiobook, I thought it would be a perfect at-work read.

I wasn't wrong. This was great when I got stuck in one spot doing something monotonous. Each story was short and easy to follow along with, and the narrator was great. I didn't feel like I was sitting in a history class. Which I was a little worried about because sometimes the narrator goes too fast and speed-reads, or just drones on and one and I start to fall asleep while I prep. I did not have that problem with this book. The narrator was great!

Each story is great and full of great information, and the author knew not everyone would know what he was talking about. But you never feel talked down to as he explains everything. You're just learning. Also, I like that, where there were updates since the original article came out, Preston made sure to give those updates. So nothing felt too stagnant or outdated.

All in all, a great book. So why three stars?

Because I don't know who decided what order these stories needed to be in, but I hate them. Instead of splitting the book up into paleontology subjects and true crime stories, it was just a hodgepodge of things thrown into a book. Sometimes stories that went together were back-to-back, but most were far enough apart, and since I was listening at work, time passed, and things got forgotten. My only complaint is I wished stories were grouped. I would have been so much less confused. There were a couple of moments where I had to stop and figure out how we got here, or where we going.

Still, I did enjoy this as a whole. I already got to use some of what I learned in this book in the wild. Which was fun!

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we haven't yet 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 folks at Breaking the Spine.

Welcome to the dark. It has very sharp teeth.

Based on the internationally bestselling comic series, with millions of copies in print,​ the first full-length novel from the terrifying world of Something Is Killing the Children—a stunning collaboration between Eisner-winning co-creator James Tynion IV and #1 New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White

As a Black Mask, Erica Slaughter has a very straightforward job: find the monster, kill the monster, then do it all again. But when she arrives in Badwater, Idaho, nothing is simple. She can’t determine whether the horrific killer of a twelve-year-old was a bear, a person, or something much worse. Complicating matters is the charismatic doomsday preacher who is quickly leading the small town to the verge of hysteria. If Erica wants to save the surviving children, she has to figure out which kid’s fears might have summoned a monster—and fast. Erica must get to the truth before the Order and the town come to the same conclusion: to stop the monster, you have to kill the girl.

Hope Is a Knife is a chilling, original tale in SIKTC lore, where monsters are real and only the hunters of the Order of St. George are equipped to challenge them. Whether or not you’ve already devoured the Eisner Award–winning comics, this standalone vision of supernatural horror is a thrill ride of the highest order.

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

 

Beauty doesn’t fade. It feeds.

Marion Wagner has spent her whole life wanting nothing more than to be seen. But after failing to make her mark (any mark, really) as an influencer, she takes a job at a company focused on cutting-edge deepfake technology. And there, in secret, is where creates her salvation. 

Isabella. An impossibly gorgeous girl who takes social media by storm. Marion’s code is brilliant, and Isabella seems real. So real that she garners millions of followers. Brands beg to partner with her. Everyone wants to meet her IRL. The adoration—and the cash—flows in. Marion is finally happy. She's getting all the attention she ever wanted—isn't she? 

Then the cracks begin to show. Marion can barely stay ahead of the partnership requests, and love letters and the rabid fans filling her DMs trying to track Isabella down. All this time working in secret with all this pressure is getting to Marion—she can’t tell where she ends, and her creation begins. And when someone gets a little too close to her secret, a violent confrontation sends Marion on the run, forcing her to confront what she’s willing to sacrifice to keep her secrets. 

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

I love this series so much. I went in not expecting much, but I've fallen in love with the main character. I need to know exactly who the bad guys are. Because it might be the Prince, or he might just be an idiot. It could also be the Prime Minister; he seems smarmy. And I know we keep calling it magic sickness, and I think it started that way. However, is it still magic sickness, or are we just using that as an excuse? At least a little bit. I need to know, so volume three is waiting to be picked up! 

What, in fact, did I read? Because I thought I understood what was about to happen. I read the back of the graphic novel. I thought I understood. Then I started reading and realized that I, in fact, have no idea what's happening, but I was totally here for the ride. Because I enjoyed every second of it! I also love that it was a standalone. I need more stand-alones like this one. 

I have totally been enjoying this series. However, this one was kind of a step backward. It was kind of like we jumped back into the first volume. So, like two steps forward, one step back. I do understand that between late nights and nightmares, things are stressful for both main characters. So! I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt that we will talk to each other and trust each other. Maybe finding the long-lost family will help with that. I need to get the volume put on hold!

HAPPY READING!!