the Lady in Chains - Review

Author: Bonnie Quinn

Genre: Folklore / Horror

Format: Kindle Book

Pages: 304

This series started as a Reddit situation, I don't remember the title cause I'm not a Reddit person. But, that's where these stories came from, as I believe short stories. Maybe creepy pasta things. It doesn't matter. What matters is I'm so glad that a publisher found them, adored them, and put them into bigger print. Because I love these weird little stories, and I adore Kate and her campground. So I was so excited when my hold for this came into the library, and I didn't even think twice before putting the hold on book three. Even though it's only 'on order'. Don't care, already knew I wanted to read.

Listen, I love this weird little campground that Bonnie Quinn has created. A haunted place where the land calls to all these folklore monsters to settle there. I adore the campers who keep coming back, and the ones who found Kate's books and thought, "I'm going to boop that killer creature right on the nose," despite the book they just read. Because I'm that person. I would have read that book and been like, gotta go there.

Now this takes place right after the first book. There aren't a ton of major spoilers of the first book, so you could read them out of order if you wanted to. For me, it was a nice refresher on the few things I had forgotten since I picked up the first book. Though I started to remember more pieces as this book carried on, for no real reason, other than little facts would just pop into my brain about the first book. I do love that this dives a little deeper into her family and the family's attachment to the camp. While the first book was more about Kate herself, this one dives a bit into how Kate became Kate.

And honestly, the shade she got for the way she is is a little not fair. Like, she's not only seen some things thanks to being raised in that camp, but also the secrets as well. The things she was never told, even though she was alwasy suppose to take over. Like, listen, as a child, I get it, and I do realize her parents died, but at some point, some of these stories needed to be shared. There should have been something: a video diary, an actual diary, a letter, or really anything. Honestly, I can't say that I wouldn't be as angry as Kate is, or shoot first like she does. Also, I get why she sometimes lets things happen to campers.

I'm just saying, FAFO. It's like people who pet the buffalo at State Parks. 

I just find these books really fun. Full of horrors and not so good time, but a lot of fun. I love seeing what pieces of folklore is going to turn up, and Bonnie Quinn writes a really good tale. I very much didn't see the twist until Kate did. However, I honestly could have done without the spiders in mouths or the hordes of spiders. I don't like spiders, Bonnie Quinn. I did not like any of that. It was gross, made my skin crawl, and I didn't enjoy those moments. So gross, but I guess that's the point.

If I had to complain about something other than the spiders, I would say I really thought she and Beau were going to start dating. There were a few pages there when I was like, I mean, I wouldn't be mad at it. He says he's going to kill her, and he's not choosing sides, and he was only there for a name or whatever. But, for someone not there to 'help' or someone 'not picking a side', he sure seems to be helping and picking Kate. It seems a little too helpful, and let less, I want to be the ancient one.

I'm just saying, we'd like to see it. I ship it, maybe in one of the next two books. Mayhaps.

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

        

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes, the cover initially catches our eye, drawing 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!

The American West is no safe haven for women—least of all in the Gold Rush town of Coloma, California. Not for Clara Tice, the blacksmith’s strange and stubborn daughter. Not for Mei, the healer whose calm presence the makeshift camp for Chinese immigrants contrasts sharply with her brother’s hard-eyed pursuit of riches. And certainly not for Haloke, a Nisenan Shaman’s granddaughter whose native village has been devastated by smallpox, hunger, and the relentless greed of Outsiders.

One night, Clara and Haloke meet at the river’s edge and watch in horror as Clementine Cobb, the town beauty, is lured across the water. Together they witness something terrible in the Night Pool. Soon after, an unseen attacker descends upon the mining men of Coloma, abandoning heartless bodies one-by-one. As the gruesome killings in Coloma threaten to incite further violence, Clara, Haloke, and Mei find themselves unlikely allies—without the gangs, guns, or bravado of the men who claim Coloma’s riches. The three women must work together to confront the evil that menaces them from both monsters and men.

A gripping tale of sisterhood, vengeance, and survival, The Night Pool explores the horrors of greed and lust, and the hidden strength of the most vulnerable among us.

HAPPY READING!!

Apparently Sir Cameron Needs to Die - Review

Author: Greer Stothers

Genre: Humor / Science Fiction 

Format: Paperback

Pages: 384

This was so much fun! Doubly so because I went into this not knowing a lot. I did read the back of the book, so I had some idea of what was going on. But it was one of those things where I read enough to know I wanted to read it, and that was about the sum total of it. So I missed the bit of information that probably would have prepared me for the small genre flip. Though I was picking up the context clues here and there.

Even not know that this was more science fiction than fantasy, I still absolutely loved this. And, honestly, I'm glad I didn't see any of the reviews until I was halfway through the book. Because yes, Cameron is annoying throughout the entire book. Mostly because he is the biggest himbo, literally. He looks like a hero, but that is where that stops. And I love that. I loved that he was dumb and oblivious and honestly kind of sweet in his own bumbling way. He's that character that you want nothing bad to happen to, but he's just a walking disaster on his own. So there's that.

I also love how absolutely terrible at social interactions Merulo is as well. Like he's doing this thing that's probably for the greater good of all people. Probably. Two wrongs don't make a right, and this world probably isn't any better than the one Merulo is trying to go back to. But it's different, and he's determined and awkward. And somehow his weird fits with Cameron's ridiculousness. Honestly, they are adorable together. Even if Merulo fights it until almost the bitter end. 

Like, there for a minute I was really worried about Cameron.

Also, I loved how much I got to hate Glenda. It's so easy to dislike her and everything that she does. I think at one point, even just her name made me roll my eyes. Her chapters, while important to see that point of view, were my least favorite. Because I spent the whole chapters, no matter how short, thinking 'how has no one slapped this elf?" Seriously, the whole book, I just wanted to slap her. The worst, more bad things should have happened to her. 

Another favorite was the little description under the chapter number. They gave you a little summary of what was going to happen, only kind of like a social media post. All narratored by whoever's point of view had the chapters, they were a fun and interesting way to get to know and understand each character. Like highlighting how absolutely terrible Glenda actually was.

It was also a nice surprise to learn that we're getting a second book. So more bad things can happen to Glenda, and there can be many more awkwardness between Merulo and Cameron. Because those two will never be normal, and I love this for them. However, I would enjoy it if I didn't have to until 2027 for said book. But what can you do?

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

 

I put this book off because I thought it would break my heart, but while it was sad in places, it was mostly heart-warming. It starts with a man telling of his love of papaya salad and his childhood, and from there, the adventure of his life. I didn't plan on learning as much as I did through this book, and did send me down a rabbit hole of Google on things I was not taught in school. But the artwork is as beautiful as the story itself. I'm so glad I stumbled across this book, thanks to my library and whoever suggested this square for my BINGO board. Without either of those, I might never have picked up this book. And that would have been unfortunate because this is a story worth reading. 

This was a lot of interesting, and a lot of fun to read. The authors re-tell firsthand accounts of people who have seen these creatures. Kind of Unsolved Mystery style. It isn't a book that's trying to make you believe in these things. But more just here are these things people experienced, and the timeline that they saw these things. From way back in history to just a few years ago. It was a quick read, but I enjoyed it!  

HAPPY READING!!

Edmonds SBC

 

A big thank you to everyone who came out last night to read with us! I know it's a busy week for everyone, and the weather has been amazing. So thanks to everyone who found time to come hang out with us and read! It was so nice to see everyone since I missed last month.

I you missed us this month, never fear, Edmonds Silent Book Club meets every third Wednesday. So, on July 17th we'll back at Leftcraft to read some more books! We kick everything off at 7 pm so everyone can get settled, mingle, and order. Reading will start at 7:30 and go until 8:30 pm!

As you can see it doesn't matter how, or even what, you're currently reading. From physical books, kindles, library books, we've even had some audio books! Bring yourself, your current read, maybe a friend, and come read with us in July. 

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.

One isolated cabin. One cheating boyfriend. One plan to get even.

When Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover that they've each been dating the same man, what starts as outrage quickly spirals into a plot for revenge. Together they hatch a plan to lure their boyfriend to a romantic getaway in a secluded cabin at the top of a snow-covered mountain.

Only what was meant to be harmless payback soon takes a chilling turn when their not-so-adoring boyfriend is found dead in the cabin. 

Stranded and snowed in, the women begin to look at each other with increasing suspicion. And as tensions rise, hidden motives come to light. To survive, each woman must confront her own demons as they fight to uncover if one of them is the killer, or if something else lurks in the freezing wilderness, waiting to pick them off one by one. 

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

 

SUMMER 1983. A blood-soaked summer camp counselor is found staggering down a country road. The sole survivor of a horrific massacre, Mary tells a nightmare of a masked maniac wielding an old skinning knife. Arriving too late to help, her boyfriend Tom Bailey is plagued by guilt.

SUMMER 1992. The camp reopens as Camp Summer Fun. Now a sheriff’s deputy, Tom doubts this is a good idea, but the camp has been refurbished, the counselors hired, and the little campers are on the way. Responding to reports of a blood-curdling howl near the camp, he again arrives too late to save anyone except a single brutalized teen. The killer nowhere to be found.

Hoping to catch the killer and finally right his mistakes, Tom reconnects with Mary. She's convinced that the killer is not human but instead a rural legend known as the Hungry Hare.

The sheriff wants the case closed, but refuses to believe in folklore. Mary dreams of revenge for her friends. And Tom hunts for any traces of the real or fictional. But the murderer could be closer to home than anyone expects.

HAPPY READING!!

Night Worms Unboxing

June Them: Rotten Lies

Over the weekend, I got my favorite kind of mail. BOOK MAIL! Bonus points that it was Night Worms mail! Both of these books sound interesting, and maybe a little out of my comfort zone. But that's the fun of the Night Worms box. Getting books that I wouldn't normally pick up for myself and giving them a chance. So onto the card they go. At least until my roommate is back and steals at least one, if not both of these. Also, the photo didn't come out well, the cat isn't as much of a helper as he thinks he is, but I've already tried the coffee. It's been a nice little treat in the mornings as I go through my morning.

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

        

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes, the cover initially catches our eye, drawing 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!

From ancient Rome to the mid-twentieth century, Natasha Tidd takes readers on a global exploration behind the history of the most heinous of crimes – murder.

Including iconic cases such as Liu Pengli, the Han Dynasty Prince who became one of the world’s first-known serial killers; the twisted history of Romanian Ruler, Vlad Draculea, better known as Vlad the Impaler; and the mysterious murders tied to Mary Queen of Scots.

Throughout this book, Tidd charts the evolution in how we view murder, through the rise in criminology from the 1700s and early understanding of criminal psychology and even mental health. Alongside delving into our centuries’ long true crime fascination, this thoroughly explores the impact of front-page stories such as Lizzie Borden and Jack the Ripper on how we view crime today.

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.

In Columbia Mansions, secrets don’t stay behind closed doors for long…

It's rare for a room to open up in London’s storied Columbia Mansions, and lonely Gwen is thrilled when an unexpected new subletter, Pixie, turns out to be a friendly breath of fresh air to its stuffy halls. Their unlikely cross-generational bond soon becomes the bright spot in Gwen’s quiet life.

But Gwen can’t help noticing cracks beneath Pixie's cheerful surface—especially when it comes to her questionable financial arrangement with her live-in landlord, Alec. As suspicions mount, Gwen’s protective instincts go into overdrive, triggering a dangerous chain of events no one is prepared for.

The last thing Columbia Mansions wants is a scandal on its hands...

Let alone a murder.

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

 

1914, Wendy Darling works by day as a school teacher and by night, she assists soldiers who have returned home from the Western Front. There is one mysterious patient who despite all the care they’ve given him, is in a deep sleep, unable to wake up. One night, when he murmurs the words “Peter Pan,” Wendy is thrown back to a darker time, one that she wishes she could forget.

When one of her students goes missing, it brings back memories of when children went missing and were later found murdered in London many years ago. Wendy believes that Peter Pan, the entity that she believed killed those children, is back. She and her brothers had a close encounter with Peter Pan, after all. But her brothers only remember Peter Pan and Neverland as a fantasy of childhood games.

When another child goes missing and signs start to point to Wendy, Scotland Yard digs into old reports, finding that Wendy knew the names of all the children who had been killed. As Wendy tries to prove her innocence, she also has to find a way to stop Peter Pan once and for all.

HAPPY READING!!