I've lost count of how many times I've read this comic - it's one of my all-time favorites, and never fails to pull at the ol' heartstrings.
This is sI've lost count of how many times I've read this comic - it's one of my all-time favorites, and never fails to pull at the ol' heartstrings.
This is such an important story that's so integral to Spider-Man's original character. In addition to the normal action and fighting with villains you'd expect, this is also a love story - two, actually! We get to see how Peter met and fell in love with both MJ & Gwen Stacy, and how the events that took place in the 70s arc impacted Peter & MJ later.
It's tragic and heartbreaking and just so, so good. I always recommend it and will always come back to it. Loeb and Sale are one of my FAVORITE comic superteams (check out The Long Halloween and a few others they've worked on together - Hulk & Catwoman stories, too!), and the way they manage to breathe new life into an old storyline blows me away. Plus the art!! So good....more
What a strange little book! I loved this one – it wasn’t what I was expecting at all, and honestly, that made it so much better.
This is the first time I’ve read anything by Andrew J. Stone (although he recently released another book you can grab here!), and I managed to squeeze it in right before the end of 2020. It’s novella length, which is perfect for a quick trip into the bizarre land of the House Gods – and can we just mention, without spoiling anything, how terrifying they are? Yikes!
Although this is a fictional novella, the setting and story could serve as a commentary even on our society and world today. I won’t go too far into the details since this is such a short book and I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say that there were many times while reading that I’d compare something happening in the book to a situation from the real world, and I enjoyed that I could make these comparisons without anything in the book coming off as preachy or “too much”. I really like stories that are told about communities that have adapted to specific customs and rules. Although not specifically horror, books like The Giver, The Hunger Games, and Never Let Me Go share stories of future communities and worlds where certain parts of society are seen to be operating at “peak function”, but at what cost? Although different in genre, these stories all share a similar theme: the cost is usually too high.
As a reader, I personally sometimes struggle with certain elements – world building, for example, is really difficult for me to get invested in, because I often find that I can’t fully immerse myself. This is why I sometimes have a hard time with high fantasy – I love the idea of made up, magical worlds, I do! But it’s harder for me to get into than, for example, more urban-based fantasy set in the real world might be. That’s all said to point out that in House Gods, Stone builds an entire dystopian, futuristic, weirdly magical world with its own full set of rules & terminology, and I STILL didn’t have a single second of trouble becoming completely absorbed in the story – which is saying something for me! I had a lot of fun with the different terms and meanings behind familiar words, and liked that we got to learn a little more about the way this community is run.
Overall, this was an excellent way to end my year of reading – engaging, weird, hopeful, and wonderfully gory. I’ll be on the look out for more by Stone, including checking out his first published book soon!...more
When I picked up this book, I thought I was getting a spooky island-based horror mystery – and I did, just so we’re clear! But what I didn’t expect to get was corporate conspiracy, social/political commentary relevant to the real world right now, and a cast of morally gray women that I’d absolutely fall in love with. Saltblood pays off in the best ways: it gave me so much more than I bargained for!
I picked up this thick book one night on a whim, deciding to read the first chapter to get a feel for the author’s writing. For those who don’t know, T.C. Parker is the pen name of Natalie Edwards, who also writes crime fiction under her real name. This was my first time reading anything by her, under either name, and I wanted to know what I was getting myself into! I had no real expectations, other than – if I’m being honest here – a little bit intimidated by how chunky the book is. Seriously, it’s a hefty pal!! I love reading, but often find that I don’t have a lot of time to devote to it, so I’ve focused more on shorter fiction. Can I just say how grateful I am that I didn’t give into the intimidation?? Because that “quick chapter” I wanted to read turned into half a book, and at around 2 AM my boyfriend finally told me we needed to go to sleep and that I had to put the book down ’cause our alarm was set for 5:30! ...more
"Into the forest and all the way through, I ask you to follow my voice."
This is a hard book for me to write about, as probably made evident by the fac"Into the forest and all the way through, I ask you to follow my voice."
This is a hard book for me to write about, as probably made evident by the fact that it took me nearly 2 months to read, and then almost 4 more to write a review on it. I want to be very clear here and stress that those things aren't due to it being a bad book, but speak instead to Cynthia Pelayo's writing ability - she genuinely broke me with this one, folks, and I don't blame her one bit: this book is so important. It will be a difficult one for people to read, and I don't blame anyone who isn't able to stomach it - the stuff on these pages is heavy, and that's my warning to anyone thinking about going into it.
This is a collection of true crime poetry inspired by the hundreds - if not thousands - of cases of missing, murdered, or hurt women in the United States. A majority of these poems are about a specific case, but there are also a few that encompass the general danger and fear that women everyday face when going about our lives. The ability to relate to these situations and women isn't necessary to appreciate and empathize with the perspectives and stories being told here, but it does make it pack an enormous punch for those who know all too well how quickly things like walking back to a car late at night can take a terrifying turn.
The strength that it must have taken Pelayo to do the research necessary to share bits of these stories is astounding, and I wanted to give her - and them - the necessary respect when reading Into the Forest. This is partially why it took me so long to get through it - I found myself Googling each name at the end of the poems, immersing myself in their tragic disappearances and awful endings. I won't lie - I shed more than a few tears, and the time spent reading would leave me emotionally exhausted and hurting, feeling so strongly for these women that I'd never get to know, but could understand all too well.
In a time where things like the recent #MeToo movement are taking over social media and bringing light to the dark places that women have been told to stay silent on for way too long, Pelayo shines a beacon on real-world examples of women who haven't been given the justice they deserve, urging readers to share any information they may have on the off chance that someone, somewhere might be able to bring closure and resolution to a case that has long since gone cold. These poems provide a beautifully written tribute for these lost women and their loved ones that is both heartfelt and heartbreaking, and it's not one that I'll be able to ever forget....more
How many times can I go on and on about how much I love Unnerving’s REWIND OR DIE series before someone yells at me to shut up? ‘Cause I love it, and that love grows stronger with each entry in the series that I start, expecting to just read a few pages of, only to find that I’m unable to stop reading, finishing each book in a single sitting. It happens every time!
Food Fright introduces us to Cassie Adler, a high school girl who just wants to fit in with the popular crowd. When an opportunity to ingratiate herself with the cool girls presents itself, Cassie makes a decision to participate in a prank that will come back to haunt her in the most terrifyingly delicious way possible when tragedy strikes.
I absolutely love a good horror creature, and the ones that Nico Bell creates in Food Fright are unforgettable. I don’t want to spoil how great they are by telling you about them before you go into it, but trust me: they’re unlike anything you’ve ever read about before, and I got the strangest sense of being both horrified & hungry when flipping these pages!
As with many of the other books in the series, this was an action-packed romp filled with blood and lots of very amusing deaths. While there are bits of the book that come off as fun and comical, they never seem gimmicky or juvenile. In fact, the campiness of certain parts of the story are perfectly juxtaposed alongside the gore and brutality that you’ll also find on the pages, along with an overall lesson that bullying is bad, and that being mean to other people makes you a jerk (lessons I firmly stand behind!).
This was my first book by Nico, but I’ll absolutely be reading more of her works when I can – she has me hooked! I loved this fun, blood-soaked ride through high school and home ec rooms, and at just barely over 150 pages, it’s short enough for you to squeeze in before the end of the year for sure!...more
Read this one today before recording a podcast episode with the author tonight, and WOW!!!! I'll have a full review soon, but this was SO MUCH FUN. PaRead this one today before recording a podcast episode with the author tonight, and WOW!!!! I'll have a full review soon, but this was SO MUCH FUN. Packed with gore, action, and an overall mystery of "wtf is going on", I couldn't put it down!...more
"Like a dark fairy tale, / She hated the tomb of love / And decided to live in tragedy."
I absolutely LOVED retellings, adaptations, and things created"Like a dark fairy tale, / She hated the tomb of love / And decided to live in tragedy."
I absolutely LOVED retellings, adaptations, and things created that have been inspired by Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - it was one of the first books I remember buying as a kid in the book fair (along with Dracula, which was a THICK BOI, haha), and has remained a favorite to this day. There have been so many books that have ties to that one published over the last few years especially, but honestly, if you read no other ones, I think you should read this: it's so, so good!
This is such a unique spin on a classic, and there were too many standouts in the collection for me to only list a few. Every other page or so, I found myself wanting to highlight bits and pieces of the poems - I love that photos & scans of them are included as well, such an added bonus & really adds a really nice touch to the book itself.
Very much looking forward by the author's other blackout poetry collection!!...more
I love atmospheric little seaside cottage locations in stories, and Catherine Cavendish is amazing at giving these salty, windy places the justice they deserve. The Malan Cottage gave me the creeps even before the spookiness really picked up the pace, and that’s because there’s just something so haunting to me about cliffside waves and choppy waters. And if the moodiness of the story’s setting isn’t enough to give you goosebumps, there’s a witch or two here that definitely will!
The Malan Witch introduces us to Robyn, a woman visiting her sister’s recently purchased and renovated cottage in an attempt to relax and take a bit of a vacation after the passing of her husband shakes her world. Robyn was an easy character to get to know and relate to – an avid reader, she curled up with one of my favorite horror books within the first few chapters and that was enough for me to take a liking to her immediately!
Shortly after arriving, Robyn starts to encounter some weird happenings in the house. On a trip to the nearby small town, she meets with a few locals who tell her the story of sister witches that lived and practiced dark magic right where her sister’s new cottage is situated. I won’t go into too much of the witchy backstory here, because finding out about it was part of the fun of discovering what exactly what was happening to Robyn.
There were a few small things I wish had gotten a bit more expanding upon, like the relationship between Robyn & her late husband, which I feel would’ve packed a bit more of an emotional gutpunch. As it stands, without some extra bit tugging at our heartstrings and making us care, the mentions of Robyn’s husband could honestly have been omitted for me since they didn’t seem to make much of a difference either way. I also think that there were a couple bits of dialogue that seemed a bit too simple or easy for the story, things that were too convenient almost, like a particular phone call with Robyn’s sister, or happening upon the same few people that the characters need when they’re in the town. That said, none of these things dampened my enjoyment of it overall, to be honest! I still had a lot of fun.
I loved the symbolism in the story, from the small poppets (dolls) to the terrifying crow. If you love books featuring scary witches and spooky magic, this is a quick one that you’ll be able to jump into and finish in a day. It’d make perfect oceanside reading for anyone on vacation, but even curled up on bed like I was, it was a heck of a good time! I usually love everything Silver Shamrock Publishing puts out, and although this is my first book by Catherine Cavendish, I can already tell you it won’t be my last!...more
“And something is important / about the idea of / a nice girl” pg. 23, A Kind of Dying
This dark little poetry collection is going on my list of favorit“And something is important / about the idea of / a nice girl” pg. 23, A Kind of Dying
This dark little poetry collection is going on my list of favorites, and I knew that within a few pages of starting it. I’d never read anything else by Jessica Drake-Thomas before, but I’ve been a big fan of CLASH Books for awhile. I got into ‘horror poetry’ a lot more recently than most of the other genres I read, and although this one could also be considered gothic in genre, it’s overall fantastic, so call it what you want and just read it!
A combination of relatable witchy spells to poems from beyond the grave, there’s a little bit here for the spooky girl in us all. The imagery in these poems brings to mind gruesome depictions of different women and their situations, from the characters in famous paintings to true crime victims, and more. The variety to the collection is pretty impressive, and I loved turning each page after reading, eager to see where Jessica would be taking me with her next poem.
“You / held me skewered / by a promise I kept / at my expense.” pg. 43, Reasons Why I Had That Meltdown Last Fall, Or I Think You Might Be A Narcissist
From ghosts to graveyards, there’s a sort of romantic brutality to be found within the pages of this collection that I couldn’t get enough of. Despite being largely about the the dead or things that go bump in the night, there’s also so much that I found relatable in the author’s words, and I found myself marking pages with little colorful tabs as I went moreso than with some of my other books. Nearly every poem seemed to have a line or sentence that struck a chord with me, and I loved being able to relate these morbid, dark scenarios with things I myself am going through or experiencing, or have experienced in my life at some point.
I think one of the biggest strengths of this collection is its accessibility – this isn’t just for lovers of horror or dark poetry. This is for any woman really who has struggled with a crappy relationship, with a situation she couldn’t control, with a betrayal from a loved one, with an attack on her character. It’s for mothers, daughters, sisters, friends – everyone, anyone! There are a little over 20 poems here, and I found so much to love in so many of them – I have no doubts that other readers will find that this vengeful, macabre collection resonates with them as well.
“I wish I knew – / the secret to being graceful / under enemy fire” pg. 47, Kindred
One of my favorite parts of this was the notes section at the back of the book, which tells the reader about the different things that inspired the author to write some of the poems in the collection. I thought it was a nice touch to add different informational bits and reference items to add context to poems that stand beautifully on their own, but seem to hold even more power somehow once you see the muses behind them.
BURIALS is out on October 6th, and I can’t recommend it highly enough! Grab a copy and give yourself over to the voices of the women calling from beyond the grave. They’re waiting for you!...more
In SEEING THINGS, Abby is your average 13-year-old girl dealing with normal, everyday teenage life: overprotective parents, school woes, and "the joysIn SEEING THINGS, Abby is your average 13-year-old girl dealing with normal, everyday teenage life: overprotective parents, school woes, and "the joys of becoming a woman". Her average life takes a sudden turn one day when she follows a trail of blood down a school hallway and sees something she can't explain: her first ghost, a dead girl her own age that's been brutally shoved into an old locker. The kicker? The ghost doesn't want to be seen, and definitely doesn't want to see Abby. What's worse is that nobody believes her about what she's seen, and it'll take an annual summer visit to her uncle's house for things to start making sense for her.
When I heard that Sonora Taylor was releasing a new short novel, I immediately added it to my "wishlist books" section on Goodreads. I'd previously read and reviewed her collection of short stories & poetry, LITTLE PARANOIAS, and loved it. Actually, rereading that review, there's a line I wrote that stands out to me as true for SEEING THINGS as well: "We’re introduced to characters that we think we know, only to have the scripts completely flipped a few paragraphs from the ending, leaving the reader unsteady and unsure." I love Sonora's ability to do this, and am so happy to say that she nailed it again with her new book.
Although this one hasn't been marketed as YA (to the best of my knowledge), I think it could also be a great horror read for teens - I know that I personally would've loved reading this when I was younger, along with all the King and VC Andrews books my mom probably shouldn't have given me because "there are kids on the cover, so it's a kid's book". There are times when Abby's attitude and moods are exactly what you'd expect of a young teenage girl dealing with difficult things in her life, and as a girl who also had my fair share of teenage difficulty - albeit, not otherworldly in nature, haha - I would've been able to relate to her in ways that I'm not really able to now.
That said, whether I relate to Abby's personal angst or not, I did find the time I spent with her while reading absolutely enjoyable and her character was definitely believable. Sonora's talents as a writer shine through in this novella in the same way they did in her previous collection. Her ability to write close relationships with people is one of my favorite things about reading her work - Abby's relationship with her Uncle Keith was such a great part of this story, and I loved the bond that they shared and how important the characters were to one another. If there are any future stories about Abby and Uncle Keith, I'm so here for them!
One last thing I want to mention is how totally brutal some of the stuff in this story is! If you're into your horror fiction having spooky ghosts and stomach-turning, gory imagery - look no further! SEEING THINGS knocks both of these and more way out of the park, and I'm very excited to see what home runs Sonora comes out with next!...more
I absolutely love Briana Morgan’s writing, and when I found out she was releasing a new horror story written in the form of a play, I knew I had to haI absolutely love Briana Morgan’s writing, and when I found out she was releasing a new horror story written in the form of a play, I knew I had to have it – even without knowing the summary yet. Once more details were released and I realized this was a story involving a paranormal vlogger (I love modern technology in horror so much!) who gets a little in over his head with a ‘dark web mystery box’, I started counting down the days to its release. I’m super happy to say that the day is finally here – UNBOXED comes out tomorrow, July 25th!!
I’ll admit that this was my first time outside of a school setting where I decided to read a book as a play, but I wasn’t worried at all due to both Briana’s experience with the format, and her strength as a writer. I dove in without a second thought as soon as the book arrived, and sped through it with the sort of attention that I’d imagine you’d give to the act of diffusing a live bomb: I was so absorbed by the story!
Our main characters are Greg Zipper, of Zipper Paranormal, and his girlfriend Alice. Greg spends his days on the internet, vlogging spooky stuff, and catering to his fanbase of nearly one million followers at the start of the story. Despite the love from his fans, the relationship between Greg & Alice has gotten a bit rocky, leading to a terrible fight that Greg accidentally livestreams to his entire audience, going viral in an unfortunate turn of events. As Greg’s subscriber count starts to plummet, he desperately reaches for something to solidify his place in the e-spotlight once more, as well as within the heart of the girl he loves.
Enter: the Mystery Box. Purchased off the dark web for an exorbitant amount of money, Greg expects his live unboxing video will offer some fun gross-out moments, or spooky things to share with his audience and boost him back into stardom. When he discovers that what he’s paid for with the Mystery Box is much more dangerous than expected, he realizes that the loss of his internet fame may not really be the worst thing that could happen after all.
I love ‘dark web’ type stories, and this one did not disappoint! The play formatting allows the reader to see the scene exactly as the author intended, while also leaving enough freedom for a few specifics to be made up individually by each person visiting the story. I found the format to be both accessible and engaging, which added to a story that’s already very rich with a foreboding atmosphere and sense of dread, bumping this one high on the ratings scale for me.
Featuring a couple struggling with real-life personal issues as well as more paranormal ones added a layer of depth that can only come from someone skilled at writing relationships, and I found myself able to relate with and feel for the characters and their troubles while also being totally horrified by the things happening around them. This duality of themes flows smoothly throughout the story, and it’s amazing how much the author is able to pack into less than 70 pages.
I am SO HERE for anything Briana writes in the future, and can’t wait to see where her creativity leads her next. If you’re a fan of horror, check this one out – even if (especially if?!) you’re not used to the play format, ’cause this is such a great introduction to them!...more
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