Shells is Joshua Radburn’s first novel, and is an homage to the gritty noir films of the seventies. While many authors would seek to modernize the genShells is Joshua Radburn’s first novel, and is an homage to the gritty noir films of the seventies. While many authors would seek to modernize the genre or subvert old tropes, that isn’t Radburn’s intention: this is a love letter to the genre, in all its glory and all its pitfalls. Our favorite books and favorite genres—especially with heydays past—aren’t always perfect. Radburn acknowledges that there are many imperfections with the noir genre, but doesn’t let that stop him from crafting his own narrative.
I admit that I am often hesitant going into independently published novels. That’s not to say that they’re all bad; rather, there’s no standard of effort. There are self-published authors who write six drafts, bring their manuscripts to workshops, and hire multiple editors. And there are authors who write a single draft and throw it out there for people to see.* I am happy to inform you that this is one of the higher-quality self-published books. Sure, there are some things I might’ve edited further, but they’re things that really come down to a personal preference. For the most part, the quality of this book on a basic level is pretty top-notch.
It is certainly an ambitious project. Clocking in at almost 600 pages, this is a brick of a novel, and there are a lot of story threads that Radburn is pulling together. There are multiple murders on the loose, a gang, a personal assistant doing the work of a detective, the actual detective being a loose cannon, and various other odds and ends that make it into the narrative. There are flashbacks, there is a bit of head-hopping. And the entire book takes place over only four days. There are times when the threads aren’t weaved together perfectly and the reader falls through the holes, but for the most part, Radburn does a good job tying in all the loose ends and creating a cohesive narrative, although mildly confusing.
I’ll admit that I don’t have a ton of experience with the noir genre as a whole. It is a genre that devotes itself primarily to film, and unfortunately, I just don’t watch a ton of TV. As such, I have a limited repertoire to compare Shells to, but I’ll endeavor to do so nonetheless: at many times, this book reminded me distinctly of Brian Evenson’s Brotherhood of Mutilation and Last Days. The sections of Shells that really shined were the parts with Mick and Clive, a pair of buffoonish gangsters who introduce the book by fighting over a bag of crisps at a stakeout. The humor amidst the gore and dark themes really reminded me of the Evenson I’ve read (God, I need to read more), and were also some of my favorite parts. Really, one of my complaints is that I’d rather have more Mick and Clive—by the end they managed to become central characters, but for the most part they were just in the background. I wish their characters had been developed more fully earlier on in the book.
As I said, it’s an ambitious book, and I do think it was a bit too long-winded. Perhaps this is an aspect of the noir genre Radburn was trying to emulate that I’m not familiar with, but I think the book would have worked better as a whole if some of the length had been cut and the storylines had been more focused. By spreading the plot out to three distinct trains of thought, a little something was lost for all three. Some reader comprehension falls through the cracks when there are so many moving pieces to fit together, especially when parts are only alluded to instead of outright explained. It is a mistake that I can forgive while reading, especially since I don’t particularly mind when I don’t fully understand something, but I do think attachment to the characters and all the different plot points was a pitfall while preparing the book for print. Some things just need to be series, rather than squeezed into one standalone book.
Nonetheless, I did, on the whole, enjoy this book. If you’re a fan of noir fiction, especially classic noir, I think this is absolutely worth picking up. If you’re looking for a gritty detective novel with a lot of gore, Shells will be right up your grimy London alley. If neither of those are particularly your thing, some outdated tropes might bother you. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this to everyone, but I do think that many readers will enjoy.
*For the record, this is the kind of author I would be, so I get it. Editing sucks. But that’s why I’m not an author.
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I received a free ebook from the author in exchange for my honest review. I do not believe this has influenced my opinion of the book and always strive for impartiality. ...more
The Queen of the Cicadas by V. Castro is a blend of urban legend, haunted house, and multi-generational saga, and it packs a punch. Castro hits the grThe Queen of the Cicadas by V. Castro is a blend of urban legend, haunted house, and multi-generational saga, and it packs a punch. Castro hits the ground running, weaving together the stories of Belinda and Milagros, the murdered farm worker. Although both women are flawed and morally gray, they each connect to the reader in their own way. Belinda's story is told in first person, but the narration head-hops a bit not only between her narrative and Milagros's, but also several other points of view. Most only last for a few pages, but it may be disorienting for some readers.
I was really moving through this book for the first half, and Milagros's story was what really made it for me. However, the plot structure and pacing is less than traditional; I really felt like we hit the height of the action quite early, and the denouement takes a significant amount of time. I found my attention lagging in the latter half, but I really think it was the right ending for the story. Perhaps it was not the right choice stylistically, but for the characters, it was the ending they deserved.
Ultimately, I did really enjoy this book. It has its flaws, primarily the pacing and some unrealistic dialogue, but I really enjoyed the ride. I can feel how close this is to the author's heart, and I love seeing that passion hit the page. I'd recommend this to anyone, but especially fans of Tananarive Due's The Good House.
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Thank you to the publisher for providing a free ARC via Netgalley. I have tried to stay as unbiased as possible in providing this review.
This is an all-the-good-bits abbreviated review. For my full review, check out my blog, The Library Cryptid....more
Kait Brecker has finally escaped her abusive relationship with Lutz Visgara, and to help put it all behind her, she's going on a weekend trip to an isKait Brecker has finally escaped her abusive relationship with Lutz Visgara, and to help put it all behind her, she's going on a weekend trip to an isolated cabin in the woods with friends. Well, one friend—Alice, her best friend from childhood. Alice's boyfriend Ben, who doesn't like or trust Kait, is providing the cabin, and acquaintance Riley is along for the ride. But they don't know what Lutz is capable of, and now he's on the mountain with them. And he'll go to any length to get Kait back.
Part character drama, part supernatural terror, The Unwelcome by Jacob Steven Mohr will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. But it's not just a plot-driven thriller—Mohr does a wonderful job introducing you to the characters and really making you understand them. Each has their own fears, loves, and motivations, and there are so many micro-relationships between characters. The way they interact is delightful and the group of characters was a real highlight of the book.
Mohr is also a master of creating tension. Domestic abuse can be a tough thing to depict respectfully, but when it's done well I think it creates a uniquely terrifying reader experience. It feels much more real than other horrors, even with supernatural twists like in The Unwelcome. Mohr manages to create a believable and very scary villain, and introduces the supernatural twist later in the story so we don't dismiss it out of hand (which is something I think a lot of books fall prey to).
Due to the proximity in which I read them, I couldn't help but compare this book to Near the Bone by Christina Henry, which I read a couple months ago and is already a favorite of the year. I was hesitant diving into this book because it did remind me so strongly of Near the Bone, and I was worried it'd be a let-down after that; but I'm happy to report that it absolutely lived up to my expectations and even excelled in places that Henry did not, like in character development and relationships.
If you're looking for a little isolation horror to remind you of cold wintry nights and chill you to the bone, The Unwelcome is a fantastic choice. It was quite the gem and I'm so happy to have picked it up, I'd recommend it to anyone.
The author provided a free copy of The Unwelcome in exchange for an honest review. I do my best to be as unbiased as possible in all of my reviews....more
Near the Bone is the newest horror/thriller from Christina Henry and it hits shelves in the US today! I received an advance copy from the publisher viNear the Bone is the newest horror/thriller from Christina Henry and it hits shelves in the US today! I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley, and I absolutely devoured this book. I read it in two days, but I wish I'd read it in one—I woke up thinking about it around five am after I finished the first third! This kept me on the edge of my seat and gave me spooks that I haven't experienced with a book for a long time.
Now, I won't say the writing is perfect here; there were some stylistic choices that I'm on the fence about, and some of the prose felt a bit clunky. For me, though, the thrills more than made up for the average writing. It was a nail-biter, in more ways than one, and I think Henry did a great job creating characters that her readers could form a connection with. This was not only a creature feature, it was also a story about relationships between people, and though it was still very much a plot-driven book, I really appreciated the characters. I think some of the secondary characters did feel a little one-dimensional, but I enjoyed it even so.
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Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the advance e-copy.
This is an all-the-good-bits abbreviated review. For my full review and others, check out my blog, The Library Cryptid....more
I'm sure you've read a review of a multi-author anthology before, so you should be expecting what I'll say next: there were highs, and there were lowsI'm sure you've read a review of a multi-author anthology before, so you should be expecting what I'll say next: there were highs, and there were lows. Some of my favorite stories were "The Pestilence," the opener which describes a woman accused of causing a sickness on a town by Vince Font; "Persona Non Grata," about a witch dealing with her sister, who is the wife of a megachurch preacher, by Lehua Parker; and the finale, "Memento Mori," about a sharp-shooting young lady who gets mixed up with the wrong gangsters straight out of a Western, by C.R. Langille. I even enjoyed the poetry pieces more than I usually do—I'm not usually a poetry fan, but C.H. Lindsay and Joshua P. Sorensen's poems were very accessible and easy to read for non-poetry fans.
Unfortunately, I think this anthology was a bit long to read all in one go with such a narrow subject matter. Although each story was unique, by the time I hit the 2/3s mark I was getting a little tired of witches, and I wished there had been fewer stories included. I think this anthology would work a lot better if the reader didn't try to read it all together. If you have a few anthologies on the go and you can intersperse these short stories with some short stories with other subject matter, you would find this book more enjoyable than I did. I worry that I may have rated some of the stories in the latter half lower than I would have in other circumstances, just because I was finding the length of the anthology tedious, but I think that comes down to editing and is not reflective of the authors themselves.
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Thanks to the publisher for an advance e-copy of this anthology for review.
This is an all-the-good-bits abbreviated review. For my full review, check out my blog, The Library Cryptid.
Content warnings: Ableism (inc. R-slur), sexual themes, death by fire, sexism, anti-Romani slur...more
After a deal gone wrong—and getting shot in the stomach—Seb speeds out of Vegas in his souped-up Hellcat and, after following the directions of a MagiAfter a deal gone wrong—and getting shot in the stomach—Seb speeds out of Vegas in his souped-up Hellcat and, after following the directions of a Magic 8 Ball previously embedded in his rival's skull, finds himself trapped in the desert, surrounded by mountains and giant Cthulhu-esque monsters that won't let him leave.
That's all you really need to know about Eight Cylinders by Jason Parent. If that synopsis at all intrigued you, just go pick up the novella. For an action-movie-wrapped-up-in-a-novella, Parent did an excellent job managing the pacing. One of my big complaints with a lot of action-packed books is that there's no time to breathe: I think there always needs to be a few scenes where you can sit back and relax for a second, rather than charging ahead full speed for the entire book. I do think the plot moved a little faster than is realistic, but well, it's a novella. You don't have time to take a few days to plan your next move.
This is a great book to pass on to your kid or significant other or friend that you want to just read one book, especially if they are a fan of cars and otherwise averse to reading. Jason Parent kind of screwed me over, personally, because that person for me is my fiancé, but then Parent had to go and talk up a Ford F150, which my fiancé has an irrational hatred of. But if your person does not have a negative reaction to Ford trucks, this is a perfect intro into reading—it's fast-paced, short, and a general good time. Not every parent is going to think this is appropriate for their teenager, but I think it'd be fine for ages 16 and up.
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Thank you to the author for providing a free review copy. As always, I strive to be completely impartial while writing my reviews.
This is an all-the-good-bits abbreviated review. For my full review as well as other book reviews, check out my blog, The Library Cryptid....more
Short stories are tough—for writers as well as readers. With only a little time to make an impact, many end up falling flat and forgettable. ThankfullShort stories are tough—for writers as well as readers. With only a little time to make an impact, many end up falling flat and forgettable. Thankfully for us readers, Dan Coxon knocks it out of the park with the short stories in Only The Broken Remain, his collection of dark and disturbing fiction featuring the downtrodden of the world.
There are several stand-outs amongst these fourteen stories, not least of which is the opener, "Stanislav in Foxtown." In it, an immigrant works day in and day out at a local chicken joint, until he befriends some foxes that live in the area. Stan and his foxes grab your attention immediately, and the descriptions in this story are indicative of the amazing prose that permeates the entire collection. Not every story landed for me, though. Particularly towards the middle of the collection, I found that some stories didn't commit to their premises, and the ending was a little too vague.
Without a doubt, I'd have to say that my favorite story was "No One's Child," a story about a young English girl who is sent to the country during the London air raids who finds a creature in her guardian's cellar. The descriptions in this story, the setting, and the absolute brutality were absolutely phenomenal and this is a story that will stick with me for awhile.
This is an all-the-good-bits abbreviated review. For my full review, check out my blog.
Disclaimer: the author provided me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I think it's best to go into this book completely blind. After all, the narrator is almost completely blind; he hasn't forgotten how to speak English,I think it's best to go into this book completely blind. After all, the narrator is almost completely blind; he hasn't forgotten how to speak English, and he has an absurd amount of math and science knowledge stored in his brain, but it'd seem unfair to tell you why he's flying through space when he doesn't even know himself. I feel like everything I can say about this book is a spoiler, although it ranges from mild spoiler to big spoiler, so I'll try to stick to mild spoilers for the rest of this review.
Let's just get it out of the way: in terms of characters, Andy Weir is a one-trick pony. Ryland Grace, the narrator, is basically Mark Watney in a microbiologist hat. Below the surface, though, Project Hail Mary is a very different story than The Martian, that feels fresh and new despite similarities. I found it to be an extremely compelling story, that was focused on the survival of not only Ryland Grace, not only humans, but all life on Earth, and perhaps even life—if it exists—across the galaxy. The stakes are high, and it really drives the story forward.
I do think that this book was perhaps a little long for what it was at nearly 500 pages. There were a few points in the first half of the book that dragged and the pace didn't really pick up until the fifty percent mark. That aside, I think this was a pretty fun read and good for folks who don't read a lot of sci-fi and would like to try one out.
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Thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the advance eARC. This is an all-the-good-bits abbreviated review, and you can read my full review over on The Library Cryptid....more
Amelia and James have decided on the perfect first date: borrowing a canoe and paddling around interconnected lakes. As they explore, they find themseAmelia and James have decided on the perfect first date: borrowing a canoe and paddling around interconnected lakes. As they explore, they find themselves in a hitherto unexplored lake, and find something that is really going to set this first date apart from all the other ones and which becomes the title of Josh Malerman's novella, A House at the Bottom of a Lake.
The title really says it all. The premise is matter-of-fact, and in such a short novella, there's no time for deviations. Malerman has not, however, taken to heart advice to ensure that every word counts in a novella—the dialogue, particularly at the beginning, is hideously clunky and a chore to read. This is my first Malerman (haven't even watchedBird Box), so I'm not sure whether this is an issue with his writing style or whether he used dialogue to pad out the novella since he didn't have enough story to do so.
Thankfully, dialogue takes a back seat as we get further into the book. The writing ripens into achingly beautiful prose as James and Amelia explore their newfound house and imagine the possibilities. In this middle section, which features diving forays into the house, Malerman does an excellent job developing the atmosphere, and I felt genuine dread as strange things began to happen. The suspense and terror he evokes was something that I haven't experienced to its full effect in a horror novel for quite awhile, which was key to my enjoyment of this novella.
I did feel let-down by the ending, but I'm not sure how this story would have ended in a satisfying way; it's not a mystery that can easily be solved, so perhaps it would have felt too gimmicky to do so; at the same time, it would be difficult to wind down since, with its atmospheric focus, it doesn't have much in terms of rising action or key events. However, I do think that I could've done without Chapters 35 and onward, and would have been more satisfied with an ending at Chapter 34.
This is absolutely worth picking up, I think it was an awesome exploration of setting even if the storytelling was a little off at points.
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Edit Aug 24 2021: Every time I talk about this book I remember it less fondly, so it's getting downgraded to a 3. It was always around a 3.5 for me but I generously rounded up, and eight months later I no longer feel generous....more
This review is for the 2021 reprint edition from Penguin Random House Canada, incluFor this and other reviews, check out my blog, The Library Cryptid!
This review is for the 2021 reprint edition from Penguin Random House Canada, including a new chapter. Thanks to Netgalley for providing an eARC.
Who are the serial killers you can think of off the top of your head? Ted Bundy, the Zodiac Killer, Jack the Ripper… Most likely, most of the killers you can think of are male, but that doesn’t mean that women don’t murder, it just means that we don’t talk about them. When She Was Bad presents research covering the different kinds of female killers, from serial killers to domestic abusers to mothers who commit filicide. Along the way, Pearson not only explores what motivates these women to commit murder, but also why society is so quick to forgive them for it.
Although this book is being re-released in 2021 (today, actually), be forewarned that the majority of the book is quite outdated. It appears that little of the content has changed since the book was originally published in 1997, and you come across sentences like “as recently as the 1970’s,” even though 1970 was a full fifty years ago. In the chapter about women’s prisons, there was also some rhetoric about queer women and gender-nonconforming people that felt, to me, outdated, although I’m sure that some people may still use that language. Pearson did write a new chapter for this re-release, about serial murderesses in positions of power—such as nurses who kill their patients—but it is shoehorned in to the front of the book and doesn’t quite fit the flow of the chapters. There is also no discussion about whether the societal situation toward female killers has changed in the twenty years since this was originally published.
If you can accept that the information in this book is not quite up to date, though, it is a super fascinating look into how our society treats female killers, and why the pervading thought is still that serial killers aren’t women. If you are a fan of true crime this is a great read, and although it tends toward the essay side of nonfiction rather than the narrative, it is still very readable and keeps you engaged throughout. The case studies of various women like Karla Homolka, Bethe Wettlaufer, Dorothea Puente, and Myra Hindley are super fascinating and really keep you hooked. I would highly recommend if this is a subject that interests you....more
If you read Hugo-nominated Finna, you'll recall that the only reason Ava was working when a wormhole opened up in their LitenVärld furniture store wasIf you read Hugo-nominated Finna, you'll recall that the only reason Ava was working when a wormhole opened up in their LitenVärld furniture store was because she was covering for "fucking Derek," who had called out sick. Well folks, I'm pleased to introduce you to Fucking Derek: the model employee who practices his customer service voice in front of a mirror, struggles to interact with coworkers, and isn't entirely sure of his place in the LitenVärld ecosystem. When he's called in to do a special inventory one night, he meets four other people who look just like him—who are here to track down rogue furniture pieces.
Defekt is perhaps not as ambitious as Finna, but I think this really works for the novella format. We have all of the puzzle pieces that made Finna good, but refined to the point that they fit the novella format really well and turn Defekt into a stand-out story. And although it does spoil the plot of Finna, Defekt is more of a companion novella and can be read as a standalone without having read the previous LitenVerse novella.
I really loved this book and it was the perfect palate cleanser in between my horror reads. It's funny and heart-warming, but Cipri doesn't slack on the antagonist and the high stakes. If you're looking for a fun little story where someone who's not so sure of himself and doesn't have any friends finds a found family and understands himself a little better, this is it. Defekt is a short little adventure that's sure to please readers of all sorts.
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Many thanks to Tordotcom and Nino Cipri for the advance e-copy via Netgalley. This is an all-the-good-bits abbreviated review; my full review can be found on my blog, The Library Cryptid....more
Children of Chicago straddles various genres, and Cynthia Pelayo gathers influences from crime thrillers, horror, and folklore to weave a compelling nChildren of Chicago straddles various genres, and Cynthia Pelayo gathers influences from crime thrillers, horror, and folklore to weave a compelling narrative. Unfortunately, I think the novel is a little overly ambitious, and bites off more than it can chew without devoting the level of attention and care this procedural-cum-supernatural plot requires.
The writing could have been much, much tighter, perhaps even shortened to a novella, and I think Pelayo could have leaned into the mystery elements by leaving more to the reader's imagination, rather than spelling things out for them. The plot is also hard to track, and it's hard for the reader to get invested. The main mystery that we're following is who the Pied Piper is, and why he's killing children, but the reader finds out all there is to know about this plot point long before the ending and there isn't additional intrigue to keep the book moving along. The unlikable narrator doesn't do the book any favors; it can be done well, but in this case Lauren Medina was not very dynamic and ended up falling flat.
This book may have been middle-of-the-road for me, but there were good aspects of it, and I never considered putting it down. It's clear that the author has a strong affinity for the city, and I'd definitely call this book something of a love letter to Chicago, even while it highlights some of Chicago's negative aspects. Waiting to see whether Lauren will finally win over the Pied Piper really pushes you through to the end. I am really enjoying the rising trend of paranormal crime thrillers, and this was definitely worth the read for more of that. Great for fans of Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo or the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire.
Big thanks to Netgalley, Agora Books, and the author for an advance copy of this book.
This is a short version of my full review. It has all the important parts, but if you want to read my thoughts in more detail or check out more of my reviews, check out my blog....more
Emotionally, this is an extremely difficult read, especially in the beginning. James beginsFor my full review, check out my blog, The Library Cryptid!
Emotionally, this is an extremely difficult read, especially in the beginning. James begins by reconstructing the events of February 20th, 2003, detailing the actions of several attendees prior to the Great White concert, the moment when the band manager set off fifteen-foot-high pyrotechnics, the rush to escape the nightclub, and the aftermath of the fire. This is a significant portion, and the book is slow-paced, but for good reason; James takes his time providing biographies and information about the victims and the history of the Station and its owners. James’ work ethic and dedication to the story shines through the pages; the hundreds of hours he spent interviewing people connected to the fire really pays off.
Despite the horrific and tragic events, this book isn’t all doom and gloom. There are wonderful moments that show the bright light at the end of the tunnel—uplifting stories about some of the survivors, and a message of hope that prevails throughout. This is a book that will break your heart and build you back up again by the end, and it is one that will stay with you. It is one that I cannot recommend highly enough, and one that I hope will reach many, many readers.
Content warnings: Fire (graphic), death (graphic), suicide
Disclaimer: I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review. ...more
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