I feel like if there is anywhere in the world that the lines between this world and the next would become blurred, where creatures not quite human areI feel like if there is anywhere in the world that the lines between this world and the next would become blurred, where creatures not quite human are able to mingle with us, it would be on or near a battlefield. How can places redolent with so much pain, so much fear, so much anguish, not transcend the human experience?
This book does an awesome job of bringing to life those battlefields of WWI, where fighting was not done by long-distance missiles and drone strikes, but with hand-to-hand combat, and opponents were forced to look into each other's eyes as they delivered the killing blows. Laura Ivan, a decorated field nurse who had returned to Canada to recover from her injuries but finds herself returning to the fray to search for her missing brother, Freddie. She refuses to believe that he is dead without some corroborating evidence.
He is actually not dead, but had been trapped in a pit with a wounded enemy soldier. Together, they get out of their trap and unwilling to turn each other in, they try to navigate the hellscape of the war. Throughout it all is the mysterious hotelier who appears and vanishes so strangely, who offers surcease from the pain and horrors of the battlefield. But at what price?
I loved the historical aspect of the story, as well as the magical realism....more
I thought this was very well done and I did not see the twists coming. I'm not going to rehash the plot; suffice it to say that I was all in and enjoyI thought this was very well done and I did not see the twists coming. I'm not going to rehash the plot; suffice it to say that I was all in and enjoyed it!...more
This is a great bloody horrorfest and a fitting homage to Carrie (not a spoiler--the author mentions this in the intro). Mary, a colorless, beaten-dowThis is a great bloody horrorfest and a fitting homage to Carrie (not a spoiler--the author mentions this in the intro). Mary, a colorless, beaten-down woman in her fifties is having weird problems that her doctors brush off as symptoms of menopause, that catch-all for all weird female issues. Mary decides to accept her Aunt Nadine's invitation (order) to come take care of her since she's in bad health. Maybe a change of scenery and a return to her hometown will do her good! It does, but not in the way she expects. Her life definitely gets livelier, that's for sure!
The only part that I got stuck on was her initial acceptance of her aunt's proposal. Sure, money is involved, but Nadine is SO hateful, SO abusive, that I just couldn't understand her decision. Knowing that evil woman as she did, did she really believe that she would follow through and actually pay her? Who couldn't see the bait and switch right from the start? I just thought the fact that the situation would be beyond human endurance was pretty obvious right from the start, and yet she went.
Other than that, it is a great read! Highly recommended for horror fans!...more
I would classify this more as "cozy" horror, which is not my usual fare, but I enjoyed it. Great twists, but not really much in the way of real scaresI would classify this more as "cozy" horror, which is not my usual fare, but I enjoyed it. Great twists, but not really much in the way of real scares. I thought the writing was pretty sharp, along with the dialogue....more
I was disappointed with this since it is introduced under the umbrella of Shirley Jackson's classic. The characters are annoying and most of the real I was disappointed with this since it is introduced under the umbrella of Shirley Jackson's classic. The characters are annoying and most of the real horror is at the very end....more
This has a very promising premise, but just like (in my opinion) House of Leaves, the format interferes with the reader's connection to what is happenThis has a very promising premise, but just like (in my opinion) House of Leaves, the format interferes with the reader's connection to what is happening. Reading transcripts and other pieces of texts blunts the force of what is happening. The same story told in a traditional narrative format would have been killer!...more
This did not work for me. I want horror but what I got was a crash course on how dams work. I now know WAY more than I ever wanted to about how dams oThis did not work for me. I want horror but what I got was a crash course on how dams work. I now know WAY more than I ever wanted to about how dams operate, but it hasn't really enriched my life as much as you might think. I will say, though, that these are some single-minded ghosts! I can't say that it is the way I would choose to spend my afterlife! ...more
Wow! This book is so NOT what I was expecting! However, unexpected does not translate to bad. It's really hard to say anything about this book withoutWow! This book is so NOT what I was expecting! However, unexpected does not translate to bad. It's really hard to say anything about this book without giving things away. The story centers around a little girl (Little Girl with Popsicle) who disappears from her family's day at the lake. There's Ted, a man who was questioned about her disappearance, and Dee, the little girl's sister who is searching for her. The writing is excellent and the plot is rolled out masterfully. Highly recommended!!...more
Pretty good horror read! I enjoyed the culty vibes and the promise of behind-the-scenes weird stuff going on. I liked that the reader could use their Pretty good horror read! I enjoyed the culty vibes and the promise of behind-the-scenes weird stuff going on. I liked that the reader could use their imagination to try to fill in the blanks on who or what Mister Magic actually is because that's where the real horror lives--in our imaginations. ...more
I'm sad to say that this book was a disappointment. I really wanted to like it--I absolutely loved Vassa in the Night. This book is just weird, and noI'm sad to say that this book was a disappointment. I really wanted to like it--I absolutely loved Vassa in the Night. This book is just weird, and not in a good way. I LOVE weird, but not like this! The premise sounds so promising, but the execution falls short.
The book is about a dysfunctional family of a dad and three kids. The oldest kid, the golden boy whom everyone loves, dashes expectations by becoming a drug addict and dying. The twins grieve his loss, counting themselves as so much less than their shining older sibling. The story has the spirit of this brother, Dashiell, coming back and possessing them to help him accomplish his goals in the mysterious shadowlands of the dead. There's an arch-villain named Aloysius, who is just evil for evil's sake, apparently.
I liked the weirdness of the premise. The weirdness I didn't like was:
1. Dash's nicknames for his siblings--so stupid and repeated frequently. 2. Ruby's love for her dead brother. She is a little TOO into him, if you catch my drift! 3. The characters NEVER react appropriately; the dad is loving, then mean, then loving again. Ruby is pathetic--okay with WHATEVER her dead brother wants to do to her. Everett is the only one with some common sense but it always kicks in a little too late.
It's just a hot mess, which again, is disappointing when I had such high hopes. ...more
This was a 5 for me! I love haunted house stories madly and am always excited to find one that feels fresh and unique. The male MC's masculine posturiThis was a 5 for me! I love haunted house stories madly and am always excited to find one that feels fresh and unique. The male MC's masculine posturing was annoying but just part of his character. Who challenges a supernatural entity and expects that to go well? *eyeroll*
Anyway, I usually check out the library audiobooks of most horror tales these days, but when I find one that I really like, I buy the physical copy. I will definitely be adding this one to my collection!...more
I loved this!! It is a unique, captivating take on the classic haunted house tale (my favorite)! Margaret and her husband, Hal, snag a beautiful VictoI loved this!! It is a unique, captivating take on the classic haunted house tale (my favorite)! Margaret and her husband, Hal, snag a beautiful Victorian house at a bargain basement price, and it doesn't take them long to discover why--it is haunted. The paranormal activity intensifies in September, when the walls bleed and other horrific activities disrupt their lives. What rolls me is Margaret's pragmatic response to these hair-raising events. She simply comes up with a solution to make it work. Blood running down the walls? Get out the bucket and sponges and mop it up. The ghost in the bedroom loses it and has an epic meltdown when fires are lit? You just don't have fires. And the list goes on. Margaret is determined to coexist with her ghostly guests--this is HER house and she loves it. When Hal disappears after four years, Margaret's estranged daughter comes to visit, determined to find her father. The problem is, she comes in September . . .
I loved Margaret's voice, I loved the humor and the juxtaposition of these horrific events and Margaret's practical responses, I loved the reality of the relationship between Margaret and her difficult daughter. I listened to this on a library audio but am definitely going to be buying a hard copy. This one is a keeper!
I have seen this book for ages on best horror books lists but have just now gotten around to it. They weren't lying! This is creepy and action-filled-I have seen this book for ages on best horror books lists but have just now gotten around to it. They weren't lying! This is creepy and action-filled--I couldn't put it down! The combination of the unknown threat on the mountain versus the known threat of the armed villagers is compelling.
To sum it up quickly, a couple of couples go on vacation to South America and make some international friends. A German guy asks them to accompany him to pick up his brother who is with his girlfriend on an archeology expedition nearby, and a couple of Greek guys decide to tag along. Despite warnings from the villagers (who can't speak English), they venture onto a hilltop and find themselves trapped there.
The characters were annoying as hell at times, but all were believable. What's more, you could imagine yourself reacting the same ways in their horrific situation. Definitely recommended for horror fans!...more
Ugh! It's been a long time since I have disliked a book like this. I still can't believe that Canas used the lure of vampires to trick us into readingUgh! It's been a long time since I have disliked a book like this. I still can't believe that Canas used the lure of vampires to trick us into reading this sappy Romeo and Juliet love story. The vampires ended up being a minor plot point. They did not even appear in the story (aside from a brief appearance at the beginning) until I was 55% in. Are you kidding me?!? I feel cheated--I mean, there are vampires in the freaking title!!! You don't do that and then have NO vampires for over half of the book!
When they finally do show up, (view spoiler)[the main character, Nena, just tells them to go away and they do. Then she makes friends with them and saves them from the evil white men. (hide spoiler)] WTF??? This was, imho, a complete debacle of a vampire story. It's really disappointing because I enjoyed her book The Hacienda very much. She seems to understand hauntings MUCH better than vampires! The author is free to write whatever she wants, but this should NOT have been billed as a vampire story when it is clearly a romance from start to finish. There are probably a lot of romance readers who would love this story who won't pick it up because of the title. I'm just saying!...more
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