This was hard to read. It took me forever, because it just didn’t work for me as a novel. There wasn’t enough character or plot to hang on to, so afteThis was hard to read. It took me forever, because it just didn’t work for me as a novel. There wasn’t enough character or plot to hang on to, so after a half hour of effort I would get weary of trying to keep myself jacked in. However, for 25 minutes I was hooked. As a series of vignettes, this was very fun. I expected this to be more mind-blowing, and maybe I was just being a lazy reader, but I didn’t feel like the book had much to say. It was cool, but shallow. Then again, I’m being too harsh because I’m a reader of the future… the point wasn’t a plot or character but the what-if, so credit there. ...more
This is a book for a very particular audience. It’s West Wing plus This is Us with a touch of Scooby DooNetGalley ARC in exchange for my honest review
This is a book for a very particular audience. It’s West Wing plus This is Us with a touch of Scooby Doo. It’s fantasy set in the real world, where the heroes are the best possible versions of their imperfect selves, and the villains are cartoonish. It’s not really a mystery, though the setup is there. It’s also not really a romance, though that takes up a good chunk of the book. It’s mostly about small town life and radio. The author clearly loves her characters… unfortunately they never came alive for me. There was one big twist for me though (view spoiler)[ the man who told the MC she’s prettier when she smiles was not the killer! (hide spoiler)]. I thought that phrase was a big clue and that this was going to take a turn into domestic thriller territory, but it stays light and cozy the whole time....more
Now this is a thriller! I had pretty much had it with the genre, but gave this a shot for the sci-fi angle. And DAMN. So glad I did. This book grabs thNow this is a thriller! I had pretty much had it with the genre, but gave this a shot for the sci-fi angle. And DAMN. So glad I did. This book grabs the reader instantly with some tense weirdness, and that messed up prologue is part of the larger mystery that unfolds. Yes, this has the structure of beautiful-but-damaged Fed hunts a killer that may have ties to her past, but this is anything but a paint-by-numbers thriller. There are twists and turns, but not of the typical red-herring type. It’s fast paced and exciting, and occasionally horrific. It’s so well crafted, especially the deliberate dissonance of the alternate timelines.
I has some weeerid dreams after finishing this, where the book was mixed with the movie Event Horizon. Some imagery really stuck with me even though I saw it way back in the day of opening weekend…looked it up and WELL-PLAYED, BOOK. I have to believe that some things, especially 1997 are nods to the film.
Could not put this down. I saw this on a list of best Sci-Fi and checked it out, knowing nothing about the plot. I’m glad for that, because any expectCould not put this down. I saw this on a list of best Sci-Fi and checked it out, knowing nothing about the plot. I’m glad for that, because any expectations may have lead to disappointment. This is a weird book. It starts out as a a somewhat gentle commune-dystopian novel… things are pretty chill at first, if a bit dull. There isn’t the raging against the sameness that one usually gets with this type of book… because the weirdness is there right at the start. There seems to be a very good reason for society, and the slow unraveling of it is fantastic. As as we get the reasons, we start to get the horror of the society. I appreciated the subtlety of the writing - it’s clear what happened but the spareness of detail leaves the reader to flesh it out, and imagination is a big part of the novel. The only disappointment I had was the ending. Not what happened, but the rules of it. I was bummed that (view spoiler)[ actual verbal language was so important… intent and imagination meant nothing without specific incantation. That broke the world building for me - why did that world need the language of the colonists? OH. OK, I think I get it - it’s not about the langauge itself but the ability to be understood by the other organisms. So since Vanja’s sounds were nonsense to all other besides her, the intent made no difference. I’m still bummed though about that, because verbal language is not the only way to communicate thoughts to others…. I’m going to imagine Vanja cut off and verily lonely for a while but eventually signing will develop and she will be able to accept the world with language that can be understood by all. (hide spoiler)] Reading this after Sorrowland was interesting, to say the least. Both about colonies and colonization, resistance and assimilation. I’ll be thinking about both of these for a long time....more
NOT HORROR. Sigh. This is a mystery-thiller. There are zero scares, and no tension. Not even at the climax. And I realize I don’t really like most thriNOT HORROR. Sigh. This is a mystery-thiller. There are zero scares, and no tension. Not even at the climax. And I realize I don’t really like most thrillers lately. They seem to always be constructed around twists and red herrings, always plot-heavy with very boilerplate characters. This is no different. MC (final girl 3) is a cute blond with a food blog trying to be normal. We have a very vague boyfriend, final girl #1 that is nothing but plot food, hot cop that is even more vague than boyfriend, and final girl 2 that is classic thriller nonsense of randomness and confusion.
This is a perfect airport/beach read - plotty enough to keep you flipping pages. It makes the time pass more enjoyably than not reading, but it does not demand focus and attention. And it’s not going to make you nervous about bumps in the night. ...more
4.5 stars rounded up. Make sure you clear your schedule, because once you start this book you will not want to stop. I read this in a day - it could ha4.5 stars rounded up. Make sure you clear your schedule, because once you start this book you will not want to stop. I read this in a day - it could have been a one-sitting book, but WHEW. Sometimes I needed a moment to shake it off a little. As other reviews mention, this is a genre-bending book. Literary fiction, sci-fi, horror, it’s got a lot going on. The first two parts of the book are exceptional. There’s weirdness and a slow-building horror, but it’s not all about the WTF moments. I loved getting to know Vern and her family. The final part felt a little rushed. All questions answered… and some answered in a way that did not make sense at first. Why would Ollie and Co. do/not do things? And then I remembered that cruelty is the point. When given the opportunity, oppressors will always do the cruel thing over the logical thing. That’s what makes this book so horrifying. It’s all true. The hauntings, the what was done, how it echoes through communities and generations - all very rooted in sickening reality. Americans may not see ghosts on the reg, but we are all haunted.
Nope, nope, a whole lotta NOPE. I thought that this would be romantic and a little spicy. Casanova is synonymous with seduction, right? Yeaaaah, he’s aNope, nope, a whole lotta NOPE. I thought that this would be romantic and a little spicy. Casanova is synonymous with seduction, right? Yeaaaah, he’s a rapist. Good times. At first, his exploits are simple threesomes with hot sisters. But when he does not get what he wants, he’s nasty and violent. Yet he thinks all of his victims were happy to please him. Coercion is not consent. AAAAGGGHHHHHH. There’s just so much wrong in this, SO MUCH. But what is truly appalling is how our culture turned this STI-addled narcissist into a romantic hero. The audiobook is gorgeous and sensual…. Cumberbatch has a voice, but eeeewwww, nooooooooooo. Use your powers for good, Benny. Ew. The audiobook is also very abridged; unfortunately they don’t cut out the worst parts. But they did chop out a whole exorcism! ...more
This was a charming little story, and the excellent narration of the audiobook added to my enjoyment. The pacing is languid, the mystery is sedate, thThis was a charming little story, and the excellent narration of the audiobook added to my enjoyment. The pacing is languid, the mystery is sedate, the romance is quiet. But this was not boring - it was just a very gentle little wind-down of a book. My only complaint was the resolution of the artist mystery. Isabell’s insistence that there should be a “happily ever after” showed her naivety and privilege. Sometimes, HEA is moving on. (view spoiler)[ McGinnis should have stayed “dead”. The marriage ended for a reason, and his ex knew full well he was alive, and the relationship did not rekindle. There is no reason to think that they could be happy now that one meddling woman decided they should forgive each other. Also, he wanted nothing to do with his child when he thought it was another man’s… but suddenly when his paternity is confirmed, all is well? EIGHT YEARS of not caring about the ex-wife and child, suddenly made all better? No. (hide spoiler)] I was dissatisfied with the ending, but this was a quaint and pleasant book. ...more
Review of early-access audiobook provided by Netgalley
I pre-ordered this ASAP, so early in fact that the indie bookstore I ordered from asked “was thiReview of early-access audiobook provided by Netgalley
I pre-ordered this ASAP, so early in fact that the indie bookstore I ordered from asked “was this a mistake? It’s not coming out for a while.” And even though it’s now a lot closer to release I still couldn’t wait, thus my Netgalley request. Then a small moment of fear when I got access - what if it’s not as good as I hoped? OH NO! Well, it wasn’t as good - it was BETTER! I’m thrilled I got to experience the audio version. The narration is excellent, and builds brilliantly. I’m even more thrilled that this will be in my physical library soon enough - this is a book to OWN.
I was excited reading this, which was quite a feat since the beats of the story are familiar. The first few chapters are straight-up fairy-tale retelling. And while I do love a good retelling, that’s usually not enough to make me pause and walk around a room just dealing with the story. Reader, I PACED. And as what I was dealing with became clear, I needed a moment.
A review is a challenge, because I don’t want to spoil at all. The synopsis makes you think it’s going to be about one thing, and it is, but’s it’s also another thing that makes so much sense that I’m almost mad about it. The audacity! The darkness! The seriously black humor that made me laugh out loud (that line,Cat. How dare you!) And the chilling, scathing commentary that gave me for-real goosebumps at the end.
I don’t give out 5 stars easily, but this is a damn masterpiece. One HELL of a take on final-girls....more
I thought I was prepared. I WAS NOT. Every other bit of media I’ve consumed that goes into this subject has still been bound by taboo. They do not get I thought I was prepared. I WAS NOT. Every other bit of media I’ve consumed that goes into this subject has still been bound by taboo. They do not get too graphic, do not got too far. Even they do get graphic, it is stylized or something that keeps the violence at a safe remove. Not this book. Nope. IT GOES THERE, every possible there in stark, real, detail. It is the most horrible thing I have ever read. Truly. In a “horror” way, not badly written. It is brutal and believable; maybe not the premise, but the way people can convince themselves that wrong is right and justify atrocities. ...more
Meh. I expected much much more. As a light thriller, this works fine, but as horror? Nope. Nothing goes far enough. And I’m not talking about body couMeh. I expected much much more. As a light thriller, this works fine, but as horror? Nope. Nothing goes far enough. And I’m not talking about body count or gruesomeness… this books sets up something atmospheric and creepy and then backs WAY OFF. This goes back and forth in time, and the real scares would have been Then, but those portions are deliberately vague and dribbled out to preserve a mystery (that’s clearly telegraphed) rather than being mined for psychological scares and tension. And the Now doesn’t deliver enough of the WTF is happening freaky moments. When things do start to get going, characters make typically baffling assumptions and choices. And then blam, it’s all wrapped up fast, all questions answered, all frights dissipated. There were good aspects, and I’m not mad at it, but meh....more
This was a TBR for me since the late 90s. For some reason, back then this book has a huge display at my local Borders. I was intrigued… but I was alsoThis was a TBR for me since the late 90s. For some reason, back then this book has a huge display at my local Borders. I was intrigued… but I was also sick to death of Old English literature (well, mainly sick of learning OE grammar and attempting translations) so I skipped this. I should have read it then, when I would have really dug into it and gotten a lot from it. Young me would have *loved* this. But I am tired. In print, I just could not. This is a thinking book, a short but slow book, and my current attention span was NOPE. I did much better with this as an audiobook I listened to while knitting. But still, it was just really well-crafted words rather than a plotty escape. I enjoyed it while listening, but it did not stay with me. This is Serious Literature and I was not in any such mood. ...more
Meh. The GR synopsis is hella misleading. There is no mystery at all, no slow burn. The what’s happening to Amanda is stated outright very early on, aMeh. The GR synopsis is hella misleading. There is no mystery at all, no slow burn. The what’s happening to Amanda is stated outright very early on, and everything happens exactly as expected. Demonic possession is one of my top scares, but this made it kind of boring. Maybe because while Amanda is still herself, she’s an asshole (her agreement with the nasty thing that the demon left for her boss never sat right with me). But even that was not explored. (view spoiler)[ Nahmaah says she was invited in (when? When Amanda was a child? Why so long to get possessive?) and all the actions are Amanda’s own desires, but there’s no tension between the desire and the urge to repress. Amanda just rolls over, never puts up a fight…. And even THAT is not explored. And the end - all she ever wanted… that could have been delved into and the table was set for it, the longing for a mother, but it was abandoned. Did the author get bored? Had a hard deadline? If feels like this was half a book. (hide spoiler)] The most interesting parts of this book - Poppy, the conspiracy- were just dropped in and never followed up. Decidedly not scary....more
This had been on my TBR list forever. I was a very little kid when the movie came out, but I remember being absolutely traumatized by the commercials.This had been on my TBR list forever. I was a very little kid when the movie came out, but I remember being absolutely traumatized by the commercials. The music and the terrifying carousel…nightmares! So, I expected the book to give me big creeps or big feels…. And (sad trombone) I kind of hated it! I hated the style - the very poetic language, deliberately choppy form… UGH. BLERG. Stop tryingso hard, Bradbury. At first it was nice because I grew up in a Green-type Town. The nostalgia for Illinois was real. But that faded. The chacters never caught me. Maybe I’m the wrong age -to old to identify with the kids, too young for the sad adults. HOWEVER - my 13 year old son read this for school (which is why I finally did) and he LOVED IT. Loved it so much. I can see why it spoke to him, and I’m very happy he enjoyed it so much....more
First off, this is not horror. Not remotely. This is gothic cli-fi. Readers expecting the claustrophobic atmosphere to morph into any traditional scarFirst off, this is not horror. Not remotely. This is gothic cli-fi. Readers expecting the claustrophobic atmosphere to morph into any traditional scares will be disappointed. There’s no suspense, no danger…. Just the creeping horror of environmental collapse, isolation, and human selfishness. However, if the first few pages grip you with their chilly distance and vague disaster, then you will enjoy this. It’s a very strange book. Not in the ideas, but in the execution. The truly weird and wild stuff is just hinted at and left in the background, so the reader fills in the gaps of the world. Sometimes that left me frustrated, wanting more (wanting actual horror), but the overall effect worked. (view spoiler)[And if you’ve read Oryx and Crake and Never Let Me Go , you can fill in all the gaps of this story (hide spoiler)]...more
Murderbot never disappoints. At first I was a little discombobulated with the story - I thought the cover art bot was from Network Effect, so I expectMurderbot never disappoints. At first I was a little discombobulated with the story - I thought the cover art bot was from Network Effect, so I expected this to take place shortly after that novel. Murderbot’s location and extra paranoia threw me for a loop, until I caught on that this was before all that fun with ART. It was interesting to be back in the old Murderbot’s head. Guard way up, not because of security risk, but because they have not started to feel event remotely comfortable with humans, or even with the idea of being a person. They still have plenty of reasons to be wary and aloof, but there’s some thawing. I really really love this series....more
Super fast read, I’ll give it that. And the protagonist was better written than most in this genre. But it just left me with a shrug and a “meh”. I loooSuper fast read, I’ll give it that. And the protagonist was better written than most in this genre. But it just left me with a shrug and a “meh”. I loooove sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. I can suspend my disbelief like WOAH. For those genres. When the suspension is needed for worldbuilding and such, I suspend. But when the book is set it the real world? I have a hard time just going along for the ride. The initial premise of Murder Club is fine, but not very practical… and how the book deals with those complications is pretty ridiculous. Yes, it makes for an action-packed final act, but it makes no sense. The members of Murder Club are sketches for the most part, and the organizer is just a shadowy “bad”…the reveal is anticlimactic and their actions in the finale are inexplicable. A professional killer would tie up loose ends, not messily play cat-and-mouse. This was not a psychological thriller… the big bad is supposed to be efficient and detached. ...more
Ooh, this was good. And WOW, what a villain. YIKES. And I don’t mean Rachel. If you are Team Philip, FIGHT ME, and also, did you even read this? The booOoh, this was good. And WOW, what a villain. YIKES. And I don’t mean Rachel. If you are Team Philip, FIGHT ME, and also, did you even read this? The book starts as a mystery…. Pompous woman-hater Ambrose unexpectedly marries Rachel and dies shortly afterwards. Is Rachel a murderer?. Ignorant woman-hating little shit Philip certainly thinks so, and fantasizes about humiliating and destroying her. He knows he is right, and cannot be convinced otherwise. And then, he changes his mind. And still, he knows he is right and cannot be convinced that his perceptions and actions could be flawed in any way…. With men like that, a woman can never, ever win, and is always in danger. (view spoiler)[Rachel knows this, and tries to manage this danger, but honestly she should have poisoned the twat when she had the chance. I do think she was perhaps drugging him, but not with murderous intent - trying to sedate him when it became clear he would kill her rather than face his own error (hide spoiler)]. Very good, VERY GOTHIC in that classic windy-damp-toxic relationships way....more
Unfortunately this was a slog for me. I bumped it up to 3 stars because I felt bad giving it 2. It’s not a bad book, just very meh. I expected horror Unfortunately this was a slog for me. I bumped it up to 3 stars because I felt bad giving it 2. It’s not a bad book, just very meh. I expected horror and this did not deliver. I mean yeah, there is cosmic freakiness, but this wasn’t scary in a horror-genre way. Now, that isn’t a terrible thing; while I was in the mood for a supernatural creepfest the book is more concerned with real, human problems and threats. The Big Bad is not really tentacled monsters from beyond, but White Savior Bullshit, and that is interesting. Sadly, the characters never managed to draw me in, and the pacing was slow. Good ideas but meh execution for me. This book did not make me feel anything for the main characters; it did not transport me into weird world, it did not scare me. I wanted to like it more than I did. ...more
I did not really get this. It was interesting and Okorafor’s writing is excellent as always, but it was not the easy novella I expected. The cover blurI did not really get this. It was interesting and Okorafor’s writing is excellent as always, but it was not the easy novella I expected. The cover blurb made me assume that Death as a God/Goddess/Entity would play a part in the story, and nope. I assume that I’m missing huge parts of the story because I have no familiarity with Ghanaian death traditions. Or any traditions, really. The concept witchcraft/magic/whatever was going on as “remote control” never made sense to me in the context of the story. The ending hinted at something that would bring it all together, but it did not. It’s (at least to me) a very open-ended story. What happened to Fatima? What happened at the end? I think I know, and the more distance I have from the story the more it does seem to make sense… but this is a thinker of a novella. ...more
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