Horror Mini-Review Pt. III: Winterset Hollow by Jonathan Edward Durham

Today we have part III in my mini horor reviews series featuring Winterset Hollow by Jonathan Edward Durham! You can find my previous mini horror reviews below:
Part I: Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
Part II: We Can Never Leave this Place by Eric LaRocca

Winterset Hollow by Jonathan Edward Durham

Credo House Publishers

Publication:  September 1st, 2021

Paperback. 286 pages.

About Winterset Hollow:

"Everyone has wanted their favorite book to be real, if only for a moment. Everyone has wished to meet their favorite characters, if only for a day. But be careful in that wish, for even a history laid in ink can be repaid in flesh and blood, and reality is far deadlier than fiction . . . especially on Addington Isle. 

Winterset Hollow follows a group of friends to the place that inspired their favorite book-a timeless tale about a tribe of animals preparing for their yearly end-of-summer festival. But after a series of shocking discoveries, they find that much of what the world believes to be fiction is actually fact, and that the truth behind their beloved story is darker and more dangerous than they ever imagined. It's Barley Day . . . and you're invited to the hunt. 

Winterset Hollow is as thrilling as it is terrifying and as smart as it is surprising. A uniquely original story filled with properly unexpected twists and turns, Winterset Hollow delivers complex, indelible characters and pulse- pounding action as it storms toward an unforgettable climax that will leave you reeling. How do you celebrate Barley Day? You run, friend. You run."

Winterset Hollows plays with the idea of what would it be like if one of your favorite childhood stories was based on characters that actually existed... but with a dark twist that will probably ruin your childhood forever once you figure it out. When a group of friends travels to Addington Isle, the real location that inspired the setting of Winterset Hollow, to celebrate Barley Day, they discover that things aren't quite what they appeared to be in the book...

What I liked: I really liked how much detail was put into crafting the fictional story within Winterset Hollow and that the author even included small excerpts at the beginning of each new part of the story, which allowed us readers to get a glimpse of what this well-loved childhood story is all about and why the characters are so beloved. I thought the atmosphere of Winterset Hollow was also built up extremely well and incorporated a captivating mix of nostalgia, tension, and a sort of creeping unease that built up as the story progressed. The author also managed to showcase the importance of various elements of the fictional world without overdoing it, and everything felt very subtly done. There's an excellent shift in tone between the beginning and later portions of the novel where things go from sort of endearing and charming and innocent to an almost outright terror and shock at some unexpected violence and discoveries. This book was a weird experience, but an entertaining one!

What I didn't like: I felt that there were portions in the exposition and post-climax parts of the book where things were dragged out just a little too much, which made the pacing drag slightly. There was also something about the characters–largely the secondary characters–that made me keep mixing up who was who. I read the audiobook version, so I'm not sure if it's indicated better in the book, but Winterset Hollow has a sort of omniscient narration style that jumped around to different characters fairly often and left me trying to keep up with what character we were following closely. 

Overall, I think Winterset Hollow holds up really well as a short horror novel that contains something a little shocking and terror-inducing for the spooky season!

 

Horror Mini-Review Pt. II: We Can Never Leave This Place by Eric LaRocca

In continuation of my mini horror reviews and to make an attempt to keep up with some of the horror books I've been reading, today I am sharing my thoughts on Eric LaRocca's We Can Never Leave This Place. Part I featured a review for Waubgeshig Rice's Moon of the Crusted Snow, and you can find that one here in case you missed it. 

We Can Never Leave This Place by Eric LaRocca

Trepidatio Publishing
Publication: June 24th, 2022

Paperback. 106 pages.

About We Can Never Leave This Place:

"'When you're given a gift, something else gets taken away.'

A precocious young girl with an unusual imagination is sent on an odyssey into the depths of depravity. After her father dies violently, young Mara is surprised to find her mother welcoming a new guest into their home, claiming that he will protect them from the world of devastation and destruction outside their door. 

A grotesque and thrilling dark fantasy, We Can Never Leave This Place is a harrowing portrait of inherited grief and familial trauma."

We Can Never Leave This Place is an intense peek at the life of a young girl and the difficult, perilous world she currently inhabits. I'm not sure how to summarize this story myself in a way that would make any more sense than the summary from the book, so feel free to have at that, but all I can really say is that this is about a young girl living with her neglectful mother in a dangerous world. When her mother decides to let in an unknown creature into their house, things begin to turn (even more) nightmarish for Mara. 

What I liked: This was so very weird and I liked getting to explore this very messed up world created by LaRocca. There is a very visceral feeling I had while reading this and it wasn't exactly a pleasant feeling, but it was exactly what I would want from this book. This story presents some intense trauma responses to a parent-child relationship that is filled with neglect and toxicity, as well as to the environment they are surrounded by, and LaRocca turns this all into a horror quite unlike anything I've ever read. It's easy to see LaRocca's incredibly vivid imagination and talent at writing in We Can Never Leave this Place, and no matter how weird or difficult things ever felt to read, it was impossible to stop reading because the writing is so engaging on its own and I just had to know what would show up on the next page because there's really no way to know with LaRocca's stories. 

What I didn't like: This wasn't much of a plot-focused story, but rather one that was more about Mara's personal journey with emotions and her current situation and mother. I don't mind books that aren't heavy on plot, but it didn't quite capture me quite as much as I initially expected it to. Because of the characters and creatures involved in this book and how they interacted, things felt almost frenzied at times in ways that left me feeling slightly lost or unsure of what was happening, and although I think this contributed in a great way to the atmosphere, I think it's part of what held me back from really loving this novella as much as I could have. 

Overall, if you're looking for some intense horror that plays with a lot of difficult concepts and will really keep you wondering what deranged things is going to pop up next, then you should really pick up We Can Never Leave this Place–or, honestly, any of LaRocca's work should do the trick! :) 

 

Horror Mini-Review Pt. I: Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

Since October is the month where I try to read as much horror as I can (I always say this as if I don't read horror at other times of the year, but I really try to pack it in for October, haha!), I've decided that the best way to share some of these reads in the most efficient way possible will be to share occasional mini-reviews highlighting some of my picks. First up today is Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice and up next will be Eric LaRocca's We Can Never Leave this Place, with more to come!

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice 

ECW Press
Publication: October 2nd, 2018

Paperback. 213 pages.

About Moon of the Crusted Snow:

"Former child actor Fiona St. James dropped out of the spotlight after a spectacularly public crash and burn. The tabloids called her crazy and self-destructive and said she'd lost her mind. Now in her late twenties, Fiona believes her humiliating past is firmly behind her. She's finally regained a modicum of privacy, and she won't let anything--or anyone--mess it up. 

Unlike Fiona, Sam Fox, who played her older brother on the popular television show Birds of California, loves the perks that come with being a successful Hollywood actor: fame, women, parties, money. When his current show gets cancelled and his agent starts to avoid his calls, the desperate actor enthusiastically signs on for a Birds of California revival. But to make it happen, he needs Fiona St. James. 

Against her better judgment, Fiona agrees to have lunch with Sam. What happens next takes them both by surprise. Sam is enthralled by Fiona's take-no-prisoners attitude, and Fiona discovers a lovable goofball behind Sam's close-up-ready face. Long drives to the beach, late nights at dive bars... theirs is the kind of kitschy romance Hollywood sells. But just like in the rom-coms Fiona despises, there's a twist that threatens her new love. Sam doesn't know the full story behind her breakdown. What happens when she reveals the truth?"

Moon of the Crusted Snow follows a small Anishinaabe community as the winter season looms and power and access to the outside world are suddenly cut off. The community begins to worry, leaders try to keep peace, and an unexpected visitor causes this community to lose it's grip on order. 

What I liked: This was a very slow-burn, creeping sort of horror. As readers, we know there's something off, but nothing really extreme or sudden happens for a while, effectively building up the tension of the story. We don't get much in the way of explanation for what is causing the outages and build-up to this apocalyptic event, which in a way I think highlights the isolation of this community and also, from a storytelling perspective, the isolating elements that fit so well with the horror genre. I loved how much Waubgeshig Rice shared about the culture and lives the Anishinaabe community and how much this affected their experiences and daily life, both before and after things start going haywire. There is such a heavy community presence and cultural influence that I think Rice captured extremely well and that I found really interesting and enlightening. 

What I didn't like: Nothing, really! As I mentioned, it's definitely on the slower side which could put some people off, and it's not an obvious outright "horror" full of extreme scares or gore, but rather one that is slowly discerned over time, and I could see this not working for some. There also really isn't much exploration into what caused the so-called apocalyptic event or to what extent is has affected the rest of the world, and although this really contributed to some horror elements, it also felt like there was just something missing with not knowing more. 

Overall, I've given Moon of the Crusted Snow four stars! I just discovered that there is apparently going to be a sequel for this book that the author is working on, so I'm very curious about what that will be and will now be eagerly awaiting it's publication. If you're looking for a quieter horror that has a slow build-up that's not overly in-your-face, then I think this would be a perfect choice. 

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

 

Nonfiction Mini-Reviews: The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston & Ghost on the Throne by James Romm

The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston
Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: September 5th, 2017

Paperback. 326 pages.

About The Lost City of the Monkey God:

"Since the days of conquistador Hernán Cortés, rumors have circulated about a lost city of immense wealth hidden somewhere in the Honduran interior, called the White City or the Lost City of the Monkey God. Indigenous tribes speak of ancestors who fled there to escape the Spanish invaders, and they warn that anyone who enters this sacred city will fall ill and die. In 1940, swashbuckling journalist Theodore Morde returned from the rainforest with hundreds of artifacts and an electrifying story of having found the Lost City of the Monkey God-but then committed suicide without revealing its location. 

Three quarters of a century later, bestselling author Doug Preston joined a team of scientists on a groundbreaking new quest. In 2012 he climbed aboard a rickety, single-engine plane carrying the machine that would change everything: lidar, a highly advanced, classified technology that could map the terrain under the densest rainforest canopy. In an unexplored valley ringed by steep mountains, that flight revealed the unmistakable image of a sprawling metropolis, tantalizing evidence of not just an undiscovered city but an enigmatic, lost civilization. 

Venturing into this raw, treacherous, but breathtakingly beautiful wilderness to confirm the discovery, Preston and the team battled torrential rains, quickmud, disease-carrying insects, jaguars, and deadly snakes. But it wasn't until they returned that tragedy struck: Preston and others found they had contracted in the ruins a horrifying, sometimes lethal-and incurable-disease."

The Lost City of the Monkey God is a nonfiction account from author Douglas Preston about the archeological exploration of a site known as The White City in the La Mosquitia region in Honduras. Douglas Preston was part of a group of researchers and scientists chosen to journey to La Mosquitia to rediscover this “lost city” after radar mapping in 2015 showed evidence of the city somewhere in the jungle and this book is his account of that experience, including a history of the region, its inhabitants, culture, the dangers of the jungle, and much more.

What I liked: First of all, I loved Preston's respect for Honduras, its people, culture, history, and archaeology and artifacts. It means a lot to me that he was careful to include the many multi-faceted components that surround an exploration of an ancient civilization in a region often neglected by the rest of the world.  Preston also has a lot of great, vivid descriptions of the land and forest that brought everything to life and encouraged me to get online and look up more images of this region. He went into a lot of detail about the dangers of the area, from snakes, bugs, etc., and I think it’s safe to say that I should probably not plan a visit. There was also a bit of a medical issue regarding a parasite, leishmaniasis, that all of the explorers dealt with after the exploration that he went into a lot of depth about near the latter portion of the book. I found this section equally fascinating and horrifying. I appreciated his discussion about negative associations with the terms ”lost city," "discovery," etc. and how these are misleading and sometimes offensive topics to talk about when these cities have such long histories. Lastly, I really appreciated Preston's ‘can-do’ attitude and willingness to get out of his comfort zone and explore, as it really added some adventure and allowed him to get a closer look to better share with readers.

What I didn't like: I would’ve loved to explore the uncovered city site and discoveries more, as I felt the ratio of history/exploration/etc. was not equal to the amount of discussion on what was actually found. That being said, I also understand the limitations in writing about what’s there when research was still ongoing, and I wouldn’t say what was there was “lacking.” The formatting could also have been tightened up a bit and had less jumping around. I would also say that the “history” portion of the White City and previous attempts to “discover” it in the beginning half of the book leading up to Preston’s journey was rather long and, and interesting as some of this section was, could have been edited down a bit to keep the narrative flowing.

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and the War for Crown and Empire by James Romm

Alfred A. Knopf

Publication Date: October 11th, 2011

Hardcover. 411 pages.

About Ghost on the Throne:

"Alexander the Great, perhaps the most commanding leader in history, united his empire and his army by the titanic force of his will. His death at the age of thirty-two spelled the end of that unity. 

The story of Alexander's conquest of the Persian empire is known to many readers, but the dramatic and consequential saga of the empire's collapse remains virtually untold. It is a tale of loss that begins with the greatest loss of all, the death of the Macedonian king who had held the empire together. 

Alexander bequeathed his power, legend has it, 'to the strongest,' leaving behind a mentally damaged half brother and a posthumously born son as his only heirs. In a strange compromise, both figures, Philip III and Alexander IV, were elevated to the kingship, quickly becoming prizes, pawns, fought over by a half-dozen Macedonian generals. Each successor could confer legitimacy on whichever general controlled him. 

James Romm, brilliant classicist and storyteller, tells the galvanizing saga of the men who followed Alexander and found themselves incapable of preserving his empire. The result was the undoing of a world, formerly united in a single empire, now ripped apart into a nightmare of warring nation-states struggling for domination, the template of our own times."

Ghost on the Throne is a nonfiction history book about the tumultuous period of time that occurred directly after Alexander the Great’s death when much of the future of the region what still up in the air. Many history books tend to focus on Alexander the Great’s reign and impact after death, but many fail to really dive deeply into the fight for power and supremacy in the years after his death when succession was not easily determined.

What I liked: First and foremost, I have to say how much I appreciated reading a book that covered this period of history in such detail and with such care, because the author is right in that most more readily available resources do not spend much time in this period. I’ve studied quite a bit over my years studying Classics, as he was one of those figures that particularly intrigued me, and I appreciated seeing this post-death situation in depth, including how his relationships with people impacted the conflict and how much his rule and influence had spread. I really liked how Romm formatted this book, focusing on key players as they fit into the narrative and influenced events after Alexander’s death. There was plenty of nuance available in analyzing these figures and the potential motivations or relationships at play that would impact actions. This was a particularly dramatic period of time–I mean, Ptolemy I literally stole Alexander’s funerary cart (with his body) on its way back to Macedonia and rerouted it to Egypt where Ptolemy decided to have him buried in Memphis for his own benefit–and it only gets crazier. This is a great book for concrete source material for research or educational purpose, but it also reads really easily and I think would be a very accessible read for anyone not in the Classics field.

What I didn't like: I don’t have too many complaints about this book, but I do think it was slightly repetitious at times. I’ve found it’s fairly common for historical nonfiction books to really hammer home certain points, but I still found it a bit repetitive to hear repeated comments about certain historical figures. There was also a lot of information given constantly, and I could see it being a little overmuch at times. There are a lot of moving parts at play to keep track of, so it was sometimes a little difficult to follow and keep track of things, but I have to give Romm credit for attempting to organize it as best as possible. Despite this being in the “didn’t like” section of this review, I still think it’s very accessible for everything that has to be covered!

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Mini-Review: Atomic Anna by Rachel Barenbaum

Atomic Anna by Rachel Barenbaum

Publication: April 5th, 2022

Hardcover. 448 pages.

About Atomic Anna:

"Three brilliant women. 

Two life-changing mistakes. 

One chance to reset the future. 

In 1986, renowned nuclear scientist, Anna Berkova, is sleeping in her bed in the Soviet Union when Chernobyl’s reactor melts down. It’s the exact moment she tears through time—and it’s an accident. When she opens her eyes, she’s landed in 1992 only to discover Molly, her estranged daughter, shot in the chest. Molly, with her dying breath, begs Anna to go back in time and stop the disaster, to save Molly’s daughter Raisa, and put their family’s future on a better path. 

In ‘60s Philadelphia, Molly is coming of age as an adopted refusenik. Her family is full of secrets and a past they won’t share. She finds solace in comic books, drawing her own series, Atomic Anna, and she’s determined to make it as an artist. When she meets the volatile, charismatic Viktor, their romance sets her life on a very different course. 

In the ‘80s, Raisa, is a lonely teen and math prodigy, until a quiet, handsome boy moves in across the street and an odd old woman shows up claiming to be her biological grandmother. As Raisa finds new issues of Atomic Anna in unexpected places, she notices each comic challenges her to solve equations leading to one impossible conclusion: time travel. And she finally understands what she has to do. 

As these remarkable women work together to prevent the greatest nuclear disaster of the 20th century, they grapple with the power their discoveries hold. Just because you can change the past, does it mean you should?"

If you are looking for a big time travel story that focuses heavily on sci-fi elements, then this isn't quite that book; however, if you like time travel and the idea of following three generations of women throughout their lives and determination to change their lives and the world, then this is a book you'll enjoy. 

What I liked: I really liked getting to know each of the women in this family, including Anna, her daughter Molly, and her granddaughter Raisa. I found Raisa's storyline to be the most compelling and appreciate how well Barenbaum seemed to capture many of the conflicted feelings she held about her role and desires. I also loved getting to dive into this time period and hear the stories and struggles of each character during the various tumultuous historical events of their lives, as well as what the world was like at these times. It was also really fun to hear about Raisa's comic book creations and Atomic Anna, and I almost wish we had gotten some sort of excerpts from these imagined comic books in the book. 

 
What I didn't like: I found that something to do with the writing and dialogue kept me at a bit of an arm's length from the characters themselves, which prevented me from getting too invested in this story. And although I liked the time travel element in general, I found myself a bit uncertain at times about exactly how it worked or what to expect. The time jumps did a good job of keeping the pacing up, but they often left me feeling a bit out of place and struggling to remember what was happening during a certain year or what was going on, which definitely took me out of my enjoyment every now and again. 

Overall, I've given Atomic Anna 3 stars! I really enjoyed aspects of this book, but there was just something that prevented me from getting more into this story and following the time travel aspect as much as I'd have liked. However, I do still think this is one that a lot of people are going to love, so definitely check it out if the premise sounds interesting to you!

 

 *I received a copy of Atomic Anna courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Mini-Review: Afterland by Lauren Beukes

Afterland by Lauren Beukes

Mulholland Books

Publication Date: July 28th, 2020

Hardcover. 411 pages

About Afterlandt:

"Most of the men are dead. Three years after the pandemic known as The Manfall, governments still hold and life continues -- but a world run by women isn't always a better place.

Twelve-year-old Miles is one of the last boys alive, and his mother, Cole, will protect him at all costs. On the run after a horrific act of violence-and pursued by Cole's own ruthless sister, Billie -- all Cole wants is to raise her kid somewhere he won't be preyed on as a reproductive resource or a sex object or a stand-in son. Someplace like home. 

To get there, Cole and Miles must journey across a changed America in disguise as mother and daughter. From a military base in Seattle to a luxury bunker, from an anarchist commune in Salt Lake City to a roaming cult that's all too ready to see Miles as the answer to their prayers, the two race to stay ahead at every step . . . even as Billie and her sinister crew draw closer. 

A sharply feminist, high-stakes thriller from award-winning author Lauren Beukes, Afterland brilliantly blends psychological suspense, American noir, and science fiction into an adventure all its own -- and perfect for our times."

Afterland was another one of those futuristic books set post-major event--in this case, a pandemic--that had such an interesting premise, but ultimately fell a bit flat in execution and the plot lines it chose to follow. I'm not really in the mood for a pandemic-focused novel myself, but since this took place mostly after the major events of the pandemic took place, and the fact that it mostly targeted men made it feel separate enough that I could actually enjoy this book!

Likes: The premise! What would society look like if all (or most) of the men were gone? A lot of places do have a more patriarchal society, so how would the power shift? What about all of the male-dominated fields, such as construction, law enforcement, engineering, etc.--are there enough women to take up all of the jobs around the country and world now? Although Beukes didn't go into these questions quite as in-depth as I might've liked, I still really enjoyed the aspects that she did explore and I think her depiction of the desperation, motivation, complacency, and other emotions that the women left experience was well done. The reproductive component of a world without men was another interesting topic that I felt Beukes did explore more as well, and I appreciated the detail she put into the possible solutions that might be explored.

Dislikes: There was not nearly as much focus on what the world is like post-major loss of men as I would have liked, and I feel like this really made the story suffer. The plot seemed to focus too heavily on minor plot points and situations that just didn't feel like they added much to the story. I wanted to hear more about the circumstances of all the characters we meet and how they are navigating in this world, not the weird injuries that the "bad guy" characters were struggling with and their conflicts between one another. Part of me does get that showcasing those tensions and issues is meant to be reflective of what life is now like and how chaotic things are, but it just felt frustrating and seemed as though the more predominate and interesting plot lines were being ignored. I was also curious about how gender identity and trans identity topics would be handled in this world, which Beukes didn't touch on as much. And on a quick last note, there's a weird religious part that pops up a little after halfway through was extremely tiresome for me; it felt like something I've seen in other books, and it also just took away even more from everything else happening.

Overall, I've given Afterland 2.75 stars. It had some really great ideas to play with and I enjoyed seeing how everything played out, but unfortunately there were too many other weird aspects that took away a lot from my reading experience.

Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

Mini Reviews--Alexander the Great Edition: Fire From Heaven by Mary Renault & The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon

I recently read two books that heavily focus on Alexander the Great (though one is more about Aristotle teaching Alexander the Great), and I didn't really plan to write reviews for them but figured that this might be a fun way to provide some quick reviews about similar subjects! Next week I may be sharing a couple mini-reviews for Alice in Wonderland-inspired books!

Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault
Vintage
Publication: June 11th, 2002

Paperback. 375 pages.

About Final Girls:

"What if you could fix the worst parts of yourself by confronting your worst fears? 

Dr. Jennifer Webb has invented proprietary virtual reality technology that purports to heal psychological wounds by running clients through scenarios straight out of horror movies and nightmares. In a carefully controlled environment, with a medical cocktail running through their veins, sisters might develop a bond they’ve been missing their whole lives—while running from the bogeyman through a simulated forest. But…can real change come so easily? 

Esther Hoffman doubts it. Esther has spent her entire journalism career debunking pseudoscience, after phony regression therapy ruined her father’s life. She’s determined to unearth the truth about Dr. Webb’s budding company. Dr. Webb’s willing to let her, of course, for reasons of her own. What better advertisement could she get than that of a convinced skeptic? But Esther’s not the only one curious about how this technology works. Enter real-world threats just as frightening as those created in the lab. Dr. Webb and Esther are at odds, but they may also be each other’s only hope of survival."

Mary Renault's Fire From Heaven is a fairly well-known and loved story of the beginning of Alexander the Great's life, and continues as a trilogy that covers his (unfortunately) fairly short life. I have had a copy of this book for many years and I've started reading it a few times, but I recently decided it was time to finally read the entire thing.

What I liked: Renault has some of the most beautiful prose and manages to weave such an intricate and effortless story. It is abundantly clear that she is passionate about the time period and her characters and does her research in order to make this story the best that it can be. There were honestly a few times where I felt the way she wrote certain descriptions reminded me a lot of some ancient sources I've read, which I thought conveyed a certain level of talent at assimilating her work to the period it's from. There were no anachronisms to pull me out of the story and I really enjoyed getting to know her version of Alexander, Hephaestion (if only we could get a story just about them!), Philip, Olympia, and everyone else involved in Alexander's life.

What I didn't like: As much as I appreciate her prose, there were definitely times when I felt my mind wandering and it couldn't quite hold my attention. Renault tends to go elaborate in detail on many different people and topics when it fits her narrative, and although I appreciated how much more depth this added to the setting and story, I sometimes wished she wouldn't spend quite as much time doing those sorts of diversions.

Overall, Fire from Heaven is a beautiful story of Alexander the Great's early years that I've given four stars and that I would certainly recommend it to anyone interested in him or the time period. If you prefer your historical fiction to be as close as possible in style to the period as well (with very few, if any, anachronisms), then this is the perfect one for you.

Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon
Vintage
Publication Date: September 6th, 2011

Paperback. 304 pages.

About Beneath the Sugar Sky:

"When Rini lands with a literal splash in the pond behind Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, the last thing she expects to find is that her mother, Sumi, died years before Rini was even conceived. But Rini can’t let Reality get in the way of her quest – not when she has an entire world to save! (Much more common than one would suppose.)

If she can't find a way to restore her mother, Rini will have more than a world to save: she will never have been born in the first place. And in a world without magic, she doesn’t have long before Reality notices her existence and washes her away. Good thing the student body is well-acquainted with quests... 

A tale of friendship, baking, and derring-do. 

Warning: May contain nuts."

The Golden Mean follows Aristotle's life as he travels to Macedon and is eventually hired by Philip to be a tutor to Alexander and select friends. This is another one I've had on my shelf for a while (reading books I've owned for a while has definitely become a theme for me as of late) and I'm glad I finally decided to pick it up.

What I liked: Lyon's writing style felt very distinct and simple. She seems to be almost the opposite of Renault in keeping her descriptions less expansive and more simplistic. However, this doesn't mean that she doesn't still have great prose because I really did ind myself immersed in her writing and adding a sticky note to various sentences that stood out to me. I really appreciated this focus on Aristotle and both his tutoring Alexander as well as his more personal life with his wife and occasionally his family. I feel like that isn't something that we really get to see very often, so it was a nice change and I always like to see authors' different portrayals and Aristotle and Alexander. I love how Lyon incorporated philosophical themes into the story as well.

What I didn't like: Sometimes the dialogue felt rather anachronous at times and it really drew me out of the story. The men can be rather vulgar and crass, which isn't what bothered me, but the words and way Lyon chose to write some of these instances came across a bit too modern for my taste. It definitely wasn't enough to be a deal breaker for me because I often try to imagine that this is how it would sound to them at the time also, but it is something very noticeable. There isn't as much attention to detail as From from Heaven, so there were a few times that the narrative was lacking in setting or description.

Overall, I've also given The Golden Mean four stars because of how much I enjoyed Lyon's writing and the various themes and quite moments of introspectiveness that the characters have that really stood out to me.

Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

Another Mini-Review: The Gobblin' Society by James P. Blaylock

The Gobblin' Society by James P. Blaylock
Subterranean Press

Publication Date: March 31st, 2020

Hardcover. 320 pages

About The Gobblin' Society:

"The story begins with an inheritance. Following a protracted legal battle, Alice St. Ives, Langdon’s wife, has come into full possession of Seaward, the house left to her by her late Uncle Godfrey, a man with a number of bizarre proclivities. Heartened by this good fortune, Alice, Langdon and their surrogate son Finn prepare to take possession of the house. From this point forward, events spin out of control, taking on a madcap logic of their own that is exhilarating and—in typical Blaylock fashion—often quite funny. 

What follows is, in a sense, a tale of two houses. The first, of course, is Seaward, a “rambling, eccentric old house” with it its history, its secrets, its priceless accumulation of volumes of arcane lore. The other is a neighboring house known, for good reasons, as “Gobblin’ Manor,” home base of The Gobblin’ Society, a “culinary establishment” with its own peculiar—and very dark—traditions. In the course of an event filled few days, St. Ives and his cohorts will encounter smuggling, mesmerism, kidnapping, cannibalism and murder. It is, in other words, a typical—and typically eccentric—Langdon St. Ives adventure."

I didn't initially to write this one as a mini-review, but when I started writing my review I realized it was a lot like Hearts of Oak by Eddie Robson where I didn't want to get too detailed about anything. I was really pleasantly surprised by this novella and it has definitely encourage me to check out more from James P. Blaylock. When I first read this book, there were only a few other reviews, all of which also gave the book similar high ratings to me, but now that I've just recently look I noticed it's, er, taken a bit of a nosedive due to a couple reviews, which is surprising to me! That being said, let's dive into my thoughts on this book.

What I liked: This was such a delightfully creepy and entertaining treat! Blaylock really knows how to tell a story that both shocks, excites, intrigues, and also contains some beautiful writing and entertaining dialogue. It's perfectly atmospheric, compelling, and has such a twisted sense of humor to it that I loved. The content is a little bit on the gruesome side due to subject matter and a few, uh, interesting scenes involving an unconventional source of food, and I just found the way the plot was created with this narrative was so well-done and definitely had me hooked. The characters were also surprisingly compelling and I found myself enjoying their personalities and the fact that they were all fairly intelligent about everything and actually questioned some of the strange goings-on.

What I disliked: Not a lot! There were a few spaces where the narrative was slightly dry and dragged, but this was such a minimal issue that it didn't really bother me much at all. I think a certain type of humor is needed to enjoy a book like this, and although I really enjoyed it, I'm including this in this 'dislike' are because it seems like something that might bother a lot of people and seems to be behind a few of the more negative reviews.

Overall, I gave this five stars!

*I received a copy of The Gobblin' Society courtesy of Subterranean Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating of the novel.*

Amazon | IndieBound | Subterranean Press

Mini-Review: Revenge: Stories by Yoko Ogawa

Revenge: Stories by Yoko Ogawa 
trans. Stephen Snyder
Picador, 1998

Paperback. 162 pages.

About Revenge:

"Sinister forces draw together a cast of desperate characters in this eerie and absorbing novel from Yoko Ogawa. 

An aspiring writer moves into a new apartment and discovers that her landlady has murdered her husband. Years later, the writer’s stepson reflects upon his stepmother and the strange stories she used to tell him. Meanwhile, a surgeon’s lover vows to kill him if he does not leave his wife. Before she can follow-through on her crime of passion, though, the surgeon will cross paths with another remarkable woman, a cabaret singer whose heart beats delicately outside of her body. But when the surgeon promises to repair her condition, he sparks the jealousy of another man who would like to preserve the heart in a custom tailored bag. Murderers and mourners, mothers and children, lovers and innocent bystanders—their fates converge in a darkly beautiful web that they are each powerless to escape. 

Macabre, fiendishly clever, and with a touch of the supernatural, Yoko Ogawa’s Revenge creates a haunting tapestry of death—and the afterlife of the living."

LIKES: This was a weird collection of short stories, but I like weird so it worked out well for me.
I've had a lot of success with Japanese authors in the past, so when I saw Ogawa mentioned as talented Japanese author to check out, I knew I wanted to check out her work.

This is a short collection of stories that reads quickly, so I was able to breeze through this particular book in about a day. The first story, "Afternoon in the Bakery" was a perfect opening story that really set the tone for the rest of the book--quite, unsettling, and unexpected. "Sewing for the Heart" and "The Last Hour of the Bengal Tiger" are two that also stood out and that had particularly interesting storylines. I found myself almost rather amused by some of these, which feels weird to say based on the subject matter, but there's something very satisfying and entertaining to figure out the connection between the stories and find out the twist. For me, the best part of this collection was how Ogawa connected all of the stories in one way or another so that they all sort of worked together and created one overarching narrative, even though storylines and/or characters were different in each.

DISLIKES: There were a few stories that didn't hold my interest and fell a little flat, but for the most part I don't really have many complaints. A few of the 'twists' were a little predictable as well in a select few of the stories, but I'm also not sure if they were supposed to be totally surprising or not. This wasn't necessarily the best collection of stories I've ever read, but I have no doubt that I will be picking up more of Yoko Ogawa's books this year!

Overall, I've decided to give Revenge four stars! If you like weird, quiet, short fiction, then be sure to give this collection a chance.

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

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The Vegetarian by Han Kang

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Mini Graphic Novel Review: Ody-C Vol. 1 by Matt Fraction, Christian Ward

Mini-Review:

Ody-C Vol. 1: Off to Far Ithaca by Matt Fraction, artwork by Christian Ward
Image Comics, 2015
Paperback. 136 pages.

About:
An eye-searing, mind-bending, gender-shattering epic science fiction retelling of Homer's Odyssey starting with the end of a great war in the stars and the beginning of a very long journey home for Odyssia and her crew of warriors. The journey to Ithicaa begins HERE, by Matt Fraction (Sex Criminals) and Christian Ward (Infinite Vacation, Olympus).

I was advised to go into this graphic novel with an open mind because it was a bit weird, but I am not sure anything could have prepared me for the full extent of how insanely weird this story is. This is a gender-flipped Odyssey retelling set in space. I want all things Classics-related in my life, so I knew I had to check this one out no matter how good or bad the reviews were (and well, there are a lot of the latter).

I can't really tell you much about the first half of this graphic novel because I personally have no idea what happened. This graphic novel was crazy and I couldn't pinpoint exactly what plot point was happening or what was going on at all. I was starting to get pretty disappointed throughout the first half because it was beginning to seem as though I would not like this at all, but since it was so short I figured I'd finish anyway. I'm glad I did, because I can say that the second half picks up a lot more and has a more coherent plot that I could follow much easier. The characters fell into place and there was a discernible relation to the Odyssey and the elements of the original mythical figures that brought everything to life.

The best things about this graphic novel are the writing style and the gorgeous artwork. This story, much like Homer's Odyssey, is also told in a verse-like style that really felt like a respectful tip of the hat towards Homer and the beauty of the original epic. In addition, the artwork is incredibly inventive and really shines on its own, and there are plenty of unique world-building elements and characters to explore.

Overall, I didn't love this as much as I hoped, but I was impressed enough with the style and last half of the story that I do think I will give the second volume a chance. I plan to re-read this one someday int he hopes of it clicking it a bit more, but I'm just hoping the next installment makes a bit more sense the entire time. I gave this three stars!

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

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Middle Grade Mini-Reviews: The Problim Children by Natalie Lloyd & Witchborn by Nicholas Bowling

The Problim Children by Nataie Lloyd
Katherine Tegen Books, 2018. Hardcover. 304 pages.
About the book
I loved The Problim Children! This was an incredibly fun, imaginative, and entertaining read. The Problim children are probably one of my new favorite fictional families--perfectly wacky, yet incredibly adorable all at the same time. There are seven children, each child for a different day of the week: Mona, Toot, Wendell, Thea, Fida, Sal, and Sundae--and, of course, their pet pig, Ichabod. I worried that such a large cast of main characters would be confusing, but I quickly caught on and was able to discern each character due to each one's unique and endearing personality.

There were a few minor aspects of this book that seemed to drag on on a bit too much or that were simply given too much focus, but these did not overtake my enjoyment in any way.The best part of this book was how Lloyd managed to work in a very open-minded mentality among the children about being accepting of different personalities and lifestyles in a way that was completely subtle yet incredibly effective. It was beautifully done, and I am absolutely going to be buying a copy for every child I know once they hit the middle grade age (or any fellow adult who wants a fun book!). Overall, I gave The Problim Children four stars!
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

*I received an ARC of The Problim Children in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating of the book.*


Witchborn by Nicholas Bowling
Chicken House Ltd, 2017. Paperback. 368 pages.
About the book
Witchborn was probably seventy-percent cover-buy/thirty-percent "ooh a witch story!" purchase. This cover grabbed me because I have such a thing for gorgeous detailed covers like these and I love ravens. Then I discovered that this was about witches and takes place in 1577, and well, I was sold.

I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as I expected,  but nonetheless it was still a really interesting book. It was fairly slow-paced, which is why I might recommend it for an older or more mature middle-grade reader, as felt that there were times when it balanced on the line of middle grade and young adult both in subject matter and style. It's definitely middle grade, but almost in the Tamora Pierce-sense where it can easily be read by any age. I wanted to see more magic from Alyce rather than simply moving the plot along to reach a destination. I did, however, love the dark and mysterious atmosphere that permeated this entire book.
Overall, I gave Witchborn four stars! This would be a great read for any witch fans!
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

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