Audiobook Review: You Like It Darker by Stephen King
Posted on August 7, 2024 7 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
You Like It Darker by Stephen King
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Mystery
Series: Short Story Collection
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (May 21, 2024)
Length: 20 hrs and 21 mins
Author Information: Website
Narrators: Will Patton, Stephen King
As always, Stephen King’s short fiction collections can be a mixed bag. While some are absolute gems, others feel like he rummaged through his desk drawer and dredged up some old and half-baked drafts to fill up the rest of the book. The important thing is that the quality and quantity of the good ones mostly outweighed the bad. My thoughts on them below:
Two Talented Bastids – A journalist profiles two long-time friends who both became successful artists in their middle age. Much has been made about their sudden rise to fame at around the same time, and some say it had to be more than just luck and talent. Indeed, the story delves into the mysterious circumstances around a hunting trip that occurred with the two men were younger, revealing a otherworldly encounter that changed the course of their lives and careers. This was one of the longer stories, filled with eerie and surreal surprises. I enjoyed its unique perspective on art and talent, which was a little unsettling but also thought-provoking. 4 of 5 stars.
The Fifth Step – Harold Jamieson is sitting on a park bench reading his paper when he is approached by a stranger who reveals he is a recovering alcoholic trying to complete the 12-step program. He is on step five, where he must admit his wrongdoings, and has chosen Harold upon whom to unburden himself. This was one of the shorter stories, but packed a shocking punch at the end that I did not see coming! Very disturbing, but so very King. 4 of 5 stars.
Willie the Weirdo – Willie is a strange little kid who creeps out his sister and his family. He’s always doing weird things like staring at clouds and collecting dead insects. However, Willie shares a strong bond with his grandfather, who tells the boy seemingly farfetched stories from his youth. Maybe it was because I listened to the audiobook, but I had to go over the ending several times to make sure I understood it. It was so predictable that I thought there just had to be another hook. Nope, it was just a “blah” story. 2 of 5 stars.
Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream – The title character, a high school custodian, goes to sleep one night and has a vivid dream about finding a corpse of a woman. Remembering the details, he is able to find the exact location in his dream, and lo and behold, he also discovers the woman’s body right where he dreamt it. Worried that no one would believe him, Danny calls it in anonymously, but the police end up tracking him down anyway and make him their prime suspect. Danny’s only hope is to get through to Inspector Ella Davis, the only one on the force who might hear him out before the real killer can strike again. Another long one, true novella length, but it was so good I could not put it down. From feeling sympathetic towards Danny to being completely addicted to the tension and suspense, I was hooked. A great blend of action and supernatural. 4.5 of 5 stars.
Finn – Finn has the worst luck. Misfortune just seems to follow him around, and it’s been like this ever since he was a small boy. Case in point, as a teenager, while running home from his girlfriend’s house, he collides with another young man who looks a lot like him. Maybe you can see where this is going. But this story about a case of mistaken identity isn’t so simple, as Finn is kidnapped and violently interrogated by a group of mysterious men. This one could have been so much more, but instead, it felt like King had an idea that just failed to develop. Not sure this one had much of a point. 2 of 5 stars.
On Slide Inn Road – The Brown family are on a road trip to visit a sick relative when their journey is waylaid by a washed-out road. As dad Frank tries to turn the car around though, he backs it into a ditch. Billy and his sister go exploring around the ruins of the nearby Slide Inn, and witness something they were not supposed to see. This was a good story, but underwhelming as well, in the sense that anyone could have written it. I mean, way to go, Grandpop, but I have to say I expected more from King. 3 of 5 stars.
Red Screen – NYPD detective Frank and his wife Sandi are an aging couple who are experiencing some troubles in their marriage. What a hot mess this “story” was, a waste of time, completely unsatisfying and barely coherent. 1 of 5 stars.
The Turbulence Expert – What is a “turbulence expert?” It is an agent for a secret organization that can predict clear air turbulence, sent to fly on flights that will encounter this terrifying phenomenon. Dixon is one of these experts who is called in for a “mission” as he reflects upon the traumatic aspects of his job. I found myself feeling quite ambivalent towards this story, though the concept behind it was admittedly fascinating. Whatever you do though, just don’t read this while flying. 3 of 5 stars.
Laurie – A retiree named Llyod becomes severely depressed after becoming a widower, but his life turns around when his sister gifts him a puppy which he names Laurie. Lloyd gradually bonds with the border collie mix, and for the first half this one reads like a dog lover’s dream about the precious relationship between a man and his four-legged best friend. Then the other shoe drops, and things end on a shocking twist. To be honest, I can’t stand it when authors pull these kinds of stunts, but hey at least I got a good dog story out of it. 3 of 5 stars.
Rattlesnakes – This story is kind of a follow-up of Cujo, featuring Vic Trenton decades after the tragic events involving the rabid St. Bernard. Weathering the Covid pandemic, Vic finds himself holed up off Florida’s Gulf Coast acquainting himself with his neighbors. One of them, an elderly woman named Alita, pushes an empty stroller along the road daily, seemingly believing that her long-dead four-year-old twins are still alive. This was a gut-wrenching story with connections to a couple works by Stephen King, but even though I have not read them, I still enjoyed myself. One of the better stories in this collection, containing poignant messages about grief and closure. 4 of 5 stars.
The Dreamers – It is the early 70s, and Vietnam veteran William returns from the war to land a job as a stenographer assisting a scientist performing eldritch experiments. Gotta love it when Stephen King tackles cosmic horror. Grotesque and captivating. 4 of 5 stars.
The Answer Man – It is 1937. Driving down a remote stretch of highway, Phil Parker, a newly minted lawyer spies a sign advertising services for “The Answer Man.” Intrigued, he stops by and pays the non-descript man behind a simple roadside stall $25 to answer any question for five minutes. But this appears to be more than just a scam or gimmick. The man seems to know things he shouldn’t, giving correct responses to questions about Phil’s life that no one else should be privy to. Not only that, but the man is also able to provide answers to questions about Phil’s future, and though it shouldn’t be possible, events end up playing out exactly the way he said they would. Easily one of my top three stories in this collection. It had everything that makes a classic King story: the supernatural, nostalgia, beauty and despair. The bittersweetness was a fine way to end the book. 5 of 5 stars.
Audiobook Comments: I wouldn’t call Will Patton one of my favorite narrators as I sometimes find the pitch and cadence of his voice difficult to understand. However, I can also see why he is beloved among Stephen King fans. His accents are superb and there is a certain gravity to his performance that lends a great vibe to King’s stories.
Book Review: I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones
Posted on August 3, 2024 8 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones
Mogsy’s Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Saga Press (July 16, 2024)
Length: 384 pages
Author Information: Website
Ooooof! How could this happen, you ask? I’m still trying to figure that myself. How coming off from the brilliant Indian Lake trilogy, Stephen Graham Jones could follow it up with another horror novel that just crashed and burned so hard for me?
I do have some guesses, but first, a brief rundown of the plot of I Was a Teenage Slasher. Basically, the story features the memoir of a seventeen-year-old who looks back upon his past experiences, reflecting on how they started him on his path of becoming the quintessential teen horror movie killer. Tolly Driver was not what you would call popular, existing on the fringes of high school social circles. Yet he was still just your average kid in the summer of 1989 when he and his friend Amber decide to drop in on a wild house party. Things take a dark turn when Tolly falls victim to a cruel prank and ends up almost dying when someone slips a peanut into his drink, triggering a severe allergic reaction.
The experience is lifechanging, but in the most unexpected way. Tolly wakes up the next day to a new reality, one in which he has become the antagonist of a modern slasher flick, complete with a revenge plot. The stage is set, the outsider has been cast as the hunter, and once this train is set in motion, there’s no stopping it. As Tolly begins his bloody murder spree, his horror-geek friend Amber has to explain to him the ins-and-outs of a teenage slasher movie and help him understand why he has been suddenly overcome with the urge to kill.
Clearly, horror films are a passion for the author, as evidenced by the numerous nods and references to the genre in his Indian Lake trilogy. That said, what worked well there kind of fell flat here. For one, the satirical take and attempts to create nostalgia felt overdone and somewhat forced. While I loved the uniqueness of the idea, which was presumably intended to make us feel sympathy for the murderous Tolly and his fatalistic urges, I found myself numb to his character’s plight. Unfortunately, there was a lack of substance to him in part due to the book’s concept since he was supposed to feel more like a caricature than a real person, but even the story’s subplot involving his crush on Amber and the backstory involving his father (which the cynic in me thinks was built up as a push to add more depth to Tolly’s character) did not help.
But the kicker was the narrative style. Tolly’s incessant stream-of-consciousness narration was more than I could take, often leaving me with a headache and a growing resentment for the character. If you have read SGJ’s Night of the Mannequins you might recognize the very similar narrative style characterized by an unreliable flood of memories, thoughts, and observations, but once more, a device which seemed entirely appropriate for that book felt more like a misstep here. Whereas Night of the Mannequins was a shorter book where the narrative style was a jarring but curious affectation, here it was simply exhausting. Perhaps I would I been more patient if this had been a novella.
All in all, as much as it breaks my heart to say, I Was a Teenage Slasher was just not my cup of tea. In fact, if it hadn’t been by Stephen Graham Jones, who I count among my favorite horror writers, it probably would have been a DNF. However, given the author’s penchant for creative stories and the fascination I held for this novel’s premise, I knew I had to see it through, though ultimately, not even the high points and interesting ideas scattered throughout could compensate for the bigger overarching issues I had with the book.
Book Review: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
Posted on July 30, 2024 12 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Bramble (July 9, 2024)
Length: 384 pages
Wow, The Spellshop ended up being everything that The Honey Witch and Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea attempted to be but couldn’t quite achieve. And honestly, I’m not surprised at all that Sarah Beth Durst, well known for her incredible versatility, would be the one to perfectly capture the essence of a cozy romantasy.
The story introduces us to Kiela, a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium. Over the years, she and her assistant Caz—who is a sentient spider plant—have dedicated themselves to preserving the empire’s vast knowledge of magic and collection of spellbooks. However, when a revolution erupts across the city and the rebels set fire to the library, Kiela and Caz are forced to flee with only a few crates of books they were able to rescue from the flames. Escaping by boat, Kiela decides to take refuge in the only place she knows will be safe: Her childhood home of Caltrey, one of the remote islands far from both the influence of the empire and the destruction of the rebellion.
But much has changed in Caltrey, including the now overgrown cottage in which Kiela spent her early years before she and her parents moved to the city. The once thriving island also appears to be struggling, with wilting orchards and the seaside ranches that have failed to produce merhorse foals for years. Well-versed in the ways of magic, Kiela realizes that this decline stems from the absence of the visiting sorcerers from the empire, whose attentions have been diverted by the escalating rebellion for far too long. The island’s woes stem from the lack of magic—magic that Kiela has the power to restore with the (technically stolen) spellbooks in her possession. But using them will be illegal, and if the empire somehow survives being overthrown, getting caught using forbidden magic can mean death.
And yet, after getting to know the island’s inhabitants, including Bryn, the kindly antlered woman who bakes delicious cinnamon rolls, and Larren, her handsome but busybody neighbor who runs the merhorse farm, Kiela could hardly stand by and do nothing. With Caz’s help, she begins creating magical charms to sell alongside jams from her own store, a clever front for Calfrey’s first secret spellshop.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a “cozy romantasy” that actually delivers what it claims to, as so many promising books have ultimately fallen short to varying degrees. But The Spellshop fulfills its promise beautifully; Sarah Beth Durst brings together charming characters and heartwarming magic for this cozy, feel-good tale of love and friendships. Imagine yourself wrapped up in your favorite comfy sweater, breathing in the aroma of fresh-baked cookies, or sipping a warm cup of hot chocolate after coming in from the cold. If these sensations had a literary counterpart, this novel would be it.
So much of it is because of Kiela, a protagonist who is instantly relatable to us bookish types. But even as a librarian, her love of books often went beyond the requirements of her job and as a result of regularly choosing work over human interaction, she developed a certain…social awkwardness. In spite of this though, she is funny, quirky, and utterly endearing. Her witty and insightful observations of the world around her made me smile a lot, while her back-and-forths with Caz added an extra layer of good humor and whimsy. While the protagonists in other romantasy books often feel aloof in their bookishness or are motivated by personal ambition, Kiela is refreshingly authentic and her desire to help others feels genuine.
The plot also stays true to its mission by including a romance as one of its main elements but recognizes that romantasy encompasses way more than just love. It’s also about friendships and community as well as Kiela’s everyday life and interactions with the people of Calfrey rather than solely focusing on her developing feelings for Larren and making it all about getting them together.
My only critique, as small as it is, involves the ending, which I found to be a bit lackluster. While I’m aware action and tensions aren’t the point of this genre, I think I was expecting just a touch more conflict rather than a neatly wrapped-up, anticlimactic conclusion that passed without so much as a ripple. However, given the overall tone of the novel, I can understand the story’s gentle and uncomplicated approach to the ending.
All in all, Sarah Beth Durst has written a romantasy that is near perfection. Rarely does she disappoint, and the tale of magic, love, and self-discovery she has created in The Spellshop would be ideal for anyone looking for comfort and joy in a warm cozy read.
Book Review: The Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman
Posted on July 26, 2024 9 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 0 of Blacktongue
Publisher: Tor (June 25, 2024)
Length: 416 pages
Author Information: Website
Christopher Buehlman is an author I’ve followed for a while, but I first came upon his work with his horror novels. It was 2021’s The Blacktongue Thief that was his first foray into fantasy, introducing readers to a war-torn world devastated by what were known as the Goblin Wars. The book was…interesting to say the least. Looking back on my review, I called it an “eccentric little fantasy novel”, and even though I meant them positively, those words couldn’t quite capture the full range of emotions that I had. With The Daughters’ War, however, Buehlman has truly hit his stride, delivering a prequel that not only enriches the lore of his fantasy world but also stands alone as an epic tale in and of itself.
Set years before The Blacktongue Thief, The Daughters’ War opens with chaos and bloodshed. Galva, whom we first met in the previous book as a supporting character, takes the reins as protagonist as she defies her family’s wishes and joins the Raven Knights, a new unit of the army created to bring giant war corvids to the frontlines to combat the bird-fearing goblins that have overrun the human cities.
The novel is so named because war has taken a terrible toll; most of the men are dead, so now the women must fight too—even a noble daughter like Galva, who will join her brothers in battle. The journey will be long and arduous, especially against a brutal and clever enemy like the goblins. The Raven Knights’ corvids, created by dark magic, are humanity’s last hope, but even they are an unknown quantity, dangerous and unpredictable to their handlers. Galva will need to learn to bond with her birds, while also navigating the complex dynamics of her fellow soldiers and even some of her more mercurial family members.
While reading The Blacktongue Thief is not a prerequisite before diving into his one, being familiar with Galva will probably give more insight into her character’s evolution. We already know what she has lost and what she will become. This is the story behind the scars she bears, both visible and invisible, and the origins of her purpose. Of course, there are many reasons why I loved The Daughters’ War, and I will be going into more detail about them soon enough, but I think exploring the formative experiences and that forged Galva were the moments that resonated with me the most.
Plus, Galva is simply a great character. A likeable character, a stark contrast to Kinch Na Shannack, the titular blacktongue thief in the original novel whose almost stream-of-consciousness narration made you either love him or want to strangle him. Galva, on the other hand, is thoughtful and grounded. She also has a strong moral compass, whose sensitive nature belies her tough exterior. Her empathy and introspection not only enable her to connect with others but also with her corvids, fostering a sense of camaraderie among those who fight with her, and her own loyalty to friends and family is unwavering, even when they don’t always deserve it.
Finally, the author’s world-building here is nothing short of phenomenal. Not only is there meticulous attention to details, but there is also a surprising amount of emotional depth in the world of The Daughters’ War—in the intricate landscapes, diverse cultures, and rich history, which all contribute to the sense of a MASSIVE thought process behind its creation. Each element feels intentionally designed, not just ornamental, and even the verses and songs in the audiobook version are beautifully sung, not simply read aloud.
Perhaps my only critique, a minor one, is the way the story flips between two timelines, one presenting the current state of the war and the other chronicling the events leading up to it. A few awkward transitions here and there caused moments of confusion regarding the timeline of events. There were also occasional lulls in the middle of the book that I felt were unnecessarily drawn out and did not push the narrative forward. However, aside from those issues, I found The Daughters’ War to be nearly perfect.
Book Review: Small Town Horror by Ronald Malfi
Posted on July 23, 2024 7 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Small Town Horror by Ronald Malfi
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Titan Books | Tantor Audio (July 18, 2023)
Length: 384 pages | 9 hrs and 59 mins
Author Information: Website
Well, of course I had to read Small Town Horror. I love Ronald Malfi and will read anything he writes, especially since so many of his books take place in my backyard. Plus, the fact that his style has been compared to Stephen King certainly doesn’t hurt.
Indeed, there’s something quite reminiscent of It in the way this story begins. Five friends reunite in their hometown on Maryland’s eastern shore after one of them suffers what appears to be a mental break. One night, Andrew Larimer, a young up-and-coming lawyer from Manhattan, receives a call from a childhood friend named Dale, who sounds erratic and distraught on the phone, begging Andrew to come home. Despite his misgivings, our protagonist travels to the small seaside village of Kingsport where he grew up, telling his pregnant wife Rebecca that he’s leaving on a work-related trip. Lately, he has been having strange nightmares, which he has been chalking up to soon-to-be-dad jitters, but a part of him wonders if Dale’s anxiety is connected to his own. For you see, many years ago, when they were just teenagers, Andrew, Dale, and their friends Eric, Tig, and Meach were involved in some terrible business.
However, when Andrew arrives in Kingsport, he discovers the reason for Dale’s distress. His wife Cynthia is missing, and their friend Eric, who is now the town’s sheriff, has been trying to investigate the case while maintaining an image of impartiality. Being a lawyer, Andrew had been ostensibly brought in to help—but to do what? Is he here to find out what happened to Cynthia, or to make sure the truth of what happened twenty years ago never came to light? With the anniversary of that fateful night soon approaching, Andrew begins his work at the home of his late father, which has sat abandoned since his death—or so Andrew thought. He finds his old friend Meach, deep in the throes of alcohol and drug addiction, who may have been squatting in the house, judging by the rundown condition and stench. The whole place feels haunted, like the rest of Kingsport. That includes the Wharf Rat, the bar which Andrew’s old flame Tig still owns and runs. With their lives in disarray, it seems none of the five friends have been able to escape the heavy memory of what they’ve done.
Malfi’s talent for atmosphere is on full display here. The setting of Kingsport is the perfect backdrop for the novel’s eerie undertones, and even the people there seem trapped in time and unable to escape the downtrodden spirit and slow decay which permeates the town. The story unfolds across two timelines—one set in the present and one in the past which is conveyed via flashbacks. Despite witnessing the evolution of our characters over time as we flip back and forth, the town itself remains conspicuously unchanging.
Still, on that note, I think perhaps the flashback sections and POV transitions could have been executed with a bit more finesse; these sometimes felt too abrupt and poorly timed, causing confusion and a dragging pace around the middle of the book. The greater mystery here—which goes beyond Andrew’s nightmares, or Dale’s missing wife—is the question: Are the five friends all cursed because of the part they played in the events of that fateful night, or is the weight of their guilt simply too much to bear?
As with his previous works like Come With Me and Black Mouth (which was actually referenced), Small Town Horror contains an element of the supernatural, just enough to provide a bit of uncertainty. Aptly titled, the novel highlights the crucial role that small-town dynamics play in the premise and plot. Secrets, superstitions, and hauntings feel intriguingly plausible in such a place where the lines between reality and the paranormal are blurred, allowing readers to also grapple with their own interpretations of the chilling conclusion, which was mind-blowingly twisted and yet oh so satisfying and appropriate.
Book Review: Two Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine
Posted on July 19, 2024 14 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Two Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Young Adult
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers (June 25, 2024)
Length: 288 pages
Author Information: Website
I had high hopes for Two Sides to Every Murder, brought to us by Danielle Valentine, the same author who blew my mind with Delicate Condition which was one of my favorite books of last year. But this time she’s returning to the Young Adult genre with an off-the-wall thriller about two teenage girls drawn back to the site of a gruesome triple homicide many years ago. Needless to say, it was very different, and to fully appreciate it, I had to look at it in a whole different light.
Willow Creek used to be a friendly place where everyone felt safe. The town’s claim to fame was Camp Lost Lake, a picture-perfect slice of nature where children spent their summers swimming, hiking, and making lifelong memories. However, everything changed one night when the body of one of the local teen counselors was found pierced by an arrow used by the camp’s archery program. Before the night was over, two more deaths would be reported, and the murderer would escape. In the panic of the unfolding horror, the pregnant camp owner and director suddenly went into early labor. And that was how Olivia was born.
Seventeen years later, Olivia has no reason to question the unusual circumstances around her birth during the massacre, which has become infamous. But when a DNA test comes back showing that the man who raised her is not her biological dad as she has always thought, the search for answers leads her back to Camp Lost Lake, which is finally reopening again after all these years. Meanwhile, after a lifetime on the run, a seventeen-year-old girl named Reagan has also found her way back to Willow Creek, but the reasons she has come here cannot be any more different than Olivia’s. Reagan and her mother, Lori Knight, who was found guilty in absentia for the murders, had been lying low ever since. But Reagan has never believed the official narrative. Convinced that her mom is innocent, she is determined to find the evidence she needs to clear her name at Camp Lost Lake.
This is YA horror/thriller at its wildest and most overblown, but so help me, I enjoyed it despite myself. So much of this novel reminds me of the 90s teenage horror series I used to read a la R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike in that ludicrously campy and gruesome way, but which still evokes the heady vibe of nostalgia. Teenage drama mixed with unadulterated terror? Check. The backdrop of a seemingly idyllic town with dark secrets? Check. Characters with convoluted histories? Check.
In fact, let’s underline that last point. I highly recommend taking notes and drawing diagrams while reading so you can get all the characters straight! Without going into too much detail because I’m afraid of spoiling a major plot point which the entire premise of this novel hinges upon, not only do our two protagonists Olivia and Reagan each have their own POVs, but the author also uses dual timelines, creating an intricate and frequently confusing web of relationships that spans the lives of two generations. I was getting a headache simply trying to figure out how everyone was related.
But then one of the hallmarks of campy horror is its ability not to take itself too seriously, and Two Sides to Every Murder fits right into this tradition with tropes riffing on everything from The Parent Trap to slasher flicks like Scream. Much like the outrageous twists and melodrama found in the Fear Street series of yesteryear, Danielle Valentin’s story revels in its own chaos and absurdity, resulting in a book that is as much about fun as it is about horror. This is a nod to the approach of classic YA horror, where dramatic flair meets thrills and chills to create a nostalgically entertaining experience.
Book Review: How to Make A Horror Movie and Survive by Craig DiLouie
Posted on July 15, 2024 16 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
How to Make A Horror Movie and Survive by Craig DiLouie
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Redhook (June 18, 2024)
Length: 320 pages
Author Information: Website
Last year I read Episode Thirteen, my first Craig DiLouie book, and loved it. So it was not surprising at all that I also greatly enjoyed How to Make A Horror Movie and Survive, another meta-style horror novel that dives into the process of filmmaking.
Our story introduces us to Max Maury, a horror movie director who also sees himself as something of an artist with a vision to create a film that transcends the genre. However, his goal to serve up true unfiltered terror has been somewhat derailed by his own success. After his first “Jack the Knife” movie became a runaway hit in the late 70s, giving way to multiple sequels, Max finds himself growing increasingly disillusioned with the commercial direction the franchise has taken. He’s not here to create crowd-pleasers when genuine, visceral fear is what he’s going for, and it is in pursuing this artistic ambition when Max stumbles upon the urban legend of “Mary’s Birthday,” a film that was allegedly never released because it captured the deaths of its entire cast and crew in a gory freak accident.
But in fact, the story of this lost film is very real, something Max discovers when he acquires the director’s camera from an estate sale. Not only that, but there is also something seriously wrong with it, perhaps even giving some insight into the horrific fate that befell everyone connected to “Mary’s Birthday.” To Max though, the camera presents a unique opportunity to achieve everything he’s ever dreamed of, and there is no line he wouldn’t cross to make the perfect horror movie.
For the past few years, I’ve been noticing a growing trend of horror novels featuring stories involving the film industry. I find most of these read like love letters to the genre, so it’s interesting to me that DiLouie tackles these themes from a filmmaking angle with analysis on the anatomy of a horror movie. While the premise itself is a bit of a mindfuck, flagrantly packed with uncomfortably visceral moments and graphic violence (in a way that’s very much in keeping with Max Maury’s original vision for his own work), the plot is well structured and written in a way that kept me hooked.
As I alluded to above, the meta-narrative adds an extra layer of fascination and complexity to the story by engaging the reader’s awareness. Max is an appalling protagonist to be sure, but also extremely well developed. Since this review is spoiler-free, I’ll just say that the character’s overall arc is both gripping and unsettling; it’s unclear where his real experiences and twisted ambitions begin to blur with the horrifying art he is attempting to create.
Overall, I still believe Episode Thirteen was a better book by a smidgen, but I was definitely not disappointed with my second venture into Craig DiLouie’s work. The author is a credit to the world of horror fiction, and How to Make A Horror Movie and Survive is another standout entry offering a compelling blend of suspense, chills, and insightful commentary the genre.
Book Review: The Dark Side of the Sky by Francesco Dimitri
Posted on July 11, 2024 21 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Dark Side of the Sky by Francesco Dimitri
Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Titan Books (May 7, 2024)
Length: 355 pages
Author Information: Website
There’s about a dozen books on my read-shelf that I probably should be reviewing first, but I just finished The Dark Side of the Sky and felt the need to rush to put my thoughts on paper. Over the past week, whenever my kids wanted me to take them swimming, this was the book that kept me company while I played chaperone, and I can’t possibly imagine a more perfectly juicy and horrifyingly addictive read for the poolside. The novel is Italian fantasy author Francesco Dimitri’s third one in English, and just like The Book of Hidden Things and Never the Wind, it had me completely enthralled.
One big reason why: it’s a story about a doomsday cult, but you wouldn’t know it from the way things start. The book begins with an introduction to The Bastion, ostensibly one of dozens of trendy New Age-y spiritual retreats and festivals that have cropped up in the post-Covid environment. With another summer fast approaching, they have started taking applications for the next Open Feast, their annual event celebrating self-discovery and personal enlightenment. Zoey, who is the co-founder and organizer of the SoulJo festival which peddles many of the same offerings, eagerly applies with the intent to infiltrate The Bastion and get the inside scoop on her competition. Meanwhile, a young surgeon named Charlie and her musician husband Bertrand also fill out an application to the Open Feast and are accepted. However, mere weeks before the event starts, tragedy strikes. Bertrand passes away suddenly from a brain aneurysm, leaving a grief-stricken Charlie to attend alone, trying to distract herself from the pain.
The festival guests travel to the sunbaked shores of Puglia in Southern Italy, where they meet Bastion leaders Becca and Ric, as well as their team of helpers which include Lila, one of their long-time members. After three days of spiritual teaching and soul-searching (read: unfettered partying, sex, and drugs) most of the attendees go home, save for Zoey and Charlie, whom The Bastion has identified and chosen for their cause. On their land lies the Inner Pinewood, a place of mystery and enchantment, where past, present, and future meet and the impossible comes to life. Many years ago, this was where Lila experienced real magic. Now her mission is to help Becca and Ric show the newcomers too, teaching them to harness the Pinewood’s powers and protect it at all costs.
The Dark Side of the Sky is also an “aftermath” story, where the major fallout has already happened, only lightly hinted at throughout the book as the plot ramps up towards the grand finale when all the answers are finally revealed. Through the eyes of Zoey, Charlie, Lila, and occasionally the collective Bastion, we’re supposedly getting the “true story” from the insiders of how things actually went down, because the world has already condemned them all as a crazy sex orgy death cult.
Here’s where I think the novel will likely be contentious among readers, as is typical with a lot of books containing magical realism themes. While there’s an element of the supernatural, it’s never made overt. The ambiguity of what is actually happening—real magic or mass hysteria—is always on the forefront which can be frustrating for some, including myself. However, Dimitri has a way of weaving this uncertainty into narrative that keeps one engaged, which is why I also loved his other books (and I was excited to find references from both The Book of Hidden Things and Never the Wind included in The Dark Side of the Sky, implying all of them exist in the same shared world).
What’s not contentious though, is how the author has captured the psychology and the descent into the mind of cultists. The narrative structure he has chosen is also surprisingly effective and conducive to this intent, portraying the gradual and always subtle indoctrination process with chilling detail. Character development was phenomenal and the key to what made this novel so successful. Dimitri’s afterword gives some insight into how he was able to handle this aspect of the novel with such authenticity and empathy; it’s a fascinating deep dive into the fragile state of the human mind, exploring the power of manipulation when trying to understand the vulnerabilities and motivations that lead people to their beliefs.
The Dark Side of the Sky is a book you either love or hate. Personally, I loved it, which is surprising given my usual reservations about stories with a huge magical realism component. But as always, Francesco Dimitri is an exception to the rule with his novels that take me out of my comfort zone and make me question everything while capturing my imagination completely.
Book Review: Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen
Posted on July 8, 2024 19 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Book 1 of Fall of the Dragon
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (June 18, 2022)
Length: 480 pages
Author Information: Website
So, I have a bad habit of not paying too close attention to book blurbs and hence completely missed the allusions to Mulan in the publisher description for Of Jade and Dragons until I actually picked up the book and started reading it. My first reaction? Groan, not another one! But you know what they say about avoiding making snap judgments. This book ended up exceeding my expectations, delivering a richly told tale of mystery and ambition set against a silkpunk fantasy world inspired by Qing dynasty China.
The story follows 18-year-old Aihui Ying, who spent her life looking up to her father, the greatest engineer of his generation. But her life takes a drastic turn when she witnesses her beloved A-ma’s murder, the killer escaping with a dropped pendant as the only clue as to their identity. Armed with only her father’s journal for guidance, Ying sets out to become an apprentice by joining the prestigious Engineer Guild, where she also hopes to track down and exact revenge on the assassin.
The only problem? The male-only Guild will not accept a girl, leading Ying to adopt her brother’s identity to gain entry and prove herself worthy of following in her father’s footsteps. In the capital, she befriends a few of her fellow aspirants, including Prince Ye-Yang, who has entered the candidate trials for his own reasons. An alliance—and later, an attraction—forms between them as they promise to keep each other’s secrets and face the apprentice challenges together. This bond and partnership later become crucial as the trials give way to more and more dangerous obstacles, revealing treacherous guild politics and hidden agendas among its members.
First off, I loved the writing. Amber Chen’s prose is vivid and evocative but flows well without being too effusive. I enjoyed the world she created, which is brought to life by intricate details which make it easy to visualize the surroundings. The setting feels both historical and fantastical, which is a hallmark of this particular style of silkpunk blending magic and technology.
Ying is also a great protagonist, driven by her determination and resourcefulness. Despite the characters’ ages, Of Jade and Dragons exudes YA vibes and yet manages to avoid some of the most common genre pitfalls. Relationship dynamics feel genuine, capture the essence of each character’s personality and motivations. Dialogue reads as sharp and authentic. Sure, the plot isn’t without its predictability or clichés, but Chen’s sense of timing and ability to pace things just right make up for it. I found myself hooked on both the intrigue of Ying’s quest to find her father’s killer and the adventure of the guild challenges.
These trials are fraught with danger, but they also introduce wonders like mechanical beasts and other imaginative technology. The Engineers Guild is old and respected, steeped in tradition, but there are factions and infighting within. The wider threat of war looms as well. All the while, the characters grow and their relationships develop. Every thread comes together to fill out the plot, contributing to a gripping narrative.
All in all, I’m reminded that patience pays off. The elements in Of Jade and Dragons came together to deliver a good story with characters that made me feel invested, and I was happy to discover it’s the first installment of a series. I’m looking forward to continuing.
Book Review: Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs
Posted on July 3, 2024 15 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 14 of Mercy Thompson
Publisher: Ace (June 18, 2022)
Length: 416 pages
Author Information: Website
I confess, at fourteen books strong, sometimes I wonder if I’m still reading the Mercy Thompson series because I’m just too deep in it now to quit. The last few installments have had me pondering this question and wondering if their lackluster plots mean we’re running out of steam.
However, Winter Lost has made me feel a lot more optimistic. Patricia Briggs has stirred up a bit of mystery and injected some much-needed conflict into the lives of the Columbia Basin Pack. Our coyote shapeshifter protagonist Mercy Thompson is once more at the center of this novel, but we also have other perspectives chiming in now too, including that of her mate Adam—a welcome change. The two of them now find themselves in another jam, with Adam’s attention divided by his work as well as his responsibilities as pack leader. Mercy is still dealing with the aftermath of her Fae entanglements, her anxiety made worse by a sudden call for help from her half-brother Gary in Montana.
Amid terrible winter conditions, Mercy and Adam make their way west, but then a blinding snowstorm strands them at a lodge in the middle of nowhere along with a group of other travelers. These, though, are not your typical guests. Like Mercy and Adam, most of them are members of the supernatural community, and they have come expecting to attend a very important wedding—one that is now cast in doubt. Ancient magics are at work, threatening to bring an end to everything unless our characters can tease out the secrets hidden within the lodge.
Winter Lost does more than just add a compelling mystery to the series; it’s keeping things fresh by introducing elements from Norse mythology in addition to filling in more of Mercy’s backstory and familial ties as well as the lore of the supernatural world. Admittedly, the snowed-in-and-stranded-in-the-wilderness trope is also one I can never resist, along with all the tensions and unknowns that come with it.
But for longtime fans of these characters, the best part will be the deepening of Mercy and Adam’s bond. In many ways, the tone of Winter Lost reminded me very much of River Marked, an earlier installment which still remains one of my favorites, in that it is somewhat self-contained and focuses on the actions of our main couple with minimal pack drama getting in the way. That said, the narrative would frequently be interrupted by interludes catching up with the rest of the other characters, but these were often short and not obnoxiously intrusive.
While the ending was satisfying, it does raise some questions—perhaps not about this book, but for the direction of the series as a whole. A lot of the characters and plot development introduced in Winter Lost can potentially lead to more stories, but it still felt more or less like a one-off which can be a refreshing change of pace. And yet, it makes me wonder, not for the first time, what the future holds. Will the next book read like another standalone piece, or will it take us back to the bigger series arc, and if so, what other things can the author do to keep things interesting?
Well, after fourteen books, apparently Briggs still has what it takes to keep me coming back, so I’m sure she’ll think of something. Despite some recent lows in the series, I’m still enjoying these stories and characters a lot, and Winter Lost has reminded me why I fell in love with Mercy and the gang in the first place.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Reread of River Marked (Book 6)
Review of Night Broken (Book 8)
Review of Fire Touched (Book 9)
Review of Silence Fallen (Book 10)
Review of Storm Cursed (Book 11)
Review of Smoke Bitten (Book 12)
Review of Shifting Shadows (Anthology)
Review of Soul Taken (Book 13)
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