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)
Book Review: Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
Posted on July 1, 2024 13 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Del Rey (June 25, 2024)
Length: 371 pages
Author Information: Website
I’m always excited every time Josh Malerman puts out a new book because of his unique blend of psychological horror and suspense, and there’s almost always a cool, spine-tingling twist. Playing on the monster-under-the-bed trope, Incidents Around the House did not disappoint, putting the spotlight on childhood fears and amplifying them to new heights that will scare the young and old alike.
The story unfolds through the eyes of Bela, a precocious eight-year-old who reveals she has an imaginary friend she calls “Other Mommy” who lives in her closet and comes out only after her parents tuck her in and say good night. But is Other Mommy truly imaginary? And is she really only confined to little Bela’s room? At first, Other Mommy is nice and wants to be Bela’s friend, but then she starts asking uncomfortable questions, questions like “Can I go into your heart?” which doesn’t sound like something someone friendly would say.
At first, Bela’s parents Ursula and Russ—Mommy and Daddo to our young protagonist—are unconcerned, believing Other Mommy to be a product of their daughter’s active imagination. But then Ursula, hiding a terrible secret and wracked with her own private guilt, thinks she catches a glimpse of something lurking in Bela’s room. Soon after, an accident in the park involving Bela has Mommy and Daddo rushing to the hospital, realizing something is very wrong. The entity known as Other Mommy is becoming more brazen, more powerful. It talks to Bela about reincarnation, and of taking her place. Soon, her parents are forced to confront the awful reality—there is something haunting their daughter, and to save her, they must act quickly to drive it out of their home, which may involve delving into their own fears and secrets.
That all these horrors are experienced from a child’s point of view is perhaps the most notable aspect of this novel. In some ways, having Bela as the narrator makes this story even more sinister and disturbing because it adds a layer of innocence and vulnerability to the terror. Not only did Bela’s naïve interpretations of strange events lead me to wonder at her reliability, but it also made her trust in the safety of her parents feel even more heartbreaking. As readers, we recognize Ursula and Russ’s desperation and their helplessness, made worse by Bela’s limited understanding of the truth behind Other Mommy, and this shattering of an idyllic childhood by a malevolent force can be felt like a punch in the gut.
Malerman also has a knack for creating atmospheric tension, especially when he is poking at deep-seated fears, like a parent’s worst nightmare of not being able to protect their child (see Bird Box and Malorie, for example). This tension is perfectly on display in Incidents Around the House and is infused completely into the plot as Other Mommy’s presence grows ever more encompassing, and Bela’s parents become frantic in trying to understand and fight this supernatural threat. In the second half of the book, this urgency rises to a fever pitch to give the reader a sense that every decision will have crucial consequences.
Of course, certain plot elements may feel familiar to horror fans, as the author is riffing on quite a few genre clichés. Still, the unique POV goes a long way to make up for this, as do some of the themes that come with it, such as the concept of lost innocence—the moment a child realizes that her parents are not infallible, for instance, and that they can’t in fact protect her from every danger lurking in the shadows. Then, of course, there is the worst revelation of all, which is that adult relationships are confusing and complicated, and the love between Mommy and Daddo isn’t as simple and solid as they’ve made Bela believe.
Overall, Incidents Around the House was a great read, providing a chilling and thought-provoking experience. I enjoyed the blending of familiar tropes with the exploration of familial relationships, especially from the perspective of a little girl which Josh Malerman manages very convincingly, earning a well-deserved recommendation from me if you are looking for an immersive dive into the eerie unknown.
Back from the Mountains…
Posted on June 27, 2024 12 Comments
I know it’s been a couple of weeks since my last post, and I wanted to let you know I’m still around and have just returned from a much-needed vacation to the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
Now that I’m back, I’m excited to dive into blogging again! Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing reviews of the books I read while I was away. Additionally, I’ll be visiting everyone’s blogs to catch up on all your amazing posts that I’ve missed!
As well, I want to take this chance to give a shoutout to Tammy at Books, Bones & Buffy and the Summer of Horror 2024 event.
Given the number of horror titles I’ve read in the last few weeks, and the even more horror releases coming up in the next couple of months, I’m definitely on board and looking forward to it.
Thank you for your patience and continued support! Stay tuned for more.
Book Review: The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde
Posted on June 18, 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.
The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Series: Book 1 of The Oak and Holly Cycle
Publisher: Red Tower Books (June 4, 2024)
Length: 400 pages
Author Information: Website
The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde offers an intriguing concept of a romantasy set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world, and to that end, it delivered an entertaining read! While a more experienced reader with romance fantasy will probably find it pretty standard, for a dabbler like me it was a fun dip into a genre I don’t often explore.
The novel follows Kierse, a young woman who joined a thieving guild in order to survive a world devastated thirteen years ago by a cataclysmic war when monsters of all kinds emerged from the shadows. Navigating this new reality teeming with a variety of supernatural creatures like werewolves and vampires, she relies on her cunning and skills to make it through each day in the ruthless streets of New York City. For the last few years though, humans and their new monstrous neighbors have coexisted relatively peacefully thanks to a treaty that was negotiated to end the bloodshed.
However, all that is about to change when Kierse receives a mission that sends her into the home of a mysterious warlock named Graves. When she is discovered, thus violating the treaty, Kierse expects the worst—but instead, Graves offers her a job. There’s something precious he wants hidden away behind an unbreakable security system under the city, and he needs a thief to help him break in to steal it. Intrigued, Kierse agrees to his terms, unprepared for the journey that the contract would set in motion. The work plunges her into a web of magic, secrets, and chaos, challenging her abilities and forcing her to confront the feelings she’s developing for her new employer.
We see most of the story through Kierse’s eyes, though the chapters are occasionally punctuated by interludes that let us see things from other characters’ perspectives. Her close friends Ethan and Gen help fill out the rest of the cast, showcasing the deep bonds forged between them from years of mutual hardship. Although this is a book in which romance takes center stage, I’m glad the author hasn’t neglected developing Kierse’s friendships too.
World-building was also very cool. Name practically any magical creature you can think of, this book probably has it. Magic in Linde’ world is unique to each wielder, and often a guarded secret to hide any weak points to exploit. Then there’s also the lore which serves as a backdrop to the plot and adds detail and context to the characters’ motivations and actions.
That said, the story isn’t without its flaws. Pacing was uneven as we moved from the heist to an increasing focus on relationship drama between Kierse and Graves. I wasn’t entirely convinced of their romance either, possibly due to a lack of chemistry or the fact it happened too quickly and “textbook” for my tastes. In other words, it’s the same dance we see so very often in the genre, making the story somewhat predictable.
Still, speaking as a reader who takes romantasy in small doses, the feeling of “same old, same old” didn’t bother me too much, and despite the predictability and clichés, I was compelled to keep reading. There’s no doubt an audience for this book, which I consider myself a part of, and I’m on board for the next one!
Book Review: Evocation by S.T. Gibson
Posted on June 15, 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.
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Summoner’s Circle
Publisher: Angry Robot (May 28, 2024)
Length: 301 pages
Author Information: Website
S.T. Gibson whisks readers off to an enigmatic world of the mystical occult in Evocation, and I was so ready to dive headfirst into this gorgeous book! The story takes us down into its tangled web of magic and secrets, focusing on the complex relationships and lives of our three main characters.
In his public life, David is a successful prosecutor, but within the hidden community of the paranormal, he is also known for his unique gift of contacting the spirits. Unfortunately though, he may have tapped into something bigger than he bargained for in his latest séance, uncovering a curse that has been hanging over his family for generations. Enter Rhys, David’s former lover and a talented sorcerer in his own right. However, following their messy breakup, the two men have barely spoken to each other, and things have only gotten worse between them with Rhys’s subsequent marriage to Moira, an astrologist and medium.
But now, facing an insurmountable threat, David is going to have to swallow his pride and reach out to his old friend and his new wife for help. Reluctantly, Rhys and Moira answer the call, meeting David at his family’s opulent estate called Beacon Hill house, where they immediately feel the presence of something oppressive and malignant. Working together with their specialized skills, the three of them embark on an investigation into the dark forces at play. But as they delve deeper into the mysteries of the house, dangerous secrets about David’s ancestry are revealed, leaving them with little time to save his life.
Believe it or not though, it’s the character relationships in Evocation that really take center stage, despite the high stakes plot. From the very first page, the intricate dynamics between David, Rhys, and Moira evolve constantly as they are forced to confront their shared history, leading to moments of deep connection but also lingering resentment. But faced with a common goal, their personal and collective struggles ultimately result in emotional bonding and a better understanding of each other, eventually opening the story up to an exploration of polyamory.
In fact, if I had to pick on one thing about this novel, it would be its handling of this aspect of the characters’ relationships. In particular, the insta-closeness between Moira and David, who were initially at each other’s throats, was a little too sudden and convenient, and I wasn’t entirely convinced of the slapdash magical explanation. I think Gibson also did Moira dirty in some ways. She seemed to serve more as a plot device than a fully realized character, frequently stepping in to be the mediator whenever David and Rhys were bickering like a couple of bratty kids, then being sidelined as a passive and compliant observer when they decided to rekindle their romance with little input from her.
I also would have preferred heavier emphasis on the paranormal elements of the story over the romantic connections, but thankfully the author also breaks ground for plenty of growth in the areas of character development and world-building. Evocation introduces an intriguing and promising glimpse into its world of the arcane, and the city of Boston where it all takes place serves as an ideal setting for a burgeoning paranormal series.
Lately, I feel urban fantasy is a genre practically begging for a kick in the pants, and it looks like S.T. Gibson is here to give one to it! In the end, I have a feeling we’re merely scratching the surface with Evocation, and I’m curious and excited to see where the next book of The Summoner’s Circle will take us.
The BiblioSanctum 