The BiblioSanctum

Waiting on Wednesday 09/13/23

Posted on September 13, 2023 6 Comments

Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!

Mogsy’s Pick

Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland (March 19, 2024 by Redhook)

“The acclaimed author of Sistersong transforms the story of Herla and the Wild Hunt into a rich, feminist fantasy in this stunning tale of two great warriors, a war-torn land, and an ancient magic that is slowly awakening.

Britain, 60AD. Hoping to save her lover, her land, and her people from the Romans, Herla makes a desperate pact with the king of the Otherworld. But years pass unheeded in his realm, and she escapes to find everyone she loved long dead. Cursed to wield his blade, she becomes Lord of the Hunt. And for centuries, she rides, leading her immortal warriors and reaping wanderers’ souls. Until the night she meets a woman on a bloody battlefield—a Saxon queen with ice-blue eyes.

Queen Æthelburg of Wessex is a proven fighter. But when she leads her forces to disaster in battle, her husband’s court turns against her. Yet King Ine needs Æthel more than ever. Something dark and dangerous is at work in the Wessex court. His own brother seeks to usurp him. And their only hope is the magic in Ine’s bloodline that’s lain dormant since ancient days.

The moment she and Æthel meet, Herla knows it’s no coincidence. The dead kings are waking. The Otherworld seeks to rise, to bring the people of Britain under its dominion. And as Herla and Æthel grow closer, Herla must find her humanity—and a way to break the curse—before it’s too late.”

Book Review: Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

Posted on September 12, 2023 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.

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Berkley (September 12, 2023)

Length: 336 pages

Author Information: Website

The term “black sheep” is often used to describe a family member who is different or frowned upon because they may act or hold values outside the social norm. But when your family are the crazy and dysfunctional ones, then maybe it’s good to be the black sheep?

At least that’s what Vesper Wright tells herself. At seventeen, she left her small town and insular religious community to get away from the cultish environment and strike out on her own. For the last six years, she has been keeping a low profile and eking out a living as a waitress. While it can be demoralizing work and the pay isn’t great, things could get even rougher and it wouldn’t matter to Vesper. She had sworn that no matter what happened, she would never go back. And it was a promise she thought she could easily keep—since anyone who left was declared anathema and couldn’t return anyway—until one day, an unexpected letter arrives in the mail.

It turns out to be a wedding invitation, and not just to any wedding. Her cousin Rosie, who had been like a sister to Vesper when they were children, is getting married to Brody, Vesper’s old boyfriend and the only guy she’s ever loved. Apparently, someone had bent the rules by extending this olive branch to Vesper, and it’s this mystery, more so than the heartfelt entreaty at the bottom of the invitation for her to come home, that finally makes the decision for her. Having just lost her job, there’s no reason to stick around anyway, so after packing her bags and getting on a train, Vesper prepares to confront everyone at the family farm where the wedding is to take place.

As she expected, nothing about her old home seemed to have changed over the years, though what did surprise her was how happy everyone is to see her, considering the circumstances of her departure. Everyone, that is, except her mother, family matriarch and horror film star Constance, who is as icy as always. Rosie, however, is as kind and warm as ever, and one look into Brody’s eyes—well, Vesper can tell he’s still in love with her. Sitting down to dinner with the people she grew up with, Vesper is reminded of why she left this all behind in the first place, for even though this looks like a tableau of a perfectly normal family, she knows it is anything but.

Soon, readers will discover that for themselves as well, but I will not spoil that bombshell here. Suffice it to say, the twist altered my perception entirely, and swiftly sent this novel in a direction which I can only describe as My Best Friend’s Wedding meets The Omen. And that’s the only clue I’ll give!

Once more Rachel Harrison proves why she is the reigning queen of chick lit horror, penning another gore-soaked tale of terror which embraces female relationships and women-centric themes and struggles. This is the fifth book I have read by the author, and I am convinced she can write nothing but winners. I’ve become such a huge fan.

One reason is her uncanny ability to create a fusion of seemingly contrasting genres, often blending spinetingling chills with quirky humor. The stories never go the way you expect them to. But despite the dark turns they usually take, there’s almost always an underlying sense of optimism to them as well. Black Sheep takes a look at how one woman’s history of familial trauma can have a layered effect on her psyche. After all, if anyone has a good excuse for being a messed-up bitch, it’s Vesper. But through Harrison’s deft storytelling, we see that her protagonist’s journey is far from straightforward. Some days you might hate the world so much, all you want is to see it burn. But one can always break free from the shadows of the past, even when the devil himself is standing in the way.

So, if you’re one to put together Halloween reading lists for the spooky season, please do yourself a favor and add this book now! Whether you’re looking for bone-chilling horror or just a compulsive read for entertainment, Black Sheep will be your perfect companion.

Book Review: The September House by Carissa Orlando

Posted on September 11, 2023 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.

The September House by Carissa Orlando

Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Berkley (September 5, 2023)

Length: 352 pages

Author Information: Website

Try to picture your typical haunted house story: It begins with a young couple, usually with small children, who move into their dream home which they had recently purchased at a suspiciously good price. From there, the nightmare begins. Weird things start to happen, whether as a result of malevolent ghosts or the house itself coming alive, frightening the bejeezus out of the hapless family. Queue the spiraling madness, the frayed nerves, the choking sense of claustrophobia. By this point, most haunted house victims are left desperately clinging onto the remnants of their sanity, doing everything they can to get the hell out.

But not Margaret. While Carissa Orlando’s debut The September House may share quite a few common elements with your typical haunted house story, its protagonist certainly stands on her own. First of all, in her mid-fifties, it takes a lot more than bleeding walls and screaming ghosts to faze her. Plus, good luck prying her out of the house because she just loves it so damn much. Four years ago, she and her husband Hal bought the old Victorian knowing that it had a history, but everything else about it had been perfect. So, when the moaning sounds started and birds began killing themselves against the house en masse, they forced themselves to turn a blind eye, chalking it up to bad pipes and strange winds. Even when the ghostly figures started appearing, Margaret didn’t think it was a dealbreaker. After all, it was just a matter of perspective. Some of the ghosts could even be helpful, like Fredricka, who had been a maid in her past life and could cook, clean, and brew a mean pot of chamomile. She might be a little hard to look at, sure, what with her head split open by the axe that killed her, but free help was free help! And Margaret was a firm believer that after a while, you can get used to anything.

Then, September came around. For some reason, things would get particularly bad during this month. The ghosts, dubbed “pranksters” by Margaret, became restless and uncontrollable, especially the children. One of them, a boy with razor-sharp teeth called Elias, would lash out violently and bite if you got too close, and this was the final straw for Hal. After the last September, he just couldn’t take it anymore.

When the book opens, Margaret and Hal had been living in the house for several years. So far, they’ve successfully made excuses to keep their adult daughter Katherine away, but that’s been getting harder to do in the last few months. Lately, she has been calling all the time, asking to speak to her father, which Margaret knows would not be possible, but the stubborn girl just wouldn’t give up! Now Katherine’s has gone and booked a plane ticket heading her way, and Margaret is freaking out because it’s September. There’s just no way she’ll be able to control the house or its ghosts this month, and even if she somehow manages to hide the truth from Katherine, there’s still the matter of Hal, and Margaret has no idea how she’ll explain away that problem.

To say that I was pleasantly surprised by The September House is an understatement. I freakin’ loved this book! While it follows the expected trajectory of a haunted house story in some ways, there are also a few departures from the usual formula which breathes fresh life into the genre.

One of the most unique and standout aspects of this novel was hands down the character of Margaret, whose response to the supernatural events unfolding around her was so blasé as to be almost humorous. Her personality also pointed to a lot more going on beneath the surface—like, is she for real or is this just pure denial from loving the house so much? Even so, surely any sane person would have limits, right? Oh wait, hang on a sec, is she even sane? Just how much can we trust her, given how cagey she is about Hal’s whereabouts right off the bat?

As the plot unfolds, we find out exactly what Margaret’s story is, like why she’s so big on rules, or why she’s so adamant about staying in this damn house. And that’s not even the best part. The more we find out about her past—gradually revealed in her memories, flashbacks, and conversations with her daughter Katherine—the more everything starts to make sense. The pacing was simply impeccable, each development timed with utter perfection. Every chapter delivers new clues about our characters or the house, keeping me in suspense of what’s to come. It all culminates in an explosive ending that jerked me this way and that before leaving me wide-eyed and breathless. I am stunned that this is Orlando’s first novel, and it is commendable how well she was able to take the best parts of the horror and domestic suspense genres and blend them together.

If you’re into haunted house stories (or hey, even if you’re not!), The September House is a must-read for chiller and thriller fans, especially if you enjoy the quirky horror-meets-humor tone of books like The Twisted Ones or A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher. A five-star worthy debut that’s not to be missed.

Bookshelf Roundup 09/10/23: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on September 10, 2023 14 Comments

Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I summarize what I’ve finished reading in the last week and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.

Before you know it, it’s September. I’m still catching up on some blog things, mainly trying to get started on this month’s TBR and to get the huge review backlog written and posted. There are also a few more books I received while I was away that need featuring, many of which have already been released, so we’ll get to those post-haste!

Received for Review

With thanks to Tordotcom for:

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire, the ninth novella in the Wayward Children series. Earlier this year I received a copy of Be Sure which collects books 1-3, and I hope to read it soon so that will be a great start to catching up.

With thanks to HarperVoyager for:

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner, finally coming to the American market after its UK release earlier this year. Since then, I’ve heard some great things about this debut which make me very excited to dive into it.

With thanks to Orbit Books for:

These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs, the first book in a new space opera trilogy called The Kindom. The fate of a galaxy rests on a single memory that can reveal the truth behind the empire’s downfall decades ago, and now the three women are caught up in the middle of it.

With thanks to Redhook for:

The Star and the Strange Moon by Constance Sayers, a haunting historical following a struggling American actress who tries to save her career by accepting a role in a horror film. I’ve really enjoyed the author’s work and am looking forward to reading this one as well.

With thanks to St. Martin’s Press for:

Murdle: Volume 2 by G.T. Karber, which contains 100 additional murder mysteries to be solved. I received the first volume earlier this year but haven’t even gotten through half the puzzles in it yet, and another book is out already.

With thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for:

Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle, a YA academia fantasy following a teen mage who investigates a secret society that may have been involved in her classmates’ deaths. I confess the cover was what first drew me to this one, but the story sounds fascinating too.

Reviews

Recent Reads

I have been reading up a storm! It helps that I’ve been blessed with a streak of good books lately, like Black Sheep and The September House, both of which will have their five star reviews posted this week if all goes as planned. In fact, the only weak link was probably Vampires of El Norte, whose writing I felt could have used a bit of polish. And although it’s not even October yet, horror and dark fantasy books have been dominating my TBR. I think that’s been the case since the beginning of summer, since 2023 has been a great year for these genres.

Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read!

YA Weekend: Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt

Posted on September 9, 2023 10 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt

Mogsy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Young Adult, Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (August 29, 2023)

Length: 272 pages

Author Information: Website

In a small town, everybody knows everyone’s else’s secrets—which is why, when Wilhelmina “Wil” Greene’s mother disappears, the assumption is that she abandoned her family. After all, history has established a precedent for it. Still, Wil refuses to believe her mother could have just left like that, even after a year has passed. Something must have happened to her, and until she is found, Wil is going to keep the pressure on the police to look for answers, no matter how many visits to the station it takes. She also suspects that the Clarke family may have something to do with her mom’s disappearance, which is why everyone seems content to ignore the entire matter. Ultimately, no one wants to be the one investigating Pastor Clarke, the most influential and powerful man in town.

As a consequence of Wil’s suspicions, however, a rift has also formed between her and Elwood Clarke, her once best friend. Now they don’t even talk, as Elwood faces the dread of his looming eighteenth birthday. On that day, he will leave school and partake in a rite of passage which will confirm his place in his father’s congregation, the Garden of Adam. It is something his parents have prepared him for his whole life, but as the time nears, Elwood is starting to have doubts. One night, he disobeys his father and goes to a party, only to come home and learn the truth of what the church has planned for him. Refusing to be a part of it, he runs away and seeks help from the only person he knows will believe him about his wicked family—Wil. The two of them strike up a tentative alliance: she will keep him hidden while he gathers the evidence to prove that his father had something to do with Wil’s mother’s disappearance. But while Ellwood may have escaped for now, there is no running from what’s inside him. If all the plants coming alive around him wherever he goes are any indication, and he will have to face the forest’s call before long.

While Together We Rot had its moment of promise and potential, overall I found myself struggling with certain aspects of the book, namely its characters and the story. Sure, the premise was interesting—enough to draw me to the novel in the first place, when my cynical self has long reached the point where I’ve gotten to be much more judicious about picking the YA I want to read. And yet, it was still not quite enough to overcome certain hurdles.

Let’s start with our protagonists. There are plenty of reasons why angsty, hormonal teenagers aren’t the most fun to hang out with, and unfortunately, Wil embodies almost all of them. It’s one thing to have an assertive and tough character who doesn’t give up, but it’s another to have a belligerent hothead who seems to get off on constantly getting in other people’s faces. The former is true badassery, while the latter is just plain old asshattery. And yet, that’s still better off than poor Elwood, who doesn’t seem to have an ounce of personality of his own. The story is told through alternating POVs, and I could always tell we were on his chapters because he was so bland. The narrative had to constantly resort to describing his obsession with bugs and entomology, because apparently he needs to be defined by this one hobby or else he’d be completely forgettable.

On the bright side, in the face of these criticisms, I guess my issues with the story isn’t so bad. The plot just wasn’t as good or captivating as it could have been. Cults and cult leaders have featured as villains in many of the books I’ve read this year, and comparatively, the characterization of Elwood’s father and the Garden of Adam was pretty run-of-the-mill, not all that imaginative or unexpected. Pacing also felt a bit slower at the beginning because not enough happened. The writing and prose were standard fare, not outstanding but not bad. This being a debut, I chalk these hiccups up to a new author still trying to hone her craft.

As such, I don’t want to nitpick too much. It’s enough to say that Together We Rot was a decent read, especially for a novel of YA paranormal horror with a strong thread of romance, but it didn’t blow me away. There were a few highlights here and there, but these scattered moments couldn’t quite overcome or compensate for the lackluster characters or the story’s shortcomings.

Audiobook Review: Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney

Posted on September 7, 2023 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.

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Macmillan Audio (August 29, 2023)

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Author Information: Website

Narrators: Katherine Press, Stephanie Racine

This is the fifth book I have read by Alice Feeney, and while the story was not as compulsive as Daisy Darker, its suspense not as polished as Rock Paper Scissors or His & Hers, it is still a testament to how much she has grown as an author. Part domestic thriller and part family drama, Good Bad Girl is a compelling novel with a heartwarming mother-daughter relationship at its core.

Yet the book begins with a gut-wrenching scene: a woman, run ragged from the sleepless nights and anxiety-ridden days, pushes a stroller through a grocery store when she takes her eyes off her newborn for just a moment. The next thing she knows, the baby is gone, stolen away.

Twenty years later, another woman goes to work in an assisted care home, ready to start her rounds. Barely out of her teens and going by the alias Patience (because she doesn’t want anyone to know her real name), she first starts off by visiting Edith, one her favorite residents. At 80-years-old, Edith is still sharp for her age, and wants nothing more than to leave this depressing place. Patience is the only person she can talk to, because her own daughter Clio, the one who brought her here in the first place, doesn’t visit near enough.

In fact, Clio is kept quite busy at her job giving therapy sessions out of her own home. She and Edith don’t really get along, but even if she wanted her mother to live with her, she wouldn’t have the time or the space to give her the care she needs. That day, Clio is preparing to meet a new client.

But Frankie, her patient, doesn’t actually want to meet to talk about her problems. A prison librarian, Frankie is desperately looking for her daughter who had run away from home the day she turned eighteen. And she also has something important to say to Clio, whom she meets face-to-face for the first time at their counseling session. But before she can get the words out, they are interrupted by a phone call—a call that sets of a chain of events no one could have seen coming.

These four women—Patience, Edith, Clio, and Frankie—are all connected in a way. The question of how is the mystery behind Good Bad Girl, and every page is a step towards uncovering the threads of the past that bind them. Granted though, anyone giving it enough thought will probably be able to figure those out, but I found the main underlying narrative of family dysfunction to be the most irresistible element. The twists may have been predictable, the resolutions too tidy, but the plot was heavily character-driven and that’s no small thing, when the characters themselves were the most interesting part of the book.

But if you’re looking for a psychological thriller or suspense, you might be disappointed. This one feels a little different from Feeney’s previous books. I kept waiting for the show to start, but the knuckle-clenching hanging-by-the-edge-of-your-seat moments never truly materialized. Like I said, this is a story more intent on tugging on heartstrings than sending them racing, so for better or worse, those expecting a lot of twists should prepare to find something more emotionally charged and complex instead.

In the end, Good Bad Girl isn’t my favorite by the author, but I did enjoy and appreciate that it was different, showing her versatility. The audiobook narrated by Katherine Press and Stephanie Racine was also a very good listen, though there probably could have been room for more narrators in the mix for a fully immersive experience. Still, you can never go wrong with an Alice Feeney book in audio, as you can always count on it being great.

Waiting on Wednesday 09/06/23

Posted on September 6, 2023 10 Comments

Mogsy’s Pick

The Gathering by C. J. Tudor (April 9, 2024 by Ballantine)

“A detective investigating a grisly crime in rural Alaska finds herself caught up in the dark secrets and superstitions of a small town in this riveting novel from the acclaimed author of The Chalk Man

Deadhart, Alaska. 873. Living.

In a small Alaskan town, a boy is found with his throat ripped out and all the blood drained from his body. The inhabitants of Deadhart haven’t seen a killing like this in twenty-five years. But they know who’s a member of the Colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs living in an old mine settlement deep in the woods.

Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings, is called in to officially determine if this is a Colony killing – and authorize a cull. Old suspicions die hard in a down like Deadhart, but Barbara isn’t so sure. Determined to find the truth, she enlists the help of a former Deadhart sheriff, Jenson Tucker, whose investigation into the previous murder almost cost him his life. Since then, Tucker has become a recluse. But he knows the Colony better than anyone.

As the pair delve into the town’s history, they uncover secrets darker than they could have imagined. And then another body is found. While the snow thickens and the nights grow longer, a killer stalks Deadhart, and two disparate communities circle one another for blood. Time is running out for Atkins and Tucker to find the Are they hunting a bloodthirsty monster . . . or a twisted psychopath? And which is more dangerous?”

Book Review: Schrader’s Chord by Scott Leeds

Posted on September 5, 2023 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.

Schrader’s Chord by Scott Leeds

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Nightfire (September 5, 2023)

Length: 448 pages

Author Information: Twitter

A bit like High Fidelity meets Final Destination, Scott Leeds’ debut Schrader’s Chord is a captivating horror novel that combines bone-chilling intensity with quirky charm. From the very first page, it was clear to me this was not going to be your average fright fest.

Upon receiving word of his father’s unexpected death from an apparent suicide, music rep Charlie Remick travels from the east coast to his hometown of Seattle to help his sisters plan for the funeral. At the reading of the will, he also learns that his father had left him his beloved record store as well as an old box containing four dusty vinyls. But while the store may have been the late Raymond Remick’s pride and joy, Charlie, who is estranged from his father, feels that it represents everything that had gone wrong with their relationship. His first instinct is to shut it down, though its current employees Dale and Ana hope to change his mind.

Then at the wake, their house is broken into by a disturbed man trying to steal the old box of antique records. Before he can succeed, however, the stranger’s life is taken by a freak accident, and the mystery of why he wanted the box’s contents dies with him. Still, some clues may have been left behind in Raymond’s travel files, which show he had taken multiple trips outside the country in the weeks before his death. Charlie soon discovers that the elder Remick had been seeking Shrader’s Chord, a campfire story he remembers his father telling him and his sisters when they were children. As the legend goes, once upon a time there was a composer named Ivan Schrader whose grief for his dead wife was so strong that he devised a set of four notes which would open a gate to the afterlife, allowing him to see and speak to her again.

Could the records in the musty old box actually be Shrader’s Chord? Curiosity getting the better of them, Charlie and Ana are eager to find out. Together will Dale and Charlie’s twin sister Eleanor, the four of them decide to test this theory, playing the records simultaneously. What follows next is as terrifying as it is shocking. A malevolent force is unwittingly unleashed upon the world, with every member of the group emerging from the traumatic experience with the power to see the dead as well as a deadly curse upon their heads.

In the realm of horror, where the narrative often prioritizes thrills and frights, Schrader’s Chord takes things in a slightly different but refreshing direction. Of course, there is still the fear factor and shock value aplenty, which keeps the tensions high, but there’s also some humor to offer a counterbalance and occasionally break up that tightness. The novel is filled with pop cultural references, especially to horror movies and, naturally, to music. As well, the witty banter between the characters serves as a juxtaposition to the doom and gloom which would have otherwise overshadowed the entire story, and I appreciated these moments of lightness to alleviate the choking sense of dread—quite a bit more than I realized.

And speaking of the character interactions, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the familial element, which admittedly was unexpected at first but definitely not unwelcome. Woven into the plot is the constant theme of family ties, the relationship between father and son, brother and sisters. Distanced from his family since his falling out with Raymond, Charlie heads home expecting to put that part of his life to rest, and instead finds a second chance to set things right with this father. This particular aspect of the character’s personal journey added another layer of depth, and I was impressed by how seamlessly it was integrated into the overarching narrative.

All in all, Schrader’ Chord is a clever and entertaining debut into the horror genre, perfect for fans of authors like Grady Hendrix. Combining the nail-biting horror with well-timed wit, this novel sucked me with its unique premise and compulsive storytelling.

Book Review: Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine

Posted on September 4, 2023 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.

Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine

Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (August 1, 2023)

Length: 432 pages

Author Information: Website

Word of advice: Do not start this book before you go to sleep or unless you have a good chunk of time available to devote to it, because believe me, you will not want to stop. Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine has rocketed up my list of favorite thriller reads of the year, thanks to its gripping narrative and unexpected plot twists that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The story follows actress Anna Alcott, who enjoyed a moderately successful career in her youth. Now in her late 30s, she is preparing to settle down with her new husband Dex to start a family, but unfortunately, infertility had other plans. After wrapping up work on her latest project, an indie film called The Auteur, Anna decides that the time has finally come to seek help at a fertility clinic, one that comes highly recommended by friends. However, during their latest round of IVF, The Auteur unexpectedly becomes a runaway hit, and suddenly, Anna is faced with the possibility of being nominated for an Oscar.

Years ago, the opportunity would have been a dream come true, but now Anna only has her sights on getting pregnant—and the obsession might even be starting to affect her senses. At first, it was the missed doctor appointments, though she could have sworn she entered the dates and times correctly into her calendar. Then came the misplaced bottles of medications crucial to her IVF cycles, almost as if someone was deliberately trying to sabotage her pregnancy journey.

Things only get worse when Anna eventually gets her positive test. One day, someone breaks into the house while she is sleeping, and creepy dolls are left on the beach where she frequently walks. As desperation mounts and the stress becomes more than she can take, Anna starts having terrible symptoms and can’t stop worrying about her baby’s safety even as she wonders if she might be losing her mind.

From the very beginning, I was seized by the uncomfortable truths of human reproduction. In my experience, most books for expectant mothers paint a halcyon, glowing picture of pregnancy (“Your baby is now the size of a sweet potato!”) while failing to depict that what happens between conception and birth is a harrowing process where so many things can go wrong. Heck, even trying to conceive can be a monumental struggle, as it was for Anna Alcott. In a true test of my squeamishness, the author does not shy away from any of the messy, painful details as she describes her protagonist’s experience with IVF and then, later, her experiences with a difficult pregnancy. For this reason, Delicate Condition has the potential to be a highly distressing read for someone who is pregnant, struggling with infertility, or has experienced miscarriage. Reader discretion is definitely advised.

Personally though, what set this book apart for me was its main character, whose every emotion came to life with depth and complexity. Even though I had relatively textbook pregnancies with my kids, as a naturally anxious person, I was paranoid and worried every day, and seeing those fears magnified a thousand times in Anna, my heart just broke for her.

The novel’s pacing was also an example of masterful balance and control, never letting up for a second while still being careful not to overwhelm the reader with too many developments. And while this book has been compared to Rosemary’s Baby, quite honestly, I feel the comparison is neither accurate nor fair. Delicate Condition certainly deserves to stand on its own since there are some elements it tackles differently, and other areas where it does things even better. Best of all, there was plenty of psychological depth to the horror and suspense, both of which increased gradually over the course of the story, building up to multiple revelations until the grand finale left me in a state of complete shock.

Finally, this isn’t actually my first book by the author, who has published YA titles under her name Danielle Vega. However, compared to the YA horror novel I’d previously read by her, which was rather run-of-the-mill and unadventurous, Delicate Condition is a whole other kind monster—a dark, vicious, and unrelenting one. At the same time, I loved the sophistication and boldness of the writing and narrative, and if this is what I can look forward to from the author’s adult fiction in the future, then sign me up for more.

Bookshelf Roundup 09/03/23: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on September 3, 2023 11 Comments

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Received for Review

With thanks to Random House for:

Fever House by Keith Rosson, about a small-time criminal who finds in his client’s refrigerator a severed hand that induces uncontrollable madness and a compulsion for violence.

With thanks to Del Rey for:

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, the first book of Shadow of the Leviathan, a new mystery fantasy series featuring a Holmes-and-Watson style pairing. Word cannot describe how excited I am for this.
Mister Magic by Kiersten White, a dark supernatural thriller about a group of child stars who reunite many years after a tragedy ended their show. I have already read this one, and I won’t lie, my feelings are a bit mixed. A review will be up soon.
Spin A Black Yarn by Josh Malerman, because as if all this horror isn’t enough, this one is a collection of novellas containing five more twisted tales.

With thanks to Titan Books for:

They Lurk by Ronald Malfi, another novella collection, and yes, more horror! I’ve already devoured this one too, and Malfi never disappoints. Aiming to review it this week.

With thanks to HarperVoyager for:

Where Peace Is Lost by Valerie Valdes, a space fantasy adventure about a refugee with war-torn past who has secret that can save a planet or destroy it. The last book I read by the author was a lot of fun, so I’m looking forward to this.

With thanks to Bramble for:

Calamity by Constance Fay, the inaugural release from Tor’s brand new SFF romance imprint that is described as equal parts steamy interstellar romance and sci-fi adventure. It’s not my imagination; this genre seems to be exploding lately.

With thanks to Minotaur Books for:

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosamino, the fourth book of the hilarious Finlay Donovan series. I participated in the cover reveal earlier this year, and as thanks the publisher sent along the eARC this week.

With thanks to Laurence MacNaughton for:

Her Second Chance Shifter by L. MacNaughton, described as a fun, feel-good, and fast-paced clean paranormal romance fantasy adventure. I have enjoyed Laurence’s work before, with his Dru Jasper/It Happened One Doomsday series from Pyr, so when he got in touch with his upcoming book, I said I’d check it out!

Reviews

Recent Reads

Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read!