The BiblioSanctum

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

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.

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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 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!

Book Review: Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward

Posted on September 1, 2023 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.

Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror, Mystery

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Nightfire (August 8, 2023)

Length: 342 pages

Author Information: Twitter

What begins as a seemingly innocent coming-of-age story about an isolated teenager finding friendship quickly morphs into a tense murder mystery where reality blurs with fiction in Looking Glass Sound, an unsettling horror novel by Catriona Ward.

It is 1989 and sixteen-year-old Wilder Harlow has come to the little seaside town of Castine, Maine with his family to spend the summer. Readers learn all these details through Wilder’s unpublished memoir, describing how his parents had just inherited the cottage of his late Uncle Vernon and are possibly looking to sell the property. Left to his own devices to explore the town, Wilder befriends Nat, the son of a local fisherman, as well as Harper, a British girl on vacation with her parents.

The three of them become inseparable, bonding over smuggled booze and stories about the Dagger Man, Castine’s own serial killer who has been known to leave behind creepy polaroids of sleeping children as his calling card. Then on one fateful day, a chance discovery leads to the shattering of that friendship. Left adrift and alone once more, Wilder returns home and enrolls in college, still traumatized by what he and his former friends experienced that summer, an event which has made headlines across the country. Suffering from hallucinations and anxiety attacks, Wilder only makes it through his studies thanks to his friend and roommate Sky who offers him emotional support.

An aspiring writer, Sky appeared well-intentioned at first, genuinely seeming to care about Wilder. However, that friendship ultimately implodes as well when Sky ends up making off with Wilder’s work-in-progress memoir to create his own bestselling thriller based on the story of the Dagger Man.

Now you might be thinking, wait, didn’t this book start off being his memoir? The plot thickens as it starts to get metafictional and a bit confusing. For readers who have thus far enjoyed the mystery and intrigue of the novel’s first half, it might even feel a bit like a bait-and-switch. But if you’re at all familiar with the author’s work, you’ll know that surprises are par for the course when it comes to her books. Looking Glass Sound is no exception, replete with a multitude of narrative layers that play with time jumps and POV switching.

Personally, I was much more invested in the story in the beginning when the focus was on Wilder and his two new friends. It’s the 80’s, the dog days of summer, and three teens are coming of age in a New England town—there’s just something so nostalgic, almost Stephen Kingesque about this whole setup. But when we get to Wilder in college, I was admittedly less enamored of the meta narrative. It was here that I felt Ward losing control of the plot, especially when we started branching into other character POVs. Still, she managed to pull it together in the end for a satisfying conclusion.

Speaking of which, be prepared for the ending of Looking Glass Sound to make you question everything you’ve read. At first, not all of it will make sense, but the answers will eventually fall into place. You might even be driven to reread the book just to see the clues you’ve missed. Yes, it’s definitely that kind of book. Granted, it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but then, that level of complexity and artistry is also something to be admired.

And let’s face it, for better or worse, one of the perks of picking up a Cat Ward book is that you never know what you’ll get. The only thing certain is that it’ll be extraordinary.

Thriller Thursday: A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing

Posted on August 31, 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.

A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 2.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Penguin Audio (July 18, 2023)

Length: 10 hrs

Author Information: Website

Narrator: Karissa Vacker

As a fan of Samantha Downing, I have read every novel by her since her brilliant debut My Lovely Wife but have to say that A Twisted Love Story is simply not her best. For an author who has made a name for herself with domestic suspense thrillers packed with unexpected twists, the fact that this one was disappointingly lacking in any is an irony that certainly did not escape me.

Our story revolves around Wes and Ivy, a toxic couple who have been dating each other on-again off-again for many years, ever since the two of them met in college. It never fails; no matter how many times the relationship inevitably blows up as a result of their own self-destructive behaviors, they always seem to find their way back to each other like nothing ever happened. Even their friends have given up on talking them out of it every time the break-up/make up cycle repeats itself.

But this time, things may have gone just a bit too far. One year after their last split, Ivy is back in town and is once more hoping to let Wes know that she’s interested in getting back together—by calling the cops on him. At his office one day, Wes is visited by Karen, a detective from the Sex Crimes Unit. Someone has filed a complaint accusing him of being a stalker. Even without knowing all the details, Wes immediately recognizes Ivy’s handiwork, and though he is peeved at her latest stunt, that doesn’t stop him from running straight back into her arms.

Still, the damage from the police report has been done, and Karen isn’t someone who appreciates being jerked around. Her instincts tell her something about Wes and Ivy feels off, leading her to dig deeper into the couple’s past, threatening to expose a terrible secret the two of them have gone to great lengths to keep hidden.

Compared to Downing’s previous books, A Twisted Love Story fell flat for me, one reason being there was hardly a story to speak of. Here you have two immature, half-witted, emotionally stunted characters who enjoy manipulating and being manipulated by each other, but hey, to each their own. Clearly, Wes and Ivy deserve each other, and there is love between them in their own strange and messed up way. Still, given that a good chunk of the book is dedicated to their petty shenanigans, I was expecting more flavorful drama. Instead, readers are subjected to watching the two of them pull the same silly stunts over and over, which often involve taking advantage of each other’s insecurities. Not only did it get repetitive, but it was also more pathetic than entertaining.

In addition, there was barely any tension to speak of, no flair of mystery. Wes and Ivy’s secret is revealed or can be guessed at quite early on, thanks to the meddling point-of-view of Bianca, an administrative assistant at Wes’ firm who enjoys snooping into her coworker’s lives by breaking into their offices and computers after everyone leaves work. Not to mention it’s right there in the book’s damn description! We’re meant to root for Wes and Ivy against their common enemy, Karen, whose investigation into their past gets her closer to exposing the truth by the day. And yet, I just couldn’t bring myself to be on the side of such unlikeable characters. It’d be one thing if Wes and Ivy were just vile, awful people, but they had to be idiots as well, and I just can’t abide that type of stupidity.

All in all, it’s safe to say A Twisted Love Story fell way short of my expectations. In comparison to Samantha Downing’s other books, this novel did not live up to the standards I’ve come to expect from her writing, especially in the areas of character development and storytelling. Hopefully this blip is just that, and the author’s next project will return to the same level and consistency that made her previous work so outstanding. One point of positivity, however, is the narration of the audiobook edition. Karissa Vacker is a fantastic narrator, and as always, her performance was on point.

Waiting on Wednesday 08/30/23

Posted on August 30, 2023 8 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

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose (November 28, 2023 by Ballantine Books)

“When an acclaimed author dies at the Regency Grand Hotel, it’s up to a fastidious maid to uncover the truth, no matter how dirty—in a standalone novel featuring Molly Gray, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid, a Good Morning America Book Club Pick.

Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J.D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead— very dead —on the hotel’s tea room floor.

When Detective Stark, Molly’s old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to who killed J.D. Grimthorpe? Was it Lily, the new Maid-in-Training? Or was it Serena, the author’s secretary? Could Mr. Preston, the hotel’s beloved doorman, be hiding something? And is Molly really as innocent as she seems?

As the case threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer’s identity. But that key is buried deep in her past—because long ago, she knew J.D. Grimthorpe. Molly begins to comb her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her dearly departed Gran once worked side by side. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery post-haste. If there’s one thing Molly knows for sure, it’s that dirty secrets don’t stay buried forever…”

Book Review: The Handyman Method by Nick Cutter and Andrew F. Sullivan

Posted on August 29, 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.

The Handyman Method by Nick Cutter and Andrew F. Sullivan

Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Gallery/Saga Press (August 8, 2023)

Length: 304 pages

Author Information: Nick Cutter | Andrew F. Sullivan

If there’s one thing I learned from reading Nick Cutter/Craig Davidson is that he is not at all subtle, and with the lack of nuance being especially true with The Handyman Method, co-written with Andrew F. Sullivan, I imagine that has something to do with why I struggled. The story relies too much on the shock factor when delivering its horror, going about it by trying too hard to make you angry or gross you out. More and more, I just think I’m becoming inured to this routine.

The story opens with a family moving into their dream home, which should have been pristine given that it is a new construction. But right away, husband and father Trent Saban finds a large crack in a wall of the master bedroom closet. A former lawyer by trade with no DIY experience, he nonetheless decides to take care of the problem himself, turning to the YouTube channel of someone he found called Handyman Hank for advice. Before you know it, Trent finds himself down the rabbit hole of home improvement, becoming eerily fixated with Hank and his “Handyman Method.”

Meanwhile, Trent’s disaffected wife Rita becomes increasingly aloof in the face of their big move and this subsequent flurry of activity, but does her distancing have anything to do with her husband’s new obsession or is it something more sinister? What’s clear is that neither of them are paying much attention to their son Milo, who begins having many of his own disturbing encounters. Unbeknownst to his parents, the young boy’s attention has been captured recently by a YouTube channel he himself has been frequenting, one owned by a seemingly innocuous kid-friendly influencer called Little Boy Blue.

Credit where credit’s due, The Handyman Method turned out to be a very different kind of “haunted” house story than what I was expecting. The concept was definitely interesting, taking and melding elements from such classic horror as It or The Shining, making something unique out of its results. That said, this isn’t quite Stephen King. In fact, it’s hard to pin down what exactly this is. At times, it reads like a satirical take on lives consumed by social media, or a scathing jab at toxic masculinity. Whatever it is though, by the second half, the book transforms into something else entirely, changing the overall tone of the plot. It does make me wonder if it has something to do with this being a collab.

Then there was the lack of subtlety I mentioned. Trent was so unlikeable to the extreme, he was practically a caricature checking off every item on the “Build-A-Character You Hate” kit. It’s one thing to make me dislike a protagonist, it’s another to make me not take him seriously at all. Then there was the gore factor and one particularly gruesome scene involving an animal death (I have a pet turtle that was a rescue, so the unpleasantness of that scene hit me especially hard). There’s a time and a place for this type of over-the-top and in-your-face horror, and I know an audience for it exists, but personally I think I am over it.

The ending was also a bit confusing, like somewhere along the chain a link went missing because I had a hard time connecting all the plot’s many scattered dots. Again it occurs to me that multiple authors might have played a role in this, but I don’t know. Just like I don’t know what to make of the ultimate revelation of the house and the special connection it had with the family. I think the book could have gone in a very good direction, but somehow things didn’t come together as well as they should have.

All in all, I would consider The Handyman Method to be a middle-of-the-road horror. I wanted a bit more, but it’s a good read if you enjoy a good bloody gorefest.

Book Review: Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi

Posted on August 28, 2023 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.

Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Nightfire (July 11, 2023)

Length: 352 pages

Author Information: Website

Boys in the Valley is an exceptional historical horror novel that takes place in turn of the century Pennsylvania at the St. Vincent Orphanage for Boys. Taking full advantage of the claustrophobic confines of this setting, author Philip Fracassi delivers a gripping and atmospheric supernatural chiller that weaves together the elements of suspense, mystery, and terror.

Following the murder-suicide of his parents, our protagonist Peter first came to St. Vincent’s as a little boy. Now sixteen years old and one of the orphanage’s older wards, he has taken on the role of big brother for many of the younger children. Recognizing Peter’s leadership skills and compassion, his mentor Father Andrew has even started preparing him to become a priest one day. Yet deep in his heart, Peter isn’t so sure it’s what he wants. Over the past seven years, on the frequent trips with Father Andrew to run errands at the nearby Hill Farm, Peter has befriended the farmer’s daughter Grace. As his feelings for her have deepened over time, Peter now wonders if Grace might be his future instead of priesthood.

Then one night, the local sheriff shows up at the door of the orphanage with a group of his men and a wounded captive in tow. The injured prisoner, ranting and raving in a frenzied and unnatural way, was said to have been shot and captured during a satanic ritual. Upon removing his clothes to view his injuries, strange symbols are also revealed to be carved into his skin. Despite the priests’ attempts to treat the prisoner and exorcise his madness, the man dies, unleashing an evil upon the orphanage that seeps into the boys of St. Vincent like a poison.

Reading Boys in the Valley, I felt like the plot was divided into three phases. In phase one, Fracassi sets the stage and prepares readers for everything that follows, beginning by introducing Peter and those around him. There are many residents at the orphanage, but among them are several who stand out and play major roles in the story: David, who, like Peter, is one of the older boys but is much more misanthropic; Brother Johnson, a bad man with a criminal past who works at St. Vincent; Bartholomew, one of the orphans who…well, actually, let’s leave him as a surprise for readers going into the book! As well, this part of the story also paints a picture of the grim life at the orphanage. The head priest is a controlling and rigid disciplinarian whose word is law, and any boy who goes against it is thrown into “the hole”, a deep pit dug into the cold grounds of the property to serve as a prison cell.

The arrival and death of the injured prisoner kicks off the next phase, in which Peter beings to notice disturbing changes come over his fellow orphans. But even with a gruesome killing in this section that ratchets up the heart-pounding tension, I have to say this was my least favorite part of the book. First, I felt the plot dragged on for longer than was necessary while the boys started to divide and conquer and take sides in Lord of the Flies fashion. Second, here we also lose some of that delicious and eerie atmosphere as the narrative leans slightly more heavily on graphic violence and gore to get its kicks.

The third phase though, was by far the best. I have seen the Boys in the Valley compared to the Midnight Mass, and if you are familiar with that show and its final episodes, then you too might be able to understand the comparisons and why they feel so fitting. Peter and his boys’ final fight for survival was just insane, and all the pressure that has been building up now has nowhere else to go but to explode in a spectacular way. While I am neither Catholic nor religious, I also felt deeply moved by the ending, the path which Peter ultimately chose to pursue as well as the meaning in the aftermath of that choice.

In fact, I would love to see this book be made into a movie. Philip Fracassi’s prose was both descriptive and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the eerie orphanage and the terrors unleashed within. As a horror novel, it was certainly effective, but the story also shone as an exploration of friendship and courage, of salvation and sacrifice. Whether you are a fan of horror or historical fiction, or are simply hankering for a captivating story, Boys in the Valley will thrill and haunt you.

Bookshelf Roundup 08/27/23: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on August 27, 2023 30 Comments

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I’m back! Actually, we got back earlier in the week but there was a mountain of things I had to take care of before hitting the books, though henceforth things should be getting back to a regular schedule. There will be a ton of reviews incoming, because who’da thunk it, I managed to get a lot of reading done onboard what turned out to be a very relaxing Alaskan cruise. We had an amazing time. Days were spent on excursions at port (Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan) or on the balcony while at sea, enjoying the picturesque sights. I even got to cross off one biggie on my US National Park bucket list: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

Hope you enjoy the pics! From left to right, top to bottom: A stand of Sitka spruce in Tongass National Forest; the sunrise that greeted me outside my window when I woke up on the first morning of the cruise; Nugget Falls in Juneau by the Mendenhall Glacier; the early mists rising off the water in Skagway; a fiery sunset after a day of rain captured off the coast of Ketchikan; and a shot of the blue sky and ocean off the port side of our ship.

The weather was extremely random and changeable while we were there, sometimes it felt as though we experienced all four seasons in one day. But as you can see, Alaska is beautiful, and I fell completely in love with the land and am already dreaming of the day I can go back.

Received for Review

With thanks to Titan Books for:

Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson, a dark gothic horror about an obsessive romance that sparks between two women who chance to meet at a farmer’s market.
The Pale House Devil by Richard Kadrey, a horror noir about two detectives—one dead, one living—who are hired to banish a demon from a haunted mansion.

With thanks to Tordotcom for:

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang, a finished copy of which I found waiting for me upon my return. While on my trip, I didn’t get a chance to fit in this historical fantasy inspired by the Chinese classic Outlaws of the Marsh, but will hopefully be dipping into it real soon.

With thanks to Berkley for:

The September House by Carissa Orlando, following a couple who move into a large Victorian mansion they purchased at a shockingly reasoning only to find it—surprise, surpise—haunted. We’re being overrun with haunted house horror novels this season, and I’m loving it.

With thanks to Tor Books for:

Devil’s Gun by Cat Rambo, the second book in the Disco Space Opera series following the crew of the You Sexy Thing on another adventure as they attempt to set up a pop-up restaurant business while running from a vengeful space pirate-king. I enjoyed the first book and I hope this sequel is as bonkers as it sounds.

With thanks to Del Rey for:

The Art of Destiny by Wesley Chu, the follow-up to The Art of Prophecy and a continuation of The War Arts Saga, an epic fantasy inspired by the martial-chivalric traditions of the Wuxia genre. Strangely, the series has not been getting the attention it deserves but hopefully the release of this sequel will bring more to it.

With thanks to Subterranean Press for:

Winter’s Gifts by Ben Aaronovitch, which I just about screamed when I received. Sure, it’s not a new novel in the Rivers of London series, but it’s the next best thing: a novella set in the same world, following up with Special FBI Agent Kimberly Reynolds on a new paranormal case that takes her to snowbound town in northern Wisconsin.

With thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for:

Holly by Stephen King, a new novel marking the return of Holly Gibney, beloved by fans for her roles in Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and finally in The Outsider where she shone as a private detective. I haven’t been this excited for a King book in a long time.

With thanks to Hachette Audio for:

A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand. What was I saying about the abundance of haunted house books? Here comes the ultimate haunted house book this October, the first-ever authorized novel to return to the world of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House.

With thanks to Listening Library for:

Midnight at the Houdini by Delilah S. Dawson, who has been quite busy apparently. This YA fantasy follows a girl who discovers a surreal hotel where no one ever leaves, and she’ll be stuck there forever too unless she breaks free of the magic before the clock strikes midnight.

Reviews

Highlighting a couple reviews from the beginning of the month:

Recent Reads

Whoo-wee, that’s a lot of books I finished, but then again, it’s been three weeks. I’ll be working on catching up with reviews for the next little while.

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!

On Vacay…

Posted on August 11, 2023 14 Comments

Every summer, my family takes one last big vacay before the start of school for the kiddos, so for the next week and a half I will be away on the road and on the seas! For this reason, I imagine my access to reliable internet will be limited and my presence online will also be pretty sparse as I take this opportunity to unplug. As such, while I’m away there will be no posts, and I also want to apologize in advance for not being able to visit or comment on your blogs during this time, though I promise to catch up with everything once I get back! Have a fun rest of the summer, and see you all again real soon!

Waiting on Wednesday 08/09/23

Posted on August 9, 2023 7 Comments

Mogsy’s Pick

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen (February 27, 2024 by Del Rey)

“A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.

Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.

Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.

Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.“