The BiblioSanctum

Waiting on Wednesday 06/07/23

Posted on June 7, 2023 12 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

Red River Seven by A.J. Ryan (October 10, 2023 by Orbit)

“Internationally bestselling fantasy author Anthony Ryan – writing as A. J. Ryan – delivers a nerve-shredding novel in which seven strangers must undertake a terrifying journey into the unknown.

A man awakes on a boat at sea with no memory of who he is or how he came to be there. He’s not alone – there are six others. None of them can remember their names, but all bear the scars of recent surgery.

When a message appears on the onboard computer – Proceeding to Point A – the group agrees to work together to survive whatever is coming.
But as the boat moves through the mist-shrouded waters, divisions begin to form, and the group is plagued by questions. Who is directing them, why have their memories been wiped, and what are the screams they can hear beyond the mist?”

Book Review: Maeve Fly by C.J. Leede

Posted on June 6, 2023 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.

Maeve Fly by C.J. Leede

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Nightfire (June 6, 2023)

Length: 288 pages

Author Information: Website

Meet Maeve Fly. Her literary hero is Patrick Bateman of American Psycho fame and her commitment to the persona is real. By day, she’s a princess at a popular California theme park (which the book is careful never to name, but anyone can connect the dots) while by night, she’s slamming them back and reading Marquis de Sade at the local dive bars, usually accompanied by her coworker and friend Kate. At home, she lives with her grandmother Tallulah, who was quite a Hollywood star back in her heyday, though now she lies in a coma.

Besides Tallulah, Kate is the only other person Maeve feels a real connection to. But while our protagonist truly loves her job, her friend is an aspiring actress with her own plans for stardom, merely using the princess gig as a stepping-stone towards her big break. One night, Kate introduces Maeve to her brother Gideon, a famous pro hockey player who has just been transferred from New York. Immediately drawn to Gideon but also put off by him as well, Maeve has trouble putting into words exactly how she feels about him but knows she doesn’t like it one bit. No matter what she does though, the two of them keep meeting up, setting off a wild relationship that sends Maeve spiraling into a world of murder and debauchery.

So, first things first. Maeve Fly, an edgy transgressive horror novel from debut author C.J. Leede, is definitely not going to be for everyone. Specifically, this book is not for you if you’re someone with a weak stomach to gory violence or are disturbed by gruesome scenes of torture, salacious descriptions of sexual fetishism, graphic depictions of assault and murder, as well as a whole host of similarly unpleasant subjects. As a character, Maeve is certainly not shy about her kinks and is unabashedly open about her depraved fantasies, lamenting the way she often feels constrained by social norms and expectations. Such is the nature of this book, which relishes in being unapologetically provocative.

That said, there is also a fine line between using shock to elevate a story in the name of art versus being offensive and disgusting simply because you can do it. Now, I don’t really consider myself a squeamish reader, since the years of reading grimdark fantasy have pretty much inured me to every act of unspeakable sadism and cold-blooded violence that you can think of. I’ve also read American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, the work that so inspired our protagonist, which I think still reigns supreme in terms of the sickest and most disturbing murders I’ve ever seen written in a book. So, while it is certainly gross and bloody in its own right, in truth, the actual content of Maeve Fly did not particularly bother me.

What did annoy me, however, was the fact it frequently crosses that aforementioned fine line into shock-for-the-sake-of-shock territory. Sure, I think it’s interesting that a character like Maeve can manage to live a double life hiding her vile proclivities beneath that wholesome Disney princess exterior. The story compels you to reconcile the monster within to the kind and loving part of Maeve that cares for her grandmother and delights in making children happy. It’s a dynamic that could have used a bit more attention, especially since the character duality is something that Leede seems genuinely keen on exploring, but sadly much of it gets lost in the gratuitous violence and gore instead.

Still, at the end of the day, I did enjoy Maeve Fly, which is admittedly more in-your-face and over-the-top than the horror I usually read. Generally though, I find it worthwhile to read outside the box, and of course, it helped that I knew exactly what I was getting into when I picked it up. Despite overplaying the shock card to the point where it felt excessive and self-indulgent at times, when it wasn’t trying so hard to be gross and edgy, the story was actually quite fun.

Review: Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini

Posted on June 5, 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.

Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini

Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Book 0 of Fractalverse

Publisher: Tor |Macmillan Audio (May 16, 2023)

Length: 304 pages | 9 hrs and 57 mins

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Audiobook Narrated by Jennifer Hale

While Fractal Noise has been framed as sort of a prequel to To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, for those wondering if you can read it as a standalone, the answer is absolutely yes. In fact, it was so far removed from the first book and added so little to the overall Fractalverse that it left me a little disappointed.

As the story opens, we’re introduced to protagonist xenobiologist Alex who is still deep in the throes of grief for his wife Layla, killed in an accident when they were both colonists on the planet Eidolon. Dealing with the guilt of not being there to protect her is also a constant distraction from his current work aboard the Adamura, an exploration vessel on a survey assignment. Then, the crew’s cartographer picks up something strange on an uncharted planet called Talos VII, which is supposedly devoid of any life. So, what could have possibly made the huge, perfectly circular hole on the planet’s surface?

After much discussion on what they should do, the crew eventually decides to put together a team to investigate the crater. Alex finds himself on the mission together with team leader Talia and fellow scientists Chen and Pushkin, but while each member brings along invaluable expertise in their respective knowledge areas, tempers also run hot as different personalities and ideologies clash. It doesn’t take long for things to go south as the group makes its way towards their destination, an alien artifact that might just prove less dangerous than the simmering tensions building between the human crew members.

For a story mainly focused on character relationships, it was surprisingly difficult for me to care about or even connect to any of them. Most of them feel like caricatures, simplistic and embodying a single trait—Talia and her religious fervor, Pushkin and his over-the-top aggression, and Chen was simply the dude who got himself injured. Then there was our main character Alex, whose overwhelming grief was something we were constantly reminded of, to the point where he became completely defined by it. As a result, none of the conflicts or dialogue between the team members felt truly organic, instead coming across as manufactured and repetitive.

Fortunately, the story fared better, especially with regards to the mystery surrounding alien phenomena. The ominous sights and sounds were described vividly, building up to an atmosphere that was positively claustrophobic. If you are a fan of “doomed expedition” tales, I think you will be very happy with the deep immersion of the setting and overall mood of paranoia and fear.

Heck, I’d even say Fractal Noise was a pretty decent story of first contact. That said, if you are looking for more of the intrigue and action that we got from To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, I’m sorry to say it but you won’t find it here. Admittedly, had it been more like the first book, I probably would have enjoyed this one a lot more. However, the lack of connection to the characters really put a damper on things, not to mention the frustration of not having a clear resolution or making any headway on the greater mystery.

Ultimately, I feel as though Christopher Paolini set out to write this as a character-oriented novel but somehow fumbled the actual characterization—you know, the important part—making most of the book feel like a slog because so much was centered around the team’s interactions which did not interest me. It’s a shame too, because the actual premise is quite good, and with a more engaging and fully fleshed out cast, Fractal Noise could have easily surpassed the original. Despite its prequel status, I wouldn’t recommend starting with this one if you’re in any way curious about the Fractalverse, but it’s probably worth reading if you’re already invested in the series. For the most part though, I feel it missed the mark with me.

More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars

Bookshelf Roundup 06/04/23: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on June 4, 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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Received for Review

With thanks to Tor Books for:

After the Forest by Kell Woods, an enchanting fairy tale inspired debut giving new life to the characters of Hansel and Gretel.

With thanks to Orbit Books for:

The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romera-Lacruz, the first book of The Warring Gods series set in a world inspired by the history and folklore of South America.

With thanks to Subterranean Press for:

Cocktails & Chloroform by Kelley Armstrong, a novella set in the author’s A Rip Through Time series which follows a modern-day detective trapped in the body of a Victorian housemaid. I’ve been meaning to check out this series, really hope I can start it soon!

With thanks to Tantor Audio for:

The Ascent and Snow by Ronald Malfi, a pair of the author’s older books that recently got the audiobook treatment, and you can bet I jumped on them right away. I have been meaning to check out his backlist.

With thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for:

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong, the author’s adult fantasy debut. I have read and enjoyed her YA which makes me curious about this one, especially since it is inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra.

With thanks to Hachette Audio for:

The Carnivale of Curiosities by Amiee Gibbs, described as a Faustian gothic tale of murder set in a circus. I am a sucker for carnival and circus stories, so this one seems right up my alley.

Reviews

Recent Reads/Upcoming Reviews

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!

Novella Review: The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown

Posted on June 2, 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 Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown

Mogsy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction, Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Nightfire (April 4, 2023)

Length: 176 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

If you enjoy sci-fi sprinkled with a light bit of creepiness, The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown might be the book for you, but as someone who was initially drawn to its horror-in-space premise, I confess I was left feeling disappointed. The novella format was also perhaps not the most ideal for the author’s vision of the story, which recycled far too many genre tropes making the plot feel unoriginal and predictable.

Set aboard the doomed generation ship Calypso, the story follows acting captain Jacklyn Albright and her crew as their fleet makes its way back to Earth following a failed attempt at establishing a colony. Facing dwindling resources, poor morale, and a ship that’s barely holding itself together, things look rather hopeless, but Jacklyn isn’t about to let the last remnants of humanity die on her watch. She’s already angry at her father, the current captain, for having retreated to his quarters and abandoning his responsibilities. Now it’s up to her to guide the Calypso on its treacherous way home, a journey that will take them through a part of space riddled with pockets of storm-like phenomena that wreak havoc on the ship’s hull.

Then one day, while overseeing some repairs, Jacklyn notices some strange sounds coming from within the belly of the Calypso. From there, more alarming reports and foreboding messages start to stack up, culminating in a dead body, brutally eviscerated. Something hungry is on Jack’s ship and set loose on the crew, for whom there is no escape.

With a setup like that, it’s hard to believe this book didn’t strike the right chord, but not only did I struggle to engage with the story, there were parts that I found tedious and frustrating. Many of the issues stemmed from the length of the novella—namely, I felt it was too short to truly explore any of its elements in depth. First of all, the reader is thrown headfirst into a situation about which they know very little; all we know is that the colony at a planet called Proxima b failed and that the fleet has been limping along home for quite some time yet nobody in the story appears to be reacting convincingly to what has transpired. Human beings can exhibit a wide range of reactions to a desperate situation, but the attitude on the Calypso feels oddly indifferent considering their captain has not been seen or heard from in more than a week.

As other reviews have mentioned, A Scourge Between the Stars also borrows heavily from Alien, right down to the discovery of alien eggs and a dubious android. Don’t get me wrong, there are timeless tropes I will always love and monsters running amok in dark, creepy ramshackle spaceships is always going to be one of them. But this book was missing a certain, for lack of a better word, flair. Good ideas were underutilized or handled without much innovation. There was a clinical, almost detached approach to the scenes of violence and gore. The atmosphere was stagnant and pretty much non-existent. In sum, you can have all the best horror ingredients but still miss the mark.

I do think I would have enjoyed this more if the characters, plot, and world-building had been more fleshed out, possibly into a full-length novel. However, the current page length is hardly enough to develop any of these sufficiently, and more than likely hobbled the book’s overall potential. I suppose if you have time to spare for a quick, throwaway story which doesn’t use up too much brain bandwidth, The Scourge Between the Stars is perfectly readable and entertaining enough, but I doubt it will make a lasting impression.

Waiting on Wednesday 05/31/23

Posted on May 31, 2023 9 Comments

Mogsy’s Pick

The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher (November 7, 2023 by Ace)

A cover? A description? Yes, looks like it’s finally happening! Please let it be actually happening! Though a reread of The Aeronaut’s Windlass will probably be in order.

“The fate of the Cinder Spires may be decided by crossed swords in the next exhilarating fantasy adventure in the New York Times bestselling series of noble families, swordplay, and airships.

For centuries the Cinder Spires have safeguarded humanity, rising far above the deadly surface world. Within their halls, aristocratic houses rule, developing scientific marvels and building fleets of airships for defense and trade.

Now, the Spires hover on the brink of open war.

Everyone knows it’s coming. The guns of the great airship fleets that control the skies between the last bastions of humanity will soon speak in anger, and Spire Albion stands alone against the overwhelming might of Spire Aurora’s Armada and its new secret weapon–one capable of destroying the populations of entire Spires.

A trading summit at Spire Olympia provides an opportunity for the Spirearch, Lord Albion, to secure alliances that will shape the outcomes of the war, and to that end he dispatches privateer Captain Francis Madison Grimm and the crew of the AMS Predator to bolster the Spirearch’s diplomatic agents.

It will take daring, skill, and no small amount of showmanship to convince the world to stand with Spire Albion–assuming that it is not already too late.”

#WyrdandWonder Book Review: Witch King by Martha Wells

Posted on May 30, 2023 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.

Witch King by Martha Wells

Mogsy’s Rating: 2 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Tor.com (May 30, 2023)

Length: 432 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Taking a break from her sci-fi Murderbot Diaries series, Martha Wells makes a return to the fantasy genre with Witch King, following the titular demon prince Kaiisteron. A powerful being capable of taking on the forms of deceased mortals, Kai begins this tale by awakening from a long imprisonment, disoriented and separated from his body—his murdered body, now resting in its watery grave. Severely weakened and unable to remember much from before, all he can be certain of is that he was betrayed.

Upon freeing himself, Kai sets out to solve the mystery of his own death in a narrative told in two branches. One follows our protagonist in the present as he emerges into a changed world looking for allies and learning the new status quo, while the other sees him trying to retrace the pathways back into the past. Along the way, he receives the aid of several traveling companions, most with motivations and quests of their own. As revelations of a greater conflict come to light, Kai won’t hesitate to use his destructive magic if it means finding out the answers and keeping his friends safe.

As much as I enjoy her Murderbot adventures, I first began reading Martha Wells with her Books of the Raksura so you can imagine my excitement at the idea of reading her fantasy again. Unfortunately though, I ended up being somewhat disappointed with Witch King. On the surface, the novel had everything I wanted: fully fleshed characters with drive, check. An elaborate secondary world, check. A multi-layered plotline with grand conflicts, check. Yet sometimes you can have a book that is extremely well put together but which still fails to provide an enjoyable experience.

The problem here wasn’t the content of the package, but its delivery which was completely devoid of any charm. The author’s prose, which ironically came across so much more alive and vibrant when she was writing about a robot, felt flat and sterile here, presented with all the charisma of a technical manual. The story also suffers from poor pacing and an unnecessarily huge cast list, full of characters for whom I felt little to nothing. Even Kai himself was a snooze to read about, and as a result, I never truly felt engaged in his quest.

And that’s a real shame, because underneath the blah there’s actually a good story, but sadly the distance I felt between myself and what’s happening on the page was something that consistently stayed with me to the very end. This indifference also went on to affect my feelings on pretty much all other aspects of this book, including world-building which felt muted and unrealized. Still, speaking as a reader who prioritizes character development and relationships, I think my lack of emotional connection to Kai was the biggest letdown of all because Wells is usually so much better in this area.

Bottom line, if you’re coming from the Murderbot Diaries hoping for more of the same kind of quirky character-building and dry wit from Witch King, you’ll likely be disappointed. The only dryness you’ll get is in the writing, which made reading this one a struggle as I frequently found myself losing focus or just plain bored. Being a fan of Martha Wells, it hurts not being able to recommend this, but she’s written books that are much better.

#WyrdandWonder Book Review: The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence

Posted on May 29, 2023 11 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 Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of The Library Trilogy

Publisher: Ace Books (May 11, 2023)

Length: 576 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Like most bibliophiles, I love books about books and libraries. However, I did not expect one to come from the pen of Mark Lawrence, especially one like The Book That Wouldn’t Burn. Long-time fans will probably know what I’m talking about; this simply does not feel like any of the fantasy the author has written before. Not only is it not set in the shared world as his previous trilogies, stylistically, tonally, and thematically it is also very different. And I loved it.

In this first volume of a new series, we follow two disparate individuals who are connected by a vast, labyrinthine library. Evar Eventari is a young man who has spent his entire life trapped within its walls lined with countless shelves of books. Existing in a strange kind of limbo, he and his four “siblings”, who are other children who have found themselves lost amidst the library’s subterranean depths, have shared this space with the mysterious Mechanism that has the power to essentially bring books to life. But at some point, they are spit out again by the Mechanism, each having become an expert in a particular skill or knowledge domain, all except for Evar, who emerged with nothing but a vague sense of missing something—a void that he knows can only be filled by someone, if only he can find her.

Enter Livira. A young girl born in the impoverished region known as the Dust, she arrives in the big city as a refugee after her tiny village is destroyed by sabbers, the name they call the monstrous enemies who prey on humans. Overcoming being looked down upon as a “duster”, Livira’s natural curiosity and intelligence made her stand out to the right people, and in a twist of fate, she is chosen to train as an apprentice at the city’s massive library. Still, while she may be quick to catch up with her peers in terms of learning, Livira finds she has a much harder time adjusting to the complex systems of the library and its seemingly arbitrary rules.

As the story unfolds, with chapters alternating between Evar and Livira’s points of view, time passes differently for our two protagonists. Armed with a book of clues he is convinced will lead him to the person he is looking for, Evar eventually comes upon Livira in the library, and the girl is immediately drawn to help him in his quest. Even after they go their separate ways, years later she still thinks about Evar, wondering if he found who he was searching for.

Despite its wonky treatment of time, the storyline of The Book That Wouldn’t Burn plays out surprisingly smoothly, though the novel has clear demarcations between major developments in the plot. The first part which took up roughly a third of the book was given to the setting up the mystery, and I would say if there was a “difficult” section, this would be it. As Evar and Livira’s backstories are introduced, readers are left wondering how they will be connected. While those threads were being gradually unraveled, admittedly I felt a stronger affinity towards Livira’s chapters—they tended to be more linear, containing fewer abstract ideas. On top of being a highly sympathetic character, through her POV, a lot more about the library was also revealed. In contrast, Evar’s chapters felt disorienting with hazy concepts, like I was thrown into the middle of a conversation without context or explanation. Needless to say, my early experience with the book was very unbalanced.

Fortunately, by the time we move into the second third of the novel, things start to smooth out. Not coincidentally, this is also where our two characters’ storylines start to link up, giving way to answers while opening doors to even more intrigue. I simply do not have the words to describe the immensity of this book, which is probably just as well, because I wouldn’t want to risk giving away too much anyway. Suffice it to say, I am impressed by the sheer number of pathways the novel explores while ensuring each gets sufficient attention, and that we don’t end up with a complete mess. I know that Lawrence is an old hand at this whole storytelling thing, but holy crap, the level of wizardry he displays here is something else entirely. Fantasy and sci-fi concepts are woven together elegantly with elements of mystery, philosophy, and even romance, and not once do any of these ideas feel wasted or like they are crowding out any of the others.

In sum, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn is nothing short of an astounding accomplishment. I’ll even go as far as to say this novel signifies a whole other level for Mark Lawrence. All I have to say is sign me up for the sequel, and why can’t it get here sooner.

Bookshelf Roundup 05/28/23: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on May 28, 2023 12 Comments

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Received for Review

With thanks to Del Rey Books for:

The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye. This was a new one to me, but I was almost crying by the time I got to the end of the email pitch. After her husband’s diagnosis of a terminal disease just ten months after they were married, the author was inspired to write this Romeo & Juliet reimagining where Romeo has been cursed to live forever, and Juliet to reincarnate and die soon after they meet.

With thanks to Minotaur Books for:

Reykjavík by Ragnar Jónasson and Katrín Jakobsdóttir. In 1956 Iceland, a teenage girl goes missing without a trace. Decades later, as the the city of Reykjavík celebrates its 200th anniversary, a journalist begins digging into the case only to be met with untold resistance.

With thanks to Orbit Books for:

The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma, the first book of an epic fantasy trilogy set in a world inspired by Hindu myths. It was previously published under its original title The Boy With Fire.

With thanks to St. Martin’s Press for:

Murdle: Volume 1 by G.T. Karber, a collection of 100 original murder mystery logic puzzles. This was a surprise arrival and definitely something a bit different. I look forward to sitting down with my family for some fun nights with this book.

With thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for:

Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall, a historical fantasy which sees a young noblewoman teaming up with a rumored witch in order to ward off a curse.
The Only One Left by Riley Sager, a Gothic chiller about a home-health aide who gets assigned to work with a woman accused of murdering her entire family when she was a teenager.

With thanks to David Walton for:

Deadly Memory, the sequel to Living Memory which I thoroughly enjoyed last year. I’m very excited to see where the story will go!

With thanks to Macmillan Audio for:

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen, a tense thriller following a daughter who is ready to spread her wings and become more independent, while her mother will do anything to keep her close and in the dark about their past.

Reviews

Recent Reads/Upcoming Reviews

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: Piñata by Leopoldo Gout

Posted on May 26, 2023 11 Comments

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

Piñata by Leopoldo Gout

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Nightfire Books (March 14, 2023)

Length: 293 pages

Author Information: Website

In a unique take on the classic possession story, Piñata by Leopoldo Gout is a simmering horror that draws upon indigenous myths while incorporating a bloody colonial past. The plot follows Carmen Sanchez, a New York architect who is back in her home country of Mexico to oversee the transformation of an old cathedral into a luxury hotel. Tagging along for the summer are her daughters, Izel and Luna, taking this opportunity to learn about their heritage.

But even from the start, the renovation has been plagued with issues. Carmen is so busy that her daughters are left on their own most of the time. The three of them are treated as outsiders, and teenager Izel is especially having a tough time fitting in, missing her friends from school. Carmen is also locked in a power struggle with the local foreman and his workers who don’t respect her or follow her orders, despite her being the lead architect on the project. Then one day, the crew uncover a hidden room at the construction site containing a trove of ancient artifacts. An accident involving Luna which also ends up jeopardizing Carmen’s position on the project is the last straw, and she is ready to head back to New York with her girls.

Unbeknownst to her, however, something else comes home with them. Carmen begins having nightmares and frightening visions. Luna begins behaving strangely, acting out at home and at school with violent results. Carmen knows her daughter needs help, but getting it may mean opening her mind to the seemingly impossible.

Piñata was an enjoyable read, but maybe not as enjoyable as I’d hoped—after all, when it comes to horror, possession stories can be some of the scariest, but I simply did not get that from this one. Granted, there were some downright gory scenes described in graphic detail, involving plenty of disturbing situations, but these were relatively shallow, throwaway frights.

As it often is in these cases, I feel it was the pacing that threw off the flow. There was a rather long leadup following Carmen and her daughters as they settle in for their summer in Mexico, though this was actually my favorite part of the book. I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the sights and sounds, as well as reading about the characters’ cultural shock of being in a place where the local attitudes, beliefs, and values are so different from their own. As the story progresses, Gout also inserts flashes from the past, exploring the country’s complex history and the lives of those who have conquered or been conquered there over the centuries. Fascinating as they are though, some of these sections were admittedly overlong, dwelling protractedly on certain details that, at the end of the day, did not seem to add much value to the plot.

Which brings me to the possession arc itself. While I agree with other reviews that call Piñata a slow-burn horror, when we do reach the boiling point, things steam out way too quickly. One of my favorite parts about this book is the focus on Carmen’s attempts to balance her roles as a mother and a working professional while the family was in Mexico, along with all the turbulent emotions that they bring: love, guilt, pride, worry, etc. However, when it came to the ordeal with Luna, I thought her feelings were oddly muted, and the resolution felt cold and rushed as a result.

In sum, Piñata featured an interesting twist on a familiar premise, taking the supernatural elements from a possession story and presenting them through a historical, cultural, and mythological lens. I think some extra polish to iron out the pacing issues and to dial up the atmosphere would have made this a solid 4-star read. As it is, it’s close, but not quite there.