Book Review: A Past without Pictures by Jonathan Ames

 

Detective Noir isn't my favorite genre, but- I like to dip into it from time to time. It's a fairly specific type of genre, so it is interesting to see what authors do within the parameters. 

 When I saw this very 1970's looking cover on Net Galley and a new to me author, I thought well, why not? 

Readers are given a tale of Maria, a Cop who's just made Detective.  After a disastrous first night, she wakes to a phone call summoning her to settle the estate of a father she barely knows.   She is one tough cookie, as all noir detectives are, but she's also broken and busted- of course. 

When she arrive in a backwater town, her detective senses tell her immediately that something is fishy about her Dad's passing. She buckles down to figure it out. We are taken on a fast paced wild ride that highlights the foibles and follies of small town living. As Maria sorts through this unpredictable series of events with skill, she comes to realize more and more about her estranged father, and perhaps more about herself as well. 

      I enjoyed this novella. At about 5 hours on audio, I thought it was a perfect "airport book"  one you can easily consume in a typical day through some airports. It has been praised for having a sparse style, and I have to say I didn't find the style to be particularly sparse. I did feel that Ames uses every word with deliberation and each word had a purpose. 

    Dina Perlman narrated and I was SO appreciative of her very smooth narration. She took me through this story without any frills and I hope I get the chance to listen to more of her narration. Excellent. 

 STATS

First Published:  September 2026

Pages: 192

Available as an Audio Book :  Yes ~ 5.5 hrs 

Trigger Warnings: violence, drug use, guns, racism, sexual content, Death of child, death of parent, alcohol use.

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review: Hollow Folk By Andrew K. Clark

 As far as trends go in the Bookish World, we are continuing to see a BOOM in Appalachian Horror. I love it, and no matter what, it really does bring back memories of my Appalachian childhood which was pretty much 98% horror free. (Unless you count "Bible Release" where we were all dropped off at the Brethren Church on Wednesday afternoon to learn Bible Verses while technically at "school" - this of course seemed pretty normal to all of us and I found out later my parents decided it to allow it so we wouldn't be ostracized by the rest of the kids going.) Despite being essentially horror-free, those woods that we played in and constructed our own little kingdoms in, always had an alive feeling that I haven't duplicated anywhere else. 

So when I saw Hollow Folk up on the net-galley's  I kind of went wild for the cover. 

The cover artist is Jonathan Thunder. 

I am enthralled by the cover, and you should check out this artist, he's got some very affordable creations and then some that are amazing and out of my range.  I would really love to own a big print of this cover for the home office.  (The work office might not approve as it is just on that edge of too creepy for my very normal workspace). 

Ok, Ok So... what about the book? you say...

This book was an excellent mash up of history, mystical/magical elements and horror. There's body horror, historic horror, insect horror and the horror of surviving in current day America, all rolled into a story that felt a bit like a fever dream.  I see it's being marketed as a romance, and it does sort of have a HEA of sorts, but I'm not sure this is one that the average romantasy reader is going to enjoy. OK - To be FAIR- I think they would enjoy it, but they would find it doesn't fall into the classic romantic tropes of "who did this to you" or "only one bed". 

No Spoilers- because they are the worst. 

Ethan works the night shift at a fairly fancy hotel in the mountains.  The kind that business people and people on expensive vacations might choose, not the Super 8 or Best Western. This is a classy joint, it's not the Biltmore, but...it seems to have aspired to the Biltmore standards.  

He likes it because he doesn't have to deal with a lot of people, and he can get some grad school reading done if he finishes his work early.  He's sitting outside one hot August night and notes that while the wind seems to be kicking up- everything around him is still- the flag, the trees. There's no animals scuttling around, no bats or night birds. He shrugs it off, after mentioning it to night security guy, Kal. 

Unusual things start to happen.  Time slows. Teresa, another hotel worker shows up unexpectedly to do laundry, and from there, the three must band together to uncover just what is going on at the Holloway Resort.  As the three explore the hotel and surrounding area they encounter sins of the past, the marred history of the hotel's creation, and a deeper botanical horror that surrounds the area.  They all have reasons to want time to return to normal, but can they fix this?  To do so they must explore the mysteries of the Holloway, the mysteries held within themselves, and the mysteries of the old earth, trees and nature of this area. 

This is more than just a haunted hotel. It's more than a historic horror.  It's more than just botanic/body horror.  Put together Clark has managed to really capture the essence of modern Appalachia drawing in the historic and natural events which come together to create this long terrifying night at the hotel. 

   If there is a weakness to this novel, I think it was maybe not tied up exactly as well as I would have liked. The ending is solid, but being a very fact based person, I really wanted to know just a bit more about how Teresa exists, her ties to the earth and insect life, and I really wanted to meet Kal's new bride! 

That said, this is sure to please any horror fan, any fan of folklore novels, and those just looking for a scary story for the season. 

One last thing, Mr. Clark, I'd love to know if you based the title on the 1933 study by Sherman and Henry  by the same name? 

 STATS

First Published:  September 2026

Pages: 274

Available as an Audio Book :  No 

Trigger Warnings: violence, ghosts, sexual content, insects, animal gore, religion 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

It's Hugo Award Eve!

 Tomorrow evening at 8Pm Pacific Time, the Hugo Awards will be awarded.  (cue sad trombones, for that very awkward sentence.) 

I'm pleased to say that I have read all 6 of the contenders for best Novel, and also several of the contenders for best Novella.  

Since I have read all 6 of the Nominees, I feel like I really should be making a prediction. Last year I predicted incorrectly, but the novel I would have chosen if I had gone with my heart, won. This year, I am again torn.  Firstly these 6 are all strong contenders.  They were all pretty much bangers, well written, well composed, addressed interesting issues in unusual ways. None of these were novels I finished and forgot about. 

That said, I did have my favorites. If you follow the blog you won't be surprised that I adored Robert Jackson Bennett's book two in the Ana and Din series, Emily Tesh's The Incandescent and also the Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson.  You might be surprised to find that I did not really enjoy Alix Harrow's The Everlasting, and that I was impressed by Okorafor's novel but I honestly didn't enjoy the reading of it. And Tchaikovsky.  Well.  He is a brilliant writer, but I do not think he is exactly the writer for me. Many of his novels seem incredibly inventive, until one has read several and then suddently it's always disgruntled academics, and insectoid creatures (that said Preaching to the Choir, a new novella he put out, has my heart, I loved that one, insects and all) . 

For me my TOP contenders are The Raven Scholar  and A Drop of Corruption. The Incandescent was a book that I really really enjoyed, but when compared to the others in this list, it just didn't pack the same punch as Some Desperate Glory did. If I was giving the award, I think I might just give it to Robert Jackson Bennett, AGAIN.  But honestly if I was giving the award, I might just go with The Raven Scholar, since Mr. Bennett won last year.   I do feel like A Drop of Corruption is superior to the first book, but still... I don't know that people should hog awards year after year.  Looking at Hugo's of the past, I do see that this has occasionally happened, so it could happen again. 

The Raven Scholar was fascinating to me because when I describe it to others, it sounds like a very standard fantasy novel, but at every opportunity Hodgson injects twists that I did not expect, lore that makes the world feel familiar and foreign at the same time, and characters that are hard to forget. 

So frankly, if I had all the power, I would choose Hodgson's The Raven Scholar. 

Do I think the Raven Scholar will win? 

I feel like that may be a No. 

From watching reviews and discussion, I am going to predict that actually Alix Harrow's The Everlasting may take the podium.  I personally do not like time travel and this novel... was heavily time travel. I also sort of got sick of the circular time frame and once I realized that there would be some sort of success in this desperate battle, I mostly wanted the repetitive time loops to just.. cease and desist. Others did not feel as I did and I saw so many 5 star reviews from readers all over the world. Readers who normally read only romantasy were all over this book.  Sci-Fi readers enjoyed  the time bending aspects, and others just thought it was a great story overall.   

I don't think I'll be mad if Harrow's novel takes top spot. It's well written, and although I had issues with it, I was still able to finish it, and I did enjoy many aspects of the novel. 

I look forward to waking up tomorrow evening around 11-12 eastern and finding out who prevailed.  let me know if you have predictions in the comments!!!! 

Book Review: THe Grand Couvert By Eoghan Brunkard

   The Grand Couvert is a surprising novel I picked up because it had a Black Cat on the Cover. 

I'm not extremely into Black Cats or Grand Couverts  BUT, I had a reading prompt to read a book with a Black Cat on the Cover.  NOW.  I am fairly sure the person who did this bookstore reading prompt expected me to pick up some fluffy Halloween themed Rom-Com.  I was down for that, but this popped up on NetGalley and did look infinitely more interesting than a standard Rom -com.  

This was a unique read for me and I was sort of surprised and oddly charmed at every twist and turn in this novel. 

Probably my favorite twist was learning how the cat actually fit in to all of the business goings on at the time of the French Revolution. 

The French Revolution- yes it's the French Revolution, and we have a  reluctant participant- hero Edouard, who crosses paths with Edouard and offers him a chance he can't refuse.  All he has to do is find a secret relic.  And off we go... Edouard, and his team (who are ready for all adventure!) find themselves hot on the relic's trail.  They are, of course pursued by a Comte, or is that a Cat? You'll want to read to find out! 

I enjoyed this novel which was full of wry humor, and twists around every turn. This is a good one to buddy read with your history buff friend, as it's fictional but also highly accurate. 

   STATS

First Published:  05/01/2025

Pages: 332

Available as an Audio Book :  No 

Trigger Warnings: violence, political upheaval, death, troublesome feline, classicism

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review: The Oxygen Farmer, By Colin Holmes

  I found this novel while browsing through my library's audiobook collection. I was itching to get back to some Outer Space reading for my 2026 theme, and I was also looking for books that would fulfill any one of the prompts for the Hardest Reading Challenge You'll Ever Do. Voila. 

I do like the cover. It gives off a very 1980's Sci-Fi Vibe, and the character on the cover, does somehow capture the stubborn, ornery main character of the novel.  Sadly, I cannot find any credit for who designed the cover or did the art work, so I am deeply hoping this isn't AI. 

   

 Millennium Harrison is your typical farmer. He's elderly, crusty, dusty, and ornery. Oh, and he farms oxygen, on the Moon. No matter that he's estranged from much of his family, even grumpy, he would give the shirt off his back (even if it mean being exposed to radiation in immense amounts) to save you if he could. He's also- curious. When he stumbles on an area of the moon that has equipment he isn't expecting, he starts to ask questions. And while he's 
just asking questions- the questions turn out to be rather dangerous. They set into action a series of events that tumble and cascade like a set of dominos. There's a cover -up, decades old governmental secrets, and political scheming - all while Mil and his found and actual family are just trying to live their lives. Who will prevail? You'll want to read to find out. 

Holmes has created a very believable Sci-Fi novel drawing on recent international events. There is a good blending of plot, hard sci-fi elements and character arcs to bring in multiple types of readers. I enjoyed this novel, but, I admit- I didn't find it all consuming. The plot wrapped up maybe a little TOO neatly there at the end, but I can't complain too much as it was very satisfying that way! 

The audiobook was narrated by Keith Szarabajka. He did an amazing job, because 1 day later as I am writing this, I was thinking what an amazing job he did capturing the husk of Mil's 83 yr old voice, while also narrating the story smoothly - and also wondering who voiced the women in the novel.  Yeah.  It was ALSO Keith. He's not one of the narrators well known to me like Eunice Wong or Teddy Hamilton, but I'm a fan of Keith now. 

    STATS

First Published:  December 5, 2023

Pages: 320

Available as an Audio Book : YES!  (9 hrs) 

Trigger Warnings: violence,  nudity, , murder, medical trauma, torture, difficult family relations, Death of spouse, Death of parent. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review: Blood Rising by Markus Redmond

   I saw Blood Rising pop up on NetGalley in audio book form and I JUMPED at it. Thank you to RB media.  I was so excited to get approved for this one that I listened to it very quickly!  

This is Book two in The Blood Saga, which I think is going to be a trilogy.  Book One is Blood Slave.

Blood slave is set mostly in 1710 in the Carolinas on a horrific plantation- though one could argue that it was a typical plantation. We meet multiple characters including Rafazi, who is the lone survivor of the Ramanga, an ancient vampire tribe from Africa.  Vampires have very long lives and Rafazi has been enslaved - sort of - since 1407. Rafazi works to build a supernatural following that will challenge the status quo.  

It is a powerful book and highlights the absolute violence of daily plantation life. It's one that really brings up a lot of uncomfortable topics, and as it is historically inspired, and blended with the supernatural, it really opens up so many ideas. I really liked it. 

So of course, I was excited to get Blood Rising.  I've sort of sworn off requesting anything but audiobooks since I am still trying to review 8 regular net galley books. 

Blood Rising is narrated by Akin Omotoso and Waceke Wambaa who are both veteran voice actors- bringing the story to life.  While it isn't a graphic audio, the way that the characters were voices gave it a very "graphic audio" feel to me.  A movie in my head quickly developed and I could really SEE the characters as the audio book was playing. 

Blood Rising pick up on the reclaimed plantation- The Crimson Plantation and works through both external threats that are both human and supernatural, while working to resolve some internal disagreements. The intrigue was intense and I was never sure what was going to come next.  There was a lot of character development, especially for the character Kwadzo as he moves into more of leader position while navigating newly developed supernatural skills.  In addition we see introduction of new characters- both heroes and villains, and a dive into some of the background lore of these vampires, and their skills. 

My biggest sadness... Cliffhanger. There is a massive cliffhanger, that I can't wait to hear what happens in book 3! 

STATS

First Published: August 25, 2026

Pages: 432

Available as an Audio Book : YES! 

Trigger Warnings: violence, gore, slavery, systemic abuse, nudity, kidnapping, murder, medical trauma, torture, mental illness, supernatural abuse. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review The Eye of Goliath by Diego Muzzio

 This book has been described as a new, inventive twist on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but frankly, I didn't see that come through. It may be that my familiarity with Hyde and Jekyll are a bit limited.  

This book was published originally in 2022 in Spanish.  It is now coming out in an English Translation on September 1! 

I've been reading a lot of weird girl books- and I was pretty happy to find this book nearly 90% populated with "weird" men. Also I love this dramatic cover, it was perfect. 

  We start with war  veteran Dr. Edward Pierce. He's a psychiatrist who's specializing in hypnosis, and treating well heeled war veterans with problems that lend themselves to being tucked into a Scottish manor well enough away from major city centers.  Dr. Pierce is attempting to use hypnosis for treatment, while most of the others in his profession are experimenting with electro-shock and other such treatments. Indeed a sort of subplot, or concurrent plot is Pierce's relationships with his colleagues across Europe, as he attempted to establish himself as pre-eminent. 

One day he admits a patient, a fellow war veteran, who had returned to his job as an Engineer, but after a subsequent traumatic experience on the job, has developed mutism and an inability to stop "swimming".

The patient is admitted and Pierce soon becomes fully committed to this unfortunate man, forsaking all other patients, and leaving them for his colleague.

Readers are given an opportunity to delve into the horror of war, and how it mangles all those it touches, and the subsequent horrors awaiting even those who came through that war unscathed.  I enjoyed this book, though I did find it a bit "dense" for only about 197 pages. I was personally a bit disappointed that certain parts of the story seemed to have very abrupt switches with little explanation, but such is the situation when one has multiple unreliable narrators! 

Will the be for everyone?  Maybe not.  But if one is looking for an atmospheric, somewhat terrifying horror novel that ties in both the supernatural and actual horror, this is one to check out.  I would LOVE to have this in an audiobook format, and that might have increased my enjoyment. In addition, reading it as a buddy read with a committed buddy might have also enhanced my enjoyment!  Many Many thanks for Pushkin Press for the advance E-Arc! I hope to see a lot of folks reading this for Spooky Season. 

STATS

First Published  2022  English edition 9/1/26

Pages: 192

Available as an Audio Book : hopefully 

Trigger Warnings: Animal cruelty, war violence, references to murder, actual murder, mental health, drug use, angry animals, hallucination.

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)