Book Review: Rooted By Leopoldo Gout

 I saw this book on Net Galley and was immediately smitten with the cover. It is both terrifying and compelling to me.  Unfortunately I had requested a few too many "Eyeball" reader copies, but when I saw the audio from Spotify, I RAN for it so so fast. 

 I have been burned a few times by covers, so I did look at the blurb. AND, YES I did want to read a book involving an ancient Aztec God called The Flayed One.  I mean, really...releasing in early fall, this is PRIME Autumnal reading material.  The leaves crunching under my feet, chilly mornings with fog rolling in, and cold nights with a crackling fire. 

Yes... it is true... I live in the subtropics and my Autumn so far has been trips to the pool, lots of sunscreen and humidity and torrential afternoon storms. SO I NEED MY CHILLING BOOKS MORE THAN EVER! And this one really felt like exactly how I like my horror-  ancient terrifying beings, a confused modern story line, and very well developed characters. 

Please let me know if you can see the photo, I am not seeing them, but I can see that I inserted it. I may need to do an update. 

ANYWAY. 

After Hollow Folk, I was not sure that anything could top that for a spooky horror read.  I think Rooted is on par with Hollow Folk and possibly, a bit better- definitely a bit better editing if you ask me. 

Without any spoilers- we join Aurora, and her ex boyfriend as they work together as a team to repatriate Mexican artifacts to their rightful place. It's a bit unclear where the artifacts have been, but some appear to have been living, and wreaking havoc in Spain for centuries. One of the artifacts is a mysterious status of the Flayed one- an Aztec god who would flay parts of his body off for seeds and nutrients for the soil. It sounds creepy- and honestly it really is creepy. I suggest a bit of a google of this one.  I went down a rabbit hole and I am grateful to the author because that was one amazing and cool rabbit hole. 

Things in Mexico City aren't right.  Aurora herself was prone to odd hallucinations and headaches as a child, and with her main narration, readers aren't ever sure if she is having a breakdown or, if unusual plants are really sprouting across the pavement. As she is doing her best to complete the work, navigate her ill mother and her ex boyfriend she becomes increasingly disturbed.  The museum artifacts seem to be almost speaking to her, and she has found documents at her childhood home that indicate she may not be exactly who she believed herself to be. 

As Aurora unravels, and the story picks up steam readers can expect botanical horror, body horror, secrets unveiled all occurring at a rapid pace.  Gout leads the reader to one conclusion only to pivot to one that is broader and more astounding.  I loved it! 

Krysta Gonzalez is the narrator, and I appreciated that she took on a tough task of voicing Aurora at many ages and life stages. Her narration was smooth and pleasant to listen to- in fact, I finished this book in about 3 days - a record for me. 

The cover was done by  João Ruas | IG: @feral_kid

Cover design by Esther S. Kim.  Both deserve a lot of credit as the book is one that grabs the eye immediately. 

STATS

First Published:  9/15/2026

Pages: 288

Available as an Audio Book :  Yes

Trigger Warnings: racism, supernatural occurrences, body horror, death of child, death of parent, accidental patricide, ancient Gods, botanical horror, mental health, 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review: The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno Garcia

    I have slept on Silvia Moreno-Garcia.  

Snoozed. 

Deep sleep.   Sleep walked. 

I knew her book Mexican Gothic was WILDLY popular, and probably because of that, I avoided it a bit. 

In truth, it became a book that a lot of "book tok girls" pointed to when explaining they read diversely. Mexican Gothic stood there, stalwart, all over book tok, in a pile of otherwise milk-toast books.  So I was a little bit.. skeptical. 

Secondly, Moreno-Garcia blurbed a certain book as a critical book in Mexican Horror history and I loathed that book, so I was sort of questioning a few things there. 

But a friend of mine saw the cover of The Bewitching, stated it was "calling her" and I bought it as a gift for her, and then decided, what the heck- and read it myself as well. 

Holy Heck!  This was a delightful, and easy read!  I can see why Moreno-Garcia's work is popular.  This is definitely a horror story, but, it's horror that is approachable for non- horror readers.  There are elements of historical fiction, multigenerational family sagas, folklore and the true horror of being a graduate student!  And yes, this is a book that Book Clubs across the world would enjoy for the Autumn and Spooky season. It has just enough scariness, to thrill, but not enough to truly unsettle the reader. 

No Spoilers-  Readers are given a generational tale that crosses over time and place starting off at a small New England college in the 1930's, moving to a Mexican farm in the early 1900's and planting itself firmly in recent past. Each story line has a strong and clever female protagonist who must work against the supernatural - and societal expectations.  For me the most enjoyable timeline was the 1930's but I see other reviewers liking others just as well.  I especially appreciated that the moves between times was seamless. Minerva, the main main character in the near present day- is the anchor between the other time lines, as she works to unravel a mystery that involves the college's past and her past as well. 

 While this novel has twists and turns, I do feel like an astute reader can easily see the changes coming as Moreno-Garcia forecasts and foreshadows heavily.  This isn't a book you want to read for "Gotcha" moments. It does have a satisfying ending, and has me interested in reading more of Moreno-Garcia's work. 

My absolute favorite thing about this book - the EASTER EGGS-  Moreno-Garcia playfully has inserted multiple easter eggs- references to multiple contemporary horror authors - you should see how many you can count. I got 5.  I think there are more. 

i did get this on Audio. Gisela Chipe was the narrator.  SHE WAS STELLAR.  I especially enjoyed the particular accents she employed, which made it very easy to tell which timeline I was entering into. She even got the sort of odd 1930-1940's telecaster type accent just right. 

Have you read this one?  let me know in the comments. 

STATS

First Published:  7/15/2025

Pages: 368

Available as an Audio Book :  Yes

Trigger Warnings: racism, occult, supernatural occurrences, ghosts, witches, alcohol use, incest. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review: Off the Reservation by Stephen Graham Jones

 I hit request SO FAST On this one, because I am definitely down with anything SGJ creates  (ok withe notable exception of Zombie Bakeoff) . I was thrilled to get an approval from Saga Press on Netgalley. 

This book is definitely classic Stephen Graham Jones, but also- a bit different. 

Its the same grit and real feeling but it moves along at a different pace, so if you were expecting a slow build up to a wild crescendo fo a finish, just get ready for a fast ride most of the way through. 

This is sort of a sequel to The only Good Indians, which seemed fairly complete in itself.  That said, sometimes characters just want to do more in the world, so- Have at it Mr. Jones. 

Nate, our main guy- the one that apparently wanted to do more in the world- is on a mission.  One that seems pretty straightforward. He, and some others, travel cross country to rescue the bones of a Blackfeet boy who was murdered at the Carlisle Indian School. 

So- that hits home for me. I did indeed grow up 11 miles from the Carlisle.  Growing up - it was talked about- lots of stuff in the area is named for Jim Thorpe, and we knew about it. We really didn't KNOW about it however, until later.  So, any time my home area is written about, I tend to feel a certain way, and I do find myself VERY invested in the novel. So, I may not be entirely objective. 

But Nate;s objective is simple... rescue these bones.  Of course... this is a horror novel, and the horror of the Carlisle Indian School is not enough, something horrendous seems to have escaped through the bones. 

What happens next?  Well, reader friends you will want to put this on pre-order to find out. 

 STATS

First Published:  October 13, 2026

Pages: 416

Available as an Audio Book :  Hopefully? 

Trigger Warnings: racism, transphobia, death, violence, death of parent, murder, injury with detail, vomit, body horror 

(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)  

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)  

Book Review: The Burn Line by Jonathan Sims

 I picked up the Burn Line by Jonathan Sims  as part of "Camp Net Galley 2026"  This is a fun little event where they put on offer 10-20 or so books  and if readers complete the book and review within the Camp time frame, they receive a cute badge.

Now, there were a lot of people saying "will this help me get approved on Net Galley more?"  and I do not think having the Camp Net Galley badge is prestigious but, I know it's a lot of fun.  in 2025, I discovered Canticle by Janet Rich Evans, and loved the book so much I purchased it as a gift for my Mom. 

SO this year, I was HYPED for Camp Net Galley.  Unfortunately my new job was also "HYPED" for me to work some incredible hours. 

I have still managed one book, though I wanted to read about 5 of them on offer. 

 

 I chose the Burn Line by Jonathan Sims. 

Did I choose this in part because of the cover?  HECK YES! 

Looks at the cover! The interesting thing about book covers is that there is an artist , but also a designer who brings that cover to life and makes it just JUMP out of a shelf to catch your attention. 

Cover Art: Andreea Dumuta

Cover Design: Erin Fitzsimmons  SO- KUDOS to these two individuals who made me want to select this one out of all the choices. 

I really enjoyed this slow burn, tension filled horror novel. 

As a "synopsis" with no spoilers: 

 

5 perfectly normal individuals-who are wildly divergent come together in a London Underground tube car during the hottest summer on record. As the story opens, the writing had me immediately picturing each character as they endured the ride while trying to maintain composure in the hear. 

Passengers experience a sensation of disorientation/disassociation which they all seem to chalk up to the heat.  They notice they have somehow gotten an oily gray film on their hands or other body parts, and also shrug that off as just part of the tube. Everyone is going about their daily life, but they all feel unsettled. Soon, the feeling grows, and these unlikely travel companions feel like they are being stalked by something very old and very evil. This of course is no way to live in the modern era.  This unlikely group of underground companions must somehow find each other again, recover those moments of disorientation and find a way to stop this evil before they become the next victims.   

I loved the character development in this novel, readers meet wildly divergent characters who must work deeply with each other, and each of them must move out of their comfortable circles to achieve even the possibility of success. 

Although there were some parts of the book that kind of dragged a bit for me, they seemed necessary for the ongoing character development over the course of the novel. 

 This is a very good combination of classic horror elements with a modern setting.  I enjoyed this one from Jonathan Sims and I would read more from this author. 

STATS

First Published  August 25, 2026 

Pages: 384

Available as an Audio Book : Unsure  (I hope so!) 

Trigger Warnings:  classism, death, death of parent, gore, guns, drugs, transphobia, mental health, vomit, racism 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review: Preaching to the Choir by Adrian Tchaikovsky

    Those who have followed my reading escapades know that I am a little lukewarm on Adrian Tchaikovsky.  As a writer, he's a master.  It's just that sometimes even though his Sci-Fi is masterful, and very well put together, I just, kind of don't love it. 

So, I can  not really explain why I decided I needed to read Preaching to Choir, but... if you take a gander at the stunning cover, you might understand. 

This Cover was done by the amazing Gemma Sheldrake (also known as petitecreme), Without this cover, I likely would have avoided it. 

So glad I spent the time to delve into this novella.  It was so very different when compared to Shroud, or Alien Clay. I LOVED it. and psst- there are some amazing illustrations/photos in the novella as well. 

Coming in at a cool 176 pages this is a perfect read for "Summerween" It gives off the most delicious creepy gothic vibes, and I had a great time reading this. 

Without any Spoilers- Readers meet an international couple, Elena And Ross. Ross is British and well heeled, Elena's had to work hard to get where she is- which is attending a prestigious American med school.  Elena and Ross are headed to his old family estate for some sort of once in a lifetime family gathering.  As they approach the house, things get creepy- but Elena's sure she's just imagining things.  She breathes a sigh of relief when the doors swing open- only to get the most unwelcoming welcome ever. Elena, being tough, decides to stick around, until it becomes apparent she's Hotel California'd herself and well... can she leave?  Should she leave? Reader's will want to pick up this slim volume to find out. 

  Readers can expect signature Tchaikovsky Macabre moments, as well as incisive commentary on power, influence and money as well as the lengths people will go to obtain said things. 

This reader wants more of this from Adrian Tchaikovsky.   Thanks to Solaris, a division of Simon and Schuster for the advanced reading copy. 

STATS

First Published  August 11, 2026 

Pages: 176

Available as an Audio Book : Unsure  

Trigger Warnings:  violence, murder, death, monsters, racism, classism, creepy house vibes. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review: The Summer of the Serpent By Cecilia Eudave

    As a reader I am gravitating more and more to horror.  I think this is because there is always something interesting going on in horror. 

  I initially was avoiding horror because I really don't need any adrenaline rushes and perhaps I was just not interested in cathartic reading experiences.  

But Horror to me is so much more. I have been fascinated to read horror novels from other cultures, as they offer such an amazing view into that culture- and it's interesting to see what transcends borders in horror and what needs footnotes for outsiders to fully grasp the horror. 

With all that in mind, I boldly sailed into The Summer of the Serpent by Cecilia Eudave.  As an added bonus, this is a book in translation, and I really want to beef up these books in my list.  In hindsight, I would have probably not read this book if I knew that the animal cruelty  and child abuse would be so prominent in parts of the book. This for me was so very difficult to listen to and although it was not extraordinarily graphic or grotesque in any sort of splatter punk way, it was a tough one to read through. Others may not find this as horrifying as I did, but HELP A READER OUT! 

This novel is only 144 pages. In this brief encounter, the reader is able to experience so many things about the sweltering summer of 1977 in Guadalajara, Mexico. 

   It feels as if this is more of a collection of vignettes with points of view from all angles, all experiencing the same time and space, but somehow, having wildly divergent experiences and emotions all tied up together. If you have ever sat around with siblings and recounted a monumental family trip  and realized that even though you were all there, on that trip, together, each one of you has a different memory- this is exactly how reading this felt. I was immersed in this sensation of a fever dream that often overtook my childhood summer days, and although my circumstances were different, these vignettes did bring back my childhood summers- to an extent. I want to read more from this author, but I will be a bit cautious about the content! 

First Published :  6/30/2026

Pages: 144

Available as an Audio Book :  Yes

Trigger Warnings: Death,  ghosts,  reference to child SA, Animal cruelty (not vague),  (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review The Plagued Sea By Kim Bo-Young

 Many Many Thanks to Honford Star Ltd for the advanced E-copy of Kim Bo-Young's A Plagued Sea.

Amazingly, After I finished this one, I was offered the Advanced Listener's Copy from MacMillan Audio!  I jumped at the opportunity because with this creepy novel, I wanted to see how the narrator would handle the monsters and general atmospheric vibe! 

I am not sure if there has been a new flood of translated Korean works into the English Market - or if I just somehow became aware of them and started to seek them out but I am definitely here for it either way. 

Let's start with the Cover:

This cover really gives off a bit of creepy vibes just with the muted tones and the sightless fish eyes, It was designed by Jana Heidersdorf who is well know as the creator of covers for Hazelthorn and Don't let the forest in.

    This is a novella and it is a perfect read for those embarking on HRCYED (Hardest Reading Challenge you'll ever do) in July. One of the prompts is Weather Events and another is Regions, and yet another involves the elements, so this compact novella could work for several prompts. 

For readers who aren't into challenges, this also stands out as a book in translation, and a horror novel that pulls in the most delightful Lovecraft elements, while maintaining originality. 

   Without any SPOILERS - (there's enough spoilt fish in this one), readers start in a train station where our main character and her delightful niece are set to take a trip to a seaside escape. As they near boarding, warnings abound noting a strong weather event at their destination. For an unknown reason Mu-young decides to board the train anyway - a decision she may come to regret. Three years later, She finds herself trapped in a village that is quarantined due to East Sea Fever. There's no vaccine or cure, and it seems only this village is affected. My-young fills her time working to maintain quarantine for the infected. It's a thankless job, and she isn't a gentle kind character that makes a reader want to support her. One day she's warned to stay inside, but of course, like all good horror, she does not do what she was told, and all hell, chaos and misery breaks loose in a way that opens her understanding and compassion. This crescendo of a moment really made the entire book for me! 

   Overall this read has top tier suspense that built steadily until an explosive conclusion. I enjoyed the references back to Lovecraft and felt that this novella does deserve to be called "lovecraftian" It was someone Covid-19 coded- and I did feel a bit triggered by many references that brought the Covid back to the forefront of my mind. I imagine in a few more years "the young folk" will find those references fascinating rather than triggering! 

Getting back to the Narrator... Joy Osmanski was the narrator and I appreciated the subtle way she used her voice tones and pauses to create this nightmare sensation of a novel.  It would have been easy to fall into sound effects, but instead I felt as if I was listening to Joy tell us a story naturally using just inflection, timbre and tone- as well as space between the words to set the scene. Amazing. 

I'm so glad I got the opportunity to dip into this one early and review it for all.  It's one to pop on the TBR to savor on a rainy summer afternoon! 

First Published :  8/11/2026

Pages: 156

Available as an Audio Book :  Yes

Trigger Warnings: Death, Ecological disaster, Disfigurement, violence, smoking and mild alcohol use, noxious odor references.  (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review: Headlights by CJ Leede

 Headlights is many things, but it is primarily a novel about the reverberations of deep, overwhelming, profound grief and loss.

I am very grateful to Tor for the Advanced reader copy.  I was so excited to read this, I did not even wait to see if an audiobook would be available. I just went for it. I was thrilled at the prospect of a new novel from Leede, and honestly, this one, is so creepy and atmospheric that I am unsure if I could have done the audio without crawling out of my skin.

I would share some photos of new jumpscares I have encountered in my neighborhood, but... they literally are just bushes. Bushes that will NEVER BE THE SAME- thank you CJ Leede! 

                                                                               

Covers sometimes sell books,  and the artist for this one is located HERE   - just in case you are interested, after all.   I love the cover, it really embodies the book. 

Readers meet Daniel - a hard boiled FBI agent whose chosen name is Daniel because of King's The Shining. Daniel has had a harrowing past, full of intense grief. When we encounter him, he's ready to leave it all behind and take on another stint of military service, but then... he gets a message that "It's happening again" He's compelled to return to Colorado- and work through a series of bizarre crimes that had perpetrators that are also somehow victims, and absolutely gruesome details. As an avid reader of old school detective/murder novels I was ready for this. I quickly became a "ride or die" for Danny- which is maybe why the twists and turns in the second and third act were pretty devastating for this reader.

When he suddenly finds himself a potential suspect- things start to go absolutely sideways - not only is Danny running from his law colleagues, he appears to also be running from his own past demons. Of course, these aren't all mental demons, because this is CJ Leede. We've got mental demons but also... ones that manifest out the night - Voom!

What he finds unearths a reckoning with himself and others, and a final solution that honestly I am not so sure I loved.- the last - 3rd act if you will felt a little forced, and possibly not quite as clear/neat as I  would have preferred. But, honestly in some ways, the way that it devolved into utter supernatural chaos fit the novel and I found myself just sitting, staring into space, wondering how on earth I could review this one with elements of Splatter punk, horror, myth and legend,  all tied up in a bit of a hair. I feel like the chaos and confusion really drove home the chaos and confusion of Daniel and his crew as the supernatural collided with reality. 

It this a book for book clubs?  Probably not your Mom's local library book club. Definitely not my local library book club! 

But readers who enjoy horror, splatterpunk, and a good detective story will find that this one offers a chaotic but well crafted multilayered and elegant meditation on extreme grief- and those reverberations of such grief through a life. 

                        First Published :  6/9/26

                    Pages: 400

Available as an Audio Book:  yes ~ 9-12 hrs 

Trigger Warnings:  Violence, body horror, loss of parents, parental incarceration, divorce, alcohol use, accidental and on purpose cannibalism, more body horror, ghosts  (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review: The Winter Folk by Jen Julian

 Appalachian Folk Horror is really seeming to have it's moment in the sun!  I hope that moment never ends, because as a Born and Raised in Appalachia  card carrying member, I love this stuff. 

 And this book, in particular is just really- something else! It pulls on my memories, and introduces new ideas, mixing in with familiar myths involving wishes granted (with additional unseen consequences). 

Jen Julian, a new author to me, really knocks this one out of the part.  I love that she got a degree at a college where I also got a degree.  We're just one degree apart (HA HA HA) 

This cover just screams Appalachia - and without being gruesome, kinda gives me the creeps in a most delicious way. It was designed by

Lisa Marie Pompilio.  Jo Wyckoff did Hand Lettering for the cover. 

    I like that this book allows one to just settle into it while reading.  

No spoilers- just some teasers:  Our main character- Vera Stoker grows up with stories of the Deer King. Her mother warns her off the Deer King, which likely makes him all the more attractive, and Vera- Moth is fascinated by the folks that come and go from Deer Lodge.  Eventually, she lands a contract at Deer Haven- a season of work for a wish granted...  (Could that be a BARGAIN? We all know that when bargains are made things may not go well for humans... at that point I was hooked!  Bringing the modern to the mythical is something that's often tried - with varying success. Julian seems to have melded the two together as we move from former times at Deerlodge to the current day. 

Readers move seamlessly between the reality of Moth's current life and her former situation- throughout the novel the uneasy sensation builds leaving readers with much to think about.  What's real?  Was it always real? Was it never real?  If it wasn't as remembered, what really happened? Moth must come to terms with the past to free her for her future. 

   While reading this, images like this just kept popping up in my head, not as Deer lodge but of the residents of folks like Vera- Moth who live in proximity to , but without access to the lodge. 

United States Resettlement Administration, Mydans, Carl, photographer. Interior of mountain farmhouse, Appalachian Mountains near Marshall, North Carolina. North Carolina United States, 1936. Mar. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017715156/.

 Now, all the pre-reviews and blurbs note that readers of T. Kingfisher and Alix E. Harrow will enjoy this book and I'd agree, but I also feel that if you're a fan of Seanen McGuire, - Jen Julian is an author you'll want to pick up- especially The Winter Folk. I definitely felt the "Every Heart a Doorway" vibes through this novel. 

This novel doesn't come out until July- but with a wintery kind of theme, it's going to be perfect to bring a chill to that July air. 

 

                                             STATS

First Published: 7/21/26

Pages: 384

Available as an Audio Book :  YES unclear on time at present

 

Trigger Warnings: Body Horror, insects and other wild animals, death

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

 

Book Review: Japanese Gothic By Kylie Lee Baker

 This novel Blew me away!

  I enjoyed Baker's novel Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng. I thought it was well written commentary on the Pandemic (and it's effects on people/populations) at a time when other "Pandemic" books were not yet published or were sort of vague.  But, I am unsure if I REALLY  LOVED it... 

In fact, in part because it was so tied to the Pandemic, I kind of had a visceral reaction to it, which really had nothing to do with the novel, and everything to do with the Pandemic. 

Despite my reaction, I knew Kylie Lee Baker was an author to watch.  So, when Harper Collins/Hanover Square reached out with an e-arc of the book, I jumped at it. Although my eye condition remains - sort of- BAD, I can still read, so I wanted to give it a shot. I just have to kind of go slow.  

  I went into this book entirely blind. (not a pun about my eyes!!)  I had read not one word about the book at all, and I think, honestly that's the way to go with this one!

I LOVED IT with my whole body and soul. 

At this point, I am going to give a bit of synopsis, so, if you are taking my advice to go in blind, you probably should skip the next paragraph and maybe enjoy this image which may or may not be related... If you do read the book you'll come to find this photo from 1877 to be verrrrrrry interesting. 

 

Stillfried & Andersen, Publisher. Samurai or Retainer Kneeling Before Government Official or Daimyo. Japan, ca. 1877. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2009632874/.

   As  a synopsis, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.  Sounds simple enough.  We have all read a few of these time hopping type novels.  But, wait, there's more! 

        Lee is a college student  in 2026. He's sure he's done something horrendous, and illegal, so he flees to his father's new home in Japan. Sen is a Samurai who is in exile with her family in 1877. Sen's father is a Samurai who returned from conflict - but Sen is convinced that it isn't really her father, but some grotesque version of her father. 

        Both Lee and Sen know something is wrong, but neither can exactly pinpoint the problem.  The story alternates between timelines, with Lee and Sen.  Someone is a ghost, and one of the stories is a lie.  Over time, readers will realize that both Lee and Sen are unreliable narrators. Typically I do not like an unreliable narrator, as it usually makes me feel sort of duped or something...  BUT, a lot of the fun and excitement I had while reading the book was the generation of theory after theory about what was really going on, how there was a bridge between two worlds, and why it was occurring so regularly. I came close to drawing a few diagrams. 

Baker weaves a tale around the 1877 in Japan, Modern day current times and the myth of Urashima Taro- a fisherman who saves a turtle and dallies at the bottom of the ocean in the magnificent Ryugo-jo. As he enjoys his under the sea experience, time passes in unusual ways- and for Sen and Lee, time is also passing in unnatural ways. The intersection of these three story lines is crafted seamlessly, and kept me on the edge of my seat- formulating theories right up until the last chapter. 

Ok, OK- If you were skipping the synopsis - you can go back to reading now! 

When I was about 50% through reading the book, I was also approved for the audiobook version! (Thank you Harlequin Audio!)  It is narrated by Natalie Naudus!  Naudus is a real voice professional.  She does not rely on sound effects or large voice changes, but produces tension and emotion just by subtle changes in tone and timbre.  The result is a smooth narration, which made me forget I was even listening- her voice seems to fade away and the story continued to play out in my mind cinematically.  I loved the experience of the audio book, and I recommend it, if you enjoy audiobooks.  It was such a good rendering of the story that I felt I could go between the print book and the audio book with no issues and pick right up where I left off in one or the other! I even did some "immersive" reading with this one.  As the book has a lot of subtle plot points, and I had a lot of theories, it was definitely a great way to experience the novel. 

  This is the kind of horror I love.  There's no specific jump scare moment, but rather, a series of encroaching creepy moments that create that unsettling tension, punctuated with truly horrific moments that made me sit up and take notice! 

STATS

First Published :  4/14/2026

Pages: 352

Available as an Audio Book :  YES ( ~ 10.2 hrs) 

Trigger Warnings: Child death, parental death, mental illness, main character death, body horror, blood, violence, references to racism, stereotyping, and more.

(this is not a full list, read responsibly) 

Book Review: Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher

 T. Kingfisher is such a curious author to me. The way that she does horror is unique.  It's not at ALL Splatter-punk, or Slasher style, but instead it sort of creeps up on a reader as they are sinking into a gorgeously described setting. Once you hit the shock factor, you're so far in you don't quite know how you got there!  

When I saw  A new book on audio on Netgalley, I hit that request now button very very quickly. Thanks to Macmillan audio/TOR Nightfire  for this advanced copy. I ATE THIS BOOK UP.   

I was not at all disappointed. 

Wolf Worm is the story of  Sonia Wilson.  She's 30 years of age, orphaned by her father in 1899 and unmarried.  With very few prospects, and being entirely fed up with a lucky posting teaching spoiled girls watercolor painting, Sonia bravely answers an ad for a scientific illustrator in North Carolina. With Sonia as the primary narrator, the entire lush North Carolina woods come alive through her artistic eyes. After settling in with some mild foreshadowing of creepy things to come, Sonia enjoys the company of the other house residents and community. Of course, there wouldn't be a story if unusual things didn't start to happen.  As a naturalist, she immediately clocks odd animal behavior, and as time unfolds her curiosity leads her to a rather grim discovery. Despite wanting to simply avoid the facts she's discovered, Sonia finds a way to press on. Although the novel has disturbing moments, an underlying message at the conclusion is that it's possible to overcome dark and sinister plotting even without all the proper tools and training. 

Although I did feel the reveal and action came a little late in this novel, I very much enjoyed Wolf Worm. It had a good balance of the quaint and delightful with the weird and gruesome. Kingfish just knows how to create an atmosphere, hold the attention and bring things to boil impeccably. I love the writing style and it's consistency across her novels despite telling wildly different tales. 

  I am a little bit sad that this novel isn't out until March 2026.  Although it doesn't really touch directly on our current times, the underlying discussion of Sonia initially ignoring what was obviously odd and unusual, and eventual addressing the horrific situation head on was quite thought provoking for me.  I could see that no matter what Sonia had done from day to day she could still make a strong impact when she made a choice to do so. 

This book was narrator by Mary Robinette Kowal.  This was my first time with her as a narrator. Overall, her usual narration voice is ultra-clear making the novel flow seamlessly.  She did do some voice alteration for various voices that I did not enjoy much, but that said, even the alternative voice pitching for other characters- the reading remained clear. I suspect others will find the alternative voices very appealing! 

Highly recommend placing this one on the TBR! 

STATS

First Published :  Coming March 2026

Pages: 288

Available as an Audio Book : Yes  9 hrs 14 min 

Trigger Warnings:  poverty, racism, classism, bugs, medical issues, body horror, supernatural creatures

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)

 

Book Review: The Manor of Dreams by Christina Li

 Wow.  WOW.   Wow. 

I really enjoyed this book by Christina Li.  I am not entirely sure that the way it is being marketed is helping it succeed.  This really isn't a mash up of Mexican Gothic and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It is also NOT "brimming with romance" So... I feel like a lot of readers who were looking for those two items were mightily disappointed.  I'm still wondering exactly where the romance was in the room with us. 

    This really is a literary fiction novel with elements of horror, mystery and magical realism. It is very well constructed, engaging and the plot unfolds well.  I really enjoyed the audiobook as well. 

No Spoiler synopsis:  Two estranged families must come together for the reading of a will of a famous, but mysterious and reclusive relative. In a surprise, one family inherits the lion's share; the other feels they must contest the will, leading to both families occupying the family mansion for some times.  During this time, readers move between two timelines, which reveal the past and the present as the week in the mansion evolves. 

  Within 352 pages, there is a lot to unpack. 

***** Alert- Spoilers ahead**********

There is discussion of immigration to the United States, family expectations, the "American Dream" , power dynamics in relationships of all sorts, Motherhood,  generational trauma, and history, and quite a lot more. This would be a good book for a book club because it is very accessible for many readers. Although the story seems somewhat unique- The themes all have threads that almost any reader can pick up and find relatable. 

So I enjoyed this novel, felt it was very well written and constructed overall and I gave it 4 stars. 

The only thing I do find kind of strange is that... AGAIN SPOILER ALERT....  

We have a sentient garden. It has killer plants. 

Also in the past 5 years we have had Mira Grant's Overgrowth,  and  Eat the Ones you Love by Sarah Maria Griffin, which also contain sentient plants that quite invade people's personal space. I find that coincidence kind of strange  but I did enjoy all three of these books, so I suppose with a few more it can become it's own  Plant horror genre. 

So do I recommend?  YES.  If you want some modern day drama tied up with the past, combined with some creepy magical plant elements, this is a great one to read.  Just check your triggers! 

STATS

First Published  May 2025

Pages: 352

Available as an Audio Book : Yes

Trigger Warnings:  violence, murder, theme of abuse and loss, Supernatural killers, child death, Domestic violence, racism, classism.

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)