Book Review: A Penance for Crows By Shannon Morgan

 What happens when a "weird girl" grows up? 

A Penance of Crows by Shannon Morgan explores that, giving readers an engrossing gothic-esque thriller set in an insular community - creating almost a locked room mystery- where the room is not a physical space, but the insular community where our story takes place. 

The unique cover was designed by Layla Anderson - I'm not so sure I love it, but I love that 

it isn't AI. 

Set on an island at the tip of the Beara Peninsula, in a highly suspicious and religious community, we meet Grizela, an "outsider" who's lived on the island for almost 40 years. 

Grizela is odd, unmarried and working as an artist. She's not one to socialize and she doesn't suffer fools.  She's got a soft spot for a group of teen-aged girls who have few options within the community. She is a working artist, and provides lessons for the girls on the Island. 

Oh.  The island is populated with crows.  And while much of the community is firmly attached to the church, they also remain firmly attached to the crows, and the fae. 

It that set up doesn't give you some chills, I'm not sure what will!

Our story opens with Grizela noting some odd Crow behavior and coming upon a dead body on the shore. She's quite shocked.  Grizela does her duty, calling it in and getting people involved, even moving the body so the tide doesn't take it away. It's lovely that Grizela is the main character, she's well past 30, but the author doesn't constantly discuss how much the character's body has changed. She's a perfectly imperfect human, living a life that is so interesting, we all are wanting to know about it!

All sorts of creepy shenanigans start to occur. Are these occurrences pranks, or is something else happening?   Island secrets are brought to life, and suspicions run high.  Grizela finds that in order to protect those that she cares deeply for, she must confront some uncomfortable truths about her past. 

A Penance of Crows is well plotted, and kept drawing me in for more and more. It is an excellent blend of Supernatural terror, thriller, and mystery.  (And Crows!, we have Crows!) 

Super Thanks to Tantor Audio  for the ALC.  I loved this one more than I expected to! 

STATS

First Published  07/28/2026

Pages: 336

Available as an Audio Book : ~ 10 hrs 

Trigger Warnings:  violence, murder, death, hyper-religiousity, mention of abortion, alcohol use/ abuse. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review: The Plotters by Un-su Kim

                                            

 So last year when I wanted to add some translated works to my TBR, I put several audiobooks on hold. They then all started to become available in the past few weeks. So, it looks like I may do better than last year on my books in translation. 

    This is a bit of a hidden gem, I have not heard many people discussing this one, and I found myself to be listening with delight as this Crime noir/thriller unfolded.   It is also a beat the back-list type of novel as it was first published in 2018.  This is one novel that I could see as a television mini-series. 

     So without spoilers- this is a novel about assassins, and the people (or plotters) behind the assassins. Our main character is a likeable, well read young man who was raised unconventionally by Old Raccoon, who is essentially a kingpin in the Assassin world in an alternative by contemporary South Korea.  Our main character follows orders, he pulls triggers when asked, and otherwise lives a quiet and bland life. He is, however, thoughtful, and observant. Eventually he carries out a plan, but doesn't quite follow the instructions to a T, and finds himself privy to a bizarre scheme put into motion by the most unexpected of players. Will he join them, or remain a cog in the machine?  I really was rooting for our main character, because, after all, who can dislike a man with cats named Desk and Lampshade? And He's a man who takes care of those cats. 

  I really loved this one. There's a lot of dark humor, and wry commentary on the state of life in general, the plot has a lot of twists and turns and goes places that I didn't imagine it would. While I did find the ending to be less satisfying than I would have liked, it certainly fit the story. 

The translator is Sora Kim-Russell, and they have done a wonderful wonderful job. Sarcasm, suspense, dry humor, and implied tones are difficult to translate, and I felt that I didn't miss any of that in this novel, it was all there, in spades. 

  Now I've seen people say if you enjoy Han Kang, you'll enjoy this, but I don't think that's necessarily the case.  The two writers are very different. I see this more as a novel for folks who love the noir genre and want to explore it in other cultures other than the sort of UK/USA area. For me, I really enjoyed it as it was so well plotted, grabbed me in the beginning, held me through the middle and had me on the edge of my chair for the end! 

                                 First Published :  August 2018

Pages: 310

Available as an Audio Book : Yes  

Trigger Warnings: death, death of dog, death of child,  classism, medical issues, body horror, misogyny.

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)

October reading Wrap up

 October was a Month of lots of reading.  It helped that I read at least 2 novellas  so that clearly pumped up the volume.  I finished 20 books in October!

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Pump on Greenwich Street, below Canal" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1894. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/8ac46100-c560-012f-845b-58d385a7bc34

Now, I love some statistics, so let's see how my reading stacked up! 

Books in Translation:  2/20 So, errr 10% Not great at all. That said, I know I'm definitely reading more translated work this year overall, so when I do my end of year comparison, I imagine I will have improved my percentage from 2024. 

Books by Diverse Authors: 6/20  30% Which is a small percentage, but still..present. 

Favorite Read for this Month?

 Hands down  HEX  by Thomas Olde Heuvelt 

As far as spooky season reads went, this one.. slayed!   It was terrifying, and had great pacing and characters. Loved it. A Masterpiece. 

 

I had the MOST fun reading Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver as a Buddy read with a friend. 

This was a very well done rom-com of sorts, involving, of course, serial killers. I fully fully enjoyed it and enjoyed reading with a friend who was as enthusiastic as I was. 

Did I have a least favorite? I read Choosing Theo by V. Aveline. It was...a book that seems to be well loved by the book tok community. I apparently am not that community exactly. It was not terrible, but it also wasn't quite the fun I had hoped for. 

What was your favorite or least favorite in October? Did you go all in for Spooky season or just continue on with your regularly scheduled TBR? 

Let me know in the comments! 

Book Review: The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi

 If you are just building your Spooky Season TBR,  this is a book that needs to be put on pre-order for spooky season reading! 

Many Thanks to Macmillan Audio  for the advanced Listener copy. 

Holy Heck what a Ride! 

This thriller surprised and delighted me all the way to the very final end where one amazing final girl is left standing. (there are so many candidates for this final girl, and you know I won't be spoiling this one. 

 This is a perfect novel for those who are a bit tired of all the 20 something protagonists! Set in a wrap around retirement facility in upstate NY, almost all the characters are well beyond 70, and most are sharp, witty and living the best life that they can within the confines of aging.  That is, until someone starts offing them one by one.  I mean, I don't think, given the title, that this is a spoiler.  For me, I will say I expected this book to have a bit of a gentler edge, but it quickly became one I could not really listen to at home alone. Every time I'd glance at a window in the middle of the night, I had a moment of dread. Seriously spooky. This thriller had me on the edge of my seat. I suspected almost every character at one point in time, and the need to know propelled my reading. Towards the end I did "guess" the killer- but I think it was at that point that the author was directing the reader to the solution  as I only had a brief satisfaction of realizing Ohhhhh, that's the one! 

  In short I loved the setting, loved the premise and the tension/mystery/suspense created by the author. Definitely a good one to curl up with as the leaves begin to fall, and everything turns pumpkin flavored. 

January Lavoie was the narrator and was - of course- extraordinary. As my eyes are still not doing as well as I'd like, I really appreciated the audiobook. Of course, with a cover like this- I might need a book trophy.  Maybe it comes out at the end of September! 

First Published : 09/2025

Pages: 416

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: medical situations, drugs, alcohol, murder, elder murder, fire, references to domestic abuse

                   Not a full TW list, please read responsibly.   

Book Review Oromay By Baalu Girma 5/5 Stars

 First Published in Amharic in 1983, (and then banned rapidly after publication) Oromay has now been translated into English in it's entirety.  And as a BONUS - it is now out in a very listenable audio-book as well! 

  I would like to thank both Penguin Random House and Highbridge Audio and of course Net Galley for the Advanced Listener copy.It was an honor to read/listen to this important novel. 

 I  loved this cover, and was so excited to dive into this one.  I had very few expectations, though I admit I did have some, given my personal experiences with Eritrea. 

No Spoiler Summary (because spoilers are just the WORST) - Oromay ( an Eritrean word adapted from the Italian oromai  meaning pointless or finished) tells the story of a fictional journalist's experiences embarking on the Red Star campaign in Eritrea. Set in Asmara, the reader is embedded into all the wild nights, political intrigue and exploits and front line action in what was a long, bitter conflict occurring over decades. Girma was a journalist and it seems this very personal novel is a fictionalized account of the actual Red Star Campaign and true events.  (For those unaware, the Red Star Campaign was a large effort on the part of the Ethiopian Government to eliminate the Eritrean insurgency.) To call this a "historical fiction" novel somehow, seems incorrect, however. It has a much different feel to it, and- overall, I'm not sure what to call it.  It's being sold as a Spy/Thiller, but that somehow doesn't quite capture the essence of this novel.  This is more like autobiographical fiction, rather than historical fiction- and it's autobiographical fiction that the author may have paid for with his life.   It's hard to tell though, what is fact, and what's fiction so, likely best to enjoy as fiction. Oromay surprised me with a compelling narrative of revolution, love and betrayal.  This book was banned (In Ethiopia) very soon after it was published, and Girma himself, vanished soon after, which solidified interest in both the author and the novel itself.  

 I consumed the novel like a sweet delicious coffee. There's treachery, intrigue, gruesome battles, romance, and a dramatic ending that leaves the reader thinking about the nature of life and death for a long time to come. 

The narration was performed by Beru Tessema and it was perfection.  For many English readers- the amount of unfamiliar names with unusual spellings will be daunting. With Beru Tessema,  these all rolled off the tongue naturally and kept the story moving forward.  Some readers may find the way the story unfolds to feel a little slow- but I'm going to encourage readers to stick with it. The sort of slow measured feel seems to reflect how the campaign itself rolled out over Asmara. The novel pulls the reader in deeper and deeper, just as the Red Star officials were pulled into Asmara and Eritrea, not all at once, but slowly over a period of weeks. One warm evening at a time. 

Did I find myself rooting for one character in particular?  Not really- this isn't that sort of novel where a hero emerges out of rubble.  instead, as a reader I found that my understanding of life and death and the choices made in difficult times broadened with each unfurling chapter - making this a rather remarkable piece of fiction.  It is a book in translation - David DeGusta and Mesfin Felleke Yirgu are the translators, and I did have to check a few times to be sure it was a translation. I can't speak to the accuracy, but I can say that it was very readable. 

  For me this novel is as much of a love song to Eritrea, as it is a an anti-war statement.   Oddly, Eritrea was the first place I worked in Africa - kicking off multiple trips across the continent to provide medical education and care over decades. My experiences in Asmara were full of adventure, drama and joy. I was very young and had an incomplete understanding of the politics of the region. (which may be part of the reason I enjoyed my time there so much.) Girma's descriptions of Asmara took me back to the city. His descriptions of night life within Asmara brought back a lot of memories of a city that has strongly held on to some Italian influence. Indeed, I experienced some chills and surprise as I realized the hospital he described was the very same hospital I have worked at- decades later. As is noted in the novel, Asmara is a small place, and to know I'd been in literally the same places gave the novel a bit more meaning as I devoured it.  

  This novel is perfect for book clubs, students, readers of John Lecarre, and Phillip Kerr.  I wish I'd had the opportunity to read it prior to jetting off to Asmara myself, as the conflict there is nuanced and a bit difficult for outsiders to fully grasp. If you're looking for a book in translation, or a book to diversify your shelf- I recommend this as an option!

  

STATS

First Published  February 2025

Pages: 416

Available as an Audio Book : Yes

Trigger Warnings: war, violence, grief, infidelity, body horror, body injury

(this is not a full list, read responsibly) 

Book Review: The Night Birds By Christopher Golden 4/5 stars

 If you are looking for a suspense/thriller novel that doesn't rely on some of the usual thriller tropes and themes, this might be a book for you! 

I was so happy to be approved for the audiobook via Macmillan and NetGalley!  It fits right in to my Water 2025 theme, and, I could not resist the cover at all. 

(Cover art by Peter Bergting and Cover Design by Errick Nunnally)

To be 100% honest, I might have skipped over the title if I hadn't seen the cover. I'm not at all familiar with Christopher Golden, and the firs time I read the description, it... maybe didn't pique my interest, but darn it all, that cover! 

   In short (No spoilers!) Charlie and Ruby used to be an item, but, alas, many good things come to an end. Charlie's working for the state on a research project involving a partially submerge freighter ship with a team of characters who you'll come to love. As often happens in Galveston, a storm is brewing. Charlie's team part ways for the night, with Charlie intending on spending the night on the ship. Arriving at the dock he's confronted with Ruby- a very personal "blast from the past". She needs his help. She's got an infant in tow and obviously, they're running from something. So far this sounds exactly like a lot of thrillers you've read, indeed. I was settling in for this, when the novel took a macabre turn involving some very creepy beings, birds and lots of ritualistic behavior that had me floored. This novel has the suspense and the thrills but also come dripping in gore, pure terror, and dark creatures not of this world. There were some moments when I really felt I needed to look behind me while I was listening to this narration! While there aren't exactly "jump scares" in this gem, there are many moments which had me sort of sucking in a breath. I was surely engaged for all of it. In fact, I finished this in record time because  I HAD TO KNOW! 

  Overall, I had a lot of fun with this wild ride which takes place in a span of maybe 18 hours. It's well written and has a sort of cinematic feel to it, leaving the reader with very little time to catch a breath as the adventure rolls on. 

   The narrators for this adventure are Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins. I was never distracted by the narration, and felt that they did a great job with the super creepy, gory material! 

  This goes on sale May 6th.  I think it would make a great gift for Mother or Father's day - for the Right Mother and Father. (Mine will be getting some goat's milk soap- but others... might go for this wild ride of grim horror!)  

STATS

First Published  May 2025

Pages: 304

Available as an Audio Book : Yes

Trigger Warnings:  violence, murder, theme of abuse and loss, Supernatural killers, infant loss, natural disaster angry birds, 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review White King By Juan Gomez-Jurado 5/5 Stars

   What a WILD RIDE!  I have just finished  White King  by Juan Gomez Jurado.  This is the conclusion in a trio of thriller/police procedurals that I found to be...really just perfection.  My only regret if you will is that at the end of White King, there's no commentary assuring readers that our dynamic duo John and Antonia will be coming back. Thank you to macmillan and NetGalley  for the opportunity to listen and review in advance. I LOVED this book! 

  It's probably best to talk about the last book , while mentioning the first two as they are indeed, a series and while they could be read along, I feel they are best devoured all at once in a row. 

   The audio books are all narrated by the very talented Scott Brick, and he has done such a good job- he doesn't go in for fancy accents, or high pitched voices to bring the story to life, instead, he manages the spaces between words to create suspense, intrigue and humor at all the right places.  I highly recommend the audio if you are inclined to listen to audio books. 

Antonia and John, two somewhat ill fitting puzzle pieces of people come together at the start of the series  

to form a somewhat unlikely, but also somewhat predictable partnership.  She's socially repellent, but brilliant - so useful
to a secret project. He's socially cued in and affable enough to put up with and protect Antonia. Both find each other infuriating, but neither has a lot of other options. Both highly relatable, and yet, not so relatable that the reader feels they could actually "be" the characters. 

What makes these books just a cut above all the other thrillers and police novels is the way the author interjects with spot on observations about human nature, how language shapes our understanding of our world, and human interactions, the price we pay for them and what we gain.  Add in these small leitmotifs that make a reader feel like they are in on a secret joke, and this entire series is a winner, 

White King is a fantastic addition. Gomez-Jurado takes us - without delay- but with lots of suspense and anxiety- to a satisfying and surprisingly gentle conclusion that left me on the edge of my seat until about the last 4 minutes. I actually was found standing in the kitchen with a fresh cup of coffee shouting out NOOOOOOOOO.   I never do this. I'm not prone to too much excitement within the pages of a book (and I'm completely lying here of course)  but let me just say the ending was unexpected, perfect and far kinder than I had hoped for. 

 While there is a series on Prime  which I intend to watch, I think it likely misses some of the inner monologues of the book, some of the small details that draw a reader into a fast paced adventure. So I'd recommend reading the full series even if you've "seen the show" 

 This book will appeal to readers who loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,  as well as those who enjoy a twisted mystery to unravel.

   I, for one, can't wait to see what's next for Juan Gomez-Jurado.  

STATS

First Published 2020 (Spanish) 

Scheduled for English release March 2025

Pages: 352

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings:  death, violence, cursing, suicide, police action, homophobia,

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)