Review: Akarnae

Akarnae by Lynette Noni (Book 1 of The Medoran Chronicles)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Akarnae by Lynette Noni is a young adult, coming-of-age, fantasy. Although there aren't any wizards or witches, the story reminds me in many ways of the Harry Potter books, with a touch of Magic Kingdom For Sale...Sold! by Terry Brooks tossed in for good measure.

16 year old Alexandra Jennings, Alex to her friends, steps through a door and finds herself stranded in Medora, and quickly enrolled in Akarnae Academy, a school for gifted students. With no way to return home, she settles in with her friends' help, and becomes more comfortable in most of her ... unusual ... classes. She also uncovers some of the school's mysteries, and, perhaps most surprising, she learns she may have a larger role than just being a student.. a role that may be crucial in preserving the Medoran people against an ancient threat that has reappeared. 

Akarnae is terrific tale of found family, full of adventure, secrets, surprises, hidden places and unexpected danger. The story is an intriguing, fun, fast-paced read, and I was reluctant to put it down at night. I'm really looking forward to reading Noni's second book in the series, Raelia. 

Recommended especially for tweens and teens, and anyone who enjoys a fun fantasy full of adventure and intrigue!

Thanks to Astra Publishing House for providing an eARC to review via #NetGalley 

The US edition of Akarnae releases on Sept 22, 2026.

#MedoranTeamUS #MedoranABFYR

Review: Night Soldiers

Night Soldiers by Paul Michael Kane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

   Under the bed is where the 

darkness lives.

   Now, adults think darkness is 

simply the absence of light. That is a 

charming theory.

   Unfortunately, it is completely 

wrong.

   Darkness is a place.

I recently read Night Soldiers by Paul Michael Kane. It's a short story, in chapbook form, about the battle that occurs every night as children drift off to sleep and the night soldiers awaken to keep the monsters under the bed at bay. I LOVED IT, and can't wait to share this story with my grandchildren. 

Stan is a stuffed sloth who wakes each night as his boy, Parker, falls asleep. His goal: protect Parker from the monsters that emerge from the darkness under the bed. I won't spoil anything here, but will just say that poor Stan has his work cut out for him as wave after wave of different types of monsters try to get past his defenses and reach the sleeping Parker.

The design of this book is fantastic! It has a very cool cover, pairing a "Starry Night" blanket with a stuffed sloth under the bed, ready for battle against the approach of shadowy tendrils. And the two-column layout practically pulled my eyes down the page! 

I also loved the imagery - describing fear as a living thing that "grows best when it has time" and the sound one monster makes as something that "creeps into dreams." 

I also enjoyed the few nods to Stephen King's IT story.

Night Soldiers can be purchased directly from Paul Michael Kane's online store here: Night Soldiers purchase link

Review: Ender's Tribe

Ender's Tribe by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 4 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ender's Tribe is a collection of 8 stories set in the Ender Universe. Those who are familiar with Ender's Game - the novel, NOT the mediocre film adaptation from 2013 - will feel right at home diving into this collection which includes, among others, the original Ender's Game short story.

Each of these stories involves at least one character from the Ender Universe, and reading them is like visiting with an old friend, and hearing tales of their adventures since the last time we got together. 

What this collection is missing is something new. The 8 stories included here have all been published elsewhere, but collecting them as they are in this book provides a nice overview of the events that occur before, during, and after the final battle with the Formics.  All in all, this is a solid, enjoyable collection, but I recommend reading the Ender's Game novel first, to avoid spoilers and gain some familiarity with many of the characters featured here. 

Some of my favorites from this collection are: 

Ender’s Game - 

The original short story that was the basis for the longer Ender's Game novel and the series of stories that followed. I read this when it was first published in Analog magazine many years ago and it is as compelling a tale today as it was back then. 

Ender’s Stocking - 

Focuses on the Wiggins family, mainly older brother Peter and his mother, as Christmas approaches and they each deal with their reactions to Andrew (Ender) being away at Battle School. Ever ambitious, and jealous, Peter tries to find ways to gain influence and recognition, while his mother mourns the absence of her youngest and the impact that the Formic Wars have had on her family.

The Gold Bug - 

A story set on one of the Formic colony worlds which has been occupied by humans since the total destruction of the "Buggers." In this story a pair of colonists head out on an expedition to explore more of the planet and find some unusual, and dangerous, remnants of the Formic colonization. 

Renegat - 

This story stood out for me in large part because it reminded me of the original Speaker For The Dead novel. Andrew Wiggin, and his sister Valentine, arrive on a planet "speak the death" of a brilliant xenobiologist, and to learn whether his death was connected to his study of possible intelligence within local creatures. 

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing an eARC to review via NetGalley!

Ender's Tribe releases on Oct 20, 2026

Review: The Man On The Ceiling

The Man On The Ceiling : And Other Scary Tales from Young Authors by Chisto Healy (and 12 young authors)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Man On The Ceiling : And Other Scary Tales from Young Authors is a fun collection of dark and scary tales from a dozen young authors ranging in age from 6 to 13. 

The young writers in this anthology have given full rein to their wild and twisted imaginations - in all the best ways! The stories include shadows that come to life and attack the unwary, zombies, an unusual take on birthing new vampires, haunted and evil objects and locations (houses, forests and ponds), encounters with extraterrestrial horrors and an artist gifted/cursed with the power to get even with a vicious bully. While the themes may be familiar, the stories themselves are as unique as those who tell them. 

As Healy says in the book's foreword, the kids wrote their stories and then he worked with each of them "to flesh out their ideas, ... and did my best to help their vision come to life. Make no mistake, these stories are all theirs - not mine." The result is a wonderful anthology full of spookiness, chills, thrills and kills. 

I was drawn to this book by the variety of tales and the premise of helping young authors unleash their imaginations, bring their stories to print, and share them with others. With Healy's help, these young authors delivered the creepy goods!

Recommended for all, and especially for classrooms and programs looking for examples of what young writers can create when given encouragement and support.

Thanks to Chisto Healy for providing an eARC of this anthology for review. 

The Man On The Ceiling : And Other Scary Tales from Young Authors will publish on July 27, 2026 and contains stories from 

• Alexa Taylor: The Man On The Ceiling
• Madilyn Richie: The Dim Bonfire
• Rubi-Leigh Baynam: The Hybrid
• Welles Young: The Girl Who Became a Skeleton
• Mal Iler: Operation Thalassaphobia
• Tucker Coburn: The Invasion of the Dolls
• Gray Hernandez: In The Forest, They Dwell
• Boe Healy: The Revengecil
• Finn Ramirez: What's Wrong With Grandma?
• C.T. McKnight: The Music Box
• GiGi Volpe: The Color Red
• Key A.V.: Duck, Duck, Ghost

Review: Worry Box

Worry Box by Chris Panatier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I recently read Worry Box by Chris Panatier, thanks to the eARC I got from Angry Robot Books via #NetGalley, and let me tell you this is a killer story! The prologue alone is enough to make you say "WTF!"

As the story unfolds we meet the Martins, parents Nathan and Alison, their 9 year old daughter Dru and 11 year old foster daughter Lailah. The Martins hope to adopt Lailah, even as they help her cope with her intrusive thoughts, which often encourage her to commit dangerous or violent acts.

It's not long after they move into the perfect home in a desirable neighborhood that... unusual... events begin to happen. These inexplicable occurrences seem welcoming and even helpful at first, but soon take on a darker tone. The girls believe a ghost is responsible, while the parents feel one, or both, of the girls are involved, playing pranks that get out of hand. Both girls deny any involvement even as events escalate, and Lailah comes under extra scrutiny because of her intrusive thoughts.

Each of the chapters is written from a different character's perspective, so we get to experience each one's hopes, dreams, worries and fears. This shifting perspective highlights the Martin's confusion, concern, panic and horror, as weird events continue to occur within the house.

Worry Box is a master class in building tension and terror amid shifting family dynamics. As events spiraled out of control I found it more difficult to put the book down, and raced through the final third of the book to find out what happened and who was responsible.

Worry Box publishes September 22, 2026.

Review: #AuthorLife

#AuthorLife by Joe Zagets
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#AuthorLife by Joe Zagets is a dark tale, full of surprising revelations and twists.  It is also a fun, entertaining and satirical look at the publishing industry from the perspective of Mackenzie "Mack" Lane, a down on his luck author, who's hiding the extent of his financial difficulties from his wife, his extended family and his friends. While he had some success with his debut thriller years ago, his more recent books were received with much less enthusiasm and commercial success. The lower sales, along with some poor financial decisions, have left Mack on the brink of bankruptcy. 

Desperate to boost sales and fulfill his dream of being seen as an "important" author, he comes up with a plan (his "Daring Scheme") to increase the buzz around his upcoming novel, and enlists the help of his agent, who reluctantly agrees. Mack knows his plan will cause pain and anguish to his wife and teenage son, but rationalizes that the reward will outweigh the cost in the long run. 

I loved the book, although I must admit that I really didn't like the main character very much. It seems like every time he did something that might help someone else he had an ulterior motive. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME! And to say that he doesn't make the best choices given his situation is a vast understatement... I found myself going between feeling slightly sorry for him, then thinking maybe he might have some redeeming virtues, and eventually just wanting to give him a (proverbial) slap across the face while shouting, in the words of Will Rogers, "When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!".

#AuthorLife is a fictionalized, "behind the curtain" look at the publishing industry and some of the challenges authors and agents have, and the lengths to which they might go to give their books the best chance of success. It was fascinating and thought provoking, irreverent and, especially in the later chapters, a roller coaster thrill-ride!   

Many thanks to Bad Hand Books for providing an eARC to review. #AuthorLife releases on Sept 22, 2026.

Review: In Their Eyes

In Their Eyes by Simon F. Godin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I've gotta tell ya, In Their Eyes by Simon F. Godin, is creepy as hell! This is also his debut novel. Let that sink in for a moment... This is a debut novel. HIS VERY FIRST ONE. The book is so well-paced, so well-written and so riveting, it feels like it came from a seasoned author with a massive back catalog of books to his credit. 

Grace Boone - Gracie to her few friends - is a freshman student at Elora University in Winding River. While not a large city, it's much larger than her hometown of Caldmore, Ontario, where she's lived with her police chief father, Hank, all her life. Moving into her residence hall marks her first time away from her hometown and her father, and she's hoping to fit in and find new friends as she majors in Psychology. 

While it's been a (long) while since I went to college, I think Bodin captured the excitement, and anxiety, of moving away from home for the first time and trying to find your place, and your people, in a new environment. Unlike my own experience, however, Gracie Boone experiences a series of unsettling events, beginning with a mysterious hooded figure watching her room from the parking lot at night, and continuing with discoveries that trigger an identity crisis, and have her questioning how safe and secure she really is. She even begins to have doubts about the people around her, including Raven, her roommate and closest friend, and starts wondering who she can really trust as her life begins to unravel around her. 

The story alternates between first person journal entries and third person narration, which works really well. We get to share Gracie's thoughts, her fears and anxieties, as she struggles to find independence, while also maintaining long distance relationships with both her father and her boyfriend, and we get to see the impact of events as they happen to and around her. This is incredibly effective in ratcheting up the tension as the story unfolds.

I'm not a book critic. I'm not a professional book reviewer. I didn't major in Literature in college. As the blog description says, I'm just a reader. Yet when I say that In Their Eyes is absolutely INCREDIBLE, I mean it. This is a tale full of surprises and shocking revelations that made it difficult to put down at night. It captivated me from the very first page. It was dark, creepy, suspenseful and disturbing, making me question who could be trusted, and what the actual truth was.   

If I hadn't known from the outset that this was Godin's debut novel I would immediately be looking to get my hands on the other books he'd written. As it stands, I'll have to wait. But I don't have to be patient about it!!! Where's your next book, Simon??? 

Thanks to the author for offering to send me the eARC of In Their Eyes to review ahead of its publication on September 1, 2026. 

Highly Recommended 

Review: Traps and Specters: Stories

Traps and Specters: Stories by Philip Fracassi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you've read any Philip Fracassi then you know he is a master at serving up incredible stories, whether they are novels or short stories. With Traps and Specters, Fracassi once again delivers, in spades! This is a collection of short, but dark tales, featuring mostly normal people, going about their mostly normal lives. These poor souls find that the lines between success and failure, normality and insanity, and life and death are all extremely thin; very easy to cross on your own, but sometimes you get dragged across, kicking and screaming, without warning.

These stories CREEPED. ME. OUT... in all the good ways! The collection is full of twists and surprises, unhappy spirits, ancient kings, hidden figures and dead relatives. Put 'em all together and you've got a heck of a horror punch for your next party!

D7 - A couple walks into a nightmare when stopping at a remote bar for a quick after dinner drink. A horrific hoedown!

The Visitor - A priest called to visit a troubled family in a remote location learns that the pursuit of knowledge has its own dangers. Chilling!

The Mummified Corpse of Reese Witherspoon - Amazon really WILL sell almost anything, but artist Jack soon learns there's truth in the Latin expression Caveat Emptor.  A twisted and creepy delivery!

The Servitor - For generations, one member of the Espinoza family has dedicated his life to maintaining the many traps that preserve and protect the tomb of the Inca king Maco Capac from treasure hunters. Failure is not an option! Tense and surprising!

King Mob - There are orderly protests, and then there's King Mob. Could you resist the temptation to get swept up in the insanity? This story pulls you right into the mob... and history buffs may find a new suspect as the chief instigator of the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots in 1780 London. 

The Hunter - When you can't escape a father's insane fits of violence, you may have no choice but to make a promise in the dark. Pulse-pounding dread!

Point Oh One - Would knowing, to the second, when you'll die change how you live? The clock is winding down, but will the terror ever end?

Betrothed - Every couple needs their space. But what if one can't let go? Disturbing and unsettling ... 'til death do we part may not tell the whole tale!

My Love, Do Not Wake - Would you want your true love to bend over backwards for you? You may want to pay closer attention to those strange murmurings in the night.

The Black Rider - Some tales are meant to frighten children to encourage good behavior. Maybe we should all listen. Short, and not so sweet... yet immensely satisfying!

Dream of Me - A young girl finds more than just a way to interpret her dreams in the journal gifted to her by her grandmother. Some grandmothers are creepier than others.

The Resident - An empty house. An antiquated safe. Some jobs are just too easy. Until they aren't. Atmospheric and suspenseful.

  

I Think My Treehouse Is Haunted - A boy and his mother move to a nice house in the suburbs, where he learns that his tree house refuge isn't his alone. Holy crap!! Goosebumps!!! ACTUAL GOOSEBUMPS!!!! 

Red Leather - A traveling salesman, having dessert at a local Sabbath diner, gets a double serving of horror when hearing the story of young love. You can always count on a Sabbath tale for a tasty terror treat, and this one does NOT disappoint!

Thanks to Shortwave Publishing for providing an eARC of Traps and Specters: Stories for review via Netgalley!

#TrapsandSpecters #NetGalley

Still Floating: 40 Years of Pennywise edited by Tom Deady

Releasing Sept 16, 2026

I saw this announced in Tom Deady's email newsletter and wanted to share it for others to find as well. Stephen King's IT is one of my all-time favorite reads. I mean, really, what's not to like about putting kids in mortal danger from inhuman AND human monsters?
 

"In Still Floating: 40 Years of Pennywise, Tom Deady (Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Haven) brings together thirty-three authors, artists, scholars, and publishers to examine IT in-depth, from King’s four-year writing of the novel to the recent adaptations, and everything in between."

Essays, artwork, interviews from the likes of Glenn Chadbourne, Richard Chizmar, Brian Freeman, Jonathan Janz, Paul Michael Kane, Hans-Ake Lilja, Bev Vincent, and Kris Webster among others....

You can pre-order directly from Tom Deady's website

Review: Brona (Book 2 of The First Druids of Shannara series)

Brona by Terry Brooks & Delilah S. Dawson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Brona, the second book in The First Druids of Shannara series, provides a fantastic⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ addition to the origins of the Druid Council and their fortress Paranor, as well as the origins of the Warlock Lord.  I recommend reading the first book in this series, Galaphile, before beginning Brona because of the multiple references to events in the earlier story. (To learn more about the earlier book read my spoiler-free review of Galaphile).

This second book in the series resumes the tale about 17 years after the events of Galaphile. After their last battle with the Spectre Telle, Galaphile and his life-partner Nirianne have continued to oversee the construction of Paranor while raising their 2 sons, 16 year old Abronja, nicknamed Brona, and his 10 year old brother Ional. Although the Spectre Telle has not been seen in many years, they remain vigilant and often travel throughout the Four Lands to improve relations and establish peace between the races of Humans, Elves, Gnomes and Trolls. When at home in Paranor, Galaphile continues to train Brona in the use of magic, which he did not start until Brona turned 14, in spite of his older son's eagerness to begin earlier.

In many ways, Brona is a "coming of age" tale. It is chock-full of new experiences, both tragic and heroic, as well as quests and battles. It's also a tale of the struggle between youth and experience, knowing when to act and when to wait, and the need to be seen as being skillful and able to handle new responsibilities without constant supervision. 

Most of all, this is a tale of a young man who desires to step out from beneath the perceived shadow of his parents' accomplishments, and of the burdens he carries being unable to forgive himself for a tragedy caused by a mistake in judgement. His drive to increase his magical skills, his desire to prove himself, and the overconfidence of youth make him particularly vulnerable to the temptations and traps set by evil forces at work within the Four Lands.  

Longtime readers will recognize many elements of the story, while enjoying new discoveries about the Druids, Paranor and the Four Lands. Newcomers and longtime readers alike will enjoy the adventures that occur, celebrate the victories and mourn the losses.

In March of 2025, Shannara author Terry Brooks announced that he was stepping back from day to day writing and was passing the Shannara torch to sci-fi/fantasy author Delilah S. Dawson. This semi-retirement meant that Brooks, 81 years old at the time, could continue to be involved and provide guidance to his chosen successor, without having the burden of writing the full book by himself. Brona is the result of that first collaboration, and is a more-than-worthy addition to the Shannara canon. It's a fantastic story and I look forward to reading what comes next. 

Recommended.

Thanks to the publisher, Del Rey for offering me an eARC to review. 

Review: The Extra

The Extra by Annie Neugebauer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

   I scrub my hands over my face beneath my hood, breathe slowly into my damp palms-mustn't seem annoyed to the participants-and walk to a different spot to get a new view of the area. 

   I get ten plus me again. It's not a mistake. There are eleven people here right now. 

   There's an extra.

-- Annie Neugebauer, The Extra

10 people get out of a van and set out on a university-sponsored camping/hiking trip. That evening 11 people arrive at the campsite ... only Matt, the leader, and his 2 assistants realize there is an additional person, but since they recognize and have memories of each and every person in the group, none of them can tell which one it is. 

The Extra is Annie Neugebauer's first book in The Outsiders Sequence and is set in a remote, forested area in Arkansas. The story is told from Matt's perspective as he tries to keep the camping neophytes safe while he struggles with the questions raised by the appearance of the extra: how did they join the group without anyone else realizing it, and why? Which member of the group IS the extra? And, most important of all, what are they going to do about it? 

As the story unfolds the leaders try to unravel the mystery of the extra, and you can feel the tension increase as Matt tries to master his own panic and uncertainty about what to do to keep the group safe.

The Extra is a gem. It doesn't have (or need!) jump-scares, physical violence or gore; what it offers is a suspense-filled, psychological thriller/mystery tale set in a wonderfully atmospheric location. It should be on your TBR pile along with The Other, the second (but standalone) book in Neugebauer's The Outsiders Sequence. 

Review: Incarnate

Incarnate by Alma Katsu (expected publication: Sept 22, 2026)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Incarnate asks the questions: "How far would you go to become famous and popular?" and "What price are you willing to pay?" 

Dorothy Wagner, a frequent target of bullies while in middle school, has always been something of a loner. Intelligent, but insecure about her body image. Socially shy, but longing to fit in.

After graduating from college, Dorothy lands a job with a ground-breaking visual effects studio.  She devises a plan to secretly leverage the company's superior software tools to create an artificial persona, Isabella, who can be everything Dorothy is not, hoping to turn her creation into a social media superstar and gain popularity and fame by proxy. Thinking she has nothing to lose and that it's probably a scam, she accepts an offer from an anonymous stranger, who promises to help her get what she wants. Dorothy soon learns the painful price of success, and discovers the dark lengths that she will go to in order to protect her secrets. 

Incarnate is a riveting, dark tale of our time. As artificial intelligence runs rampant and social media sensations rise and fall, Alma Katsu has captured the devastating impact and horrific consequences these can have in the lives of those who fall victim to their glamour. 

 

Incarnate can be seen as a cautionary tale about the addictive and toxic side of social media, the lasting impact of bullying, and the growing spread of AI-generated content and personas. 

Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing an eARC of #Incarnate for review via #Netgalley.

Review: The Sorrows

The Sorrows by Jonathan Janz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In spite of or, perhaps, because of, its dark history, Castle Blackwood, on the remote, uninhabited island of the Sorrows, seems the perfect place for two Oscar-nominated composers to find inspiration for the musical score of a famed director's new horror movie. The duo arrange to spend a month on the island with their companions, cut off from all outside contact, and enter a dark and disturbing world where their baser instincts are brought to the surface, and echoes of the Sorrows' past take root in the present.

In The Sorrows, not all monsters are supernatural, and not all horrific acts can be blamed on the influence of what lurks within Castle Blackwood.

This is one of those rare stories that will keep you up at night. You HAVE to read "just one more chapter" before turning off the light... and when (if!) you do set it aside, your mind spins thinking about what you just read and what might happen next in Jonathan Janz's The Sorrows.

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Review: Stretch-Neck: A Veil Story

Stretch-Neck: A Veil Story by Jonathan Janz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stretch-Neck: A Veil Story by Jonathan Janz is a fantastic short story, released as a limited edition chapbook, that provides background of one of the main characters in his ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ sci-fi/thriller/horror tale Veil.

Although connected, readers don't have to have read Veil to appreciate the suspense and action of Stretch-Neck

My review of Veil can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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Review: We Are for the Dark

We Are for the Dark by Gretchen McNeil
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

'Tis a well-lived day!
May ye have health to see the morrow.
-- Gretchen McNeil, We Are for the Dark

Bale Island, off the coast of Newfoundland, appears on no maps, but that's where Constable Miriam Rideout and ex-FBI agent, now priest, Shane Ryan find themselves after a couple of frantic phone calls from, and apparent subsequent disappearance of, the island priest. The two outsiders initially mistrust one another, but soon develop mutual respect and friendship as they launch their investigation; a task made more difficult in the face of the odd behavior of the islanders, their apparent religious fanaticism, and their repeated vague warnings about dangers on the island.

In We Are For the Dark, McNeil tells a darkly compelling story, deftly peeling back layers to reveal some of the mysteries of the islanders and of the island, and raising questions about who, or what, is hidden in the shadows of the medieval St. Barrind’s Church... and why.

Thanks to DAW for providing an eARC for review via NetGalley.

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Review: Pixerina: A Haunting

Pixerina: A Haunting by Joanne Anderton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pixerina: A Haunting by Joanne Anderton, published by Bad Hand Books is a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ riveting tale of an artist being possessed by, and possessing, her muse. Cruelty, neglect, indifference, obsession ... all woven together in this fascinating, gothic story where the present and past merge, and letting go doesn't necessarily mean moving on.

Rebecca Bell and her husband Aidan share their suburban home but as their creative talents take different forms from when they first met, they find themselves drifting apart. Rebecca, an artist, has struggled in recent years to find something that inspires and motivates her. Aidan has set his poetry aside for a career working in government communications. When Rebecca, over Aidan's objections, gives in to the temptation to finally explore a nearby abandoned house, she finds what she is looking for, and more. Will unraveling the mysteries of the past, and of the ghost of the girl who never was, provide her with the keys to her own future, or will she be lost in the search?

This intriguing tale of Rebecca's encounters with the strange house and what remains there is compelling and pulled me right in. It's a fantastic story of searching, discovery and loss ... and the price that both muse and artist must pay.

Thanks to Bad Hand for providing an eARC for my review!


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Review: The Siren of Groves Peak

The Siren of Groves Peak by Glenn Rolfe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

With The Siren of Groves Peak, Glenn Rolfe delivers a gritty, terrifying blend of supernatural, and human, revenge. Secrets, lies and old wounds are brought to the surface as horrific murders, which the police seem uninterested in investigating, occur.

Groves Peak is like many small, coastal towns. It has its share of problems: drugs, alcohol, abuse and infidelities. But unlike those other towns, Groves Peak and its lobstermen have had decades of prosperity, even when the catch has been poor elsewhere, thanks to an agreement made with a siren years ago. Until now. Something has changed and people are being killed.

This is a well-paced tale that kept me guessing until the end. Many of the characters are not what they seem, and strength, sacrifice and betrayal are found in unexpected places. The story lines all come together like a wonderful seafood chowder, each adding it's own flavor to a delicious ⭐⭐⭐⭐ result.

Thanks to Flame Tree Press for providing an eARC to review through NetGalley!

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Review: The Other

The Other by Annie Neugebauer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Other by Annie Neugebauer is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, mind-messing, twisted psychological thriller!

Imagine what you might feel or how you might react, if you and your spouse were to encounter your doppelgangers: two other people who look, act, and speak exactly as you do, and who have all of your memories as well. Then, imagine that there's a bit of a scuffle, and when the dust settles you realize that you don't know for certain which one is actually your spouse, and neither do they.

In The Other, that's exactly what happens to married couple Elise and Logan as they're on a hiking trip, hoping to reconnect and make some decisions about what their future together might look like.

And just in case your brain hurt isn't already hurting, consider that Elise and Logan now have to figure out who is really whom, and then they must also find a way to evade the other couple before they can go back to their lives; otherwise they might not go back at all, or even worse, one of them may very well end up going back with The Other.

Telling the tale by alternating the viewpoint between Elise and Logan, Neugebauer sets up this situation masterfully, and her storytelling swept me right along the trail with Elise and Logan. The tension in their marriage, and their obvious desire to find a way forward together are strong elements on their own, but then to mix in the confusion of the "identity crisis" and the very real possibility that Allison and Bryce intend to cause harm, and you have a recipe for a gripping, wonderfully paced, psychological thriller.

Thanks to Shortwave Publishing for providing an eARC for review through NetGalley.

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Review: Marla

Marla by Jonathan Janz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jonathan Janz makes a bold decision to begin Marla with quotes from two classic stories by two giants of horror: Carrie by Stephen King and We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. If those quotes were meant to be aspirational, with hopes that MARLA would live up to those other tales, Janz, without question, succeeded.

Residents of King's Branch have long wondered about Marla Gorman and her mother Irene, who live by themselves on the outskirts of town. Rumors abound about the pair, and especially about Marla, who is rarely, if ever, seen by the people of the town. No one seems to know much about them for certain, and the Gormans rebuff all attempts to pry into their secrets.

When a number of unusual deaths occur in town, with victims that seem to have nothing in common other than a look of terror on their faces, Detectives Carl Lancaster and RJ Williams are assigned to investigate. With only vague, but disturbing suspicions that the deaths might be connected to the Gormans, Lancaster and Williams turn their attention to the pair, only to find much less, and far more, than they expected. And they realize that identifying the likely killer is one thing, surviving long enough to do anything about it is something else entirely.

Janz builds this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ story like a multi-layer dessert, first spreading a base of uneasy suspicion, adding a large helping of fear, and then topping it all with a layer of absolute terror. As you sink your teeth into it, be warned that this is one of those rare stories that also sinks its teeth into you... and it doesn't let go, even after the last spoonful is consumed as the last page is turned.

Buy it. Read it. Thank me later.

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing an eARC for review!

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Review: Carry Me to My Grave

Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden is classic, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ horror set in the late 1950s, due to be published on July 21, 2026.

Maggie Wise, born on the island of Shediak, Maine, has "the old fire" - magic that she used long ago to force the Morák to stop killing people and to bury themselves deep in pain and suffering. The Morák are vampires, but not the suave, well groomed, aristocratic vampires often portrayed in books and movies. Instead, these are horrific, warped monsters who exist only to kill and consume their victim's blood and flesh. More like (but worse than!) Nosferatu, rather than Count Dracula or the vampire Lestat.

Now Maggie is dying, and with her death the magic she invoked will fade, and the Morák will be released... unless her son Malcom can get her body from Elkhart, Indiana and bury her on Shediak within 2 days. The problem is, the monsters know Maggie is about to die, they know where Malcom will take her, and what he must do... and they will stop at nothing to prevent that from happening.

Golden delivers a riveting tale - compelling characters on a wild ride through the complexities of a dysfunctional family, hidden secrets, strange powers and savage monsters.

Recommended!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing an eARC for review.

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