I felt like I didn’t accomplish much reading this month, but as it turns out, I did. I finished eight books! Maybe it was simply that I expected to knock out a few more Halloween-themed cozy mysteries. Or maybe it’s because it took me so long to get through Jane Eyre…
Anyway, here is what I read in October, complete with my ratings.
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Don’t Look Behind You (Emily Kazmierski)
Rating: 3.5/4
The Girl from Rawblood (Catriona Ward)
Rating: 4/5
Suicide Forest (Jeremy Bates)
Rating: 3/5
Listen for the Lie (Amy Tintera)
Rating: 4/5
Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë)
Rating: 2/5
What Lies in the Woods (Kate Alice Marshall)
Rating: 4/5
Eat, Pray, Hex (Tara Lush)
Rating: 3/5
Pretty Girls (Karin Slaughter)
Rating: 4.5/5
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I am currently reading Survive the Night (Riley Sager) and The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde).
September has been a productive reading month for me! I have added a few fall- and Halloween-themed cozy mysteries to my TBR list, preparing myself for my favorite time of the year. And, of course, I’m still sticking to my original plan and going for the classics that I have yet to read (though I did not finish one this month).
Here are the books I read in September.
Hour of the Pumpkin Queen (Megan Shepherd)
Rating: 3/5
Sacrificial Magic (Stacia Kane)
Rating: 3.5/5
Lock Every Door (Riley Sager)
Rating: 2.5/5
They All Fall Down (Roxanne St. Claire)
Rating: 3/5
It Began With a Lie (Michele Pariza Wacek)
Rating: 3.5/5
Killer Content (Kiley Roache)
Rating: 4/5
The Girls Are All So Nice Here (L.E. Flynn)
Rating: 4.5/5
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I am currently reading The Girl From Rawblood (Catriona Ward) and Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë).
I think I’m back on track, at least with my reading challenge updates! Since I posted the catch-up blog on the 6th, I have finished six more books, including another classic (The Wind in the Willows).
I am very excited because we’re creeping ever nearer to fall and there are a few books I’ve been saving, ones that I feel are best read curled up under a fuzzy blanket with a candle burning and a mug of tea in hand. I can’t wait!
The Last One at the Wedding (Jason Rekulak)
Rating: 3/5
Friends Like These (Kimberly McCreight)
Rating: 4/5
I Think I Was Murdered (Colleen Coble/Rick Acker)
Rating: 3/5
A Cornucopia of Murder (Michele Pariza Wacek)
Rating: 4/5
City of Ghosts (Stacia Kane)
Rating: 4/5
The Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame)
Rating: 3/5
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I am currently reading Sacrificial Magic (Stacia Kane) and Hour of the Pumpkin Queen (Megan Shepherd).
I finished six books in February! And one of those was A Tale of Two Cities (finally). Unfortunately, the Dickens novel was my only classic this month. I’ll do better in March.
Anyway, here are the books I read over the past 28 days, and my rating of each.
The Murder of Sleepy Hollow (Michele Pariza Wacek)
Rating: 4/5
Unholy Magic (Stacia Kane)
Rating: 4/5
Where the Crawdads Sing (Delia Owens)
Rating: 5/5
Babydoll (Christopher Robertson)
Rating: 4/5
Nettle & Bone (T. Kingfisher)
Rating: 4/5
A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)
Rating: 3/5
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I am currently reading We Used to Live Here (Marcus Kliewer) and The House Across the Lake (Riley Sager).
I can’t believe it’s been almost 2 months since I last posted about the reading challenge! Time really got away from me, but rest assured I am still progressing towards my goal.
When I updated y’all in May, I had just finished Harrow Faire book one, The Contortionist (Kathryn Ann Kingsley) and was about to check out Room Service by Maren Stoffels, as well as book two in the Harrow Faire series, The Puppeteer. I read both of those, along with a few others, so here are my thoughts on each.
1/2. Room Service and Fright Night – Maren Stoffels
Rating: 3.5/5 for both
I enjoyed both books, don’t get me wrong, but the stories feel almost as if you’ve missed something from the very beginning. There’s not a lot of background, nor is there any character development, and while I don’t want to be overwhelmed with details (as Stephen King is prone to doing), I do need a little more in regard to the characters and their relationships. Still, if you’re looking for a fairly fast-paced read that is easily digestible, definitely check out this pair of books.
3. Cirque Berserk – Jessica Guess
Rating: 4/5
This was a fun read with a good twist. I think I finished it in two days. My complaints were minor, so I won’t bore you with them. If you like slashers and amusement parks, this is a must-read!
4. The App – Stuart James
Rating: 4.5/5
Stuart James delved into one of my new favorite subgenres of horror: using the internet to find victims. It’s not unheard of in this day and age, which creates a sense of reality (though the complexity of the app in this book still seems…not quite doable yet). I loved this novel, even if the characters frustrated me at times.
5. Hidden Bodies – Caroline Kepnes
Rating: 4/5
It’s odd that I’m just now reading this, as I have watched every season of “You” the instant they were available and read the first book over a year ago. This was a quick read for me, because Kepnes’ style of writing is easy to follow and keeps you wanting to see what’s next. I could have done with less of Joe’s snide opinions on certain topics that had very little to do with the story, but overall, I really liked this book.
6. The Puppeteer – Kathryn Ann Kingsley
Rating: 3.5/5
I’m still not sold on this series and these characters, though I do like Cora’s sass and determination. I still have the remainder of the series on my To-Be-Read list, but I think they will be read when I don’t have any “must-reads” to get to.
7. Wonderland – Jennifer Hillier
Rating: 4/5
Wonderland was certainly readable, but I wasn’t necessarily absorbed in the story or attached to any of the characters. I will admit, the labyrinthine twists and turns kept me turning the pages and earned the book its 4/5 rating.
8. The Last House on Needless Street – Catriona Ward
Rating: 5/5
I have saved the best for last. I feel like I could do an entire blog on Catriona Ward’s The Last House on Needless Street, but I’ll keep it short and sweet. This novel is so beautifully crafted. I was almost put off by the beginning, because it seemed to dive straight into the middle of something and I was momentarily lost. That was done intentionally, however, as the reader soon discovers. I loved the characters, the story itself, the twists, the overall sense of melancholy throughout. I actually cried at the end. There was hope in those final pages, but Ted was such a likable, tragic character. If you’re reading this mini-review, let me tell you that this book has to be on your list and should be read ASAP!!!!!
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Next up on my list is Any Witch Way You Can by Amanda M. Lee, which is book one of the Wicked Witches of the Midwest series. I have read 28 books, and my goal is 35. Feel free to drop in and tell me what you’re reading, or about any good finds you’ve come across this year!
I’ve been reading a lot since my last update! I found a few quick reads, and I made it through Carole Johnstone’s Mirrorland. So, here’s the full list of what I’ve read over the past month, my rating of each book, and what I’m diving into next!
Carole Johnstone: Mirrorland
Rating: 4/5
I actually loved this novel. It was a bit of a slow build, and confusing at times (though that is intentional – you are immersed in the main character’s mind, and she is coping with some major trauma), but in the end, everything makes sense. I only knocked the rating down because I think the last twist was one too many; the story was pushed beyond what I considered its natural conclusion. However, I would highly recommend Mirrorland, and I will be seeking out more from Carole Johnstone.
Sarah A. Denzil: Silent Child
Rating: 4/5
This was a very readable book. I had more or less figured it out before the reveal, but Denzil definitely threw in a few curves that made me doubt myself. I couldn’t quite give this a 5/5 rating, though I can’t exactly explain why. There was just something missing. Please don’t let that discourage you from checking it out! I am going to read the second in the series.
Christopher Golden: All Hallows
Rating: 3.5/5
I stumbled across this one via a Google search, and I’m glad I did. I didn’t find it to be creepy in the least, but it was interesting. My complaints with this book likely would not be shared by many, so I’ll keep them to myself.
Ivy Tholen: Tastes Like Candy
Rating: 5/5
Okay, this is like a 90’s slasher in book form. Kinda cheesy, very bloody, and so much fun! A must-read for anybody who likes slasher films.
Ivy Tholen: Maul Rats
Rating: 4/5
I enjoyed Tastes Like Candy so much, I had to try another from Ivy Tholen. I wasn’t as sold on this one, but I did finish it in about two days. There were tiny details that added nothing to the story that should have been left out, especially since this book was promoted as more bloody, stabby, campy fun, hence my not giving it a full rating.
PJ Stanley: Most Likely to Die
Rating: 1/5
I don’t even want to review this book. It was awful. It wasn’t well-written, there was no character development, and the motive of the killer fell flat. I understand how slashers work, I really do, but wow. I do not recommend.
Kathryn Ann Kingsley: The Contortionist
Rating: 3/5
Despite the rating, I am not actually that critical of this book. I enjoyed the writing style, and I am definitely interested in the world Kingsley is creating. I didn’t love The Contortionist, but it is only the first in the Harrow Faire series. I have hope that the story and characters will develop more, and that I will like the following books better.
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Next up on my to-be-read pile are Room Service by Maren Stoffels and The Puppeteer by Kathryn Ann Kingsley (Harrow Faire Book #2). I’ve read 20 of 35 books. I may need to change my goal. Haha!
I missed posting an update for March. Whoops! I have no excuse other than a lot of things have been happening at work and I’ve been scheduling the bare minimum of posts.
Since I last shared anything about my 2023 Reading Challenge, I finished Emilie Autumn’s The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls, Danielle Valentine’s How to Survive Your Murder, Riley Sager’s The Last Time I Lied, Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen, Paula Morris’ Ruined, Kim Harrison’s The Drafter, and Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. I’ll put my ratings below.
5/54/53/53.5/53.5/53/54/5
I’m not going to go into too much detail about why I gave these ratings, because many of you likely won’t agree with why I gave lower ratings to a couple of them. Let me just say that the twist in The Last Time I Lied was good, but possible to figure out if you’re really trying. The twist in How to Survive Your Murder was actually really solid, I just wasn’t crazy about the characters. Red Queen was a little too typical for me; it was well-written and is worth reading, but I’m not sure I’ll continue the series. Ruined was readable, just not overly interesting. Same with The Drafter, which is a shame because I typically like Kim Harrison’s books. And American Gods was too long (good story, though).
I have now started Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone, and Silent Child by Sarah A. Denzil.
As always, feel free to tell me about any books you’re reading and offer up some recommendations! I have only read 13 of my 35 book goal, so I need some suggestions.
I didn’t intend to do this exactly one month from the last update, but maybe I should actually start scheduling them this way. Haha. Once a month is enough, right? 🙂
I finished A.M. Shine’s The Creeper, and while it was an eerie tale (reminiscent of The Bye Bye Man, in my opinion), I didn’t love it overall. The twist at the end wasn’t terrible, but…the story lost something with the revelation. I enjoyed Shine’s writing style, though, and I still intend to read The Watchers.
Rating: 3.5/5
I also read Poltergeist by Kat Richardson. It has been sitting on my bookshelves since I found it in an apartment my friends and I cleaned out. I’m not sure if I’d have gotten more out of it if I’d read the first book in the series, well, first. However, I didn’t love this book. I think there is potential for Richardson to build an interesting fantasy/supernatural world, so I will certainly try at least one more from the Greywalker series.
Rating: 3/5
The third book I completed since my last post is the final in Katherine Arden’s Small Spaces series, Empty Smiles. This was my least favorite of the four. The build-up was so promising, but the ending was rushed and fell flat. I still say these books are worth the read; I just wish the conclusion had been…more.
Rating: 4/5
I am currently reading two books. (I’m the world’s worst to start a second book before finishing the one I initially started.) I finally decided to check out Emilie Autumn’s The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls, and I also dove into my second Riley Sager novel, The Last Time I Lied. I’ll let y’all know my thoughts in about a month!
Any recommendations for me? Please leave them in the comments!
I have started my Goodreads Reading Challenge for 2023! I’ve already finished one book – Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli – but to be fair, I started it back in November. Lol. It counts, though, because I finished it this year.
I have since started my second book, Stacia Kane’s Unholy Ghosts. It is the first in the Downside Ghosts series. (I needed a new series to get invested in after finishing The Morganville Vampires.)
Unholy Ghosts is an urban fantasy novel that centers entirely around, you guessed it, ghosts. Here’s the synopsis, per Google Books:
“The world is not the way it was. The dead have risen, and the living are under attack. The powerful Church of Real Truth, in charge since the government fell, has sworn to reimburse citizens being harassed by the deceased. Enter Chess Putnam, a fully tattooed witch and freewheeling ghost hunter. She’s got a real talent for banishing the wicked dead. But Chess is keeping a dark secret: She owes a lot of money to a murderous drug lord named Bump, who wants immediate payback in the form of a dangerous job that involves black magic, human sacrifice, a nefarious demonic creature, and enough wicked energy to wipe out a city of souls. Toss in lust for a rival gang leader and a dangerous attraction to Bump’s ruthless enforcer, and Chess begins to wonder if the rush is really worth it. Hell, yeah.“
I’m enjoying it so far, and I’m over halfway through. All of the characters that have been introduced are likable, even those without many redeeming qualities. I like Stacia’s writing style, as well.
I’ll give my rating with my next update! And please consider joining me for the challenge this year!
I finished Danielle Vega’s Survive the Night and Natasha Preston’s The Fear. Both were readable books, yet I was disappointed with the stories overall.
On the bright side, I stumbled upon Small Spaces by Katherine Arden thanks to an Instagram post and I loved it! Yes, it is considered a kids’ book, but y’all, the creepy factor was real. I will certainly be reading the rest of that particular series from Arden.
My mom brought me Court of the Vampire Queen by Katee Robert. That was a disaster. If you don’t mind books with more smut than plot, this one should be right up your alley. Lol. I myself didn’t enjoy it.
And I know it seems horribly after the fact, but I just read The Maze Runner. I was unexpectedly impressed with the movie, and I tend to think the novels are always superior to the films, so of course I had to check it out. I couldn’t put it down. Another series I will have to follow through on.
My current reads are as follows:
Daylighters (Rachel Caine)
The Snakes (Sadie Jones)
This one was actually sent to me via a “blind date with a book” order from Etsy.
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke – and Other Misfortunes (Eric LaRocca)
Once I finish these three, I will have completed my reading challenge for 2022!!!!!
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