YA extreme horror novels

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2024 (6/29/24)

June 29, 2024 — 1 Comment

I read nine – nine – books this month! I’m smashing the challenge this year and will probably raise my goal soon, given that I only have five books to go before I reach it and it’s only June.

Here are the books I’ve finished since the last update with a brief review of each!

Circus of the Dead: Book 1 (Kimberly Loth)

Rating: 4/5

I enjoyed this introduction to the world of the circus, but I don’t have much to say about it as I felt that’s mostly all the book was – an introduction. Loth has given readers a rundown of the circus and its major players, and how Callie gets stuck there. I believe the true tale will begin in book 2, so I’m gonna check it out! I would recommend giving this series a try, though, if you like creepy circuses, scary clowns, murderous (yet attractive) ghosts, and other such things.

Winterset Hollow (Jonathan Edward Durham)

Rating: 5/5

I loved Winterset Hollow. First off, it was so well-written, and the plot was at least semi-original. I mean, it’s been done before, but not with any frequency. The characters were given so much depth; we were even granted glimpses into those who weren’t the main protagonists…or antagonists. I almost hate to use the word “antagonist” here, because the bad guys had understandable reason for their actions and were as sympathetic as Eamon, Caroline, and Mark. This novel is horrific, but not in the usual way. It is the story of discovering that a story you used to navigate the world, that taught you about love and bravery and friendship, actually stemmed from violence and cruelty. It is the story of having to re-evaluate all you ever thought you knew. It is also a story of triumph, of friendship and courage and discovering that you are a force to be reckoned with in the real world. I definitely recommend that you add Winterset Hollow to your TBR pile!

Ghoul You Be My Valentine? (Olivia Jaymes)

Rating: 4/5

I am entranced with Ravenmist and all its quirky inhabitants, including the spirits. This is another series that I’m praising because it’s cute and funny. The books are easy reads, so if you’re looking for a paranormal cozy mystery you can curl up with and breeze through with a number of laughs, the Ravenmist Whodunits are right up your alley.

Hidden Pictures (Jason Rekulak)

Rating: 4/5

Hidden Pictures was not what I was expecting. I was prepared for the pictures to tell a story that led to a murderer being found. However, this book had quite a few twists and turns, and I didn’t see the ending coming. I don’t want to say too much or include any spoilers, but you should read this book.

Puzzle House (Duncan Ralston)

Rating: 3/5

The concept of Puzzle House was an intriguing one, but the execution and the ending kinda turned me off. The characters were basically put into a series of escape rooms and had to find their way out. What they didn’t know, but soon learned, is that each puzzle required a sacrifice. I’m not going to explain the ultimate goal of the puzzles and sacrifices. Just…it got weird. Lol. If you like movies such as Saw and Cabin in the Woods, you should probably check out this book.

Legendary (Stephanie Garber)

Rating: 4.5/5

I actually enjoyed Legendary more than Caraval. I liked that we were given more background into Tella and Scarlett’s history. Plus, it is revealed why Tella was involved in Caraval the first time. I liked the inclusion of the Fates and, of course, finally learning Legend’s identity! I can’t wait to read Finale!

FantasticLand (Mike Bockoven)

Rating: 2/5

I wasn’t all that impressed with FantasticLand. First, I hoped it would be told as it was happening. I don’t necessarily care for gore and such, but I went in to this book with the expectation of violence, bloodshed, and more! (Oh my!) Second, I didn’t necessarily care for the stories being told in the style of interviews. And last, it all happened so fast, and I just couldn’t get lost in it because there was a distinct lack of believability, from the first death to the formation of tribes within 24-48 hours of them leaving the shelter.

All These Bodies (Kendare Blake)

Rating: 4/5

All These Bodies is the story of a string of unexplainable murders that culminates in a young girl covered in blood being found at the final scene. The sheriff’s son, Michael, dreams of becoming a journalist, and the biggest story of the year falls right into his lap – the girl, Marie, agrees to tell her story, but only to Michael.

I devoured this book in only three days. It was very interesting, well-written, and kept me guessing about what was real and what wasn’t. I only gave it a four because I wanted the ending to answer at least one of my questions and it didn’t.

Ghosts, Lies, and Videotape (Olivia Jaymes)

Rating: 4/5

Another murder mystery in Ravenmist. The quaint town in which nothing ever happens has quite a bit happening lately, including spirits with enough energy to almost seem alive. Inn owner Tedi, her mother, best friend Missy, and an eclectic cast of characters have learned the explanation for the sudden energy surge, and it’s a doozy. Now, Sheriff Jackson Garrett has to solve the two murders, grudgingly accepting help from Tedi, who is also busy trying to find the – spoiler alert! – demon that has come to their tiny corner of Illinois.

***

I am currently reading Christmas Presents (Lisa Unger) and the fourth installment of the Ravenmist series, Grandma Got Run Over By a Demon (Olivia Jaymes).

Progress: 45/50

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2024 (5/29/24)

May 29, 2024 — 1 Comment

Man, it seems like May flew by in the blink of an eye! I didn’t realize how close to June it was and almost missed this month’s reading challenge update.

I read 9 (!) books in May. Here they are with my rating and a brief review.

Stillhouse Lake (Rachel Caine)

Rating: 4/5

As someone who really enjoyed the Morganville Vampires series, I knew I had to give more of Rachel Caine’s books a try. I stumbled across this one, recommended to me by Amazon, and I thought it sounded interesting so I added it to my TBR pile. I was not disappointed. Stillhouse Lake follows the story of Gina Royal after her life is utterly destroyed by the revelation that her husband is a serial killer. I will forever love Caine’s writing style, her strong characters, and how real everything seems. There is the occasional moment where it seems her own beliefs/opinions/stereotypes become part of her characters’ make up, but at least most of their ideas and decisions follow a logical route. At no point did I find myself wondering why Gina (Gwen, once she’d gone into hiding) and those around her made the choices they did, and I can’t tell you how refreshing that is after some of the books I’ve read.

Tastes Like Candy 2: Sugarless (Ivy Tholen)

Rating: 4/5

I did not enjoy this as much as Tastes Like Candy; however, it was a wild, fun ride that I devoured in a matter of days (mostly reading it during my lunch breaks at work). The motive behind the copycat killer’s actions was lackluster at best, but I was really sucked in by the return of two original characters. There was gore, though less than last time, and more creative murders – and murder attempts. Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read that almost did justice to its predecessor. A must-read if you liked the first one.

The Housemaid (Freida McFadden)

Rating: 3/5

This was my first Freida McFadden. A friend of mine recommended a few of her books, but I chose this one because it helped me earn an achievement on Kindle. Lame, I know. Still, it led me to The Housemaid, so I’m not mad. Haha.

While I was not head-over-heels for this book, I did like it. The relationship between Nina and Andrew was just…extreme, I couldn’t make myself buy into how fast Andrew and Millie fell in “love,” and none of the characters were that great. However, if you want a mystery/thriller that doesn’t require much thinking, this is it. On the bright side, the twist is fairly solid.

The Mermaid’s Sister (Carrie Anne Noble)

Rating: 4.5/5

I love mermaids. The whole concept has captivated me since I was a kid and watched The Little Mermaid literally every day. Make no mistake: I also enjoy the darker versions of mermaid lore. I spend so much time wishing they would make a horror movie based on the original The Little Mermaid. But I digress…

The Mermaid’s Sister employs the lighter aspects of being a mermaid, including the idea that she doesn’t change until she reaches her teen years. The story follows the desperation of Clara to save her sister Maren, who is transforming and will fade to nothing if not returned to the sea. There is action, adventure, a little romance, and a sprinkle of sadness, all woven into a fantasy tale that will touch your inner child.

Killman Creek (Rachel Caine)

Rating: 4/5

Killman Creek is the sequel to Stillhouse Lake. Tired of living in constant fear after her serial killer ex-husband escapes from prison, Gina/Gwen goes hunting with the help of the brother of one of his victims.

What I really loved about this book was Caine’s ability to put her characters in such a dark, unimaginable scenario without ever losing that touch of humanity that makes them so…real. Gina/Gwen is a certified badass, don’t get me wrong. But that softer underbelly that fears for and wants to protect her loved ones? That’s what made me cheer her on up to and through her climactic face-to-face with her ex.

Eat, Drink, and Be Scary (Olivia Jaymes)

Rating: 4/5

Okay, so it’s not the Great American Novel, but come on – y’all know I love cozy mysteries, and Eat, Drink, and Be Scary is a paranormal cozy mystery! These books (because yes, I have started the second in the series) are really cute. The characters are funny, and our main protagonist, Tedi, is sassy and witty and I kinda love her. Also, she isn’t some super genius crime solver, which is the trap a lot of cozy mystery authors fall into, so that’s a point in Olivia Jaymes’ favor.

Don’t Wake Up (Liz Lawler)

Rating: 3/5

There are things I liked about Don’t Wake Up and there are things I hated. Without giving too much away, because I try not to include spoilers, this story kept getting more and more ridiculous. Yes, there was a very real – human – reason for all that happened to our main character, Alex Taylor, but the motive was…really just a woman being stupid over a man. And I know it happens, but I can’t stand how often even female authors make their female characters act out because they fell for the wrong guy. Lol.

One by One (Freida McFadden)

Rating: 2.5/3

All I can say is, One by One was readable, but the motive behind what was done was soooo bad.

The Mermaid (Christina Henry)

Rating: 3/5

Oh, look. Another book about a mermaid! So I did enjoy this story on the surface, but man, oh man, did Henry slip as many stereotypes as possible into this novel, mostly about men. I don’t mind when something like that is applied to a character in order to add to the story and make him/her multi-faceted. I do, however, find it annoying when an author throws out blanket statements/descriptions that are only promoting their opinions and are not entirely relevant to the story itself.

***

I am currently reading Fantastic Land (Mike Bockoven), Ghoul You Be My Valentine? (Olivia Jaymes), and Circus of the Dead (Kimberly Loth).

Progress: 36/50