literaryland_livin's reviews
598 reviews

Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian

4.0

First off I’m not one to gravitate towards Westerns. Whether it be a tv show, movie, or book I’m just not naturally drawn to them however this one had me intrigued right away from the it’s odd cast of characters. As mentioned in my last review and actually a few others from this month I’m a big fan of rag-tag miss matched groups forming and watching how they interact with one another and boy does Red Rabbit’s characters fall into this category. We’ve got Old Tom who’s a witch hunter, Rabbit the strange and mysterious ward of Old Tom, widowed school teacher Rose who also has her ghost husband following her, then two cowboys Ned and Moses, and at last to top it all off we have a demonic creature stalking the group who sometimes turns into frogs! If that cast of wildly misfit characters doesn’t somewhat intrigue you I honestly don’t know what will then. We follow along as this crazy cast attempts to track down a believed witch for a bounty. How does this book manage to contain all of this while being in a Western setting I have no idea but it surprisingly manages to work in its own weird way and I loved it. The horror and fantasy elements blended exceptionally well with some aspects being truly eerie, creepy, and dark. Fair warning there are some triggering scenes with animals and suicide. And while there is dealing with darker subject matter Red Rabbit still managed to have many humorous and also heartfelt scenes as well. This atmospheric supernatural western adventure was a quirky read brimming with magic, horror, gunfights, stagecoaches, demons, and no shortage of strong characters to get attached to. Bottom line you just have to read this wildly bizarre horror book. 

Kill Creek by Scott Thomas

4.0

On a dark forgotten road lays Finch House, a notoriously rumored haunted home hidden in the Kansas countryside. For years the home had sat undisturbed, left to rot and decay as the years progress. Until the day four horror authors step foot into its halls. The stay sounded simple enough, spend Halloween night amongst peers of the horror writing community in order for a bit of publicity. However something has been waiting, lurking in the shadows of the infamous haunted house and now that it has guests for the first time in decades it may just want to repay the favor by following them home. 

Kill Creek is by far one of the most perfect Halloween reads out there! I mean who can pass up a tale of a spooky haunted house with a tragic horror filled history, not me! Divided into three parts we follow along as we meet four horror authors, all of which who have their own unique style to the genre. I found this particular detail to be really interesting as I enjoyed seeing how each author’s own background and personalities shaped the way they thought and ultimately how they choose to write their own books. I thoroughly love a spooky book that takes a mix match of characters and throws them all together seeing how they will interact and ultimately survive. While this is a horror staple in my opinion and not a new idea I still really loved that aspect of this book. Now to the spooky bits and boy was there quite a few! Once you hit about 30% and enter into the haunted Finch House where the plot really takes off with no shortage of goosebumps and chill inducing scenes. I really felt as if I was there with the characters while reading especially when I read this at night. The last quarter was truly terrifying, especially once we are given the full extent of the houses history. I can see where some readers can find the scares as cliche but honestly I loved every second of them cliche or not, to me these structural aspects of horror books or movies are crucial to staying to true the genre and one of the reasons I enjoy it so much. Ultimately I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to fans of haunted house stories. The scares, characters, and twists absolutely won’t disappoint and will have you wanting to sleep with the lights on after finishing this. 

Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

3.5

I’ve thought about this one almost a week now since finishing it and I’m still stuck on if this was fully a 4 star read for me or not. Part of the issue I feel like I’m having is the fact that I originally I started out doing a physical read and then hoped over to audio. The main reason for the switch was while reading I felt like I was having a difficult time following along with what was going on, especially with all of the dialogue and dream sequences that were occurring. However, once I did switch over to audio I found the book much more atmospheric and was able to really dive into the story. For this fact I definitely recommend the audio and wish I had just started thru that avenue first. Between Two Fires brings the end of days to reality in this medieval tale where a darkly biblical mythology unfolds with angels and demons wagging war amongst one another. This all transpires all while the world also is simultaneously being rocked by the plaque, The Black Death. Needless to say this book is bleak and macabre, which honestly is the best setting in my opinion for a medieval themed horror read. The plot unfolds with us following along an outcast group of individuals with a disgraced knight, an orphaned girl who has prophetic dreams, and an alcoholic priest. The three begin a  horror filled quest encountering unholy creatures, undead corpses rising from their graves, and hellish monsters. While being mostly focused in biblical mythology horror I still found that the book had great symbolism. Especially with the symbolic focus of one’s soul and redemption to be well written. However I again had a harder time fully connecting to these facts and points tho which I really do think is due to not sticking to just one reading medium. This read was definitely a nightmare fueled fever dream that had intensely atmospheric horrors. Ultimately I just wish I had listened to the audio only,  maybe then I’d have come out feeling more for this book like I had hoped. 

Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell

4.0

Recently engaged couple, Felix and Faye are more than ready for a quiet weekend away to celebrate and relax from their busy lives. Luckily Faye’s parents have a family cabin long since used, secluded between beautiful mountain ranges and trees in Pale Peek. What starts out as a promising weekend of peace quickly builds into a nightmare. Rather quickly after their arrival voices in the snow covered hills begin being heard, voices of children yelling for help, strange animal shrieks, and incoherent babbling. To make matters worse they are snowed in with no way down the mountain side. With the temperatures dropping and the voices bring forth hostile banging in the night leaving Felix and Faye wondering what the real reason behind the cabins long term vacancy. 

Never have I ever read a book that contained so many no moments for me. You know the moments that make you outright verbally say “hell no” while reading. A weekend away with patchy cell service in a very remote mountain during a snowstorm… nope. Voices of long deceased loved ones calling to you in said snowstorm… double nope. An ominous disfigured humanoid form lurking and scratching its way into the cabin itself… absolutely not, get me outta there immediately! Stolen Tongues takes moments like this to the extreme with an abundance of dread, tension, and horror. Needless to say I loved it. I live for books that make me feel right in the middle of all the terrifying events that are unfolding and this one absolutely did that. The horror elements are paced perfectly making this a quick read as you’re forced to keep turning pages to see how everything will play out. Again the amount of times I audibly was saying “nope” or  screaming “no’s” was definetly the most out of any other horror read for me. To sum it up simply you most definetly won’t catch me exploring any mountains anytime soon after reading this one.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

4.0

Sixteen year old Yadriel is determined to become a brujo, despite not being accepted into his community or his family. When the news of his cousin’s murder reaches him he knows what he must do, summon his ghost to get answers. However, the ritual instead summons the ghost of notorious bad boy Julian Diaz. The two form an unlikely team as they help one another in their goals, with Yadriel now trying to solve not only a murder but also help determined Julian get the closure needed to move on. As the two grow closer though Yadriel begins to wonder if he is the one who won’t be able to let go when the time comes. 

I’m honestly incredibly mad at myself that it has taken me this long to finally read this book because all the hype you hear and see about this one are completely accurate! And honestly ghost boyfriends may be my new favorite type of paranormal book boyfriend to date. I will say I went into this book mostly blind aside from knowing it involved witchy magic and great character representation, I really wasn’t quite sure what specifically I was diving into plot wise. However, once I began reading I was truly astonished and spellbound (yes pun intended) by the intricate level of storytelling surrounding the community and themes featured in this book. Thomas does a truly magical job of blending diverse characters into the books Hispanic culture and brujx centered community, so much so you can clearly see how much heart, time, and care was put into this book. The MCs Yadriel and Julian provided amazing development and juxtaposition, as Yadriel is constantly looking for validation while Julian is unapologetically himself no matter what. I simply loved watching their relationship and bond grow all while focusing on the overall theme of accepting one’s self regardless of needing others acceptance. As a YA book these themes are incredibly important to learn and see depicted on paper for youth readers. Honestly there are plenty of adults who could also benefit from reading this and seeing the pure joy accepting yourself will bring you. Simply put this wholesome magical book filled with its rich culture and lore had me smiling the whole time while reading. Cemetery Boys will go down as a forever fall recommend book from me. 

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig

4.0

 Hazel Trépas has known her entire life that her fate was out of her hands. For as the thirteenth child to a struggling family she has been promised to the god of death,The Dreaded End since before her birth into this world.Her first twelve years of life are spent as a forgotten shadow amongst her family as Hazel is left waiting for the day her godfather will come to collect her.When that day comes Hazel is whisked away to a strange world called the Between where she begins her studies to become a healer at the bequest of her godfather, Merrick.To aid in her endeavors Merrick bestows upon Hazel a gift that doubles as a curse for she now can see Death when her patients are being called upon, leaving her forever haunted by their ghosts.One day she is tasked with the job to heal the King from a strange unknown illness only he is marked for death leaving Hazel with a difficult decision that will forever change her life and many others.

Craig again proves to be a master weaver of atmospheric tales with this latest dark YA fairytale retelling.I went into this book not knowing much of the original source material from the Brother’s Grimm tale so I can not speak to any changes or altering to those aspects but what I can speak to is how much I enjoyed this book.Craig has a special way of making each of her books truly come to life with a lush prose,incredibly beautiful descriptive locations,and well balanced mixes of both devastating heartbreak and beauty all in one.This book was no different serving all of that and more with magic,meddlesome gods,courtly politics,and war.The aspect of the gods in this world were so intriguing while getting to see some of their schemes as the story highlighted and focused on decisions and how one choice can impact and have domino effects.I also found Hazel to be a compelling FMC and enjoyed getting to see her younger years of life and struggles,it allowed the reader to follow along with her well paced character development and growth.As a whole this book was everything I had hoped it would be and more. If you haven’t yet read one of Craig’s books I implore you to pick them up as you won’t be disappointed.

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

3.5

What initially drew me to this book was the special edition cover I kept seeing around (which by the way I still am on the hunt for and desperately need in my life!) However once I started digging for more info on this book I had heard the audio was an absolute must listen and after getting a physical copy and the audio I have to say I agree with everyone as this audio to put it simply is hot! I never would have thought it possible to make a dark stalker romance that’s MMC is both a bad boy and golden retriever combo while also being equal parts sweet, caring and possessive all at the the same time yet here we are. While yes this book does have its darker moments and a long list of trigger warnings (and I mean long, it just kept going!) it still somehow managed to contain absolutely hilarious moments and banter that I audibly found myself laughing out loud to. The dual narration and voice actors truly sold me on these morally gray characters and had me fully rooting for their happiness and relationship despite the red flags that kept flying around, but then again this is a dark romance book so if you go into it hoping for perfectly proper and well behaving characters your in the wrong place. The first half of this book had me really engaged as we watched Aly and Josh’s flirty games as their chemistry was absolutely scorching hot however the second half of the books pacing started to shift as the plot changed into almost another book entirely with a whole mafia and mob crime world. Personally I could have done without this last half of the books additions as again it made the pacing just feel slightly off. However I still stand by the fact that this was an absolutely wild, fun, and incredibly spicy read that I thoroughly enjoyed. If your looking for an intro book into the dark romance genre and if you’ve ever found yourself fantasize about the idea of a masked man breaking into your house to lovingly restock your groceries then you absolutely must read this book. Now excuse me while I go and download Jacob Morgan’s entire audiobook narration library. 

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon

4.0

Helen and Nate are embarking on a new adventure as homeowners as they decide to leave their old lives behind for a new one. Situated in rural Vermont they begin to break ground on their new home when whispers of hauntings and cursed land make their way to their ears. Not easily deterred by such things Helen and Nate forge onward as progress on their new home continues. With each new beam and wall however came strange occurrences with haunting sounds, sights, and objects gone missing. Helen can’t help but be drawn into her new home’s history and the stories that surround the neighboring bog. For the deeper Helen digs the more connected she becomes to the spirits that speak to her in the night. 

The Invited weaves together a multi generational paranormal thriller that’s filled with ghosts, witches and hidden secrets. From the very beginning we are transported to a time where differences made others afraid and believe you to be a witch, making the book’s prologue feel very reminiscent of the Salem Witch Trials. Initially I had thought this book was going to be more of a traditional haunted house read, however I was pleasantly surprised by the mystery aspects and found myself easily invested in the books unique version of connecting generational tragedies. I attribute much of the books gripping plot to be due to McMahon’s atmospheric and descriptive prose,as it was easy to picture the rural Vermont landscape and bogs. As well as the successfully interwoven multiple timelines and POVs we are taken thru. Now while I did find certain parts of the story to have inconsistent pacing I overall couldn’t put this one down especially the last 20% as I did not expect the twists that unfolded. All in all this book was an incredibly enjoyable and entertaining spooky season read. And while not what I had originally expected based on its synopsis I find myself happier with it as I truly enjoyed where the book went more. 

Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone

4.0

Violeta and her brother Arien are no strangers to being outsiders in their small town. For years ago they were found off the edge of the woods with no memory of how they got there or what happened to their parents. Leta being the oldest is determined to protect her brother from harm especially when he begins displaying dark abilities as shadows lurk thru his dreams. A tithe visit from the Lord of Lakesedge changes everything as Arien’s dark magic is discovered, leading to a journey to the enigmatic Lord Rowan’s home. Lord Rowan and his estate are haunted by this same darkness that has Arien in its grasp. Determined to cure her brother now more than ever Leta journeys into a world full of monsters, magic, and the god of death. 

I was immediately drawn in by this cover as that alone held so much gothic literature vibes in it that I just knew I had to read this book. Lakesedge’s pages absolutely delivers, with an incredibly atmospheric gothic YA fantasy read that has a perfectly dark and dreary setting for fall reading with its haunting empty halls and ominously cursed lake. Clipstone’s writing style not only brought this lush dark world to life but also completely engrosses the reader with it’s world building and lore. The plot focuses heavily on unraveling secrets of the past and protecting your loved ones at any cost, with both MCs having had their fair share of hardships and devastating blows. I found the slow building of Leta and Rowan’s friendship and relationship to be both authentic and bittersweet. The mystery elements in this gothic story are incredibly well done as we see Leta begin to unravel the connections to the Lord Under. The closer I got to the books close the faster I was turning pages to see how this dark cursed story would ultimately unfold, which has now left me running for book 2 with an amazing cliffhanger ending. Simply put this book was just the gothic read my heart needed and I can not wait to see more of this world and story in the sequel. 

Salt & Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher

3.5

Jane Aire is finally being tasked with her first adventure as a healer. One that takes her far from her sheltered home and onto the cursed grounds of Thornfield Hall. Jane is met by not only haunted halls but also its reclusive master Edward Rochester. It becomes apparent that the manor’s threats are much more sinister than originally thought. And the more darkness Jane encounters the more she sees that her protective charms and herbs are far from enough to combat these evils.

Salt & Broom takes Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel and adds a witchy mix to it in this retelling. Admittedly, I’m a big lover of the original gothic tale that this book is inspired after so personally for me I had extremely high expectations. I enjoyed the added magically elements especially the twist of Jane being a witch who has to fight a curse, makeing this book a perfect fall reading addition. However while I enjoyed these fantastical additions it ultimately fell flat when it came to the following thru on some of the plots main aspects. One example of this is when we learn of Jane’s lineage and the role this plays on her magical abilities. We are given this hugely impactful detail yet it’s just briefly mentioned, leaving me wishing for more lore and information. The book also is told thur almost exclusively Jane’s POV with Edward only having a few chapters from his perspective, making the attraction between the two feel insta love with lack of any build up. If we had gotten more of Edward’s POV this would have added in showing the depth of his emotions/feelings towards Jane which could have helped in the strong insta love of it all. As far as retellings go this one definitely brought loads of fall reading vibes with its witchy and paranormal twists, however I had just hoped for a tad more with this one which lead to me just wishing to read the original Jane Eyre.