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smalltowncreepy's reviews
69 reviews
We Need to Do Something by Max Booth III
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Domestic abuse
You, Human: An Anthology of Dark Science Fiction by Stephen King, Josh Malerman
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism
Come Closer by Sara Gran
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I'm not a huge fan of possession stories because honestly I'm tired of Christian mythology in horror but I was intrigued by this one because its in the POV of the possessed.
I'm glad I read it.
Recommend for fans of Rosemary's Baby or people who, like me, are tired of the same possession narratives and want something new.
Recommend for fans of Rosemary's Baby or people who, like me, are tired of the same possession narratives and want something new.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, and Blood
Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Poetic and dark and draining and glorious.
I am a fan of Sofia Ajram's work since reading Bury Your Gays anthology.
When I saw the book trailer for Coup de Grace, I immediately wanted to read it. Liminal spaces are a favorite trope of mine and this felt like Back Rooms only darker. While it is that, it is so much more. The twists and turns felt like The Worm and His Kings by Hailey Piper but with a far more claustrophobic and unrelenting story line.
Ajram's poetic language is soporific and lulls the reader into a dream-like state to skim the surface of the main character, Vicken's own depression and existential terror. There were moments I was worried this story would leave me in a fugue state afterwards and wondered if I should stop reading for my own mental health. I kept going though.
The end, with its choose your own adventure style and fourth-wall breaking point of view was brilliant.
I can tell this book will be sticking with me like cement dust in my pockets for a very long time.
I am a fan of Sofia Ajram's work since reading Bury Your Gays anthology.
When I saw the book trailer for Coup de Grace, I immediately wanted to read it. Liminal spaces are a favorite trope of mine and this felt like Back Rooms only darker. While it is that, it is so much more. The twists and turns felt like The Worm and His Kings by Hailey Piper but with a far more claustrophobic and unrelenting story line.
Ajram's poetic language is soporific and lulls the reader into a dream-like state to skim the surface of the main character, Vicken's own depression and existential terror. There were moments I was worried this story would leave me in a fugue state afterwards and wondered if I should stop reading for my own mental health. I kept going though.
The end, with its choose your own adventure style and fourth-wall breaking point of view was brilliant.
I can tell this book will be sticking with me like cement dust in my pockets for a very long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
The Haunting of Gillespie House by Darcy Coates
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
They don't make plus size spacesuits by Ali Thompson
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Bad Cree is one of the best examples of grief horror I’ve ever read. The slow hike down the trail of family, what it means to be a “bad,” guilt, and loneliness vs being a burden on your loved ones not only added to the character development and dire circumstances Mackenzie is in but also created a sense of realness I couldn’t shake even when I closed the book. The relationships, the descriptions of the people and places, the way Mackenzie described feeling as a member of her family all felt so real – like I was sitting in High Plaines with them, smelling the cooking and wrapping myself in the blanket of their relationships that was both comforting and uncomfortable depending on what was going on.
I loved how this book subverted the plot tool of isolations. If you know anything about writing or dissecting horror, you know that isolating the main character or characters from help or comfort is a huge plot device. It adds to tension, danger, and helps draw the main characters and the antagonist or monster together.
In Bad Cree, the isolation is played with not only physically but internally/emotionally and then done away with completely. Johns holds up isolation and tosses it in the corner showing that it is not only unnecessary for a scary, tension filled plot but the overcoming of isolation rather than succumbing to it can also be part of the horror itself.
In Bad Cree, the isolation is played with not only physically but internally/emotionally and then done away with completely. Johns holds up isolation and tosses it in the corner showing that it is not only unnecessary for a scary, tension filled plot but the overcoming of isolation rather than succumbing to it can also be part of the horror itself.
I also loved the diversity in the book. Not only is the book filled with Indigenous characters by an Indigenous author but many of those characters are queer from Mackenzie’s best nonbinary friend Joli to her bisexual cousin Kassidy. The inclusion of the characters not just in the story but in the lives of the other characters without explanation, preamble, or mention of homophobia or transphobia was not only wonderful to read as a queer person but made it all the more real and comforting even during the difficult parts of the plot.
In all, this is a book the wormed into my heart and will be there a long time.
5 stars. Highly recommend.
5 stars. Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances by Eric LaRocca
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A dark, unnerving, and surprising collection of stories.
The first story which the book is named for has Gillian Flynn vibes but much darkner.
My favorite story was the 3rd, All the Parts of You That Won't Easily Burn but I can't share why without risking spoilers.
The 2nd book, Seedling, reminds me of Kathe Koja's The Cipher and I do think that fans of that novel will enjoy this collection.
Prickle was my least favorite of the stories but it was also a good read.
The first story which the book is named for has Gillian Flynn vibes but much darkner.
My favorite story was the 3rd, All the Parts of You That Won't Easily Burn but I can't share why without risking spoilers.
The 2nd book, Seedling, reminds me of Kathe Koja's The Cipher and I do think that fans of that novel will enjoy this collection.
Prickle was my least favorite of the stories but it was also a good read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Izzy at the End of the World by K.A. Reynolds
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I received this book in exchange for an honest review and am so glad that I had this opportunity. While middle grade scifi isn’t my usual go to, I was drawn by the amazing art, the promise of a well written autistic main character, and a heart wrenching story with a happy ending. It was everything promised and more.
I cried in the best way at the end of this book. It broke my heart, mended it, and broke it again and repeat. As an autistic AFAB person, I saw a lot of myself in Izzy, especially from when I was younger. There were so many times this book felt like a hug with a whisper, ‘you are seen.” Thank you.
The characters are well fleshed out, the story is gripping and immersive, the relationships are so real. There are indeed some very corny moments but I loved them for their corniness.
If I could give this book 6 stars, I would. A must read for scifi, coming of age stories. Be mindful of the content warnings, of course (also thank you for those).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent