Review: The Devil Aspect

4 stars. I'm all over the place with this one - on the one hand, I found the first half pretty bland and boring. On the other hand, I'm 9 months pregnant (which means almost anything could put me to sleep), and I just finished Swan Song, one of the most entertaining epics ever written. At times I was like, is this not really predictable, and cheesy? And at other times I was like, just one more chapter... just one more page... couldn't put it down. Sometimes the writing felt borderline pretentious, other times it was beautiful, cozy, dark... I should also mention that the political backdrop felt extra terrifying thanks to current events. Overall, I have to give it a good rating, because I have absolutely zero regrets reading it and would recommend it.

Craig Russell's The Devil Aspect takes place in Czechoslovakia in the mid-30s, where a young psychiatrist named Viktor takes a position at an isolated asylum in a rural castle. His goal is to examine, and hopefully treat, the "Devil's Six," a notorious group of criminals imprisoned for committing particularly violent crimes. As he settles in and conducts his studies, however, he uncovers more than the darkness within his patients: in nearby Prague, women are being murdered in the style of Jack the Ripper; in the castle's small village, children are going missing; his own friend Filip is slipping into depression; and he feels somewhat haunted in the medieval castle and its surrounding forest. 

It all comes to a head in a super maniacal, destructive, villainous way. Though maybe more of a dark thriller than a horror novel, there are some truly creepy moments well-placed throughout the narrative. Russell clearly did his research, so the scientific aspects ring true, but he writes with a respect and reverence for the folklore of his setting, creating some really rich, delicious, supernatural layers. This book screams to be read by the fire, during a blizzard, under the blanket, with a beer. It is just that gothic and atmospheric and vibe-y.

I can totally see why this is so popular, and I'm looking forward to chewing on it, now that I can see the big picture, so to speak. My first by Craig Russell, but it definitely won't be my last. 

The Devil Aspect on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Swan Song

5 stars. Can't give it anything less, can I? Swan Song is a masterpiece, through-and-through, and it continues to live up to the hype as a "modern classic." The length is justified, there is no better example of a large cast of characters, and it contains moments that are genuinely the stuff of nightmares. Of course it shows its age, of course it slides into cheesy 80s action sequences (especially at the climax), but all of those things are part of what makes it so... amazing, and such a delight. I’m going to miss this found family and the hope they managed to carve out for themselves in a cruel, dark world.

A broad summary, because a detailed one would take ages to outline: the nuclear apocalypse has arrived. The world spins on, flattened under the weight of its human-borne, human-bred trauma. Cities demolished, scorched, the sun blocked by clouds and a cold, permanent winter. Those who survive do so barely, and under the darkest of circumstances. But humans are resilient, and relentless, and our characters wield each of these traits in different ways - revealing, in the wasteland of the end of the world, their true faces, for better or worse. 

I absolutely loved the first 25% of this especially. The level of horror depicted is completely unhinged, and unmatched. The imagery - McCammon's writing is destructive, vivid, and beautiful, and horrifying. The burns, the heaving earth, the screams, the insanity, the smells, the pain, the shock and awe of it all. Truly something, and like nothing I've read before. And the way the rest of it all unfolded... I could've read about these characters circling each other for years and years - though it was great to watch them clash eventually. The scenes in Kmart, by the way… holy shit.

So, my complaints. There's almost no use anymore - this book has been picked apart so much. But look, you know I'm going to point out the incredibly upsetting animal deaths. My spidey senses started tingling when I was about 40% of the way in, and I almost put it down for good. But I didn't. If there's an author out there who can be trusted to utilize these types of plot devices wisely, it's Robert McCammon. I survived. I also have some questions around certain aspects that were maybe left open to interpretation... 

Oh, and I have to say it: it is kind of fun to pit this book against The Stand - what's wrong with a fun little competition, even when they aren't really that similar at all? I'd choose Swan Song every time - it's tighter, way less meandering, kinder to women and nastier in a good way - but that aside, I'd love to battle someone on this over a bottle of something. Go ahead, convince me I'm wrong! Makes me so happy that people have read both!

I would end maybe, with this: while Swan Song isn't perfect - what book is? - I can't think of, or recommend, a better way to spend your time than reading through its pages. It should sit on everyone's bookshelf, a hefty escape window; a reminder of the power of story, and the relief of a happy ending (fictional as it may be)... the way that tropes and cliches can still come together in fresh and compelling ways and teach us wonderful lessons. Swan Song held an extremely noisy darkness at bay for me, maybe it will for you too. 

Swan Song on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Reformatory

5 stars. Wow. Stunning, incredible - the hype is real! I'm a big fan of Tananarive Due (not only because I love saying her name... she's a welcome voice on all the Shudder documentaries I love, not to mention a great guest judge on Dragula), but this is my first book by her, and holy crap, I haven't had such a harrowing, awesome reading experience in ages. 

It's 1950, and in the fictional town of Gracetown, FL, 12-year-old Robbie Stephens Jr. is sentenced to 6 months at the nearby Reformatory, a "correctional school" for boys that is really just a prison. The sentence for his "crime" - defending his older sister, Gloria, from the advances of a wealthy white neighbor - is complicated by the fact that his father has left town to avoid a false and racially-motivated accusation.

The book alternates between Robbie and Gloria's perspectives as they try to navigate a world that is immediately, socially, politically, and personally, against them. Robbie must avoid the brutal punishment of the school's Warden, though his ability to see "haints" (ghosts haunting the school) quickly draws attention. And Gloria won't give up on her brother, forging ahead down every avenue - sometimes carving her own - to bring him home. 

For a book that takes place over the course of what, 1 week? Maybe 2? A lot happens. My summary barely scratches the surface of the many narrative layers, and doesn't touch on the many major and minor characters who orbit these fierce children's doomed situation. We as readers end up fully immersed in the terribleness of it all, but the long book is worth it. It's a real testament to Due's writing, which depicts the worst-of-the-worst-of-the-worst, that I couldn't wait to return to this setting.

I'm tired of hearing "horror is political" as a hot take, because horror has always been political. It is true that many authors lean on the pedal too hard, and their well-intentioned stories become preachy, sanctimonious, self-aggrandizing lessons for readers who will chafe against that sort of thing. Due lets this story, which is fictionalized but based in truth, speak for itself. I can't even begin to fathom or understand how challenging this must have been to research, and then write.

Beyond the subject matter, Due's writing really works, from both a historical fiction angle and a horror angle. She lovingly, beautifully marries the two. It is long, but well-paced, and includes some of the tensest sequences I've read all year. She writes children well, and monsters - all of her POVs are successful, I think - and recognizes where to incorporate complexity, sensitivity, and hope. The setting itself is also a character, and from a sentence-level the book is full of quotes that will choke you. In a good, powerful way. 

BookTok has made kind of a joke of reacting to books. "This will destroy you..."; selfies of readers crying, etc. The emotional reaction I had to this book is far from funny or cute or worth posting for clout, though it does feel profoundly meaningful. This book will strip away your defenses, crawl under your skin, and motivate you to do better - especially as we head into the scariest election of my life. It is horror at its absolute best. I will recommend it far and wide.

The Reformatory on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Black River Orchard

5 stars. In the small town of Harrow, PA, a new type of apple, grown and sold by local Dan Paxson, becomes intensely popular. Everyone who tastes it - has just one bite - becomes obsessed, not just with the apple, but with the way it makes them feel (better, stronger, powerful). But it also makes people sharper, meaner, more ruthless - especially towards those who refuse to eat the apples themselves. The fight for Harrow (or battle, maybe) escalates when it becomes clear that the apples are addictive, and vindictive, and in control - and the orchard trees have a bigger plan in mind: TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

Weird, playful, and incredibly well-written, this book is a home run for spooky season. It's a small town-encounters-giant evil sort of story, and it goes hard. We have a large cast of characters, double prologues and multiple interludes, flashbacks, a very long build-up and a very long climax, high stakes, absolutely disgusting imagery, and a badass ending. We have a grizzled veteran who teams up with a messy lesbian, and they eventually team up with a smart teenager and a kinky resident... which is all super delightful. We also have apple monsters.

I think it's really cool that a sexually progressive couple is depicted so positively, and so prominently - central to this story. Their preferences and behaviors furthered the story along, triggered narrative movement and fit nicely into the idea that the apples encourage folks to wield their prejudice and hatred. These folks are not kinky for the sake of being kinky: it's not box-check-y, or too preachy. Wendig never shies away from representation and I admire that.

One other thing: the Wendig of it all. I've written about Wacky Wending, and Wise Wendig, before; I went in with eyes wide open. There's something really undoubtedly refreshing about the way he makes it feel like this world - fantastical elements and all. He certainly has his viewpoints (which I share) and the book isn't commentary-free, and it was kind of nice to see some real, familiar, honest anxieties and depictions of our society reflected back. Social media is part of the story and referenced heavily; not only do the young characters use accurate(ish) slang, they behave and converse in ways teens do. Writing young people is hard, and he's okay at it.

Chuck Wendig has gotten close to feeling like Stephen King before, and he's closer still with this one. It takes real talent to put a story like this together. I was totally charmed, totally engrossed, totally invested and totally confused about how he pulled off the ridiculous premise - one that only increased in ridiculousness - in such a compelling way. I'm in the midst of a move and late stage pregnancy, and I couldn't fucking wait to get back to it. I'm bummed it's over. I would love a sequel, or a spin-off. Or maybe an adaptation, if anyone dares. 

Black River Orchard on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: North American Lake Monsters

4 stars. I love the entire spectrum of horror - from light to dark, from fun to bleak, from intense to agonizing to academic, refreshing or comedic. I just went from a pretty lighthearted, trope-y collection to an absolutely devastating one, and found deep satisfaction in each. Of course everybody has their limits - and I almost DNF'd this after hitting mine (my fault - I didn't check TWs) - but I was glad I powered through my personal resentments because this is the type of thought-provoking book that will stay with me for a long time. It's disturbing, reflective, and creative.

Featuring unique takes on werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, and aliens, this collection's 9 stories guarantee a gut punch (or two, or many). While maybe not scary in the traditional sense, there is plenty of intensity to go around. I know it's kind of cliche at this point to say things like "the real horror is the economic anxiety" or "the supernatural elements reflect the dark nature of humanity," but Ballingrud's stories here are the very, very best examples of these ideas. 

North American Lake Monsters is cleverly titled, because it chews on America in some truly fascinating ways. Masculinity, especially, is on display here, as is that particular American odor of racism, otherness, paranoia... our treatment of others. There is so much to unpack and far more intelligent reviewers than I will do it happily - just know going in that this is different, very different from Wounds; very well-written; very dark; and very uncomfortable, in a good way.

North American Lake Monsters on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Rules of the Road

5 stars. OF COURSE, after a long reading slump, I went into this with low expectations, thinking it would be a solid 3 star read at best. OF COURSE it would be this one to snap me out of it, a debut with a long list of mediocre reviews from readers who didn't even finish it AND a kind of gimmicky premise. I just really enjoyed it. I found it to be fun and funny and mean and nasty in all the right ways. 

It's late at night, you're on the road. You've been on the road for awhile, with nothing but headlights to guide you. Maybe you're in the middle of nowhere. Maybe you're getting sleepy, so you turn on the radio. Maybe, instead of Top 40 or Classic Rock, you hear the voice of a DJ, a voice that seems to suck you in. Maybe he drops some specific details, and seems to know a little too much about you. As you listen, he preaches to you a rule: a rule of the road. Hopefully, you listen. Maybe, you don't. 

The book is presented as a collection of stories submitted by folks who have supposedly heard versions of this special, spooky broadcast. Each individual hears a different rule, and acts accordingly - sometimes in compliance, sometimes with defiance. Either way, each of them faces consequences beyond belief. Why are some people punished, others spared, others forced into loss or terrible tragedy? What's the system? Who is the DJ? Where are the answers?

It's addicting, this one. The writing flows and the fast pace really keeps you engaged. The stories are - as many reviewers have pointed out - a little repetitive, but I didn't mind at all, and they were ultimately very distinct - distinct enough to keep me guessing. It's also not just premise, or gimmick. There are some super dark, meaty themes here - really it's partly a book about America, just as it's partly a book about music, and partly a book about love, and partly a book about death. The quest to find the meaning of life is certainly not a new one, nor is a bleak resolution to the quest. But the author here infuses enough heart and soul and warm creativity that you sense some deep, meaningful shit between these pages. I would like to read it again.

Of course I loved the superficial surface-level stuff too. The tropes, the monsters, the cosmic lore, the cheesy moments. The twists! So many fun twists. The clever details. I just really loved it, and would've been happy to sink my teeth into a few more episodes/stories. Adapt this immediately as a podcast or an anthology film! I've used the word "fun" like 50 times but I'd use it again! Loved it.

The Rules of the Road on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Red Rabbit

4 stars. Sigh. So close. I got so, so close to busting out of this reading slump, enjoying a 5-star read, AND fully experiencing a story that - for the first time - reminded me of one of my absolute favorite books of all time, Between Two Fires. It was a bit agonizing, actually, to be 3/4 of the way through only to realize I was quite bothered by a couple of things. Because this is a truly fantastic read. A must-read, I would say, for fans of horror and Westerns. It's unique and crunchy and episodic and I'm eager to unpack why it feels so similar to BTF, and also why it didn't make it up the hill all the way.

It's a bit tricky to summarize, but the story revolves around a group of misfits who join up to collect the bounty on a witch who is apparently terrorizing a county miles and miles away. There's Rose, a recent widow: sure of herself, but searching for her purpose. There's Moses and Ned, two wandering companions, and Tom, an old witch-hunter, and Rabbit, a mysterious child under the group's care. There's Benito, a young heartthrob on the run, and Joe Mullins, the ghost of Rose's husband. And there are many others encountered along the way. 

I want to make very clear: I would gladly read this again. I would gladly revisit this world, and trace the incredible details that make it so special. I highly recommend Red Rabbit for any day of the week, any season of the year. But please first heed my very passionate warning: check trigger warnings, especially those of you who are sensitive to animal welfare. After a lot of back-and-forth agonizing, I ultimately decided to dock a star as I typically would for UDDs - and I have to mention that 85% of the way in a puppy is introduced, right before the big climactic fight.

Sure, there are a few other things to nitpick. There are a lot of characters, and we don't go very deep into any of them (except literally... long story). Maybe there are a few sequences that could've been cut or edited down. And while I absolutely loved the sort of go-with-it laissez-faire worldbuilding, sometimes it's a little too scattered/random, to the point where I was maybe less invested/prone to skim. I would've overlooked all of that. It's a beautiful, meaningful piece of horror. But because this is my review and the stars reflect my personal reaction, 4 stars it is.

Further reading and watching, for your consideration: Between Two Fires (book), The North Woods (book), Constantine (film), Preacher (TV show), Dark Winds (TV show), Deadwood (TV show).

Red Rabbit on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Eaters of the Dead

5 stars. I read this and loved it in college, but it was so, so, so great to revisit it after leaning into my Viking interests over the last few years. The things I didn't recognize then I can place and frame contextually/historically now, which added a whole layer of stunning genius I couldn't pick up on before. Michael Crichton isn't a perfect author, and some of his older stuff especially leans a tad problematic, but this one is really, really, so, so good. 

It's about Ibn Fadlan, an Arab ambassador who winds up accompanying a group of Northmen (Vikings) on an epic quest to rid their land of a terrifying evil. The narrative is told in the form of a sort of anthropological manuscript; Ibn Fadlan's observations about the Vikings and their culture, based on his truly immersive experiences. He is critical, curious, and very sharp, and breathes new life into a tale that's so well known and widely studied.

I have to say that it was super refreshing, after dealing with a bit of a reading slump recently, to read such a well-plotted, well-paced, well-written story. It's based on, of course, the OG story, so we've had thousands of years to edit and carve out the best, juiciest narrative. Still - this is a brilliant version. Great for regular readers of horror, fantasy, even historical fiction; great for fans of Vikings, epics, and monsters. 

Eaters of the Dead on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Devil's Creek

2 stars. I am on a bit of a cult kick currently and this has been on my list for ages - unfortunately, it just didn't hit me right. (It's September and I have been picking them so wrong this year - I need out of this slump ASAP.)

Story kicks off in 1983, when a group of ex-cult members raid the churchyard of their former group to kill the leader, Jacob Masters, and rescue their grandkids. They are successful - most of the cult members die by suicide, Jacob is put down, and the temple is burned. Six of the surviving kids grow up and live lives as best as they can. And that's where the story begins. 

For me, this book is really just 1) too long, 2) repetitive, 3) predictable, and 4) lacking an actual narrative structure, opting instead to serve up an episodic series of similar events that don't actually provide any character depth, emotional insight or fresh/interesting layers to the story. I was practically skimming by the last chapter, falling asleep every few paragraphs and desperate to get to the end. 

It also draws on plenty of recognizable influences but doesn't necessarily freshen them - yes, we all owe so much to SK, there's a reason why he's considered the best of the best - but this felt like it was maybe trying a little too hard to channel that particular brand of horror? And one more thing, though I hesitate to say it: I thought the sexual components of the story were really cartoonish. Check TWs for sure, but I was rolling my eyes by the end. I don't know if I'd call it gratuitous, exactly, and please don't mistake me for being sensitive at all about these things, but I think the author was aiming for something here, and missed. 

This does not mean that Devil's Creek is a bad book, or that it isn't scary, or that it won't appeal to you - or many horror fans. It checks a lot of boxes: small town corrupted, the return of an ancient evil, multiple POVs, body horror, earthy horror, gruesome imagery, high stakes, black goo, people doing extreme things in the name of God, a final showdown between good vs evil. It's full of the tropes we know and love, and some parts were definitely entertaining.

I have no regrets. Just wasn't for me.

Devil’s Creek on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Once Yellow House

4 stars. This is a completely unique, completely compelling take on a cult / true crime tell-all, start to finish. It's weird - very weird - but I couldn't put it down, and the entirety of the story lands with a really weighty, satisfying thunk. The viewfinder here is super, super narrow, but I personally didn't feel anything was missing; it's all very intentional and I got the strong sense that what's included - what we end up reading - is what was meant to be shared. No more, no less.

Written in epistolary format, The Once Yellow House contains a collection of documents pertaining to a fictional massacre that took place in November of 2020 at the site of the Retinue cult occupation. Our primary storyteller is Hope, the wife of the Retinue's deceased leader, Thomas. We get to read her diary entries documenting the formation and destruction of the cult, as well as audio transcripts of her interview with a surviving ex-member. 

There's a lot of horror packed in. Body horror, cosmic horror, domestic horror, religious cult horror, fungal horror... the list goes on. I absolutely loved the way art, art analysis and art history is woven into the story, and the straightforward presentation of fantasy/supernatural elements. This book really goes hardcore in a way that I haven't encountered in awhile... Gemma Amor is REALLY, REALLY, unbelievably talented.

I docked a star because maybe it got a little cute with itself every now and then. But I'm deadly serious: do not sleep on this. It's incredible and cutthroat and refreshing and fierce. I'll be thinking about it for days and weeks and years to come.

The Once Yellow House on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads