Review: Maggie's Grave

5 stars. Two Maggies in a row for me, having just finished No One Gets Out Alive, and this one was way too much fun. I've discovered a new favorite author! I can't believe Maggie's Grave combines so many of my favorite tropes into something so fresh and unique. I want more! I wish it was longer! I want everyone to read it so we can discuss the creative kills! 

Three hundred years ago, a group of puritanical Scottish townsfolk executed a falsely-accused witch named Maggie Wall and sacrificed her baby. And now, she's back. The town has shrunk to almost nothing, but she's determined to destroy, rampage and kill every one of her murderers' descendants until she finds what was taken from her so many years ago. But she's not the only threat looming over the little corner of Scotland.

Truly, this was so good. Dark, funny, and a little strange. Maggie Wall is a perfectly rendered monster and the kills are absolutely INSANE!! It was maybe a little predictable (though I did not see that final twist coming), but I didn't mind at all - I was enjoying myself. It all felt very cozy and familiar, in a good way. This should get adapted! Or turned into an anthology episode or something. 

Read this if you're looking for: crisp, easy writing, fast-paced action sequences, small towns, folklore, brutal kills, satisfying revenge, randomly amazing descriptions of beer, a few surprisingly sweet moments, disturbing imagery (TW: naked old people - think sagging butts and flopping penises) and a killer ending. Perfect for Halloween season. Team Maggie! 

Maggie’s Grave on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: No One Gets Out Alive

4 stars. What the in the batshit whackadoodle ever loving fuck did I just read?! Like, what room did I just walk out of, dazed and blinking and disturbed and relieved and kind of annoyed? I felt in over my head with this one, but boy was it a crazy ride. Very excited for it to haunt me when I least expect it. I'll say upfront: I do suggest checking out TWs! Also, I've watched the adaptation and while it's very different, it's very, very enjoyable! Highly recommend!

The story follows Stephanie, a young woman who flees her mentally ill stepmother, landing in the city with very little money and no job prospects in a dreadful economy. Essentially homeless, she takes a room at a dirty boarding house with a flaky landlord, determined to make it work. Her first night in the house, though, is far from peaceful. Creepy voices and strange noises emanate from the floors and walls, and the temperature fluctuates beyond explanation. Stephanie's circumstances grow more and more desperate as she has to decide: stay in a haunted house, or leave with nothing?

When I say that's just the beginning, you should believe it. That's like the first quarter of the book. Things take a huge turn halfway through, and get even crazier before finding an odd but acceptable resolution. I didn't mind the length so much - the journey made me really invested and interested in Stephanie's fate - but the writing itself could've used some editing. There is a lot - A LOT - of time spent in her head as her anxiety spirals. There are a lot - a LOT - of words dedicated to her questioning everything from every angle, examining every option, analyzing every possibility. I'm not saying this wouldn't happen (and I guess it does sort of escalate the tension as you yell at her to run), but I'm saying it got a little repetitive. 

I'm also not entirely sure if the plot maybe was a little bit meandering? Especially in the second half. Nevill does such a terrific job writing moments - he truly has a dark gift for crafting dreadfully descriptive and horrifying episodes - but sometimes his story felt like a vehicle for the moments, not the other way around. Which isn't exactly a complaint (especially talking about horror - it's all about the scary moments), I'm just genuinely trying to sort through why I felt like the narrative lacked a bit. Or felt a little random at times.

Stephanie is a fierce heroine, though, and I never for one second dreamed of abandoning her. And Nevill also skillfully introduces us to one of the most creative, abhorrent villains of all time in Knacker. Knacker manages to offend every single one of the five senses. It's brilliant characterization - cartoonish but in a good way. I squirmed every time I encountered him on a page, which was surely the goal.

I'm glad I committed to this. It's horror in the truest sense of the word and I think it'll be considered a classic soon if not already. I can’t wait to continue my journey with Adam Nevill!

No One Gets Out Alive on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Wylding Hall

3 stars. This was a fantastic way to spend 2 hours. It's been on my list forever and ever and ever - it's always recommended on Reddit and on lists of popular folk horror books - and I'm glad I finally read it, even if it wasn't a stellar knock out of the park for me. 

It's about the members of a British folk band in the 70s who are forced by their manager to spend the summer on an isolated old estate in the rural countryside. They write some songs, and make some interesting recordings, but their lead singer/guitarist Julian starts to pull away, and appears to be at the center of some strange experiences at the Hall. Told in interview format as the remaining members of the band recall the events of that summer, the book oozes hippie acid vibes with a folk horror twist. 

I think I would've enjoyed it more had it not reminded me so much of Daisy Jones and also had I not loved the Six Stories series so much. The Six Stories books are super crunchy, scary stories in interview format but they aren't exactly subtle, so I think I was expecting a bit more directness and a few more answers. A comp might be more along the lines of Picnic at Hanging Rock maybe (which I did absolutely love).

So: what am I missing? Is it possible this taps into some British folklore or fairy tales I'm unaware of and therefore can't catch the references? The wren stuff was confusing to me and... clearly there was something going on with time, and barrows, and different realms... I don't mind ambiguity at all, but I just couldn't quite grasp onto enough here. Which is probably the point! I just typically want more answers.

I highly recommend reading this for the writing, the moments, and the vibes. 

Wylding Hall on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Stolen Tongues

5 stars. I had a tricky job picking a rating for this book, because of one thing: it scared me. We'll get into it, but I've decided based on some valuable advice to adopt a new rule for my rating process. I already have one, and that is to automatically dock a star for a UDD - an Unnecessary Dog Death. My new rule, to be employed immediately, is to automatically add a star if a book actually spooks me. It's a very rare and very special event (lol that sounds so dramatic), when a book scares me, and I think it deserves recognition. 

Stolen Tongues is about a young couple, Felix and Faye, who are offered a cabin stay in the Rockies by her parents as an engagement gift. Things almost immediately start to go wrong, though, when they hear voices from outside - voices they recognize. Faye, who has always had sleep issues, starts to change and exhibit strange behavior. They leave, but it's not that easy - whoever, or whatever, terrorized them at the cabin follows them home. 

There's something truly amazing and odd about books that started as creepypastas. I've read two now - that I know of - that came from Reddit, and in both I was immediately struck by how strange the writing style seems. It's so informal, and amateur-sounding, kind of jarring, in a way that always makes me think like... is this bad? Is this right? But I should not be the dictating voice on what writing should be. It was just noticeable. And then, like, the very thing I sort of recoiled from actually made the book itself that much more effective, even scary? The cheesy dialogue became… endearing? The nonsensical, random plot points didn’t bother me? Life is full of surprises.

Don't get me wrong - this book isn't perfect. It would've earned a solid 4 stars except for the fact that I had to keep the light on after reading it. I really didn't like the character of Faye, and how useless she was. Recognizing she's the victim, and living through a terrible trauma, I would've related to her more had she acted more motivated to... fix the damn problem. And it's a pet peeve of mine when authors throw in exposition to explain a scary moment, versus the other way around? Like "this person had a nightmare." Opening of the next chapter: "this person started having nightmares at age 3." 

I also found the "twist" at the end, particularly related to the number 5, and the conclusion itself to be a little anticlimactic. Ultimately, too, maybe this book is a little long - there are a couple of sequences that are just strings of moments with no forward momentum. A little too repetitive. But OMG OMG OMG - it was so great. Don't listen to my nitpicking and criticizing - this is a must-read for horror fans. This is the type of book I want everyone to read so I can talk about it! Blackwell has an incredible talent for DESCRIBING MOMENTS. He is clearly a VERY thoughtful author, knows how to make you care, knows how to make you scared. I am so excited to read more of his work.

Stolen Tongues on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Episode Thirteen

3 stars. Aw man, I wanted to love this so much! As a bona fide found footage aficionado, this should've been a home run. But... I hate to say it... there's a reason why found footage is found footage, and epistolary novels don't necessarily try so hard to lean in that direction. I admire the attempt, and maybe it's more successful in audio, but this kind of at times felt like it just wanted to be a screenplay. If that won't bother you, go for it! 

It features the collected journal entries, interviews, raw footage transcripts and correspondence of the paranormal investigation team behind the fictional show Fade to Black: Matt, the leader, his wife and scientist (and Virginia Tech grad! Go hokies!) Claire, cameraman Jake, ex-police officer Kevin, and wannabe actress Jessica. Together they attempt to investigate historic Foundation House for the thirteenth episode, and season finale, of their show. With the future on the line, their reputations at stake, will the secrets of the house... bring them together... or tear them apart...? *fade to black*

I will say, I couldn't put this down. The short chapters propel things along quite well, and I really appreciated that it doesn't drag on and on and on. The fact that the house had already been investigated added an interesting mystery twist, and I loved the random incorporation of 60s/70s hippie culture. Honestly? That shit IS extremely creepy, now, looking back on it lol. I also enjoyed how each character had his or her own brush with the paranormal, and how each incident came back to (ahem) haunt them in the end.

And yet the characters were so, so, so incredibly flat. I didn't buy Matt and Claire's marriage for a second, and any attempt to color in the lines seemed really cheap and amateur. I think it must be truly so challenging to write distinct character voices in any book, especially one with multiple POVs in this format, but everyone basically sounded the same with a few tweaks here and there. It was just a little... lame.

Here's what I'd say: if you want sort of a popcorn, Blockbuster mash-up of House of Leaves, Annihilation, Grave Encounters, and maybe The Themis Files, you'll enjoy this book. Fair enough? I'll probably read this author again! I want more books that try something like this.

Anyway, go hokies.

Episode Thirteen on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Nettle & Bone

3 stars. I was not prepared for this! I have no idea why, but I was expecting something entirely different. I was expecting dark horror fantasy, not Diana Wynne Jones! I was so caught off guard I had no idea what to make of this for the first 25%. It's my first T. Kingfisher, surprisingly, and it definitely won't be my last. But yeah, sometimes going in blind is the move, and sometimes it actually isn't.

Nettle & Bone is about a princess, Marra, whose older sisters are married off by their mother the queen to the prince of a neighboring country as part of a political strategy to prevent war. The prince, shockingly, turns out to be abusive and cruel, and Marra, who has been sent to live with nuns at a convent, becomes determined to kill him, save her remaining sister, and save her own future in the process. To do this she must perform several impossible tasks, recruit a dust-wife, an ex-knight/prisoner and a fairy godmother. The odd crew then marches toward the city and an almost-certain death.

Couple of things I loved: the setting. The magic system. The sheer creativity and unexpectedness of each episodic obstacle - the tooth-merchant, the thief wheel, the innkeeper's cursed puppet - that made the story feel like a fairy tale. The hen with the demon in her. The sense of old wisdom baked into the narrative.

Couple of things I didn't love: the beginning which then rewound to the actual beginning. The prince - he made a very... boring antagonist, didn't he? Mostly off-page, and very basic? The bone dog's journey (I know what happens eventually but was it worth the pain?). The romance. And Marra herself. Her naivete was just way too damn much for me. 

So that lands us at a solid 3 stars. It is without a doubt a quick, fun read. I recommend it. I just wasn’t prepared or sitting right or in the mood or something. It is what it is!

Nettle & Bone on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Winterset Hollow

4 stars. To quote myself in the theater immediately after seeing Mother!: I think that was a metaphor for something. 

It was great - unusual, entertaining, funny and dark - but we have a lot to unpack.

Eamon and his two best friends, Mark and Caroline, decide to go on a day trip to visit their favorite author's old home: Addington Island. Its one-time inhabitant was inspired to write a popular book about animals having a feast on the island, and the story spoke to each of them in different, special ways. But after an apparently harmless afternoon of exploring, they realize that there's more to the island - and the story - than it seems.

Let's talk about the very, very good: the premise, and the depiction of the animals. They were perfectly characterized and I could feel them jump out from the pages of my beloved classics. I loved the twist and the intense chase/fight scenes. I truly was unsure how it would all end, and the bones of it were plotted nicely.

Let's talk about the maybe not as good: the author's writing style. It's pretty purple, pretty flowery, and while that results in some truly beautiful passages, it also results in what feels like... overwriting, or a distraction from the tension. There is also, as others have mentioned, a lot of head-hopping, which definitely tripped me up.

But back to the metaphor: I've seen conflicting reports on how successful or sensitive this author has been in representing the tragedy of colonization. I'm in no position to praise or complain. I would simply contribute that I thought this book asked really important questions, and threw out some fascinating answers.

Okay. We all know that I am pretty triggered by animal deaths and I will dock a star for a UDD. In this case I kind of sort of knew what I was getting into, and I'm not going to dock a star because every death in this story I would categorize as necessary. I absolutely, 100% got emotional - but in a good way, if that makes sense? These deaths were beautifully gorgeous and heartbreaking.

Would I have loved a happy ending for everyone? A return to the Hollow? Eamon as the island's caretaker? A celebratory, peaceful feast? Of course. I hoped. But this is basically a slasher horror/dark fantasy. This story gathered familiar aspects of our reading pasts and proceeded to chop them into little pieces. The animals grew up, suffered darkness, and learned to wield it themselves.

An amazing, incredible, savage debut.

Winterset Hollow on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Watchers

3 stars. Hmmmmmm. Loved the premise, enjoyed the spooky thrills, but I have to say I'm disappointed! What could've felt like a literary/folklore-inspired episode of The Twilight Zone instead kind of plodded along - I skimmed almost the entire second half. With complete respect for the set-up, the twist, and the incredible monsters, this story would've really benefited from being shaved down. Way down.

After promising to complete a ridiculous errand for a drunk friend, Mina is driving through an isolated part of Ireland when her car breaks down. She ventures into the woods, only to be trapped there in a terrifyingly constructed bunker with three other trapped travelers. When the sun goes down, the watchers come out, and only through desperation strict rules can the group hope to survive.

I can't not mention the bird. Couldn't care less about the human characters, but one of the reasons I started skimming was to avoid being triggered by an unnecessary animal death. Like a few other details, though, the bird actually did seem a bit useless from a narrative perspective, other than to increase the heart rates of readers like me. Which is... cheap.

I loved the twist, but the ending was very meh. I could sort of see where things were going and the final line didn't quite reach the mic drop level of epicness it was clearly trying very, very hard to achieve. Still, this wasn't a bad time. I don't regret reading it. Fans of Irish folklore will love it. I bet an adaptation could take things up a notch! 

The Watchers on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Haunted: Purgatory (Haunted #3)

3 stars. This book really stuck the landing... kind of reminded me of a Kool-Aid Man moment. I have to admit I skimmed through some parts - there's a fuckton of talking in this one - but it was all worth it in the end, and I'll definitely continue with the series. 

Picking up where the first book left off, Sarah decides to hire David and his team to conduct an investigation, which would hopefully result in obtaining an exorcism from the church and freeing the soul of her sister. Unfortunately, the house has its own devious agenda and thwarts their progress at almost every turn. Can Sarah get the evidence she needs to help her sister find peace? Can David grapple with his own history with the house? Can his team stay safe? The stakes are apocalyptic, people! 

Back to the talking: I really, really admire this author's ability to write crunchy, concise prose that feels effortless to read from a word-choice perspective. But this book really suffered from poor pacing, and, as mentioned, talking. It's not just dialogue - it's conversations designed to catch characters up to what the reader already knows; it's conversations where characters talk in circles only to land on an inevitable conclusion; it's conversations full of "but what if this?" answered with "then this" and so on and so forth. 

(Every now and then I feel like I have to throw out a disclaimer - I've never written a book, and it seems ridiculously hard. Just noting something that pulled me out of an otherwise immersive, fun, scary experience.)

Otherwise, these books are like popcorn - addicting! I always want one more handful. 

Purgatory on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Willows

5 stars. I found this terrifying. Everything about it: its familiar premise, the fresh path it carves, its tidy, concise plot, its words and sentences and sequences, its ending... it really spooked me. I would have loved to study this in a class and dissect it until I know what makes it tick, or until I discover that it bloomed from the magic of right time, right place, right idea, right author. The word that comes to mind is masterpiece.

It's a simple predicament: our unnamed narrator and his Swedish companion, after having traveled many miles via canoe on the Danube, stop for the night on an isolated island absent of life except for many crowded willows. They set up camp, gather some driftwood and settle in for the night. Soon it becomes clear, quite predictably, that something isn't quite right with the island - the river is rising, the wind is deafening, the willow branches sway, and something else... something otherworldly... doesn't want them to leave. 

It does sound a bit cheesy. In fact I think I went into this expecting cheesy. Or maybe I was expecting cliches. It's so much more than that. "There was a suggestion here of personal agency, of deliberate intention, of aggressive hostility, and it terrified me into a sort of rigidity." I was not ready for the crazy cosmic twists and turns this story takes - and yes, I know some folks argue that it isn't horror, it's weird, but often I find weird horrifying, so I'll say it's both. It's deeply unsettling, disturbing, creative in a way I haven't encountered before. It's very, very obvious that the author maybe... wanted to believe, or wanted to be open, or was sort of... daydreaming up the situation as though fantasizing. It almost felt personal. Which gives it that extra disturbing edge.

I find it really fascinating that packed into this short story is so much psychological self-analysis. The narrator is telling us the story from the future, recalling a memory, and he details almost every twist or shift of emotion he experiences, sometimes in the length of a second or a moment. From awe to disbelief to dread to confusion to "curious excitement" to mistrust to fear to deep, existential terror - we are along for every step of the ride. "Yet what I felt of dread was no ordinary ghostly fear. It was infinitely greater, stranger, and seemed to arise from some dim ancestral sense of terror more profoundly disturbing than anything I had known or dreamed of."

What I also admire is that, for all the atmospheric detail included, there's very little context about the characters. They are virtually without identity. We're told again and again to include context around characters - especially in horror - so the emotional stakes feel high. This proves that technique less required. The author peppered in just enough clues, but really it's his insane adeptness at writing terror that makes it irrelevant.

That ending!

The Willows on: Amazon | Goodreads | Bookshop.org