Review: Heart-Shaped Box

3 stars. I can see why this is so popular, and considered one of Hill's very best. It's hardcore horror with a lot of flavors: rock and roll, road trips, occult artifacts; along with bigger themes about abuse, justice, punishment, retribution, heaven and hell and all that fun stuff. Jude makes a helluva main character, full of rebellion and rage and a kind of a dark stubbornness that triggers - and resolves - the evil at the center of the story.

An aging rock star, Jude is tempted via the internet to "buy a ghost." He purchases a haunted suit for his collection of occult items, and haunted it turns out to be. As the spirit of his ex's stepfather (lol, it's complicated) makes his life a living hell, Jude is forced to make a journey: into the unknown, into the depths of his own trauma and psyche, into the past. He thrives in the dark, after all.

Technically, this is a wonderful book. It's well-written - better than NOS4A2, I think. I didn't find it to be particularly scary - Craddock is just a teensy-weensy bit too cartoonish for me (the tip of the hat, for ex), but I really, really loved him as a threat. He's a very classic, powerful, ghostly villain and I especially loved his introduction. I also enjoyed the references to heavy metal and the surprisingly unusual exploration of an aging rock star. Jude is adorably cliche and ugly and menacing with a solid core.

It really is a very, very fun story. I'm giving it 3 stars because I would've given it 4 and was forced to dock for not one but two UDDs. In fact, I basically skimmed 4 entire chapters because of it. I know, I know - it's my trigger, my problem. But this sort of thing just doesn't seem creative to me, anymore. It's trope-y and cheap.

I have no regrets. I read a lot of horror and I really respect this one - I call it great. A very hearty, tasty, classic-feeling snack. First read of 2023 down.

Heart-Shaped Box on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Hidden Pictures

3 stars. Hmmmm hahahaha. This kept my attention - I read it in less than 24 hours; I'd definitely describe it as a crisply-written thriller - but it didn't blow me away at all. I'm kind of surprised, actually, about all the hype. 

Mallory Quinn is a young athlete in recovery who takes a job as a babysitter for a seemingly perfect, well-off family to watch their 5-year-old son, Teddy. She settles in and the summer is enjoyable - until Teddy starts presenting her with some mysterious drawings. Drawings that are way too advanced for a 5-year-old, depicting some very dark, mysterious images. Between a psychic neighbor, odd noises, and some strange behavior from Teddy's parents, Mallory begins to realize the genuine danger she faces, and resolves to get to the bottom of things and save Teddy if she can.

Regarding the controversy around the depiction of gender: I am fortunate enough to not be easily-triggered by this sort of thing. If you are sensitive to such issues, avoid. I could give the whole spiel - depiction does not equal endorsement, etc. and agonize over what is harmful and what is not... but there are folks far more informed and articulate than I who can speak on that, and I highly encourage you to seek them out. (I will say the references to Harry Potter made me extremely suspicious.)

So here's what I'd say: read it if you're in the mood for a compelling page turner with supernatural elements and a few twists. I would barely describe it as horror. I would even put a YA label on it - it gave me those vibes more than once. I think it kind of frustrated me that the first chapter was a real banger, and had me totally hooked before things kind of took a few... odd turns. 5-star opening chapter, 3 star book as a whole. I didn't totally find Mallory plausible, nor did I fully believe Ted's ultimate inclinations. Adrian was too good to be true... so yeah. 3 stars. 

Hidden Pictures on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Wakenhyrst

4 stars. Absolutely wonderful! This is a super refreshing piece of horror that takes a ton of familiar and beloved Gothic elements and weaves a beautiful, textured, spooky tapestry. It's sort of three stories in one, with Big Themes such as guilt, oppression, religion, secrets, coming-of-age, patriarchy, and rage. There's a bit of a mystery but this book is definitely more about the journey - the slow build, the creeping dread, the eerie setting, the rising tension - than the answers. I loved it.

A young girl, Maud, lives with her parents in a large manor house in Suffolk. Her mother is constantly with child, and her father is rigid, repressive and strict. After her mother passes, Maud is left lonely and finds comfort in the nature and beauty of the nearby Fens. But something stirs in the reedy green depths... something old but not forgotten, something that will trigger a reckoning, changing the lives of Maud and her father forever.

There's a whole lot wriggling around and among the many layers of this story. It reminded me of O Caledonia a bit. Maud's father seemed a bit cartoonish to me at times, but I think that's because I can't quite grasp that that's sincerely how men treated women back then. It made his comeuppance all the more satisfying. And I really, really loved the character of Maud. As a stubborn grudge-holder myself, I couldn't help but admire the way she sharpened her resentment into the nastiest of blades. I felt for her and rooted for her. 

It may not be the scariest of horror novels, but it's very atmospheric, and it scratched the itch for me. (And I'll admit, I jumped a few times seeing shadows walking the dog at night after reading.) I couldn't put it down, and like I said - refreshing! A very unique tale. It felt well-researched, and I loved the bits about history and art history and the glimpses of the town and the superstitions and folklore. I recommend it.

Wakenhyrst on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: A History of Fear

4 stars. What a fascinating novel! This debut comes with a really, really interesting premise, eerie, atmospheric writing and some genuinely fascinating scary moments. Perfect timing, as I'm heading to Scotland for a few days next month, and also great for spooky season. Very, very excited to see what this author has coming up next.

Presented in an epistolary format, A History of Fear is a collection of documents (interview transcripts, text messages, email chains and a manuscript) pertaining to an infamous murder case in Scotland - the murder of a student by a young man who claims the devil made him do it. Guilt is not at question, but the more we get to dive into the details and background of this case, the more interesting certain aspects become: motive, for example. Social context. Religious context. The roles of family, upbringing, sexuality, etc. 

Throw in a dash of academia and a spoonful of the supernatural and you'll be totally set for all 300+ pages. I personally couldn't put it down - at times because it was so compelling, at other times because I was sort of frustratedly driven to get some answers - but I highly, highly recommend this... as sort of a literary effort that blends true crime and horror and personal history. While the themes may be a bit predictable, or dated, or perhaps I should say unsuited for a story that's supposed to have taken place very recently, it is still a thought-provoking project full of conflict and pain that feels relevant. 

I know some other reviews described this as overwritten, or occasionally cheesy, and yes, it sort of meanders and maybe could have benefitted from stricter editing. Couldn't we all? Sometimes I wondered if that was intentional. Thankfully there was always a crisply unsettling moment to bring my attention back and move things along nicely.

Overall: complex, interesting, and very smart. Will be thinking about this one for a while.

A History of Fear on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Waif

5 stars. I love books like this - stories that are so different, and unexpected, and full of so many twists all you can do is hang on for the ride and let the narrative wash over you without feeling like you have to work out a puzzle or solve an equation to identify the killer (this isn't a murder mystery, but you get the idea). I raced through it - because it really is that refreshing.

Waif opens with a woman, Angela, upset over the state of her toxic marriage. She encounters a man in the grocery store, which sparks... some crazy behavior, by both herself and her husband, which in turn sparks some even crazier events... I'm being intentionally vague; go in blind. By the end you'll have followed Angela into an entirely new life - a new identity, a new sense of self, new priorities - maybe even a new reality entirely.

"Women's wrongs" could potentially be an entire genre of books at this point. I love it. Angie wields her dissatisfaction in extremely disturbing ways, but it doesn't really feel wrong. She's a little bit... delightfully insane. It's a challenging book, and will be unsettling for certain readers - check TWs.  The author doesn't shy away from tackling themes such as body dysmorphia, abuse, control, desire, shame, insecurity, sexuality. That's the tip of the iceberg. I personally can't get over that ending, in a good way - as sharp as it gets. So sharp it hurts.

Read this if you're in the mood for something that is both incredibly horrifying and incredibly thought-provoking. 

Waif on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Howls from the Dark Ages

3 stars. This book is a super disgusting, bloody fun time. It seems to me like Between Two Fires sparked a huge interest in medieval horror - but nothing has lived up to its success since (not surprising, considering it's one of the best books I've ever read). Howls from the Dark Ages makes a valiant attempt. And I kind of want more.

While some of these stories are standouts, there isn't really a bad one in the bunch. Each one was the perfect length for my commute on the train. From a medieval perspective, there's a lot to enjoy: castles, dusty manuscripts, flickering candles, shining armor, bloody swords, heavy crowns. And from a horror perspective, there's something for everyone: creeping dread, extreme revenge, body horror, religious fear and trauma, monsters, creatures, evil in every shape and form - fungi, even. And as with all great horror each story explores how humanity fits into it all - its temptations and capacity to embrace darkness the scariest thing of all.

My favorites included In Thrall to This Good Earth, The Final Book of Sainte Foy's Miracles, A Dowry For Your Hand, and The Fourth Scene. Many of the images from these will stick with me for a while. Putting together an anthology like this must have been a ridiculous challenge: everyone involved deserves applause for including such variety considering the common threads plus the tropes we all know, love, and expect. The central narrator/tour guide was a clever touch and while kind of gimmicky I couldn't help but smile at it. 

I'm not typically a short story girly but I'm learning to enjoy and appreciate their value. I'll be checking out many of these author's additional works and keeping an eye out for more medieval horror to come. Absolutely worth your time, especially during spooky season, if you dare...

Howls from the Dark Ages on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Last Days of Jack Sparks

4 stars. I am thisclose to giving it 5, because I want everyone to read this immediately so we can discuss over a bottle of something... non-alcoholic (all of Jack's drinking turned me off that for a bit lol. There are some vivid hangovers in this puppy.). 

Phew, okay - this might take a few paragraphs for me to work through. As someone who reads (and watches) a healthy amount of horror, I always appreciate a refreshing take on a beloved trope. This is undoubtedly a very unique, unexpected story full of surprises and wild spins on concepts like hauntings, possessions, paranormal investigations, even a bit of found footage. Expect a crazy ride with some captivating twists and turns.

It's an epistolary novel that features a collection of documents (including a manuscript, emails and other forms of correspondence) gathered by the brother of the late Jack Sparks, a sort of shock-jock journalist intent on disproving the existence of the supernatural. The manuscript (which may or may not be authentic) shares Jack's journey into the unknown after he attends an alleged exorcism. 

I certainly picked the wrong week to read about a semi-controversial British comedian-type character, didn't I? It was genuinely difficult to get certain accused famous figures out of my head, which also probably informed my opinion that Jack isn't likeable in any capacity - I disagree with any takes that say Jack is sort of a rugged, charming anti-hero. He's an asshole, end of story. Bex was also kind of a confusing character to me, and I had some trouble keeping track of the other minor characters (I do love a good group of investigators, though.)

But the journey Jack goes on is truly breathtaking. A little reminiscent of Cloud Atlas, or the incredible, affecting Australian mockumentary Lake Mungo, Jack's story hurdles him towards intersections - points of connection of all kinds - in a way that ends up very loopy by the end, and I do mean that in every sense of the word. Pay close attention; even as things start to clear up there are still surprises in store.

As far as the writing goes, I actually found it to be a bit... dense. I practically skimmed quite a bit, trying to cling onto the narrative thread without getting lost. This was probably profoundly stupid of me, as it turns out the little details easily dismissed are super important, but I managed to grasp just enough to be suitably satisfied when things clicked into place. Did they actually though? Click into place? Who knows. That's part of the fun.

(I looked high and low for theories and/or explanations around some of the more ambiguous aspects and couldn't find much. I half expected there to be full Reddit threads dissecting every clue with visual representations like venn diagrams and flowcharts. Maybe I should start one.)

Overall, this is a must-read for horror fans. It's very meta, and there are some wonderfully eerie, spooky sequences and even some darkly funny moments. I've heard it's quite good on audio - maybe that would've felt like a better experience for me! Regardless, I see this becoming a true classic in years to come. Read it before the inevitable adaptation comes out!

The Last Days of Jack Sparks on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: In the House in the Dark of the Woods

3 stars. Not what I was expecting at all, even though I knew to expect something strange and far out there! As best as a summary as I can manage: a woman heads into the forest to pick berries for her family, gets lost, goes missing. She then has a long series of very unusual, enchanting, mysterious, almost magical encounters with those who dwell in the woods and finds herself trapped - or perhaps flings herself willingly - into a cycle where her choices will impact far more than her quest to return home.

1 star for slaying a style of writing I've never really encountered before: not only was it very different and unusual, but it was good and beautiful and refreshing. Not different for the sake of being different. Different because it lent to the setting, the voice, the tone, the narrative itself. It further distinguished the book as its own thing - see below. 

1 star for the setting. I'm such a sucker for Colonial horror, especially with witches and crackling fires and magic herbs and fouled wells and berries with cream and bonnets and religious fervor and the decidedly male determination to conquer what is wild and shouldn't be tamed. Take the movie The Witch, turn it inside out, then tip it sideways and then zoom out - this is the type of story you'll find.

1 star for being completely untethered. I considered docking a star for this, but I've so rarely encountered a story that doesn't really reference, or connect, to anything familiar (and boy oh boy did my brain try - over and over again to grasp at whatever it could) that I can't help but admire it. Aside from the most prival (primeval) tropes, like the evil in the woods, and maybe a few lessons about consequences and making promises, this is truly its own thing.

I think maybe I'll remember this story by its moments - by its individual threads versus the whole tapestry. The blurb uses the word "ingenious" and I don't think that's wrong... but it's maybe a little too ingenious, for me. Reminds me of something almost academic. But I truly respect it. And I would like to read more by this author. I might even re-read this one, if I feel like a rabbit hole again.

In the House of the Dark of the Woods on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Sallow Bend

3 stars. Not bad at all, and truly a whole lot of fun! I love a good carnival. Highly recommend this for spooky season or if you're in the mood for a good, adventurous small-town ghost story. It follows several members of the town of Sallow Bend, to which the carnival has just arrived, as they deal with the disappearance of two girls followed by a series of super unfortunate, tragic, mysterious deaths. Between the local law enforcement, the carnival workers, the school's awkward janitor and the mother of a previous victim, the town rallies as best as they can against what quickly becomes clear is a supernatural threat.

The book is full of shining horror moments. Between the carnival, a spooky old cabin, and the villain's ability to glamour the whole town, there's a lot to be found that will satisfy a horror reader. Ultimately, though, it isn't that scary. The multiple POV format doesn't exactly lend itself to anything other than repetitive conversations, and also unspools some narratives that never get resolved. (Look to Stephen King for successful examples of going deep and wide.) The carnival aspect is appreciated and creates a kind of trope-y nostalgia, but there was just something... missing.

Maybe I wanted more answers, or more of Hester's story, or maybe the ending wrapped things up a little too neatly. I can't quite put my finger on it. But hey, as I mention often in my reviews/responses: I've never written a book, and it seems quite difficult to do. I won't not recommend this because the vibes alone are pretty awesome. I'm excited to read more from this author! And it kept me very entertained on the train.

Sallow Bend on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: A Lush and Seething Hell

5 stars. See, there's 5 stars, and then there's... 5 stars. A rating that makes you question every 5-star read before it, because none of them could’ve possible been this good. This book is definitely everything I look for in horror and more. It's a top contender for a Kelly Choice Award and I've already recommended it to friends and family. It's great on multiple levels: premise, writing style, imagery, characterization, themes, and narrative. It is full of disturbing moments and creative scares; it weaves mystery, folklore, culture, and history into two stunning and vibrant and distinct-but-similar sibling stories. 

Let's get into it.

The Sea Dreams it is the Sky

"You do not know what I’ve been through,” he said. “And I do not know what you’ve suffered. There is a beyond to every woman and man. There is a beneath. There will always be misery in the world."

I suppose this story starts with a violent political coup in a fictional South American country. A young woman, who escapes the chaos and lands in another country, encounters another refugee of sorts: a much older, once-infamous poet. They strike up a kinship, perhaps out of shared trauma, and eventually he asks her to watch his apartment so he can return home for not entirely obvious reasons. She discovers many treasurers there, including a dark and mysterious manuscript that references the poet's extremely dark past and uncertain future.

I found this novella to be absolutely beautiful, brilliant, mind-blowing... even a little sexy. It's rare for me to want to highlight, or write down quotes, and I was fighting that urge every few pages. Isabel is wonderfully formidable and... prickly. I liked that about her. The story needed that. And her relationship with The Eye clicked. His characterization was a little less unusual, but very compelling. I rooted for them both.

But, of course, this is horror. Cosmic horror no less. And there's a delicious antagonist and a slippery - but terrifying - central conflict. Some of the details (the original text's title being translated to A Little Night Work, for example; and the content itself - known to the reader by vague reference only) were downright brilliant. BRILLIANT. The little motifs and recurrences - feed the cat, for your protection - I had fun with this. I had FUN with this. It reminded me of when I first encountered Stephen Graham Jones. 

My Heart Struck Sorrow

"A piece of music draws you on, leading you places you’ve never been. You’d never think of journeying to."

This story follows a Library of Congress employee, returning to work after the tragic and untimely deaths of his wife and son. He and his colleague travel to the house of a recently-deceased ancestor of a pivotal figure in folklore preservation, who spent time in the 30s traveling the South and recording folk music for the Library. They find a stash of old records, his field journal, and much more than they bargained for. 

This should've been my favorite based on the premise alone (I have a thing for musical horror), but it didn't impress me as much as TSDIITS. But there's so much to enjoy here, too. I have so many questions, which I'm sure is partly the point. It's like I want more, but also it could've been a little shorter. It's another frame narrative, with a story within the story, and there are a surprising amount of penises. That isn't a complaint, exactly (I'm a little tired of female breasts), but a couple times I was like ... is that necessary? Just consider yourself warned.

It's very clear that Jacobs did his research (for both of these) and that absolutely lends itself to the writing. I live in Alexandria, and I'm deeply familiar with the LOC, and he kind of nailed both (the part where he ruminates on justifying his existence for grant money... I felt that lol). I'd love to hear some theories about what the heck happened at the end, though. Maybe some brave soul will do a little rendition of Stagger Lee? I'd be into it. 

...

Both of these stories explore potent, relevant, real-world themes: racism, war, absolute power, cultural and political trauma, America's failures (American as failure), corruption, oppression, guilt, punishment, justice or lack thereof, and the darkness found in humanity. There's a lot to think about. Some of it - especially in MHSS - made me uncomfortable. Jacobs checks himself through Hattie's character, but those moments felt a little contrived, or try-hard, like a last-minute safety net. 

Anyway. As with all horror, not for everyone. But yes, yes, a thousand times yes for me. I haven't really read anything like it, and now I'm really hooked on this vibe. Look out for a re-read, because I won't be able to stay away.

A Lush and Seething Hell on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads