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: The Wager

4 stars. Like so many others, I love David Grann's writing style and consider him a must-read author. I was so excited to snag this from the library and will probably buy it as gifts for others in my life. It is without a doubt a masterful, beautifully-written, well-researched narrative that is truly stranger than fiction. And not for the faint of heart, either. Anyone sensitive to animal harm: check TWs. I did not, and ended up crying on the train and then in the bar after.

In the early 1740s, a squadron of ships, in an effort to gain advantage over their rival/enemy-in-conflict Spain, set out from Britain with the goal of capturing a Spanish ship full of treasure. Their route: hazardous. Their group: literally forced into it by press gangs. The conditions: filthy. Their supplies: unfortunately lacking citrus. One horrible thing leads to another and one of the ships, the Wager, gets separated from the group and wrecks off the coast of Patagonia. And that is basically only the beginning.

As someone who is fully fascinated by the dark side of life - true crime, natural and unnatural disasters, cults, creepy stuff, unsolved mysteries - I shouldn't have been bothered by this. I mean, one of the earliest internet rabbit holes I ever climbed down was Jack the Ripper. The Terror is one of my favorite books of all time. I suppose it's partly a testament to David Grann's writing, and maybe also the extreme grittiness of this particular story, but I honestly had to read it sort of... through my fingers. I was really bothered by the... why of it all. 

And more existentially, the why of any of it. Existing is hard enough, why do we, historically, consistently, universally, distinctively, make it harder for ourselves? Why do we insist on pushing outward and inward and upward in damaging ways? I guess it's in our nature, a concept that becomes less and less easy to accept as this story unravels. It knocked at my brain after every brutal twist: none of this had to happen.

Grann's answer to this is imperialism. I've read in other reviews that his use of the Empire to frame the story this way is sloppy, lousy, lame, ill-fitting or simply incorrect. I disagree. The Empire's obsession with dominance is the reason why the men were on this voyage in the first place. It contributed to and informed their actions and decision-making - even at the most desperate times, even facing death. It is an irrefutable context and yes, he sort of bops you round the head with it more than once, but he couldn't have told the story without it. 

Anyhoo, I couldn't put this down. The short chapters - and the constant twists and turns - kept me turning pages and as philosophically harrowing as it was (which is surely kind of the point), I highly recommend it. This is storytelling at its finest. 

The Wager 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: Presumed Innocent

3 stars. I once heard - ages ago - that this book was the epitome of a page turner, extremely suspenseful and one of the best legal thrillers out there. It isn't my usual genre, but I think it's healthy to branch out every now and then and truthfully, I never mind a good courtroom drama. This book definitely delivers the drama.

We are pulled almost instantly into the local politics of Kindle County, as Rusty Sabich, chief deputy prosecutor, attends the funeral of one of his colleagues, who was brutally murdered, and also at one time was the subject of an intense obsession. His motivation to solve the case is complicated by the lingering traces of their affair, an upcoming election, and political corruption that goes deeper and wider than he ever considered. 

I went in fairly blind, but I joked about wondering if and how it would pass the Bechdel test (it didn't. The only female characters were the victim - busty, blonde, perfume-y, loved anal sex - and the perpetrator, who was portrayed as your typical entitled shrew.). I was surprised though at how outdated, in almost every way, it felt. Ready yourself for misogyny, racism, classism, homophobia, and everything else that seeped through society in the late 80's - and in some ways, still does.

On the other hand, believe it or not, I have zero complaints about the writing style. Everything else aside, this dry, crunchy prose zips along and I think I'll miss it when I inevitably move back to purple fantasy or cosmic horror. It takes real skill to nail a story like this from the big picture narrative down to the word choice, and I think I understand what the hype is about. Just trying to be fair.

There was definitely a point in which I was kind of like, oh, this is going to be that type of book, is it? I certainly rolled my eyes more than once (like when he was turned on by the coroner's photographs LOL). But - I liked it. I was very captivated. I admire the author's knowledge, abilities and style. It's clearly a classic and I firmly believe that we shouldn't stay away from things - or, ahem, modify them - simply because they're outdated. 

Presumed Innocent 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: The Pale Blue Eye

5 stars. WOW WOW WOW. Believe it or not, this was a re-read. I specifically remember pulling it off the shelf at the library when I must have been - oh, maybe 15 (?!). I was a huge fan of mysteries and of Poe, already reading way above YA-level, so I must've been interested, until I apparently read it, immediately forgot all of it, and then randomly rated it 2 stars on GR years later. A bit ironic, considering I'd now call it unforgettable.

In the early days of West Point Academy, when even the existence of America's military fluctuates based on politics and opinion, a tragedy has occurred: the death of a cadet. Retired constable Gus Landor is pulled away from his isolated farm to investigate the horrific mutilation of the body, and must enlist the services of a cadet - a young poet named Edgar Allen Poe - for assistance. With few leads and many suspects, the two forge a strong friendship despite, or because of, the strange darkness of the crimes they seek to solve.

This is a deeply engrossing, atmospheric, Gothic-adjacent piece of historical fiction. I was immediately charmed by its tone of voice - both tones of voice - and the wry humor threading its way through the suspense and intrigue. It was easy going, because I was very interested, but it also had me flexing some muscles I gained as an English Lit major I haven't used in a long time. Speaking of which, this book should absolutely be studied.

I should mention that my opinion of this around the 75% mark was different. I thought everything was a bit too obvious, the villain too predictable, the second half draggy, and that our detective didn't even do that much, well, detecting. But I shouldn't have doubted: the storyteller lands the plane with an incredibly satisfying, thrilling, thump to the ground. I am a little bit in awe.

Is it perfect? Of course not. Every now and then I found myself laughing, unsure if I was laughing with the author or at him. That wry humor could've easily veered into an obnoxious pretentiousness - Bayard is obviously incredibly talented, and knows it. And yes, I think maybe the twist will piss off some readers, if they make it there. Cartoonish? It's something. But I, going on gut alone, think Poe would have approved. Does it all make sense? Does it track perfectly? Does it matter?

I would've liked to spend more time with Landor and Poe. They felt like family, by the end... forgivable of their flaws, perhaps even honorable because of them. But there couldn't, or shouldn't, be a second team-up, it would be impossible and cheaply composed and contrary to the corner of this story that is tragic. Another re-read, then, in the future, when I've again forgotten the twists and turns - or maybe when I haven't, and can read it with a sneakier eye. 

The Pale Blue Eye 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