Review: The Lesser Dead

5 stars. By far one of the most refreshing vampire books I’ve ever read. Horrific and bloody but full of style and flair - maybe even a touch of whimsy. This is my third Buehlman and it’s fair to say all of his books are totally and delightfully distinct. His take on vampires, though, is exactly as fresh and scary as you’d expect from a genius.

The Lesser Dead is a dark character study of Joey Hiram Peacock, a vampire who was turned at 14 in the 1930s. Now living in NYC in the 70s, he’s found a sort of group - coven - who live and hunt together out of Subway tunnels. They are strong as a unit, helping and protecting each other from discovery. Until they encounter something stronger.

It did take me longer than normal to get through this, as it is more of a character study than an active narrative - until the action starts, which it does, brutally. Not for the faint of heart. It sort of sneaks up on you… Joey’s voice is charming, and kind of warm, a bit rogue and forgivably superficial. Cute. And the other vampires in his found family - the world building is super amazing, as is the lore, but the characters bring it all together. I would love more from this dark universe!

And then that ending. Holy fuckaroni, I did not see that shit coming. The whole point of the entire book may have been that gut punch of a twist, but I don’t even care. Beautifully done, really chilling, almost playful. Tempted to do a re-read now that I know what I know. There's a lot more brilliance here than I even realized.

Imagine vampires being scary again, like truly not sexy or sparkly at all. Monsters. It’s like that, and you’ll love it.

The Lesser Dead on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: We Used to Live Here

5 stars. Wow - 10/10 reading experience. Did not expect to end up down a whole ass rabbit hole, but I’m so happy to be here. I got this book at the library but I will ask Santa for a hard copy because I am dying to re-read with a pen and highlighter!! Perfect? Of course not! But wow - creepy, mind-bending, eerie, haunting, unsettling, confusing in the best way.

It’s best to go in blind, but the basics: Eve and her girlfriend Charlie buy an isolated old house intending to fix it up. One night a family shows up, led by a man who claims to have grown up there. Eve lets them in to look around, against her better judgment, and… things get weird, and strange, very fast.

The comparisons to House of Leaves are inevitable. Love it or hate it, this book does take you down some similar paths. Many other reviewers have noted that you won’t get all the answers, which might be frustrating to some readers. I’ve seen it called pretentious, gimmicky, too conceptual, tricky… I don’t know, I loved it even if it is all of those things. The loose ends / ambiguous ending didn’t bother me at all - it’s certainly a choice and one I respect a lot!

If I had any little quibbles, I’d say that Eve’s character needed a lot of set-up to justify the narrative. Her quirks and anxieties drove me nuts (and I noticed a lot of mid-book exposition, which seems common in nosleep stories for some reason). But then again, if she hadn’t been such a people-pleasing dumbass, would the story have taken the turns it needed to for the thrills? My annoyance abated super quickly as events unfolded.

I highly, highly recommend this book for horror fans. Embrace the chaos. Jump down the rabbit hole. Read all the theories and Reddit posts and translate the clues. Life with a newborn is fucking ridiculously challenging, and this provided a very suitable and vivid distraction. I don’t think I’ll ever forget reading chapters on my phone in the dark during night feedings, not minding the misery of sleep deprivation with such a captivating book to read.

I WANT MORE!!! GIVE ME MORE!!! AND, I didn’t have to dock a star for a UDD!!

We Used to Live Here on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Books of Blood: Volumes 1-3

5 stars. As expected, this was excellent. Foundational. Really fun, and funny, and full of writing that is original and captivating. It’s like a box of wonders - each story is distinctively Barker but totally unique. I didn’t expect to close it feeling like I’d read the mothertext for so many horror stories that have come along since. The influence of this one is strong!!

Leaning towards dark fantasy at times, and with what now feels like classic eighties flair, Volume 1 explores themes of death, desire, sin, darkness, art, and more. “The Book of Blood” (admittedly not my fave) sets us up nicely, followed by:

• “The Midnight Meat Train” (a more New Yorkish horror story does not exist)

• “The Yattering and Jack” (superb, satisfying)

• “Pig Blood Blues” (dark, surprising, scary)

• “Sex, Death and Starshine” (cutting but very warm)

• “In the Hills, the Cities” (famous for a reason - the hype is real, very strange but mind blowing)

I’ve only read the Abarat books by Clive Barker, but I’ve been obsessed with them my whole life, so I guess it makes sense this would click with me. But it clicks with a lot of readers, and if you enjoy horror that drives a sense of gleeful fun alongside the scares, it will click with you too. Barker definitely has his… kinks, for lack of a better word (actually that might be the perfect word for it), but they come across beautifully here. There’s some really lovely writing, for a book so brutal and gory and disturbing.

From saviors to “villains” to every unfathomable creature in between that tries to deal with things like betrayal, true nature, injustice, evil, death itself, there really is only one path: madness. I really enjoyed this journey and can’t wait to continue it in the next book of volumes.

Books of Blood: Volumes 1-3 on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Dead House

5 stars. Wrestled with the rating for this one, because I think it should maybe really only be 4, but I did establish that a book will get an extra star automatically if it scares me or creeps me out. Also, I was reading this (literally) when I went into labor and had a whole baby, so I think The Dead House will always have a special place in my heart. 

Mike is an established artist’s agent living in the hustle and bustle of London when he encounters the art of young Maggie Turner. Talented and somewhat troubled, Maggie and Mike form a close friendship and he helps her escape an abusive situation; she lands in an isolated old cottage in Ireland. When he visits her, he sees why the change of pace is healthy: the Irish countryside is beautiful and inspiring as the cottage is quaint. Like everywhere, though, the area is absolutely soaked in bad history, and when an ouija board is broken out, someone - or something - really malevolent emerges.

I was fond of this immediately because it utilizes one of my favorite tropes: the ghost story being told as a story after the fact. In this way plus a few others did The Dead House remind me of two bangers: The Fisherman and The Woman in Black. I also find Irish horror specifically - and this as an excellent example - to be really folkloric and beautiful and punctuated by moments of dark brutality. 

Not everyone will find it so satisfying. This is a quieter piece of horror that is a bit light on scares. The author - or the narrator, I can’t tell because it’s my first of his that I’ve read - is quite wordy, and at many points I wondered if leaving in all the extra exposition was intentional or meant to be quirky or lend an extra layer of realism to the narrative. At the end of the day I didn’t mind it. And yes, reading this late at night / early in the morning in the darkness of the nursery during feedings did manage to spook me - the séance scene is super well-done. So, extra star.

I’m really glad I took a chance on this one. It was really interesting to explore how horror reflects Irish culture and generational trauma and the power of the landscape. And to my newborn: happy birthday and welcome to the world, where there are so many wonderful books out there waiting to entertain you, believe it or not, more than my boobs ever will.

I insist you read this on a cabin trip, by the fire, during a thunderstorm or a snowstorm or under a blanket, with a glass of whiskey and somewhere to tuck your toes.

The Dead House on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lector #2)

5 stars. Oh my gahh this was so good. Something about Thomas Harris' writing - it's so crunchy and attention-grabbing and attention-keeping, which is a huge deal in this day and age. Just like with the first one, all I wanted to do was sink into this disturbing world and immerse myself in the dark chase. I get the hype, I really do. I could not put this down.

The FBI is hunting for a new serial killer in this one, dubbed Buffalo Bill by the scrutinizing media. Jack Crawford, dealing with a devastating situation in his personal life, taps Quantico trainee Clarice Starling to interview Hannibal Lecter for his criminal and psychiatric insights. This sounds so cheesy, but a truly thrilling investigation follows, and Clarice and Hannibal get to know one another. There are all the iconic elements we've come to recognize: moths, skin suits, lambs. You know it by now. 

This Clarice is indeed a bit different from Jodie's, but I really loved her. The problematic aspects (of which there are so many) are somewhat balanced by Harris' depiction of Starling's experiences in the field. Her grief, the sharp chip on her shoulder, her willingness to jump down the rabbit hole, her awakening to the reality of her job, of her colleagues, of the system... it's all very well-written. 

Increased awareness is worth celebrating. It's a good book. It's not perfect. The gender issues are handled much better than in the movie, but the body shaming is out of control. Many reviewers have detailed it and reacted accordingly. Just check the TWs and make your own open-eyed choices.

I've heard some interesting things about the rest of the books in the series, but I think I'm going to read anyway. Thomas Harris creates such intense and captivating moments, it just might be worth any mediocre twists or out-of-character decision-making. We'll see. 

The Silence of the Lambs on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Red Dragon (Hannibal Lector #1)

5 stars. Wow - blown away. This is a classic for a reason. I could not put it down. Punchy, graphic, vivid - full of... not just great crime writing, but great writing period. I had no idea that the exceptional TV show adaptation was so faithful (within reason) to the books, but it makes sense that it had such a great foundation on which to build its world. And this is truly a special world. We are thrown into a well-established solar system with bright stars and dark planets that already orbit one another in interesting ways. 

It's all the familiar faces: Jack Crawford, Will Graham, Hannibal Lecter, and the hunt to catch a disturbed serial killer named the Tooth Fairy, or, per the killer's preference, the Red Dragon. It's not exactly a familiar procedural, though: Thomas Harris meanders, taking the scenic route through the forest of Francis Dolarhyde's past and present - the cat-and-mouse game thrown seriously off the course you expect. I haven't decided if I liked that or not. It isn't the tidiest narrative arc in the world, but Harris doesn’t let it wander too, too far. 

Originally published in, what, the early 80s? Red Dragon isn't perfect. Definitely a bit dated, and the female characters are... interesting. Other representations would not likely hold up under a magnifying glass. Hannibal the TV series improves on this. But I really cannot say enough good things about Harris' actual writing. He is a master at showing, not telling - the guy does more in 2 sentences than other authors dream about doing in 10 pages. The painting of Will Graham's psyche and his special skills, communicated to us not just through his investigative habits but through minor exchanges of dialogue, barely-detected side glances, subtle references to the past... absolutely genius.

Everyone is so obsessed with Hannibal the Cannibal, and they should be. The movies, the rip-offs, the spin-offs, the money grabs. It’s a great character. But there is so much more right here at ground level, where it all started. So many wonderful heroes and villains, and the infinite shades in-between. I'm obsessed, and I hope the rest of the series lives up to this standard. 5 stars, from the emotions invoked, down to the sentence-level word choices. Can't recommend this enough.

Red Dragon 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: 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