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drakaina16's reviews
2126 reviews
The Drowning Machine and Other Obsessions by Emma E. Murray
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
If you want a short story collection that will pummel you emotionally at every turn, this is the one for you. With exquisite prose, Emma E. Murray crafts stories rooted in grief that are absolutely devastating. Special shoutout to Lavender and Dandelions for making me cry in the school pick up line. 4.5 stars
An Angel of God ⭐⭐⭐⭐
If I Carry You ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Lavender and Dandelions ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Golden Hour ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Whole Again ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
A Better Mother ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Take Control ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Profound Pain of Letting Go ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Dyin’ Ain't Nothin’ But Fallin’ Asleep ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Portage, Ohio in Early Autumn ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Night Visitor ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Through the Holler, Into the Dark ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mother of Machines ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Blessed Are the Meek ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Exquisite Hunger ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Drowning Machine ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Vengeance is a Patient Beast ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Follow the Moon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you want a short story collection that will pummel you emotionally at every turn, this is the one for you. With exquisite prose, Emma E. Murray crafts stories rooted in grief that are absolutely devastating. Special shoutout to Lavender and Dandelions for making me cry in the school pick up line. 4.5 stars
An Angel of God ⭐⭐⭐⭐
If I Carry You ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Lavender and Dandelions ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Golden Hour ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Whole Again ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
A Better Mother ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Take Control ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Profound Pain of Letting Go ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Dyin’ Ain't Nothin’ But Fallin’ Asleep ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Portage, Ohio in Early Autumn ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Night Visitor ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Through the Holler, Into the Dark ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mother of Machines ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Blessed Are the Meek ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Exquisite Hunger ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Drowning Machine ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Vengeance is a Patient Beast ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Follow the Moon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual violence, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, and Cannibalism
Found by Todd Rigney
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is intense. The story follows Marty, a quiet, nerdy kid who is just trying to get by in life and school. Marty is obsessed with horror movies, and I found him very relatable in that aspect. Marty discovers his brother is a serial killer and things go seriously downhill from there. This is a tough read, and there are some massive triggers here, so tread lightly. I have a feeling I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time. 5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Cannibalism
Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I first read Cherie Dimaline when I read The Marrow Thieves, and I absolutely loved that book. I made it my mission to read everything she's written. Empire of Wild is the first adult book I've read by her, and it's everything I hoped it would be. The writing is tight and gorgeous, and although the story moves a bit slowly at times, it is never boring. The characters felt like real people to me, and learning more about the rogarou legend was super interesting. 4.75 stars
Bloody Hell: An Anthology of UK Indie Horror by Sarah Jules
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I had a great time with this anthology. There's no overarching theme - other than being from the UK - so these stories are a delightful grab bag of themes and tropes. The illustrations are beautiful and perfectly accompany each story. 4 stars
Hungry is Th’ Bodach by Dr. Stuart Knott ⭐⭐⭐.25
Darkness Blooms by David K Slater ⭐⭐
The Sleep Demon by Jessica Huntley ⭐⭐⭐
The Syn-Eater of Lancaster by MJ Mars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
To Be a Man of Man by J C Michael ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The God Botherers by Ashley Lister ⭐⭐⭐.75
Wrong Lane by Stephen Barnard ⭐⭐⭐
The Hunt by EC Samuels ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Cynthraul by Lee Allen ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pergyl by C S Jones ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sounds of the Forest by Brad Thomas ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Dark Heart by Jim Ody ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Merry Bloody Christmas by Alexandra Nisneru ⭐⭐⭐.75
Murder in the Video Store by Bethany Russo ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Moor-Folk and the Poet by Philip Alexander Baker ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sand by David Watkins ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Joke by Tom Carter ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Brompton Road by Elizabeth J Brown ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Skate Bored by Tim Stephens ⭐⭐⭐.25
Bone Zipper by William Long ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plough Monday by Benjamin Langley ⭐⭐⭐.75
Memento Mori by Marie Sinadjin ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Mill of Shattered Bone by Mark M.J. Green ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Worst Halloween Ever! by M.L. Rayner ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Harlequin by Elijah Frost ⭐⭐⭐.5
Down T’Pit by Sarah Jules ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
They Stalk the Rows by Leigh Kenny ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Hungry is Th’ Bodach by Dr. Stuart Knott ⭐⭐⭐.25
Darkness Blooms by David K Slater ⭐⭐
The Sleep Demon by Jessica Huntley ⭐⭐⭐
The Syn-Eater of Lancaster by MJ Mars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
To Be a Man of Man by J C Michael ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The God Botherers by Ashley Lister ⭐⭐⭐.75
Wrong Lane by Stephen Barnard ⭐⭐⭐
The Hunt by EC Samuels ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Cynthraul by Lee Allen ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pergyl by C S Jones ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sounds of the Forest by Brad Thomas ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Dark Heart by Jim Ody ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Merry Bloody Christmas by Alexandra Nisneru ⭐⭐⭐.75
Murder in the Video Store by Bethany Russo ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Moor-Folk and the Poet by Philip Alexander Baker ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sand by David Watkins ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Joke by Tom Carter ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Brompton Road by Elizabeth J Brown ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Skate Bored by Tim Stephens ⭐⭐⭐.25
Bone Zipper by William Long ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plough Monday by Benjamin Langley ⭐⭐⭐.75
Memento Mori by Marie Sinadjin ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Mill of Shattered Bone by Mark M.J. Green ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Worst Halloween Ever! by M.L. Rayner ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Harlequin by Elijah Frost ⭐⭐⭐.5
Down T’Pit by Sarah Jules ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
They Stalk the Rows by Leigh Kenny ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
The Poorly Made and Other Things by Sam Rebelein, Sam Rebelein
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
Edenville was one of the craziest books I read last year, and I mean that in the best way possible. I was seriously impressed it was a debut novel, and I was very excited to hear about the short story collection set in Renfield County. While I don't think it's strictly necessary to have read Edenville, it will add a lot of context and creepiness, and answer a few questions from the novel. 4.5 stars
Hector Brim ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
My Name is Ellie ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Detour ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wag ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Red X ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
10 PM on the Southbound G ⭐⭐⭐.5
So My Cousin Knew This Guy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Allison's Face ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Glitch ⭐⭐⭐.5
Interstitial/Epilogue ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Edenville was one of the craziest books I read last year, and I mean that in the best way possible. I was seriously impressed it was a debut novel, and I was very excited to hear about the short story collection set in Renfield County. While I don't think it's strictly necessary to have read Edenville, it will add a lot of context and creepiness, and answer a few questions from the novel. 4.5 stars
Hector Brim ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
My Name is Ellie ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Detour ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wag ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Red X ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
10 PM on the Southbound G ⭐⭐⭐.5
So My Cousin Knew This Guy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Allison's Face ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Glitch ⭐⭐⭐.5
Interstitial/Epilogue ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Disappearance at Devil's Rock by Paul Tremblay
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
No one does literary horror quite like Paul Tremblay. Those of you who are not a fan of the "Tremblay ending," and like your endings a little more unambiguous will probably enjoy this one more than his other offerings. I felt like I really knew these characters, and I hurt alongside them. There is sense of uncanniness and dread throughout the book. A Head Full of Ghosts still holds the Tremblay crown for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. 4.5 stars
The Women Without Eyes by Micah Castle
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
The Women Without Eyes is the third book I've read now by Micah Castle. While not my favorite, it is a worthy entry into his catalog. I'm a big fan of crime stories crossed with horror, and this book starts out as a fairly standard crime novel, then things start to take a supernatural bent. I was a bit confused in the last chapter leading up to the end, but ultimately, I enjoyed the ending. 4 stars
The Women Without Eyes is the third book I've read now by Micah Castle. While not my favorite, it is a worthy entry into his catalog. I'm a big fan of crime stories crossed with horror, and this book starts out as a fairly standard crime novel, then things start to take a supernatural bent. I was a bit confused in the last chapter leading up to the end, but ultimately, I enjoyed the ending. 4 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
To Coventry: A Hummingbird Murder Mystery by T.C. Parker, T.C. Parker
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
4.25
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
I absolutely loved Hummingbird when I read it last year, so I jumped at the chance to read the followup. To Coventry is a fun love letter to the detective novels of yore. Nevermind that the protagonist is a shapeshifting demon. Sunny is a great character and I hope we'll be seeing more of her in the future. 4.25 stars
I absolutely loved Hummingbird when I read it last year, so I jumped at the chance to read the followup. To Coventry is a fun love letter to the detective novels of yore. Nevermind that the protagonist is a shapeshifting demon. Sunny is a great character and I hope we'll be seeing more of her in the future. 4.25 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Merfolk by Jeremy Bates
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I love a well-researched, scientifically plausible creature features and Merfolk delivers. The story is a bit of a slow burn as we get to know the characters and learn about the main character's theories about the possibility of merfolk being real. I found all the theory fascinating. Things really begin to pop off in the last 20% or so of the book, and I felt it was worth the wait. Merfolk was my first Jeremy Bates book and I'll definitely be reading more of his work. 4 stars
Osgood As Gone by Cooper S. Beckett
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
A beautiful cover, with a queer, polyamorous protagonist with chronic pain? Be still my heart. Luckily the book is just as good as the cover and the premise. What starts off as a simple mystery quickly evolves into some cosmic, occult-y goodness. The pacing is perfect, and I found myself staying up reading long past my bedtime. I can't wait to start book 2. 5 stars
A beautiful cover, with a queer, polyamorous protagonist with chronic pain? Be still my heart. Luckily the book is just as good as the cover and the premise. What starts off as a simple mystery quickly evolves into some cosmic, occult-y goodness. The pacing is perfect, and I found myself staying up reading long past my bedtime. I can't wait to start book 2. 5 stars