In Solitude’s Shadow by David Green is a dark fantasy novel about Calene Alpenwood, a powerful warrior-mage gifted with Spark, and her mother Zanna, who had been banished for a terrible crime.
Green is a fantastic writer, and In Solitude’s Shadow is evidence of that. From war to love and trust, Green pulls you through a whirlwind of emotions and gives you some beautifully written sentences in the process.
Read MoreLet Me Die by Virginia Babcock is a mixture of romance and gothic horror in the theme of Frankenstein, but this book isn’t just any Frankenstein story. This is a tale of love and loss and so much more.
Read MoreDead Stars and Stone Arches is an anthology of Utah Horror with nearly three dozen talented local writers.
I love these sorts of anthologies—the ones that not only have fantastic stories, poems, and flash fiction pieces, but ones meant to help build writers up. This anthology by Timber Ghost Press in association with the Horror Writers Association Utah Chapter, a nonprofit group that encourages growth and community.
Read MoreThis is a powerful and relevant reminder of the pain and turmoil of a decade that changed many of our communities forever, of the roots of still current inequalities, and of the obstacles that our political system places in the way of progressive change. It also benefits from being the account of an engaged and passionate witness.
Read MoreThe Ghost Was Always the Machine by RJ Walker is where technology meets print. RJ gives readers a chance to be more than just a passive consumer; rather, the reader comes alive with the story, solving puzzles and going through quizzes. You even get to call a number to get a machine response to a puzzle!
Read MoreWhat would you do if you could go back to your youth? The book Summoner of Sleep by A.I. Winters explores just that through a horrific fountain of youth and what humans will do to obtain that vitality.
Read MoreHeart of Swine by Freddy F. Fonseca is both strange and provocative, dealing with climate change and meat consumption. You’ll be both shocked and laughing throughout the entire novel.
Read MoreOdyssey of Love by Linda Jämsén is a memoir about finding oneself and love. After Linda seeks a medium who tells her she’s going to find the love of her life in another country, she decides to change her life and go on tons of adventures. My favorite thing is that it shows bravery and romance.
Read MoreUnexpected Friends & Relations by Jayne Bamber is a Jane Austen crossover with tales of woe, of pain, and of many different stories. I’m a bit of a classical book lover myself, so getting a chance to review something that was inspired by Austen’s stories was too tempting to pass up.
Read MorePicture this: lights, stage, and love—so many different types of love. Showmance by Arielle Morisot is set in the most theatrical of settings. We have two perspectives: Rachel Reed, a married stagel director and makeup artist with dreams of life backstage on Broadway. Then we have Hugh Davidson, a British knight, and famously gorgeous classical actor.
Read MoreLillian on Sunday is a collection of short stories by Lionel Walfish. These stories explore the nature of human existence from love stories, city fables, ghost stories, and character studies. Walfish’s stories pull the reader into a universe where anything can happen, and I especially love that, particularly in a collection of works.
Read MoreGothic Ballads: In Darkness There Is Light by Sara Brunner is a collection of dark and macabre poetry about breaking down the stigma of mental health. She webs together a variety of thoughts and sentences that I found quite striking. Not only that, I really loved her descriptions, how she was able to pull the reader in with a simple line.
Read MoreSin Eater by Amanda Denham is an urban fantasy novel about Jayde Holloway, a girl who can take away memories. I really enjoyed this book, and as the reader, you get a chance to see Jayde’s whole life, past and present, and that gives you an idea of why she reacts to things the way she does.
Read MoreThe Friar’s Lantern by Greg Hickey is a choose your tale adventure novel where you have a chance to win $1,000,000 and judge a man on trial for murder.
If you are not familiar with the choose your own adventure concept, throughout the book, the reader is given options that alter the direction and outcome of the story. As someone on the jury, you must use logic with the information given to you, as if you really are on a jury. And in the lab, you take a Turing test with a twist.
Read MoreALL KAAL NONE: Sac of Surpäs is a sci-fi romance novel, the first in a trilogy. The book goes through four different timelines, and the author PB Flower does a great job with imagery.
Flower does well in her exploration of human emotions, characterized in the current, dystopian, and advanced eon. I especially loved her exploration in darkness and the hidden passion of desire.
Read MoreAccounts of Ephemeral Oddities: A Collection of Short Stories by K.P. Hallow is a 21-page collection of tales on the ethereal, the impermanence, and one character experiencing borderline ludicrous urban paranormal phenomena.
Hallow has a unique way of writing, more akin to something poetic and ancient. Certain sections are abstract, possibly a little too abstract for clarity. While the book is very short, and I was able to get through it in less than an hour, I did have to reread a few of the stories to fully grasp what was written, so it may have taken me a little longer to read than something normal would of this length.
In hindsight, had I read the whole of the blurb, I may have skipped right past Dark, Witch and Creamy, by H. Y. Hanna
Blurb
Soon Caitlyn finds herself fending off a toothless old vampire, rescuing an adorable kitten and meeting handsome aristocrat Lord James Fitzroy... not to mention discovering that she herself might have magical blood in her veins!
Read MoreA Walk in a Darker Wood is a collection of folk horror stories, poetry, and art from new and emerging authors.
Each story has a picture associated, showing a deeper aspect of that story. I really loved the listed goat-man to the right. It showcases more than just the goat itself. It identifies the story as canvas. I also loved the double cat picture. It opens me up for the intensity of the story “Therein Lies a Tail” by Duan Pesice. This cat story is very unlike the rest of the book. It didn’t really feel like horror to me, but I’m sure if I was a cat, I would have been more scared.
Read MoreI recently read Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. This book is kind of old now, but the series is still coming out with new books. I enjoyed it but there were a few qualms I had.
I remember the film very vaguely from when I was a child, and how it was a line that made up for the movie, “I’m going to give you the choice I never had.” I was frustrated that the line never appeared in the book as I waited and waited for it to pop up so I could be like there you are, you little devil. Other than that I can’t say how well the two media compare.
Lavender holds a special place in my heart, and the book Fun With Lavender written by Maggie Reddoch rekindled my romance with this beautiful herb. This short book provides cute and simple recipes utilizing lavender flowers and oil. It has inspired me to try some of them.
Firstly, I must call out the illustrations in this book—they are so cute and whimsical and made by the author herself! They make me want to draw cute French landscapes with soft blue skies and peaceful flower fields.
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