Gothic 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 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.
William Ottoway's Utopia and Other Stories by Christopher Griffith is a short, abstract collection of stories written in a poetic style.
There were five stories in this collection, with a writing style that got progressively better the longer I read. In fact, it was the last two stories that brought my rating up to a 3, as I didn’t enjoy the first three. I felt the earlier stories to be jarring, and “Break out the Bubbly” was a roller coaster of emotions, leaving my head spinning at the end.
Read MoreBeautifully Broken: Good Girl, Bad Girl series by E.R. Stowell is a compelling story about one woman’s struggles through life, love, and her own self-worth.
Our protagonist, Sarah Cook, is the ultimate Good Girl, or at least, that’s what she has made herself believe.
Sophie Queen’s back at it again! The Krino Blade, book two in Riley's Excellent and Not-At-All Fake Exorcism Service, is just as fun, and the characters are just as endearing.
While the first book will always be in my heart because it introduced me to the world and exposed me to awesome characters, this sequel will not disappoint!
Read MorePrincess of Thorns by Saga Hillbom is a historical novel about Great Britain in 1483.
This story centers around Edward IV and his family, specifically Cecily and her life going through change, age, and despair.
Read MoreEarth Angels Unleashed by Terry Ulick is book four in the erotic Demonic Investigator series, but it can easily stand on its own.
This story has a diverse group of characters, including a badass demon lawyer, a guardian angel, and a new warrior. This book has destiny, sex, passion, and powers—anything you could want in an erotic sex demon book.
Read MoreWomen of the Woods by the Fabled Collective et. al. is a collection of dark fantasy and folk horror short stories, reminiscent of a contemporary style of Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Washington Irving.
I haven’t been so impressed by a collection of short stories in a while. If I could give this a 6/5, I would! Each story is polished, well-paced, great character development, and awesome stories.
Read MoreThe Eyes Of The Dragon by Stephen King follows the royal family of Delain as they confront the insidious threat of Flagg, the court magician and advisor of the king. Rife with intrigue and teeming with subterfuge, The Eyes Of The Dragon whisks readers to a believable, yet delightfully treacherous world.
Read MoreFatherland by Ginevra Mancinelli is a fantasy novel about vengeance, pain, love, glory, and so much more.
I really enjoyed this book not only for the great descriptions and writing, but also the Games of Thrones-y vibe, what with some of the gore, wording, and politics, but Fatherland is very much it’s own story with it’s own unique universe and tale.
Read MoreWearing Skin: 12 Devilishly Dark Horror Short Stories by Simon Paul Woodward is a quick horror read with some stories that’ll stick with you for a long time afterward.
Woodward has a way of bringing the reader into his world with every story. Some of these tales are remarkably different from each other, but it works. I’m going to focus on my three favorite stories, “Children of Ink," “Still Lives in Motion,” and “The Galilean Manoeuvre.” Woodward has other great stories, but these spoke to me the most.
Soul on Fire by Shannon Lane is an uplifting story about friendship, love, and self-discovery.
Our protagonist, Kenna, deals with panic attacks, self-doubt, and depression. The recurring theme within this story is her willingness to accept herself, and to be, not just okay, but to be happy with her life. Yet, Kenna feels the burden of loss and rejection, which makes her believe she is incapable of change.
Read MoreProtecting His Night: The Men of River City by Nola Marie is a hot romance about a mobster named Rory and a stripper named Layla.
Once in love ten years ago, Rory leaves Layla, but he doesn’t realize all that he’s given up, not until he sees her again dressed up as a stripper, hiding her identity—and not just from him.
Read MoreFinding Innocence: Book 1 by Karen Keith is a young adult fantasy novel focused on 17-year-old Alexa Walker and her growth from living in an orphanage to starting new with a family and friends who love her.
The funny thing is, I’m not a big YA fan, yet I’m excited for book 2 to come out because I found the story so engaging. Don't get me wrong; it is very much a YA book.
Read MoreBroken Road by Shannon Lane is a sweet, contemporary romance with relatable characters and many surprises.
Our protagonist, Ellen Mannis, wants to escape her painful past and abusive ex-husband, so she finds a new job as a nanny and part-time assistant for one of the biggest names in Pittsburgh, Brennan Grant.
Read MoreMaggie’s Dream by Leslie Tall Manning uses magical realism to explore the world of a woman struggling during World War II.
I really fell in love with Maggie’s character. She has her own thoughts and desires that I feel a personal attachment to. And while I dislike many of the other characters who ordered Maggie around, I remind myself the timing in which the novel takes place. Women didn’t have as much freedom as we do now. Women were expected to act a certain way and be certain things, even if it didn’t make them happy.
Read MoreAwakening by Jennifer Leigh Pezzano is a supernatural love story about Jezebel, a business owner woman haunted by her history, and August, a man who has lived for centuries, yet still recalls the past as if it’s right in front of him, constantly hurting him.
The two characters come together after August becomes Jezebel’s client, but it turns out he wants more than just the work she offers. He wants to take in some of her energy.
Read MorePretty Lies by Jessica Scurlock is a great debut novel with distinctive characters, action, and mystery.
Scurlock takes us into a world of totalitarian government rule. Our main character, Ivy, moves and flows through this world, believing herself to be kept safe by the Enlightened Society, once known as the United States of America. While sometimes certain aspects of the setting were difficult for me to believe, this was a fun read.
Read MoreThe Unnaturals by Dustin Dixon is a dystopian novel about two different life forms on earth: the humans and the unnaturals.
The story centers around one of the unnaturals named “UN-27.” Stolen from his golden-skinned comrades outside the human city, he is primed, like many of his other brethren, to be part of the fiercest fighting force of the humans the world has ever known.
Read MoreThe Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is a story of love, adventure, and, most importantly, revenge.
Completed in 1844, the novel is one of Dumas' more popular works, similar to The Three Musketeers. Lesser known is the second author of the novel, Auguste Maquet. Maquet wasn't credited with the work to the same extent as Dumas due to a decision by the publisher. And since the story has two authors, there are many inconsistencies in the book, as well as slightly different tones of voice.
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