Review: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Category: Horror

First Publication Date: 14th July 2020

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Synopsis: A tale of revenge, cultural identity, and the cost of breaking from tradition in this latest novel from the Jordan Peele of horror literature, Stephen Graham Jones.

Seamlessly blending classic horror and a dramatic narrative with sharp social commentary, The Only Good Indians follows four American Indian men after a disturbing event from their youth puts them in a desperate struggle for their lives. Tracked by an entity bent on revenge, these childhood friends are helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way.

eARC Review: Sisters by Daisy Johnson

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Categories: Suspense, Horror

I received an advance copy via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Born just ten months apart, July and September are thick as thieves, never needing anyone but each other. Now, following a case of school bullying, the teens have moved away with their single mother to a long-abandoned family home near the shore. In their new, isolated life, July finds that the deep bond she has always shared with September is shifting in ways she cannot entirely understand. A creeping sense of dread and unease descends inside the house. Meanwhile, outside, the sisters push boundaries of behavior—until a series of shocking encounters tests the limits of their shared experience, and forces shocking revelations about the girls’ past and future.

Review: Things we Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez

Rating: ★★★★☆

Categories: Mystery, Horror, Short Stories

Things We Lost in the Fire is a collection of eerie stories centered on women and girls in Argentina, with a touch of urban myth. This exceptional short stories book is the second work by Mariana Enriquez I read and it’s become one of my favorite short stories books. The perfect mixture of mundane worries with surpernatural horror and with the endings open enough that you imagine what happens after the stories, and they live in your imagination longer than in the pages.

Review: Bunny by Mona Awad

Rating: ★★★★★

Categories: Contemporary, Horror, Satire, Sapphic MC

Goodreads

In Bunny, Samantha is an outcast at the very expensive and elite Warren University, where she’s doing her MFA program. She’s made no friends there, and has an almost hostile relationship with her peers, four young women in her class who call each other “Bunny” and seem to think and behave like one mind, talking in childish voices and hugging each other nonstop. When one day Samantha gets a surprising invitation to join the Bunnies in a party, she finds herself inexplicably there on time, drawn to those girls and their weird friendship.

Mini-Review: Red, White and Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston

Rating: ★★★★☆

Categories: New Adult, Contemporary / Alternate History, Romance

Goodreads

Alex Claremont-Diaz is the American equivalent of a royal: his mother is the first female President of the United States, and his charisma, hard work and looks have landed him the title of heartthrob. What the press can’t ever find out is that he absolutely hates the stuffy, cold and outrageously handsome Prince of Wales, Henry. When he and the prince cause a scene during the Royal Wedding, they must pretend to be best friends in order to not damage the image of the President or the Royals.

This was a surprising mix of adorable, sexy and political that really won me over! I loved the chemistry between Alex and Henry and their banter was so funny, and actively blushed in the bus when Those Scenes showed up in the story. I loved how politics was such a huge part of this book, although I think it might have made the story a bit less appealing to people who only wanted the cute love story. If you dislike politics, don’t pick this up. I thought it was very current and made Alex more of a real person. This book is super hyped at the moment and I think it’s for a good reason! Highly recommend.

Mini-Review: Wilder Girls, by Rory Power

Rating: ★★★★☆

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Thriller & Horror, F/F

Goodreads

Two years ago, when the Tox took over Raxter School for Girls, the entire island was put under quarantine. The disease is in the land, in the trees, in the girls, causing strange and disturbing side effects, for which the government has promised a cure, but so far all they receive is less and less supplies every time. When Byatt goes missing, Hetty knows she is still alive, and she must find her, no matter the cost, no matter the consequences.

I had lots of fun reading this book – I didn’t know I needed more horror in my life before I picked it up! I don’t have much to say about it, as I started reading it and was so engrossed I forgot to read it as a blogger and just got lost in the story. It’s a really interesting book, with such a great take on The Lord of the Flies (which I hated) and turning it into a feminist horror young adult. So, so good. I did not entirely like the writing style, it felt a little too stilted, I think I hoped for something more lush, but that is my personal taste. The mystery was great, the characters were so great –  sometimes vicious and just trying to survive, but also very loyal, and I highly recommend this book!

Mini-Review: We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson

Rating: ★★★★★

Genres: Fiction, Gothic

Goodreads

We Have Always Lived in the Castle tells the story of Mary Katherine and her sister Constance, who live their Uncle Julian in the old mansion  where the rest of their family died. The villagers hate them, but they’ve managed to have a quiet life despite the animosity. This will all change once Cousin Charles decides to pay a visit…

This book was such a deliciously whimsical, Gothic read! I loved it so much. Mary Katherine is one of the best characters I’ve read in a while, smart, a bit wild, and definitely up to no good. The atmosphere of the book so tense you always feel like it will all fall apart. Constance is a bit of an enigma to me, so kind and lovely but her involvement in the murders is not clear, so you always have a suspicion about her sweet temperament – did she or didn’t she? I loved also that there is so much talk about food in this book – there is something ritualistic about the way so much of their lives go around the meals they will have, especially considering the way their family died.

This short novel is full of mystery, witty dialogue and it’s such an entertaining read! If you’ve never read anything Gothic before, I think it’s a great place to start.

Review: Lock Every Door, by Riley Sager

Rating: ★★★★★

Genres: Thriller, Horror

Goodreads

Lock Every Door is the story of Jules, a young woman who just lost her job and is now crashing at her friend’s place. When she sees a job opportunity as an apartment sitter at the grand, mysterious and glamorous Bartholomew, she can hardly believe her luck. All she has to do is live in the apartment for the next few weeks and she’ll have enough time and money to start over. But the rules of apartment sitting are strict and clear: no visitors, no spending nights outside of the Bartholomew, no bothering the neighbors. And there is something not quite right about the place, which becomes even more creepy when another apartment sitter disappears in the middle of the night.

Review: The Lingering, by S.J.I. Holliday

Rating: ★★★★☆

Genres: Horror, Thriller

Goodreads / Amazon

The Lingering is the story of a couple, Ali and Jack, who move to a self-sufficient community, in hope for a fresh start. There is a dark mystery to the community and the house they are to move into, and the two of them are intrinsically in the middle of the events that unfold.

I really like this eerie cover, setting the mood for this book. It begins unfolding the plot a bit slowly, tension and mystery in the air from first page, as the couple moves into a small community which keeps itself away from the rest of the world. Everyone has their own secrets, and perhaps Ali and Jack have the biggest of all. They’re here for a fresh start. But something dark seems to awaken with their arrival – and the secrets from the place where the community is set also start to unravel.

Review: Bird Box, by Josh Malerman

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genres: Horror

Goodreads / Amazon

Bird Box tells the story of an apocalyptic world where people need blindfolds to leave their houses because there is something out there that drives people into viciously attacking one another and themselves. This horror book is less than 300 pages long and quite perfect for an afternoon of reading horror and sipping tea.

This is a book that is constantly added to people’s lists on what to read in October, every year. So I had to keep my expectations in check, since hyping a book up is the surest way to get disappointed.