Scan barcode
macabrelibrarian's reviews
341 reviews
Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne
3.75
This one hit close to home for me...but it also seems like every popular fiction book released in the last five to ten years was written by the same person. If given a passage of each, I could not tell the difference between Riley Sager or Jennifer Thorne or Ali Hazelwood's writing styles. Not sure what's up with that.
Lucy Undying by Kiersten White
2.75
At this point, I think we should ask ourselves one question every time another adaptation (or in this case, revision) of a beloved classic is published: Did this need to be written?
I appreciate a feminist subversion of a patriarchal narrative as much as the next girl, but I can't help but think...don't we already have plenty of adequate feminist readings of Dracula? The story in itself is a reflection of Victorian ideals about female sexuality. There are already several adaptations in which a Sapphic relationship between Mina and Lucy is canon. Did we have to add in a wellness cult, ten other vampires, and some really cringey romance writing?
Half stars because I appreciate what a tremendous effort this was, and I think filling in Lucy's "archival silence" is a great premise. It just feels like a story that should have been carried by beautiful prose (which it approached in some of Lucy's therapy transcripts) and was instead bogged down by a needlessly-complex plot.
I appreciate a feminist subversion of a patriarchal narrative as much as the next girl, but I can't help but think...don't we already have plenty of adequate feminist readings of Dracula? The story in itself is a reflection of Victorian ideals about female sexuality. There are already several adaptations in which a Sapphic relationship between Mina and Lucy is canon. Did we have to add in a wellness cult, ten other vampires, and some really cringey romance writing?
Half stars because I appreciate what a tremendous effort this was, and I think filling in Lucy's "archival silence" is a great premise. It just feels like a story that should have been carried by beautiful prose (which it approached in some of Lucy's therapy transcripts) and was instead bogged down by a needlessly-complex plot.
Werewolf! A Chrestomathy of Lycanthropy by Bill Pronzini
4.5
Deliciously cozy...nothing beats a vintage collection of supernatural stories, and I feel like this one was thoughtfully selected and the exact right length.
Annie Bot by Sierra Greer
4.0
Hey, I was in a relationship like this once, and I wasn't even a cyborg (but maybe that's the point).
I prefer the ending to Companion, which is essentially the same story with more violence.
After reading this book, my libido is at a 0.
I prefer the ending to Companion, which is essentially the same story with more violence.
After reading this book, my libido is at a 0.
A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand
3.5
So, if anyone was going to go up against Shirley Jackson and Mike Flanagan for Hill House canon, I'd trust Elizabeth Hand to do it. I loved the premise of the theater troupe renting the house, and Hand effectively builds that "Hill House" vibe throughout. I'm just struggling to see why this had to be written. I didn't feel it did anything to this world.
The September House by Carissa Orlando
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
3.75
Thoughts I had while reading this book:
- Finally, a horror comedy that has some sincerely funny moments.
- This would make a better film than it does a book.
- Good use of haunted house tropes. Actually added something to the genre.
- Finally, a horror comedy that has some sincerely funny moments.
- This would make a better film than it does a book.
- Good use of haunted house tropes. Actually added something to the genre.
Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil by Ananda Lima
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
This books just isn't for me, but I won't give it a rating because it wasn't the author's responsibility. It was marketed as horror and/or fantasy when it's really satirical metafiction-- that's completely on the publisher.
House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I've read too much about E. Bathory to enjoy this as much as I could have. Appreciated the class themes but would have preferred a feminist update to the "Bathory was evil" story.
The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes
dark
funny
reflective
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
4.25
An unapologetic critique of patriarchy, organized religion, and the American justice system-- and it doesn't talk down to teens.