mel_c_bell's reviews
661 reviews

I don't think this has been categorized as cosmic horror, but I'm just gonna go ahead and put it there; not necessarily in a Lovecraftian way, but in the general something-much-bigger-than-us-that-we-will-never-possibly-understand type way :)

Toxic masculinity is how the crew of the Arctic Promise, a merchant vessel on its way to restock an oil rig in the Arctic, cope when they find themselves stranded in the middle of an ice storm and lose all their communication options.

NGL, the toxic masculinity hit hard in the first part, and I had lil moments of weakness where I almost DNF'd. But hear me out; none of it offended me or anything like that; it was just kinda getting old. I'm happy I didn't DNF because I promise it is all relevant, and when we slid into the following parts, DAMN 👀 I was like, WTF is happening, in a good way.

I don't even know what to say not to put spoilers because this story takes a hard left once Noah and some of his crewmates hit the ice in an attempt to find help. And, yes, they are in the middle of a frozen ocean but were like, "Oh, what's that over there? Okay, let's take a trip." I guess when you ain't got no other options 🤷🏻‍♀️

The story is violent and downright kinda cruel, but it poses some deep questions: What's more important: Second chances or keeping promises?

Cancel culture sends a sitcom star into a downward spiral, and she finds herself in an upstate summer camp for the ostracized. Everything is fun and lies until someone, or something, starts taking the campers out one by one.

When horror and humor complement each other, I’ll always say it’s a success, and I think the author nailed it. This book has such an 80s-90s slasher feel that gives enough nostalgia without ever coming across as “silly”—if that’s even the right word🤷🏻‍♀️. Winning uses the classic slasher tropes against a modern setting, and it just works.

The pacing is near neck-breaking; we just plowed through the plot, and I’m not even mad about it. If I had started this earlier in the day, it would’ve easily been a one-sitting read 🤌🏼

I totes appreciated the mid-story bomb drop; I think I even said “no fckn way” out loud but then tried to play it off like, “oh, yeah, I can see that 👀”. The plot twist at the end actually surprised me a little, so hella props.

The only thing I’m pulling back on a star for is that by the end, I still felt like there were some loose ends that could’ve been tied up, BUT in the defense of the slasher vibe, I guess it isn’t that big of a deal.

STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPP!

I need more! This isn't fair *sad emoji pouty tears face*

I don't care how insta-love-kinda-red-flags-but-all-GREEN-flags-super-convenient-and-unrealistic-even-without-an-alien-set-up this is, I FCKN LOVED IT. And, I want more. Like, immediately *insert one more puppy-eyed emoji face*. This book is FLUFFY with a capital FLUFF and YYYYYYYYYYYY.

Mason/Broxen is the most delicious MC in the universe, from his thrift shop decor to his hungry-man microwave meals *chef's kiss*

Gabriela, GIRL. YES. This is what every FMC is missing. She looked him straight in his paint-it-black-meets-purple-haze eyes and said "I know." *stank face*

ANA! Stop. Just stop. I'll say it. I'm not a huge fan of kids in books because a) they're either creepy A F or b) annoying. Fight me. BUT Ana, sweet, sweet, babygirl Ana is the kid who deserves a super cool, possibly a witch aunt, a whole book for herself, and all the Switch games. *mic drop*

Not sure if I mentioned this, but...I WANT MORE!

Haunting regrets and memories repressed all dressed up in black leather and Doc Martins set to a death metal soundtrack.

First of all, this book had no right sneaking up on me the way it did and having me ugly face crying over a scene with a Ouija board… 

Second, I can sum up this story with two words: Daddy Issues…

What I really enjoyed was the fact that the ghost stuff was introduced within the first fifty pages AND we didn’t have another 150 of the characters refusing to believe it. They were just like “Well, 💩 “ and got to business. Also, the whole swamp gothic revival vibe is 🤌🏼

I loved this book. Still, there is a bunch of trigger worthy content involved so 🤷🏻‍♀️ if you’re sensitive maybe sit this one out.

A young girl in a pseudo-dystopian desert of Africa dares to challenge cultural norms in this absolutely stunning coming-of-age novella steeped in tradition and magic. 

I read it in one sitting. The world-building is beautiful, the writing is flawless, and the mysticism that feels so casual and effortless. But all of it flows together in the most epic backdrop for the protagonist to shine. 

Najeeba embodies that curiousness and defiance present in every teenage girl. We follow her journey and growth over a few years as she tries to embrace a calling, only to be ostracized, berated, and gaslighted until we see the inevitable fire of feminine rage flicker to life within her.

Two childhood friends return to their summer stomping grounds to tackle a small town mystery involving the disappearance of their other bestie, and that’s just where the story begins. Only 5% in and I’d already experienced a wide range of emotions. By 80% I was so far forward in my seat I was basically squatting.

I really enjoyed the balance between the dark family secrets, the learning to deal with change coming of age, and the absolute epic Nordic magic 👀 Melissa and Leo team up with ghosts to fight ghosts that have like 70 years of unfinished business—all while working through their own 30+ years of baggage and coming to terms with growing up and growing apart. Oh, and they’re doing all of this in the shadow of the creepiest house EVER.

This is another top read of 2024!

A historical, small town, vampire survival  tale that’s keeping it all in the family 👀

First, a content warning, this book is set in 1920 backwoods Texas—words are accurate to the time 🤷🏻‍♀️ take that as you will and know if you’re sensitive to words maybe sit this one out.

We got a rugged sheriff, a vegetarian doctor, a weird A F mortician, and a bunch of small town characters trying to figure out what in the rabies is happening causing normal people to come out and night attacking people like a mountain lion.

I listened to this during my work commutes but once I got near the end I couldn’t hold out over the weekend to finish—had me on the edge of my seat. Don’t wanna spoil anything so here’s a quote that pretty much sums of the awesomeness of this book: “Godd*amn these f*ck*ng vampires!*

I now understand the mixed reviews and it’s not necessarily a reflection on the book or the readers; it’s just a unique and disturbing premise written in an even more unique style. Honestly, it reminds me of the movie Momento with Guy Pearce.

So, we have a first person narrator giving us his recollections of some traumatic experiences from his childhood after a ‘come to Jesus’ talk with his mother. Therefore, this story gives a very disjointed, redacted, and confused dreamlike vibe—though it’s only told by one POV it actually feels like multiple perspectives, and none of them are reliable. The author’s use of inference is what truly makes this book creepy A F, because they clearly respect that your imagination will always be a better horror writer. 

There are some descriptive scenes of bodily injuries that made me cringe a lil but they can easily be skimmed over if you’re squeamish. Additionally, references of mental illness, child murder, and animal cruelty are present—I wouldn’t personally categorize them as graphic, but that’s just me 🤷🏻‍♀️

There isn't anything I can call out as being 'bad' with this book; it just wasn't holding my interest. One thing that kept pulling me out of the story was difficulty grasping the tone; I couldn't tell if it was supposed to be humorous or serious or both. That probably doesn't make any sense, and I apologize, but I found myself stopping to reread sections multiple times.

It's all very Ocean's Eleven meets The Bible, written by Mel Brooks 🤷🏻‍♀️