Title: Transfigured Night Author: Richard Bowes In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Horror Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Tachyon Year: 2013
This was a very dark and icky short story. Honestly, it was just an incredibly uncomfortable read. Which, of course, makes it kind of difficult to write a review about it…
Although I did enjoy this and found it really interesting, I also found it a little bit difficult to get through. I mean, I like a good, dark story, but some tales are just a little too dark for me. And this was most certainly one of them.
This is one of those stories that, even though it made me uncomfortable, I’ll probably read again. After all, it’s in a book of hauntings stories. And there is a whole lot of sex, murder and history…
Title: Spectral Evidence Author: Gemma Files In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Crime, Horror Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Tachyon Year: 2013
I’m not entirely sure that I followed this short story. Yet, even with all of my not sure I followed it, I still enjoyed this. There was something dark and twisty about it. And all of those bits that made me not entirely certain that I followed it – they kind of added to the haunting and eerie aspect of the story. It’s incredibly hard to write a review on something that I didn’t quite follow, but still enjoyed…
The dossier feeling to this tale made it feel all that much more eerie. It’s the tale of three people all ending up dead or incarcerated, but through the lens of official documentation. It gives the whole tale a more removed, freaky feeling. Again, Files’ use of the unknown makes it that much more uncomfortable.
All in all, I loved the vibe of this story. It was creepy and eerie. There’s also the feeling that I could reread this and get all that much more out of the story…
This short story jumps around a little bit in timeliness and apace, but it gives this constant sense of a life without hope. Its kind of depressing and sad to read at times. But also enjoyable – who needs happy stories ALL the time?
I like that the ending of this tale is open and full of potential for a future. It might be a bit vague as to which / what future is likely to be chosen, there is still something on the horizon for the lead character.
Louise / Ellen is definitely a character who is going to sink or swim on her own. The way she is able to stand on her own feet and manipulate others makes me think that there’s going to be a lucrative future for her. But still… there is a naivety to her actions that makes me want to know how she goes on her own…
Title: The Real Deal Author: Lauren Blakely Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Contemporary, Contemporary romance Pace: Medium Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this contemporary romance, although I didn’t find it as difficult to put down as I’ve found others of this genre. Or even the one other Blakely book that I’ve had the privilege to read. It was fun and easy to read. A light-hearted romance with some great character development. But it also didn’t get my heart racing like some of the other books I’ve had the privilege to read.
April’s job was one of those that really intrigued me. I mean, I suppose you need body painters for adds and shows and things that I’ve seen. But it wasn’t something I ever considered in depth. I love how Blakely describes this career. And the passion and artistry that goes into it. I know a few people who make their living through art, and I love how this creativity just jumps off the pages.
All the way through this story, it was obvious that Theo’s omitting of the truth was going to be the bump in the road for April and Theo. But I really like how it came about. That, and how parts of Theo’s history only get teased out slowly for the reader. It’s not all dealt out in one large splash. Not only do Theo and April manage to overcome some of this, but I also love that Theo finds some solutions to his own drama.
One of my favourite things that got me a little flustered in this romance was the fantasy Theo and April structure. The way they engage with each other and spin tales that make your toes curl was brilliant. It just goes to show the power of the written word (and spoken) can have to curl one’s toes…
This is one of the few short stories in the Teeth collection that I’ve put on my horror shelf. Because it is way, way creepier and disturbed than I was expecting. I mean, the narrator voice is downright messed up, and the fact that it’s all coming from the body of a little girl? Disturbed. And yet, I loved it.
I think part of what made this story so creepy is that it is literally a list of rules to make the ‘perfect’ dinner party. It starts off kind of archaic, but understandable. Then, the sinister undertones become more and more obvious. I mean, you know that it’s about a vampire because of the collection its in. But the obvious brain washing and dated etiquette starts to make it a little more… uncomfortable.
It’s kind of easy to like Charles throughout this story. Probably because he is shown through the lens of a doting sister. And, he’s not quite creepy. But the sister? The narrator? Damn is she terrifying, I mean, it would be scary being turned at 14. But I just had these porcelain doll kind of vibes the whole way through this. I get shivers up my spine just thinking about it.
Title: Quiet Walks the Tiger Author: Heather Graham Rating Out of 5: 1.5 (Couldn’t get past the first chapter) Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 1983
I just…. couldn’t with this book. I mean, it starts with an objectively stalkerish ‘lover’. He’s been in love with the woman for years, and it preludes what happens later. And then you find out that his love / infatuation is based on A SINGLE DATE. There is so much nope in that alone.
And then there’s the lead female, who decides to marry the guy who’s infatuated with her. Because money. She knowingly manipulates his feelings. And there is nothing redeeming about her.
So yeah, I just couldn’t handle the heck no of both characters. Onto the next book in my TBR.
Title: The Peppermint Tree Author: Kristy McCaffrey Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Christmas, Contemporary romance Pace: Medium Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2020
I love cute Christmas romances. Particularly at this time of year, I swear if everyone read a Christmas romance, even the biggest scrouge would start to believe in the Christmas spirit. In fact, I loved reading this curled up in front of the cheesiest, simplest Hallmark-esque Christmas movies. It just had a whole feel to it. With the Christmas lights on… and yeah, it was just a really nice way to spend an evening.
It was kind of weird reading a story featuring a lead character named Skye. Since that’s my name. But, once I got over the slight weirdness of that, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Particularly since it’s also a second chance romance. Everyone seems to have one what if person in their history, and Joe and Skye were the rare few who got to try again. Plus, it’s just nice to think that sometimes people are just fated to be together.
The idea of decorating a ginormous pine tree every year for Christmas is something I’d love to do. Although with a gum tree, and, lets be honest, no one actually trusts me to get up that high, so it’ll never happen. The added mysticism of fated couples meeting at the Peppermint Tree was just perfect. Christmas time, a beautiful tree, and an unexpected inheritance… it’s a kind of typical Christmas story. But one that I would definitely read again and again.
Title: The Phantom of the Opera Author: Gaston Leroux Series: Word Cloud Classics Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Classics, Gothic Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 1909
This is one of those books that has been on my shelves for a long while, and that I keep meaning to get to… but then getting distracted. I definitely have to be in a certain mood to enjoy a classic. I’ve heard of The Phantom of the Opera many, many, many times. As I’m sure everyone else has. But, even with knowing that it’s a classic and a Broadway play, I really had no idea what to expect. I mean, it’s not something that any of my family and friends are overly into, so how could I? And you know what? I actually really, really, really enjoyed this! It was not even remotely what I was expecting, and I honestly couldn’t put it down.
I spent most of this story trying to figure out if Eric was the villain or the hero. And you know what? I’m still not sure. Which I kind of like, it means I’ll go back to read this again and try to figure out what my opinion is on the next read through. And the next. And the next. I can most certainly see why this is such a classic. And why people have an obsession with Eric as the tragic hero.
Aside from the wonderful story line and the morally confusing hero, I found the imagery throughout this story to be completely unforgettable. I mean, long after turning that final page, I was still thinking of the setting and the reality of this story. I’m not someone who has ever spent much time near stages of any kind, but Leroux’s writing left me thinking about the theatre as if I had been there myself. The fact that there is a lake beneath added to this incredibly eerie and gothic feeling.
I loved the pace of this writing and the style. The idea that this narrative is written half in a report style and half as a journal was intriguing. It placed you amongst the drama whilst also being apart from it. I felt submerged in the work, which helped me to enjoy it all that much more. It’s obvious why The Phantom of the Opera is such a well known and loved classic.
The thought that I was left with (and that I will end this review on) is the idea that outcasts are what we make them. Choosing to outcast someone because they are ‘ugly’ or don’t ‘fit’ with our ideas is harsh, and its this that makes Eric both the villain and the hero of this story. He might be the machination of a few horrors, but he is also such a sympathetic character in how he has been treated by others.
Title: OMG Christmas Tree Author: Stephanie J. Scott Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Christmas, Contemporary romance Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2021
Whilst I liked this short novel, I probably won’t be diving down the Stephanie J. Scott rabbit hole anytime soon. It was a good, enjoyable Christmas romance. And I did have a fair amount of fun reading it. But it’s also one that I’ll probably forget about. Fun, but not memorable.
The Meet Cute in this story was kind of serendipitous. I mean, Nick wants to find the woman who took the Christmas tree he wants. So, he finds her in a ditch… because the tree is top big. Alright, I don’t love how he tries to manipulate her. But it was still kind of a nice Meet Cute. I even like that Megan acknowledges that no matter what, she’ll probably run into the guy she’s crushing on.
Both Megan and Nick need to do some serious growing up. It’s nice that they push each other to do this throughout the story. Both are privileged and kind of naive, and I like that they manage to push each other to be better. In particular, I love that Megan finally finds her own path. One that is fulfilling, but not necessarily the traditional route.
With Christmas trees, decorating and ham. This is a fun and endearing Christmas story. Not in my top 10. But still one that I enjoyed. And I’d definitely suggest it to someone who wanted to dive into an easy Christmas read.
Title: Not Your Valentine Author:Jackie Lau Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Contemporary, Contemporary romance Pace: Medium Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2023
I’m always up for a good friends-to-lovers trope. I mean, what better way to find your perfect match, then to be with someone who has already shown that they know you and like you? Plus, Lau also fully embraces the fake dating trope. Which is another bit of insanity that I always enjoy. Two tropes I love, centred around Valentine’s Day… of course I was going to just devour this short novel.
I love that both Taylor and Helen don’t just fall in instalove. And although one of them has had feelings for a little bit longer, there isn’t that unrequited love aspect either. Instead, it’s two friends spending a lot of time together. Getting to know one another more deeply. And just generally going together and as a couple.
Along with the two tropes I mentioned above, this is also the sunshine grump trope. Although, I love that the grumpy is Helen and she’s kind of valentines hating. Contrastingly, Taylor is all about the love hearts and confetti. They work so well together, even though I found Helen’s constant feeling that she was unlovable a little bit difficult at times.
Thus was a really cute and fun romance. But it was also a great journey into how some immigrant American family dynamics work. Probably one of the reasons I’m loving Lau. She writes beautiful and fun romances. But she also introduces me to a family dynamic that is entirely foreign to me.
Earth and Skye 