The Perfect Dinner Party by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for teeth ellen datlow terri windling book cover

Title: The Perfect Dinner Party
Author: Cassandra Clare & Holly Black
In: Teeth: Vampire Tales (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Horror, Vampires
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Harper
Year: 2011

Thoughts

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.

<- HistorySlice of Life ->

Image source: HarperCollins

Quiet Walks the Tiger by Heather Graham

Book Review
Overview

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

Thoughts

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.

<- Night of the BlackbirdReaper Follows ->

Image source: FictionDB

The Peppermint Tree by Kristy McCaffrey

Book Review, ,
Overview

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

Thoughts

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.

<- A Mirthful WishMore Kristy McCaffrey ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Book Review, , ,
Overview

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

Thoughts

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.

<- The Jungle BookThe Call of the Wild and Other Stories ->

Image source: Penguin Bookshop

OMG Christmas Tree by Stephanie J. Scott

Book Review,
Overview

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

Thoughts

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.

<- More ChristmasMore contemporary romance ->

Image source: Booktopia

Not Your Valentine by Jackie Lau

Book Review, ,
Overview

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

Thoughts

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.

<- More Jackie LauThe Unmatchmakers ->

Image source: Goodreads

My Generation by Emma Bull

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for teeth ellen datlow terri windling book cover

Title: My Generation
Author: Emma Bull
In: Teeth: Vampire Tales (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Poetry, Vampires
Pace: Slow
Format: Poem
Publisher: Harper
Year: 2011

Thoughts

I’m always up to read a good poem. Mostly because they have so many layers and interpretations. It doesn’t matter how often I read a poem, depending on my mood, the weather, etc. I get something else out of the words that I didn’t find before.

The main words that came to me when reading this poem was curfews and darkness. There was something almost gothic and restrictive about the prose. I loved the mystery that it added to my reading.

Then there was the theme of constantly moving and hiding. Constantly learning new things. And always having to shift about. I can’t imagine being immortal and this constant shifting and darkness just reinforced that idea.

<- Slice of LifeWhy Light? ->

Image source: HarperCollins

Moments to Return by Adi Alsaid

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Moments to Return
Author: Adi Alsaid
In: Hungry Hearts (Caroline Tung Richmond & Elsie Chapman)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Death, Food
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Year: 2019

Thoughts

At least to a degree, everyone is aware of death knocking at the door. At least, that’s how I’ve always felt. And I really enjoyed the fact that this story focused on that fear. And took it to a whole new level. There’s knowing in an abstract way, and then having an existential crisis over it.

This whole short story is about finding a ‘cure’ for the fear of death. I really like that although there wasn’t a complete cure for this fear, it was also hinted at. Particularly as the story closes – just an idea of curing a paralysing fear.

Part of the ‘cure’ found throughout this is all about stolen moments in time. I like that instead of not being afraid of death, there is a focus on the moments in life that make it worth living. The moments that you return to when you’re having a moment of fear.

This was a beautiful short story. One that reminds you to stop and take in the world around you. The fact that it’s done through food just made it all that much more tantalising.

<- Sugar and SpiteThe Slender One ->

Image source: Goodreads

Maybe This Christmas by Susannah Nix

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Maybe This Christmas
Author: Susannah Nix
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

Thoughts

It’s not all that often that I love the premise of a story, and then I end up loving the execution too. But the idea of a couple and their developing relationship over 10 years was already a great premise. The fact that it’s just the Christmas day every year that is written about… beautiful and seriously sweet. And, at this time of year, who doesn’t go gaga for a Christmas love story?

Not only is this a very cute Christmas story, it’s also a great coming of age tale. Alex and Lucas start out this story as two people leaving high school and on the cusp of adulthood. Although they actually get together in the first chapter, the whole story is honestly just about two people getting to know who they are. And then returning to one another.

I loved the tradition of a group of friends getting together every year at Christmas. The fact that over the 10 years of this story, each of the group still manage to find a way back every Christmas is beautiful. This might be a story about Alex and Lucas falling in love, but it’s also about all of the friendships along the way.

I absolutely adored this story. The uniqueness of taking one day a year and using that chapter to explain all of the happenings of the past year is great in and of itself. But the fact that this is also a really sweet coming of age romance made it all that much better. I’m definitely looking forward to rereading this next Christmas!

<- More Susannah NixMore Christmas ->

Image source: Goodreads

Longer Than the Threads of Time by Zoraida Cordova

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
A Universe of Wishes: A We Need Diverse Books Anthology by Dhonielle Clayton

Title: Longer Than the Threads of Time
Author: Zoraida Cordova
In: A Universe of Wishes (Dhonielle Clayton)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Fae, Fairy tales, Retellings
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Crown
Year: 2020

Thoughts

This short story was a fantastic, and very interesting Rapunzel retelling. And, even after finishing it (and thoroughly enjoying it), I’m actually not entirely sure who the villain is. It’s not a flipped on its head fairy tale in that Rapunzel is evil. But as you find out  more and more of the why and how of her entrapment in the tower… you realise she’s not entirely innocent either.

Danae (Cordova’s version of Rapunzel) begins this story as an innocent. And, even when you find out why she is trapped, I still thought of her as a bit of an innocent. I mean, being young and not having control over your actions doesn’t make you evil. But, then there’s the fact that she ends her entrapment by taking someone else’s sacrifice. And, when you look at it through that lens, is she really that innocent? I mean, she kind of set the lad up to be a victim here…

This short story was a somewhat dark and very unexpected Rapunzel retelling. I was pleasantly surprised upon reading it and would love to find out more about this magical world nestled in NYC. It was a dark and unexpected tale. One that I look forward to reading again in the near future.

<- The Beginning of MonstersHabibi ->

Image source: Goodreads