Category: Book Reviews
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Driven by Mason Coile – A Book Review
I have mixed feelings about Driven by Mason Coile, but one thing I can say without hesitation is that it moves. Short chapters, lean writing, and a plot that rarely slows down made this a quick read. I especially enjoyed the first third of the book. Jamie Newcross is a man whose life has steadily…
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Ghost Town by Tom Perrotta – A Book Review
Believe it or not, Ghost Town is my first Tom Perrotta book. I primarily picked it up at the library because I recognized his name, had always wanted to read him, and because the book is rather thin. I initially enjoyed Ghost Town because it is a propulsive read with some chapters running no more…
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The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones – A Book Review
Stephen Graham Jones’ The Buffalo Hunter Hunter gave me something I honestly didn’t think I needed: a completely new take on the vampire. The notion of an American Indian vampire immediately grabbed me, but Jones does far more with the idea than simply transplant Dracula into a different culture. Setting much of the story during…
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The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
Finished The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. Loved the sparse, meditative survival tone—but the late shift into sexually explicit intimacy felt jarring. Furthermore, certain losses hit harder post-pandemic. Still, some genuinely thrilling moments. A mixed read for me, but worthwhile.
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Nobody Move by Denis Johnson
I found Nobody Move by Denis Johnson a quick, simple read with a propulsive plot. But this crime thriller ended rather abruptly for me in such a way that proved dissatisfying. Perhaps that’s the lesson of the book–that there are no tidy endings to crime … or maybe even life.
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Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente
Recently listened to the audio book Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente. I knew almost nothing about the story going in, which I think made the plot all the more mysterious. However, once the main characters became clear, the book lost a little bit of its appeal for me. Nonetheless, I thought it…
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Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark – A Book Review
Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark is a multifaceted novella that fears nothing. Primarily set during the year 1922, Maryse Boudreaux is a monster hunter in Macon, Georgia, with a preternatural sword. The monsters she hunts? Ku Kluxes, which are demons disguised as humans within the Ku Klux Klan. Her fellow hunters include Chef, a…
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Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher – A Book Review
I always enjoy novellas due to both their brevity and potency. As I searched for a new one to read, I came across Thornhedge. Thornhedge won the 2024 Hugo Award for Best Novella and the 2024 Locus Award for Best Novella. It sounded like a good candidate, so I immediately found a copy at my…
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The Troop by Nick Cutter – A Book Review
A coworker recommended I read The Troop. He told me it very much reminded him of Stephen King’s style of writing and he couldn’t put it down. How could I resist that kind of a recommendation? I’ll admit, it took me a while to engage with The Troop. This is definitely a book you need…
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Silver In the Wood by Emily Tesh – A Book Review
Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh is a slim novella that packs a powerful punch. Despite its brevity, the story feels epic in both scope and narrative. Tesh seems to have crafted a much longer tale in her mind, but the limited page count doesn’t diminish the richness of the world she’s created. The…
