Thinking & Adding

Hey, how's it going? 

December is here and for us, that means that the temperature is heating up. That's right, our festive season is in the middle of summer, so we've been having some super hot days this week. And that leads to a bunch of storms. It's actually raining today and when we went to bed, a thunderstorm was raging outside.

I don't mind thunderstorms and rainstorms. Unless I get caught in the downpour, which happened to me last Friday. 😖

Well, this week turned out to be a bit wobbly, which always happens when I finish writing a first draft. I mean, it's also a thing during revision, but after a first draft the story is still so fresh in my mind, and it's all I've been thinking about all month, that there's bound to be some leftover thoughts.

A hangover, really.

Last (long) weekend I started a Revision List that ended up including a lot of extra stuff. So, I decided to tackle some of the more involved changes/additions on Tuesday. I even updated my research/inspirational pic folders, and reshuffled my Playlist. There are 31 songs from the 80s on this awesome Playlist that I've been listening to all week.

Anyway, after that, I thought I was done with the story until the second draft. So I spent a few days hanging out with hubby before work, going for walks, daydreaming about other stories, and I read the latest Stephanie Plum book.

Then Friday hit and I woke up from a dream about my characters, and several songs from the Playlist were actually playing in these dreams like a soundtrack. So, I opened up the doc again and spent last night making a few more changes/additions.

This is the new word count: 87,148.

I have no doubt that part of the reason why so many thoughts were circling my brain had something to do with watching THE LOST BOYS last weekend. I mean, I've seen this movie a thousand times but never get sick of it. Actually, I love it more each time. And the fact that it's one of the inspirations for my WIP, well... it was bound to affect me.

BTW, both THE LOST BOYS and NOW OR NEVER were my rewards for finishing the draft. 😁

Now that I've made these changes I need to take a break from the story. I usually like to take one or two months away to get some distance. Either way, I won't be revising until next year.

Writing this novel has been a LOT of fun, and that means a lot to me. In many ways, this year hasn't been kind in regards to publishing and I didn't get a chance to write anything new. Until now. And that makes me very happy.

That's it for now. Just wanted to spill some of my muddled thoughts.

Hope you all have an awesome weekend!

NOW OR NEVER by Janet Evanovich

Now or Never by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A few weeks ago, we went to K-Mart and my husband found this book on the shelf. I was so excited and couldn't wait to get stuck into it, but I was busy writing a book of my own during November and decided this would be my reward.

Stephanie has managed to say yes to the two men in her life, and still can't decide which one she's going to marry. Luckily, she's got a lot on her plate at the moment. There's an influencer, a YouTube star, a wholesale criminal, and a vampire. That's before considering the new man trying to insert himself into her life...

OMG. As usual, I had a blast with Stephanie's latest adventure. In typical Plum style, the hilarious situations and zany characters are balanced out by some pretty serious and dangerous situations. And everything fits together seamlessly.

This instalment also had an added mystery that you don't find out until the very end: who does she choose as her husband? Is it the hot and dangerous Ranger? Or the hot and irresistible Morelli? Hard choice. No wonder she said yes to both. 😅

Anyway, Lula, Grandma Mazur, Connie, Bob, and Steph's family go along for the ride. Like I said before, SO MUCH FUN!!

One last thing: it was great to meet Mr. Big because you can never have too many cool doggies in the mix.

Can't wait for the next book!


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My WIP is done!

Hi! How are you? I'm pretty good. Even if I got caught in a downpour and got drenched during my walk.

So, my right side/lat muscle prob is still there but it feels like it might be getting a bit better. It's hard to tell because every day is different. But I've got my fingers crossed and hope that being patient helps. We did a yoga workout the other day that seemed to help, so that's cool.

Anyway, enough about that. Let's talk about writing.

At he beginning of the week I decided that getting to the end of the first draft I've been working on this month would be great. For several reasons: I wanted to finish by the end of this month, and my husband has an RDO on Monday so we have a long weekend together. Awesome!

So, how did I do? Here's how it went:

• Monday: 65,135 (+6,612w)
• Tuesday: 70.543 (+5,408w)
• Wednesday: 77,843 (+7,300w)
• Thursday: 83,063 (+5,220w)
• Friday: 85,411 (+2,348w)

The first draft is done & I'm SO excited! ☺️🎉

As you can see from the daily word count numbers, it really wasn't that hard to write the rest of this novel because this story has been eating my brain. All week, it's been waking me up. I've also been dreaming about the characters. And taking lots of notes as everything came to me while sleeping, walking, or just talking about it with my husband.

I've really talked his ear off during the writing of this book. He's also been very helpful. Sometimes just knowing that he was listening to my endless chatter about everything helped me. A lot.

Yeah, he's awesome. 😍

The idea for this story hit me back in April while listening to one of my favourite songs ever, Boys of Summer by Don Henley, and thinking about my fave movie ever, The Lost Boys. So yeah, it's been scratching at my brain for months, which might explain why it pretty much poured out of me.

Funny thing is, that as much as I knew about the story and what would happen, what I ended up writing was full of surprises. Of things I hadn't expected. Twists and turns that actually made everything even darker and better.

I love this vampire tale. It's dark. It's sexy. It's got some twisty stuff going on. And every moment I spent in this world with these characters made me happy. 🦇

Like I've said many times, writing is magical and I love every minute of it. And this story in particular is special to me because it's the first full-length draft I've written after a year full of publishing disappointments. And like Only Darkness, this book helped me deal with everything and find my way back to what really matters to me the most: telling stories.

Well, that's about it. I'm going to take a mental break and to celebrate, we're going to watch the 4K Ultra HD version of The Lost Boys. Can't wait.

Have a good one!! 😃

The Writing Continues...

Hey, how are you today? I hope you all had a great week. What did you get up to? Can you believe we're halfway through November?! OMG. How? 😳

Last week I mentioned that we got routine blood tests done, and we got the results, which were good. So I'm glad about that. I also finished taking the capsules the doctor prescribed and I don't actually know if it made much of a difference. My right side/lat muscle still hurts when I go uphill and sit a certain way, but it might be getting a bit duller. I don't know. I need to keep avoiding really steep inclines and keep an eye on it. I know that muscle/nerve strains take a while to heal, so I think I just need to be patient.

Hopefully it will clear away soon.🤞

So, I've been writing up a storm.

Here's my WIP progress:

• Monday: 41,064 (+5,585w) 
• Tuesday: 45,422 (+4,458w)
• Wednesday: 50,372 (+4,850w)
• Thursday: 54,215 (+3,843w)
• Friday: 58,523 (+4,308w)

Not bad, right? ☺️

When I first started writing this story, I wasn't sure if it was going to be a novella or a novel, but since I crossed the 50k mark... I guess that means I've entered novel-length territory. Yay.

Progress this week has been pretty constant because every time I sat down with my laptop, the words poured out of me in such a rush that I had to backtrack the next time because I had to add things that got lost in the whirlwind. LOL.

The coolest thing happened the other night, too. I reached that part of the story where the rest of the novel revealed itself and the road to the end is starting to become clearer. Now it's time to make my way to the end, which is going to be fun. 

Well, for me. Not necessarily for all the characters.

This story is really eating my brain. So much that it keeps waking me up at night. Or too early. I even dream about it because the characters won't STFU, which is actually awesome.

Anyway, that's about it for now. I'm going to take a two-day mental break away from the novel and spend some time with my husband.

There'll probably be some note-taking and brainstorming, but that's it.

Have a great weekend!!

A Week Full of Words

Hi, how are you today? What did you get up to?

This week my husband and I went to get our annual blood tests. I also have to take an anti-inflammatory capsule for a week because I somehow hurt my right side/lat muscle. The weird thing is that I don't know how it happened. I mean, it could've been all the walking, or a particular exercise. Hell, maybe I hurt myself while sleeping. All I know is that I can't do the last bit of my daily walk for two weeks because the steep uphill incline triggers the pain plus pins and needles down my arm. Very, very strange. The doctor suspects it might be related to the nerves/muscle running across my lat and the back of my shoulder. 😫

Anyway. We'll see how it goes.

The other thing I did today was... I finally left Twitter. That's right. After 15 years, I deactivated my account. My husband deactivated his at the beginning of the week and to be honest, I was determined to stick around for a while. Even toyed with locking my account to private and only disconnecting temporarily. But the new AI bullshit was added, plus I'm over all the gross fascist crap that's going on over there.

Either way, I'm done. I deactivated and uninstalled the app from my phone. It's better this way because there's nothing left over there. Twitter died a long time ago and we were all holding onto a very thin memory of the place.

Besides, I'm still active on Bluesky (which I'm enjoy more and more), Threads and IG.

So, let's talk about writing.

Here's how I did:

• Monday: 21,550w (added 4,015) 
• Tuesday: 25,450w (added (3,900)
• Wednesday: no new words
• Thursday: 29,247w (added 3,797)
• Friday: 35,479w (added 6,232)

As you can see, even though I missed a day, this week's total word count was great. The numbers are good but what's even better is how the story keeps eating my brain so much that I'm constantly thinking about it. I keep dreaming about the characters, and can't stop images and snippets (about what's going to happen next) from popping into my head.

Yeah, I've been taking a lot of notes and looking for more inspirational pics. I also talk to my husband about it all the time. LOL.

This particular idea has been with me for MONTHS, so I'm not surprised that the words are flowing. Every time I sit down, the characters take over and I find myself getting lost in the story. I love when that happens!

Last week I mentioned that I wasn't sure if this was going to be a novella or a novel, but now that I've passed 35k and know what's to come, I'm pretty sure the total word count will surpass the novella length.

Well, asides from all this writing I also finished reading an excellent and very creepy book. You can read my review of DIAVOLA below. (Or hit the title for the direct link.)

That's it for this week, I think.

It's time to weekend. Have a good one!

DIAVOLA by Jennifer Marie Thorne

Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is another book that I've had my eye on for a while and finally decided to get stuck into the other day.

This year, Anna is going to Italy for the annual Pace family vacation. She's not looking forward to spending time with her dysfunctional family (twin brother, his boyfriend, older sister, brother-in-law, two nieces and parents) but she instantly likes the villa in the remote Tuscan town. Yet, there's something about this place that bothers her. And it's not just the locked tower door...

Fucking creepy. In the best way possible.

I really love it when a character's voice is so compelling and strong that I'm instantly hooked. I'm also a sucker if she's obviously flawed and definitely keeps secrets that slowly slip out. Add family complications, a spooky haunted house, plenty of unreliable situations to the mix, and my curiosity will keep me there during the duration of the book.

Seriously, I wanted to devour this story in one sitting but forced myself to slow down. To savour every creepy moment for as long as I could.

Everyone in the Pace family is annoying af, which only adds extra flavour to everything else that's going on. And there's a LOT. But mostly, I had a great time following Anna until she reached that very satisfying and unexpected unending.

Loved it. Great book!


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November is here!

How are you today?

Well, a new month is here and as far as the world goes, it hasn't started well. I still can't believe the news that came out of the US the other day. I find it devastating that so many people voted in favour of lies, hate and inequality. Instead of choosing a highly qualified candidate who stood for the right to choose, growth, and equality.

I'm saddened by these results. We live in a very disappointing world. I will never understand people, and somehow always manage to underestimate their capacity for cruelty. But I really shouldn't be surprised because I've had my fair share of shitty stuff thrown my way this year.

Anyway, the reason why I decided to post an update is because I started writing a new story this month. That's right! After a year full of editing, revision, rewriting, and having to deal with some pretty shitty stuff, I finally got stuck into a brand new WIP.

I used to take part in NaNoWriMo, but after the distasteful stuff that happened last year, I deleted my account. Yep. After sixteen years of participation, I vowed to never take part again and actually finished last year's novel on my own.

That I decided to get stuck into a first draft this month could be pure coincidence because I'm finally ready. Or it could be that muscle memory has drawn me back in. 😁

Either way, I got stuck into it this week:

• Monday: 2,342w 
• Tuesday: 6,146w (added 3,804)
• Wednesday: 10,378w (added 4,232)
• Thursday: 14,371w (added 3,993)
• Friday: 17,535w (added 3,164)

I think this is a great start. Not just because of the word count, but also because I really like how the main character's story is unfolding.

This idea has been renting space in my brain for months now! I've put together a Playlist, collected a bunch of inspirational pics, and have a document full of snippets and scenes that are ready to be written. And I can't wait for some of these scenes to come up because this story is sexy and raunchy, and full of horror. Did I mention it's a vampire book set in the late 80s? 🦇

Can't wait to see where these characters take me. I mean, I know where they're going but some of the getting there is still a mystery. LOL.

I'm also not sure if it's going to be a novella or a novel and don't have a total word count goal.

A week ago my first self-published book, ONLY DARKNESS, came out. This happens to be a re-release and it's a project that means a lot to me because rewriting/editing this, and turning two novellas plus a short story into one book, helped me deal with the shitty publishing stuff I went through earlier this year, so when I read the first review today, I was SO excited.

Oh, you know what I did last weekend? I binged AGATHA ALL ALONG & LOVED IT! I loved the witchy vibes and the little twists in the last half of the series were all very cool. I have to admit that I wasn't a fan of WANDAVISION, so I wasn't sure what to expect... but this was awesome! Much better. Even the different decade eps fit better, story wise.

Well, that's about it for this week.

Take care, take it easy, and have a great weekend!

SALLY'S LAMENT by Mari Mancusi

Sally's Lament by Mari Mancusi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favourite movies. Sally is one of my favourite characters. Sally and Jack are one of my favourite couples. So of course I wanted to read this lovely book.

Remember when Jack discovered Christmas Town? Well, imagine it was Sally and Zero who actually discover the tree and find themselves in the snowy wonderland. Except, Sally discovers there's something really dark going on...

I loved this! I was captivated from the very beginning because the opening scene is directly from the movie, but seen through Sally's POV. After that, this becomes a whole different story, an amazing adventure that both Sally and Jack share together. And because of that, the way their connection grows is more organic, and romantic.

I found this reimagining of Christmas Town intriguing, and loved the new cast of characters that are introduced. Plus the scenery, because this adventure expands the winter wonderland to include some dangerous places. Not to mention that Sally having her own agency makes her mission to help those who need it most even more exciting.

Yeah, I LOVED this charming story. 😍


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CASTLE OF THE CURSED by Romina Garber

Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to admit that the first thing I noticed about this book was the awesome cover. It certainly captures the creepy gothic vibes I enjoy so much.

After Estela loses her parents under mysterious circumstances, she feels like her life is over. She's totally alone and desperately wants answers. But when she finds out she has an aunt living in Spain, she suddenly finds herself inside a castle called la Sombra. A place full of secrets and shadows...

Wow. What a wonderful and strange story this turned out to be. It's about a teenager who is struggling with the grief of losing her parents and has trouble moving on. And if that's not enough, she has to move halfway across the world to discover her heritage, while uncovering a bunch of shocking secrets about her past. And learning Spanish from scratch. As well as realising that there are many things hiding in the darkness.

I really like how Estela changes as the new experiences she's forced to face shift as quickly as her surroundings. How she discovers that she didn't know anything about her parents, and that the world is full of unfathomable mystery. Her voice is strong and interesting, and I love the writing style because it really dragged me in.

There's an air of darkness that shadows the story from start to finish and the depth of weird that throws the story into unexpected territories was enough to keep me glued to the pages.

Oh, and did I mention that there's also a love story buried within all of the danger and uncertainty? Plus a twist that I quite enjoyed.

Great book!

 

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It's Release Day!

Happy Halloween!

Today is the day...

My first self-published book is now available! And you can grab a copy from Amazon right now.

To say I'm excited doesn't even begin to capture the way I feel about this book being out in the world again.

This particular story has gone through a lot, and I'm not even joking when I say that. The first version (which is only the first part of the book) got caught up in some pretty nasty business earlier this year, but I refused to focus on all that crap and instead forged ahead to put together a novel in two parts, that tells the story some of you might already be familiar with. As well as the continuation in the Roscoe family curse.

I want to thank my husband, Eugene, because this was his idea in the first place, Erin Al-Mehairi for doing the final copy edit, and Adrian Medina from Fabled Beast Design for not only the perfect cover, but also for the book's awesome interior.

This has been a wild ride and I hope you'll revisit, or take a look around Brittle for the first time. I'm not sure if you'll Suffer or Surrender, but I hope you enjoy it.

THE DARKNESS IN THE WOODS BECKONS HER...

A bleak tale about a cursed family and the mother trying to keep them together. The Exorcist meets Hereditary in this small-town horror story that will force you to embrace the darkness.

SUFFER

Kae Roscoe’s daughter vanished sixteen months ago and all she wanted during her absence was for Molly to return. But when her daughter comes back, she isn’t the same.

Molly hardly speaks and refuses to eat. The only emotion she displays is violence.

As much as Kae hates to admit it, there’s definitely something wrong with Molly, and her reappearance sets off a dark turn of events that threatens to tear the town apart.

SURRENDER

Summer Urbina has finally graduated from college and is excited about spending time with her mother. But as soon as she gets home, everything feels odd.

When her best friend sends an ominous text, Summer decides to trek across the country to make sure he’s okay.

She might not understand why, but the town of Brittle seems very familiar. The darkness calling her from the woods threatens to consume her entirely, and she’s not strong enough to resist.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Thank you for reading!

Thinking Time...

Hi, how are you today? I hope this week treated you well. I've been doing a bunch of different things.

A lot of thinking. And sorting. Some spring cleaning. Plenty of reading.

For most of this year, I've been so consumed with my own writing/planning and other stuff that reading has taken a bit of a backseat. If you check below, you can see what I read the last few days. One novel. One short story. One novella. All awesome and very entertaining.

Asides from enjoying some cool stories, I also continued what I started last week: revisiting novels that I thought were already done. Until I decided they weren't. LOL. 

Well, the longer novel was finished (again) last week, but not the shorter one. That story required a lot more thinking. So much that I decided to chat to my husband about it. He's very good at listening and offering great insight when I feel a bit lost or stuck, plus talking to him always helps me figure things out. And this time was no different. While discussing the issues I had with this story during one of our river walks, something very obvious clicked into place.

The reason why I couldn't stop thinking about this particular novel turned out to be very simple. In its current state, it doesn't work. And I quickly realised that attempting to fix all of the issues I have would require a complete rewrite. Something I just don't have the enthusiasm for right now.

There's only one thing left to do. I'm going to shelve it. I don't know if it'll be forever, but this version is back to sitting on my hard drive as a WIP. I might return to it in the future, but I might not. If I do, a complete rewrite is the only way to salvage the best parts. If I don't, it was a learning experience.

Either way is fine with me. Some stories work and some don't. But it feels good to have made a decision so I can move on to other projects. 🙂

And that means that I can now daydream and brainstorm my next WIP. This is a vampy story that's been renting space inside my brain for months. I love these characters and the snippets inside my head. I'm looking forward to joining their adventure soon.

Well, that's it for now. We've got a three-day weekend, so I'm very excited.

Have an awesome day!!

REALITY BUT MORE FUN by Madeleine Swann

Reality But More Fun by Madeleine Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let me start by saying that the cover is absolutely fabulous. And the story intrigued me so much, I got stuck into it last night and didn't want to stop.

Jade and Louise are sisters staying in the surreal Belle Epoque theme park with their mother. They're not supposed to stay there long, but can't remember how long they've been there, and stranger things than usual start to happen...

Peculiar. Bizarre. Awesome.

I found this story to be utterly delightful in its quirky weirdness. It's quite the trippy ride and the imagery is bright and beautiful with a very dark veneer. I love stories where everything seems perfect and lovely, almost to the point of being a sugary utopian experience... but the ugly truth slowly pushes its way through.

First, it's a simple glimpse at the utter confusion about what's really going on, but it doesn't take long for the eerie truth to become clear.

The sisters were quite charming. Louise is married and trying to do the right thing by her mother. While Jade longs for adventure and finds herself in the clutches of an unsavoury individual with questionable intentions. I also really liked Samir and Gillian because they're quite the problem-solving duo.

I had a LOT of fun reading this charming slice of strange, and loved the descriptive writing style.

 

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SOXORCIST II by Jamie Kort

Soxorcist II by Jamie Kort
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, I have to start by thanking the author for sending me a copy of this depraved slice of horror. It's the fourth erotic sock puppet story I've read, and it's certainly turning into Jamie Kort's subgenre. 🧦🪡

Anyway, here are my thoughts:

The Soxorcist needs help. She's sick and something is stirring inside her stomach, but what she finds is a terrifying nightmare worse than her memories...

O.M.F.G. The stories in this series might be short but require a lot of brain bleach. That doesn't ultimately work because the dark and gross imagery weaves its way so deep that the filth seeps too fast to stop.

In usual fashion, this story is as weird as fuck. Bizarre in too many ways to list without spoilers. Also very addictive. The writing is engaging and I didn't stop reading until I reached that very violent and disturbing end because I always want to know how it's going to end.

I also really like the addition of Sam the Raven.

If you enjoy being grossed out, but at the same time, intrigued by a storyline so strange that you're sucked right in... then definitely check this out. You won't regret it. Or maybe you will. 😅

 

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SWEETPEA by C.J. Skuse

Sweetpea by C.J. Skuse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've had my eye on this for a while, and when I found out a new show based on this book was coming out, I wanted to read it before watching.

Rhiannon is a bored editorial assistant caught in an unfulfilling relationship. She has an adorable dog she loves. She's also part of a group of friends she barely tolerates, and has an unhealthy addiction to making kill lists. But these aren't her biggest secrets...

Well. Rhiannon is really something, isn't she? She's certainly a flawed character, and quite unlikeable in many ways. She's full of insensitive opinions, isn't exactly nice, and has quite a few skeletons in her closet.

The journal/diary storytelling style really worked for me. It dragged me into the events that were unfolding very quickly. I also like how Rhiannon conveniently drops clues about the bizarre situations she finds herself in. Some details aren't clear right away, but it doesn't take long to figure out what this sweet little psycho is up to.

She certainly has a way with words. And men. And with insults. Lots of politically incorrect assumptions and judgements are made in this tale of murder, deceit, and how a violent past can morph someone's way of thinking forever.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Rhiannon's insane adventures. But like I said, she's not the nicest person in the world, and that's fine because while she's obviously a disturbed individual who constantly attempts to justify her despicable behaviour, there are a few glimmers of goodness that shine through. Occasionally.

Great start to the series, and that cliffhanger ending... 😳!! Good stuff.


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Hey!

How are you today? Long time no blog, right? 😅

But seriously, it's been a while since I posted an update, so I thought I'd pop in to chat.

Last month was really cool because my husband had annual leave and we went for some lovely adventures, long walks, and got plenty of rest. Then a long weekend followed... and now, Halloween Month is here. Yay.

A few great writing things happened. I made another book announcement: my haunted house ghost story, THESE STAINED WALLS, will be released by Horrorsmith Publishing next year. So excited to share this creepy story with the world.

Very happy about this one.

On the 30th of September, my latest book was released. NUMB (named after this very appropriate Linkin Park song) is my love letter to demonic possession stories. It's a bit THE EXORCIST and a lot SUPERNATURAL. I hope readers enjoy Chester's story. It's sad. It's creepy. And it's available in eBook and paperback right now!!

There are also some cool reviews already posted on Goodreads.

My other fantastic news is that my very first self-published book, ONLY DARKNESS,  will be released on October 31st. That's exactly 19 days from now. 

I'M SO EXCITED! Not just because I can't wait to share this story, but also because it turned out really nice. The paperback copy is especially lovely. The formatting was done by Fabled Beast Design, and he did a great job capturing my vision.

I mean, check this out:

These are the author copies and the book looks FANTASTIC! Because the first half of this book has been previously published, I wanted this version to be very different. So, the former novella became a novel told in two parts.

The Kindle version is currently available for pre-order and the pretty paperback will be available on release day.

I hope readers give my lovely creepy book a shot. ☺️

Asides from all of the cool news, I've been mentally sorting through some of my finished stories. One thing that I love to do is talk to my husband about my writing plans whenever they start to plague my mind. Chatting things over always helps me make a plan, and that's exactly what I spent this week doing.

I decided to re-revise two stories that I thought were done because a bunch of different ideas/directions struck out of nowhere. I actually finished working on the longer story and I'm SO happy with the changes I made. I think this makes the story much stronger and I also fixed some unexpected errors while I was there.

The other story is next week's problem because I have more details to sort out first. ☺️

Well, that's about it for now.

Hope you all have an awesome weekend!!

LADY MACBETH by Ava Reid

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to admit that the first thing that caught my attention was this lovely cover. And the fact I enjoyed Macbeth many, many years ago.

Roscille is a young girl married off to the Scottish Thane of Glammis, Lord Macbeth, who lives in a miserable castle and only cares about his ambition to become so much more. As his wife, Lady Macbeth, Roscille is forced to exert her own power in the only way she can: via reputation, suggestion, and manipulation...

I was hooked from the first word. The gothic vibes are all over this story: the cold castle, isolated location, rough terrain, harsh ocean, dark secrets, brutish man, and witches. I found the whole witchy thing to be especially interesting, as well as Roscille herself. Who happens to have her own legend attached to her, that may or may not be true.

I also wasn't expecting any mention of a dragon, but it was very cool, and definitely added to the depth of the story.

Roscille is a strong character who manages to hatch her own cruel plans but can't escape the constraints of horrible men who rule the world and control so much by using violence. These two very different concepts were balanced very well, and certainly made for a great story with an intriguing ending.

I really enjoyed this retelling.

 

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It's Release Day!!

 That's right!

Today's the day! ☺️🎉

My horror novel, about a teenager whose mother goes missing and she becomes a target for demonic possession, is now available:

SHE DOESN'T LIVE IN A HAUNTED HOUSE.

THE MONSTER IS ALREADY INSIDE HER HEAD.

Chester is no stranger to hearing voices, but after her mother disappears without a trace, the demonic voice trying to consume her is getting stronger every day.

The threat of possession might be her biggest problem, but it's not her only one. Chester's confidence in the stepmother who is trying to keep her safe is now unstable. The safe and comfortable connection with her very supportive stepbrother is slowly becoming a tangled mess that threatens their strong bond.

When Chester stumbles on her mother's precious journal, she hopes to find some answers about what's happening to her. But what she really wants to uncover is how to find her missing mother. And the answer to that mystery might come from the most unexpected source. Herself.

If you're interested, you can purchase an eBook or print copy from these stores:

AMAZON | B&N

ANUCI PRESS WEBSITE

You can also...

ADD IT TO GOODREADS

I want to thank Tony Anuci for proofreading this story and giving another one of my books a home, plus Ruth Anna Evans for the beautiful cover.

I'M SO EXCITED!

😁

STATIC by Stacey L. Pierson

Static by Stacey L. Pierson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"A nostalgic, dual-timeline trip that twists the ghost story trope into a never-ending groundhog nightmare with deadly revelations."

I want to thank Stacey for giving me the chance to read an ARC of this cool novel.

Jesse leads an average life during the late 1990s. Tatum is trying to get used to life changes in 2024. Both might be living in a haunted house with plenty of secrets...

This is an intriguing story told by several characters, and certainly throws the traditional ghost story upside down. At many times, it feels like a fever dream on repeat, that reveals a little more with the building tension until the devastating truth is revealed.

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NANA by Mark Towse

Nana by Mark Towse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've had this on my Paperwhite for a while and decided to get stuck into it last night.

Olly’s parents are going through a hard time so they're going out to dinner to talk things out. That means that Olly will be spending some time with his nana and her friends from Newhaven Crescent. Lucky for him, it's the night of a talent night unlike any other...

Well, that was a delightful, heartwarming tale about growing old gracefully. I'm kidding, of course, because Nana is none of those things. 😅

I had a blast reading this novella. Although everything unravels slowly and all the characters are introduced at their own pace, the story still somehow flies. Mainly it's because it's intriguing and dark, surreal in many places. Definitely disorienting and full of body horror. But you know what? It's also funny. I laughed out loud many times because the dialogue from some of the more deranged codgers was hilarious.

Don't let the fun fool you, though. This tale about the unhinged residents of Newhaven Crescent is disturbing, and gross. Some of the darker imagery in the later half of the book will forever be turned into your brain, and the inappropriate behaviour will make you cringe... but it's a great story.

I especially liked Olly and his mother, even poor Alex.

Glad I finally read it!


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BLACKOUT: Micropoetry by Brian Bowyer

BLACKOUT: Micropoetry by Brian Bowyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've been feeling a little restless this week, and that means that I haven't been able to pick one book to concentrate on for longer than five minutes.

That's when I remembered I had this lovely book on my Paperwhite...

So, with the rain falling outside and a chill in the air, I sat down on the couch and lost myself in this wondrous poetry collection that's broken up into months. A whole year packed full of small shards that cut deep. Really deep.

One of my favourite things about poetry is when the words are slim but the effect is wide. And every single one of these little drops of somber beauty really hits. Brian Bowyer manipulates words very well, until they bloom into piercing images that fill your mind.

Yeah, I loved these emotionally-charged poems and read the entire collection in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.


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A cool announcement!

My first self-published book will be released this Halloween! 🎃

ONLY DARKNESS is a novel told in two parts. Both parts originally started their very separate lives as novellas featuring the Roscoe family, and the dark curse that threatens to destroy them.

You might recognise the first part, because it was previously published for a while, but after I got my rights back... I wasn't sure what to do. Until my husband suggested we self-publish it.

And I thought, why not add the sequel/companion to the mix? I mean, it made sense. This way, anyone who already read the novella can now experience a slightly different version while finding out what happens in the previously unpublished story that follows.

So, I purchased an awesome cover made by Fabled Beast Design, revised/reworked both parts, hired Erin Al-Mehairi to do the final copy edit, and Adrian Medina to format the book, then decided to publish via KDP.

It just made sense.

Here's the result:

 

DARKNESS IN THE WOODS BECKONS HER...

SUFFER

Kae Roscoe’s daughter vanished sixteen months ago and all she wanted during her absence was for Molly to return. But when her daughter comes back, she isn’t the same. 

Molly hardly speaks and refuses to eat. The only emotion she displays is violence.

As much as Kae hates to admit it, there’s definitely something wrong with Molly, and her reappearance sets off a dark turn of events that threatens to tear the town apart. 

SURRENDER

Summer Urbina has finally graduated from college and is excited about spending time with her mother. But as soon as she gets home, everything feels odd.

When her best friend sends an ominous text, Summer decides to trek across the country to make sure he’s okay.

She might not understand why, but the town of Brittle seems very familiar. The darkness calling her from the woods threatens to consume her entirely, and she’s not strong enough to resist.

EBOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER AT AMAZON

PAPERBACK WILL BE AVAILABLE OCTOBER 31.

YOU CAN ADD TO GOODREADS NOW!

I'm happy and very proud about how this book turned out. I hope you decide to revisit or discover how this family saga ends.

Thanks for reading! 😊

I have some awesome news!

The other day Horrorsmith Publishing made this fantastic announcement:

My haunted house ghost story novel will be published under Horrorsmith's Fear Forge imprint next year.

I'm SO excited and can't wait to share my creepy tale about a hellish house.

Here's a bit about THESE STAINED WALLS:

The walls within Helston House are alive, and they're very hungry.

 

Matilda Ashbrooke has been uprooted from her family home and forced to isolate with her eccentric grandfather during the pandemic. But the creepy Helston House has many secrets, starting with the stain on the bedroom wall that seems to be getting bigger every day...

I'm so happy to have signed a contract with Horrorsmith and can't wait to share more info as we get closer to release date.

Yay!! 😊

THE RACK: Stories Inspired by Vintage Horror Paperbacks, edited by Tom Deady

The Rack: Stories Inspired By Vintage Horror Paperbacks by Tom Deady
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this awesome and packed anthology. I have to admit that I took my time with it, savouring a handful of stories a night.

Here's what I thought of each story:

BLACK PAGES by Cynthia Pelayo: Great story and I really liked the ending.

OTHER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED by Ronald Malfi: This little odd and awesome tale delivered in many ways.

FUZZY SLIPPERS by Jeff Strand: As much fun as it was ridiculous. Poor Grandma.

THE RAFT by Stephen King: Always cool to read a King story.

THAT CHEMICAL GLOW by Larry Hinkle: I enjoyed this creepy little tale.

I AM A HOUSE DEMANDING TO BE HAUNTED by Mercedes M. Yardley: Whimsical. Grotesque. Macabre. Beautiful.

URSA DIRUO by Kristin Dearborn: Really intriguing small-time horror tale with an unexpected and cool ending.

A DEVIL WE USED TO KNOW by Johnny Compton: I found this one a little hard to get into.

IRISH EYES by Bridget Nelson: A total fever dream and a hell of a freaky ride.

THEY LOOK BACK by Candace Nola: Yikes! Didn't expect the twist in this one, but when it hits... creepy.

BLOOD OF MY BLOOD by Christa Carmen: A fun wedding story featuring a very different spin on vampires.

THE KEEPER OF TASWOMET by Errick Nunnally: I REALLY enjoyed this one. The main character really carried this creature feature.

THE LAST CALL OF THE CICADA by Gwendolyn Kiste: A whimsical and lovely, horrific tale about a small town. And cicadas. So many cicadas.

MIGHTIER THAN BULLETS by Laurel Hightower: This story takes the awful real-life horror of school shootings and gives it an unbelievable twist. SO freaking GOOD.

LOUD AND CLEAR by Max Booth III: Interesting tale.

BETTER BY YOU, BETTER THAN ME by Rebecca Rowland: What a fever dream this one turned out to be!

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM LANE by Richard Chizmar: Hooked from start to finish!

THE VISITOR by Philip Fracassi: So creepy. Another one I enjoyed immensely.

LIPS LIKE A SCYTHE by Steve Van Samson: Not bad.

WHITE PAGES by Clay McLeod Chapman: Very nostalgic.

As I said above, this book is jam-packed full of nostalgic, fun and super creepy stories that I enjoyed. A lot. And there are quite a few that will stay with me for a long time.

I want to thank Erin Al-Mehairi for sending me a copy.


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Cover Reveal!

If you're on social media, then you've probably already seen this absolutely beautiful cover made by Ruth Anna Evans:

It's so bright and absolutely perfect because the imagery captures Chester's struggle in the book SO well.

Speaking of that, here's the story synopsis:

SHE DOESN'T LIVE IN A HAUNTED HOUSE.

THE MONSTER IS ALREADY INSIDE HER HEAD.

Chester is no stranger to hearing voices, but after her mother disappears without a trace, the demonic voice trying to consume her is getting stronger every day.

The threat of possession might be her biggest problem, but it's not her only one. Chester's confidence in the stepmother who is trying to keep her safe is now unstable. The safe and comfortable connection with her very supportive stepbrother is slowly becoming a tangled mess that threatens their strong bond.

When Chester stumbles on her mother's precious journal, she hopes to find some answers about what's happening to her. But what she really wants to uncover is how to find her missing mother. And the answer to that mystery might come from the most unexpected source. Herself.

NUMB will be released on September 30!

You can already pre-order a copy:

Amazon | B&N | Anuci Press Website

ADD TO GOODREADS

And yes, I named this book after a Linkin Park song because it totally fits Chester's story... Also, I named my main character after Chester Bennington.

Thanks for reading! 

August Update!

Hey, how are you today? How's August treating you? Can you believe it's almost over? Yikes.

A lot of good and one not-good thing happened this month. It started with an incredible announcement: signed a contract for my first short story collection with Cemetery Gates Media, and the release of a very cool and unique anthology edited by Lauren Carter.

And then I found out a book that I got my rights back for (at the end of June) had been published anyway. I mean, WTF? That wasn't a fun experience, but with the help of Amazon and Ingram, I was able to sort everything out. I was amazed and so glad for their help while dealing with this copyright infringement. And now the book isn't available anymore. Anywhere. Which is what should've happened in the first place. Sometimes, if you want something done properly and professionally... you have to do it yourself.

On a much better note, the weather is warming up and the days are getting longer. Only problem is that we seem to be skipping right to summer temps. Good thing I love summer. 😅

So, what else have I done this month? Well, I've been enjoying the weekends with my husband, and making decisions about my homeless novellas/novels. I've subbed some things, proofread others, updated a whole bunch of computer files, and even decided to change Wings of Sorrow to another title. In fact, I've decided to rewrite/rework the 46k-word story into a novel. I have some new ideas and additions I want to make, and a few changes. I refuse to let one terrible experience ruin my enthusiasm for Thera and Hector's story, but it's not ready to face the world yet.

I'm also excited about a few things that I've been working on and sorting out with another story. Plus the announcement that was made yesterday made me smile: My novel, FALLEN DESTINY, will be published by Brigids Gate Press late next year. This is a cozy/urban fantasy about a demon who's hired by a mysterious nun to find an angel. Yeah, lots to unpack there. But I'm super excited! 😁

This week we watched the series finale for two of our favourite shows. EVIL is a fantastic show that, IMO, ended prematurely and that was definitely reflected in the finale. It was SO disappointing. Betrayed the character arcs and motivation they took so long to establish. Oh well. THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY, however, was brilliant. I loved every minute of the final season and the finale broke my heart, but it totally worked. There was no other way for things to turn out for the Hargreeves siblings. I'm gonna miss them.

So, I started the month with some great news, had to deal with a shitty situation in the middle, and am ending on a nice note. I really hope that September is a great month, packed with good weather, awesome news, and exciting writing projects.

My husband's having two weeks off during the middle of September, so that's a good start.

Have a good one!

Check it out!

 

I have some fantastic news to share today!

I'm VERY excited to announce that my first short story collection, MELANCHOLY DELUSIONS, has been contracted by Cemetery Gates Media and will be released early next year. Yay. 🥳

The collection contains 17 horror stories. Can't wait to share these characters and macabre tales of woe with you.

A HUGE THANK YOU to Cemetery Gates for giving my dark delusions a home. 

Popping in to say...

OMGosh, I just realised that it's been quite a while since I last posted something that wasn't a book review.

So, here I am! ☺️

How are you? How's July treating you? What's new? Anything exciting happening in your life at the moment?

I have to admit that in some ways, this month hasn't been the best. Well, some things have been great because spending time with my husband, and going on suburban adventures with him, is always fun and exciting. Not to mention that July is my birthday month. And we got a new fancy washing machine!

We've also been watching The Boys (great finale), Evil, and discovered some 90s episodes of Columbo on Prime! Which are totally addictive. 😅🔍

Winter has hit really hard, which I don't like. I can't wait for the longer days to come back...

Between the stress of routine health checks and what happened online, I've been dealing with a lot of stuff.

Anyway, I don't want to get into the nitty-gritty details because if you're on social media you probably already know what happened, but a bunch of my books are no longer published/coming soon. If you've taken a look around my website you probably already noticed.

And I'm once again really sorry if you pre-ordered Wings of Sorrow because it wasn't released as previously scheduled. 

Yep. I now have a bunch of homeless horror stories, but that's okay. I think my hard drive is the best place for them at the moment.

Although it's taken me weeks to clear my head enough to really deal with what happened, I'm finally ready to think about what to do next. I have to admit that the experience has been hard on my mental health, has left me with some trust issues, and a lot of disappointment. It's funny (weird, not haha) how situations like this can bring out the worst or best in people. And I've taken note because I don't forget gaslighting or being tossed aside for no reason. 🫤

But I'm not here to dwell on any of the uncomfortable things I've gone through lately because the routine tests came back good, and I had a great meeting with my Film/TV agent the other day. 

I just want to move on from all the other stuff. It's time to think about the future.

Well, that's it. Just thought I'd pop in and say a few things about how the last two turbulent months have affected me. And I also want to say that I'll keep you posted on what's next for my stories.

Watch this space. ☺️

Thanks for reading and have an awesome day!

MISTRESS OF ALL EVIL by Serena Valentino

Mistress of All Evil: A Tale of the Dark Fairy (Disney Villains 4) by Serena Valentino
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yesterday I tried to read the third book in this series and unfortunately DNFd it halfway through, but I still decided to give this one (the fourth) a go.

Maleficent is often called the Dark Fairy, the Mistress of All Evil. Yet, there's a lot more to her story. Starting with the reason why she cursed an innocent princess and is determined to destroy everything...

Well, this turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed it! I liked the portrayal of Maleficent in this dark fairy tale, and actually didn't mind all of the other characters either. I liked the explanation for her actions, and how she's misunderstood by everyone because they refuse to see things through her perspective.

The daughter angle was an unexpected surprise that adds a whole new level of emotion and motivation to a character who's so often shown as a one-dimensional villainous caricature.

I'm intrigued by the Odd Sisters, and although it made sense, the ending annoyed me.

Also, this reminds me that I need to watch the movies.


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THREADS OF ASH: SOUTH by S.H. Cooper

Threads of Ash: South by S.H. Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've wanted to read this book for a while now, and picked it up last night because I couldn't wait any longer. 😁

Yaveta has lost everyone and everything that mattered to her because of the weeping blight. So when a warrior called Wulfren saves her life, she decides to go with him on an adventure across a devastated world that provides more questions than answers...

Wow. What an awesome dark fantasy tale this turned out to be. It's got the right combination of fantasy and horror. Plus the worldbuilding is intriguing, and the writing is wonderful. It's set in a dangerous, but lovely, place that constantly surprised me and kept me glued to the page.

I really liked Yaveta, a young woman who's been through so much she doesn't realize she's strong at heart and might. Wulfren is a brooding big guy who hides behind his strength and isn't prepared to deal with someone like Yaveta. And together, they make an odd but great pair. Also, I love Svir! So cute.

Well, I enjoyed everything about this fast-paced, interesting book that has a bit of everything. Including some great body horror and plenty of gore.

Can't wait for the next book!


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INSOMNIA by Sarah Pinborough

Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked this up because Sarah Pinborough never lets me down.

Emma Averell is a busy woman. She's got a career and two children. Luckily, her husband stays home to look after the kids and the house. But that all changes when her fortieth birthday draws near, and both her mother and sister return to her life. Now she's losing time and sleep...

Wow. What an awesome, twisty story!

As expected, this book hooked me from the very beginning. I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Especially since so much of Emma's POV is riddled with paranoia and disorientation.

This author has such an addictive way of sucking the reader into the seemingly average lives of people who slowly reveal that they aren't that normal at all. And instead, are riddled with complications, secrets and so many issues.

I knew there would be a twist, so when it hit: 😳! Absolutely loved it. Yikes.

And one last thing, this story is nerve-wracking pretty much all the way through, but the second half kept me on the edge of my seat.


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RED by Daniel Lorn

Red: A Horror Novella by Daniel Lorn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This week I've had a bit of a hard time engaging with every book that I started on my Paperwhite, so I was really excited when I started reading this and couldn't put it down.

It's the festive season but this guy doesn't have anything to celebrate. Especially when his marriage is going to shit and his job is pretty much done...

Yikes. This is an unsettling story about a man who doesn't feel very festive. Not when his life is falling apart, his troubled past is catching up with him, and his mind has decided to break.

My favourite part about this tale is how ambiguous everything is. At first, I was convinced I'd just met a creature of the night. But as the events moved along and I fell deeper into the character's head, I started to doubt that. Maybe I was spending time with a serial killer. Or a simple man desperate for revenge. By the time I got to the end of this violent but excellent story, I realised it could be all of those things. Or none of them.

Yes, that's the beauty of this story with such a cool cover.

But I'm certain about two things: the writing style was as lovely as it was brutal, and I felt a lot of sadness for what this man endured as a child.

Seriously great novella!!

 

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VERITY by Colleen Hoover

Verity by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've been meaning to read a Colleen Hoover book for ages, and decided to start with this one because it's supposed to be a suspenseful story.

Lowen is a writer who's been caring for her ill mother. The first day she decides to brave the streets of New York, she witnesses a horrible accident, meets a mysterious man, and is offered the deal of a lifetime. Or maybe it's the worst offer...

Well, okay. As soon as we're introduced to this character we figure out a few things. Lowen separated herself from everyone for quite a while. She hasn't written in ages. Her mother just died and left her with no money. Plus she's obviously hiding something. Or at least suffering from some kind of ailment.

All of the above is sure to get my interest. Throw in a nice-looking guy who also seems to be a nice man, a tragic family, a creepy house, and I'm definitely there.

I really liked the atmosphere of deception that's established early on. I didn't trust any of the characters, and as the story unfolds, my first instinct turned out to be right because all of these people are hiding something. Even the kid!

Seriously, lots of creepy vibes in that house. Not to mention that Lowen comes across as problematic as well. Actually, all the characters in this book are different levels of fucked up.

Oh, and when Lowen starts reading that biography. Yikes! What a trip that turned out to be.

I actually really enjoyed this story because the central theme is manipulation. Something the author does very well. And I liked the final twist, too.

Yeah, I really enjoyed this!


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CHOPPING SPREE by Angela Sylvaine

Chopping Spree by Angela Sylvaine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"An explosive, fast-paced slasher that stabs the cult of consumerism in the heart, and twists the blade until it bleeds."

I want to thank Angela for giving me the chance to read this awesome novella.

Penny lives in Eden Hills, a place where kids go missing all the time and the 80s-inspired mall rules supreme. But the night she stays for a late-night party with her workmates, all hell breaks loose when a killer storms into the mall...

Wow, this turned out to be one very unpredictable and intriguing story! I loved that there were so many different things happening beneath the surface of a killing spree at the local mall. There's a very cool culty angle and plenty of witty commentary about capitalism and consumerism. Not to mention an awesome, strong heroine that I was rooting for all the way.

Oh, and the ending doesn't disappoint.

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COUNTDOWN TO OBLIVION by Brian Bowyer

COUNTDOWN TO OBLIVION by Brian Bowyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, this book is so good I read it in one sitting!

Chuck is a no-nonsense kinda guy with a drinking problem, but when the world is about to turn to shit, he finds himself in the middle of a rescue mission...

Yikes! This story might be short but it grabbed me by the throat and dragged me along until the shocking conclusion. The sense of dread hit me from the very beginning, and only got thicker and harder to ignore as I turned the pages.

The family at the centre of this apocalyptic tale—with freaky SF elements guaranteed to give any reader nightmares—are a complicated and very dysfunctional bunch with a hell of a lot of problems. But that doesn't mean that I didn't feel for them, because I did.

Countdown to Oblivion packs quite the punch. It's violent and brutal. A total nightmare of apocalyptic proportions featuring characters I should've disliked but actually felt bad for, and enjoyed following until the very end. Except for Kyle. Kyle can fuck off.

Anyway, you should check it out.


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EARTHLINGS by Sayaka Murata

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've had this on my Paperwhite for a while and decided it was time to check it out.

Natsuki's best friend is a hedgehog plushie called Piyyut, who happens to come from the planet Popinpobopia. She doesn't get along with her family and definitely doesn't fit in, but she's convinced they're always right. The only person she gets along with is her cousin, Yuu, who she sees every summer until an incident that changes everything...

O.M.F.G. Wow. Okay. Yikes.

I found the story concept very interesting and honestly didn't know what to expect. I mean, I did kinda know about some of the trigger warnings beforehand, but not much about what happens in the book.

A LOT of it is totally shocking. And the surprises just kept coming all the way to the end of the book. Seriously. Just when I was sure about where this was going... another shock is thrown in. 😳

So much of what happens to Natsuki is really screwed-up. And quite sad. I kept getting angry while reading because all she wanted to do was behave the way adults told her she should behave, and is instead abused by people that should be looking out for her. She's also constantly judged by adults. That's right, the asshole adults in this book keep judging kids. WTF?!

The bottom line is: I really enjoyed EARTHLINGS. A lot. The writing style is lovely. The story is SO OUT THERE. The eccentricities of this tale really grabbed me. As did the social commentary of how forced conformity warps impressionable minds, and how abuse (all kinds) can fragment a mind. Not to mention what dictating how every cog should live their life fucks with your brain.

Lastly, I need to include a list of CWs: childhood trauma, sexual, mental, emotional & physical abuse, incest, gaslighting, threats, murder, delusions... I could keep going but I'll stop there, and deliberately left out one big thing because it ventures into spoiler territory.

 

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