DAUGHTERS OF THE BLUE MOON by Millie Abecassis

Daughters of the Blue Moon by Millie Abecassis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'd like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this lovely novella with such a beautiful cover.

Just like her husband, Carmine is one of the village hunters. The day she goes searching for a wolf, that's been attacking the local sheep, by herself, she ends up getting badly hurt. As Carmine heals, she starts to remember long forgotten fragments that will change her life forever...

I started reading this book the other day to get a taste for it, and then picked it up again today and couldn't put it down. It's such a fantastical story that takes the reader into the heart of the woods, where the lives of wolves and humans collide in violence.

Carmine is such a great main character. She's strong, stubborn, caring, and determined. I really enjoyed getting to know her as she uncovers several long-buried family secrets that resurface after the trauma she suffers from her injuries. How she deals with everything intrigued me at every step.

I also think that the sense of location was lush, and I could feel the cold climate the characters found themselves in, and got lost in the dark woods with them, too.

Little Red Riding Hood is one of my favourite fairy tales, so I always love reading retellings... and this one didn't disappoint!

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Books Read in 2024

THE LOVER:

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

THE TIGER CAME TO THE MOUNTAINS:

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

HER HEART BEATS FOR ANCIENT BEASTS:

Calvin Demmer

OPEN HOUSE:

Nico Bell

BLACK VAULT:

Alma Katsu

MANDY:

Stephanie Sparks

THROUGH THE BLUR:

Yolanda Sfetsos

HELENA:

Claire L. Smith

TRUE CRIME:

Samantha Kolesnik

BLEEDING INTO NEW WORLDS:

Sarah Jane Huntington

PIRANESI (DNF):

Susanna Clarke

BARREN COVE:

Ariel S. Winter

THE CRANE HUSBAND:

Kelly Barnhill

IN EXCESS OF DARK:

Red Lagoe

WINGS OF SORROW:

Yolanda Sfetsos

GOBLIN MONDAY

(Goosebumps House of Shivers #2):

R.L. Stine

THE FIRST EVIL

(Fear Street Cheerleaders #1):

R.L. Stine

THE PROM QUEEN

(Fear Street #15):

R.L. Stine

BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE:

Anna Biller

CHOPPING SPREE:

Angela Sylvaine

BURY THE CHILD:

L.C. Marino

DAISY JONES & THE SIX:

Taylor Jenkins Reid

WOMAN, EATING:

Claire Kohda

THE IDEA OF YOU:

Robinne Lee

THE WICKED UNSEEN:

Gigi Griffis

MY ROOMMATE IS A VAMPIRE:

Jenna Levine

THE FIRST HORROR

(99 Fear Street: The House of Evil Trilogy #1):

R.L. Stine

SHORT SCARES

Two Sentence Horrors Anthology:

edited by Lauren Carter

YOU LIKE IT DARKER:

Stephen King

EARTHLINGS:

Sayaka Murata

NIGHTBITCH (DNF):

Rachel Yoder

COUNTDOWN TO OBLIVION:

Brian Bowyer

VERITY:

Colleen Hoover

A CERTAIN HUNGER (DNF):

Chelsea G. Summers

RED:

Daniel Lorn

INSOMNIA:

Sarah Pinborough

THREADS OF ASH: SOUTH

(The Frayed Kingdom #1):

S.H. Cooper

POOR UNFORTUNATE SOUL (DNF):

(Disney Villains #3):

Serena Valentino

MISTRESS OF ALL EVIL

(Disney Villains #4):

Serena Valentino

BEAUTY & THE BEAST

(Usborne Peek Inside a Fairy Tale):

Anna Milbourne

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

(Usborne Peek Inside a Fairy Tale):

Anna Milbourne

SLEEPING BEAUTY

(Usborne Peek Inside a Fairy Tale):

Anna Milbourne

NUMB:

Yolanda Sfetsos

THE RACK

Stories Inspired by Vintage Horror Paperbacks:

edited by Tom Deady

ONLY DARKNESS:

Yolanda Sfetsos

BLACKOUT

Micropoetry:

Brian Bowyer

NANA:

Mark Towse

STATIC:

Stacey L. Pierson

LADY MACBETH:

Ava Reid

SWEETPEA:

C.J. Skuse

SOXORCIST II:

Jamie Kort

REALITY BUT MORE FUN:

Madeleine Swann

CASTLE OF THE CURSED:

Romina Garber

SALLY'S LAMENT:

Mari Mancusi l

DIAVOLA:

Jennifer Marie Thorne

NOW OR NEVER

(Stephanie Plum #31):

Janet Evanovich

TROG:

Zachary Ashford

MELANCHOLY DELUSIONS:

Yolanda Sfetsos

REAP, SOW:

S.H. Cooper

Books Read in 2024: 55/52

(DNF books: 4)

________________________

Number of series/duology/trilogy books read: 13

1. GOBLIN MONDAY (Goosebumps House of Shivers #2)
2. THE FIRST EVIL (Fear Street Cheerleaders #1)
3. THE PROM QUEEN (Fear Street #15)
4. THE FIRST HORROR (99 Fear Street: The House of Evil Trilogy #1)
5. THREADS OF ASH: SOUTH (The Frayed Kingdom #1)
6. POOR UNFORTUNATE SOUL (Disney Villains #3)
7. MISTRESS OF ALL EVIL (Disney Villains #4)
8. BEAUTY & THE BEAST (Usborne Peek Inside a Fairy Tale):
9. LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD (Usborne Peek Inside a Fairy Tale)
10. SLEEPING BEAUTY (Usborne Peek Inside a Fairy Tale)
11. SWEETPEA (Sweetpea #1)
12. SOXORCIST II
13. NOW OR NEVER (Stephanie Plum #31)

My 2024 Reading Goal: 52 books

REAP, SOW by S.H. Cooper

Reap, Sow by S.H. Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This week, I got the chance to read an ARC of this awesome novelette, and I was hooked instantly.

When Lucky finds herself inside a long corridor with closed doors that have no handles and faceless people who hunt her down, she doesn't know what's going on. But as her family members start showing up, the past returns with a vengeance...

Wow. This story is as dark as it is fantastic. I enjoyed every minute of it and loved how the mystery started to unravel. It's raw and tragic, full of heartbreak and the worst kind of betrayal. It's about the worst choices we make and how easily they can ruin our lives and chase us forever.

Loved it!!


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TROG by Zachary Ashford

Trog by Zachary Ashford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Firstly, I want to thank Zachary for sending me an ARC of his upcoming novella.

After a traumatic ordeal in the city, Aisha's parents decide to relocate to a property in the middle of nowhere to keep her out of danger. What they don't know is that something is imprisoned beneath their new house, and that danger isn't limited to the city...

Wow. This novella is an action-packed, chaotic creature feature full of interesting characters, terrifying situations, human monsters, and a Yowie with a taste for human meat.

I had a total blast reading this bloody tale about a teenage girl trying to get over a terrible incident that almost ruined her life. Sometimes a fresh start isn't the answer, but you'll have a great time finding out all the things that can go wrong in the sticks.

I know Trog is a wild, feral creature hellbent on destruction, but I did feel for the beast. Humans have a tendency to make everything worse.

Anyway, this is a great and very cool novella!


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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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