Book Review: The House Built on Alligator Bones by Sophia Huneycutt

 

Sometimes a horror story doesn't hit you all at once. It takes its time, leaving bits of itself behind in the recesses of your mind, making you question the shadows that move in the dark or even walk a little faster past the dark corners in your room. It leaves a sense of dread and then it keeps building on that, and you just let it wash over you because it's so much fun to be creeped out. That's what happened with The House Built on Alligator Bones by Sophia Huneycutt. I've already received my hardcover in the mail and have it safe on my shelf. I was impressed with the way this story built its legend and the way it resolved its conflict and I am officially looking forward to whatever Huneycutt writes and publishes next.

The story is very easy to slip into from the start. Dartrine Beaumont has just lost her mother and believes there is nothing left for her, in terms of family, in her world. Then she finds a letter from a long lost grandmother and suddenly Dart has family again, family that her mother purposely kept her from, and Dart decides to take a chance and make the trip to her family's alligator farm to learn more about her mother and where her family came from. Greer House felt like its own character, this looming gothic estate that was covered in portraits of the family matriarch and decorated with an alligator skin, the one that started the family's journey into farming alligators. Huneycutt had a way of leaving enough to question about Dart's past, to wonder at the way her mother treated her by cutting Dart of from everything, and to warily eye the way things were run at the Greer House. Dart starts to expand in ways that she wasn't able to before and it happened so naturally over the course of the writing, leaving readers rooting for her as she starts to uncover the truth about her family. 

In terms of characters, I did come to love Dart over the course of the story. I knew there was something that she was hiding but when it was finally revealed, I felt it was justified. I'm surprised it took her so long to fight back. I thought with all things considered that Dart had managed to come out better than her family and that made all the difference to me in the end. Gazzie was exactly what I expected her to be, this long lost grandmother with her secrets and beliefs,  but the reveals made the twists a little more worthwhile and I loved the way things played out in the end for her. Aunt Virginia, Gazzie's sister, was a sweetheart but I didn't care for her as much as I thought I would considering that she was left out of the book a bit. Harrison was the heir to the farm, an outsider who had managed to make a home for himself working for Gazzie, who also tried to help Dart in her search for answers. And the answers they found made sense with the house itself, the way it seemed to move and breathe in ways that reminded me of other mansions with skeletons in their closets.

The reveals worked, the way the story moved, leaving a trail of clues to follow that made me want to understand exactly what was the driving force of this book. A lot of this brought to mind the question of nature versus nurture and I left this book still firmly on the nurture side of the argument. Characters made their choices, a lot of them questionable and for the worse, and I wanted Dart to find her place that was solely hers. A lot of this book depends on the reveals it gives and thankfully the reveals in this were the kind that were surprising enough and yet believable at the same time that they just worked. Was it a little bonkers in some ways? Oh absolutely, but I was all for the creepiness and the way it was coming to light in this book. And don't get me started on the alligator bones themselves. That reveal deserves to be experienced for yourself by reading the book.

In the end, this was a very respectable addition to Gothic literature and to horror stories in general. I look at this book and think of the ending and just smile, because I was content with where things were left for the characters. I'll be keeping an eye out for what comes next from Sophia Huneycutt.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars. I would go on and on about what was hiding in this house and how it came to be there but readers just need to give this book a read for themselves. It's a very good story and a lot of fun.

My thanks to NetGalley, Dutton and Sophia Huneycutt for the eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: When They Find Me by Carter Wilson

When a thriller is amazing, you don't notice the passage of time. The tension keeps you moving pages and you get lost in the story, holding your breath while waiting to see what happens next. Unless you guessed the twist in the first chapter and every bit of the story unfolding only drives home the fact that you know you are right. And when a lot of the story depends on that twist being unknown for the majority of the novel, you end up getting a little frustrated with the story. I've read a lot of thrillers, I've seen a lot of mystery shows, detective stories, I even studied the subject in university. I can see some of the big twists coming before you are supposed to get to the reveal and a lot of the time, that gets in the way of me enjoying a book the way other readers get to. I've seen so many glowing reviews of this book but for me, while I could respect the actions of our lead, the book didn't wow me the way I was expecting it to. It's a me problem, obviously, not the book's fault at all.

The plot is fairly straightforward. One point-of-view has Annie Wolfe and her daughter Coral are in hiding after certain events in their past ended with her husband getting violently killed in front of them. Annie knows these people could come back for her and she has been preparing for the day that they are finally found. The second point-of-view has Riven, a young woman who has been with her father and brother for years, since something happened to her mother, and they are hunting for a man her father is determined to find and destroy. Except that Riven shows up at Annie's door instead and everything goes from there. It was easy enough to follow the story, the tension with these intruders in Annie's home left me feeling anxious. In the moment to moment of the story, I was mostly absorbed in what would happen next.

This is where things started to go sideways for me. I knew the truth from the first chapter with Annie's point-of-view and a lot of the turns of phrase only drove home that fact over and over again. Which is why, as the story moves along and Annie is trying to survive, it ended up making me grumpy to see so many of the choices that Annie makes depending on this piece of truth we are not supposed to know yet. There were so many times that this could have made a change but it's not possible because there is a set narrative in place and making a different choice is not in the cards. Annie's driving force is to survive and knowing that there were other opportunities available just makes me shake my head instead.

Which brings me the villains of the story. I did not care for Boone or Coyote. They felt like deluded sociopaths spouting drivel and obviously that was the point but it gets frustrating because so much of the story depends on their actions. Riven wasn't a likeable character, I felt bad for her circumstances but she continued to be compliant in what her family was doing and I was tired of her way before the halfway mark of the book. I know that is the point in a story like this, there is no reasoning to be had with characters who adhere to the cult personality that has been extensively researched and written about and yet, when I see it in a book, I keep waiting for the moment that that one lone outlier will finally snap out of it and fight back. I wanted that to be Riven but she never fully committed to that and it just made me groan because come on, you KNOW your father is a monster, do something about it, finally, I BEG YOU. Instead, I just kept waiting for something to finally happen because a lot of this book felt like okay, here comes the turning point, only for it to ripped away, again and again, making it almost feel like the leads were being punished by keeping the story going.

Once the reveal hits, I could understand the reasoning, I could see how it was possible and commiserate with the belief that made something like that such a driving force for this character. But at the same time, so much hinged on this twist and when I think about it, it did not justify what occurred over the course of this book. It was a fast read, I literally opened this yesterday and managed to finish it today. I'll admit, I fell asleep some time around 4 or 5 a.m. and I got maybe 3 and a half hours sleep but I did finish this fast so that was a plus for this book. I just think I wanted more of a reason for why so much sorrow had to happen in this story and I don't feel like it settled in a way that really feels resolved.

I'm only one voice, I'm sure I'll be part of a very small contingent of readers that don't like this book so much. I'm sure this book will find its audience and be beloved in no time, I'm just not part of that group of readers and that's okay. 

Rating on my Scale: 5 Stars. I wanted to like this so much but it wasn't for me and that makes me sad.

My thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Carter Wilson for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Making Demons Bright by Casey Blair

Making Demons Bright caught my attention with just its title alone. I've honestly been singing that to myself since first reading the name of the book. Can't you hear it in your head? With the charm of the title alone, I knew the tone of the book from the start and the contents of this story lived up to the expectations the title set. This book was charming and spicy and now I need to find more books by Casey Blair. 

First of all, the world-building was easy enough to step into. Bailey has been escaping to Holly Dell for years, a tiny town that is slowly dying as its residents age and pass on and the younger generations have moved out. Bailey wants to save this place that has been a comfort to her for nearly her entire life and she's on her way to her cabin for a much needed vacation. Everything needed to understand the setting is given and it feels familiar enough for readers to be able to understand exactly what is going on here. The book switches point-of-view with Bailey and Dreziel, showing us how the two start to work out what it means know that they are essentially stuck together. Through Dreziel, we see a little more of the outsider perspective of saving the town as Dreziel's only reason for caring to save Holly Dell is for Bailey, so his actions in moving closer towards Bailey and helping her with her dream helps us to understand just how important this task is for Bailey and for others in the town.

As for the characters, I was charmed with the banter between our two leads. I loved how quick Bailey was to take charge and make plans. I could understand how she could lead a team back at her job that love her enough to want to help her with her new dream. I loved this woman, I thought she was brilliant and the fact that she understood how to get through to Dreziel showed how compassionate and thoughtful she really was. Dreziel was tragic, this unsung hero type who really didn't understand how everyone didn't judge him for the mistakes he had made. I loved how Bailey worked to make him feel comfortable, to help the trauma of his past, and I loved how quick he was to realize his mistakes and then tried to rectify him. I just have to say, these two were just so level-headed, they were reasonable, they were understanding of each other and it felt so healthy to see a couple come together the way that they did to the point that they would fight someone to keep the other safe. And their connection once they got there felt earned and the spicy scenes only added to the depth of their relationship, they weren't there for nothing, Bailey and Dreziel deserved their happiness in each other and it was exactly what they needed to continue to grow together.

As for the plot, Dreziel has escaped from his world with a few companions and has anchored himself to the first person he finds, Bailey. But Bailey surprises Dreziel with her everything and Dreziel finds himself drawn to her despite his intention to leave. Everything just works with the way the plot unfolds. We have a traumatized demon who needs to learn and accept that deserves happiness and we have a young woman who needed to learn how to reach out and take the happiness she deserved. They were two characters meant to be together, the exact being needed to help the other to overcome their past and find something better for themselves. After the way events unfolded in this book, I can't wait to see what comes next for the other characters seen in this book.

Read this book for the fun and a couple willing to do what it takes to bring some sparkle and holiday cheer into the lives of their town and each other.

Rating on my Scale: 9 Stars. I wanted more. Seriously, this was such a fast read and I wanted to spend more time with Bailey and Dreziel because they were just so darn cute together. I'm looking forward to coming back to read more books set in Holly Dell in the future.

My thanks to Behind the Pages LLC and Casey Blair for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Binding by S.J. Sastre

Some books click with you the moment you read the opening sentence and others take time for you to really get into the story and like the journey. For me, Binding by S.J. Sastre only really started to click around the halfway point but then something happened and I lost that feeling. There were parts that I enjoyed but while I am interested in seeing where the book goes from here, I think I need to set this aside until more installments are published, as it says that this book is part of the Kalmian Chronicles, and that is usually what? Four books or more? I don't have it in me to wait to see what happens with the villain of this book, a true monster if I've ever seen one, from book to book for who knows how long. Still, I'm sure this will find the audience that it is looking for and that I am going to be only the one of a very few people that didn't love and adore this book, if the current rating is any indication.

First of all, I feel like this book drops us in the middle of a story. We know that Elaine was in love, an all-encompassing passionate love, and that she lost him years before the book starts. Except that Darian is alive and well, and circumstances outside his control forced him to break Elaine's heart, but now the opportunity to rectify that is finally arrived and here is where the book starts. Except that I didn't feel anything for the love story. I understood her pain but I didn't think the way she reacted to the fiancé was necessary to explain how she would never be able to move on from the love of her life. And when Darian arrives, I didn't feel any spark between them. I was angry for Elaine, I thought that there had to have been some way to have them come back together before this. Why did it have to be SIX YEARS before he finally fought back? I think it would have been better if we'd had more scenes from the past to show just how devoted they were. Instead, it was a lot of this snarky back and forth that felt more like fighting than anything else, and it was actually him starting to put distance between them and I just didn't believe the love story. As the book continued, their connection felt very surface level, based on the physical, as they really didn't work to show us why they truly loved each other to begin with, either in the present or the past.

Next, I wasn't a fan of the characters. I felt bad for their situation but I didn't really like Elaine or Darian. Elaine had a tendency to be unnecessarily cruel and Darian was apparently some kind of dark, twisted man in his professional life and that was about it for him. They said they loved each other but a lot of their conversations were about the things Darian hid from the past or the developing situation between them. Again though, it was very surface level. You can tell me you love someone over and over but I won't believe it if I don't see a little more action to show that it's true.

The same goes for Moira. This was supposed to be Elaine's "sister" and yet, other than the fact that she's marrying the love of her life and that she rescued Elaine when she was severely depressed, I don't know much about her. Elaine and Moira studied Spanish when they were in school and they apparently love the language so much that they sprinkle it in their everyday conversation but to tell the truth, it felt stilted every time they dropped a "hermana" in their talks and as a Hispanic, I personally never call my sister "hermana" unless I'm making fun of her for not speaking enough Spanish so this just made me narrow my eyes a lot. But that is just me, maybe it's more prevalent in other communities? Honestly, thought, it felt like an act because you are again TELLING me she's your sister, albeit in a different language, but you are still not SHOWING  me that she is your sister. And then you add in Liam, Moira's true love, and besides being protective and in love with his future wife, I know NOTHING about this character. And this is my point. I feel like I didn't learn enough about these people and what I did learn, I really didn't like. And the villain was despicable but I have no idea why there's so much inherently wrong with this guy because jealousy only goes so far unless this is just supposed to be the classic cartoonish villain. I do hope Darian gets the chance to torture him though, that will make my heart sing because YES, that guy deserves all of that and WORSE.

Last of all, the way that wedding played out. Was it necessary? It got bleak FAST and then when you find out the specifics followed with the time frame of just how long this lasted and I just wanted to throw in the towel because then the book just ENDS and we have to wait for some kind of resolution in another book. After everything that happened, we don't have enough time to see any kind of recovery, we are only told that a specific lead is dealing and then there is one last back and forth with most of our leads and DONE. I'm sorry to say that this was just not enough to really draw me in. I hated the situation, I wanted to see more of the characters together being truly in love, but it felt like a lot of lust and not enough deep connection between, well, ANY of the characters. 

I wanted to love this book. It had all the things that usually make for an amazing read for me but unfortunately, for me, this book and I did not mesh. But again, I'm pretty sure I'll be the only reviewer to say that. My bet is that this will be a big favorite in the book community, and I will be happy to catch up reading the series in the future, once more of the storyline is settled.

Rating on my Scale: 5.5 Stars. I wanted to like it, I really, truly did, but this book and I will part ways here and hopefully meet again in the future so I can see a bloody end to the villain.

My thanks to Rattle the Stars PR and S.J. Sastre for the eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Her Ravening Heart by A.J. Vrana

This book was a reckoning and I was all for it.

There is so much packed into this book and for the page length, it's impressive to feel like I know everything about this world and the people who live in it after such a short amount of time spent with them. I adored Senka from the start and I never wavered in my belief in her. And that ending? Perfection.

It was easy to step into the world of this book, it felt like the setting of your every familiar folk horror location. We have the remote village, the one where they are living in a place that makes no sense, where you'd think the logical conclusion would be to try to pick up and move somewhere more favorable. Instead, these people choose to stay and they've somehow made a deal with some supernatural entity that ensures that their circumstances improve so long as they keep their end of the bargain. The fact that their bargain includes sacrificing a young bride to the god of life, well, it's no matter to stress over because this is what appeases their god and they will hold to their traditions with no questions asked. I can think of several other works that remind of this setting but the point is, stories like this NEED these settings. They need the isolation to have lasted generations, they need outside assistance to be non-existent. Otherwise, logic enters the equation and these people would rather that not be an issue. With the interactions between the neighbors and lead character, Senka, Vrana fills in the town with every necessary detail to truly see the division between the village and Senka, and how that division helps Senka to grow into the character we need to lead this story.

My dear Senka, that village did not deserve you. Senka questioned everything, as well she should have when a bargain for the well-being of her home could lead to her being offered up to their god. Everything she said made sense and the fact that no one wanted to believe her truly showed the, well, delusion the town was under. They were so quick to dismiss her and the fact that Senka continued on her quest for the truth, for the sake of saving the girls of the village, made Senka truly admirable. I loved her curiosity, her tenacity, and her determination. Her actions frustrated me the slightest bit because I knew where it would lead for Senka, it's the way these stories usually go, but Vrana turns things on their head and that's why I loved this novella.

What could have been like so many other stories where the lead rises above their situation and attempts to change things for the better decides to make a different point here. The village is shown to have been given all the proof they needed to change their ways, to give the girls a better understanding of the bargain, and what they chose to do with that information instead made this book a little heartbreaking. I wanted these people to grow and learn and instead, Senka was the only one who evolved into something more and I say, good for her. A little knowledge goes a long way and in the end, the village made their choice. The fact that they made the wrong one? Well, serves them right.

Read this book if you love a story where the main character decides on what's best for themselves, the whole world be damned.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars. I can be a little vindictive, I'll admit, when it comes to stories and this book spoke to that piece of me and I LOVE it for that alone. The fact that Senka was brilliant was perfect and the life she manages to create for herself was, in a word, divine, and the ending made me smile.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to pre-order the copy of this book that comes with all the bookish goodies because I need a copy of this on my shelves for all time.

My thanks to The Nerd Fam and AJ Vrana for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own. 

Book Review: Ocean Eyes by Taubin Dupavillon

You know that feeling, of being swept away by the water, the exhilaration of the push and pull of the waves and the water coming over your head? The rhythm of the tide making something in you steady and then grow with every moment you spend watching the water, being a part of it for just a small amount of time?

That's what it felt like to read this book, Ocean Eyes by Taubin Dupavillon. I am still so bereft at the loss that it took me a few days to come back and put into words just what this book did to me. And that ending?

Chills. Followed by a thought that was simply this:.......NOOOOOO! DON'T END THE BOOK THERE!! IT CAN'T END THERE, MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT!!

*clears throat* Can you tell I loved this book? If not, here's the rest of the review, just to really convince you.

In terms of writing, Dupavillon was able to build a story here that had the tension, the yearning, the finding of true family and all of works to make this a story that pulls you in and doesn't let you go. There is so much information in this book and every moment is necessary in the whole of the story being told here. There are so many threads here being woven together and while some things seem likely, Dupavillon manages to surprise the readers with ideas and revelations that make this book just amazing overall. The world-building here is easy enough to step into and a lot of what readers learn here is able to expand things in ways that can feel familiar and at the same time unique. Readers will be able to pick up this book and be absorbed by the story within pages of the opening chapter.

As for the characters, it takes talent to make it that I ended up loving nearly every character we spend time with on the page. There are a couple I'm not so keen on and readers of this book will probably know exactly who I mean but the majority of this cast of characters were amazing. Starting with Kaida, the pain and the heartache in this character, coupled with the astounding loyalty, made me want to fight people for this girl. Kaida made my heart ache and the journey she took in this book made me smile because after years spent as a weapon, Kaida was finding something else to be and I wanted the world for this girl. Reave took a little convincing for me to thaw towards, especially after that introduction, but the tension between these characters made everything worth it in the end because of every moment we saw where these two characters pushed and pulled at each other until they finally started working together. There connection felt earned and I love when a love story feels natural in the way the characters grow, both together and on their own.

I loved the group that traveled with Kaida on her mission, every single one of these people are completely indispensable. I loved Kahan and his ways of looking out for the group. Damiano surprised me with his wit and wonder at learning new things. Messer also surprised me with how much he endeared himself to me with his quick actions to defend his friends and then his jokes to keep spirits up. And I loved how Piper was quietly making herself important to the group, helping with tasks and being a steady friend for Kaida as the entire group slowly became a family I wished I could be a part of. There's also Syraah and Luca and gosh, trust me when I say that there are so many characters in this book and not one of them can be left out of this story, they are all necessary.

As for the plot, cursed mermaid story is what drew me in but it's not the only draw to this story. Sure, enemies to lovers and found family are definitely of interest but this book is so much more than that. Kaida has known one way of life for a long time and has come to accept her role in the kingdom as being it for her. This story shows what it takes for someone to come to terms with what has been done to them and decides to make a change. There is pain with change, nothing in this book comes easy for these characters and yet, there is beauty in the way they grow together, in the way Kaida lets herself open up to the others and starts to step out of the role she thinks is all there is to her. The love story was a bonus for me because my focus was mainly on Kaida's journey and I can't wait to see what Dupavillon does with this world next because, and I'll say this again, I'M STILL NOT OVER THAT ENDING!!

Read this book if you like stories about the assassin who decides to fight for themselves for a change.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Glorious Stars!! I want to go back and read this again as soon as I have the chance. This was such an amazing read, beautiful and haunting and it will live in my mind for years to come.

My thanks to BookCovenPR and Taubin Dupavillon for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Book Review: The Guardians of Alistile: The Ashborn by Samantha Vargas

After the ending to book 1, I immediately opened book 2 and got to reading. I'll admit, I was trying to ignore the myriad of things that were just bringing me down in life, but there's nothing better for the soul than opening an anticipated sequel and diving in. Vargas has created this expansive landscape, a world that feels like something you could believe in, and has filled it with so many familiar faces while also expanding it in ways that were unexpected. I had some new favorite faces and while some information was discovered, there are still so many questions left unanswered which means I am sitting patiently while waiting for book 3 to arrive.

After the events that ended the first book, Kienna and Moira have decided to try to make a home in Dove Port, where they first stay with someone who turns out to have been a friend to both of their mothers. They are told that they will find an occupation so that they can earn funds that will pay for everything they need, including a place of their own. Kienna decides to work for a woodcarver, a person she was told to find to help her. It was interesting to see the group placed in different settings. Dove Port was a piece of the past for Kienna and Moira and it showed how their lives could have been different had Vaerin not stolen them away. Both women manage to establish a home and set down roots that start to feel like a real home, somewhere that they would not only feel safe but would also want to defend. Seeing the both of them work hard and come together as family was heart-warming to see which definitely left me on edge because with the way these books go, I knew the peace would only last so far. Danek is still working on his magic but Broan has been sent to find his family and ask for their aid in the war. There are so many moving pieces and while readers have an idea of what the end goal is, there are still so many moving pieces in play before we get there. Showing more of the world helped to up the stakes, showing exactly who was at risk while Vaerin was still in a position of power.

As for characters, Kienna still got to me but her relationship with Ruva and with the woodcarver helped me to like her a little more. Ruva is the voice of reason in Kienna's head, literally, and I liked the pair of them together more than keeping them apart. The woodcarver was the perfect example of what I thought Kienna was turning into, someone keeping themselves cut off because of losses and haunted by things in the past that are painful. The fact that Kienna was able to change the way things were for the woodcarver showed me that there was hope for Kienna and that's why I liked her more in this book. I loved the developing friendship that Moira had with Tislin, the trust she had in him to help her when she needed it. I liked how she could see what she had before and how this new friendship was already better than her past and I want Moira to have everything possible to keep her happy. Danek grew so much in this book but I'll admit, I wish he wasn't so hung up on Kienna. Kienna had too much around her going on for them to really feel like their relationship was developing into something more and I just feel like he deserved more. Thankfully, Kienna agreed with me. As for Broan, he was much of the same, which I could appreciate because as much as his circumstances have changed, he was still the same Broan I was growing to appreciate. After a particularly gut-wrenching development, there was a moment where Broan made a stand that made my eyes get misty and suddenly Broan became so much more important to me. I just hope my favorites continue on to fight for more and than they get what they want when all is said and done in this series.

As for the plot, there are several key turning points in this book that just made me sit up straight and others that just flat out made me gasp. I have a few questions about where Kienna grew up that still need to be answered so here's hoping we see some more come from the reveals that Vargas gave us in this book. There are so many pieces moving across the board, some have changed sides, others are more important than we thought, and everything has been woven into a story that still has so many twists and turns to come and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Read this book if you love stories about finding where you belong and making a stand.

Rating on my Scale: 9 Stars. There was a particular twist that felt like a knife to my gut and I'm still not over it, two whole weeks later, writing this review. I need time to mourn and recover.

My thanks to Rattle the Stars PR and Samantha Vargas for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.