Around 100 pages, this little book packs a nice scary punch. The story telling is centered around Beatrix a phony medium, Harry her oldest friend, James the disbeliever, Amanda Reynolds, and Stanhope. James hires Beatrix to spend one night in Ashbury Manor, a home infamous for the killings that occurred there.
I enjoyed this book, but a few things that were jarring were the three separate authors. I hadn’t noticed it at first, but then when I noticed the author under each new chapter, it put me in mind of a new story. The anger between the two main characters and then them falling in love felt forced. If this book were a little longer and the story a little more developed, I would have liked it more.
Published by: Serial Box Publication Date: 28 Oct 2020 Genre: Historical Fiction | Horror | Romance Pages: 100 Date Read: 25 Sep 2020
This story is such an interesting retelling, with just the right about of spookiness to kick off the season. “You can, of course, but do you remember what we talked about before the funeral? You know Eulalie isn’t here anymore. She’s with Mama and Elizabeth now, in the Brine.” I felt her nod. “She keeps pulling my sheets off, though.” I blinked once before turning to snatch it up. When I left, the door slammed shut after me, as if pushed by unseen hands. “It works that way on the mainland,” he allowed. “But on the islands, estates are passed to the eldest child, regardless of sex. Many strong women have ruled over the Salann Islands. My grandmother inherited Highmoor when her father passed away. She doubled the size of the Vasa shipyard and tripled the profits.” How refreshing for this line to be delivered from the father/husband – current head of the household? Too many stories are set where it’s the son who inherits, and I’m here for this new way. The one downside I had with the story was that even by the end I still had no real idea of all the sisters, not really caring to remember their names.
Published by: Delacorte Press Publication Date: 26 Aug 2019 Genre: Fantasy Pages: 406 Date Read: 20 Sep 2020
I liked Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia very much. Without any spoilers, the ending surprised me and left me a little heartbroken. Tweeting that to the author, I don’t expect to hear anything back, but I hope she read it and maybe feels a little bad for it (doubtful she reads it). I am convinced though that she could write a manual at this point, and I’d read it. She has such a way of words that describe things that I have felt and never have been able to express. Martin, who had a rather atrophied imagination, incapable of considering for long periods of time anything that was not directly in front of him as worthy of interest, could understand this reaction. LOL! I thought this was a great diss. Like, really, her way with words (chef’s kiss). He was there all of a sudden, right by her side, like a fallen piece of the velvety sky, like a nocturnal plant that unfurled and greeted her, his hand touching her shoulder, shielding her from any threats with that quick gesture. I physically felt this. “Dreams are for mortals.” “Why?” “Because they must die.” Somehow, this made a perfect sort of sense. For real, though, how beautiful is this idea?” I’m better now,” she said, picking an innocuous comment to distract them both. “We could fetch ourselves supper.” I do this all the time, and this bit stuck out to me. It’s something so small that I do and yet to see it written out on the page like that was a bit startling. “The world was young then, it smelled of copper and brine,” Vucub-Kamé told her, almost wistfully, and she thought even though he stood before her, he wasn’t there, his eyes far off, gazing into the land of his memories. Just another example of some beautiful writing I wanted to include here. The phantom image they built of the palace was nothing but that, a fragile creation of the imagination, and yet it was solid. Casiopea saw the palace, and she knew she pictured its true likeness, even though she had never walked its hallways. How amazing is this right here? I don’t know how many times I have pondered my imagination. Where do these images come from exactly? How can I see a place so clearly when I have never been there? Honestly, I haven’t read such beautiful writing in a long time. As I said, I’m not great with expressing myself and through writing these reviews I hope to hone my ability to write. This story had so many passages to it where I was caught of guard by her wording and I’m afraid I’m not doing her any justice.
Published by: Del Rey Publication Date: 23 Jul 2019 Genre: Fantasy Pages: 338 Date Read: 13 Sep 2020
