The July issue of Book list has 3 reviews by me, all are titles that every public library should order as they are going to be in high demand for a variety of reasons. While I gave none a star ALL are excellent and will appeal to a wide range of readers for a variety of reasons.
As usual, these are my draft reviews with bonus appeal information, my 3 words, and extra readalikes.
Let's begin
By Zoje Stage
Aug. 2024. 331p. Amazon/Thomas & Mercer, $28.99 (9781662521003); paper, $16.99 (9781662520990). First published July 2024 (Booklist).
Stage has become a popular voice in the space where Psychological Suspense and Horror overlap; however, readers have long clamored for a sequel to her debut novel, Baby Teeth. She has finally thoughtfully obliged with a standalone sequel, a story that can be read either before or after that first book, with each informing the other. In Dear Hanna, Stage brings readers into Hanna’s life as a 24 year-old phlebotomist, married to a 40 year-old widower, and stepmother to his 16 year-old daughter. Told from Hanna’s clearly unreliable perspective, as she shares her troubled past and dark thoughts, readers see how Hanna’s meticulously constructed “normal” existence is put to the test by raising a teenager and being a wife. As things spiral out of control, readers' feelings about Hanna fluctuate between disgust and sympathy, all will squirm uncomfortably, and yet, be unwilling to look away, furiously turning the pages, until the final twist is revealed. A great choice for those who enjoy the work of Sarah Pinborough, Catriona Ward, and Katrina Monroe.
Three Words That Describe This Book: squirm inducing, disturbing, trauma
Further Appeal: The most important thing to know about this book is that while it is a sequel to Baby Teeth, Stage considers it a stand alone sequel-- per the author's note in my ARC. I really liked that about this book. You can read both in either order and they inform each other. She totally nailed that aspect. It makes both books better.
We know Hanna is unreliable because she tells us and yet, we still root for her to find a good family. But of course, in a few years, things begin to spiral out of control. readers will
Hanna is engaging as a narrator. She will draw the reader into her trust circle. We feel like we are privileged to the real and truthful Hanna. She is written in a way that we can't believe she would lie to us...and yet, we should know better. This is very well done.
The story is compelling and Stage's writing keeps you watching everything go from bad to worse and then somehow even worse-- you squirm but keep reading. You can't, nor do you want to, look away.
And the story is unique. There are a lot of domestic suspense with an unreliable narrator with family trauma who makes bad choices, and yet, this one is different. The story is its own, not a cookie cutter of others. But I do need to stress, it spirals into disturbing territory-- it is intense.
I said this about Mothered in LJ and it holds true here as well----A great choice for fans of intense psychological horror, where nothing can be trusted, and where no one can look away from the emerging nightmare.
Like Baby Teeth is psychological horror, this is disturbing and intense psychological suspense, but there are a few possibly supernatural moments. Might be in her head, but maybe not. It straddles that line very well.
This is for fans of books with disturbing and uncomfortable familial relationships or gut wrenching psychological suspense, where bad things happen to flawed and knowingly unreliable but still sympathetic characters.
Readlaikes: The three authors mentioned are great readalikes in general, but I did pick these specific titles for Booklist to include in the online version: Cross Her Heart by Pinborough, Sun Dial by Ward (Although also Needless Street), Graveyard of Lost Children by Monroe. My reviews of those books will lead you to many more options
Next up... another lost novel by Romero complete by Kraus
By George A. Romero and Daniel Kraus
Sept. 2024. 328p. Union Square, paper, $18.99 (9781454950899).
First published July 2024 (Booklist).
Bestselling author Kraus’ work with the Romero archive [The Living Dead] has unearthed another partially finished novel. Set in 1998 in the Louisiana swamp, Alligator Point is a dying community where Pirates once ruled the waterways, octopus carvings are everywhere, and “The Piper” has stalked the town for generations. Opening with a tandem of unsettling scenes, Kraus and Romero build an unforgettable cast of characters whose alternating perspectives bring “The Point” to life, including Pete, the John Wayne obsessed sheriff and nine year-old, Ponitac. The pervasive unease and steady pacing lead readers eagerly to the book’s final third, where it all breaks wide open, violently revealing the epic root of the terror. A great action packed Horror novel, Pay the Piper also dives deeper, telling a story about revenge and regret that offers real hope. For fans of waterlogged, Southern Gothic, with monsters that prey off the complicated history of a land and its people such as Evil Whispers by Goingback, The Boatmans’ Daughter by Davidson, and The Toll by Priest.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Strong sense of place, multiple points of view, vengeance
Further Appeal: This is swamp horror which is a subset of folk horror and Southern Gothic. That alone will bring in many fans. Of course, Romero fans will rush to this book, but it has no Zombies, so I will be interested to see what people think. Sometimes fans get excited when there is a lost story from a deceased creator but they also can be salty (pun intended) if it diverges from the norm.
The ending of this book-- the last third--is the STRONGEST part of this book. I give much respect to Kraus for taking an unfinished book by Romero-- and NOT a Zombie one at that-- and pulling to together into a folk/swamp Horror must read. Seriously that last third is awesome and there are scenes I will never forget (in a good way).
Great cover! Projects the appeal of the book very well.
Here are some more notes I took while reading:
- The sense of place and details about it are excellent. A strong historical connection to the swamp lands outside New Orleans-- Alligator Point. 1998 setting. Considered with the people and the place in the story's now and throughout history, going back to the slave trade and pirates.
- Romero unfinished novel-- found by Kraus in archives. NOT ZOMBIES but does have voodoo Zombi references.
- Octopus carvings, cotton mouth snakes, Pirates Lafitte-- all key
- POV bounces around-- keeps pacing up and properly allowed for full development of the key characters-- Sheriff (Pete), his deputy (Spuds), the teacher (Miss Ward), young Pontiac (9) first name Renee but don't call her that, her dad (Gerard), Doc (former GP and shop owner). There are more bu those are key
- Story is clearly in thirds-- first third is a terrifying open that pulls back and spends time getting readers acclimated to the people and place (with unease of the opening scene never far from the front of your mind). Second third, introduces a key moment-- with a coke bottle-- and the people who will become the most important. Third third begins with a key death and then everything escalates and the story is all out action pin balling back and forth between points of view, the monster is fully unveiled and unleashed.
- This is a story as much about a lost way of life as it is an all out horror story. It is also about the past, and the wrongs and hurt, and asks who should pay for that. It is about regret and hope as well. There is a lot there but it is also an action packed story with a great monster.
- You don't need my review to know you will read this and enjoy it-- Romero's idea, half finished-- Kraus competing it.
Readalikes: The specific best ones are listed above, but again, people who like "Folk Horror" from a variety of cultures will love this, as will those who love swamp horror or anything in a wet place with monsters and history. Southern Gothic as well. All of those key terms will allow you to find great readalikes to this NOT Zombie book.
And finally, last but very much not least...
By Johnny Compton
Sept. 2024. 288p. Tor Nightfire, $28.99 (9781250841681).
First published July 2024 (Booklist).
Compton [The Spite House] returns with a tale that will keep readers glued to the page; a high stakes, violent novel, epic in scope, populated by fascinating characters (both good and evil) and an original cast of demons. Sarita’s guardian angel, Angelo has been there since she was 9 years old, saving her life a total of four times, but when the menacing giant busts into her room on her wedding night and murders her beloved groom, Sarita is devastated and confused. As she seeks to uncover the reasons behind her protector’s betrayal, Sarita is forced to confront the horrific truth hiding in the shadows and her place at the center of it all. Channeling Sookie Stackhouse vibes, Sarita is sympathetic and tough, fighting for herself and her loved ones against an immortal evil that mistakenly thought it could use her as its pawn. For fans of American Gods by Gaiman, and those who enjoy vampire stories that broaden the trope’s established conventions, with viscerally terrifying results such as Fledgling by Butler or Nestlings by Cassidy.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Epic in Scope, Vampires, Violent
Good news here, the publisher's plot summary does not contain spoilers, in fact it underplays the opening scenes. I will not give any spoilers either because that opening sequence is A LOT-- in a good way. It sets the seriousness of the "quest" and violent tone from the start and then Compton runs with it-- with confidence, knowing where he is going and how he will get readers there. But please note, it does expand to be more Epic in scope. The opening scene sets the tone but it expands from Sarita's person connection to her guardian angel to the reason she has one-- which is MUCH bigger than her.
Pacing is fast considering how much world building needs to be done. It starts brisk and has to slow down at times to build the epic world, but the reader wants to know what is going on as much as Sarita does, so it doesn't feel like anything is slowing down. Also it picks up quickly after necessary explanation/world building.
The overall narration is omniscient but Sarita drives the story. There are others but I don't want to give plot details away. Just know this has some "villain" POV which helps to ratchet up the tension and increase the threat even before Sarita knows what is happening-- the reader is more anxious which makes the reading experience better.
To that end, this book is great for fans of Butler's classic Fledgling and also newer titles such as Nestlings by Nat Cassidy.
The epic world building with a human protagonists caught up in a dark fantasy/horror fight between supernatural creatures that rise to the level of Gods (at least in their own minds here) reminded me of American Gods by Neil Gaiman. This is darker and more violent, but I definitely felt the similarities while reading this title.
100% recommend this to your Sookie Stackhouse fans who are good with more violence and don't need romance. I know that sounds counterintuitive but Sarita reminded me of a more mature, less lovesick Sookie but still caught up in a fight between supernatural creatures-- with slasher levels of carnage. Bodies fall in this book.
No comments:
Post a Comment