Major Updates to NoveList's Appeal Terms

Last week, NoveList has this blog post about major updates to their appeal vocabulary in the database. While I know that not everyone has access to the database through their library, it is important to know and understand the "why" behind these changes for everyone who helps readers.

NoveList has years of data about what readers are looking for and collects feedback from library workers about what terms work best, which are not helpful, and what they would want added. So please look at the changes they are making whether or not you use NoveList because it will give you a sense of what terms are most useful when helping readers and the reasons behind their choices at this moment.

Appeal terms get to the heart of WHY someone likes a book. They have nothing to do with WHAT happens in that book. Helping readers figure out their WHY and then matching books using their WHY as your guidepost is how we best help our readers.

For example let's take 2 completely different books: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin vs I Was a Teenaged Slasher (out today!) by Stephen Graham Jones. Here is what I said about the Jones book in my review of it here:

And here is a wildcard suggestion but one I think is a great way to introduce a wide range of readers to the brilliance of Jones as a writer-- Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Zevin. All of your readers who loved that book despite the "video game" frame because of the amazing boy-girl friendship, this is the same. Despite the "slasher" frame if you loved the friendship in that one, read this SGJ novel now. As I said in my review of the Zevin when I first read it:

It is ultimately the story of a friendship. A brutally honest portrait of a complicated friendship from the age of 12 to adulthood between a boy and girl. There is NO sexual tension...

These readers-- of which there are many including a few I have told to read Zevin for this exact reason-- will love I Was a Teenaged Slasher.

This is a great example of how to use WHY someone would like the book and not WHAT happens to make connections for readers that they would never make on their own. I have matched MANY happy readers to the Zevin by telling them," While the frame is a behind the scenes look at the start of the video game industry, it is, at it's heart, the story of a life-long friendship." The same holds true for the SGJ. 

The point here is to understand appeal terms and why they are the better way to match books with readers over trying to match plot.

Please click here or see below for the announcement and explanation from NoveList and remember to always match readers with books based on WHY they enjoy a story, not WHAT happens. 

Major Updates to NoveList Appeals Vocabulary

Readers' tastes and vocabulary are evolving, and these changes will help you deliver outstanding suggestions

We have some big news for NoveList users: The appeal terms you know, and love have gotten a makeover. That’s right! We’ve cut our hair, changed our clothes, and switched out our glasses for contacts (cue some Patti LaBelle, please!). 

Our appeal vocabulary was developed almost 15 years ago to help library staff connect with readers and give them great reading suggestions. The terms we have created have evolved since then, keeping pace with the ebb and flow of reading trends. But with all this growth, we realized it was time to redefine how our terms relate to each other, and other story elements like subjects, genres, or themes.

For the past three years (!), we've been working hard to develop our appeal vocabulary into more cohesive, stream-lined categories to reach the following goals:

• Distillation: Focusing on what is most important about the essence of the reading experience.
• Information retrieval: Ensuring consistent vocabulary so you can get robust and relevant search results every time you look for a title.
• Discoverability: Making it easier for you to find more book records and connecting similar books for better visibility.

We used feedback from NoveList library users and data (and a lot of passionate debate!) and have arrived at the following updates. 

We’ve rearranged and renamed categories to make them more intuitive and meaningful.

• Mood replaces the term Tone.
• Style replaces the term Writing Style.
• Our Pace terms are now part of the Style category.
• Characterization replaces Character, detailing our character type terms (Flawed, Brooding, or Likeable, for example).

We’re combining similar terms.

• Accessible and Easy-to-understand mean the same things but were previously used for different audience levels. We’ve combined these two terms under the term Accessible.
• Sympathetic and Relatable are very closely related in concept so we’ve merged these terms into Sympathetic, which creates more meaningful matches.

We’re deleting problematic, unclear, and redundant terms.  

• Courageous 
• Quirky 
• Awkward    
• Compelling 
• Engaging
• Mystical 
• Jargon-filled

We’re renaming terms to increase clarity. 

• The term Dramatic is used to describe cinematic books that feature exciting and larger-than-life stories, and not for books that are intense dramas or have back-stabbing social scenes with spiteful personalities (those are High drama). Because of this confusion, we are renaming Dramatic to Cinematic. 

We are introducing new terms.

• Fun read: Think beach reads, escapist fiction, popcorn fodder. These books are lighter in tone and offer an effortless and enjoyable reading experience.
• Unputdownable: To help identify those books you just have to read in one sitting. These range in genre but tend to be heavier or more sinister in tone and/or topic. They might have higher stakes, and certainly more drama, and are the books that keep you up too late on a school night.
• Identities: Spotlights our 41 (and counting) character identity terms (Neurodivergent, Indigenous, or Muslim, for example).

We developed these terms to give readers access they have never had before. This reboot is a labor of love and we’re excited for you to explore and utilize our refreshed vocabulary to its fullest. 

LibraryReads: August 2024

         It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All

1. I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
2. I can remind you that even though the newest list is always fun to see, it is the older lists where you can find AWESOME, sure bet suggestions for patrons that will be on your shelf to actually hand to them right now. The best thing about LibraryReads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips through this archive OR the sortable master list allowing you to mix and match however you want.
3. You have no excuse not to hand sell any LibraryReads titles because there is a book talk right there in the list in the form of the annotation one of your colleagues wrote for you. All you have to say to your patron is, “such and such library worker in blank state thought this was a great read,” and then you read what he or she said.
4. Every upcoming book now has at least 1 readalike that is available to hand out RIGHT NOW. Book talk the upcoming book, place a hold for it, and then hand out that readalike title for while they wait. If they need more titles before their hold comes in, use the readalike title to identify more readalike titles. And then keep repeating. Seriously, it is that easy to have happy, satisfied readers.

So get out there and suggest a good read to someone today. I don’t care what list or resource you use to find the suggestion, just start suggesting books.

Please remember to click here for everything you need to know about how to participate. Click here to see a database of eligible diverse titles sorted by month.

And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.

Now let's get to the August 2024 list.... 

House of Glass

Sarah Pekkanen

(St. Martin's Press)

Best interest attorney Stella Hudson is assigned as counsel for nine-year-old Rose during the family’s custody case. Working with the child—mute after witnessing the tragic death of her nanny—Stella begins to uncover something quite sinister and so unnerving that it may put her own life in jeopardy. This suspenseful, thrilling novel is perfect for fans of The Push by Ashley Audrain.

—KC Davis, LibraryReads Ambassador

NoveList read-alike: Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

Now for the rest of the August 2024 list!

You're the Problem, It's You
Emma R. Alban
(Avon)

The one thing Bobby and James agree on is that the other is infuriating. When the two are blackmailed, they have to work together to protect their reputations and their new feelings for each other. This found family story showcases the unconditional love between the varied cast of characters while playful hijinks bring a positive, uplifting tone to a subject matter that can be harrowing. A heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romance.

—Sabrina White, Middletown Township Public Library, NJ
NoveList read-alike: Lucky Lovers of London series by Jess Everlee

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins
P. Djèlí Clark
(Tordotcom)

Clark's novella, set in a new fantasy world, features a well-crafted conundrum in which Eveen the Eviserator is sent on a mission to kill a younger version of herself. This tale is filled with gods and assassins, Clark's trademark wit, and fascinating characters.

—Jessica Trotter, Capital Area District Libraries, MI
NoveList read-alike: The Perfect Assassin by K.A. Doore

Strange Folk
Alli Dyer
(Atria Books)

Lee moves her children from their sterile life in California to the small Appalachian town where she grew up. The children discover the literal magic rooted in their ancestral homestead. With an unreliable narrator and a pace that never lets go, this impressive debut novel is about the love one feels for family and how to reconcile that with the deeply flawed human beings they might be.

—Katherine Hunnicutt, Naperville Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Wildwood Whispers by Willa Reece

Morbidly Yours
Ivy Fairbanks
(G.P. Putnam's Sons)

Irish mortician Callum has to find a wife, or he can’t inherit. Lark is a widow vacationing next door who doesn’t want to find love again for herself but agrees to help Callum find a wife. Of course, love is right in front of them! Readers will enjoy this slow-burn Grumpy/Sunshine romance.

—Kista Black, Cabell County Public Library, WV
NoveList read-alike: The Irish Goodbye by Amy Ewing

That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America
Amanda Jones
(Bloomsbury)

Part memoir, part manifesto, this inspiring story of a Louisiana librarian advocating for inclusivity on the front lines of the culture wars is recommended for any teacher, librarian, or friend of libraries. This detailed account of being targeted by censors sheds light on the tactics of those who seek to force their narrow world view on everyone else.

—Karen Troutman, LibraryReads Ambassador
NoveList read-alike: On Censorship by James LaRue

The Break-Up Pact
Emma Lord
(St. Martin's Griffin)

June and Levi have been friends for many years, but have long since gone their separate ways. This wholesome and spicy story of long-lost friendship, loss, and healing is unraveled with witty banter, viral internet videos, and everyone taking steps out of their comfort zones. A perfect summer read!

—Kacey Wurster, Martin County Library-Fairmont, MN
NoveList read-alike:The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

Magical Meet Cute
Jean Meltzer
(MIRA/HTP Books)

When Faye comes back from a failed dating event at her synagogue to find her neighborhood littered with antisemitic fliers, she feels hopeless and ends up drunkenly making a golem. The next day, she hits a man with her bike, giving him amnesia. But is he a man, or did she conjure a golem? Readers will love the characters and enjoy learning about Jewish magic.

—Esther Petrushka, Queens Public Library-Corona, NY
NoveList read-alike: Dream On by Angie Hockman

The Truth According to Ember
Danica Nava
(Berkley)

Ember aspires for a better job than her current dead-end one. After repeated failure, she lies by writing "White" on her resume instead of "Native American," landing her the job. But now she can’t stop lying, even when she meets the hot IT guy at the office. With heartfelt storylines about family and identity, this steamy debut rom-com is a must-read.

—Migdalia Jimenez, Chicago Public Library
NoveList read-alike: Circling Back to You by Julie Tieu

Lady Macbeth: A Novel
Ava Reid
(Del Rey)

In this reimagining of the tragic play, Lady Macbeth is a witch who can cast a spell on any man with merely a glance. Reid's lush and captivating writing stays true to the central themes of power and gender politics while creating complex characters. Lady Macbeth is not just manipulative, but a survivor in a brutal patriarchal world.

—Rummanah Aasi, Skokie Public Library, IL

NoveList read-alike: Learwife by J.R. Thorp

Board Bonus picks:

After Oz: A Novel
Gordon McAlpine
(Crooked Lane Books)

Notable Nonfiction:

I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine
Daniel J. Levitin
(W.W. Norton & Co.)

See our social media for annotations of the bonus picks

Click here to see the entire Hall of Fame

The LibraryReads Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly LibraryReads list since 2013. When their third title places on the list via library staff votes, the author moves into the Hall of Fame. Click here to see the Hall of Fame authors organized in alpha order.

Haunted Ever After
Jen DeLuca
(Berkley)

A Sorceress Comes to Call
T. Kingfisher
(Tor Books)

The Pairing
Casey McQuiston
(St. Martin's Griffin)

The Seventh Veil of Salome
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
(Del Rey)

By Any Other Name: A Novel
Jodi Picoult
(Ballantine Books)

Dark Restraint
Katee Robert
(Sourcebooks Casablanca)

Find out more at www.LibraryReads.org/HOF

Booklist's Read N Rave from ALA Annual 2024

One of my favorite events at ALA Annual every single year is the Booklist and Library Reads Read 'n' Rave. 

What is Read 'n' Rave. Here is the quick explanation from Booklist:

At this year’s ALA Annual Conference, Booklist and LibraryReads teamed up for the popular Read ‘n’ Rave, where superstar librarians scour the Exhibit Hall floor to find the books you’ll want to know about for late summer and fall. 

I have done this event myself a few times and I know how awesome it is from both sides. From the presenter side, those people spend the weeks leading up to the conferenced and their time on the exhibit floor gathering ARCs that are there at the conference, trying to curate a pile that they at to gush about (often only having had time to quickly skim) and fit as many as they can into 10 mins. There is a timer and Susan Maguire (aka my fav editor) will cut you off. It is exciting and exhausting as a presenter.

From the audience perspective (which I have also done and loved), they get to spend time on the last full day of the conference, hearing from colleagues about what books they are most excited about. Not what the publishers told them to be excited about, but what they truly, truly, are jazzed up about. And they get to hear from people just like them, the ones who are going to help get these books into the hands of readers talk about the books from that perspective.

Each year, Booklist publishes the titles of titles included on their blog. Here is the 2024 Read 'n' Rave list (and I also have it below so the titles are searchable on this blog.)

And if you want to see the Read 'n' Rave lists going back to 2021, you will need to activate your Booklist Online subscription (directions here) and put read n rave in the search box. They come right up. From 2024 back to 2021, all on one nice page. It is great to see titles that our fellow library workers were excited about a few years ago. Some became huge hits, others are backlist gems, and some great under the radar recs. 

You can also access past Read n Rave lists with this link from my blog, including the ones I was a part of, from pre-pandemic conferences. 

Go out there and show your patrons how valuable you are, by suggesting one of these buzz worthy titles from a few years ago, a book they never would have found to read on their own, but just might very well love.

Finally, speaking of LibraryReads, the list for August 2024 comes out on Monday. I will have it here on the blog. See you back there then. Enjoy your weekend. And see the full text of this year's list immediately below.

Booklist and LibraryReads Read ‘n’ Rave 2024 By Susan Maguire.
		First published July 2, 2024 (Booklist Online). At this year’s ALA Annual Conference, Booklist and LibraryReads teamed up for the popular Read ‘n’ Rave, where superstar librarians scour the Exhibit Hall floor to find the books you’ll want to know about for late summer and fall.  If you missed the event, or if you had trouble keeping up with the rapid-fire raving (can’t blame you!), here’s a list of the books everyone talked about: Alicia Ahlvers: I’ll Have What He’s Having, by Adib Khorram. Aug. Forever. The Last Gifts of the Universe, by Rory August. Oct. Hanover Square. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, by Ally Carter. Sept. Avon. The Nightmare before Kissmas, by Sara Raasch. Oct. Bramble. A Pirate’s Life for Tea, by Rebecca Thorne. Oct. Bramble. Rules for Ghosting, by Shelly Jay Shore. Aug. Dell. Swordcrossed, by Freya Marske. Oct. Bramble. The Truth According to Ember, by Danica Nava. Aug. Berkley. Bonus Picks: The Last Dragon of the East, by Katrina Kwan. Oct. Saga. The Scenic Route, by Katie Ruggle. July. Sourcebooks Casablanca. The Specimen, by Jaima Fixsen. Oct. Poisoned Pen. The Treasure Hunters Club, by Tom Ryan. Oct. Atlantic Monthly. The Witches of El Paso, by Luis Jaramillo. Oct. Atria/Primero Sueno. The Woman in the Garden, by Jill Johnson. July. Poisoned Pen. Andrienne Cruz: Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health, by Marty Makary. Sept. Bloomsbury. The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, by Anna Johnston. Sept. Morrow. Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times that Made Handel’s Messiah, by Charles King. Oct. Doubleday. The Extinction Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World, by Christine Rosen. Sept. Norton. Gaslight, by Miles Joris-Peyrafitte and Sara Shepard. Sept. Blackstone. Good Night, Sleep Tight: Stories, by Brian Evenson. Sept. Coffee House. The Launch Party, by Lauren Forry. Oct. Zaffre. Lesser Ruins, by Mark Haber. Oct. Coffee House. Madwoman, by Chelsea Bieker. Sept. Little, Brown. The Night Guest, by Hildur Knutsdottir, tr. by Mary Robinette Kowal. Sept. Tor Nightfire. The Only Sound Is the Wind, by Pascha Sotolongo. Oct. Norton. Ordinary Devotion, by Kristen Holt-Browning. Nov. Monkfish. Safe Enough, by Lee Child. Sept. Mysterious. The Scapegoat: The Brilliant Brief Life of the Duke of Buckingham, by Lucy Hughes-Hallet. Nov. Harper. Erin Downey Howerton: The Bog Wife, by Kay Chronister. Oct. Counterpoint. A Glitch in the Matrix, by Jessica Castro (Auntie Matrix). Sept. Sterling Ethos. Hate Follow, by Erin Quinn-Kong. Oct. Morrow. How to Fall in Love in a Time of Unnameable Disaster, by Muriel Leung. Oct. Norton. Hum, by Helen Phillips. Aug. S&S/Marysue Rucci. Keep, by Jenny Haysom. Oct. Anansi. Now You Owe Me, by Aliah Wright. Sept. Red Hen. Only Here, Only Now, by Tom Newlands. Nov. HarperVia. Water Moon, by Samantha Sotto Yambao. Jan 2025. Del Rey. Shayera Tangri: Bad Witches, by H. B. Akumiah. Aug. Blackstone. The Body in the Backyard, by Lucy Score. July. Bloom. The Crescent Moon Tearoom, by Stacy Sivinski. Oct. Atria. A Fire in the Sky, by Sophie Jordan. Sept. Avon. How to Steal a Galaxy, by Beth Revis. Dec. DAW. The Legend of Meneka, by Kritika Rao. Jan 2025. Harper Voyager. Lifeform, by Jenny Slate. Oct. Little, Brown. Of Blood and Lightning, by Micki Janae. Oct. Three Rooms. Pride and Prejudice in Space, by Alexis Lampley. Oct. Union Square. A Sacrifice of Blood and Stars, by Jennifer Brody. Sept. Podium. Upworthy – Good People: Stories from the Best of Humanity, by Gabriel Reilich and Lucia Knell. Sept. National Geographic. A Very Indian Christmas, by Salman Rushdie, Rabindranath Tagore, Jhumpa Lahiri, et al. Sept. New Vessel. Rebecca Vnuk: The Author’s Guide to Murder, by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White. Nov. Morrow. Break Every Rule, by Brian Freeman. Sept. Blackstone. Cult Following: The Extreme Sects that Capture Our Imaginations and Take Over Our Lives, by J. W. Ocker. Sept. Quirk. The Examiner, by Janice Hallett. Sept. Atria. A Kid from Marlboro Road, by Edward Burns. Sept. Seven Stories. The Last One at the Wedding, by Jason Rekulak. Oct. Flatiron. Libby Lost and Found, by Stephanie Booth. Oct. Sourcebooks Landmark. The Madness, by Dawn Kurtagich. Aug. Graydon House. Marigold Mind Laundry, by Jungeun Yun, tr. by Shanna Tan. Oct. Dial. Pay the Piper, by George A. Romero and Daniel Kraus. Sept. Union Square. Shred Sisters, by Betsy Lerner. Oct. Grove. They Just Need to Get a Job: 15 Myths on Homelessness, by Mary Brosnahan. Nov. Beacon The Way, by Cary Groner. Dec. Spiegel & Grau.

Library Journal's Stars So Far

Since I did 2 days of Booklist to start the week, it is time to do Day 2 of LJ related posts. 

Alongside my Horror Genre Preview in the July Issue is "Stars So Far." From the landing page:

The first half of 2024 has been full of astronomical events—the eclipse, the northern lights, and sublime images of space. Here on Earth, LJ reviewers have discovered 490+ stars of their own, with books that have earned the magazine’s highest accolade, a starred review. To celebrate these dazzling reads, we have gathered their constellation of reviews, with an accompanying downloadable spreadsheet, sortable by subject/genre and BISAC heading (bit.ly/4eED0RS).

That link above brings you to the spread sheet, to make ordering easier, but they also made a page for each category/genre. And since we are talking about STAR reviews, everything review is free to read.

I have pulled out each list for your ease, in no particular order except for the fact that the best genre is first:

• Stars So Far 2024: Horror 
• Stars So Far 2024: Literary Fiction
• Stars So Far 2024: Historical Fiction
• Stars So Far 2024: Contemporary Fiction
• Stars So Far 2024: Science Fiction
• Stars So Far 2024: Fantasy
• Stars So Far 2024: Romance
• Stars So Far 2024: Mystery
• Stars So Far 2024: Suspense and Thriller
• Stars So Far 2024: Christian Fiction
• Stars So Far 2024: Poetry
• Stars So Far 2024: Graphic Novels
• Stars So Far 2024: History

Horror Genre Preview 2024 is LIVE!

My annual Horror Genre Preview article is in the July 2024 issue of Library Journal and now online here. Everyone gets a few views for free so you should be able to read it.

The format changed this year. I got fewer words but there is also a LARGE spreadsheet of titles I am suggesting people buy for all library collections. It is a shopping list to make your job easier. There is also a link to Emily Hughes' list for even more titles.

While they did edit the piece for length, most of what I wanted to say is intact (to be fair, I always go over so that my editor, Melissa has room to work). You can click here or on the introduction below to access the article.

For those who want access to the unedited article (which has more quotes), you can click here.

The article also includes this interview with Rachel Harrison. Thank you to her for doing this. For sure her book-- So Thirsty-- is one of the most anticipated titles of this Fall... in any genre.

Get ready to break you budgets (not to mention your TBR), but get those orders in now because your readers will thank you come the onset of Spooky Season.

Fiction Shows Its Fangs | Horror Fiction Preview 2024

by Becky Spratford
Jul 09, 2024 | Filed in Reviews+

Fall 2024 is a showcase of horror. A who’s who of authors have books publishing this season, underscoring the genre’s continued renaissance, the likes of which readers have not seen in decades—since Stephen King’s Carrie launched the last horror surge in the mid-20th century. This new era, however, reflects a significant change in the genre. The voices it marginalized for so long—women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people of color—are now leading the genre forward, channeling the horrors of their real-world existences into spectacularly terrifying tomes.

By including more voices, the genre has not only allowed itself to blossom, but it has also brought more readers along for the terrifying ride. Gabino Iglesias, the New York Times Book Review horror columnist and award-winning horror novelist tells LJ, “We are in a new golden era of horror. The genre is healthier than ever and more diverse than it’s ever been, which means we’re getting horror narratives from a rich variety of perspectives and positionalities. We’re also seeing horror mixing with more genres than ever before, and that means that everyone can find horror they like, no matter what their reading preferences are.

“It’s a superb moment to be a fan of horror, or to become one,” Iglesias continues. “A great time to be a horror writer too. We were the weird kids not allowed to sit at Literature’s table, so we made our own with bones and a lot of swagger. Now we get to look out and proudly say we’re doing it our way, and everyone is welcome. Long live horror.”

As horror expands its reach, several key trends are emerging this season, including the return of the vampire, which sees the eternal creature that has been adopted by romance and fantasy coming back to the genre that birthed it. Psychological horror is also surging, reflecting society and underscoring a pervasive feeling of existential dread. Look as well for books in which women take control of the narrative and for horror novels in translation.

A downloadable list of all titles mentioned can be found here.

Click here to see the full piece on Library Journal's site. 

What I'm Reading: 3 Reviews in the July 2024 issue of Booklist

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

Dear Hanna

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

Pay the Piper

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...

Devils Kill Devils

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

Further Appeal: Compton was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel for The Spite House, so not only is this, his second book, hotly anticipated, I think it is better.

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.

Readalikes: This title is part of a the idea of reimagining the terrifying Vampire story. No sparkly, love interest vampires here. They are ancient and hate people, even use them as pawns in their games. 

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.