Book Review: Hopeless Necromantic

Hopeless Necromantic 

by Shiloh Briar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This little cute book is a bit of a conundrum. At times I loved it, and yet other moments I was super frustrated.

 A couple things to know right away:

• there is no spice here. Barely even some longing. It’s mostly a plot driven story 
• we are dropped into the middle of a fantasy world with no anchors and little info dumping (which is both good and bad as it’s a hit disorienting) 
• the core of this book is about emotional distress, grief, and guilt. It’s not all that lighthearted at time and in fact has a few moments that are just heart wrenching 

Overall I liked this and will read the second book as the characters were quite compelling. I enjoyed getting to know both our MCs but especially our necromancer.
Comparisons to a number of other books I’ve seen are mostly just referring to there being necromancy. Nothing about this is like Locked Tomb (it’s more the exact opposite!), it lacks the real dilemma of evil that Django Wexler gives us in his quirky evil lead perspective series, and it doesn’t have the mystery aspect of Assistant to the Villain. So I’d recommend throwing out all comparisons and just go in knowing that there is some grief and regret emotional baggage, cute flirting, sarcastic quips from our leading male, and a downtrodden (everyone dislikes her cause she’s a demon in the human world) leading lady who is likeable enough.
I’m really hoping we get a lot more sparks between our two MCs in book two!

There is a small cliffhanger at the end of the story but nothing too difficult, at least for me, to hang onto and pick other books up while I wait for book two. I will caution this was a ‘break’ book for me. Which is to say, a book where I am looking for something lighter, fluffy, fun, and nothing too ‘fancy’. It was a bit more emotionally involved than I expected but well done and I appreciated the friend to enemy narrative and difficulties shown in accepting someone for who they are today (not who they once were). As someone whose had that happen with someone I was close with it can be hard to move on and I think Shiloh Briar does a very good job of the emotional turmoil and emoting needing to give credence to her characters feelings.

I’m looking forward to book 2 and hope that we continue to have sarcastic overtones from the leading male as that is easily the best part!

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

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Book Review: The Summer Fun Massacre

The Summer Fun Massacre 

by Craig DiLouie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ll confess to being biased on this one. I met Craig DiLouie a couple months ago. He’s local to my city and had such a great time chatting with him and his darling gal. As such I knew exactly what I was getting into. I also knew why he wrote this the way he did, a redemption arc for the archetypical bumbling idiot deputy. You know the one in all the slashers who’s always two steps back and just doesn’t seem smart enough to stand a chance. Therefore going into The Summer Fun Massacre I knew the focus wasn’t the actual massacre event description but instead its investigation. From what I’ve read from others that is what they found disappointing. I’m not sad to miss out on gory explicit descriptions of slasher deaths frankly, but I get if you go in expecting that being disappointed by the political cop drama that unfolds here instead.

Don’t get me wrong there are still some slasher moments (including a call from inside the house!). My favourite is when a sole survivor stands up and just says, to the discomfort of everyone at a memorial, ‘fuck’. It’s a brilliant moment to make people understand that she doesn’t want condolences for her friends deaths or ‘wow you were lucky’ statements but instead for folks to realize she lost all her friends she loved and she doesn’t understand why she is the one to survive and not them. It’s a poignant moment and one I felt was a truly new expression for a sole survivor story. If there is one thing I do lament is we don’t get more of this character overall.

There are so many twists and turns in the end of this that I couldn’t put it down in the last 75 pages. Everything falls into place nicely and while I thought I had the twist figured out I was only half correct. DiLouie left in a surprise that tickled my brain but made perfect sense in the end. Nothing cheap or convenient here. Just good ole writing and set-up that turns a couple times more than you might expect.

I recommend going into The Summer Fun Massacre knowing this is a slasher-adjacent book. It’s about solving the crime. It has politics, moments of excitement and danger, a sad love story, and as many twists and turns as a good rollercoaster ride. Book two comes out this fall and connects right into this one. However there is enough of a finale here that you won’t be totally frustrated (or at least I wasn’t); and yet I still look forward to book two and some further answers and maybe more of a supernatural element?!

I’m glad to put this quick read on my print shelf with its author signature and inscription to both my husband and I.
Quick note: If you want a real spooky read from Craig DiLouie pick up Episode Thirteen. It’s the best of his I’ve read to date and a truly unique take on a haunted house (using found footage format!).

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

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Book Review: She Waits Where Shadows Gather

She Waits Where Shadows Gather

by Michelle Tang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I won’t lie… this Canadian horror novel was a bit of a slog for me. It was a bit too contemporary for me. I’m sure there are many readers, especially women, that will enjoy this and perhaps relish in the oddly happy(ish?) ending. For me, it felt contrived, annoying and flat out unrealistic. Which may seem a silly thing to say about a ghost story that features witches, ghosts and other supernatural events; but some things should fall inside the realm of realism and if you want to root your book in contemporary life then your ghosts need to be a bit moderate or less dramatic than seen here, in my opinion.

I’ll also confess to be so very annoyed with the concept of love here. Both the selfish kind (I want her all for myself) and the devoted kind (I’d do anything until they lie). Each has its flaws, seen here, but also each leaves a weird feeling behind for me as love is so much more complex than this. You can in fact love someone you detest. And begrudge, even hate someone you love. A concept that Michelle Tang seems to avoid here. Instead it’s too black and white for my tastes, and the twists and turns just make the ultimate outcome even more awkward for me. Plus, a key point (in the end) is never explained!!

Maybe there are women, especially mothers, out there that will find something here. For me, as a childless woman, with a spouse of 18 years I can tell you that this just feels like another ‘women’s horror’ book written for the current trend of discussing motherhood. And I’m over it. In fact never loved the concept to start but was willing to concede it makes good sense to bring the horror of birth, loss, etc into this genre. Yet this past couple of years has really saturated the market and I’m over it. So I’ll put this one aside and likely not think of it again.

That said, if you want a contemporary, feminine look at generational family horror and how it might be passed down from generation to generation this could be for you. Just be ready to feel like you are ready a contemporary literature book and not an easy breezy horror one.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

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Comic Review: Lady Mechanika - La Dama de la Muereta

Lady Mechanika: La Dama de la Muerte 

by Joe Benítez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wonderful as always. From the gorgeous art to the well thought-out storyline. Joe Benitz always adds a child that is enamoured with Lady Mechanika and this short series (3-shot) is no exception. A little three year old and her brother of maybe 8 or so have lost their parents to bandits whom Mechanika realizes are not as scary as they may appear to the villagers.
Easily one of my top 5 favourite comic book characters; Lady Mechanika is a kick-ass heroine whom has no “place” in life and so wanders joining up (when needed) with those whom need her help or are fighting the ‘good fight’, if you will.
If you want intricate art, steampunk style and good stories you won’t go wrong with any of Benitz’s comics; but Lady Mechanika is one of my favourites. Note: this story can easily be read on its own but is technically Vol. 4 of the series.

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Graphic Novel Review: The Cutting Garden

The Cutting Garden: A Graphic Novel 

by Darcy Van Poelgeest
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely divine! With the soft lines and beauty of Little Bird, lyrical Victorian writing, and a gothic story to both make you shudder and smile. This first collaboration hopefully won’t be the last for our two creators. 

The Cutting Garden is at once a vampire gothic story, a commentary on loneliness, and a reminder that not all monsters are monstrous. Even the most vicious of killers can still desire something softer in life; a connection with another, and someone to care for them. 

With mild overtones borrowed from Interview with the Vampire; and yet wholly its own story and narrative, The Cutting Garden immerses us in a slow, methodical, perfect Victorian gothic story with just enough blood to sate a child vampire.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

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