Exquisite Corpses, Volume 1 by James Tynion IV
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Gory, grotesque, and very Tynion. Welcome to Exquisite Corpses, where an elite group of rich (awful) people hire crazed (and I mean crazy!!) serial killers to take over a town (at Halloween of course) and fight one another for highest kill count, and to be the last one standing. This has all the high stakes you could ever want, along with betrayals, petty feuds, and some amazing ‘regular folks’ characters that I’m desperate to see survive. But let’s face it this is Tynion writing (also writes Something is Killing the Children) and it’s clear the body count will be high so no one should be holding their breathe for anyone to survive.
I was enthralled by this, while also totally disgusted at the ick factor of our serial killers. *shudder*
Perfect for any horror buff, a top choice for spooky season, and a must read for any serial killer obsessed reader. If this were to be a movie or limited series I’m not sure I could watch it… the ick factor is seriously that high. I cannot wait to pass this over to by huge horror obsessed husband who will lap it up with glee (just like some of our serial killers do their victims!).
Just remember it’s all fictional… the characters are not real… but you still may never be the same after diving into the perverted heads of those whom hired these maniacs, and the maniacal killers themselves. Happy hunting.
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Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It’s too bad this world, its characters, dragons, and story are not more fleshed out. There is a whole epic fantasy that could be unpacked here. Usually I love short stories for their snappiness but today I wanted this to be longer. I wanted so much more of every scene. An opportunity to really languish in this realm of dragons and war mongering emperors and young, girl kings.
That’s not to say that Neon Yang has done anything wrong with this sweet little story. They haven’t. It’s just that I think it could have been so much more in every way. Sometimes reducing a story to its bare minimum is the wrong choice and I think that it was here. At least a 300 page story could have been composed here; if not a full 600 page epic.
As the reader, we are asked to question motivations, love, loyalty, and routine in this short story. Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame brings us into a structured world in which hunting dragons is a job; and seen as a calling of the highest order. Our MC is a girl who, despite a disability, with a tad of OCD, and social anxiety; manages to do very well for herself. She had a mysterious air about her due to her ‘quirks’ and so is surprised to be sent on a solo mission. One with a conflicting agenda; and one that will change her life forever.
The flow of the story is good and Yang brings it all together nicely. I just wish there was more to it.
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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Deep Cuts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As someone whose eternal life partner is a huge music snob, who I met at 23, had a glorious year with, and then panicked and ran away, only to be dragged back five years later into his arms; this book is scary in its depth, ambience, and overarching love story that I connected with on a level unprecedented. At points it felt like I was at my own clumsy virgin moment as Percy experiences hers, but also then reminiscing about my own first experiences with betrayal, heartbreak, and the curse of being young and stupid. Only to then be brought back around and reminded that we all must hurt to grow, and we cannot truly appreciate what we have until we have lost it for a time… and all the while the music plays.
Holly Brickley has infused herself into this book. She’s shown extreme snobbery in music (I know as we’re of the same generation, and even my snobby music obsessed husband didn’t know every reference to every obscure NYC band!!); and put it on the page in such a way that it bleeds hipster hype infused with indie irreverence. All things that are seemingly unable to exist at once, and yet do both in the story and in real life.
I didn’t love this at a couple key moments, which is why even with its strong ending I feel compelled (for now) to keep it at four stars. I know some of the moments that I felt slogged were intentional; as our leading gal, Percy, is also feeling that way. Thankfully it doesn’t last too long and I was easily brought about and delving back into the lyrics on the page.
If you love The Star is Born (original with Heston or remake with the stunning Lady Gaga) then you are likely to love this. I’m not usually one for the romantic contemporary story but occasionally one gets me and Deep Cuts won the battle to bring my cold black heart out for a time. Music is an amazing, moving, gloriously unique art medium and somehow Brickley manages to have you hearing the songs by just reading the words on the page. A truly amazing feat.
Thanks to Brickley for being born in a small town in Canada so this read helps me meet my Canadian author quota for the year, and to a number of challenges that brought this book to the top of my TBR. I might have avoided for a lot longer without these two factors. I’m pleased to read a love story that isn’t about perfect people or moments; but is instead messy; filled with anguish, desire, and yearning, just like real life.
Thankfully today I’m past the age of these characters and settled into my amazing life with my husband. Deep Cuts is a brilliant reminder of where we all have came from and to remember to appreciate every shining moment of our love and lives. I’m so rarely overly sentimental or introspective about my own life; but Brickley strung a chord that I can’t ignore. Do not miss this musical journey.
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