Welcome to Litsy!

A nice creepy Gothic horror set in an alternate world that feels like Victorian England and where magic works. Utterly atmospheric

And I can't tell if girlcat Ellie really liked or really hated the cover.

I chose to read this for the Gothic vibes in this Halloween season and boy, did it deliver. At first I thought I knew the direction it was headed in, but I was wrong. This has amazing suspense, disturbing imagery and is beautifully written. Even though the ending wraps everything up well, there are still some things to ponder. I absolutely loved this book and I would definitely read more by this author. TW for body horror and drug use.

This was close to being a Pick for me — there are some legitimately terrifying sequences, and certainly some moments where I was anxiously turning the next page. But there is something ‘off‘ about the overall tone of the book. The best way I can put it is that I never felt grounded in Starling‘s world; from the faux Victorian setting to the characters, it all felt like a sketch or vague idea.

If you like math, you‘ll love this book. I don‘t like math, and I don‘t like paradoxes in my plots. I did like the romance, and the mystery, and the ghosts tho! Finally, an author that will let her FMC be MAD!! I love it.

#scarathlon #scarathlon2023 #scarathlon23 #teamwhoyagonnacall #whoyagonnacall #witchathon #readlikehellathon #fallingforbooks #spookoween #31by31 #outstandingoctober #booklyreadathon

#Audiocrafting Pumpkins, now with stems!

I found the brown stem yarn at Upcycle Creative Reuse Center, which is a kind of thrift store for art supplies. It was marked "handspun wool" -which it *is*, technically - but it‘s so uneven and lumpy, I can‘t see how it could possibly be used for knitting or crocheting. It‘s great for pumpkin stems, though!

I'm only 6 chapters in and I am hooked.

A 2022 read.
This book is inspired by Crimson Peak which, I didn't love so I'm not sure why I read this, besides I was told I would enjoy it by a friend 🤷🏻‍♀️
It was okay, but moved too slow for my tastes and the ending was a bit off.

#Libby checkout on my Kindle. I‘m 50 pages in and liking it so far. I‘ve seen mixed reviews but the vibes are speaking to me. I love contemporary written works with those classic gothic vibes.

Has anyone read this and enjoyed it? I also loved Mexican Gothic, and Crimson Peak.

In the same vibe I was a DNF for Anatomy: A Love Story.

#gothic #auvictorian (I think?)

This dark, brooding, and atmospheric gothic horror is full of magic and the macabre. It's a story about guilt and despair and how these emotions can haunt. I was riveted from page one and absolutely devoured this novel.

Loving the opening lines

Merry Jólabókaflóð! 📚🍫

This cover completely hooked me. Who else falls victim to a great cover? Which book hooked you?

This book wasn‘t really what I was expecting. I‘m not sure if I actually liked this book.

Jane marries a doctor in a business relationship. The one rule is she‘ll never spend the night at his manor house. But she does. And there is magic and ghosts and spirits.

This is the second book I‘ve read by this author and I don‘t think she‘s for me.

I LOVE this book so much!!! Might be time for a reread. 🖤

#black #scarathlondailyprompts #teamslaughter

I‘m so bummed by this one! There was so much potential for something gothic and atmospheric and wonderful, but it failed for me starting around the halfway point. This story tries to be too many things and in doing so, the themes are poorly-defined. I couldn‘t ever grasp what the author is trying to say. Ultimately, I don‘t know what I‘m supposed to take away from this story and, sadly, I didn‘t enjoy it like I hoped I would.

I‘m 1/3 thru and not entirely sure what‘s going on yet. It‘s giving me Gothic vibes and reminding me a little of du Maurier‘s Rebecca so far. The cover is deliciously creepy!

#bookhaul for August

The tagged book was great! I was listening to it on my Libby app and HAD to get a physical copy. Also met author David Putnam (bottom of left stack) this week & he generously donated 3 sets of his Bruno Johnson detective series for my classroom library!!!

I was super excited to read this book - it was supposed to be a gothic romance turned gothic horror. And, while that was true, the "horror" part of the story was not always cohesive. There were parts that felt confusing, and unnecessary. Just very long scenes where nothing actually happens. Jane as a character and the narrator of the story is frustrating. While I did appreciate the twist at the end, I'd say pass.

August #tbr

Excellent ghost story. Couldn‘t put it down. May not sleep tonight.

At its heart, this is a book about guilt and despair, and because Magic is involved, those emotions take on form, and a kind of substance; ghosts if you like, and as some believe. But, as Elodie tells Jane: “ghosts aren‘t real” and that‘s the paradox that leads to a fine ending.

“There is no way to fix everything. There is only the way to this moment, now …”

There is wisdom in Starling‘s book, and I‘m glad I kept reading.

This book is what I‘m all about! Great characters, alternate-historical setting, and a dark and tantalizing magic!

3-20-22: My 26th finished book of 2022! Jane Shoringfield proposes a marriage of convenience to Dr. Augustine Lawrence. He accepts on the condition that she never enter his family home. Due to circumstances beyond their control, she enters it anyway and comes face to face with a brand new reality full of horror, mystery and magic. This book moved along very slowly for me which was frustrating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣6️⃣

This was pretty forgettable. Jane marries Augustine on the condition that she can never set foot in his family home. Of course she does and strange things start to happen. The book tried to be way too many things (gothic, horror, magical realism, cosmic horror) and never managed to get it together on any of them.

Creepy, dark, brooding, and atmospheric. Set in a similar but alternate place you realize Jane is getting in seriously over her head. You have to wonder if she‘s going mad, seeing real ghosts, or if magic is actually real…but dark and extremely treacherous. Reading Dr Nizamiev‘s case notes at the very end makes the doctor feel even creepier and less trustworthy. Not a fast read, very dark and gruesome, but found it original and really creepy.

What a weird read - boring and confusing at times/in the second half sadly 😵‍💫 3.5/5 Read for November - #LiterallyDeadBookClub2021

This book started off great, but the end was confusing to say the least. It was a good idea over all for a book, but the ending lost me.

There are 2 different stories here. There one at the beginning that follows young Jane on her quest for stability in her life as she seeks a business arrangement marriage to a husband, who also happens to live in some dilapidated house outside of town. A place she isn‘t supposed to go, is interesting. The second part that involves dark magic and certified mania as Jane tries to free her husband from his misfortune is difficult.

I‘m so frustrated by The Death of Jane Lawrence. The beginning was great but by the end I was just reading to finish it. The plot was forced into this weird, disjointed world of dark magic. And once I lost interest I started noticing plot holes that drove me nuts. I‘m so sad that this one didn‘t work though. I wanted to love it.

Full review: https://wildwoodreads.com/2021/12/15/the-death-of-jane-lawrence-review/

Confession: I borrowed this from the library but only made it to page 34 before it was due back (all my holds came in at once). I was so into those 34 pages that i just went and bought it! 😅

Y‘all it happened. I went to go pick up the book I ordered from my local indie. As I was standing in line waiting, one of the booksellers said “Amanda, I have your book right here!” Yep, they know me by name now 🤓

I made my wife an advent calendar this year. 😁 Some of the gifts are books, so those boxes just contain a slip of paper with a code or keyword on so I can grab the right one from the pile. Today's gift was The Death of Jane Lawrence, since they loved The Luminous Dead.

November was the month of audiobooks. I read ten books this month, but only two were physical books. But I‘ve really enjoyed my time exploring audiobooks. I also caught up on my arc reviews for the year and it feels amazing. Now I just need to read five more books to beat my Goodreads goal.

Full wrap up: https://wildwoodreads.com/2021/11/30/november-2021-wrap-up/

⭐️⭐️

This was an atmospheric and creepy Gothic tale, but it just wasn‘t for me. I didn‘t really care about the characters and it was gruesome and confusing.

Finished The Wish by Nicholas Sparks and it was really good! Now a change of pace with this one!
Meanwhile 2 more of my library holds came in yesterday! The reading rush is on!

Hey, guys. So I know I just sort of disappeared last week. My father passed away last Friday and I decided I needed to take some time off to process things. But in true Capricorn fashion it‘s time for me to get back to work. I‘m a workaholic and an overthinker. If I just sit and think I will literally make myself miserable. So it‘s time for a book chat. I‘ve been throwing myself into completing my reading goals. How are you reading goals going?

When all your library holds start coming in at the same time!

Just the tagged book was a hold but why not take out two more to go with the ten books i already have checked out!

Im trying to read all the holds first because they are due back sooner than the regular books!

Marine Corps Vet Husband: You‘re sick. You need to hydrate.
Me: Caffeinate?
Him: Hydrate
Me: instructions unclear.
Him: Why are you like this?

Happy Sunday, guys. What are you reading today?

This was quite the ride. I believe I started this book under a misapprehension: I thought it was a mystery for some reason- but definitely not! It was suspenseful & drew me in & even though it was more horror than I am drawn to typically I really enjoyed it.

My October #AuthenticBooks box came today! Has anyone read this one? Maybe I should fit in one more spooky book before Halloween is too far away… 🤔 In addition to the signed book, curated playlist, and recipes, this month they sent sandalwood and rose incense, a “ghost stories” candle, a cedar and elemi bar of soap, and lady‘s mantle tea! #bookmail

1. The original Grimm's Fairy Tales
2. Snow! By the fireplace with a cup of tea ❤
3. A lot: my family, my coworkers-- heck, even my job! 🤓

#wonderouswednesday @Eggs

I had so much freaking fun.
1: 1602.50
2. 1384.50
3. 1605.50
4. 1712.50
GRAND TOTAL: 6305

#LosersClub #ReadWithUs #ReadAThon #dailycheckin #SpookoweenReadathon #Scarathlon2021 #TeamSlaughter #Deweys24 #20in4 #AllYearAThon #FrightFall #PrettyMessReading #LiteraryEscapesChallenge #ColorCodedReadingChallenge #CalendarofCrime #PickYourPoison

Photo: the Lord, and @DieAReader made this beauty mine😍

Happy Halloween!

To celebrate, I‘m currently reading THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE. Gothic horror, supernatural and mystery, this has everything I‘m looking for. Hope its good! 🤞🏼

Starting this tomorrow because I‘m too tired tonight. Hoping to finish this and possibly another book this weekend. I need to check out for a bit.

This book delivered on the gothic atmosphere - the haunted house vibes and creepy magic vibes were there. But, the ending didn't fully explain what was going on, which was frustrating.

#scarathlon #teamslaughter 16 pts

#fallintoreading #spookoweenreadathon #trickortreatathon #spooktober #itsbritneywitch #bookspinbingo #littenlisten
7x10x10=700

716 total points for this one
@Clwojick

I actually really enjoyed this book. It was atmospherically creepy and a perfect October read. I liked the main character even though she definitely had some faults, like all humans do. The setting was gothic Victorian and the rambling, haunted house fit the theme quite well. I wouldn't say it's a particularly believable story but I wasn't looking for it to be.

I was intrigued by this gothic darkly magical book at first, with its grisly introduction that included a 19th century surgery and a unique business-oriented woman looking for a husband for practical reasons. But 75 pages in I'm losing interest and finding the romance aspect forced. This is the second or third gothic book I've dnfed this year. I think I may have to conclude that while they always appeal to me, I don't actually like reading them??

Getting some reading in with this cute little snoozing gremlin on my lap 👼📖

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year as it was described as being like Crimson Peak, but it was the most disappointing book I‘ve read this year instead. I would have bailed if I hadn‘t bought it. It didn‘t need to be speculative or set in an “other” place IMO. That made no sense to me. I couldn‘t understand the main character‘s motive it wasn‘t strong enough to endure what she had to. The “magic” involved felt more like occult 👇

Books 128 and 129.