Welcome to Litsy!

I went into this book thinking dark academia with a splash of spooky. Nope. It‘s full horror and I don‘t even think dark academia should be remotely related to it.

Full warning, this is gross in a gore way. An excellent book but maybe don‘t eat while reading…

Wait a second...are sprayed edges a result of the "spines in" bookshelf trend? I have just these two with sprayed edges, and I've been trying to figure out why/how the trend started (without googling it, because where's the fun in that?).

I treated myself to an overstock Owlcrate Horror selection, a special edition of The Library at Hellebore, with beautiful sprayed edges and creepy cover under the dust cover. This one is definitely going on my October #bookspin list!

Since it's official spooky season now (YES, spooky season starts on September first in my mind!) I'm lining up some of the horror books I'm hoping to start this month! 🎃🍁🍂🍄👻

When I woke up, my roommate, Johanna, was dead.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

August was full of spooky, creepy, awesomeness 🤓💕
Need a good spooky recommendation for the fall? Let me know!

What a fabulous, dark little blood-soaked jewel. I don‘t read a lot of horror but this is probably my favorite kind, even if the gore felt gratuitous.

Perfect for back to school, too 🤓

This book was insane but I loved it. It was kind of a monster version of Hunger Games. So the apocalypse has happened, and all the people (mostly kids) have these monsterous, world ending, anti-christ type powers. That includes Alessa, who, on her graduation day, barely escapes being eaten only to end up with seven other classmates and an edict that only one can live 👹
#Pantone2025 #crownblue @Lauredhel

I have listened to three of Khaw‘s earlier novels— she writes well & always has an intriguing premise. This latest is no exception, though despite the great performance, the cast size made me wish to have physically read this instead. There‘s plenty of action, but it‘s a bit light on explanations, making it hard to feel truly invested in the characters as they struggle to survive their own magical graduation. #AudioColoring

If you like dark academia with a little cosmic horror, 'The Library at Hellebore' might be right for you. Alessa Li was kidnapped and forced to attend Hellebore. Each student, whether recruited the traditional way, or facing forced enrollment, has certain monstrous gifts. Hellebore is labeled as a sanctuary for these students. However, it harbors a dark secret. The faculty don't expect the students to survive graduation.

I am SO excited for my hardcover copy to come in, but I just finished!!! If you‘re a fan of dark academia, horror, monster girls, and don‘t mind a little gore? Okay, a LOT of gore. 😅 But read this book! Cassandra Khaw‘s writing is so so so pretty, even when everything is slimy, gross, nasty. If you liked The Salt Grows Heavy and/or Someone You Can Build a Nest In, you‘ll like this book.

4 stars | #darkacadmemia #horror