Finally read this one! Always loved the movie, and so it was high time for the book.

After his crew is forced to leave him behind during a storm, botanist and astronaut Mark Watney is straight up stranded on Mars. So begins a survivalist adventure where Mark works to grow food in his hab module and sustain himself in hopes of a rescue.

Complex science is made fun and engaging in this wildly intense (and funny!) tale led by a quirky protagonist.

JUST LIKE HOME by Sarah Gailey

Vera hasn‘t returned home in over a decade. Her mother disowned her after her father was outed as a serial killer and sent to prison. But now Vera‘s mother is dying, and old affairs need to be put in order, along with the house. But the house seems strange now… or does it?

This was a fresh take on the haunted house genre. It‘s creepy, mysterious, engaging, and full of twisted secrets that make for great reveals.🫣

This is a history book written in-world by one of the archmaesters of the Citadel in Westeros. It covers nearly the first 150 years of Targaryen rule, summarizing the life and reign of each king and their families, starting with Aegon‘s Conquest and ending with the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.

With many ambiguous elements around what might‘ve happened behind closed doors, this book is truly enthralling for fans of Westerosi lore.

RAZORBLADE TEARS by S.A. Cosby

Two fathers, one black, one white, seek revenge together after their only sons, who were married to one another, are murdered. They also confront their shame for not accepting or supporting their sons while they were alive.

So begins a fast-paced, brutal Odyssey full of just as much emotion as there is violence. It‘s a powerful read, both viscerally and insightfully, with real character arcs and a riveting story.

I really hope it‘s okay to announce/post my own book on here.😅

VIOLENT NIGHTS, my first novella, is a twisted thriller about a trio of middle schoolers who form their own sinister secret society.

Their first order of business?

Ritual sacrifice, of course. ✨🔪💀🪦⚡️

VIOLENT NIGHTS releases Tuesday, October 17th, in paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

CW: graphic violence & some profane language.

Full blurb in the comments below.

#ViolentNights

When Laura was 13 she witnessed the kidnapping of her best friend, Bobby. He was never found. Yet every year on her birthday, Laura receives a letter from the abductor providing her with a clue that, over the years, will lead to an inevitable confrontation…

This short but mesmerizing read felt like both a movie and an autobiography (a biopic novel🤔?). It‘s a foreboding, ominous, and tense tale that builds up to a climactic, emotional ending.🍃🍂

Viv, a battle-hardened orc who has seen her share of bloody adventures, hangs up her sword for good and opens a coffee shop. It‘s time for a peaceful new start. But will new and old foes alike grant her the tranquility she seeks?

This is a splendid slice-of-life fantasy tale. I could smell the coffee and pastries rising off the page. With snappy dialogue and kind hearts, these wonderful characters form lasting bonds. A lovely book in every way.☕️

When Delilah was 6, she and her mother went missing. Now, 11 years later, Delilah has returned home, unable to explain what happened.

Perhaps because the shocking truth is too cruel to consider.

This tale begins with a scary, utterly intense nightmare scenario. It felt like I was reading the final act right at the start (so vivid it was almost like a movie!). After that, a compelling, slowly unraveling mystery kept me hooked to the very end.🪝📖

When unknown supernatural entities take over the earth, anyone who sees them immediately ends their own life. Our protagonist, Malorie, does her best to survive while caring for her two children.

One of my favorite post-apocalyptic novels, Malorie spends much of her time blindfolded, making for a truly unique literary experience (you‘ll feel like you‘re blindfolded with her!). It‘s terrifying.

The sequel, titled MALORIE, is also wickedly great!

When Anna, a missing persons detective, returns to her small hometown after a personal tragedy, she finds herself wrapped up in the search for a recently missing teenage local—a case that may even be similar to an unsolved murder from Anna‘s childhood…

With a strong arc for its protag coupled with several mysteries all playing out at once—each of them intriguing on their own—this well-crafted tale is disturbingly detailed and thoroughly engaging.

HOME BEFORE DARK by Riley Sager

A novel that is actually two novels.

Maggie grew up in a haunted house but has no memory of what happened. Her dad remembered, though—and he wrote a bestselling book all about the events (that we get to read!!). Now, 25 years later, Maggie returns to the infamous house to uncover the truth.

The semi-short chapters and alternating storylines make this one easy book to breeze through. It‘s a ghoul time.
👻📖👻

When a virus makes all animal flesh worldwide inedible, human cannibalism becomes legal and normalized over time. Marcos helps run a human slaughterhouse, carrying out the required daily tasks that enable the smooth production of human meat.

With its casual, everyday depiction of a cannibalism-fueled society, full of characters living in an inherently apathetic world, this book is a truly terrifying—and realistic—dystopian nightmare.🏭💀🥩

When young Charlie befriends an elderly neighbor, he also falls for the neighbor‘s old dog, a sweet German Shepard named Radar. Later, Charlie discovers a portal to another world in the neighbor‘s shed. Charlie and Radar enter this fantastical realm and begin an epic quest.

King gives us the origins of our worlds fairy tale‘s with this fable. Add in elements of classic King terror, and this becomes one dark adventure full of heart and horror.🏰💀

REVENGE by Yoko Ogawa

This is a collection of eleven twisted tales that intersect in unexpected ways. The characters are unknown to each other, yet their strange lives nonetheless affect one another.

I love short story collections—especially dark and messed-up stories like these. They‘re ominous, cruel, and somber. Strung together, they weave a wickedly beautiful web. It was fun to read each story and see how it would connect with the previous.

THE INSTITUTE by Stephen King

Tim, a former cop turned drifter, finds his way to the small town of Dupree, making a home there.

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, young Luke Ellis is kidnapped in the dead of night, his parents murdered. He‘s taken to the Institute, a secret org that uses kids for psychic warfare.

Intense, maddening—yet ultimately satisfying, this was a sprawling, unputdownable tale for me. Great characters, wild action, engaging story.

WHEREVER SEEDS MAY FALL by Peter Cawdron

When an asteroid that was supposed to burn up in Saturns atmosphere instead skims the gas giant and heads toward Jupiter, it is apparent that an interstellar craft has entered the solar system. The world reacts with wonder, fear, hope, and panic.

An insightful and ominous exploration of what First Contact could realistically be like, this novel is gripping, thrilling, exciting—and terrifying.🪐☄️

THEN SHE WAS GONE by Lisa Jewell

Ten years after Laurel‘s daughter, Ellie, goes missing, she meets someone special and begins to piece her life back together, and repair the bonds with her remaining family. But alas, along the way of healing, there may be unexpected clues as to what happened to Ellie…

Full of subtle foreshadowing and a few good twists, this is a bizarre, enthralling tale that will rip your heart out—and then maybe put it back📖

HIDDEN PICTURES by Jason Rekulak

Mallory is young Teddy‘s new babysitter, and she easily bonds with the child. Teddy loves to draw. But sometimes Teddy‘s drawings are disturbing. Illustrations of murder, for example. And some of these pictures are far too detailed to have been drawn by a child, almost as if someone—or something—is drawing them through Teddy.

In all, a well-crafted mystery that kept me wondering and guessing until the very end👍

LATER by Stephen King

Jamie sees the dead. But it‘s not so bad. They don‘t mess with you—well, not usually. They mind their business. And if you ask them a question, they must tell the truth.

But Jamie must also keep his ability a secret, otherwise people may try and use it for their own gain. Because the dead know things.

A frighteningly wild ride, LATER is a terrific supernatural horror tale with intriguing connections to King‘s other works.

THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL by Jennifer McMahon

1978: Vi and Eric live with their grandmother and love monster stories. One day Gran brings home Iris, a girl about Vi‘s age, who Gran says is their new sister. Iris joins their monster club.

2019: Lizzy, a paranormal investigator, discovers a pattern of disappearances where teen girls go missing in towns that have a local monster legend.

A twisty tale with cool characters and a satisfying ending👍

WE ARE ALL THE SAME IN THE DARK by Julia Heaberlin

After Odette‘s father passes, she moves back home to solve the case he never could. A long-missing woman who was the sister of Odette‘s old boyfriend—the man who has always been guilty in the eyes of the town.

Heartbreaking, poignant, searing to the core. I loved this tale and was also wrecked by it. It‘s a powerful experience, one worth having. I just wish I had more time with these characters.

BETWEEN TWO FIRES | Christopher Buehlman

A disgraced knight, a saintly young girl, and a drunken priest traverse the French countryside in 1348, during the plague. They encounter brigands, pirates, devils, and monsters—all in their quest to follow the young girls angelic, holy visions.

A grand, epic journey, this story is wicked and brutal. Yet love and goodness carry on even in the darkest of times, and hope never truly dies. What a book.🔥📖🔥

I recently read SEED by Ania Ahlborn

As a child, Jack met an evil entity—a true devil that made him do horrible things. To escape the monster, Jack fled home, never looking back.

Now, decades later, Jack‘s young daughter, Charlie, is acting strange, doing bad things. Only Charlie says it isn‘t really her doing them…

An engrossing family drama full of real horror—and a gnarly ending—this is one tale sure to leave a disturbing mark.

#ShortReview

ELEVATION by Stephen King

Scott keeps dropping in weight without any noticeable change to his appearance—and he doesn‘t know what will happen when the scale reaches zero. Will his feet even remain on the ground?

Yet life goes on. Scott has friends to make before the end. Maybe he can even help right a few wrongs.

What pleasantly surprised me about this engaging little novel was just how uplifting it was. It‘s a quick, touching read.

SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Emily St. John Mandel

Strangers living in different centuries share the same unexplained experience at a certain point in their lives. A flash of darkness, the sensation of being in a forest, hearing violin music, the whoosh of an airship—all before returning to where they were. In the far future, time travelers aim to study this phenomenon.

Part lit fic, part sci-fi epic, this is a poignant, brilliant, beautiful book.📖🌖

THE APOLLO MURDERS by Chris Hadfield

1973. In an alternate past, Apollo 18 launches to the Moon. But this mission isn‘t like the previous ones. This is a top secret military op. Intrigue & subterfuge run amok as those in space & on earth try to unravel a conspiracy before more bodies pile up.

What I loved most about this wild Cold War thriller was how I never knew where the story was going. Truly a grand adventure—and an intense adrenaline rush!

Like many, I recently read THE BOOK OF COLD CASES by Simone St. James

In a small seaside town in 1977, a serial killer shot two men in the face. The #1 suspect, Beth Greer, was acquitted.

In 2017, Shea, a true crime sleuth, visits Beth‘s mansion for an interview. Shea sees there‘s something off about Beth and her story—just like there‘s something off about the strange mansion.

An absorbing, haunting mystery about confronting ghosts of the past.

SKELETON CREW | Stephen King

In between novels I enjoy short stories. They‘re quick, fun, & often fulfilling😊📖👍

This collection is not to be missed. It consists of many of King‘s most well-known shorts, including THE JAUNT (absolutely terrifying), SURVIVOR-TYPE (disturbingly compelling), the novella THE MIST (cosmic creatures), and many more. After your current novel—if the urge strikes—perhaps sample a short story before your next big read!

SUNDIAL by Catiorina Ward

When Rob discovers her young daughter Callie has homicidal urges, she takes her to Sundial, the private estate in the desert where Rob grew up. There Rob tells Callie her life story—and how they may have more in common than Callie realizes . . .

Bluntly put, this a powerful, heartbreaking story. It reads in such a way that you feel like you know what‘s to come—which makes all the twists & turns that much more impactful.

THE FISHERMAN by John Langan

Abe takes up fishing after his wife passes. When his co-worker, Dan, suffers great tragedy, they begin fishing together.

One morning over breakfast in a diner, Abe and Dan are told a strange and incredible story (a book within the book) about the little-known creek they plan to fish that day.

This tale is an absolute Lovecraftian nightmare. The worldbuilding is so wonderfully crafted. It‘s beautifully disturbing🎣💀

THE BALLAD OF BLACK TOM by Victor LaValle

In 1924 NYC, Tommy discreetly transports items for people. Often strange items. One item, a mysterious book, leads him into a terrifying conspiracy—a COSMIC conspiracy that could reveal the realm of Almighty Cthulhu—and a chance to literally remake the world.

Part social commentary on racism, part existential horror, Tommy‘s tragic story is both riveting and enraging—and full of real-life monsters.

THE DARK by Jeremy Robinson

Miah just wants to get high, eat sandwiches, and try to cope with PTSD from his time as a soldier. But then the sun suddenly disappears, all electronics shut off, and literal demons take over the world. Miah does what he can to protect his family, friends, and neighborhood.

This story is a blast. Fast-paced and hilarious—but also brutally violent—this is one fun (albeit twisted) apocalyptic thrill-ride.

HIDE AND SEEKER by Daka Hermon

After a game of hide and seek goes eerily wrong, Justin and his friends are slowly pulled one-by-one into a dark, shadowy realm where the monstrous seeker unleashes their worst fears on them.

This was a fun middle-grade horror novel with intriguing mystery elements, satisfying character development, and a well-crafted supernatural world👍 A slow-burn that builds up to an all-out, climactic ending.

#ShortReview

THE CHALK MAN by C.J. Tudor

As a kid, Eddie and his friends discover chalk symbols on the trees in their local woods. The symbols lead them to the remains of a young girl. Her head is missing.

Thirty years later, Eddie receives a letter in the mail. A letter full of chalk drawings . . .

This gripping, slow-burn murder mystery is a layered, poignant tale that surprised me with its reveals—and an awesomely wicked ending—that I never saw coming.

NIGHTBOOKS by J. A. White

Alex loves scary stories—and especially loves writing his own. One night, after sneaking out of his apartment, he happens to be kidnapped by a real witch! To survive in her care, Alex must impress her with one of his scary stories every evening after dinner.

An ode to the magic of storytelling, this fast-paced and creepy kids tale is wonderfully dark and surprisingly morbid. I absolutely loved it.

#ShortReview

THE HANDYMAN by Bentley Little

When Daniel was a child, a creepy old neighbor named Frank built his family‘s summer home. But there was something off about the home. Something strange. Then tragedy struck.

Decades later, Daniel hears of another home built by the same man. But Frank couldn‘t still be alive, could he?

This awesome haunted house/boogeyman story has some of the most intense, imaginative horror sequences I‘ve ever read. So twisted👍

AFTER THE FLOOD by Kassandra Montag

After rising sea levels flood the entire world, humanity lives on the water & on the tiny slivers of land left, bartering & trading for food & goods to survive.

Myra is on a quest to find her lost daughter, kidnapped years before. She sails from port to port, seeking clues.

In all, this ‘post-apocalyptic pirates‘ story is a beautiful, yet brutally tragic adventure that will haunt you long after the last page.

The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard

While working security, Jim sees a new release titled THE NOTHING MAN, a true crime book about the titular serial killer—written by his only survivor. Jim picks up the book thinking, “I let this kid live and she wrote a book about me!?”

The narrative switches between Jim in the present, and the book about himself which he‘s reading. It‘s a fascinating, disturbing, thrilling tale that I couldn‘t put down.

Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare.

Seeking a fresh start, Quinn & her dad move to Kettle Springs—a small town said to have been founded generations earlier by its mascot, a clown called Frendo. But Quinn‘s new town has twisted secrets—secrets that‘ll put everyone‘s life in KS on the line.

With great chemistry among colorful characters, this thrilling slasher is easy to get pulled into. In all, it‘s a brutal blast of bloody mayhem.
#ShortReview

Just finished Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.

When our sun & other local stars begin to dim, an astronaut is sent to another, unaffected star system to find a solution. Upon arrival, he makes first contact with an alien there for the same reason. Together, they hope to find a cure & save their planets.

This incredible story is a fabulous take on First Contact. An emotional, hilarious, spectacular adventure that I wish didn‘t end🚀✨

#ShortReview

House of Hollow | Krystal Sutherland.

Iris & her two older sisters, Vivi & Grey, were kidnapped as children and went missing for a month with no memory of what happened. Now, years later, Grey is missing again . . .

This intriguing, mysterious tale has wonderfully fleshed out characters, beautifully vivid imagery, and an ending I didn‘t see coming despite the story‘s plentiful foreshadowing. It‘s a twisted supernatural thrill ride👍
#ShortReview

Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar.

A horror novel that reads like a true crime book, Rich “Chiz” Chizmar independently investigates a series of murders in his small town. By leaving no evidence, the stealthy culprit becomes known as the boogeyman.

This story is literally all the spooky things: creepy, disturbing, macabre, unsettling—and so wickedly fun. I had chills the entire time👍👍 Always lock your doors, folks!

#ShortReview #Horror

Like many, I recently read Billy Summers by Stephen King.

While working his last job and hoping nothing goes wrong, Billy, a hitman, decides to try writing a book about his life, and how he came to be the man he is.

The narrative switches between Billy‘s last job in the present, and the manuscript of his life story, which he‘s writing. In all, it‘s a fascinating adventure, thrilling & intense. I couldn‘t put it down.👍

#ShortReview #StephenKing

Just finished Mexican Gothic by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia.

In the 1950‘s Mexican countryside, Noemí visits an ailing cousin who claims ghosts are in the walls of her home—and also that her husband‘s trying to kill her.

This was a great haunted house/ghost story. It‘s creepy, captivating, mysterious, and full of symbolism & foreshadowing. I also enjoyed how sassy and charming the protagonist was. Can‘t wait for the Hulu adaptation now!

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Just finished Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino‘s debut novel.

Good times, adventures, mayhem, and many a hangover await in LA, 1969.

This book greatly expands on the film with much detail & depth, really zooming in on the characters and exploring Cinema & TV history. It‘s fascinating, compelling, & just plain fun—with a few unexpected surprises, some of them very rewarding. Excited to rewatch the movie again now👍

#ShortReview

LOST STARS by Claudia Gray.

The perfect starter novel for any wanting to read STAR WARS, Lost Stars is a Romeo&Juliet-esque tale of a pair of childhood friends who grow up in the Empire, dreaming of becoming pilots. One realizes the Empire is evil & defects to the Rebellion, the other is an Imperial patriot.

Epic & heartbreaking, this beautiful story showcases events of the original trilogy from the POV of the two protags.
#STARWARS #ClaudiaGray

My most recent read was The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher.

Kara‘s uncle owns a quirky museum of oddities. While closing up one night, she finds a passage in the wall leading to other dimensions full of strange, disturbing creatures. So begins her adventure.

This story is unsettling, surprisingly hilarious, weirdly imaginative, and just so much fun👍👍 I absolutely loved the dialogue in this book. So many great lines.

#ShortReview #TKingfisher

Earlier this year, I read The Taking by Dean Koontz.

Set in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California, a married couple try to keep safe and unravel what‘s going on amidst a mysterious apocalyptic event.

I loved how this story was both cozy & unsettling, taking place in a cabin-style home at first, then moving around through a small mountainous town, all with terrifying entities/creatures lurking about. 👍👍

#ShortReview #DeanKoontz

Yesterday I finished reading The Wicker King by K. Ancrum.

August‘s best friend, Jack, sees another world. Supernatural creatures, medieval buildings, magical objects. August sees nothing. He worries about Jack, but nonetheless agrees to aid him in completing ‘a very important quest to fulfill a prophecy.‘

This story is trippy, tragic, funny, fast-paced—and it‘s all told in short, sharp chapters. 👍👍
#ShortReview #KAncrum

Last night I finished reading The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay.

While on vacation, a family‘s cabin is invaded by a group of mysterious, creepy strangers who announce that the family must choose to kill one of their own—or else the world will end.

This story is an intense, anxiety-riddled adrenaline rush. A nail-biting, fist-clenching read. It was so twisted!👍👍

#ShortReview #PaulTremblay