3.5/5

A wonderful collection of short stories that are both separate from each other but also connected. I enjoyed most of them, there were a few that didn't work for me. A lot of these are heavily colonial (the Gold Rush, England vs Spain) and they lack any depth or nuance for me to enjoy them from outside the broad idea. Many of these stories focus on myths and folklore, which was well done and some were taken on in new ways. But many were too short! I wanted so much more!

SF Russell can write and some of these stories would benefit from being fleshed out into longer stories. They don't need to be novel length, but more than the few pages we are given. I would say these stories are slightly unsettling. I wouldn't say they're terrifying or horror. He plays around with a lot in these tales and it's a wonderful debut.

I recommend this for anyone who likes short spooky tales. I would instantly read anything else by Russell as his voice and style are smooth and makes for a good read. I cannot wait for his longer work or another collection! Please, just make them a bit longer!

4/5

This collection was interesting as it has only rule: that it is written in a single breath. The poems center around raw emotions and mythology. It felt classical in its style, Mondal didn't go wild with trendy or bizarre formatting. He did include two drafts of a poem but they weren't included in the Table of Contents.

My favourite part was the inclusion of drawings. Some were basic and almost childlike, like when a teen is trying to put their emotions on the page but have never drawn. It's chaos and awkward but you simply cannot do better. Yet Mondal has other drawings that are clean and precise, clearly he's skilled. Reading it on my Kindle did the poems a disservice as I feel like having the drawings right there on the next page really adds to the feeling of the collection. I would suggest a physical copy for pleasure because you're missing out on that added depth of a two page spread.

If you like poetry with images paired with heartbreak and deities, you'll find something to enjoy in this collection. Arian is a sweet soul who wants to connect with people and put words to the human condition. He's brave as is his poetry.

Thank you for sharing this!

4.5/5

This was so much fun! It's short and spooky all the way until the end. It's a story of love and loss, not everything makes it through to the end.

Duscha is torn between love and family, her grandmother doesn't approve of her relationship with Valentina. I felt so strongly for Val. I wish I understood D's motives a bit more.

Does she not want the ink to work? She seems to do nothing to stop it in the beginning, like she's scared but not for any virtuous reasons, just selfishly. I loved watching the spiral of everything and everyone into darkness.

The ending was creepy and bloody and satisfying in all the ways it was set up to be. It was also wholesome, revealing, and altering in ways I didn't expect but loved instantly.

I only wish I had a clearer understanding of what D wanted. Does she want to be a witch? Does she want to carry on anything? How does Valentina fit? Regardless of the questions, I found this to remind me of When Among Crows by Veronica Roth, so I would happily put this beside it.

The illustrations are AI generated (stated at the beginning of the book) and although creepy, are lacking the true cohesion a real artist would have used with the same prompts. Think of John Tenniel's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland but creepier and Alice's face keeps changing.

Eli and Selene's relationship doesn't work for me. He comes off as obsessed while she's indifferent. This makes the book creepier in a way, but I cared so little about Eli's grief that the whole book feels pointless. I was hoping the cult would propel me through instead.

There's a lot written but also a lot missing. There's a lot of purple prose, mainly similes and metaphors. One would stand out to me but quickly was forgotten by the numerous that followed. If I never have to read the word reverence again, it'll still be too soon. It popped up so often in everything the cult did/said/felt. What was missing was smooth transitions. Judith and Barrett just appear. Eli sees a text from the Philosophical Society and I guess finds their location (???) and shows up—instantly knowing Judith and Barrett (and Rowan and Harlow???). I was so confused that I went back to see if I missed something.

The concept is interesting. The idea of each character and what they represent is compelling. The mix of spirituality, AI, grief, and death all were promising for some great horror. But I couldn't connect to anyone so I struggled through this. I wish it was a bit smoother and I wish I enjoyed it more but I'm glad show more others did! show less

3/5

This is being promoted as "young adult" but the characters are thirteen and it's more accurately juvenile/middle grade as you typically want to write 2+ years older than your ideal reader.

There were errors with punctuation, spelling, and format that were noticable.

I had some issues with rationale/motivation for some of the characters. Clover Portis comes off as a snippy city girl who is ready to book it out of dodge, like yesterday. She doesn't want to be there, she doesn't plan on staying, she doesn't belong. But she wets herself because she's scared of the sound of a chair falling and Lolly jumping towards her yet never wets herself when things get seriously scary? It was a very odd scene and her viciousness towards Lolly was wild and it all felt like it came out of no where.
Rex Miller spends this whole time feeling sorry for Clover and truly wanting to help her but ends up setting up the hunt. Huh?
Lolly has to spend time with Clover so why isn't she coming up with the idea? Her contribution to depressing game they play in the woods (sorry mouth/sad mouth?) didn't really make sense for her age. Universities aren't going to care/look at middle grade marks so the pressure feels exaggerated and it's solely an issue with her parents', less at stake. If she was older, this would be heavier and more relatable as she'd be pressuring herself too and stakes would be real and not just "strict parents".
Sterling really was a star and anyone would have acted like she did. show more Overall, the game was a weird way to info dump the backstory for each character and I wish it was woven in more authentically, Lolly could have broken down and been convinced to excel for herself, not her parents. Sterling could still have the same reactions and follow her same arc.
Clover doesn't believe she's staying and really lays into the "stay away" vibes but suddenly is desperate for friends? She flipped so suddenly it gave me whiplash. Why is she so vicious if she's so clearly wanting to fit in? She goes on from guarded to gullible and it's what starts the whole supernatural mess.

I wished there was more to the folklore aspect of this. Why these woods? Why the snipe? What's the symbolism of the hunt/snipe/forest/creek/etc? Nothing is really hinted at or explained except "people go missing in the woods". I love lore and there wasn't enough for me.

I love the themes Crane touches on in this! Broken families, alternate parents, abuse, love, consequences, and compassion. It's nice to see depictions of less happy homes in middle grade fiction because it's a reality that sometimes never gets explained to kids or it gets turned into a stereotype and kids are bullied for something they had no control over. I liked Rex Miller and his compassion a lot—which is why I didn't understand his ringleader status—and it made me smile with how his friendship with Clover evolves.

I enjoyed the first lines of favourite books, it was creative and fun, but I would love to stop highlighting authors who actively and continuously cause my community harm. There's other favourite authors and books we can choose to highlight in 2025. I understand the love but at least promote secondhand/libraries for ethical reasons, but I digress.

The tension is tight in this, Crane does a good job of keeping the action flowing. Their journey is interesting and fun, you wouldn't think of the acceleration. You get to see each character excel and fail, but ultimately grow and bond not only with each other but with their own true self.

The ending is SO GOOD. The final line made me so happy. Rex's hat was overwhelming. It was a solid ending and I look forward to returning to the town. show less

4/5

This was a twisty read! I love that Hunchar uses his own experience with granges in this because I can just imagine all the evil things you could think of about this! This gave me Children of the Corn vibes and I loved it.

There are A LOT of characters and it was pretty overwhelming at first, but once I gave up trying to remember everyone, it was easier. The important people stood out when needed and I didn't have too much trouble. My only issue was that a lot of characters get POV chapters, sometimes only for a tiny bit, and this made it hard to connect with any of them. In the end, I did like Audra, her father Kevin, and the others in group that forms.

There is a lot of evil in this, a lot of darkness and depravity. It's very layered with the issues that Fleetwood faces. There's sexism, racism, classism, dysfunctional families, fraud, murder, emotional dysregulation, and a whoooole lot of ego. I enjoyed the darkness and mystery of the Bear Spirit and its lore and connection with the land, while also being intrigued with the structure of the Grange and it's operations. And Arthur??

Overall, if you don't mind a more varied cast and some head hopping chapters, you'll like this. I LOVE the cover and I want to show it off to everyone. The ending is good and full of action, I wasn't let down. Griselda was a bit unbelievable, but there's plenty of characters that you will love and love to hate. :)

This was a super fun (and frustrating) book! The tone is sarcastic and witty which helped me get through all the horribly written passages she's included. I think this book is super important and was a fun way to showcase how women are portrayed in media. I'm now curious to see if these authors are still writing similarly (Stephen King!? Have I missed this??) or if they've changed.

My only real issue was the numerous errors in the book that seemed to get worse the further in I got.

Would read again, would buy, and if I used Twitter I would totally follow her!

This second installment of Taaqtumi was everything I wanted it to be!

All but one author of the nine stories are indigenous. Malcolm Kempt spent 17 years in Nunavut as a lawyer before moving to Newfoundland. I love this as a reader because we're showcasing Indigenous voices and experiences while also setting them in the Canadian Arctic. These are the types of books I look for and this didn't disappoint.

I enjoyed all the stories for the most part. Malcolm Kempt's was interesting in its stream of consciousness style and its cyclical construction, but it might need a second read for me to appreciate it more. I loved Gale Uyagaqi Kabloona's two contributions, one being a futuristic story and the second being a continuation of her story from the first anthology. I also loved Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley's story I Am Enough, it was so creepy and unsettling but a perfect blend of history and horror.

I love the variety of stories in this and the art complements the unsettling dark of the Arctic. There wasn't any story that didn't fit or bogged down the collection, they all held their own in their unique way. I really hope this anthology continues with a third installment. Regardless, because of Taaqtumi, I'm picking up more books by these authors and searching for similar stories from the region.

I'm thankful for the glossary in the back because it's so cool to learn the words. I recommend this book for anyone who wants a spooky read.

This is my first reading and I love how Huang goes through his methodology. He explains some of the history of the previous translations and why they were inaccurate; I found this most interesting.

The translation is straightforward, you have the traditional Chinese characters on the left and the English on the right that includes margin notes to explain the ideas. The margin notes sometimes reference other chapters, comments, and end notes. This makes for a lot of flipping back and forth and because of that I wish it was in a better format as a book doesn't compliment this style. I found both the comments and endnote sections interesting although plenty was in Chinese (Huang explains "because these endnotes were designed as references, only the orginal Chinese sources are cited, as study at this level presupposes a strong familiarity with the ancient Chinese classics.").

Overall, this was interesting and a thorough work. It was interesting to learn that Laozi's work was perverted to create the "folk religion" of Taoism. I know little of it, but this was the first time hearing it called a folk religion. This book offers plenty of things to think about and consider, not just the Dao De Jing itself but Daoism, Chen, Zen, and Confucianism all separately and how each emerged from the Dao De Jing teachings.

Some key things I came away with. Non-effort and exerting effort. The importance of stillness. Where shrewdness comes from. Cyclical nature of everything. Harmony and the show more void. Cultivation and cleaving to the Dao and Mother. Part of Huang's methodology is "sufficient comprehension of Chinese etymology, phonology, and semantic" and 20 years of work. Phew, I'm grateful for translators! show less

James Fenner's illustrations are what sets this book apart. I LOVED THEM! Although he depicted Philoctetes as a brunet when all texts, even the story Sanchez retold, say he has black hair.

It was interesting to see all the different stories, some of which were new to me. I loved the inclusion of an Inuit story that was at the end. There's a good selection across cultures and I did enjoy it.

The stories are very short, only a few pages, so it wasn't as interesting as I would have liked. It would have been immensely beneficial if the stories were longer. It just felt like slapping some paint on the canvas and calling it done. Without the illustrations, I wouldn't have liked this book. I do understand that colour printing is expensive and so that is probably what determined the length of the book sadly.

I would recommend it for the art and if you want a quick read. It's very basic and would be a good book for showing young readers, but for older readers it might not scratch the itch you have for these tales.

Characters: ★★★☆☆
Agnieszka and Carmina are 14 and couldn't be more different. Agnieszka is a rule follower and cares very much about fashion. Carmina is all about being a warrior like her father who fights against the Russians, she cares nothing for school or fashion unless it'll get a gun in her hand and out on the field blowing up Russians. The girls share a love for their country and an end to the war.
I found Agnieszka very annoying in her views, she was too materialistic for me to relate to her. Her constant use of Spanish words was bizarre and took me out of the story every time. Carmina is very passionate about joining the war and I related to her a bit better because why do we need a Scottish purse when there's a war going on, Agnieszka?? She's a bit much, but there are plenty of children who were just like this during the Iraq War, albeit slightly different because it wasn't on their own soil.
Mara has been taught to be Baba Yaga and guide the death into the afterlife. Mara is vastly different from her cat Aidan, she doesn't understand humans and prefers being alone and Aidan adores them. He can turn into a human and is an absolute peach.
Overall, the characters are good. I preferred Mara's chapters, probably because I couldn't get into the 14 year olds' POV's and how they were written like diaries/letters.

Atmosphere:★★★★☆
It's war in Ukraine, it's not uber depressing, but the start of the book is Agnieszka telling how the days went through the show more beginning of the war. She mentions the news footage, the sounds of the bombs and air raid sirens, the stores being packed even though there was nothing to get. It's bleak but there's hope. Etgoma does a good job of showing the patriotism of the Ukrainian people with their songs and greetings. It's those little things that help bring you through the tough times.
Mara's parts are a bit more positive but she is shepherding people into the afterlife and by doing so she sees all of their memories. It explains her feelings on human beings and it changes through her friendship with the girls (and a goose!).

Plot, Pacing, and Premise: ★★★☆☆
The plot and pacing were okay. Agnieszka's POV is always in a diary format so there is A LOT of telling and not so much showing. Carmina's POV is always a letter to her father, so it's similar to Agnieszka's and I felt like that really slowed things down. Mara's POV is told more like a linear story and so it felt faster and more enjoyable for me. The premise is amazing and along with the cover is what hooked me, but I wish I had known how the teen's POVs were going to be written. I still would have read the book, but I remember starting Agnieszka's POV and wondering what happened to the story. So because of that, I felt like the actual story didn't live up to the premise in a way that I expected.

Tone: ★★★★☆
Etgoma handles tone well as each character has their own outlook and inner feelings that shape how they handle situations (positive, pessimistic, indifferent). Overall, the unite in the love of Ukraine.

Intrigue: ★★★★★
Ace characters, Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga, and the Ukraine war? Count me in!

Versus (Strengths & Weaknesses): ★★★☆☆
Strengths is capturing the war from Etgoma's experiences. The two authors wrote this during the war and so you can expect truth and honesty, they didn't shy from anything. I loved Mara/Baba Yaga and found it so interesting and fun. The asexual representation was wonderful and I loved seeing it.
However, as the authors are two asexuals themselves, I really expected to relate a bit more. I think having the characters as 14 year old asexuals hindered that as 16+ is more of the age range where asexuality might be seen as a problem. Although, there was plenty I did understand and enjoyed having been put out there. The random Spanish was so jarring and I wish another language was used. Agnieszka's father is half Polish so even using Polish over Ukrainian would have felt more connected to the story. It just seemed like she was using Spanish as kids use French in North America to seem uber mature. The random swearing was weird too, we can't say the F word but we can say bastards and shit and rape while wanting Russian's to be blown up? I don't think I'll ever understand where one draws the line with swearing in books, but seeing "eff"/"effing" and bastard and shit on the same page felt weird.

Audience: ★★★☆☆
If you edit the swearing and somehow address the atrocities of war in a way that works, I think this would be the perfect middle grade novel. As it stands, I don't think two 14 year olds and how they act make it a very good Young Adult book, it won't capture the 16+ readers because they sometimes think 14 year olds are babies and lame. Clearly, two teens living through the war are anything but lame, but kids are weird sometimes.

Themes: ★★★★☆
The passion, love, and fight for Ukraine is so beautiful and intense. Etgoma touch on how social media helps and hinders their fight and how draining it can be. The simple lines of "Gotta go hide in the bathtub again!" are almost poignant. Readers will definitely feel the deep pain and trauma that these people are going through, and although heavy, makes this book stand out from any other.

Ending: ★★★★★
The ending is good, it's hopeful and wonderful, it reminds us to fight for what we believe in and never forget what it is we fight for.

Overall, the book is a story of war that reaches all of us. It has representation that is necessary and needed, by authors who are living through these things. It shows light and hope through darkness that you think might be endless, but remember that light and it will stay with you. I think it misses the mark for YA, but this would be a wonderful Juvenile novel. I was surprised with how many WWII J FIC books there were until I started working at the library, so I think this would find it's readership perfectly among those war stories. show less

I was loving the bizarre style at first but I had zero grounding in the story so I just got confused and lost almost instantly. I tried to power through but it didn't work out for me.

I really liked the flow at first but it became too much way too quickly. Are the bolded words keywords for the algorithm? Words for the code? They trigger the AI somehow? But not really because it ignores everything, It felt really interesting trying to piece together how the three characters speak along with the AI at first. I think I understand some meanings but others are completely foreign.

I spent the whole book trying to understand anything and questioning everything that I never connected with the characters, the world, or the story. I guess I cared about the sick child but I was lost in lyrical sentences that made zero sense but I love on their own.

Did the Draw even happen? Does anyone actually use plain sentences? Why are they choosing now to push back? Who are any of these people before this event? The bracelet tracks movement but it's just shoved in some... thing? Mouth? Pipe? For 99% of the story so what?

I feel like the premise was so promising but the book is written in a way that makes it feel so completely abstract that I forgot what the book was even about. My head hurts from trying to enjoy it. I'd happily try another book by him as long as it was written in a less artsy way. Break boundaries and be art, but I need something a bit more solid to help guide me through.

I picked this as a spooky read for Halloween and boy did it deliver! There's nine stories from authors who live in the Arctic. Jay Bulckaert, Cara Bryant/Ann R. Loverock, K.C. Carthew, and Repo Kempt are not indigenous from my understanding and only live in the Arctic, but Aviaq Johnston (Inuk), Gayle Kabloona (Inuk), Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley (Inuit-Cree) and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley (Scottish-Mohawk), Richard Van Kamp (Dene), and Thomas Anguti Johnston (Inuk) are Indigenous and live there too.

Of the nine stories, my favourites were: Iqsinaptutalik Piqtuq: The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston, The Door by Ann R. Loverock, Utiqtuq by Gayle Kabloona, Sila by K.C. Carthew, and The Wildest Game by Jay Bulchaert. The only one I didn't really like/understand was Lounge by Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, which also was the longest of all the stories. Strays was good but I'm a bit squeamish with the veterinarian work on the dogs. A lot used folklore and traditional legends, some touched on colonialism, ignorance, and government interference. All were about life in the Artic and the importance of connection.

This anthology was creepy, scary, and unsettling in all the best ways. I think there's a story for everyone inside and it's a wonderful collection of Indigenous authors from an area of Turtle Island that I rarely get to read about. I cannot wait to read the second one!!

This collection of 20 short stories and illustrations by the author are exactly what I expected but also not at all what I expected. Ipellie says these stories are his dreams and nightmares and that makes sense when comparing them too horror stories meant to terrify. These stories are more bizarre and dreamlike than solid constructions of horror.

His family has requested that none of his stories be changed and the publisher has respected that. They do say some of these stories might offend. There is the murder of a hermaphrodite and negative comments towards gay men. Alootook Ipellie, having gone to residential school himself and being distrusting of the Church, offers some interesting commentary on religion and colonization. His depiction of Christianity and its figures might offend some. There is nudity of both men and women. Some stories are funny, some creepy, and some confusing.

I read the entire book in a day. I liked the majority of the stories only having found a few I didn't like. The best part for me was Ipellie's drawings. They matched the stories in absurdity, hilarity, and horror. I think they were perfect companions to their respective tales and I want more books like this one. The cultural impact that Ipellie had for Inuit artists and authors is apparent in the foreword and publisher note, and this book is an easy read for people who are curious. It wasn't the horror book I was expecting, but it made complete sense when I understood it was his dreams and show more his nightmares. show less

This book is dark and gruesome. CG Drews' style for Don't Let the Forest In is very purple, in a dark and depraved way. Andrew Perrault is broken and incredibly co-dependent on his twin, Dove, and his romantic obsession, Thomas Rye. He is asexual and spends the entire book pining for Thomas who he believes is in love with his sister and could never, ever care for him.

It's written beautifully and the horror is wonderful, but the characters are too miserable and unable to overcome their flaws. Beautiful and creepy prose does not make up for characters that are depressing. The ending was interesting and I enjoyed the ambiguity of it all because this book is not to be neat and tidy but full of sharp edges and fear of the unknown. But overall, it didn't cut it for me.

I think this will be a divisive book. You will love it or hate it. I appreciated the asexual representation in Andrew and the inclusion of the illustrations and his stories. Publishers need to stop putting tiny white font onto all black pages though. This was an interesting Halloween read and it would usually be my exact type of book, but it fell flat and that was disappointing.

This book will captivate you if you love spooky reads. It's the perfect read for Halloween and spooky season! Kids are disappearing, there's weird lights in the forest, and a group of kids are dealing with the aftermath of the last monster that was in town and the fracturing of their friend group.

Characters: ★★★★★
Mary, Byron, Luke, and Rebecca are back, but the group is fractured after the events of the last book. Relatable and honest, you will love these characters as they fight for their lives and their town.
Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Pure horror in the 90s. Dark, foreboding, and mysterious. No one is safe in Beacon Point.
Plot, Pacing, and Premise: ★★★★★
Enjoyable plot with steady pacing that never drags. The premise is good and the book follows it so you will enjoy it if you like disgusting monsters and kids messing around in the forest at midnight.
Tone: ★★★★★
Dark and foreboding with creepy illustrations in every chapter. Alan Graves' radio transcripts add mystery and pizzazz that you wouldn't expect.
Intrigue: ★★★★★
Lights that show up every few decades? Alan Graves, a dead radio host, showing up with a warning? Radio transcripts? Art in every chapter? There's something to grab everyone.
Versus (Strengths & Weaknesses): ★★★★★★
Characters, atmosphere, tone, and horror all-round. The entire book is strong. Not 100% accurate artwork, but 95% is still good.
Audience:
Grade 5 and up. Teens and adults can even enjoy this when show more knowing it's a juvenile horror book.
Themes: ★★★★★
The Magic of Friendship! Great themes for the recommended age range and target audience.
Ending: ★★★★★
Solid and satisfying. Leaves some loose ends (third book?) but it leaves you wanting more in all the best ways. show less

5/5

This book will captivate you if you like Goosebumps, RL Stine, haunted houses, and smart devices. It has a classic Goosebumps tone, rewarding plot and pacing, relatable characters, and a perfect ending.

TLDR;
Characters: ★★★★★
Every day kids with hobbies and interests. Not annoying and good minor characters.
Atmosphere: ★★★★☆
Contemporary. Some scenes at school, mostly in the house that has been renovated into a smart home.
Plot, Pacing, and Premise: ★★★★☆
All solid, felt like Rory got the majority of the story and Lily was just in the background a lot.
Tone: ★★★★★
Typical Goosebumps/RL Stine. Spooky.
Intrigue: ★★★★★
A bit of a spin on the haunted house idea.
Versus (Strengths & Weaknesses): ★★★★☆
Strong characters and some spooky scenes were pretty solid. Some underdeveloped areas that left plot threads loose.
Audience:
Middle Grade, E for Everyone.
Themes: ★★★★★
Being left out, we've all felt it.
Ending: ★★★★★
An amazing ending that was surprising and satisfying.

Character
Lily, thirteen, doesn't believe in ghosts but her fifteen year old brother, Rory, does. When Lily's friend Megan shares the story of Emma-Lee, a girl who disappeared in the house, Rory decides to prove she exists.

Rory and Lily don't change much over the course of the story. I enjoyed how Megan handled her hair, it was quite mature. However, this is a Goosebumps book, so there's not much time for character development other than from show more skeptic to believer.

The kids were portrayed well, there wasn't any awkward dialogue or weird dated references. It was current and I didn't cringe.

Atmosphere
Rory has helped make the house a smart home with a device called Mastermind that has an AI named Alyssa inside. It was basic and the spooky parts with her were predictable, but they were still good.

Plot, Pacing, and Premise
Plot and pacing was good. The premise was that Lily and Rory live in a haunted house and the ghost wants revenge for them changing her house. However, the book felt like it focused more on Rory as he was the one leading the search and really trying to find Emma-Lee. It felt a little unbalanced in that regard but it worked out.

Tone
It's a Goosebumps book. It's spooky but not terrifying and might be a bit over the top. It wasn't bad though, it worked.

Intrigue
Again, it's a new RL Stine book, of course I'm intrigued. I didn't expect much but was happy to enjoy it.

Versus (Strengths & Weaknesses)
Some strengths were the tricks played on the kids and the spooky talk Emma-Lee had at night. I liked the house overall, and the school scenes. I think the ending was really strong and was happily surprised by it.

I think the closet was a weakness as it wasn't well developed. Strange's plot arc ended in a lame way but I guess it was for comedic effect? It just felt like a waste of time as nothing came from it, even afterwards.

Audience
It's a 4th grade reading level and is recommended for 4th-6th graders. It’s an easy read so it should appeal to plenty of people.

Theme
Being left out.

Ending
This was my favourite part of the book. It was surprising and not at all where I thought Stine was going to take it. Usually he has some common endings that he's always used, but this was so far from his normal that I ended up loving it. It was satisfying and still had a slight nod to his classic endings. One of the most satisfying endings to a Goosebumps book that I've read in a while. show less

A book about healing and the connectedness of everything. It reminds you that you are not and never were broken and you are not alone. It touches on the cosmic and karmic energy of spirituality so it might not be for everyone. I don't have much grounding in that area, but I enjoyed this collection a lot more than I have others that are focused on less abstract things. I love how he puts his rhymes and rhythms together, I've been reading a lot of poetry without flow like this.

I would recommend this and I would pick up more work by him. :)

This book was HEAVY. It's long and it's brutal. Stephen Graham Jones introduces us to the Marias Massacre that happened in 1870. It begins in 2012, when the diary of a pastor is found. Etsy Beaucarne, a professor looking for tenure, finds out it's her great-great-great-grandfather, Lutheran pastor Arthur Beaucarne, who is later given the name Three-Persons by Good Stab.

Good Stab is our hero. ;) He comes to Arthur each Sunday and tells him his tale that Arthur writes down in said journal. What unfolds is the slowest of burns, but it's a deep burn that doesn't stop. It's written in a way that is fitting to the time and the characters. Arthur's entries are "educated" and will make you thank the passage of time that people don't speak like that anymore. It showed how Arthur, the white man, is superior to the indian. Arthur comments numerous times on Good Stabs way of talking and referencing animals (which I LOVED SO MUCH like dirty faces!!!) and his simple words. I love how Good Stab feeds into the racism and beliefs and also challenges it throughout the book, it's so GOOD.

I loved Good Stab more and more with each entry. I loved watching Arthur unfurl. There are so many painful moments for Good Stab and his journey is not fair or easy. Stephen Graham Jones voices the absolute pain this one Indigenous man felt throughout his life at each atrocity. It's about things that happened in the 1800s but that are still happening right now like the loss of identity and the battle show more inside Indigenous peoples to handle it. The loss of land, of food sources, of respect and knowledge and community. It's about how far someone will cross the line to survive and what it means to be human while still doing good. Intergenerational trauma and immortality.

The ending was so good. I didn't expect it, although it feels obvious now. I loved Etsy and her dog. I loved her dumb Dances With Wolves moment. The whole buildup was intense, uncomfortable, and scary, but the payoff was worth it.

It was a bit hard to get through, but I liked it overall. As with all of Stephen Graham Jones's stuff, I need this made into a movie right now. This is horror that is both internal and external. Good Stab suffers a lot, and there is a lot of suffering because of Good Stab. There's a lot to unpack, but it's a good story and I'm glad I read it. show less

4/5

I loved how Shubham Jain wove these four stories together. It wasn't necessary, but those little touches made me so giddy over this book. I wish there was a bit more detail about India, I needed just a bit more to have it in my mind as Mysore and not some tiny town somewhere else. I think Jain's descriptions really shone in Avantika's story for this, I loved the church and small village. Overall, it's wonderful stories based in India and woven together wonderfully.

I think I enjoyed Sudha's story the most, but I loved the twist in Avantika's and I appreciated the message of life in Rohan's. Asad's was sweet and wonderful representation, going places I didn't ever consider.

If you want horror stories that are eerie, heart-rending, and include different forms of the supernatural, you will enjoy this. I loved the queer representation and what Jain explored with it. I felt like his female characters were as authentic as his male ones, it was a good balance you don't often see. It wasn't too gory, it wasn't too ordinary. I really enjoyed this debut from Shubham Jain and I look forward to his next work!

I need this book in my local library!

3.5/5

The conclusion to the Maze Cutter and Maze Runner series. It wasn't what I expected but I went in without any deep feelings as the Maze Cutter series is so far removed from the original.

Isaac is incredibly frustrating as a character. He lashes out in the worst ways and it felt like it was just for dramatic tension, but it truly was childish. I appreciated how Dashner balanced the hope (albeit farfetched and insanely naïve) of the islanders and the harsh realities of the world. When their hope, dreams, and desires are more realistic, the story was good and solid.

Alexandra is someone I loved to hate. She is insane and helps balance the insane amount of hope some characters have for some reason. I liked all of the characters though, they were all fun in their own way if you could get over how some acted and thought.

The atmosphere worked well, there wasn't extra world-building as it's over. There felt like a lot of exposition and Alexandra had a few monologues. Erros and Cian had their own points too where they dragged the plot down with a lot of info. I didn't expect a lot of info dumping at the end of a series, never mind the end of a book. A lot of the "big reveals" and "twists" fell flat for me, I expected more of a punch from Dashner but it just felt a little dragged out and tired.

This isn't the book that is going to answer all of your questions. I don't think this series could ever, seeing how far removed (DECADES) it is from our first loves. As a book alone, show more it is fine and does a good job with its themes of family, truth, hope, and everything to do with the Cure. It was an okay read, but it's not what I expected from the end of it all.

If you like dystopian worlds, DNA testing, opposing factions at war, and fighting for the truth above all, then you'd probably enjoy this book. As long as you prepare yourself for a slower book, you'll get some enjoyment from it. show less

1/5

I've never read Elly Griffiths work before this and this collection didn't make me want to read her work after this. Her style is simple, not trying to be a super scientific scholarly type, but it comes off very dry. Some of the explanations made me feel like a sheltered hermit who has never read or watched a single crime show ever. It wasn't enjoyable. The cat one didn't help one bit either, and I truly believed it would redeem this collection for me. Maybe it appeals to the more general population, but these weren't for me.

I appreciated the legends and ghost stories but some were so short I had only just become interested when it ended. I'm 100% sure that anyone who has read her work before and enjoyed it will enjoy this collection.

I thankfully got this from the library and I personally don't know a single soul who I could recommend this to, but I know they're out there and I hope they find this book and love it.

3/5
If Alice in Wonderland met Borderlands?

There's a lot going on here, but in such a confusing and bizarre way that I can't determine if I love it or hate it or even have feelings or thoughts.

This would make the wildest, most amazing, insanely beautiful and bloody TV show or movie. I would love to see it. Reading it... not so much. There's points where I can so vividly imagine what's happening but the next sentence or paragraph whisks it away completely and my brain is empty.

There's blood, carnage, love, anger, and just utter confusion and chaos. It's nothing like I expected but that's okay. I think? Honestly, I'm so lost. I need to read this slowly and probably two more times and I need to drag someone through the pages too because what's even happening?

Do I recommend it? Yes? I don't know. I would say it's very bizarre and it's written in a confusing way that might give you a headache, but it's wild and vivid and it's something.

Happy to have found this at my local library! I'm loving all the Korean authors and stories. Check out your local library and see if you can make sense of this carnage!

3.5/5
I expected this to be one thing and it ended up being another in the best ways possible.

CW // abortion

I probably would have given this 5 stars if I read this when I was 20. It was good and it was heartbreaking in ways I didn't expect. The tone is a little grating, but I understand as the book is heavily about the differences in her childhood (dysfunctional) compared to the children she's nannying for (the American Dream). It was interesting to watch the ways that we're all the same, regardless of wealth, and it was painful to see the ways the rich are vastly different. It was everything I expected but it also wasn't at the same time.

Overall, a good book. I would recommend it.

Another interesting book from the library. Check your local library for a copy!

3/5
Quick but cliche.

This sounded incredibly good on the back, however the blurb was missing an important part. This book is for new readers, it's very easy to read and uses simple vocabulary. This is technically the story I was expecting but very watered down.

Malika and her boyfriend run a ghost-hunting channel and are only one viral video away from monetization. Malika decides that Bhangarh Fort will be their crowning achievement seeing as the Fort is the most haunted place in India. Malika needs the content and she's ready to camp out overnight despite the rumors that no one's made it out alive. Anything for views, right?

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Malika is driven by greed, essentially. They only need 2000 more followers and they're risking their lives for it. Her family's situation is cliche and never expanded upon other than they're broke. Malika dreams of helping her family pay the bills and studying abroad, to learn what, we never know. Malika ends up being a cardboard character and lacks any depth, this could be attributed to the brevity of the story, but it's still disappointing.

The ending was also disappointing and one of the biggest cliches in ghost stories. I really wanted this book to be about a strong Desi woman who is fierce and unafraid. I wanted to hear the rich stories from India as I know absolutely zero ghosts stories from there. I was excited for the modern era clashing with the ruins of the palace and ghost story. As soon as I saw this book on my hold shelf, I knew I show more wasn't going to be getting a story with depth.

Overall, it's probably fine for the market it's aiming for. However, at my library it's going to sit right along with every other Young Adult and be completely lost. It's tragic that we aren't cataloging books like these into their own section. It's not the fault of the author or publisher, but a fault with library collections and the myriad of gaps within.

I'm happy the library is carrying books like this, I just wish they were better catalogued like the Adult Literacy Collection. All books deserve readers, this is no exception. Check your local library for this book and see how your library catalogues it! show less

4/5
Memoir and self-help, uplifting and clear.

I will admit that I love Russ, so naturally I'll always read his work. I still live under a rock though, so I was pleasantly suprised when I found he wrote a second book.

I've tried self-help books and they don't work out. I believe I made it through this book and not others for several reasons. The first obviously being my love of Russ. I cared about his story. I liked the formatting, it was clever and clean. The colours were nice, the paper felt good, I liked the graphics and how it all connected with his music. He wrote cleanly, it's not purple prose or trying to be something extra, it's just casual and open.

This book has so many good quotes and so many little things to think about. I need this book in my collection ASAP. I recommend it for anyone who likes Russ or who might need help in believing in yourself and coming to terms with things. Read it, try it out. It's a little book that might make all the difference.

So grateful for my local library for purchasing this book! Check your local library for a copy!

3.5/5
Dark and moody, a fight for acceptance.

CW // blood, gore, violence, death, strong language, partying, dysfunctional families, guilt

Laure has given up the ballet and is struggling to understand herself. She's partying heavily and trying to forget. When Laure finds the dead body of the girl she was just dancing with in a bathroom, she becomes suspicious of Niamh, the girl she brought in to Acheron.

Niamh has plans and wants Laure, Andor, and Keturah to join her. She says she's found more acolytes. Elysium is dying and Niamh has a home she wants to share. But Laure doesn't believe that Elysium is dying—can die—and what does that mean for her? For Acheron and their connection? Laure tries hard to juggle relationships, family, a new dance company, how she sees herself, and Niamh.

Something has to give, it always does. Will Laure give herself? Will it be enough? What matters in the end if all we are are monsters?

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I loved the first book so much. It was so dark and bloody and atmospheric. I loved seeing Andor and Keturah again, I loved watching them handle the aftermath of everything. The uncertainty of Laure and Andor's romance. This book is a lot of character building and depth. This book misses out on another rich aspect that I absolutely adored in the first book: the ballet.

There is no real solid backdrop to this. There's clubs and Elysium, but the Ballet was its horrific villain in the first book. This book isn't about fighting colonial structures or systemic show more racism, it's about rebuilding yourself from the ashes and moving on. I respect that and loved it, but I did miss the vivid imagery that the setting gave me in the first book.

Overall, I still really enjoyed it. It isn't as dark as the first one, but it builds up to it and the climax and ending are satisfying and well worth it.

I'm glad my library purchased this! I would add it to my own collection in a heartbeat. Check your local library for this series and if they don't have it, request they purchase it! show less

3.5/5
Finding your voice and your place.

CW // dysfunctional family, broken family, dementia/Alzheimers, water

Avery is training for a running scholarship when she ignores her parent's warnings and goes off the trail. She's pulled to this pond, a pond she's never seen before. When she gets frightened by something lurking in its depths, it's too late. Avery has awoken something old and terrifying, and it's kidnapping people in town. She's suffering from nightmares about the water and she's hallucinating, and of course things get worse for her. Key, her best friend and crush, goes missing. It's going to take patience, reconnecting with her culture, and a whole lot of support from her best friend Stella and other townsfolk to fight back and try to save Key.

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This one has so many indigenous subtleties, I loved it. There's a lot of missing people in this one, possibly shining light on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, although all genders, ages, and ethnicities are included here. The turtle! I love turtles! The ending was wonderful, I do wish there was a bit more on the page for Avery to speak.

It felt a little slow in the middle, but I did really enjoy it. I feel so bad for Stella. It was really beautiful to watch Avery come out of her shell and stop being afraid. I loved Lily and Frank and Foster, all the characters were great. I'm not a runner, but anyone who is will enjoy and understand Avery instantly.

This had so many scenes that I could picture so show more clearly. The incidents at the bus, the sink, the coffee shop, the bookstore. So creepy, so eerie, so classic horror. I really enjoyed it. I have questions about the Raggedy Man and how he came to be and his connection to Avery. But overall, the book was satisfying.

Thankful to my local library for this copy! I love seeing Canadian authors, Indigenous authors, and female authors being supported! Check your local library for a copy or request that they buy it! show less

3/5
Plot driven with an eerie ending.

CW // blood, death, cancer, ritualistic murder, strong language

The cover and blurb sold me. The storm of the century is approaching Fall, an island off the coast of Massachusetts, where almost all residents are descendants of the original settlers. The Indigenous people believed the island to be cursed, but somehow, the devout followers found a way to thrive.
Gracie Hutchinson and her father are two of the few people remaining on the island, most have gone to the mainland to wait out the storm while the others are at a religious gathering at the prestigious Wescott Manor, the highest house on the hill. Gracie runs into Joseph, the popular and friendly Wescott heir and things take a turn for the worst when they discover a ritualistic killing in the cemetery. Since bad things always happen during the storms, Joseph invites Gracie up to the Manor. There's no place to hide as the blizzard covers the island and things turn from worse to deadly for Gracie and Joseph.

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What I liked:
The premise.
The fear of the snow.
The people who were taken by the snow. Wescott Manor.
These were all really interesting pieces and I liked the imagery.

What I didn't like:
The lack of action by Gracie. Everything just happens to her, she is reactive, not proactive. I suppose this is because of the blizzard but it fell flat.
I didn't like the lack of chemistry between her and Joseph. Are they supposed to be romantic? They didn't even feel platonic. He had show more potential to be truly important but he just becomes flat and useless.
The simple errors. For whatever reason, 99% of sentences starting with interjections are missing a comma. "Oh good."(p 38) "Oh shut up." (p 39) "Yeah I'm very cool." (p 41) "Well hold onto it for a second." (p 42) "Anyway I guess I could walk through the kitchen ..." (p 8) Most are in dialogue but the one from page 8 isn't. The further I read, the more errors popped up with words missing from sentences or the word order being wrong. "I wind my way through down the path ..." (p 188) and "[She] kneels in front of her grandmother's wheelchair and takes old woman's hands in her own." (p 218-219) and "... except this trap isn't going end with me ..." (p 223) being some I wrote down.

What I loved:
THE EPILOGUE.
Despite my low review, this ending was so creepy and unsettling. The whole ending of the book is chaotic and brutal, but the epilogue was pure perfection. I loved it. I have so many questions. It was so exciting and chilling. I hope everyone reads the epilogue regardless of their feelings. It really ended in the perfect place for me and left me with all the goosebumps I wanted.

Truly, the idea is solid and there. I'm just not sure why it fell flat for me. At least with that epilogue I will keep thinking about it.

I checked this out from my local library! Go see if it's at yours or request it! show less

4/5
Honest, painful, and hopeful stories and experiences of Indigenous peoples, from the past and present.

Author's content warning: "Some of these stories deal with issues that may cause grief, sadness, anger and fear. Please take care of yourself as you read. Triggers include racism, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, pregnancy loss, murder, physical abuse and drug abuse. While pond of these stories are heavy, there are stories of joy as well. I hope you can find a smile in them.

These stories have it all. Some are short and sweet, some hard long and painful, others are the opposites. There was only one story I truly hated, Three Billion Heartbeats, and only because I was so angry at the unfairness, not because it was bad. It's a beautiful and moving collection from different times that truly encompass an honest experience faced by Indigenous peoples. There's addiction, street living, racism, death, residential schools, traditional knowledge, culture, and so much more.

Thankful to have this in my local library. Check your local library and request it!