marshalls_library's reviews
180 reviews

The Ritual: a Holiday Folk Horror Story by Michael R. Goodwin

dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

As December 31 was winding down, I had managed to finish How to Sell a Haunted House and was looking for my next read.

I have a section on a shelf that's only big enough for mass market paperbacks, and have a handful of some other small books there too. So when I spotted that section, I grabbed The Ritual by @michaelrgoodwin and thought "I can read this before midnight." So I did, and that put me at 69 books for the year, only one short of my goal. And before you give me your attitude, if an 800 page book counts as one book, so does a 30 page book.

ANYWAY...

This short story is SOLID. Very dark and creepy, and it gives off The Lottery vibes, which I mean as a total compliment, so hopefully Michael doesn't mind the comparison. What really makes this type of story work is the ambiguity at the end that lets the reader's mind travel wherever it wants to. Having read this and Scribe earlier this year, it really drives it home for me that I need to snatch up everything else Goodwin has written because he does not disappoint 🤘

Highly recommended (no matter what day of the year it is).

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

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dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Grady Hendrix has largely settled into the type of creepy and campy niche of mainstream horror. The titles and cover design of his books really drive that home. It's probably safe to say that you'll see his books on the shelf at Target alongside Stephen King, both being bought by folks that definitely don't read anything else that could be considered horror. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this btw.

Having enjoyed Horrorstor and My Best Friend's Exorcism, but being let down by Final Girl Support Group, I was a bit nervous to pick this one up, but I think Hendrix redeemed himself. He's back to making interesting characters and telling a compelling story that keeps you hooked.

With this book, that story isn't so much about the creepy stuff happening in the house of Laurie's recently deceased parents (it's definitely a main vehicle that keeps the story going), but it's more about family trauma and how your past sends ripples throughout the rest of your life. Laurie's relationships with her family, especially with her brother Mark, is what forms the backbone of the story. And for what it's worth, Hendrix switching POVs to give the reader Mark's side of events and history is what makes the book a success and rounds out Laurie's character.

This book is being developed into a movie which makes me really nervous. There's a LOT of madcap, wacky, and over the top horror to tap into here, but if the family history/trauma part of this story takes a back seat to what could be some amazing puppet based visuals, the movie will be a flop. So we'll see i suppose.

Hendrix is back in the saddle with this one, you just need to know if you're the right audience for the corner of the market he clearly dominates.

Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It's difficult to simply describe this book solely by focusing on the idea or concept of a plot. I think Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris has a plot only in the loosest sense of the word. Instead, I think it's more appropriate to say that it focuses on themes that are examined in a structured narrative.

That might sound detached, but it's only because I've never read a book quite like this and sometimes I struggle with how to capture that experience. It's a DEEPLY beautiful book that deals with loss, depression, familial alienation, and ultimately, growth.

Rita, the MC, is an artist processing the death of her estranged father during a solo artist residency at an isolated cabin close to a small and rural town. This isolation gives way to dark visions that manifest themselves in the art she's creating. Each chapter of the book begins with a review/critique of a specific piece in Rita's collection, followed by the narrative/plot/events that inspired the piece.

This structure is very much out of left field and it's something that some readers might struggle with, especially before reaching the end of the book, but I'm begging you to stick with it because once you reach the end, it's clear that Morris has created a wholly unique piece of cosmic/psychological horror. What kept me invested was the beautifully written review by my dear friend @rosedevoursbooks. Seeing how this book impacted someone I feel a genuine connection to influenced my experience with this book. So follow her if you aren't already, and make sure to read her review. Rose, thank you for sharing your experience with this book because it impacted mine.

So, while Green Fuse Burning is a challenging read, I highly recommend it.

The Slob by Aron Beauregard

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challenging dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Spoiler Free

The other day I referred to my choice of The Slob as a bit of a palate cleanser after an emotionally demanding read. That might seem like a weird way to describe a graphic extreme horror novella , but given that particular context, it's still a spot-on characterization.

Friends, this book is DISGUSTING. After just enough background info on her character's past to drive home just how traumatic this experience will be on top of the obvious reasons, our MC Vera finds herself trapped in a rural house with seemingly no chance of escape, at the mercy of a completely vile monster. Violence and depravity ensues... obviously.

That's what you expect with these books though. The success of an extreme horror novella depends on the hook or reveal at the end. It's something you need to build towards and then decide as a reader whether or not it works. I obviously can't reveal that here, but @aronbeauregardhorror actually gives you TWO hooks at the end. It had me laughing out loud (in a good way), because it was so effectively done.

It's hard to imagine one of his books knocking Playground out of the top spot for me, but that's just splitting hairs. The Slob succeeds on all accounts 🤘

The Between by Tananarive Due

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Spoiler Free

After reading a few of her short stories in different anthologies recently, I knew I wanted to read a full novel by Tananarive Due. I put The Reformatory on my Xmas list (which I got!), but couldn't even wait that long, so I picked up The Between.

This was PHENOMENAL. After his wife (a newly elected judge starts receiving bigoted threats) Hilton James becomes obsessed with protecting his family. His behavior as the plot unfolds is connected to his own traumatic past and the loss of his grandmother who died saving Hilton from drowning.

As this trauma manifests, Hilton's mental state deteriorates and he risks losing the family and life he so desperately wants to protect. The juxtaposition between experiencing this with Hilton as the MC and (maybe?) unreliable narrator, with how his family and friends see him is heartbreaking because the supernatural elements that Due introduces are terrifying in their own right, but the real life experience of watching this happen to a loved one is too.

So no matter how you interpret this, Due will leave an indelible mark on you. This is psychological horror operating at a very high level, and it's another reason why I need to wait until January 1 to make my favorite reads for the previous year. Two books I read in December will inevitably make that list.

Hot Iron and Cold Blood: An Anthology of the Weird West by Patrick R. McDonough

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Since I recently finished the first original run of the 14 books in the Splatter Western series from @deaths_head_press/@deadskypub I wanted to check out this anthology before I start the new run.

One big thing to note is that this isn't a full book of splatterpunk. Even though it doesn't claim to be, it's easy enough to make that mistake given who published it and the fact that some of the authors have written Splatter Westerns.

Speaking of that, @kenziejennings2 AND @texascthulhu have stories here, and BOTH feature characters from their Splatter Westerns, so if you've read those books, you're in for a special treat. On top of that, Edward Lee, @brianamorganbooks, and Jeff Strand have EXCELLENT stories here as well.

All in all, a balanced collection of ones I really liked and ones that left me a bit underwhelmed. Would I recommend it though? Absolutely, especially if you like the weird western vibes of the Splatter Westerns.

Becoming the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced