marshalls_library's reviews
180 reviews

challenging dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

When a group of urban explorers normally on the search for all manner of supernatural, murderous, or otherwise spooky locations wander outside of the city, they stumble upon an ancient evil that begins hunting them down one by one.

Sacrificial Waters by A.D Jones (@the_evergrowing_library) feels like a book just begging to be made into an over the top supernatural horror movie. As the story progresses the remaining friends develop a closer bond in their attempts to survive which gives you more buy-in to the cast.

The evil pursuing them has a long reach and a lot of tricks up her sleeve. The way her appearances are woven throughout the story was my favorite part of the book and is one of the biggest arguments for a film adaptation.

This is a fast pace romp that feels nostalgic and modern at the same time, and I'm excited to read more from Jones 🤘

Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enríquez

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional 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

B-Movie Bloodbath by Isaac Nightingale

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.0

It's hard to think of a more appropriately named book than B-Movie Bloodbath. @bmoviebloodbath (Isaac Nightingale) took all the trappings of an 80s cult classic horror film, added in extra creature feature and religious horror elements, and the results are wild.

The book starts with the grizzly murder of Isaac's childhood sweetheart Suzie by what he first believes are men, but reveal themselves to be something darker. Isaac takes the fall and winds up in jail and after his eventual exoneration starts his journey to hunt down Suzie's killers, which takes all sorts of wild twists and turns.

This book has a very stream of consciousness feel to it, and there's a LOTA going on. You have to stick with it to see where the story is actually going, and the wait is worth it. This book is the perfect homage to those cult classics, so if you see the title and your interest is piqued, then definitely dive in.

The book also includes a QR code to scan that will take you to a page where you can find a soundtrack to accompany the book, which was a really cool feature considering what this book is meant to be.

Cruel Angels Past Sundown by Hailey Piper

Go to review page

challenging dark slow-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

4.0

With Angels Past Sundown, @haileypiperfights has produced a book that is unmistakenly hers, and also different than any other Splatter Western published by @deaths_head_press
and @deadskypub.

Rather than being overly heavy on the "splatter" or the "western" components, Piper's use of these ideas are more subtle, and they take a back seat to what is more of a cosmic/religious horror hybrid.

The way this story unfolds with a mysterious woman appearing at a farm, and then closely followed by a terrifying and seemingly otherworldly preacher is the stuff of nightmares, and unfolds in ways that I didn't expect. I can't talk too much about that without spoilers, but where the MC begins and ends this story is WILD. It's also worth noting that in the hands of the right producer or director, this book. Would make for an incredible film adaptation.

This is not your typical splatter western. I've read all of the ones published prior to this book, and will continue on with the series. So I think it's worth noting that particular point because this book isn't really representative of the series writ large. I've read and loved enough of Hailey's work to know I would love this as well. I don't read much in the way of conceptual cosmic horror, but the type of mind-fuckery that Hailey is capable of is top tier.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced