scaredy_bear's reviews
69 reviews

The Flesh of the Sea is hands down the best book I have read this year. It has excellent pacing, endearing characters and creatures, intriguing mysteries, and some truly memorable (and fantastic) gross-out scenes. I could not ask for more. 

Wilford Bowen, a gentle, nerdy guy who joins a pirate crew after being rejected by the Royal Society of London. Determined to make new discoveries to impress the RSL and his close friend Jean Baptiste de Beaupré, Wilford documents his otherworldly encounters in a series of letters to Jean, interspersed with Jean's journal entries. 

I intended to annotate this book more formally, but my categories ended up being “Sweet Queer Stuff”, “Gross Stuff”, and “Pirates Being Better People Than the British Ever Were”. 

The monster of the week setup was used wonderfully. Discovering each anomaly through Wilford’s curious eyes is incredibly fun. The pirates are well-developed; despite their number, each one is distinct and significant, enhancing rather than overshadowing Wilford’s journey. I felt like a proud dad watching Willie come into his own. 

Please read this book. I am completely in love with it. Every person I cross paths with over the next few days (or weeks) will be hearing about this book. Despite its brevity, it has captured my heart. Thank you, Lor & Shelley. If you two ever revisit these characters, I will be first in line to preorder. 

Thank you Hedone Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. 

With past ties to the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, a woman spends her days helping families locate members who have joined cults. She tries to remove and deprogram them from the cult so they can return home. Her past quickly catches up to her when she crosses paths with an FBI agent specializing in cult crimes.  

I am perpetually fascinated by the Satanic Panic. It was essentially a modern-day witch hunt in many respects. On the surface, it might seem like older generations were only in a frenzy over kids playing Dungeons and Dragons. In truth, it had devastating real-life consequences for some people. Now, with movements like QAnon stirring up new controversies and outdated traditionalistic sentiments gaining traction in America and Canada, it begs the question if we're on the cusp of another witch hunt. This book delves into the aftermath of the Satanic Panic and its potential implications for the future when similar fear-mongering happens in the modern day. 

The story would have benefited from more room to develop. Everything unfolds quickly, which leaves some aspects feeling underexplored. Despite pacing issues, the narrative is compelling, complemented by exceptional artwork. Jacob Phillips, in particular, excels in capturing the moody atmosphere of the book with deep moody colors. 

With more fleshing out, this book would have easily earned more than 4 stars from me. I anticipate incredible future works from Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. They are certainly talents to watch. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Image Comics for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. 

 Twelve-year-old Liam is to film a toothless hammerhead shark for his mom’s Shark Night movie, but things quickly go awry when the wrong shark is lowered into the giant tank. Hijinks ensue!

If you grew up on R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series like I did, this book is lighter on horror in comparison. The pace is breakneck, which makes it difficult to build proper tension. However, it compensates for the lack of straight-up horror with a fun, twisting adventure. The settings and side characters constantly change. Liam begins terrified of swimming with the shark (understandably), but he faces each twist and challenge with courage. I give this book 3 stars. Personally, as someone who enjoys horror, I felt it didn't quite meet the expectations set by its promotion in that genre. However, it could be a fantastic read for kids who enjoy stories about overcoming wild experiences, especially those who love watery adventures. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. 

After a series of tragic events, Maxine returns to her childhood home only to find it abandoned. No food, the soap is old and hardened, mold spots coat the walls and the backyard is overrun with weeds. As Max grapples to understand what events could have led to the house being uninhabited, she’s also forced to confront the painful memories haunting every room. 

This short gothic tale centers on Maxine, an incredibly resilient character whose life has been a series of unfortunate events. Her journey, as she confronts and conquers that which haunts her past, is inspiring. The narrative initially unfolds as a domestic drama but gradually escalates into outright horror, echoing the butterflies depicted on the cover. The story intentionally leaves many questions unanswered, a characteristic I appreciate. When a book leaves you pondering unanswered questions, it tends to linger in your memory longer. With a small cast of characters and limited settings, Royce crafts an intimate atmosphere akin to a "bottle episode". It's just us and Max, navigating through the mysteries and attempting to uncover the truth behind her absent parents. 

If the above sounds like your style, I highly recommend this book. 

Similar vibes: The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison, Umma (2022) 

Thank you, NetGalley and RDS Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. 

After quitting his job, Jordan Carter stumbles upon an ad for Talons, a new restaurant seeking paid tasters for their secret menu. However, each tasting leaves Jordan increasingly ill and plagued by horrifying night terrors. With the aid of his hot, spiritualist neighbor, Jordan delves into the mysteries surrounding Talons. 

Labeling this book as Splatterpunk feels inaccurate. Apart from the initial scene, it maintains a relatively subdued tone (by Splatterpunk standards at least). The main character is easily dislikable with his problematic views on women (including being a fan of a pick-up artist podcast), and his generally negative outlook on life. Somehow, SC Mendes manages to humanize this incel-like character, occasionally making him feel relatable, a commendable feat in my opinion. While the pacing sometimes lags, the narrative is interesting enough to persevere. Recommended for fans of cult horror. 

Overall, I found this book enjoyable. The themes and character development were very well done. I eagerly look forward to reading future works from SC Mendes. 

Similar Vibes: The Menu (2022), Last Days by Adam Nevill 

Thank you, NetGalley and Blood Bound Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.