Hi there, friends! Welcome to my reading update blog. I’ve decided that I’m going to offer just my opinion in my mini-reviews, since most (if not all) of these books end up getting a full review at some point. Just wanted to let you know that these opinions and feelings are my own and not based on any objective criteria. As always, please do not accept my opinion on a book as gospel. There is a good chance that, while something may not have been for me, it may be something you enjoy!
WHAT I’VE READ!
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
This book wasn’t for me. I think it definitely required a trigger warning, but even still, I’m not sure that I would have enjoyed it even if I had been warned. I do think that it was beautifully written, but I am not the biggest fan of some of this author’s stylistic decisions, which is entirely subjective. It jus wasn’t my cuppa!
When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain
I thoroughly enjoyed this book while I was reading it. It was dark, but not wholly disturbing (though, after riding the coattails of Once There Were Wolves I imagine it would be hard to disturb me). The only reason this isn’t objectively a five star (for me), is because it didn’t quite stick with me. It was a good read, but it isn’t a book that I will think back on in years and say, “I want to go re-read it. That experience was pure magic.”
Dear Monster Claus by Maeve Black
Months and months and months ago, a reader (and dear friend) told me that she had read this book and recommended it to me. It isn’t quite what I’d normally read, but I’m always willing to give new things a try. I’m happy I gave Dear Monster Claus a chance. It was cute (and filthy). I was oddly emotionally invested in this story and have every intention of reading more from this author. As it turned out, it was a wonderful palate cleanser after reading so many darker-themed books.
Those Who Prey by Jennifer Moffett
I was not prepared for how much I loved this book. I had known that I would enjoy it (I mean, cults are one of my fascinations), but I devoured this book from cover to cover. This easily could have been a five-star read for me, but there were some areas where the story fell flat. Chiefly with development between characters, but I suspect I’ll get more into that when the time comes to review it fully. For now, just know that it was an excellent read and that I would recommend it for anyone looking for a young adult thriller.
We Are the Light by Matthew Quick
We Are The Light was… deeply unhinged. It was unsettling, to say the least. It was written interestingly, with language that was frankly, a bit grandiose (though, I imagine that was Quick’s intention). It was an oddly intimate look into mental health, trauma, and delusion. All that being said, reading it felt like a fever dream. I enjoyed it, for sure, but I didn’t get the warm fuzzy feelings of completing a story I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m glad to have had the experience and to know the story, but I don’t know that I would recommend it to anyone.
The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller
I am beyond sad that I didn’t love this book. I really, really wanted to. The blurb made this one seem like it was going to be everything I could have wanted and more. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past the writing style. There was too much head-hopping, info-dumping, and the omniscient narrative was perplexing (for more than just the obvious reasons that we, the readers, were meant to be confused — if you know, you know). It just fell flat for me. I almost didn’t finish it, but I was on a plane and had nothing else loaded on my e-reader. I can’t say that I’d tell anyone to go pick this up, unfortunately. And given how low I’ve rated it, as a courtesy, I won’t be writing a full review, or posting about it on social media.
The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe
Vicious Lost Boys #1
Honestly, this just wasn’t my speed. I tend to have difficulty with insta-anything stories. I need build-up to really appreciate the characters. I didn’t particularly feel emotionally invested in the pairings, and in the end, it felt more like instant gratification smut (which, again, not my speed). I did find the world interesting, even if I thought that a lot of the characters lack depth (beyond the superficial, ‘he’s the baddest bad boy to ever bad and that should immediately make your panties wet”). Obviously, there’s a market for this kind of content (The Never King is killing it), but for me, it was just so-so. I feel like if the story was even just a fifty pages longer, it could have given me the “enough” I’d need to really enjoy it. But everything felt rushed and more centered toward getting to the steamy bits. It’s definitely for someone, it just wasn’t love at first sight for me.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
The Haunting of Hill House was a classic that I, somehow, never read. I’m glad I did. I loved it, and devoured it. I knew the story before I read it, but that didn’t lessen the experience. The only reason this isn’t a five-star for me is purely because of some personal pet peeves the are hard for me to look past. Horror is a genre where pacing matters and there were some “blips” in the text where the pacing was just much too fast to create the atmosphere I really hanker for while reading in the genre.
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED this book. LOVED it. I cannot sing its praises enough. I am so looking forward to writing a review and sharing my thoughts on this one! But, in the mean time, do yourself a favor and pick this one up!
Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw
I knew I had to have this book the moment I laid eyes on it. I actually really, really enjoyed this story. I read this one in one sitting (to be fair, it is on the shorter side). Honestly, if the ending was just drawn out a bit more, if the climax just had a few more pages attached, I probably would have rated this a resounding five-star. But the pacing and the ending put this book in the middle of the pack for me.
Dreams of Darkness and Desire by B.L. Cagle
The Dreams Trilogy: Witches and Warlocks #1
It just wasn’t for me 🤷♀️
Bleak Midwinter: The Darkest Night an Anthology
The authors did a fantastic job! And the editors, too! I can’t wait to get the second installment. And I can’t wait to review this one in full! Usually, in anthologies, there’s always a “dud” (for me), but every single one of these shorts was beautifully done! If you love horror/dark anthologies, this is definitely one I think you should have on your shelf!
Lips On My World by M.J. Marino
Mercy Ravens MC #3
This series is one of my only exceptions for insta-love. M.J. Marino is one of my favorite self-published/indie authors. That all being said, this book wasn’t my favorite in the series. I did enjoy it, don’t get me wrong! It just started off very slow and didn’t quite ramp up until about halfway through the book. I think if it had been tightened, this would have been another easy five-star!
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
I love, love, loved this book. I could not shut up about it. So much so, my partner actually picked it up immediately. And we’re both utterly inflated. If I could live in the world that Sutherland created, I would. I can’t wait to share my full review with you guys!
Small Favors by Erin A. Craig
Honestly, I thought it was going to be impossible to follow up House of Hollow. I’m so glad I decided to follow it up with Small Favors. This book was incredible. Again, if there was another world that I could crawl inside, I would happily do so with this book. I loved it. From beginning to end.
Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun
I needed a palate cleanser after being on a dark/horror bender. This sapphic fake-dating, second-chance romance was everything I needed. And then some. I fell in love with this story and I am so happy that I have it on my shelf. I can’t wait to review it!
Sundial by Catriona Ward
This is another book that, frankly, just wasn’t for me. I didn’t hate it. I didn’t love it. I found a lot of it just wasn’t to my taste. I won’t be reviewing this because, honestly, now that I’ve finished it, I don’t want to think about it again 😅
WHAT I’LL BE REVIEWING!
- Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
- When The Stars Go Dark by Paula McClain
- Dear Monster Claus by Maeve Black
- Those Who Prey by Jennifer Moffett
- We Are The Light by Matthew Quick
- The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe
- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
- Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
- Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw
- Bleak Midwinter
- Lips On My World by M.J. Marino
- House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
- Small Favors by Erin A. Craig
- Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun
If you liked this blog, please give it a like, a comment, and share it with your friends! It really does help a lot! For more blogs like this, subscribe below to be notified of my next post! You can also follow me on Instagram, Twitter, like my Facebook Page, or follow me on Goodreads! If you like my work, and you’d like to support me on Patreon, you can find me here!
Ivy Whitaker 