“The field of battle is my temple. The swordpoint is my priest. The dance of death is my prayer. The killing blow is my release.” This is the mantra of one of the elite soldiers in Sabaa Tahir’s dark YA fantasy, An Ember in the Ashes. The first in an ongoing series, this book blends political intrigue and revolution with mythological creatures and hints of magic. I picked up An Ember in the Ashes on a whim, but found myself devouring it as fast as possible and immediately downloading the sequel. Continue reading Review of An Ember in the Ashes
Review of Spinning Silver—Slavic Demons and Ice Fairies
It’s never wise to brag where the Staryk can hear you…. One of my favorite authors, Naomi Novik, once again brings fairy tales to life in Spinning Silver. This stand-alone novel came out last year and is a chilling tale that blends a Slavic-inspired fantasy world with a loose retelling of “Rumpelstiltskin.” If you love folklore, badass female characters, and hefty fantasy novels, this book will be right up your alley! Continue reading Review of Spinning Silver—Slavic Demons and Ice Fairies
Review of Zone One by Colson Whitehead—Literary Zombies
How many Pulitzer Prize–winning authors have written zombie novels? Generally, the sort of literary prestige that gets one nominated for such awards is not given to authors who write in a genre inspired by B-grade horror films. But good writing is good writing, whether it’s in a tale of the zombie apocalypse or the next Great American Novel. And at least one American author has managed to pull off both: Colson Whitehead. You’ve most likely heard his name in the context of his 2016 novel The Underground Railroad, which won him the Pulitzer, the National Book Award, and numerous other prizes. But fewer people are talking about the zombie novel that preceded his biggest hit: Zone One. Continue reading Review of Zone One by Colson Whitehead—Literary Zombies
Influential Mothers of Gothic Authors
For Mother’s Day several years ago, I wrote about the common Gothic trope of absent mothers, which many authors use to turn their protagonists into vulnerable orphans and deny them the comfort and sense of safety that mothers provide. But just because mothers are often absent in their fiction, doesn’t mean that mothers have been absent from these authors’ real lives. In fact, several authors of Gothic fiction owe much of their literary career to the influence of their mothers. This Mother’s Day, I want to highlight two of my favorite literary moms: Mary Wollestonecraft and Lady Jane Wilde. Continue reading Influential Mothers of Gothic Authors
Review of Middlegame–Brutal and Beautiful Alchemy
One of my favorite authors is back with a book quite unlike anything I’ve read before! Middlegame by Seanan McGuire is an adult fantasy novel starring a pair of twins imbued by alchemists with special powers as part of a plot to take over the world. If you’re familiar with McGuire from her Wayward Children series, this book is very different. It is ambitious and broad in scope with an experimental style that hops around between different timelines. But it does still have the signature elements that I love about McGuire’s works: in-depth explorations of nuanced characters, clever plays on classic tropes, and a certain tendency toward the macabre. Middlegame comes out tomorrow, May 7. Continue reading Review of Middlegame–Brutal and Beautiful Alchemy
Review of The Invited—Helpful Hauntings
Would you intentionally invite spirits into your home? What about if you knew they had an important message for you? Jennifer McMahon explores these questions in her latest horror novel, The Invited, which comes out tomorrow, April 30. If you’re a fan of haunted houses, historic ghosts, and women who defy expectations, you won’t want to miss this one! Continue reading Review of The Invited—Helpful Hauntings
Gothic Tropes: Burning Houses
In Gothic literature, the setting of the story functions almost like a character itself. These castles, estates, and manor houses are given names, along with their own history, personality, and secrets. And as with living characters, sometimes the novel needs to end with their death. In one common trope, house fires are employed as a means of destroying the central setting at the end of the novel, often with symbolic significance. Continue reading Gothic Tropes: Burning Houses
Review of Amnesty–The Aftermath of Revolution
Time to finally close the case files in the Amberlough Dossier—the final book in this thrilling trilogy by Lara Elena Donnelly has arrived! Two years ago, I reviewed Amberlough, the decadent spy thriller that kicked off the series, and last year followed up with Armistice, its dark and gritty sequel. Now the series is finishing off with Amnesty, which comes out tomorrow, April 16. If you’re in the New York City area, be sure to join me at the official book launch at the Astoria Bookshop! Continue reading Review of Amnesty–The Aftermath of Revolution
Dark Side of the Con 2019: A Rundown
Now that I’ve had a week to recover, it’s time to share some of my thoughts on this year’s Dark Side of the Con. This three-day dark alternative convention took place at the Sheraton Hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey, from Friday, March 29, to Sunday, March 31. It was the event’s third year running, and the first year in which I was officially part of the core organizing staff! A couple weeks ago, I posted a preview of the event, highlighting all of the different panels, bands, and events I was looking forward to at the con. Did it live up to my expectations? Read on to find out. Continue reading Dark Side of the Con 2019: A Rundown
Persephone Myth Retellings
Spring has sprung! It is now April, and that means it’s time to exchange the dreary cold of winter for flowers, spring rains, and sunshine (at least here in my part of the world)! In honor of the changing of the seasons, I want to highlight some books that give a fresh spin on the spookiest of spring goddesses: Persephone. According to Greek legend, Persephone is the daughter of the harvest goddess Demeter. One day while she was out gathering flowers, Persephone was abducted by Hades, the god of the dead, and taken down to the underworld. While in Hades’ realm, Persphone ate six pomegranate seeds, which obligate her to return to Hades for six months out of the year before returning to her mother. When her daughter is away, Demeter mourns and neglects the earth, but when they’re together, they make flowers bloom and plant life grow. This myth serves to explain why vegetation flourishes for half year but becomes dead and barren in the winter. Persephone is a fascinating and paradoxical character, serving both as a maidenly goddess of spring and as the queen of the underworld. Below are a few of my favorite books that incorporate the myth of Persephone in unique ways: Continue reading Persephone Myth Retellings