Guys, writing these reviews was nearly impossible. I promise they are like, my worst work. I am… Despondent. Furious. Unbearably sad. Frankly, hopeless. I started this post long before Tuesday. I will post it because these authors (as far as I know) did nothing wrong. I mean C.G. isn’t even on this continent, so. Going forward… I don’t know how we go forward, frankly. But books are their own form of protest, and I try very hard to not support authors who don’t agree. So the show will go on, for now. Though if you voted for this, and I mean this with utmost sincerity, I need you to fuck off and never come back. And to the wonderful community members who keep me sane and provide tiny glimmers of hope, thank you 💙 Now… 

My final October books (oops, I’m late!) as well as some November fare! (Oh and one July book that I was only sent last month, but shhh.) And I am doing two giveaways, because I bought too many copies of Don’t Let the Forest in, and I want to rehome my copy of The Shadow Road just because I have too many books! Let’s dive in!

Don’t Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews
The Debutantes by Olivia Worley
The Shadow Road by K.D. Kirchmeier
The Swarm by Andy Marino
Honeycomb by S. B. Caves
Snow Drowned by Jennifer D. Lyle
Revenant-X by David Wellington

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Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews
Published by Feiwel & Friends on October 29, 2024
Pages: 336
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

Once upon a time, Andrew had cut out his heart and given it to this boy, and he was very sure Thomas had no idea that Andrew would do anything for him.
Protect him. Lie for him. Kill for him.

High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales that he writes for the only person who can ground him to reality—Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. And with his twin sister, Dove, inexplicably keeping him at a cold distance upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew finds himself leaning on his friend even more.

But something strange is going on with Thomas. His abusive parents have mysteriously vanished, and he arrives at school with blood on his sleeve. Thomas won’t say a word about it, and shuts down whenever Andrew tries to ask him questions. Stranger still, Thomas is haunted by something, and he seems to have lost interest in his artwork—whimsically macabre sketches of the monsters from Andrew’s wicked stories.

Desperate to figure out what’s wrong with his friend, Andrew follows Thomas into the off-limits forest one night and catches him fighting a nightmarish monster—Thomas’s drawings have come to life and are killing anyone close to him. To make sure no one else dies, the boys battle the monsters every night. But as their obsession with each other grows stronger, so do the monsters, and Andrew begins to fear that the only way to stop the creatures might be to destroy their creator…

CW at start: “Content warning: Blood/gore, body horror, panic attacks, grief, eating disorder, bullying, and self-harm.””

I am so, so beyond thrilled that the world has finally understood the gift that is C.G. Drews’ writing. It took them longer than it should have, to be sure, but they got there in the end and that is all that matters. That is also why when I pre-ordered the book, and then it was announced that there would be a more fun special edition, I did not cancel my first order, I just decided to pass it on to one of you fabulous folks. I have been a fan of the author’s words for a literal decade now- via Paper Fury, via unpublished words I fell in love with, and via their incredible UK published books. So obviously, I am thrilled that Don’t Let the Forest In is garnering so much (well-deserved) attention.

The writing, of course, is lovely. As I knew it would be. The characters were fabulous and so well developed. And look, maybe I guessed a thing or two that would happen? But I honestly think that is just kind of what happens when you are familiar with an author, and also, it didn’t really lessen my enjoyment or anything. Oh, and there are many feels! Which as you know, is pretty much my favorite.

Bottom Line: Go see what all the fuss is about, and read this fabulous book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The Debutantes by Olivia Worley
Published by Wednesday Books on October 29, 2024
Pages: 352
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by author for review

Jessica Goodman meets The Agathas in this taut, twisty YA thriller set in the glittering world of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, where secrets—and bodies—never stay buried.

For the New Orleans elite, the Les Masques Ball is sure to be the social event of the season—if they can avoid another dead Queen. When debutante Margot Landry was found dead the morning after her reign at last year’s ball, it was a tragedy, but not a shocking one. Margot was a wild child with a self-destructive streak, nothing like this year’s Queen, Lily LeBlanc. With a perfectly poised debutante on the throne, everything is going according to plan…until the ball is hijacked by a mysterious figure in a Jester costume. That night, Lily sends a text to three of the Maids on her royal court—her best friend, Vivian; her boyfriend's sister, Piper; and April, her former frenemy—asking them all to meet the next morning. But Lily never shows up.

On the surface, these three debutantes don’t have anything in common except their exclusive private school and their ties to Les Masques. But soon, they realize why Lily brought them together: something dark is lurking beneath the glamorous surface of the debutante world, and it might be the reason she disappeared. And the further the girls dig, the more they begin to suspect that Margot's death may not have been an accident—and that Lily may be next. When the Jester starts threatening to expose their own secrets, this unlikely trio must team up to uncover the monsters behind the Mardi Gras masks—before they’re left with another dead debutante.

I love New Orleans! And I really enjoyed the author’s first book, so I was definitely excited for this one. And it was fun and fast paced and I definitely found myself craving answers! Definitely a ton of twists and turns, and even though the debutante scene would very much not be my cup of tea (and neither was it for some of our characters!) it was still pretty fascinating, and different, especially for a thriller.

First of all, this is very timely: a whole creepy group of terrible white guys doing terrible white guy stuff controlling and harming young women. I hate it here, and this book will emphasize why. There are also a ton of twists! It definitely delivers on that front, with all the secrets and mysteries that are uncovered along the way. The atmosphere is great, and the NOLA setting cannot be beat. I liked the characters too, even though it did take me a minute to remember which was which at times. They all had their own stories and reasons for even being at this ball to begin with, so that was fun to read about too.

Bottom Line: Very relevant, full of twists and turns, and an amazing setting, I enjoyed this multi-faceted thriller.

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The Shadow Road by K.D. Kirchmeier
Published by Bloomsbury YA on October 15, 2024
Pages: 352
Format:ARC, Hardcover
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review

A tale of survival as dragon-like monsters invade and two unlikely heroes must save humanity from annihilation.

When the monsters came, the power went out. Towns and cities became darkened ruins, and terrified survivors fled west, trailed by the blitz, dragon-like creatures screeching down from the sky enshrouded in lightning, delivering death.

The old world is ending, but not all hope is lost.

Left behind is a timid dreamer, Thomas, and a brash and outspoken daredevil, Cassie. When their paths unexpectedly cross, they must outwit both monsters and humans alike on an epic journey across a dangerous ravaged landscape if they hope to do the impossible: Reignite hope. Defeat the blitz. Save humanity.

Well, I have some mixed feelings again about a book! Look, there really is a lot to like about The Shadow Road, and I think some of the problems I had with it are definitely “me problems” and may not bother you at all! So let us see what I liked, what I didn’t, and what you may have no issues with!

The Good: I love me an apocalypse novel! While I didn’t fully understand this one (see below), I still appreciated the harrowing survival aspect. I also really enjoyed the characters, and how desperately they were trying to eke out an existence in this terrible place. The atmosphere was also very, very on point!

The Less Good: This is the part where it might be a personal preference, and that is that it was just too… fantastical an apocalypse for me. Is that a thing? And maybe I would not have minded so much, but there was no real explanation for the world. Like, was it always fantastical, and just this particular thing went bad? And then there were mentions of other magical/fantastical beings/spells/etc. and I think that is just not so much for me. Also, it felt a little draggy at times, especially in the middle.

Bottom Line: Atmospheric end of world fare with great characters, just a touch too unexplained-fantasy for my tastes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The Swarm by Andy Marino
Published by Redhook on November 5, 2024
Pages: 512
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

From the bizarre and audacious imagination of horror author Andy Marino comes a harrowing tale of the insect that will herald the apocalypse…

It begins with cicadas. It will end with the swarm. When millions of insects appear unexpectedly, off the rhythm of their 17-year cycle, Detective Vicky Paterson is investigating a bizarre killing in her sleepy hometown. At the same time, a pair of hired guns work to free their client’s daughter from a shadowy cult. As these events intertwine, things begin to spiral out of control. When Vicky’s young daughter, Sadie, is attacked by the insects, it’s clear that the once-harmless creatures have invaded with a malevolent purpose. But this is only the first wave. Soon, the infestation is impossible to contain. As the world desperately works to unravel the mysteries of the swarm, and humanity rests on the knife’s edge of extinction, Vicky and a group of strangers will fight to uncover the shocking origins of the attack—and the terrible purpose behind it. This panoramic novel of insect apocalypse reaches back into the darkest recesses of the twentieth century and unleashes its horrors on our modern, interconnected world.

No one likes bugs. Maybe entomologists I guess, but not you or me. And you’ll hate them even more after reading The Swarm! Without giving too much away, there is an invasion of cicadas, and again, no one likes them. Because cicadas. Except they are not just a minor annoyance, they are legit killing people. And if they don’t die, they’re left in some kind of coma-like state, and no one knows what is happening. The only thing they do know is that there seems to be no end in sight, and the world is losing its collective mind.

There are several POV characters who come from very different walks of life, but they’ll all soon find their lives upended by the cicadas. And as you can imagine, their stories are likely to converge in one way or another. I was very invested in this story from the start, because what the heck are these bugs doing!? And then I was also quite invested in most of the characters, too. It was clear that no one was safe, and the stakes were insanely high, so that added to the excitement of the story.

Now, I will say that it did drag a bit in the middle. Not an unbearable amount, but it could have been pared down a tad. I also have to say that the epilogue made my day. The story as a whole, despite the slower bits, really kept my interest. The vibes were fully on point and certainly desperate, and I was very eager to know what the heck caused this particularly hellish apocalypse, so definitely recommend!

Bottom Line: The cicada apocalypse is not one you’d want to be in. Ever.

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Honeycomb by S B Caves
Published by Datura Books on July 9, 2024
Format:ARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review

Big Brother meets Black Mirror in this high-concept thriller in which six strangers take part in a mysterious medical experiment in an isolated mansion.

After winning the popular reality talent show Searching for a Star and a subsequent record deal at the age of nineteen, Amanda Pearson was the hottest thing in the UK. But as her short-lived fame began to fade, the cracks began to stumbling and mumbling on stage, slurring during live TV interviews, suspicious photos of her at nightclubs with powder around her nostrils. The dream was over. Amanda Pearson would forever be a one-hit wonder.

Six years later, after cleaning her act up but failing to reestablish her career, her ex-manager informs her of an unexpected opportunity that will help alleviate her dire financial situation and potentially thrust her back into the spotlight. The proposal is Six strangers alone in a mansion, under constant observation, for the duration of a week. Every day they take a pill. Five people are taking a placebo, but one person will be taking an experimental drug, which they are assured has no side adverse effects.

The other participants - a dinner lady who moonlights as a comedian, an eccentric theatre actor, a popular YouTuber, a dance choreographer, and a car salesman - all seem normal at first. However, as each day goes by, cracks begin to show in the group. Paranoia leads to violence. Who is taking the real pill, and what does it do? Amanda realises that this is no normal she is trapped, the old mansion is rigged, and there is no way out.

Can she find a way out of this nightmare with her sanity in tact?

This book was wild. I was so excited for the story because I have always believed that pheromones play a way bigger part in our lives than we know. Like- you know those people who others just… flock to? Always being fawned over, both platonically and romantically? We all know these folks. Maybe they aren’t even all that “conventionally attractive”, have an average-seeming personally and such, but they’re always swarmed with admirers and you just don’t know why. My theory has been pheromones. I have bad ones, according to my hypothesis, and so this whole concept of taking a pill to boost one’s appeal? Oh I was so on board!

And it definitely delivered! I mean, throwing these people into a house, on top of it? It’s like The Real World on crack, but like, actually drugs not even kidding. I was quite invested in the story, and Amanda’s character. She reminded me of a Lindsay Lohan sort, or a less famous Britney Spears, a teen idol who was now in the periphery at best, having dealt with the fallout of young stardom. When she gets the chance to turn her life around with a nice payday, who could blame her? I probably would have taken the offer too, tbh.

But things get wild, and fast. I won’t tell you any more, because you should figure it out for yourselves. But everything in the house is unsettling from the start, and devolves in a hurry. It is impossible to put down, because I was so invested in the outcome, and what the cast of characters was going to do next. I liked that we got a little insight into each of them, even though Amanda was the main character. My only qualm was that I probably would have liked a bit more from the ending, but overall, it was a really solid story with a very cool premise that delivered what it promised.

Bottom Line: This was bananas, increasingly dark, and wildly entertaining.

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Snow Drowned by Jennifer D. Lyle
Published by Sourcebooks Fire on November 5, 2024
Pages: 304
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

There's a saying on Fall Island: if you're not careful, the snow will get you.

Gracie Hutchinson has lived on Fall Island her whole life and knows there's some truth to those words. Fall's snowstorms have a spooky way of claiming people, making them disappear without a trace or driving them mad. Now, with a hundred-year-storm approaching, most of Fall's residents have fled to the mainland. But not Gracie. Left behind her with physician father, she braces for landfall.

Gracie's not the only one left behind. Her classmate Joseph Wescott, descendant of the legendary pioneer who founded Fall Island, has stayed, too. After a chance encounter, the two stumble across something more unsettling than the snow: a ritually mutilated corpse. By night, as the snow begins to fall, it becomes clear that whoever (or whatever) murdered the man they found has their sights set on Gracie.

Seeking refuge at Wescott Manor, Gracie feels safe surrounded by dozens of locals hunkered down in the huge house. But as the storm assaults the island, Gracie discovers secrets that have been kept since Fall was settled. If she can't uncover the hidden history and terrifying truth about Fall Island before the storm's end, she'll be the next to disappear into the snow.

Okay I could not put this book down. I read it in one sitting, because I genuinely could not stop. It is that compulsively readable. It’s dark too, which I loved, and just… look, I am trying to not say too much because it is so full of twists and turns and jaw-dropping moments that I really want you to just read it for yourselves! Like- every note on my Kindle is just notes of shock and awe because this book was that much of a roller coaster!

The atmosphere was on point, I was invested in the characters and the story, and I needed to know all the things. I did wonder if perhaps it was to be continued, based on how the story ends. It ends in a satisfying enough way as to not be frustrating, but also lends itself to the possibility of a sequel.

Bottom Line: If you like thrillers with a touch of supernatural and a whole lot of darkness and twists, this is the book for you!

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Revenant-X by David Wellington
Series: Red Space #2
Published by Orbit on November 5, 2024
Pages: 512
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

Revenant-X is the terrifying second novel in a new trilogy of survival and exploration in deep space, from Clarke Award-nominated author David Wellington.
FEAR THE DARK.

The crew of the Artemis - led by Firewatch agent Alexandra Petrova - have survived the furious onslaught of the Basilisk and broken through the space blockade around Paradise-1. Now they can pursue their original mission and investigate why Earth's first deep space colony has fallen silent.
The answer seems the site is deserted.

Or so they think.

Some of the colonists remain. They're no longer human.

Petrova and her crew now face a desperate struggle to survive as they attempt to uncover the mystery of what has befallen the colony.

If they fail, the darkness that has fallen over Paradise-1 will consume them.

I am digging this series so much. It is huge- as in, big ol’ books huge- but don’t let that deter you! It’s meaty, but in the good way where you don’t even realize how long it is until you see the page count (I guess unless you’re hefting around physical copies). Anyway, this book picks up where the series left off, and we’re back with this wonderful group of characters that has become a found family to each other. The stakes are just as high as ever as they travel to a virtually unknown planet to see what the heck happened to the folks living there who the rest of the universe has lost contact with.

What they find is shocking and messed up and will test them at every single step. And then when you think things cannot get more dire… they do. My only slight qualm was that maybe a few of the scenes felt a little repetitive, but this is truly a minor gripe, because I loved seeing how our space crew would get their way out of the direst of straights. If you love an intense, thought provoking space thriller, this is a series you won’t want to miss! Now, I just have to somehow wait for the next installment!

Bottom Line: Just as exciting and thrilling as the first book but I felt even more connection to the characters. Need more immediately!

Have you read any of these books? Plan to? Let us chat about them!