Thursday, February 28, 2019

February 2019: Monthly Recap

February was a busy month for the LOHF team! Along with it being Women in Horror Month, we hosted a #LadiesofHorrorFiction Instagram challenge, the #LOHFReadathon (with Alex from Hey Little Thrifter), and the community wide readalong of Tananarive Due’s The Between.

We shared a lot on our site through the month of February. If you weren’t able to check in each day, here is a recap of the exciting things we shared each day!

Reviews

The Bone Weaver's Orchard Book Cover

The Bone Weaver’s Orchard by Sarah Read Review

Book Cover for Twin Lakes: Autumn Fires

Twin Lakes: The Autumn Fires by Michelle Garza & Melissa Lason Review

Book Cover Everything That's Underneath by Kristi DeMeester

Everything That’s Underneath by Kristi Demeester Review

Collision by J.S. Breukelaar

Without Condition by Sonora Taylor Book Cover

Without Condition by Sonora Taylor Review

Stranger Things

Suspicious Minds by Gwenda Bond Review

The Shining GIrls by Lauren Beukes Book Cover

The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes Review

Black Wings by Megan Hart Review

Something Borrowed, Something Blood Soaked Book Cover

Something Borrowed, Something Blood-Soaked by Christa Carmen Review

Book Cover And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe by Gwendolyn Kiste

And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe by Gwendolyn Kiste Review

Splatterpunk Forever Review

Book Cover The Purity of Crimson by Beverley Lee

The Purity of Crimson by Beverley Lee Review

Podcast Episodes

Stories of Horror: Elizabeth Gaskell and Lois the Witch

Join Toni as she reads part I of Lois the Witch by Elizabeth Gaskell in the Ladies of Horror Fiction Presents Stories of Horror.

News and Announcements

February LOHF New Releases

LOHF Weekly News January Week 4

LOHF Weekly News February Week 1

LOHF Weekly News February Week 2

Special Topics and Guest Posts

Women in Horror Month: Caitlin Marceau CEO of Sanitarium Publishing

For Women in Horror Month, Toni talked to Caitlin CEO of Sanitarium Publishing about the publishing industry.

LOHF Shelf Edition: Mindi

In this session of Ladies of Horror Fiction: Shelf Edition, Mindi Snyder (@gowsy33) is joining us to show off her LOHF books.

Women Writing Horror

Do women authors feel like they have to write horror a certain way? We asked the Twitterverse, and the answers were surprising and heartening.

Community Wide Readalong: The Between

The Between Readalong: Week 1

The Between Readalong: Week 2

The Between Readalong: Week 3

Instagram Challenge Recap

The “My Emotions” Recap

We are stirring up all the things for a look-back on this prompt to bring out all those emotions again!

The “Strangers” Recap

This one was interesting. Just seeing who people considered “Strangers” in books for the prompt was insightful.

The “Recommendations” Recap

The entire challenge was great for Ladies of Horror Fiction recommendations, right?

The “Heart” Recap

Horror books can have a little heart in them and still be horror!  See some of our favorites from this prompt.

More 2019 Monthly Recaps

January 2019 Monthly Recap


Thank you so much for hanging out with us and taking part in our challenges throughout February. This Sunday we will announce the giveaway winner from our readalong discussion posts. We will also announce some details about the next readalong so stay tuned!

Women Writing Horror

In horror, as in every other genre, there are different styles of writing. Some authors lean towards the atmospheric, some love to get out the paintbrush and paint the walls red with blood (and various body parts) while others love to create monsters for a good, old-fashioned chomp-n-stomp story.

But it also had me wondering…Did women feel more constrained to write certain types of horror over others? Did they feel that because they are women that they had to stick to writing “nice” horror? Or, conversely, did they feel that they had to go balls-to-the-wall in order to be taken seriously as ‘real’ horror authors. So I asked some authors on the Twitterverse what they thought. The answers were surprising and heartening.

We got comparisons to childbirth:

V. Castro says: 

I’ve given birth three times and every tale slips out of me like a newborn. They are what they are.


Leanna Falconer
says she writes mainly weird fiction but:

I’m not afraid to include whatever it takes to make the story work. I don’t usually take my gender or the genders of my protagonists into consideration. The story determines itself.

Which is a very good take on it. When I’m reading a first person short story I tend to assume I’m seeing a female perspective unless the story dictates otherwise. But I can see a lot of people viewing them differently.


Sarah Read
had a slightly more…colorful response to the question of whether or not a female author would feel constrained or not (we loved it!):

Neither! I write whatever the hell I feel like whenever the hell I feel like it. Sometimes that’s quiet dread and sometimes it’s slithering entrails.

Here at the Ladies of Horror Fiction we always appreciate the feeling of quiet dread and the slippery, slithering entrails.


Rylann Watts
tapped into what we generally think when reviewing. We may not be authors ourselves but we know what we like to read:

I personally feel women are scarier than men as far as dangerous creatures. But I don’t think about my gender when I’m writing. I write what I want to read in horror.

I have to say the answers thrilled me to no end. I think it’s amazing that women are coming into their own and writing what they want to write instead of feeling like they have to tone down their inclinations for the more extreme sides of horror.


Gemma Amor
says she doesn’t consider her gender when writing horror but:

I just write what is close to my heart, and what excites me. I sometimes am more conscious of certain themes because of my gender, and feel a responsibility to write strong characters.

Which I think is a very important direction to take. So often a lot of writers use trauma and/or childhood abuse and rape as weak character crutches for women in their books. It’s lazy. And we need more writers who can write strong characters with interesting backstories.


Beverly Lee
says:

My stories always evolve as they want to be. Sometimes it means that unsettling feeling strokes the nape of your neck gently and sometimes it means it screams in your face!

I have noticed that a lot of the answers are similar but that doesn’t make them any less valid. I love hearing that they write what they want to. They go where the story leads them. In the end that is the most important thing. Authors who aren’t afraid to tell their stories.


Rhonda J. Garcia
has some words of wisdom, as well.

I have to tell the story that wants to be told, in all its horrific splendor. Sometimes, that’s an understated tale. More often, it’s exactly the story I haven’t read a bazillion times. Every time, it’s deeply felt and unsettling.

That’s what readers look for. The story that hasn’t been told for the thousandth time. Or the story that has been told before but with a fresh spin on it.

Women do struggle for recognition, fight to ‘prove’ that they are ‘real’ horror writers. I found their answers very refreshing. Women aren’t just hiding in the shadows and writing about them anymore. They’ve emerged into the twilight to create their own monstrosities, lovers, shadows and fiends.

———————–

I want to say a huge thank you to the authors that responded and let me quote them. Below you’ll find a list of them, their most current book, their Twitter handle and a link to their profile page (if it’s up yet). If they are not on site yet the name will link to their Goodreads profile.

————-

V. Castro @vlatinalondonMaria the Wanted and the Legacy of the Keepers (The Keepers Series #1) 

Sarah Read @inkwellmonsterThe Bone-Weaver’s Orchard

L.F. Falconer @lffalconerA Debt of Survival

Rylann Watts @RylannWatts

Gemma Amor @manylittlewordsCruel Works of Nature

Beverly Lee @constantvoiceThe Making Of Gabriel Davenport

Rhonda J. Garcia @rjacksonjosephBlack Magic Women: Terrifying Tales by Scary Sisters

V. Castro and Gemma Amor also review at www.scifiandscary.com as well.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

The Purity of Crimson by Beverley Lee Review

Book Cover The Purity of Crimson by Beverley Lee

Menacing dark fantasy/horror and paranormal suspense combine in the final book of this reader acclaimed supernatural series (Gabriel Davenport) from British author Beverley Lee.

Blood calls to blood.

Gabriel Davenport and his brothers have found a temporary refuge. But safety is fleeting. Beneath the streets of London three become five, as the brothers, the “Bloody Little Prophets,” are joined by a witch boy sent on a mission and a terrified, persecuted vampire.

But every meeting has its consequences. And one of them is not who he says he is. One by one, the brothers are torn apart, and all must face their own demons when unexpected questions and uncertainty arise.  Gabriel’s quest takes him to the very edge of his morality—to a creature who holds the key to death itself.

What would he give to know why the wings of darkness had always sought him?

And what would any of them sacrifice to save each other? 

Amazon

Alex’s Teaser Review

Beverley Lee’s ability to tell a story surpasses so many authors that I have read and she does not disappoint with The Purity of Crimson. This was an amazing collection, and every single story in here got 5 stars from me. 

Click here to see the full review on findingmontauk 

Emily’s Teaser Review

Beverley Lee is a skilled storyteller with an amazing ability to write detailed characters. This a fantastic vampire series, and I was thoroughly invested throughout all three books. 

Click here to see the full review on Emily’s Goodreads 

About Beverley Lee

Author photo for Beverley Lee
Photo Courtesy of Goodreads

Beverley Lee is a freelance writer currently residing in the south east of England. In thrall to the written word from an early age, especially the darker side of fiction, she believes that the very best story is the one you have to tell. Supporting fellow authors is also her passion and she is actively involved in social media writers’ groups. 

The Gabriel Davenport Series (The Making of Gabriel Davenport, A Shining in the Shadows and The Purity of Crimson) has received global praise.

Sign up to Beverley Lee’s newsletter for exclusive content about Gabriel and his world beverleylee.com

Monday, February 25, 2019

The "Heart" Recap

The recap from last week was all about your ‘Recommendations’ so take a second to go check it out if you missed it!

Did we change the challenge on you all with all this talk of “hearts” and whatnot?  Absolutely not!  Horror books can have a little heart in them and still be horror!  See some of our favorites from this prompt below.

Grumplstiltskin shared this absolutely beautiful photo of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.  This book literally could not happen without a little heart — and some electrical zapping!

“At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature’s hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein.

Frankenstein, an instant bestseller and an important ancestor of both the horror and science fiction genres, not only tells a terrifying story, but also raises profound, disturbing questions about the very nature of life and the place of humankind within the cosmos: What does it mean to be human? What responsibilities do we have to each other? How far can we go in tampering with Nature? In our age, filled with news of organ donation genetic engineering, and bio-terrorism, these questions are more relevant than ever.”

Readwithdogs gave is a collage of book-covers in the shape of a heart – and we are TOTALLY here for this!  So many female authors listed in this photo: Octavia Butler, Ania Ahlborn, Tananarive Due, Amber Tamblyn, and so many more!

Drunk_on_books showed us this book cover of The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich that is LITERALLY on fire!

“Twenty-five years ago, Elmbridge High burned down. Three people were killed and one pupil, Carly Johnson, disappeared. Now a diary has been found in the ruins of the school. The diary belongs to Kaitlyn Johnson, Carly’s identical twin sister. But Carly didn’t have a twin . . .

Re-opened police records, psychiatric reports, transcripts of video footage and fragments of diary reveal a web of deceit and intrigue, violence and murder, raising a whole lot more questions than it answers.

Who was Kaitlyn and why did she only appear at night? Did she really exist or was she a figment of a disturbed mind? What were the illicit rituals taking place at the school? And just what did happen at Elmbridge in the events leading up to ‘the Johnson Incident’?”

Kimberlyyerina6466 and her Bride of Valentine with a broken heart shared Ivy’s Envy by Latashia Figueroa, which is book number one in the Want & Decay Trilogy.

“Latashia Figueroa’s riveting Want & Decay Trilogy follows the entangled lives of three people tormented by lust, jealousy, madness and murder. In this first book, Ivy’s Envy, Ivy James has had a history of violence with the men she falls for. Her grandmother and parents know what Ivy is capable of when things don’t go her way.

Now Ivy has become obsessed with Thomas Miles, a man who works at her office. She is certain that Thomas loves her too. But there are people who stand in the way of Ivy and Thomas finally being together, like his wife, Deana. Determined to have the love that is their destiny, Ivy will go down a very dark and twisted road to make Thomas hers, and hers alone. But Ivy is not the only one who has dark secrets, and everyone involved will soon learn that pursuing love and passion to the extreme can lead to terrifying consequences.”

We are ending this week’s recap highlights on an extremely creepy cover given to us in this photo by whatmeworry_reads.  Here we get to see Disturb Not The Dream by Paula Trachtman.

“A five-year old screams in her sleep…

A bloodied man hovers over a nubile teenage girl…

A mysterious beauty makes love to a ripe teenage boy…

And a family must face the terrifying truth that ties them to a horrifying past — and leads them towards a bloodcurdling future…

Disturb Not The Dream

A heart-stopping tale of unrelenting fear.”


See?  You can still have horror books with a little heart!  Check back with us next week as we go over “villains” and continue to share the highlights of our Summer 2018 photo challenge!

Saturday, February 23, 2019

The Between Readalong: Week 3

Ladies of Horror Fiction Readalong of The Between by Tananarive Due

This is our final week of reading and discussing Tananarive Due’s The Between. Thank you so much to everyone who read The Between with us this month!

If you missed out on our previous discussions, be sure to check out the week one and week two discussions of our LOHF readalong.

The Ladies of Horror Fiction team has come up with some discussion questions, and we’d love to hear your thoughts as well!

Discussion

1.Would you shelve The Between as horror? Why or why not?

Tracy: I would shelve it as horror – there are enough elements to classify it as such for me

Emily: Yes, I would, especially because of the nightmares.

Lilyn: No. I would shelve it as a supernatural mystery or something. While it’s got some great imagery that’s typically horror, this really isn’t about anything horrific. It’s about a man with a special ability that tries to protect his family.

Laurie: I would shelve it as dark fiction because I am a cheater, haha . It had some dark, nightmarish scenes so it could slide into horror.

2. What do you think is going to happen to the kids? Will they also be tormented by dreams? Will they be travelers now because Hilton sacrificed his life like Nana did for him?

Tracy: I think Kaya may be in danger of travelling- she seems to have some proclivity for it already.

Emily: Yes, I think so. Nana said something about thinking she was helping, and I think he restarted the cycle for his kids.

Lilyn: I think Kaya will. She’s always seemed like the ‘special’ one. I don’t expect anything like that from Jamil though.

Laurie: I think the kids are going to be tormented by nightmarish dreams Iike Hilton was because I am all doom and gloom and they weren’t really supposed to have been born.

3. Put yourself in Hilton’s shoes. How do you think you’d react if you were going through something supernatural and everyone assumed you were having delusions?

Emily: I really don’t know. It would be upsetting. I would probably be super angry like he was.

Tracy: Honestly, I don’t know. I tend to keep things inside so perhaps maybe a little like Hilton. I don’t see myself going to those extremes, though.

Laurie: I would be frustrated and angry but I wouldn’t cheat on my spouse 😬 😳. He lost most of my compassion when he went and did that – even if it was a dream walk.

Lilyn: I would react exactly the way he did.

4. What are your overall thoughts on The Between and the way Tananarive Due crafted all of the elements together? Did you enjoy it?

Tracy: I loved this book. All of the threads come together and her writing is beautiful and seamless.

Emily: I loved this book, and I was also really impressed that it was her debut novel. She’s so talented, and wove everything together so well. I feel like it’s easy to leave loose threads in a story like this, but it felt complete to me.

Lilyn: Overall ? I liked it. I didn’t love it, but I liked it. Especially when I consider the fact that this was her debut book. She did a fantastic job bringing all the elements together, and keeping my attention throughout the book.

Laurie: I enjoyed it. I enjoy flawed characters even if they piss me off and I felt like it explained things well in the end.

5. Was this your first Tananarive Due book? Will you be reading more from Due? (Which one do you hope to read next?)

Tracy: The Between was my first by her and I’m looking forward to the African immortals series (starting with My Soul To Keep) and The Good House

Emily: Yes, this was my first Due book! I have The Good House, My Soul to Keep, and Summer on my shelf, so it will be one of those. I can’t wait!

Lilyn: No, my first book was The Good House. I will read more of Due in the future, but I don’t have anything specific planned at the moment.

Laurie: This was my first read by Due. I’ll definitely read her again after I check out the blurbs.

Quotes

A lot of people think black children are aggressive, so you have to be smarter than that. Eyes are always watching you, Jamil. Remember that.

Evil is arrogant.

I hope I’m finished traveling.

This is real. The blood is real.

Had dreams finally taken his life hostage?

If I am cracking up, it’s because of my dreams.

Wherever I am is here. Here is wherever I’m safe. Where they can’t follow me.

No one is meant to live in the between.

They’re not dreams. There’s no such thing as dreams.

The houngan told her she walked between life, death, and the gods. She was unnatural, he said. She was between.

Every time she dreamed and woke up, she said, she felt as though things had shifted out of place.

Maybe all of them are real. Maybe none of them…I believe that wherever the spirit rests is that moment’s reality.

The water wanted you. That’s the only way I can put it. It was like we were fighting all of nature to bring you back.

I feel like everything is going to be different from now on.

Giveaway

Weare very excited to have you guys reading The Between along with us. We wouldlike to host another a giveaway as a thank you for joining in!

Prize: We will be giving away one copy of a horror book written by a woman author (to be announced next week!) to one randomly selected participant.

How to enter: Comment on our discussion posts throughout The Between readalong to be entered into the giveaway. You will receive one entry each week you join in. In your comment, share your thoughts on the current week’s section of The Between, share your favorite quotes, or post a link where we can find your thoughts on the current week’s section.

Friday, February 22, 2019

Splatterpunk Forever Review

Splatterpunk Forever Review

From the Splatterpunk Award-winning editors of Splatterpunk Fighting Back comes a brand new anthology. Marital dysfunction explodes into violence in a circus sideshow from hell… Three American tourists get more than they bargained for when they visit a very special Mexican brothel… When you work for the cartels, ‘trash disposal’ has a whole new meaning… Splatterpunk Forever brings you 11 all-new tales of extreme horror, with an introduction by Glenn Rolfe.

Splatterpunk Zine | Amazon

Emily’s Review

“…the truth is I love a bit of the ole ultra-violence.” – Lydian Faust

I believe I was introduced to splatterpunk / extreme horror last year, and while I’ve enjoyed most of what I’ve read, I haven’t been crazy about everything. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the Splatterpunk Forever anthology, but I knew I wanted to give it a shot.

I think Splatterpunk Forever is a pretty good introduction to the genre – I can’t say what a more experienced splatterpunk reader would think, but that’s my opinion. There are 11 stories in this anthology, so it’s a fast read. Not all of the stories are as intense as I thought they would be, and there’s a pretty good variety here. It opens with the hilarious and unsettling The Seacretor by Ryan Harding – the first line of the book is “Grant fucked the tree on the sixth day”, which made me laugh and definitely caught my attention. It’s memorable as hell.

Splatterpunk Forever provides a lot of entertainment in the middle, and then ends with Monica J. O’Rourke’s Virtue of Stagnant Waters. The last story was the most extreme (in my opinion), and I was completely hooked to this disturbing story. Virtue of Stagnant Waters ended up being one of my top three stories, and the other two were Garrote by Lydian Faust and Guinea Pig Blues by Chad Lutzke. I hadn’t read quite a few of these authors before, and I’m excited to hopefully read more from writers such as Saul Bailey.

If you’re looking for a quick and entertaining read with stories that will both amuse and disturb you, pick up Splatterpunk Forever! The editors of this anthology, Jack Bantry and Kit Power, have another splatterpunk anthology that I definitely want to check out now. I rated all of the stories between 3⭐ to 5⭐, so it’s full of good stories!

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe by Gwendolyn Kiste Review

And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe by Gwendolyn Kiste

A murdered movie star reaches out to an unlikely fan. An orchard is bewitched with poison apples and would-be princesses. A pair of outcasts fail a questionnaire that measures who in their neighborhood will vanish next. Two sisters keep a grotesque secret hidden in a Victorian bathtub. A dearly departed best friend carries a grudge from beyond the grave.

In her debut collection, Gwendolyn Kiste delves into the gathering darkness where beauty embraces the monstrous, and where even the most tranquil worlds are not to be trusted. From fairy tale kingdoms and desolate carnivals, to wedding ceremonies and summer camps that aren’t as joyful as they seem, these fourteen tales of horror and dark fantasy explore death, rebirth, and illusion all through the eyes of those on the outside—the forgotten, the forsaken, the Other, none of whom will stay in the dark any longer.

Journalstone Publishing | Better World Books | Amazon

Emily’s Teaser Review

 This was an amazing collection, and every single story in here got 5 stars from me. 

Click here to see the full review on Emily’s Goodreads 

Toni’s Teaser Review

Sometimes you read something that resonates with you so deeply that there aren’t even words that you can put together that will do it justice. You can’t describe the depths that a story or a book can speak to your soul. Her Smile will Untether the Universe will defiantly do that.

Click here to see the full review on The Misadventures of A Reader

About Gwendolyn Kiste

Gwendolyn
Photo courtesy Gwendolyn Kiste.com

Gwendolyn Kiste is the author of And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe, her debut fiction collection available now from JournalStone, as well as the dark fantasy novella, Pretty Marys All in a Row, from Broken Eye Books. Her short fiction has appeared in Nightmare Magazine, Shimmer, Black Static, Daily Science Fiction, Interzone, LampLight, and Three-Lobed Burning Eye as well as Flame Tree Publishing’s Chilling Horror Short Stories anthology, among others.

A native of Ohio, she currently resides on an abandoned horse farm outside of Pittsburgh with her husband, two cats, and not nearly enough ghosts. You can also find her online at Facebook,  Twitter and http://www.gwendolynkiste.com/.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

LOHF Shelf Edition: Mindi

Happy Women in Horror Month! It’s time for another session of Ladies of Horror Fiction: Shelf Edition! This time Mindi Snyder (@gowsy33) is joining us to show off her LOHF books. Mindi is a reviewer, bookstagrammer, member of the Nightworms review team, and rep for A Stranger Dream and PS Publishing.

Do you have any recent favorite LOHF books?

Last year I discovered Gwendolyn Kiste, and I adore everything she writes! The Rust Maidens is one of my absolute favorite books of 2018. I also love Caroline Kepnes. Providence is another favorite 2018 release. And Christa Carmen’s collection Something Borrowed, Something Bloodsoaked is fantastic. I’m really looking forward for more from these fantastic writers.

What LOHF books do you have on your TBR?

My TBR for the year has a number of LOHF books on it. The Invited by Jennifer McMahon, Fountain Dead by Theresa Braun, Cruel Works of Nature by Gemma Amor, Sleeping With the Monster by Anya Martin, Vox by Christina Dalcher, Garden of Eldritch Delights by Lucy A. Snyder, The Devil’s Dreamland by Sara Tantlinger…I could go on and on.

Book Photo Pretty Maids All In A Row

Where do you find recommendations? Are there any LOHF books that have been recommended to you that you loved?

I get most of my recommendations from either friends or social media. Lately Twitter has been a huge source of recommendations for me. I heard people talking about Kiste on both Instagram and Twitter, and I finally picked up her collection titled And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe. I was blown away, and I immediately wanted to read more from her. When I heard she had a book coming out so soon after I discovered her, I was elated.

Where do you shop for books?

Sadly, I shop mostly online. I try as often as I can to shop at the independent stores near me, but more often than not they don’t stock what I’m looking for. I buy out of print or hard to find books from Alibris.

Are there any upcoming LOHF releases you’re excited about?

I’m really excited to read The Invited by Jennifer McMahon. I also want to spend 2019 discovering more women who write horror. There are so many fantastic writers out there, and I know I’ve only just scratched the surface.

Where can people find you on social media?

I’m on Instagram and Twitter as gowsy33. You can also follow my Goodreads account under my real name (Mindi Snyder).

Readers, please let us know what you think of the new segment and leave a note in the comments if you would be interested in showing off your LOHF books in our next segment of LOHF Shelf Edition! Thanks for joining us Mindi. We adored your shelves and learning more about your bookish ways!

Monday, February 18, 2019

The "Recommendations" Recap

This whole challenge has been great for recommending different books written by female horror authors, right?  But we know there are a lot of books that may not fit with a certain prompt, so this week we are recapping “recommendations” to make sure that no book has been left behind!

(If you did get a bit left behind, and missed our “strangers” recap, check it out here.)

Dlgillis20 shared with us We Have Always Lived In This Castle by Shirley Jackson.  Most people are familiar with The Haunting of Hill House but may not have heard of this other amazing book by Jackson.

“Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods—until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the curiosity and hostility of the villagers. Their days pass in happy isolation until cousin Charles appears. Only Merricat can see the danger, and she must act swiftly to keep Constance from his grasp.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm827EdlNZY/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1v5s8e8jg5glj

Gowsy33 gave us And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe by Gwendolyn Kiste.  Something about this cover has me totally entranced!

“A murdered movie star reaches out to an unlikely fan. An orchard is bewitched with poison apples and would-be princesses. A pair of outcasts fail a questionnaire that measures who in their neighborhood will vanish next. Two sisters keep a grotesque secret hidden in a Victorian bathtub. A dearly departed best friend carries a grudge from beyond the grave.

In her debut collection, Gwendolyn Kiste delves into the gathering darkness where beauty embraces the monstrous, and where even the most tranquil worlds are not to be trusted. From fairy tale kingdoms and desolate carnivals, to wedding ceremonies and summer camps that aren’t as joyful as they seem, these fourteen tales of horror and dark fantasy explore death, rebirth, and illusion all through the eyes of those on the outside—the forgotten, the forsaken, the Other, none of whom will stay in the dark any longer.”

Ever heard of Emily Carroll?  Well thanks to tarasbookaddiction you can no longer have that problem!  Here we get to see this gorgeous edition of Through the Woods.

“Five mysterious, spine-tingling stories follow journeys into (and out of?) the eerie abyss.

These chilling tales spring from the macabre imagination of acclaimed and award-winning comic creator Emily Carroll.

Come take a walk in the woods and see what awaits you there…”

Lastly, shes_been_reading_since_the80s gave us this rather intriguing picture of Brother by Ania Ahlborn.  What’s this meat stew recipe all about?!

“Deep in the heart of Appalachia stands a crooked farmhouse miles from any road. The Morrows keep to themselves, and it’s served them well so far. When girls go missing off the side of the highway, the cops don’t knock on their door. Which is a good thing, seeing as to what’s buried in the Morrows’ backyard.

But nineteen-year-old Michael Morrow isn’t like the rest of his family. He doesn’t take pleasure in the screams that echo through the trees. Michael pines for normalcy, and he’s sure that someday he’ll see the world beyond West Virginia. When he meets Alice, a pretty girl working at a record shop in the small nearby town of Dahlia, he’s immediately smitten. For a moment, he nearly forgets about the monster he’s become. But his brother, Rebel, is all too eager to remind Michael of his place…”


We are so happy to share some of these highlights from our “recommendations” prompt.  If you could only recommend ONE horror book by a female author for the rest of your life, what would it be?? Let us know below!

Tune in next week when we cover some of our favorite “heart” posts!

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