Book Review: All Hallows by Christopher Golden

July 31, 2024 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

Book Details

Title: All Hallows
Author: Christopher Golden
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Horror
Age Group: Adult
Content/Trigger Warnings: Body horror, murder, death, blood, gore, child sexual abuse (implied, off page), child death, domestic abuse
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Amazon::Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis

With the 80’s nostalgia of Stranger Things, this horror drama from NYT bestselling author Christopher Golden follows neighborhood families and a mysterious, lurking evil on one Halloween day.

It’s Halloween night, 1984, in Coventry, Massachusetts, and two families are unraveling. Up and down the street, horrifying secrets are being revealed, and all the while, mixed in with the trick-or-treaters of all ages, four children who do not belong are walking door to door, merging with the kids of Parmenter Road. Children in vintage costumes with faded, eerie makeup. They seem terrified, and beg the neighborhood kids to hide them away, to keep them safe from The Cunning Man. There’s a small clearing in the woods now that was never there before, and a blackthorn tree that doesn’t belong at all. These odd children claim that The Cunning Man is coming for them…and they want the local kids to protect them. But with families falling apart and the neighborhood splintered by bitterness, who will save the children of Parmenter Road?

New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning author Christopher Golden is best known for his supernatural thrillers set in deadly, distant locales…but in this suburban Halloween drama, Golden brings the horror home.

All Hallows. The one night when everything is a mask…

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5 on my tbr

#5OnMyTBR – Already Bought

July 29, 2024July 28, 2024 kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook where you chose five books from your to-be-read pile that fit that week’s theme. If you’d like more info, head over to the announcement post!

Hello, reader!

It’s time for another 5 On My TBR! And this week’s topic definitely had me rethinking my life choices, lol. Why? Because it’s all about books on your TBR that you’ve already bought, so I went about updating my physical TBR bookshelf on Goodreads. Guess how many books there are? 406! And I don’t think I actually got them all! At least I had plenty of books from which to choose for this 5 On My TBR, right? Hahahahaaaaaa… right 😅

Anyways! I decided to go with five on my TBR that are newer purchases because, let’s be honest, I’m more likely to go for the new and shiny than my poor TBR veterans. Let’s get into it!

#1. The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

I’m starting with this one because, embarrassingly enough, I recently discovered that I have two copies of this book because I forgot I had bought it 🙈 Book hoarder problems, amiright? Still, this is the second book in the Broken Earth series that starts with The Fifth Season and I absolutely adored that book. I don’t know why it has taken me so long to get to the sequel. Probably because I lost the copy I had on my shelf for quite some time, heh. But now that it has resurfaced, I’m eager to jump back in!

#2. The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer

This was a recent Book of the Month Club pick and I’m so excited about it! It’s a book with bookish themes which is one of my favorite things to read, so I’m pretty hyped to give it a go. I’m also a big fan of the cover and I can’t even say why. It just looks so whimsical and intriguing and I makes me want to know more! The synopsis also says that this is “a fairy tale for grown ups” and that’s really all they needed to say. Sign me up expeditiously.

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: July 24th, 2024

July 24, 2024 kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

Role Playing by Cathy Yardley: I was randomly scrolling through my Kindle, trying to find an ebook to read, and this popped up. I’ve had it on my Kindle for awhile but just hadn’t read it yet. I decided to give it a whirl and I’m so glad that I did! This is a contemporary romance that features older love interests (late 40s-early 50s older!), who are both video game nerds, and it’s grumpy x sunshine where the woman is the grump. This romance was basically handcrafted for me to love, haha. So far, I’m really enjoying the banter and, much like Maggie (even if she won’t admit it), I would fight someone if they were mean to Aiden 😤 I’m loving this so far and I’m eager to continue.
Heartstopper Vol 5 by Alice Oseman: I’m finally reading the next installment in the Heartstopper series! It’s been a minute since I’ve checked in with Nick and Charlie, so I’m looking forward to getting more into the fifth volume of their story. I’ve only just started but, so far, this is just as adorable (and potentially heart-wrenching) as the other volumes. This graphic novel series will forever be a favorite, so I’m sure I’ll love this one.

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book reviews

Book Review: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

July 22, 2024 kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Book Details

Title: The Tainted Cup
Author: Robert Jackson Bennett
Publisher: Del Rey
Genre: Fantasy
Age Group: Adult
Content/Trigger Warnings: Body horror, murder, death, blood, gore, drug abuse (off page), sexual harassment, death of parent, animal death.
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Amazon::Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis

In Daretana’s most opulent mansion, a high Imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even in this canton at the borders of the Empire, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death at once terrifying and impossible.

Called in to investigate this mystery is Ana Dolabra, an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities.

At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol. Din is an engraver, magically altered to possess a perfect memory. His job is to observe and report, and act as his superior’s eyes and ears–quite literally, in this case, as among Ana’s quirks are her insistence on wearing a blindfold at all times, and her refusal to step outside the walls of her home.

Din is most perplexed by Ana’s ravenous appetite for information and her mind’s frenzied leaps—not to mention her cheerful disregard for propriety and the apparent joy she takes in scandalizing her young counterpart. Yet as the case unfolds and Ana makes one startling deduction after the next, he finds it hard to deny that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.

As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the safety of the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.

Featuring an unforgettable Holmes-and-Watson style pairing, a gloriously labyrinthine plot, and a haunting and wholly original fantasy world, The Tainted Cup brilliantly reinvents the classic mystery tale.

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monthly tbr · readathon

Trope-ical Readathon TBR: August 2024

July 17, 2024 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

Hello, reader!

It’s time for another round of the Trope-ical Readathon! I noticed that I never did a TBR on the blog for the last round, which was in March. That’s because the last round is what helped me dig myself out of a reading slump that I’m still kind of battling. My reading has ben sloooow this year, but readathons are always a great way to find my motivation. Hopefully, this go around will help me kick my slump all together!

Before I tell you what I’m planning on reading this round, why don’t I tell you more about the actual readathon. The Trope-ical Readathon is a month-long, team-based readathon created and run by Jenny @ JenJenReviews and her partner, @BookRob. It centers around reading books that feature specific “tropes”. Think stuff like “found family” and the ever contested “love triangle”. There are thirteen general prompts geared towards thirteen different tropes, so there’s bound to be at least a couple you love! For all the info and to join a team, just check out the Trope-ical Readathon website.

All that said, let me share all the prompts and what I’m hoping to read for each one!

Team Fantasy Challenges

Team Book (New)

Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi

This African loose retelling of the legend of Persephone sounds like something I would absolutely love! It promises high stakes, political intrigue, and a woman claiming her power. Also, I’m in awe of the cover. It’s absolutely stunning! This book is a recent release but I’ve already heard amazing things about it. I can’t wait to give it a read in August.

Team Challenge #1: “Talking Animal” Trope

Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend

I’ve been meaning to continue my read of the Nevermoor series and, yet, I still haven’t picked up the second book. It’s been lost of the shuffle of all the new books I buy or check out from the library, heh. But this challenge gives me the perfect excuse to get back into the series! I’m excited to go back to the Wonderous Society and see how our girl Morrigan is getting on.

Team Challenge #2: “Unlikely Allies” Trope

Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland

I’ve wanted to read this book since I picked it up from Book of the Month Club. It features deadly people thrown together to complete a job who are, more than likely, ready to turn on each other in a heartbeat. If that’s not the definition of “unlikely allies”, I don’t know what is! I’m excited to see how they work together and what the end results will be. I’m guessing murder.

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5 on my tbr

#5OnMyTBR – In Translation

July 15, 2024July 14, 2024 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

Hello, reader!

Happy Monday and welcome to another 5 On My TBR. This week is all about translated books, which made me excited because that’s something I want more in my reading life. Part of the fun of reading is seeing life from different perspectives. What better way to do that than to read a book written by someone from an entirely different country from where you live? I’ve always been interested in trying to fit more translated works into my TBR, but I need to make a more concentrated effort, if I’m honest. If any of you have a suggestion, please let me know!

For now, here’s five on my TBR that I’m especially eager to read.

#1. The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

This is the sequel to The Shadow of the Wind which is a book I picked up at random eons ago and ended up loving. It was mysterious, gothic, and so incredibly entertaining! At the time that I read it, I had no idea that it was the beginning to an entire series. I think I didn’t discover that fact for at least a couple years after finishing the first book and then I immediately added this one to my TBR. I’m looking forward to eventually continuing the series and seeing if the rest lives up to my love for the first book.

#2. The Dinner by Herman Koch

I forget how this book ended up my TBR. I know I added it without realizing it was a translated work, but I haven’t a clue what first got it on my radar, haha. Still, it sounds like something I would love! It centers around a dinner between two couples who are connected through their children. Their children who committed a horrific act. It’s an interesting concept and I’m intrigued to see how an awkward dinner like that could possibly end.

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book reviews

Book Review: I’m the Girl by Courtney Summers

July 12, 2024July 12, 2024 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

Book Details

Title: I’m the Girl
Author: Courtney Summers
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Age Group: Young Adult
Content/Trigger Warnings: For a list of content/trigger warnings, check out the website, BookTriggerWarnings.com.
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Amazon::Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis

The new groundbreaking queer thriller from New York Times bestselling and Edgar-award Winning author Courtney Summers.

When sixteen-year-old Georgia Avis discovers the dead body of thirteen-year-old Ashley James, she teams up with Ashley’s older sister, Nora, to find and bring the killer to justice before he strikes again. But their investigation throws Georgia into a world of unimaginable privilege and wealth, without conscience or consequence, and as Ashley’s killer closes in, Georgia will discover when money, power and beauty rule, it might not be a matter of who is guilty—but who is guiltiest.

A spiritual successor to the 2018 breakout hit, Sadie, I’m the Girl is a masterfully written, bold, and unflinching account of how one young woman feels in her body as she struggles to navigate a deadly and predatory power structure while asking readers one question: if this is the way the world is, do you accept it?

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: July 10th, 2024

July 10, 2024July 9, 2024 kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

The Stand by Stephen King: That’s right, y’all. I, a woman who is having trouble pushing myself through books that are only 300 pages, have decided to tackle the behemoth that is the complete and uncut version of one of King’s most popular books. Why am I doing this to myself? Well, I admit to being curious about this novel for ages, which is why I’ve owned a copy for years. And I also stumbled upon a read-along via email called Sipped Ink. I only have to commit to reading about 100 pages a week and, right now, that sounds a lot less intimidating than thinking about all 1000+ pages of this thing, haha. I’m enjoying it, so far, and I’m excited to keep it going!
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann: I was at my local library recently and they have a shelf that is filled with librarian picks. I’ve always noticed that some of our librarians have immaculate taste and, this particular day, I noticed one of them had placed this book up there. I’m not a huge non-fiction reader, but I loved David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon, and the premise sounded so intriguing! I snatched it up and now I’m working my way through it. I’m still in the set-up to the tragedy and already I’m hooked into the story. There’s something about knowing it’s true that just makes it hit harder.

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5 on my tbr

#5OnMyTBR – Over 400 Pages

July 8, 2024July 7, 2024 kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s the start of another week (if you start your weeks on Monday like me) and it’s time for another 5 On My TBR! This week’s theme is one that makes me nervous, if I’m being honest. We’re talking about books on our TBRs that are over 400 pages and, lately, my brain has been shying away from anything longer than 350 pages, haha. I’m still recovering from a pretty intense reading slump and my brain requires short and sweet right now. That being said, that means there are a lot of chonkers on my TBR to choose from!

Here are five random ones that I would love to read as soon as my brain stops being so freakin’ buzzy.

#1. This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings

Page count: 480
This one doesn’t come out until August so perhaps I’ll be in a better headspace once it’s on shelves. I’ve got my fingers crossed because it sounds incredible! It features sapphic, Black vampires and I am so onboard. It’s also set in Jazz Age Harlem which just sounds delightful. I’m expecting an angsty good time and I’m hoping I can gobble it up sooner rather than later.

#2. Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan

Page count: 448
I’m not gonna lie, I knew nothing about this book before receiving it in one of my Illumicrate boxes. Their special edition is absolutely stunning and that made me want to know more about the book! It looks like it’s going to be filled with political intrigue and mythological creatures, which definitely has me intrigued. The low rating on Goodreads, however, makes me a little nervous… Best to find out for myself, though!

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blog tour · book spotlight

Blog Tour Spotlight: The Book of Perilous Dishes by Doina Ruști

July 1, 2024 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

Hello, reader!

Today on the blog, I’m joining the The Write Reads blog tour for The Book of Perilous Dishes by Doina Ruști! This is a book filled with odd twists and turns following a main character that is more unique than quite a few I’ve read this year. Though this book wasn’t necessarily for me, I can see why a lot of people would love this weird little tale!

Before I jump into my spotlight, I want to thank Dave @ The Write Reads and all the lovely people behind the scenes for allowing me to participate! It is, as always, very much appreciated.

Alright, now let’s get to it!