I can't believe October is already over! I'm always sad when the spookiest month of the year has passed by, but I'll survive. We had a lot of adorable trick or treaters again this year, I always love seeing the kids dressed up. They are so creative! (Or their parents are, haha.) Two things that have stayed consistent about Halloween in this neighborhood the past two years we've lived here are: 1) we have to buy a lot of candy because we live near an elementary school so there are a lot of kids; and 2) no one likes Snickers! I kid you not, we had a bowl of ten mini Snickers bars left over (we had a mixture of Snickers, Twix, M&Ms, Sour Patch, Swedish Fish, for reference. Nothing too amazing.). We actually had kids come by and be genuinely bummed when they saw only Snickers left and then leave with nothing because they don't like Snickers. Am I just old and kids don't like Snickers anymore?? I thought people loved Snickers? They're not my favorite, but I like them well enough. It's perplexing to me and I'm not sure what I'm missing unless everyone has peanut allergies in this neighborhood, haha. Has anyone else noticed this trend? Is it a new LA thing?
Not much personal news to share this month. Lots of the same old things going on, although we've been making great progress with leash walking with our dog which feels amazing and he is sloooowly getting better at not freaking out every time he sees a dog, so hooray!
In reading news, I read some great books in October! I honestly didn't get to quite as many horror books as I had planned because I had an intense anxiety flare-up mid-month and I needed things that were less, well, dread-inducing. I think I'll mix some more horror in for November and December because I think this entire season is great for these reads, and I got so many from my library that I still want to read, haha. I finally read Richard Matheson's Hell House, which felt like the perfect Halloween read, although definitely has some very dated elements about it. I also found Thornhill to be the perfect scary story that you could probably read in one sitting, and Empire of Exiles is an awesome new fantasy that you really need to check out. Overall, a pretty good reading month! A little up and down at times, but I'm happy with the results and look forward to November.
# books read: 14
Empire of Exiles (Books of the Usurper #1) by Erin M. Evans ★★★★.5
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: I really loved this new fantasy and can't wait for the sequel! The world-building and magic were so interesting, and I loved the Archives.
Bad Cree by Jessica Johns ★★★★
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: This isn't out until January, but I couldn't wait to read it. I loved this author's exploration of using dreams and sharing Cree culture.
Thornhill by Pam Smy ★★★★
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: This wasn't at all what I expected, but it was perfect! This feels like a story you'd tell at a sleepover or a campfire or something. It was perfect for Halloween!
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice ★★★★
Source: Owned | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: This was a very slow-paced horror novel that I found myself liking a lot. Definitely makes me want to check out more of Rice's work.
We Can Never Leave This Place by Eric LaRocca ★★★★
Source: Owned | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: So far, LaRocca has not disappointed with his weird horror. This was definitely not quite like anything I'd read before, and that's a good thing in my book.
Hell House by Richard Matheson ★★★
Source: Owned | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: This was really great as a classic older school haunted house story! It definitely has some issues from a more modern perspective, but it does what it's meant to perfectly, and it told quite an interesting tale.
We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory ★★★★
Source: Library | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: I loved the premise for this one and thought Gregory did it so well. I need to read more from him!
Jackal by Erin E. Adams ★★★
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: I have a review up for this already and overall I liked it! I had a few issues with it, but I enjoyed the overall story.
The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum
Source: Library | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: I chose not to review The Girl Next Door because it honestly ended up being much more of a difficult read than I expected. I'd heard a lot about this book over the years from people hyping it up, so I figured I'd check it out. I didn't realize it was based on a true story until I was about halfway through, and at that point I found it so hard to read about how this poor girl was tortured knowing it was based on reality. The author's afterword explains a lot about why he chose to write it and how he hopes to honor her, which helped me a bit, but overall I'm not sure I would really recommend this one unless you're in a headspace to handle it and have the stomach to read it.
Winterset Hollow by Edward Jonathan Durham ★★★★
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This was another interesting little horror novel and I liked the idea of toying with a childhood favorite and making things take a darker turn.
Well of Witches (The Thickety #3) by J.A. White ★★★★★
Source: Owned | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: Every October, I re-read one book in the Thickety series and this year I'm on #3! This was as great as I remember, and I'm always surprised at how much I've forgotten.
A Court of Silver Flames (ACOTAR #4) by Sarah J. Maas ★★★★
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: I finally caved and decided to try this one out. I am one of those that was not a fan of Nesta, but this book has grudgingly made me come to terms with her. I think it's important to note that this book, to me, is firmly fantasy romance with an interesting fantasy plot on the side. I loved the non-romance plot points, but this book is really about the characters and the romance, and that's okay! Just important to note, since I didn't personally see that as much with the previous works as much.
Such a Pretty Girl by T. Greenwood ★★★★
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: This was a really great story of a young girl thrust into acting/modeling by her mother when it was never really her choice. I'd recommend it!
A Worthy Opponent by Katee Robert ★★★★
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This one was fun! Probably one of the better ones in the series. This has been a really fun escape to listen to while painting or relaxing.
DNF/To-Be-Finished:
None (?) I might have DNF'd something, but I honestly don't remember!
(other than reviews)
Month in Review: September 2022
Blog Tour + Excerpt: Miss Del Rio by Bárbara Mujica
Blog Tour + Excerpt: If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang
Double Fall Middle Grade & YA Book Spotlights: The Restless Dark by Erica Waters & Monster Club by Darren Aronofsky & Ari Handel
Blog Tour: Strike the Zither by Joan He
Blog Tour + Excerpt: Miss Del Rio by Bárbara Mujica
Blog Tour + Excerpt: If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang
Double Fall Middle Grade & YA Book Spotlights: The Restless Dark by Erica Waters & Monster Club by Darren Aronofsky & Ari Handel
Blog Tour: Strike the Zither by Joan He
Can't-Wait Wednesday:
10/5: Empire of Exiles by Erin M. Evans, Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction, & Neom by Lavie Tidhar
10/12: The Stars Undying by Emery Robin, The Two Doctors Górski by Isaac Fellman, & White Horse by Erika T. Wurth
10/19: Wayward by Chuck Wendig, The Vermilion Emporium by Jamie Pacton, & To Each This World by Julie E. Czerneda
10/12: The Stars Undying by Emery Robin, The Two Doctors Górski by Isaac Fellman, & White Horse by Erika T. Wurth
10/19: Wayward by Chuck Wendig, The Vermilion Emporium by Jamie Pacton, & To Each This World by Julie E. Czerneda
The Friday Face-Off:
