Reviews and Comments

I picked this up after seeing the trailer for the upcoming movie. While King does a decent job of making the characters relatable, or at least understandable, not a whole lot happens plot-wise outside of each boy "buying their ticket." Sure, Garraty is thrust into introspection and asks after his friends’ reasons for signing up, but the story is missing a complete list of all the walking tips, a peek into the government’s twisted values, or the spectators’ grisly fascination. I would have liked more details about how The Long Walk came to be, why so many young men would take the exam and walk based on the harrowing reality, or why the Major created the event. Knowing more about the dystopian world would have provided a hell of a lot more intrigue, yet I was left wondering what service the Walk truly provided the country and the people within it. There are snippets of a world, but you're never given the broad strokes of the culture that paved the way for such a brutal annual event. I'm hoping the movie offers more context, and I have high hopes based on the screenwriter.

Overgrowth is a sci-fi horror novel about what it means to be human narrated by Stasia, an alien plant wearing a human skin suit. The novel, while being about an impending invasion on the surface, has a beating heart that delves into the nuances of found family, identity, human rights, and marginalization. The prose is inviting and free of frills, and the characters are diverse and eclectic. If you love descriptions of alien ships, biology, and telepathic communication, you're in for a real treat.

My only complaint refers to the repetition throughout; quite a few plot points are heavy handed in their distribution, being spelled out over a dozen times each. While this isn't an inherent issue, as the story is told from Stasia's point of view and spotlights the repetition of actual thought processes, I would have appreciated less redundancy.

If you're looking for a story akin to War of the Worlds or Little Shop of Horrors, this is for you.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Reformatory might be marketed as a horror/thriller, but it's much more than a tale of terrors in the Jim Crow South. Told from multiple perspectives, usually sticking to Gloria and Robbie Stephens, Due provides a nuanced and honest story of family, friendship, injustice, prejudice, and human rights. While there are horror elements, the novel would sit more comfortably in historical fiction. Many of the terrors are monstrous (and delivered by men) but others are supernatural, lending a magical realism to the narrative that wouldn't be there otherwise. Despite the content and tone, Due provides hope and light.

While I enjoyed the prose and found the story compelling, it went on about 150 pages too long. The characters were about 80% actualized, creating a slight disconnect between me and the Stephens children. This ultimately came down to middling arcs, a fault that could have been remedied by extending the span of the novel to a couple weeks or a month rather than about a week.

I recommend The Reformatory to anyone seeking stories set in the Jim Crow South or historical fiction with a dash of horror.

I love Peter Pan, so I thought I'd give this spicy retelling a shot after hearing so much about it on Instagram and TikTok.

I'd like to preface this review by saying spicy lit is not my thing. So, my review will focus more on the plot than the sex scenes.

Positives 1. Use of source material. Crowe incorporates locations, myths, and characters from Barrie's novel. I love when a retelling takes advantage of the original text to ground the story. Places like Marooners' Rock and Mysterious River are mentioned explicitly. Fairies (or fae in this case), mermaids, and pirates are present. Characters like Tinker Bell, Tootles, and Hook are name-dropped. The twins and Pan are key players. Overall, I felt the use of source material gave this story an edge. 2. Plot and world building. The amount of effort given to the story pleasantly surprised me. I expected little story and plenty of sex. It turns out this book offers the reverse.

Negatives 1. Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. I get this book is meant to be about how vicious and "bad" Pan and the Lost Boys are, but did they have to be such cliches? They're all tattooed and constantly smoking cigarettes or downing alcohol. It grew tiring. 2. The kiss. One twin gives Winnie a kiss (a bracelet with an acorn in the middle). When she asks what it's for, he simply answers, "It's just something we do here." Why take something as pure as the kiss/thimble and throw it in without care? 3. Winnie. She's annoying, narcissistic, and always seeking attention. The fact she's kidnapped but makes the most of it by immediately trying to sleep with everyone is unrealistic and a lame attempt at making her interesting. I get it's meant to be erotic, but it doesn't fit the actual plot. 4. The Darling. The amount of times they refer to her as "the Darling" is almost funny. Just call her Winnie or drop the definite article.

I went into this book knowing it probably wouldn't be for me. I know my favorite genres and stick to them because I know what I like. While this book wasn't terrible, and I'm sure it's given many readers what they asked for, I couldn't look past all the issues.

If you're looking for a fast read with three graphic sex scenes sprinkled in, this might be up your alley.

Some Desperate Glory is a space opera set after Earth's destruction. Gaea Station, home to a radical group of warbreed humans, has pitted itself against the majo race, the ones who annihilated their homeland. Without spoiling anything, the novel is a whirlwind of moral turmoil, intergalactic politics, and the Wisdom's immense power over all of existence.

Valkyr, our ornery and entitled protagonist, is tough to love but easy to understand. While there were times I wanted to throttle her for being so short-sighted and petty, I often felt she desperately needed a hug. Mags and Avi were fun characters, and I believe their presence really rounded out Valkyr's dominating personality. However, Yiso (the majo prisoner), was my absolute favorite of them all.

It took me about 100 pages to really get into the story, but after that I was hooked. The novel is formatted into five parts, and by the false peak, I couldn't put it down. The science behind the tech is wonky, fascinating, and certainly absurdist if given much thought... but it's still done with finesse and ingenuity.

I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys space operas, crazy space tech, or complicated friendships.