The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:
What are you currently reading?
What have you just finished reading?
What are you going to read next?
Already the second week of September and I think it’s weird that I’m reading horror arcs and Christmas romance arcs! 😅. I wish holiday romances got published in November rather than in September/October. Anyway hope everyone is having a good week!
At twenty-seven, Anne Elliot is no longer young and has few romantic prospects. Eight years earlier, she had been persuaded by her friend Lady Russell to break off her engagement to Frederick Wentworth, a handsome naval captain with neither fortune nor rank. What happens when they encounter each other again is movingly told in Jane Austen’s last completed novel. Set in the fashionable societies of Lyme Regis and Bath, Persuasion is a brilliant satire of vanity and pretension, but, above all, it is a love story tinged with the heartache of missed opportunities.
********
I don’t know why I never picked this up when the movies came out – I was obsessed with them! My hubby has the books but I just never picked them up.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell by chance into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.
From Sauron’s fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor, his power spread far and wide. Sauron gathered all the Great Rings to him, but always he searched for the One Ring that would complete his dominion.
When Bilbo reached his eleventy-first birthday he disappeared, bequeathing to his young cousin Frodo the Ruling Ring and a perilous quest: to journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord, and destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom.
The Lord of the Rings tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider.
*********
Another Austen book I love because I’ve watched the movies and show adaptions but never read….and I should since it’s on my shelf.😅
‘The more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!’
Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby she ignores her sister Elinor’s warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Through their parallel experience of love—and its threatened loss—the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love.
***********
Do you remember when there was a War and Peace show with Lily James (Cinderella – 2015)…by the way where is Lily James?! I loved her! Anyways, I watched the series War and Peace because she was in it and loved it. I attempted to read the book and maybe got 1/4th through and gave up 😅.
War and Peace broadly focuses on Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812 and follows three of the most well-known characters in literature: Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of a count who is fighting for his inheritance and yearning for spiritual fulfillment; Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, who leaves his family behind to fight in the war against Napoleon; and Natasha Rostov, the beautiful young daughter of a nobleman who intrigues both men.
As Napoleon’s army invades, Tolstoy brilliantly follows characters from diverse backgrounds—peasants and nobility, civilians and soldiers—as they struggle with the problems unique to their era, their history, and their culture. And as the novel progresses, these characters transcend their specificity, becoming some of the most moving—and human—figures in world literature.
*********
Of course another Jane Austen book! I loved the movie but never read the book.
Taken from the poverty of her parents’ home in Portsmouth, Fanny Price is brought up with her rich cousins at Mansfield Park, acutely aware of her humble rank and with her cousin Edmund as her sole ally. During her uncle’s absence in Antigua, the Crawford’s arrive in the neighbourhood bringing with them the glamour of London life and a reckless taste for flirtation. Mansfield Park is considered Jane Austen’s first mature work and, with its quiet heroine and subtle examination of social position and moral integrity, one of her most profound.
Eighteen-year-old Mirabella “Mira” Owens grew up in Timber Plains, Kansas hearing all about the local legend—that werewolves had, many years ago, traveled to their small Midwest town to protect humans from the growing threat of a vampire enclave. Just a story of course, a fairy tale, one Mira had stopped believing in when she was young—just like she stopped believing in the idea of her mom returning, after she up and left without a trace when she was only thirteen.
Mira is grown up now, starting freshman year at the nearby Lakeland University. College feels normal, exactly the thing she’s been craving most… except for one particular classmate: Julian Santos, a mysterious boy with long hair, golden eyes, and a coldness that seems directed exclusively at Mira for reasons she can’t understand and he won’t explain.
When Mira receives an unaddressed letter from her mother, she’s told the world isn’t as it seems. She suspects her mom might be telling the truth when she stumbles across strange animal tracks on a hiking trail, and when she’s miraculously saved from a twenty foot drop by the one and only, Julian Santos.
The problem? Julian would have had to jump the length of the cliff to catch her, making him incredibly fast and strong beyond belief. When she confronts him about this, he denies everything.
But when a Blood Moon rises, Mira soon finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient, magical war, with Julian on the other side of the line. She discovers there’s much more truth to the old town legends than she could ever have anticipated—and her family’s historic role in it will change her world forever.
BLOOD MOON is a dark and thrilling, intensely romantic ride, a fresh take on a werewolf love story for a new generation of paranormal romance readers, and is the first book in a series. It is set against a high-stakes paranormal backdrop—a world ripe with secret identities, rich supernatural lore, and a forbidden romance… that comes with a deadly bite.
Ella Davies didn’t trade her life in England for a year in Nashville to let anything—or anyone—throw her off her game. She only has one to prove herself on her new school’s elite cheer squad.
What she hadn’t planned for was meeting a gorgeous stranger on her first evening in America.
Hudson Fox is Whitland’s prized possession, a star quarterback who’s never lacked admirers. But this year, he’s sworn off temptation—especially the new English cheerleader who’s proving impossible to ignore.
When Ella and Hudson are forced to spend more time together, their “just one night” pact soon shatters.
Until tumbling from the pyramid becomes the least of Ella’s worries. Because instead of hitting the mat, she’s falling hard for the quarterback. . .
From the author of the “exciting, suspenseful, horrifying” (Stephen King) Fever House, a Vietnam veteran and his adopted niece hunt—and are hunted by—the vampire that slaughtered their family.
It’s the winter of 1975, and Portland, Oregon, is all sleet and neon. Duane Minor is back home after a tour in Vietnam, a bartender just trying to stay sober; save his marriage with his wife, Heidi; and connect with his thirteen-year-old niece, Julia, now that he’s responsible for raising her. Things aren’t easy, but Minor is scraping by.
Then a vampire walks into his bar and ruins his life.
When Minor crosses John Varley, a killer who sleeps during the day beneath loose drifts of earth and grows teeth in the light of the moon, Varley brutally retaliates by murdering Heidi, leaving Minor broken with guilt and Julia filled with rage. What’s left of their splintered family is united by only one desire: vengeance.
So begins a furious, frenzied pursuit across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. From grimy alleyways to desolate highways to snow-lashed plains, Minor and Julia are cast into the dark orbit of undead children, silver bullet casters, and the bevy of broken men transfixed by Varley’s ferocity. Everyone’s out for blood.
Gritty, unforgettable, and emotionally devastating, Coffin Moon asks what will be left of our humanity when grief transmutes into violence, when monsters wear human faces, and when our thirst for revenge eclipses everything else.
In the grimly captivating sequel to Anathema, Maevyth and Zevander must navigate the perilous mortal lands to deliver Zevander from the clutches of an ancient, malevolent power that threatens to shatter both worlds.
An eldritch magic has awakened, turning the mortal world darker. Colder. Famished. With flesh-eating monsters and a sinister curse spreading like a plague, the last glimmer of humanity in Foxglove Parish has long-since faded.
For Maevyth and Zevander, the only chance of escape is through The Eating Woods. But fate has woven a new web, tangling the threads of destiny, and crossing the mystical boundary to Aethyria might not be so simple.
As the bones of Maevyth’s past are unearthed, and truths unravel with unsettling clarity, the possibility of never leaving Mortasia is becoming more of a reality. Unfortunately for Zevander, time is running out. The longer he stays in the mortal lands, deprived of essential vivicantem, the more he succumbs to the encroaching specter of madness.
Or maybe those chasing shadows are someone hunting him. A wretched evil closing in, threatening to pull him into the darkest corners of his mind.
Only, this time, Maevyth may not have the power to save him.
In Wisteria Cove, love is messy, magic is real, and pumpkin spice fixes almost everything… almost.
Willa Maren has a bookstore café, two meddling sisters, a witchy mother who swears by candle spells… and a big Tate Holloway is back in town.
Her first love. Her heartbreak. The boy next door, who left, is now back, looking entirely too hot in flannel.
The whole town is matchmaking, her sisters are firmly on Team Tate, and even their mother, Lilith Maren seems to stir up a love spell or two.
But this time, Willa’s determined to protect her heart, even if it takes every ounce of magic she’s got.
For readers who believe in second chances… and a little small-town magic.
Perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls, Practical Magic, and cozy fall romances, The Pumpkin Spice Spell is an irresistible tale of love, forgiveness, and a little small-town magic.
Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Two feuding co-stars in a Jane Austen film adaptation accidentally travel back in time to the Regency Era in this delightfully clever and riotously funny debut
Tess Bright just scored her dream role starring in an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. It’s not just the role of a lifetime, but it’s also her last chance to prove herself as a serious actress (no easy feat after being fired from her last TV gig) and more importantly, it’s her opportunity to honor her mom, who was the biggest fan of Jane Austen ever. But one thing is standing in Tess’s way—well, one very tall, annoyingly handsome person, actually: Hugh Balfour.
A serious British method actor, Hugh wants nothing to do with Tess (whose Teen Choice Awards somehow don’t quite compare to his BAFTA nominations). Hugh is a type-A, no-nonsense, Royal Academy prodigy, whereas Tess is big-hearted, a little reckless, and admittedly, kind of a mess. But the film needs chemistry—and Tess’s career depends on it.
Sparks fly, but not in the way Tess hoped, when an electrical accident sends the two feuding co-stars back in time to Jane Austen’s era. 200 years in the past with only each other to rely on, Tess and Hugh need to ad-lib their way through the Regency period in order to make it back home, and hopefully not screw up history along the way. But if a certain someone looks particularly dashing in those 19th century breeches…well, Tess won’t be complaining.
A wickedly funny, delightfully charming story, The Austen Affair is a tribute to Jane Austen, second chances, and love across the space-time continuum.
Content Warning: grief, illness
+ Tess has scored a role in the movie, Northanger Abbey, the story written by the famous Jane Austen. Thing is she and her co-star, Hugh, do not get along. He is grumpy and she is sunshine. When something happens to make them time-travel into the past (Jane Austen’s past), they have to learn to put those acting skills to the test and pretend they are engaged!
+ I love Tess and Hugh’s interactions as they travel to the past and try to convince people they aren’t imposters. Their personalities are such opposites and it was fun to see them try to navigate regency England. I love a Jane Austen inspired story!
+ It’s a funny, quick read but also had some themes dealing with grief.
~ I thought their plan to get back home was so random! But kind of funny and lent to the whole light-hearted, rom-com elements.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I thought this was a cute read and definitely for the Jane Austen fans!
Categories: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Sports Romance
Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Ella Davies didn’t trade her life in England for a year in Nashville to let anything—or anyone—throw her off her game. She only has one to prove herself on her new school’s elite cheer squad.
What she hadn’t planned for was meeting a gorgeous stranger on her first evening in America.
Hudson Fox is Whitland’s prized possession, a star quarterback who’s never lacked admirers. But this year, he’s sworn off temptation—especially the new English cheerleader who’s proving impossible to ignore.
When Ella and Hudson are forced to spend more time together, their “just one night” pact soon shatters.
Until tumbling from the pyramid becomes the least of Ella’s worries. Because instead of hitting the mat, she’s falling hard for the quarterback. . .
Content Warning:
+ Ella is a cheerleader from England who goes to Whitland in Nashville, Tennessee. Along with the culture shock, which hasn’t really fazed her, he boyfriend of a few years dumped her and then she has a one-night stand with the star quarterback at Whitland. I thought Ella was a cool character, typical college girl going through the growing pains of relationships and school.
+~ The romance is a one-night stand to friends to lovers. There is a lot of back and forth between Ella and Hudson, which was not my favorite of the romance. I do think their relationship is relatable because it’s set in college and young love can start and end so fast. There is spice but because these two kept things mostly casual throughout the book I didn’t quite connect to their romance.
+ I enjoyed the cheer parts of the book and it gave me flashbacks to Netflix’s show Cheer (where the star cheerleader was a girl named Gabi haha – there is a Gabi in this book also, coincidentally). I thought Ash was an intriguing character.
~ The conflict that comes at the end of the book was minor and it didn’t feel like the big deal, Ella made it out to be. It was resolved with communication.
Final Thoughts:
This was a light, sports romance and a very quick read. I don’t feel like I connected much to the characters, because of the back and forth and miscommunication but I did enjoy all the cheer aspects to the story – I thought that was interesting and fun! Overall, this was not for me but if you like sports romance, you might enjoy this one.
+ It’s September! So that means I had to spend some time getting my car maintenance done and safety check. I waited about 3 hours but at least I got to sit and read!
+ Football (NFL) is back! And the Philadelphia Eagles won their first game, so I’m happy.
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Amazon Prime Video)– Season 3 – a boring episode, but it made me dislike Jere even MORE.
Football
How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!
Categories: Dark Academia, Fantasy, Historical Fantasy
Two graduate students must set aside their rivalry and journey to Hell to save their professor’s soul, perhaps at the cost of their own.
Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become one of the brightest minds in the field of Magick. She has sacrificed everything to make that a reality—her pride, her health, her love life, and most definitely her sanity. All to work with Professor Jacob Grimes at Cambridge, the greatest magician in the world—that is, until he dies in a magical accident that could possibly be her fault.
Grimes is now in Hell, and she’s going in after him. Because his recommendation could hold her very future in his now incorporeal hands, and even death is not going to stop the pursuit of her dreams. Nor will the fact that her rival, Peter Murdoch, has come to the same conclusion.
Content Warning: violence, death, sexual harassment, gore, suicidal ideation, depression
+ I dove into this book without seeing many reviews for it. I just knew there was hype because it is R.F. Kuang and I loved The Poppy War series, but those are the only books I have read from her. I still have Babel on my TBR list but have never gotten around to it. I was pleasantly surprised with Katabasis!
+ Alice Law is a grad student who needs to go to Hell to get her professor back. Peter Murdoch her classmate/colleague/competition, goes with her. There are a lot of philosophers, academics, mythology mentioned in here, and I have heard of some of them and studied some of it in school, but I loved how we are taken on this journey to Hell with this students who have studied so much about magick and Hell. I didn’t know have the things they were talking about. These two are brilliant minds and it shows, because it hurt my brain to hear them go on and on about this philosophy or paradox, or equations of something or other. But I thought it was also fun, even though it was a lot to process, because I could have never been like Alice and Peter.
+ Hell was a fascinating place and in this book, it’s a campus. Which I actually thought was funny. There were lots of humorous parts in this book actually! I really loved how there was action with the Kripkes, strange bone-like creatures that were out for blood! I find so many of the characters they met along the way, whether they be mythological personas or former people from their college, very fascinating. They all stood out in their own ways with their own motivations while in Hell.
+ Alice is an amazing, flawed character, probably some readers will find unlikable but she is who she is! She’s obsessed with succeeding, to the point of it being unhealthy but has to learn, while in Hell that it’s all futile when the man she admired is really a monster who pitted her and Peter against one another. She has been basically been abused by this professor but her admiration of him was clouding out all the bad things happening with him. She also faces that she is depressed. Her journey through Hell was actually her salvation where she realized so many things about life above, finding her voice and power and about love. I also thought Peter’s backstory was tragic.
+ Although this is a dark academia book taking place in Hell, there is room for love. And Alice and Peter are just two people who didn’t have time to even consider love while they were so consumed with their higher learning endeavors. But their time in Hell helps them work through some of the misunderstandings, lack of communication, and distrust. It’s kind of sad that it took this for them to see that love was there between them.
+ I loved all the questions, themes and messages in this story. It explored women in academia, pursuit of higher education and how toxic it can be. I also love how it explores Alice’s descent into a person who is filled with bitterness, anger, revenge, but also hopelessness and how she evolves through her journey in Hell.
~ This is dark academia – emphasis on academia. Now because there was so much academia name dropping and so many I never heard of since I’m not and will never be pursuing knowledge to that degree. I did have to read a little of this day by day to process it better. At times it did get bogged down with too many mentions of philosophers and their philosophies that I needed a mental break. Honestly, I can see how Alice lost herself when her whole world was surrounding academia and nothing else.
~ This is dark – there are mentions of suicidal ideation, sexual harassment, even some parts that I considered horror. But also, I thought this book had humor as well, still there are dark themes explored by Alive and Peter.
~ Though I loved the people we came across in Hell, the landscape and world building of Hell at times felt lacking. Maybe Hell is lacking? I mean, yes it gave me gloomy, stark vibes, but I felt like we were just moving through these levels quickly and not really getting a feel for what they look like.
Quotes From The Book:
“To learn is the most godlike thing we do”
Katabasis by. R.F. Kuang
“She had not realized, until that day, how humans needed to forget to function.”
Katabasis by. R.F. Kuang
“Professor Grimes had instilled in her a deep horror of ever being made an idiot.”
Katabasis by. R.F. Kuang
“This was a paradox her mind could not accept, that someone could be in the world one moment and simply be gone in the next.”
Katabasis by. R.F. Kuang
“It was all so unfair, she thought. You thought people were giants, and they devastated you by being so human.”
Katabasis by. R.F. Kuang
Final Thoughts:
I was going back and forth between a 4 and a 4.5 star for this book but I enjoyed so much of Alice’s journey within herself and I liked the combination of academia, fantasy, horror even, and romance. I wasn’t expecting the humor but I loved that. Did I have to read it little by little because there was a lot to process? Was some of the info-dumping a little clinical? Yes, but I felt like my brain got a workout – but in a good way. Because once upon a time when I was in college I did love learning about Dante, philosophy, and logic…but come on, it’s been so long I’ve been in school! 😅 I’ve been reading a lot to escape and not think so that this book forced me to think – I actually totally appreciate it! I was highly entertained by this book! I still need to read Babel, but I look forward to reading more books from R.F. Kuang.
Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.
This week’s topic is:
September 5: In Which Season Do You Do Your Best Reading? (Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)
Prompts:Is there a month, quarter or other specific time of year when you do your most reading and why do you think that is? Does this tend to fluctuate every year or is your reading pretty ‘steady’?
**********
Is there a month, quarter or other specific time of year when you do your most reading and why do you think that is?
I actually don’t know! I feel like my automatic answer is fall (but hello I live in Hawaii – it doesn’t get cold here! 😅). But fall is BUSY – holidays, my kids school projects, etc….so…maybe winter? Because the sun sets faster and I do my best reading at night.
Does this tend to fluctuate every year or is your reading pretty ‘steady’?
Now, if the topic was when do I read the most…according to the arcs I was given this year, it seems like major publishing dates occur in July and September. So I will say according to this year alone, I had so many arcs to read for these 2 months out of the whole year. December is such a dry spell – is everyone just busy? 😅
August Topics:
September 5: In Which Season Do You Do Your Best Reading? (Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)
Prompts: Is there a month, quarter or other specific time of year when you do your most reading and why do you think that is? Does this tend to fluctuate every year or is your reading pretty ‘steady’?
September 12: Following the Reader
Prompts: What makes you want to follow a bookish account on social media? What makes you want to follow a book blog? Are you very discerning or do you follow back whoever follows you? Do you prefer or find it easier to engage with other readers on one platform over the other (i.e. blogs vs. bookstagram or booktok)?
September 19: Favourite Genre Recommendations
Prompts:What is your favourite genre(s) and what makes it your favourite? If someone wanted to try your favourite genre(s), what are five books that you would recommend to them and why those books specifically? Has your favorite genre changed over time?
September 26: Are Published Books Losing Quality? The Impact of Social Media Platforms and Trope-Based Marketing
Prompts:Reading has become increasingly more “popular” due to platforms like booktok and bookstagram, which tend to promote certain types of books. It has also given rise to the “trope only” marketing trend. Do you think the hype that’s been created on these platforms has impacted the quality of books that are published these days? Do you think it’s impacting only certain genres or do you notice it across all genres? How do you think this will impact book quality and publishing in the years to come (i.e. is it just a phase or will it continue)?
August was a long month that went by quickly because my kids went back to school. So we are back in the school routine again! I did read a lot, apparently I had a lot of arcs for September to get through. I have 3 more arcs for September to finish!
I read 26 books and posted 20 book reviews in August.
Books I Read – 26 books:
Endless Anger by. Sav R. Miller
What Fury Brings by. Tricial Llevenseller
The Robin on the Oak Throne by. K.A. Linde
Witch of the Wolves by. Kaylee Archer
Blood Moon by. Britney S. Lewis (audiobook)
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus by. Amelie Wen Zhao
The Dating Prohibition by. Taj McCoy
The Dead of Summer by. Ryan La Sala
Heir of Storms by. Lauryn Hamilton Murray
Dream of the Shadows by. Logan Karlie (audiobook)
Well Fell Apart by. E. Lockhart
The Nightblood Prince by. Molly X. Chang
Witch You Would by. Lia Amador
Girl, Goddess, Queen by. Bea Fitzgerald
Broken Souls and Bones by. LJ Andrews
Sweet Heat by. Bolu Babaloa
The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk by. Carissa Broadbent
A Scar in the Bone by. Sophie Jordan
Coffin Moon by. Keith Rosson
Wild Reverence by. Rebecca Ross
A Forbidden Alchemy by. Stacey McEwan
A Steeping of Blood by. Hafsah Faizal
The Executioners Three by. Susan Dennard
Charlie Quinn Lets Go by. Jamie Varon
The Weaver Bride by. Lydia Gregovic
While the Dark Remains by. Joanna Ruth Meyer (audiobook)
Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Thank you to Random House for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
From the author of the “exciting, suspenseful, horrifying” (Stephen King) Fever House, a Vietnam veteran and his adopted niece hunt—and are hunted by—the vampire that slaughtered their family.
It’s the winter of 1975, and Portland, Oregon, is all sleet and neon. Duane Minor is back home after a tour in Vietnam, a bartender just trying to stay sober; save his marriage with his wife, Heidi; and connect with his thirteen-year-old niece, Julia, now that he’s responsible for raising her. Things aren’t easy, but Minor is scraping by.
Then a vampire walks into his bar and ruins his life.
When Minor crosses John Varley, a killer who sleeps during the day beneath loose drifts of earth and grows teeth in the light of the moon, Varley brutally retaliates by murdering Heidi, leaving Minor broken with guilt and Julia filled with rage. What’s left of their splintered family is united by only one desire: vengeance.
So begins a furious, frenzied pursuit across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. From grimy alleyways to desolate highways to snow-lashed plains, Minor and Julia are cast into the dark orbit of undead children, silver bullet casters, and the bevy of broken men transfixed by Varley’s ferocity. Everyone’s out for blood.
Gritty, unforgettable, and emotionally devastating, Coffin Moon asks what will be left of our humanity when grief transmutes into violence, when monsters wear human faces, and when our thirst for revenge eclipses everything else.
Content Warning: violence, murder, death, gore
+ What did I just read? By the way, I did not request this book. Someone from the publisher emailed me saying I might want to try out this book. It did not sound like something I wanted to read BUT I was looking for more thrillers and horror to showcase for fall. And so I downloaded this book – I’m glad I did.
+ This story is set in 1975 – and since I was born in 1978, I could already see it, how things looked back in the day. The clothes, the cars, the people, the music and even the political commentary about war – Vietnam. I did grow up watching Full Metal Jacket and Platoon – so Duane Minor was a character that was not hard to envision and picture at all. But what I love about this setting is that there are vampires in this story and it totally fits! I’ve been reading too many romantasy vampires – but these modern vampires in Coffin Moon – are killers.
+ Duane Minor is a Vietnam vet with PTSD. He and his friends have seen and done horrible things and being back home in America, they have to deal with that the best they can. That means coping with rage by drowning it in alcohol or even taking out that anger out on people. But Duane isn’t a bad man, he’s taking care of his sister-in-law’s daughter, Julia because her mother is in jail for killing her abusive dad. He doesn’t know how to be a dad, but he and his wife Heidi have done their best. I liked Duane a lot and was horrified at what he had to go through. I didn’t expect to be emotional about his predicament but I was rooting for him and Julia so hard.
+ There are a lot of themes in this book like grief, rage, and revenge which I loved. It’s not only a vampire horror book, it’s got depth.
+ This book is a wild ride. It is so gory, gruesome, and John Varley is the most villainous character I’ve ever read this year and I wanted him dead by the end of this book. I was hooked onto this book just to see if it would happen. My face was in a grimace with all the gory scenes in this book. He is a psycho vampire, a sociopath, he relishes blood, bathes in it, heady and aroused by it. I was scared no one would be able to take him down.
~ This isn’t my usual kind of book to read – yes once upon a time in high school I was in a horror phase but I only pick it up once in awhile now and usually during fall because of the vibes. So the gore was almost too much for me! I was scared of John Varley, he seemed invincible.
Final Thoughts:
I’m rating this as someone who hardly reads this genre and I have to say I loved it. It gripped me from the first chapter, and wouldn’t let go! The gore might be just a tad bit too much for me, but it made me want John Varley eliminated as much as Duane and Julia wanted him gone. I was rooting so hard for Duane and Julia. Overall, if you like your modern vampires psychotic, but with a story about grief and revenge – you will enjoy this one!
Past Midnight Book Reviews & More 