What I Read in December
I wanted to start sharing what I read each month. Not because I’m a reviewer (I’m not), but because I think it’s interesting to see what other writers are reading and what they enjoyed. Because I’m not a reviewer, I’m not sharing EVERYTHING I read in December. There was a book I DNF’ed this month. I’ll only be sharing what I read and enjoyed. That said, here’s the list!
This is a beautifully written quiet horror story centered on Elinor, a ceramics artist and single mom, whose daughter Rowena dies under suspicious circumstances. As Elinor grieves, she begins to receive visitors from beyond the veil who help her discover who is to blame for her daughter’s death. The historical period, the atmosphere, the Welsh setting were a whole mood and though it isn’t a haunted house story, this will definitely appeal to anyone who enjoys gothic horror. Catherine McCarthy shows her talent in strides with this and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Apollo and Emma are a modern day romance. When they welcome their baby boy, they seem to be living happily ever after. Then, Emma commits a horrific act and vanishes into thin air. Apollo will stop at nothing to find her. If you like novels that contend with genre, this is definitely a read for you. Written like a modern day fairytale, it’s written with an expert command over prose and is, at times, funny, others horrifying, and explores the fantastical in the day and age of iPhones and computers. The depiction of family life after welcoming a baby was so real, it hurt. The characters are wonderfully developed and the emotional depth Victor LaValle infused Apollo and Emma with was heart rendering. During a Q & A with the author, he said he wanted to write the protagonist to show, “not how bad men fail the people they love, but how good men do,” and he accomplished that marvelously. Highly recommend this to anyone who wants to shake up their TBR.
Like a lot of millennials, I grew up reading a plethora of fantasy series (especially by she who shall not be named). When I went off to college, I stopped reading for fun and, when I finally started again as an adult, I didn't pick up fantasy for some reason. A Darker Shade of Magic was my first foray into the fantasy genre as an adult and it did not disappoint. The characters VE Schwab crafted drew me in and, once again, I found myself lost in a new, magical world I wish was real. Schwab's writing is beautiful. The tension escalated perfectly, making this a super addictive read. One of those books that, if I wasn't a parent, I would have happily devoured in a single sitting. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series and look forward to seeing the movie whenever it finally comes out because I can't get enough of these characters and this world.
I picked this up because Gabino Iglesias is killing it and I wanted to see what he’s about. Zero Saints did not disappoint. Fernando is a small time drug dealer in Austin who escaped certain death in Mexico only to be kidnapped by some gangbangers, forced to watch as they cut his friend’s head off, and thrust into the middle of a battle over Austin’s downtown drug business. As he works to beat the gangbangers at their own game and avenge his friend, he discovers that their leader may not be entirely human. A brilliantly written mix of crime and horror with splashes of spectacular violence and the occult. The one thing some readers might have a problem with is the amount of Spanish. I would estimate 15-20% of the book is in Spanish and, if your Spanish is as basic as mine is, you’ll need to translate. I recommend using a microphone with whatever app you use (I used Google Translate). For me, it was worth the extra time and actually became quite fun as I learned a lot of colorful curses (pinches pendejos). This made me pre-order his upcoming book, The Devil Takes You Home, which is already being turned into a film. Like I said, killing it.
Each story explores different aspects of the horror genre as well as different aspects of family. Definitely a great addition to any horror aficionado's TBR.
“Our Migraine” by Christopher O’Halloran - Three sisters are tormented by a supernatural migraine that requires one of them to carry the migraine at all times. I loved the exploration of sibling dynamics in this piece and the ways family emotionally manipulate one another to achieve their aims. As things broke down among the sisters, I felt myself completely riveted by the characters. And the ending! The body horror! A fantastic start to the anthology.
“Nos Da, Tad” by Antony Frost - Owen learns his estranged father has passed away and that he has inherited his father's home. During a visit with his partner, Owen discovers clues and has strange visions that lead him to discover the dark truths about his father and, possibly, him. I immediately connected with this piece as someone who grew up without a father. I loved the protagonist and the exploration of losing someone you’ve never truly had.
“I Am Not To Be Replaced” by Carson Winter - A ghost lingers over her family's holiday, jealous of the replica who has replaced her. I enjoyed this exploration of familial expectations and the consequences of not living up to them. It was a fun twist on the means with which family tries to change or improve those who don't meet their standards.
“The Heads of Leviathan” by Alex Wolfgang - After their mother’s death leaves five siblings stranded on the strange island they were born and raised on, the eldest uncovers clues about the secrets their mother kept from them. This is the story I’m still wrapping my head around. Beautifully rendered with lush and captivating prose, the portrayal of grief and the way it draws families into conflict was raw, and the story totally strange and surreal.
My author friend Emma E. Murray (go follow her on Twitter @EMurrayAuthor) recommended this collection to me and it did not disappoint! Full of surreal horror that captured the jarring nature of a nightmare, seeded in reality yet layered with an overwhelming sense that things aren't quite right. There were no duds, but definitely some stories that stood apart from the rest. Some of the best stories explore themes and topics relevant to millennial and gen z readers. I’m listing only a few of my favorites below because there were many. You can find the rest of my faves on Goodreads!
“Gray Matter” - A caretaker of an elderly widower with dementia recounts the events leading up to his patient's disappearance. This one is a fantastic take on the story-within-a-story structure, the tension and pacing are deft, the scares come in early and it has one of my favorite body horror moments I've read all year long.
“For My Final Girl” - A couple get their cancer surviving daughter a neuro transference to make up for all of the lessons she missed during her treatment. The doctor who performs the surgery, however, has dubious intent and soon after they arrive home following the procedure, their daughter begins acting strangely. A well-paced sci-fi thriller with well-layered mysteries and plenty of tension. This one was marvelous.
“The Reveal” - A couple host a gender reveal party in the Red Woods and things go awry. The character work in this piece was remarkable. Raglin fantastically drew a character who was, on one hand, meager and resigned, yet made her resignation relatable. Sometimes we don't realize we're with the wrong person until we're already in a life commitment with them. The dynamics between her and her husband had me looking forward to the tragedy that seemed to await them and and the horror elements and dramatic ending were particularly memorable.
Finally…
I wanted to list some short stories I read this month that I thought were fantastic and worth recommending to other writers who want to check some stuff out.
The Fish Aren’t Biting by Christopher O’Halloran is available to read for free on The Dread Machine. A grandson and his sober grandfather go fishing. This is a great take on adult issues told from a child’s POV. There were so many moments that had me on the edge of my seat.
I also purchased a digital copy of Vastarien Literary Journal (Fall 2021issue) this month and holy crap, it’s such a great investment! I wish I lived in its shipping areas because it’s a freaking book (over 300 pages). I still haven’t gotten through the entire thing, but
“The Mushroom Men” by Carson Winter - A man grieving the loss of his child goes hunting for morsels with his friends. A beautifully written mind fuck exploring grief and reality itself. Seriously, the prose in this is topnotch.
“Heartstrings” by Philippa Evans - An epistolary musing on language, meaning and perception. Also beautifully written and a bit of a mind fuck. If that’s your thing I think this issue is for you.
“She Ain’t Stoppin” by Christi Nogle - A man attends his wife’s family reunion and things get weird. Another well written beast, I love how Christi masterfully circled the story’s end back to the beginning. At some points it felt like Midsommar, but on more drugs.
