This was my first story by Kendare Blake. Cas Lowood is our right enchanting male MC. The blood in his veins allows him to hunt and kill ghosts that learn a penchant for killing. He has considered himself in training since his father passed away on his last ghost hunt. He travels with his witch mother and irreplaceable Siamese cat. When his path converges into a ghost called Anna Dressed in Blood, he meets more than his match for a typical ghost hunt. This has been on my TBR for a few years, so I am grateful, that I finally got to reading it. I felt for Cas and his mother on their attempt to find a new normal after such loss. Anna was a clever hook that quickly enveloped me. The pacing was slightly slow to set the second half of the book, but this was still a strong story. Blake created a host of in-depth characters within this Canadian high school and the ending was perfection. On to book 2. (4/5 rating)
Tag: Horror
Book Review – Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
This most recent release of Kingfisher’s is centered around our heroine and Princess and waiting, Marra. Her older sister is wed to an abusive Prince to secure the future of the Kingdom. When Marra discovers that her parents knew of his dangerous behavior and imply that she will take her place if her sister dies, she decides to save herself. Paired with a fairy godmother, and ex-warrior, a dog of bones, and a dust witch, they set out to save her sister and the Kingdom from a tyrant.
I am always surprised and how well Kingfisher can weave a story, even when it’s barely 250 pages. This stand alone is buried under a dark and succulent atmosphere that creates its own kind of fairy tale story. I loved watching Marra refuse to exist where everyone expected her to and choosing her own fate regardless of the cost. Few of us are brave enough to do that. I know I’m not the only one who would love to see a sequel for this in the future. (4/5 rating)
Book Review – Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King and Owen King
This book was a collaboration between father and son. It follows the story of our world after the women population is put to sleep within fibrous shells after they fall asleep. Once enshrouded, they cannot be removed, or they become rabid shadows of themselves and attack any men present. The remaining men begin to turn on each other as they fight for resources. A woman by the name of Evie is the only woman that has not succumbed to this plague.
This book had an excellent plot that was well executed throughout its 700 pages. I also thought it was a well-crafted story around the aspects of the female identity within society. I know this wasn’t a typical King story for many of the longtime fans out there, so they likely won’t enjoy the story or the point it is trying to make. They only issue I encountered was how slowly the story developed. (3.5/5 rating)
