I knew this would eventually happen to me--I would lose my zeal for grief horror. The tropes and themes are just always so similar--it's tough for an I knew this would eventually happen to me--I would lose my zeal for grief horror. The tropes and themes are just always so similar--it's tough for an author to add anything fresh or new to the sub-genre. This is well written and I'm a huge fan of Catriona Ward, but I was trying to hurry through the story. Night and Day in Misery by Catriona Ward is a slow, suffocating descent into grief horror. The narrator, a woman haunted by the deaths of her husband and son, spends the anniversary of their crash in a hotel room, drowning in memories, shame, and self-destruction. The real terror is in the narrator’s spiraling thoughts and the crushing guilt that makes it impossible to move forward. There is a heavy, inescapable sense of hopelessness. Content warnings are essential here: suicidal ideation, self-harm, and alcoholism are central themes. The story also grapples with the consequences of driving under the influence....more
Straight up, this is one of the scariest short stories I have read in a while. Grady lands every, single punch. The story beats are perfect. It startsStraight up, this is one of the scariest short stories I have read in a while. Grady lands every, single punch. The story beats are perfect. It starts with eerie suburbia vibes; think: The House Next Door (Anne Rivers Siddon), The Whispers (Ashely Audrain), and The Good Neighbors (Sarah Langan). A small island accessible by ferry where rich people from the city come with their families for a little escape. Grady sets the scene, drops in his classic humor and characters, but then hits a chilling beat like a mic drop; immediately unsettling and sobering up the reader real fast. I'm not going to say more, I loved that I showed up to this story blind--it made things hit harder. What an ending...more
At first, this story feels like it’s leading me somewhere familiar. The setup is grounded—an ordinary workday, a dull slideshow. It’s the kind of scenAt first, this story feels like it’s leading me somewhere familiar. The setup is grounded—an ordinary workday, a dull slideshow. It’s the kind of scene that lulls you into a sense of security, making you think you know where this is going. But then, the first ripple of unease appears: a headless colleague. Is it a trick of the light? A hallucination? Or something worse? The story doesn’t say outright. And then, right when things should settle, they don’t. Instead, the chaos deepens. By the end, I wasn’t sure what was real and what wasn’t. Overall, this was a fascinating reading experience—one that starts with a relatable scenario but slowly twists into something weird and disorienting. It makes you question perception, reality, and how quickly a seemingly normal day can spiral into the unknown. It was fun to read a SGJ story set in suburbia--gave me The Babysitter Lives, vibes....more
Jackknife has CLASSIC horror short story vibes and gave me some serious throwbacks to Stephen King's Night Shift collection. The main character is a tJackknife has CLASSIC horror short story vibes and gave me some serious throwbacks to Stephen King's Night Shift collection. The main character is a total douche. He's in a situationship with a college student that ends up trainwrecking his shit. He's living in an AirB&B and stumbles upon an uprooted tree with a jackknife embedded in it. As the story goes along, we become more and more entertained by the idea that maybe, just maybe...this guy is gonna get what's coming to him. I don't know what else horror readers show up for in their stories--this is good, old-fashioned fun. Joe Hill delivers! CW for cat death, infidelity, and teacher/student sexual content *read on NetGalley--available 4/15/25...more
What You Need to Know: "a richly inventive, brutal and beautiful science-fantasy novella. A story of family, loss, oppression, and rebellion."
My Reading Experience: I typically don't venture out into the SFF territory too often, but I'm a big Ai Jiang fan, and she has written some speculative horror fiction too, so I had to check this one out. The main character, Liu Lufeng, is a princess with bark skin and braded branches for limbs. She also has "hair made of needle threads". It was hard for me to picture this unless I allowed it to play out like an animated movie, so once I let go of live-action visuals and went with a more Studio Ghibli vibe, I settled in.
"We are the people of Feng and Feng itself—a part of the trees, a part of the wind. Just as we borrow the wind, the wind also borrows us."
Still, I think there could have been more intentional scenework where the author could describe the Feng, "Wind Walkers," more cinematically. A lot of attention is given to world-building and setting which does slow down the pacing and the sense of urgency. The story revolves around a pivotal time for the main protagonist, who has arrived at her new home, a palace, to marry the King, who is responsible for treating her people and the land as resources to use up and spit out in the name of industry and progress. The marriage is just a business arrangement.
"I’d thought the Land Wanderers wanted to convert us all. But no, what they wanted to do was steal all that made us who we were, use us, then toss us away."
There is a huge cast of characters for such a small book and I feel like they don't get enough page-time to make them special or people I could emotionally invest in. Perhaps this will be taken care of in later installments since this is only book one in the scope of a larger project. I am out of practice and out of my element jumping into high fantasy--so I feel a little rusty. I was confused a lot of the time but I always enjoy Jiang's imagination and storytelling voice.
Final Recommendation: For fans who enjoy colorful, whimsical high fantasy about destiny/fate and a strong female protagonist willing to rebel against choices that have been made on her behalf. "Yet the need to rebel, to break the agreement, simmered within me."
Like Succession meets The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix) and Genie in a Bottle lore. More soon!
FIEND by Alma Katsu is a dark, cutthroat family dLike Succession meets The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix) and Genie in a Bottle lore. More soon!
FIEND by Alma Katsu is a dark, cutthroat family drama of high-stakes wealth, unchecked ambition, and supernatural temptation, perfect for fans of Succession and The Fall of the House of Usher. I was transfixed by this modern Gothic masterpiece from one of my favorite voices in horror....more
What You Need to Know: "Love, betrayal, murder, and witchcraft. For fans of A Certain Hunger, step into the twisted, psychedelic world of SUGAR, a story about a femme fatale hooked on love and acid in this gripping tale of 1970's suburban chaos where nothing is as it seems."
My Reading Experience: A lighthearted, horny, acid-fueled bloodbath featuring an unhinged, unapologetic female serial killer. This book takes place in 1970s suburbia (although I didn't feel immersed in that kind of setting or vibes at all). The protagonist isn't just unreliable—she's completely untethered, flying high on psychedelics (I questioned the validity of the protagonist's addiction though, the side effects of chronic LSD use are pretty intense) and rage which feeds her murderous whims. Sometimes her decisions to kill are rooted in selfish motivation or vengeance but other times, she seems to go off looking for opportunities. She's messy and gross so I couldn't relate or empathize with her at all. But that is what makes the story so entertaining. She’s wild, reckless, and feral in her pursuit of indulgence. The pages fly by in a blur of sex, drugs, and carnage. Ballard writes with an infectious energy, pulling the reader into a world where chaos reigns. And yeah, you’re gonna have to suspend some disbelief here and there as well as overlook some glaring plotholes. It’s a popcorn thriller, a pulpy, bloody, romp in the sheets. Campy. Blood-soaked. Unmotivated violence.
Final Recommendation: If you love books about messy, rage-fueled women doing terrible things with zero remorse, Sugar will satisfy your craving. Just don’t expect a clean resolution (the author executes a lot of different ideas in the conclusion) or a protagonist who cares about playing by the rules.
Comps: My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, Maeve Fly by C. J. Leede, The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim...more
Title/Author: At Dark, I Become Loathsome by Eric LaRocca
Page Count: 240 pages (my arc was 165)
Publisher: Blackstone
Format: physical, paperback arc
OthTitle/Author: At Dark, I Become Loathsome by Eric LaRocca
Page Count: 240 pages (my arc was 165)
Publisher: Blackstone
Format: physical, paperback arc
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes, The Trees Grew Because I Bled There, You've Lost A Lot of Blood, Fanged Dandelion,
Sub-Genre/Themes: Grief, missing child, cancer patients, death & dying, sexual fantasies/fetishes, fetishsizing cancer, SA, explicit sex acts, gratuitous sex, SA of a child, 2 acts of animal cruelty (dog), suicide, suicidal ideation, probably more I'm forgetting
Writing Style: very stylized, inner monologue, chat room format, found documents, mixed media, nested doll stories
What You Need to Know: "a grim yet gentle, horrifying yet hopeful, intense tale of death, trauma, and love."
My Reading Experience: Oh. My. God. Eric LaRocca has fully ascended into his final form with At Dark, I Become Loathsome—a book so dark, so utterly depraved, that I’m honestly concerned for anyone who reads it (myself included). And yet, I devoured every single page. Please, please be mindful of the content warnings I have provided.
Look, I’ve been vocal in the past about my complicated relationship with LaRocca’s work. I loved Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke—it was bold, transgressive, and provocative in a way that few books dare to be. But I haven’t always been on board with everything else he’s put out. I’ve been critical of his previous novel and short fiction before, feeling at times that the execution didn’t quite match the vision.
This is, without a doubt, LaRocca’s best work to date. It feels like the inevitable evolution from his short form storytelling into something deeper, more layered, and even more explorative. LaRocca isn’t concerned with the conventions of mainstream storytelling here, there’s no neat beginning, middle, and end, no comforting structure to hold onto. Nothing has been watered down or sanitized. Instead, it unravels like a fever dream, spiraling down into the mind of a man irreparably broken. The brilliance is that it never gets weighed down by trivial exposition or mundane details. There’s no wasted breath on the ordinary. Every word seems deliberate, every scene feels like an excised, exposed nerve ending. This book reads like a troubled, mind turned inside out. Even the way the nested stories interrupted the flow felt intentional--meant to alarm the reader with raw, disturbing thoughts. It feels both intimate and unbearable. There’s no attempt to anchor the reader in normalcy—because normal would be boring. What does exist here is human cruelty at its most casual, violence performed like a ritual. Depravity is staged to resemble mercy and hope. The protagonist is totally unrelatable/unlikable with the way he seems undeterred by his mission to help people who are grieving when he is in no position to do so. The way he justifies his behaviors is...inappropriate and uncomfortable. It is beyond unsettling and disruptive. I hated and loved it at the same time. I'm uncomfortable with this book and yet, I marveled at LaRocca's ability (bravery) to give life to this monstrosity.
Final Recommendation: I speak directly to horror fans who have previously read Eric LaRocca's work and are familiar with recurring themes of human depravity, disordered thinking, obsession/possession, love & pain, grief & loss, and toxic relationships...this is the definitive book marking a serious evolution--I can see the stretch marks of growth and skill. Honestly, I feel like everything that has come before this book, served as neon signs that point to At Dark, I Become Loathsome. I'm excited for future books!
Comps: Clive Barker, Poppy Z. Brite, Kathe Koja...more
What You Need to Know: From the New York Times bestselling author of Red Rabbit comes a supernatural horror where ghosts and ghouls are the least of a witch’s problems in nineteenth-century New England.
My Reading Experience: I knew this book would be good (I've heard a lot of praise for Red Rabbit) but I was not prepared for this. The main character is so deep in grief, that he stalks Death, and kills him. It goes so badly for everyone involved. The setting is split between Nicodemus, Kansas (1881) and Ascension, Massachusetts, where things are getting… weird. The dead aren’t staying dead, people are going missing, and something is seriously wrong. Meanwhile, a trio of women—Sadie, Rabbit, and Rose—arrive in Ascension, only to find themselves caught in the middle of a supernatural mess. I love how Grecian writes them; they feel like real people, full of humor and wisdom. They move into a local cabin known to be haunted and sure enough, it is filled to the brim with spirits.
"At least twenty-seven women had been murdered in the cabin. Twenty-seven people had gone missing and their stories had ended in that lonely place."
This book is eerie in the best way. The atmosphere is thick with gothic vibes, a mix of Western, horror, and folk magic, and it’s so cinematic—I can practically see this playing out like an old-school horror movie.
Final Recommendation: Perfect for fans who love genre-blending horror with elements of dark fantasy and humor with just a hint of Gothic and a historical Western setting. The characters are colorful and entertaining.
Comps: Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian, Himself by Jess Kidd, At the Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce...more
General Genre: Psychological Suspense Thriller/Supernatural
Sub-Genre/Themes: Domestic drama, neurodivergent children (diagnosis not known), parenting, Armenian people, motherhood, Pre and postnatal depression, mood disorders, paranoia, Postpartum psychosis, nannies, self-harm, suicide, SA, pregnancy
What You Need to Know: "A taut, powerful psychological thriller following a mother who must confront a sudden and terrifying change in her daughter after the abrupt death of their babysitter."
My Reading Experience: I love psychological thrillers centered around new mothers and/or pregnancy. Especially if there's something paranormal or supernatural going on too. I love intimate exposure behind closed doors of marriages and I also love an unreliable, unlikable narrator--you get all of this with, Clever Little Thing. The most entertaining and compelling aspect of this book was that even though I had a sense of where the story was headed, I never once expected *exactly* how it would get there. One development took me completely by surprise, so props to the author for a solid blindside. Are there some unrealistic elements to the story? Yes. Did I have to suspend disbelief a few times, also yes. But hear this: We live in a world that proves beyond the shadow of a doubt, that truth is stranger than fiction. I read headlines of real-life situations that make my jaw drop every day. Nothing surprises me anymore. I do not show up to my fictional book expecting reality because nobody could make that up anyway. So yes, things go off the rails. The main character is exhausting in the way she leaps to wild conclusions for no reason. This was fun. I had a good time putting this one together and the author was great at keeping all the important cards close to her chest while allowing a few clues to reveal just enough to keep me hooked.
Final Recommendation: If you enjoy creepy kids, paranoid first-time parents, juicy drama, and unexpected twists and turns, this is for you. Please note my content warnings in the "themes/sub-genre" section
Comps: The Push & The Whispers by Ashley Audrain (elements of both books), Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage, The Changeling by Victor LaValle, Jennifer Hillier thrillers...more
Sub-Genre/Themes: Latin American, haunted mansion, family secrets, insta-romance, 1920s, death/grief, murder mystery, journalists, dreams/visions, witchcraft/secret societies, dark entities, hidden clues
Writing Style: Short chapters/large cast of characters, flashbacks, journal entries
What You Need to Know: "A real-life Latin American haunted mansion. A murky labyrinth of family secrets. A young, aristocratic woman desperate to escape her past. This haunting debut gothic horror novel is perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic and The Shining. In a riveting quest for answers, Antonia must navigate the shadows of La Casona, unearthing its darkest secrets and confronting a legacy that threatens to swallow her whole."
My Reading Experience: I enjoyed the set-up, arriving at this grand estate converted into a hotel. You can see a photograph of it on the author's social media account here: https://x.com/CarolinaFlorezC/status/... The setting of this story is based on a real place. The author's descriptions gave me a good sense of the location. I didn't fully invest in the story's female protagonist, Antonia, but she is courageous and capable--determined to investigate secrets and lies to learn the truth. There's a large cast of characters that are not given in-depth personalities or reasons for existing other than to assist the MC in her quest for knowledge, so I had a difficult time keeping them all straight/remembering their purpose when they are mentioned again, later. Some repeating thoughts within the chapter, sometimes on the same page. Antonia muses to herself a lot and it's often the same questions in her mind. At the end of several chapters, a question is asked, “But would the cost be too high in the end” or “But would any of them survive at all if she couldn’t get the house to spill its secrets?” I thought this technique was a bit obvious/cliché There are aspects of this story I enjoyed a lot. It reminded me so much of The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton, so if you read that book and want more of those vibes and plot details, this is for you. They both have: Subject Death Death of parents Mansions Scandals Secrets Socialites Wealth Latino/Latina/Latine 1920s Historical Gothic For me, this was a straightforward murder mystery thriller with Gothic tropes and undertones. A light romance and some magical realism with secret society/cult elements and a tidy ending.
Final Recommendation: Bochica employs Gothic tropes and themes with a rich cultural context. I recommend this book to young readers looking for a place to start in Gothic horror. Recommended for fans of suspenseful historical fiction about courageous women determined to uncover the truth no matter the cost. -atmospheric, cultural Gothic haunted house stories -secret societies/cults/dark witchcraft -insta-romance/relationship -murder mystery/clues -family legacy/dynamics
Comps: -The Queen of the Cicadas by V. Castro (more of a similar storytelling style) -The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton (similar story/wealth/legacy/murder) -The Daughters of Block Island by Christa Carmen (similar story vibes with the mystery and mother/daughter dynamic) (I wouldn't comp to Mexican Gothic or The Hacienda-not enough of the historical elements) (I wouldn't comp to The Shining-this isn't about an insidious or menacing mansion possessing its inhabitants)
Sub-Genre/Themes: urban legend, camping trip, creepy woods, friendship, childhood friends into adulthood, relationships, small town, haunted house, trapped!, ghosts, self-harm, suicidal ideation, murder, death, violence, domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse, child abuse (pretty much everything-this is the darkest Wendig yet)
Writing Style: Those short, buzzy, binge-worthy chapters we have come to love
What You Need to Know: "A group of friends investigates the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents."
My Reading Experience: Wowsers, Chuck Wendig! He delivers a fresh and deeply unsettling twist on the haunted house genre in The Staircase in the Woods. Just when I thought nothing new could be done with this classic horror trope, Wendig proved me wrong. The novel is pitch-black dark. And I do mean that. The horror level is at a ten with genuinely terrifying scenes unfolding with wicked and gruesome details. I strongly advise against reading this one at night unless you enjoy disturbing images in your mind before drifting into nightmare territory. The short, buzzy chapters make it impossible to put down. The tension is so high most of the time that when there is a bit of a lull, it drags a little. I felt like there were a few times where the story cycled through some repeated subject matter. One of the book’s greatest strengths is its layered backstory, which adds depth. The relationships between the group of friends are complex, shaped by trauma that is slowly revealed through dialogue and flashbacks. In that way, it reminded me of The Ritual by Adam Nevill—another novel where personal history is mixed in with real-time supernatural drama.
Final Recommendation: If you’re looking for a horror novel that doesn’t just rely on jump scares but instead gets under your skin with psychological depth and seriously terrifying scenes, The Staircase in the Woods is a must-read. Wendig has crafted a story that lingers long after the final page. Pretty disturbing. Please note my CWs in the sub-genre section
Comps: The Ritual by Adam Nevill, IT by Stephen King, The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste...more
A Haunting in the Arctic by C. J. Cooke Page Count: 352 Publisher: Berkley Format: digital arc Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: The Ghost Woods, The A Haunting in the Arctic by C. J. Cooke Page Count: 352 Publisher: Berkley Format: digital arc Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: The Ghost Woods, The Nesting Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978059355... Release Date: Feb 27th, 2024 General Genre: Ghost, Horror, Supernatural Thriller Sub-Genre/Themes: deserted shipwreck, historical fiction, Iceland, paranormal encounter, survival, dark past, revenge Writing Style: dual narratives, suspense, gothic vibes/mood, intricately plotted, What You Need to Know: A deserted shipwreck off the coast of Iceland holds terrors and dark secrets in this chilling horror novel from the author of The Lighthouse Witches. My Reading Experience: Dual timelines kept the pages flying. Both stories are compelling in their own way. Nicky's POV in the past was slightly more engaging and generated emotional investment that was important in escalating the tension necessary for high-stakes horror. I enjoyed the folklore elements and the setting in Iceland. The mystery and suspense were perfectly plotted allowing for layers of suspense and intrigue. I enjoyed developing theories and wondering what would happen next—content warnings for SA, death of a child, and self-harm. Lots of twists and turns, blindsided and big reveals. C. J. Cooke is on my list of insta-buy authors. Comps: Dark Matter by Michelle Paver, The Gathering by C. J. Tudor, Ghost Station by S. A. Barnes...more
Format: NetGalley & Physical arc Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: debut Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978163910... Release Date: Sep 1Format: NetGalley & Physical arc Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: debut Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978163910... Release Date: Sep 17th, 2024 General Genre: Psychological, domestic drama, thriller Sub-Genre/Themes: Mothers & Daughters, childhood abuse, generational trauma, no-contact/parent, assisted living home, mental health Writing Style: What You Need to Know: "Haunted by childhood abuse, a woman is forced to care for her cruel elderly mother in this electrifying horror novel exploring generational trauma, perfect for fans of Cassandra Khaw and T. Kingfisher." My Reading Experience: Slow-burn, psychological thriller elements, claustrophobic/intimate setting, domestic drama, toward the middle of the book I felt like the pacing got a little muddy/sloggy, and there is an instance of animal cruelty I thought was unnecessary to the storyline, the tension/suspense had more thriller vibes than horror. In terms of a mother/daughter relationship with elements of mental health and psychological suspense, I would definitely recommend it to readers. I would include it in lists of MCs with Jewish faith as well. Comps: Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth, My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon, Mothered by Zoje Stage...more
This is a serious emotional rollercoaster. It made me laugh, it scared me so bad, but mostly-- Listen, After I finished (just now) I looked out the kitcThis is a serious emotional rollercoaster. It made me laugh, it scared me so bad, but mostly-- Listen, After I finished (just now) I looked out the kitchen window at this wild rabbit eating clover in my yard and bawled my eyes out. I don't understand why people are so full of hate and malice and do such terrible things to other people. It hurts my heart so badly. This book is set during the COVID pandemic of 2020 --the tide of Asian hate and the BLM protests for the injustices committed against Black lives by authorities put in place to protect all of us And now look where we are. I fucking hate it here. It never ends. This is a good book. My favorite so far this year. A full review when I can get my shit together....more
General Genre: Southern Gothic Thriller, Small Town Suspense, Cults
Sub-Genre/Themes: Opening a restaurant, married couples, leaving the city for the country, small town, folk horror, southern gothic, weird cult, infidelity, murder mystery, fixer-upper, to good to be true
Writing Style: Complex characters, intricately plotted, modern gothic/folk
What You Need to Know: In an immersive Southern Gothic with echoes of Shirley Jackson's The Lottery and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, a restauranteur lured by pandemic-era incentives moves her family to a seemingly idyllic small town in Georgia, only to discover a darkness lurking beneath the Southern hospitality and sun-dappled streets...
My Reading Experience: I love when fiction takes a married couple who think they can solve all their problems by moving from the city to buy a fixer-upper in the country. Especially a small town with a lot of secrets. This book takes place in the aftermath of COVID. The MC had to close her successful restaurant. She finds this small town in the South offering people a nice house for a dollar if they will just move in and contribute to their dying economy. Even more incentive if you open your own business. So this sounds perfect for our MC who convinces her husband to pick up their lives (and young daughter) and move to the sticks. They get a farmhouse for a buck and a loan to open a new restaurant. This was entertaining as hell, especially when the townsfolk started acting funny and the couple heard stories about the history of the town. Things get farfetched and I admit, I need to suspend disbelief but this didn't hinder my enjoyment, I went along for the ride. Fans who love creepy cults and buried secrets will have fun untangling this tale chapter by chapter. A blend of popcorn thriller tropes with a touch of horror.
Final Recommendation: Perfect for fans of slow burn, Southern Gothic, small rural town drama, and couples who try to escape their big city problems by moving to an idyllic community in the country. A cautionary tale for the old adage, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
Comps: Violet by Scott Thomas, The Invited by Jennifer McMahon, In the Grip of It by Jac Jemc, Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon, The Residents of Honeysuckle Cottage by Elizabeth Davidson...more
At the Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce Release date: January 2025, 368 pages
For the LineUp: Recently orphaned sisters are picked up by their weAt the Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce Release date: January 2025, 368 pages
For the LineUp: Recently orphaned sisters are picked up by their wealthy aunt who has terrible secrets. The girls each have distinct paranormal gifts which threatens their aunt's ability to hide her secrets and maintain her lifestyle. The setup starts well enough, the author establishes multiple POVs between all three main characters and we get to know them very well. The development of the story is a little slow (not yummy Gothic slow, just slow, slow). Aunt Clara is over-the-top selfish and villainous. She reminded me of Cruella DeVille, which is fine, but it did affect the level of investment. The two girls are quite entertaining as young, inexperienced mediums/witches learning to use their powers. After moving into their aunt’s house, they quickly realize it’s haunted by menacing spirits (who are a bit scary at times). The ghosts reveal secrets that lead to some startling revelations. Perfect for readers who prefer spooky over scary, lighthearted, campy, psychological suspense and ghostly vibes for Spooky Season. Characters you love to hate, family drama, and just desserts.
What You Need to Know: "In 1887 London, journalist Emily Gibson investigates the chilling past of a woman claiming to be Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd's infamous accomplice, through a series of letters revealing a harrowing life in Victorian London, drawing her into a dangerous mystery." --NoveList Plus
My Reading Experience:
I just finished The Butcher’s Daughter by David Demchuk and Corinne Leigh Clark, and I’m still sitting with it—mostly because I can't believe what they managed to do here! It's such a thrilling read. The rich, grim Victorian setting completely pulls you in without feeling staged. You’re just there with these sights and smells, narrow alleys, cluttered medical rooms, and untrustworthy people lurking in dark corners.
The characters are some of the most authentic I’ve read in a while. Even when they’re doing awful things, like really bad things and making horrible decisions, you still want to know more about them. The format with the back-and-forth letters, different POVs, newspaper clippings and posters, really keeps things moving. For a book that’s over 400 pages, it doesn’t feel long. The pace is strong, and the twists actually surprise you, which is rare. There are a lot of them. I didn't see them coming at all, and they land hard (no surprise though, I'm an easy sell) Ha! If you’re into historical horror, you’ll probably eat this up. (Pun not intended. But also—maybe.) Fans of Sweeney Todd will be DELIGHTED by all the connective tissue. Not for the squeamish! There is butchery, blood, meat, body horror, and detailed descriptions of nastiness.
This is character-driven horror! What really stood out to me was the representation—queer and disabled characters are central to the story and fully developed. It feels honest and intentional in a way that’s really refreshing but completely expected as a David Demchuk fan (author of Red X and The Bone Mother) Everyone on the page is alive and fully fleshed out. Some you fall in love with and some you love to hate.
Final Recommendation: If you are an avid horror fan and familiar with Sweeney Todd, this is ESPECIALLY for you. That said, a strong content warning: this book includes graphic violence, cannibalism, pregnancy-related horror, and cruelty. It’s intense, it’s brilliant, and it’s on my list for the best books of 2025 for sure.
Comps: Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito, The Savage Instinct by M. M. DeLuca, In the Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce...more
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