*I received a free digital ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

I love the horror genre. But sadly, I don't get to spend as much time exploring the genre as I used to due to my mental health. So, each October, as most people are getting ready to celebrate an entire month of spooky and dark entertainment, I usually sit and pout. Tempting as it is, my mental health can't handle allowing myself to sink into the darkness that it inevitably falls into when I overindulge on horror content.

Every now and then, though, I allow myself a little treat. 

This year, before I even had the chance to decide what to do, I received an opportunity to review a collection of short stories by Rob Ultiski. Fleshed Out is a compilation of 13 body horror stories released on October 14th, 2022.

Over the past year, I have increasingly heard more about body horror in the Books of Horror Facebook group. Fleshed Out is the first book in this subgenre that I have read, so I have nothing to compare it to.

Overall, Fleshed Out is gross and depressing. I know that probably doesn't sound good, but I do mean that in a good way. Body horror is supposed to be repulsive and disturbing, and all thirteen books in this collection meet that standard. I was surprised at how emotional many of the stories left me. I like heartbreaking horror, and this book opens with one I would put on the same level as my favorite horror film, May (2002).

The way Ultiski wrote the characters is so human. The situations they are in (minus the gore, of course) are so easily understandable and relatable. The gore was so well written that I had to take breaks, which had never happened to me before. This is easily one of the most disgusting books I have ever read (I swear I mean this in a good way!). All of these stories would make such good movies or short films. I hope Rob Ultiski considers further developing some of these stories in said medium.

I have never reviewed a collection of short stories before, so I was unsure if I should speak about each story or the collection as a whole. I have decided to take my old music review approach and list each tale, a few notes, and my rating.

Hair  – My favorite from this collection. Super depressing. Since reading, the sensation of hair in my throat won't go away. 5/5

Carnage  – Rob did a fantastic job displaying how evil and bitter some men can be. 4/5

Crystalline  – The desperation and frustration in this are so realistic. 4/5

Heal  – I think I would enjoy this more as a movie. 3/5

Doug  – I don't understand why I loved this so much. It was strangely romantic and empowering. 5/5

Circles  – An okay story, but also the most forgettable of the collection. 2/5

Vending Machine  – Very dark and yet the most realistic situation if governments keep looking at health care the way they currently do. 4/5

Dropoff  – I found this story to be a bit boring, but it could have just been that it came after Vending Machine, which I found to be much better. 2/5

Fused  – I want to know what happens next. You can't just leave it like that. 3/5

Neoton  It is my kind of story, but I didn't click with it for some reason. It may be too fast-paced. 3/5

Roe  – This reminded me of some of the Korean Horror I have read. 4/5

Smothered  – This story hits hard, but it is just beyond the level of grossness that I can handle. 3/5

Replacement  – This ties the collection up nicely. I would love to see this as a film as well. 5/5

Overall rating: ★★★★☆ 3.6/5

Should you read it?

✔ This is a great read for horror lovers but not so much for those sensitive to gore, though.

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: October 14th, 2022

Author: Goodreads, Twitter, Official Site

10. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Simply put, I need to start the series over to finish it because I took too much time between books.

9. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

8. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

This is one of the series that helped get me into YA after high school. Unfortunately, I have only read the series once, and I think it's time to revisit it to see if I still want to keep my physical copies.

7. Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

This used to hold the title of my all-time favorite book. I haven't read it in over 15 years, though. With the ways things have changed over time, I have noticed quite a few people claiming this book to be highly problematic, and that is one of the two big reasons I want to go back to it. I want to have it fresh in my mind to understand others' complaints. I also read this as a teenager. I am now in my thirties. I want to see how different the experience of reading Catcher in the Rye is when you are older.

6. Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

5. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

This is my favorite Haruki Murakami book. However, I read it fast, and while I have fond memories of it, similar to Catcher in the Rye, I have begun to hear people mention some problematic content. Therefore, I want to read it slower with a more critical mindset. 

4. Neverending Story by Michael Ende

3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Another must-read classic but extra important due to recent events. The only problem is I want to read a physical copy and have yet to fit it into my book budget. 

2. May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson

This series is fantastic. I am shocked. I never hear anyone talk about it. My main reason for wanting to re-read right now, though, is that I never got around to book three. For years I kept randomly ordering the third book...only to receive book two over and over again. After the series was reprinted, I finally got the final book in the series...even though it doesn't have the cover I prefer. I need to re-read it before I finish the series.

Hello

Okay, before I get into everything, I want to quickly clarify how my "monthly" wrap-ups work. Some months I read/listen/watch a lot. In other months, I spend more time doing other things. So, for the months I'm not doing much, I don't see the point of making a wrap-up post. It doesn't mean that I haven't read anything or watched any movies. There were just too few to talk about or too many uninteresting ones that I would rather forget (lol). So if you were wondering why I haven't done one of these since April...now you know. 

Books

August was a surprisingly good month for reading. I read a total of 12 books, which puts me at 61 for the year. This is the most I have read in a month in a very, very long time.

I started August by reading 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad. This was my second time reading one of Awad's books, the first being Bunny. I enjoyed 13 Ways much more than Bunny, even though it had moments that hit a little too close to home. It left me feeling very seen. ★★★★★ 5/5

I followed that up with my first one-sitting read; My Evil Mother by Margaret Atwood. It is a short story about a girl growing up with her mother, who may be a witch. I really liked it. ★★★★★ 5/5

My Daddy Is a Hero: How Chris Watts Went from Family Man to Family Killer by Lena Derhally was hard to read. I expected this when I decided to read it, but that doesn't change how horrendous the details of the murders are. The second half of the book is more dedicated to the psychology behind killers like Chris Watts, and I found that extremely interesting. ★★★★☆ 4/5

I started reading Exile (Keeper of the Lost Cities #2) by Shannon Messenger a few months ago after borrowing it from my local library (and waiting months for it to be available). Sadly, I found myself in a bit of a reading rut shortly after borrowing it, so I had to return it and then reborrow it from Libby a couple of times before I was able to finish it. It had nothing to do with the book, though. Exile was fantastic. I didn't like it as much as the first, but the Keeper of the Lost Cities series is a long one, so I expect that a few of the books are just not going to be as much fun as others. ★★★★☆ 4/5

I posted a review of Her Forbidden Amish Child (Secret Amish Babies #2) by Leigh Bale, so if you want my full thoughts on this super problematic book, feel free to check it out. (I also reviewed the first book in the Secret Amish Babies series, The Midwife's Christmas Wish). ★★☆☆☆ 2/5

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai (translated by Donald Keene) was my first surprise of the month. I had heard so many good things about it and it is highly rated (even considered a classic in Japanese lit). I don't know if I just read it too fast or at the wrong time in my life, but I found it boring. I was happy when I finished it, but I never felt the need to DNF it. ★★★☆☆ 3/5

NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman spends most of its pages going over the history of the discovery and developments of how autistic individuals have been viewed and treated over time. I learned a lot from this book. ★★★★★ 5/5

The next book I read was an almost all-in-one-siting read. The Chain by Adrian McKinty is a book I had been meaning to get to for well over a year now, and I am so happy I finally had time for it. ★★★★☆ 4/5

I organized my bookshelves in August (well, mostly) and this led to me being reminded of several books that I haven't read yet. The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts was one of those books. This was great as it was sandwiched in after I got in the mood for some darker stories. I try not to read too many dark books back to back as it can sometimes intensify my poor mental health. The Girl with the Silver Eyes is a fun quick read that is perfect for fans of Matilda by Roald Dahl. ★★★★☆ 4/5

I found out about Any Man by Amber Tamblyn thanks to one of the many reading groups on Facebook I am in. I read it in one sitting.  Easily my favorite of the month. ★★★★★ 5/5

The Dirt Diary by Anna Staniszewski was another pick that came as a result of my tackling my bookshelves. It helped lighten the mood after Any Man, but I'm unsure if I will ever get around to reading the other books in the series. ★★★☆☆ 3/5

The final book that I finished in August was It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn and illustrated by Noah Grigni. I love the idea of this book. Some of the ways things are worded could be confusing for little ones. ★★★★☆ 4/5

As the month came to an end, I began reading Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed. I have yet to finish it, but I'm enjoying it so far. 

Movies

I somehow also managed to watch 7 movies in August. Now, normally I wouldn't list off most of these movies as they fall into one of my favorite bad movie categories, "Lifetime." So, we will just do this in rapid-fire mode... okay?

A Killer in My Home (2020) ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 2/10

Taken in Broad Daylight (2009) ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ 5.5/10 - I think this was a rewatch...it felt very familiar.

A Son's Promise (1990)  ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 6/10 - Decent story, decent acting, bad accents.

Abducted: The Carlina White Story (2012) ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 6/10 - Good acting, interesting story based on real life, got boring in the second half.

The Simpsons: When Billie Met Lisa (2020) ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆ 4/10 - Cute idea that quickly bombs.

Son in Law (1993) ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 6.5/10 - Childhood favorite. I had a conversation in which I couldn't recall the name of this movie, and so when I remembered, I obviously had to watch it.

Drop Dead Fred (1991) ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10 - One of my all-time favorite films. This hits differently each time I watch it. 

For the hell of it, since I have gone over movies and books so far, let's do music.

Music

The overall mood was...moody and dark. TBM is almost always my top artist, so no surprise there. Jackson Wang had a comeback that I literally had on repeat. Every now and then you just have to listen to one of your all-time favorite albums from beginning to end (M83's Hurry Up We're Dreaming).

Top 10 Artists of August 2022:

1. The Birthday Massacre
2. Then Comes Silence
3. Jackson Wang
4. The Cure
5. M83
6. Aly & AJ
7. Twin Tribes
8. Bat For Lashes
9. Switchblade Symphony
10. Rosegarden Funeral Party

Top 10 Songs of August 2022:

1. Cruel by Jackson Wang
2. Titanic (feat. Rich Brian) by Jackson Wang
3. Once in a While by Rosegarden Funeral Party
4. Pretty Creatures by Then Comes Silence
5. Jaded by Betcha
6. So Beautiful by DPR IAN
7. The Tipping Point by Tears for Fears
8. All My Friends Are Turning Blue by Løren
9. Clown by Switchblade Symphony
10. Strangers by Then Comes Silence

How did your August go? What did you enjoy reading/watching/listening to the most?

Four years ago, having a child out of wedlock changed everything for Tessa Miller—including her engagement to Amish farmer Caleb Yoder. Now she’s determined to provide a better life for her son…even if it means working for her ex-fiancé. Only spending time with Caleb makes it harder to keep her past a secret. Will revealing the truth lead to forgiveness…and a second chance together? (Goodreads)

Book one of Secret Amish Babies was cute. It was a very wholesome and sweet story. There was some major miscommunication between the two main characters, and that idea was continued in book two. However, the stuff that happens in Her Forbidden Amish Child is just messed up. If anything, it just points to flaws in Amish culture. Knowing that there are people who do behave like the people in this book is already upsetting, but taking that and using it as a basis for a supposedly comfy romance is sickening. The repetitiveness from the first book also spilled over to this one.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ 2/5

Should you read it?

I would recommend skipping this one. This book contains the following triggers (please note that there may be more, this is just what I figured was most important to mention): Sexual assault, PTSD, Alcoholism, and Sexual harassment.

Book Information: Goodreads

Published: June 15, 2022

Leigh Bale: Goodreads, Twitter, Official Site

When Amish midwife Lovina Albrecht finds an abandoned baby, she’s determined to give the child a home for the holidays—even if doing so brings up difficult memories. But she’s not prepared for her bishop to assign standoffish Jonah Lapp to help care for the little girl. As their temporary arrangement begins to feel like family, can they overcome old hurts to build a future? (Goodreads)

I have been tempted to find out what the hype was about Amish romance, so I decided to read this. I was in a bit of a reading slump and needed something simple to cleanse my brain. 

The Midwife's Christmas Wish is the first book in the Secret Amish Babies series by Leigh Bale. From what I understand, this means that each book will probably take place within the same Amish community. So, while each story will focus on different characters, previous ones may make an appearance. 

Overall, it is a charming and cute story that I could easily see as a Hallmark movie. As a book, though, it is infuriatingly repetitive. Do we really need the synopsis of the whole story repeated in every chapter? Each time a character has to take a moment to think, everything that inspires their reasoning for their current behavior must be refreshed. Why?

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 3/5

Should you read it?

If you read a lot of Amish romance, you will probably like it. Also probably a good pick for those who like Hallmark movies and "clean" romance.

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: November 30th, 2021

Leigh Bale: Goodreads, Twitter, Official Site

"When Queen Elizabeth I asks her court alchemist to show her England in the future, she’s transported 400 years to a post-apocalyptic wasteland of roving girl gangs, an all-powerful media mogul, fascistic police, scattered filth, and twisted sex." - The Criterion Collection

Rating: NOT RATED

Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

Released: February 1978

Directed by: Derek Jarman

Written by: Derek Jarman

Starring: Jenny Runacre, Nell Campbell (as Little Nell), Toyah Willcox, and Jordan

It is very easy to think of Jubilee as a more female-focused and dramatic version of A Clockwork Orange, as it takes place in a world of chaos and senseless violence that comes very close to mirroring the world you see in the film mentioned above.

The parts with Queen Elizabeth I felt out of place, and I believe that if you cut out all of those parts, the only thing you miss out on is David Brandon's performance as Ariel. It is almost as if the film had no plot, so the Queen scenes were added last minute to form some concrete reason for its existence. The acting is mostly good, but with a dramatic flair that comes close to just being cringeworthy. It is the kind of acting you expect from a stage play, not a movie. The characters are all interesting and have a mad hatter/hare quality about them.

This film has absolutely fantastic monologues in it. I admit that some of the moments are a bit pre-edgelord-emo-kid from the 2000s, but they were what I enjoyed the most about Jubilee. Overall, the film comes off as very artsy political/social satire wrapped in a punk package.

I originally watched and reviewed this movie on August 13th, 2016. While cleaning up old posts, I had a fond memory of this one, and since my original review was so short, I decided to rewatch and see if I still felt the same. Aspects of the original review are still there, but I have expanded on a few things. My original rating was 7/10, and upon a second viewing, I dropped it down.

Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 6.5/10

Should you watch it?

🤔 Do you like punk fashion and music? Do you like film history/cult films? If you answered yes, then I definitely recommend it. 

 As of this week, Wondermajica is now six years old. I started, not having much of an idea of what exactly I wanted to do, and that still hasn't changed. I would like to think that I have improved in that period, but imposter syndrome is a heck of a thing to ignore.

I have had different types of posts in the past six years. I have mostly done reviews, but what I have reviewed has changed over time. I'm now back to the point where I just review what I want instead of what I think might bring in more views. I'm still working on not being hard on myself for the quality of my writing and how often post. I have made promises of different types of content that would never appear thanks to my lack of motivation and mental health struggles. Plus, if I am truly being honest, I am just so moody and changeable that my interests and ideas just....come and go way too quickly for me to properly form them into something substantial. I have learned that the easiest way to bury an idea I have for something is to talk about it publically. As soon as other people know my brain decides I can't do it anymore. The imaginary pressure I put on myself just becomes too much.

Even though I have spent way too much time putting unnecessary stress on myself due to this blog, I am proud of myself for keeping it going this long. It is proof that I can stick to something even if it gets tough.

So what's next?

I just mentioned that when I publically talk about things it shuts down all motivation to do the things. So as for content...I'm gonna keep that to myself for now. However, there are a few things I can go ahead and talk about. 

A couple of years ago I finally changed the blog layout to something that works better both visually and for SEO purposes. The problem with this was that I had 4 years' worth of posts that no longer were properly formatted. I have never had an issue with this in the past on previous blogs so I was unsure what to do about this and the result was...nothing. So for the last 2 years, images from old posts have been wonky and covering up some of the text and just overall looking outdated. I have mentioned tackling this issue in the past, but it is still not something I have completed. I could not decide if I should just fix the images or if I should completely rework the post (which is why there have been several reposts over the past few years). So, long story short, I'm back to fixing that problem. 

Posts that just need images fixed will just have the images fixed. However, if the format is also wonky (from all the styles I have gone through over the years) or I'm just not satisfied with the quality of the post, it will either be deleted or reposted. I want the blog to get back to a place where I am proud to show it to people. I don't want to worry about people looking at the messy posts and forming their opinion just on those. There is also a profile issue. I started this blog using a different account. That old account no longer exists, which means that old posts written under that account have no author anymore. So all of those also need to be fixed. So yeah, there will be a regular occurrence of reposts for the next bit, but don't worry! I will still be posting new stuff and I'm going to do my best to space out the reposts so they are not back to back. 

This review was originally posted on November 21st, 2016. It has been updated to meet new blog formats and standards.

The first bit of this book is spent giving the reader a bit of a back story to help them understand what is going on and how humanity was put into the position it is in. In preparation for the Doom, thirteen continuums are created. One holds backups to all flora and fauna discovered at that point. The others house humans. Some are sent deep under the sea and earth. Others are located out in space. Each group of humans has one member tasked with carrying the Beacon. The hope is that these Beacons will lead everyone back to the first continuum after Earth has had time to heal and is once again livable.

The story we get to experience takes place around one thousand years after the Doom.

Myra Jackson, her father, and her younger brother Tink live deep under the sea aboard the 13th continuum. All knowledge and items from before the Doom are banned. The Synod, led by Padre Flavius,  runs everything and believes that returning to the surface will just bring further doom to them.

Captain Aero Wright is part of an interstellar colony aboard the second continuum. Everyone on the space vessel is trained in a military school and emotions are considered both inefficient and a sign of weakness. All marriages are arranged at birth and only exist to help keep the population steady.

In the beginning, the story felt very unoriginal. The back and forth between the multiple perspectives also felt a little abrupt. The actions taken by the characters were very predictable. This story fell victim to several common YA tropes, the most annoying to me being how quickly a character was willing to forgive their friends. It also had the “oh everything is messed up, let's immediately take action without properly processing anything” problem. It does get better, though, especially the last 30%. By the end, I was actually looking forward to the next book in the trilogy.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 3/5

Should you read it?

It is the first of a really interesting trilogy, so definitely!

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published January 1st, 2016 by Turner Publishing

Jennifer Brody: Goodreads, Official Site

"When Schneider was a twenty-nine-year-old Manhattan corporate lawyer, an acquaintance invited him to a secret meeting of an “esoteric school for inner development,” known to its students simply as “School.” Suspicious yet curious, he went. At first, he found support, community, and meaning among other highly educated New Yorkers. But soon, he found himself trapped in one of the nation’s most secretive and abusive cults. In the name of personal development, hundreds endured decades of sexual and physical abuse, forced labor, arranged marriages, swindled savings and inheritances, and systematic terrorizing. Some of them broke the law. All for their charismatic and demented leader Sharon Gans, a washed-up actress who claimed to be on a spiritual par with Buddha. 

This is Schneider’s story of how he got entangled in School, why he stayed, and how––impossibly––he got out after twenty-three years. It’s a cautionary tale about the power of group psychology and how anyone can be radicalized. It’s also a story of surviving traumatic abuse and ultimately finding a path to healing." - Goodreads

 Manhattan Cult Story: My Unbelievable True Story of Sex, Crimes, Chaos, and Survival by Spencer Schneider is expected to be published on July 5th, 2022. A big thank you goes to Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing for providing a free copy of this book for me to review.

This was a surprisingly easy read. The subject is harrowing and dark, yet the style of writing makes it feel like you've sat down for coffee with a friend and they've just started telling you about their past. There are several instances in the book that make you ask, "Why didn't you simply leave?" or "Why didn't you stand up and do something?" yet Schneider does an excellent job of conveying the trapped feeling that many people experience when they find themselves in similar situations. The cult relationship appears to be extremely similar to the type of relationship found in domestic abuse cases. This is something I had never considered before, and I am grateful that this book has helped me better understand both survivors and those who remain trapped in the deception.

I do think that the title of the book is a tiny bit misleading. It sets it up as a story full of depraved cult behaviors. While there is quite a bit of abuse described in the book, the way it is written about is very tame. As a result, the sensationalist title comes across as a little gross. I also have to wonder if the author was granted permission to tell some of the accounts of those involved.

Schneider's inclusion of the resources at the end of the book, as well as the list of signs you may be in a cult, was a great touch. Someone who may be in a similar situation may randomly pick up the book to briefly glance through and find a way to escape (or just realize they need to). Of course, the most important thing about this book is that it gives hope. Spencer was in the Odyssey Study Group/School/Theater of All Possibilities for decades but he still managed to finally leave. Writing this book and starting his blog gives hope to those still stuck that things can get better and it is possible to find freedom again.

Rating:  ★★★☆☆ 3/5

Book Information: Goodreads

Author Information: Goodreads, Official Site

Is it worth reading?

👍 Those interested in true crime or cults will enjoy this book. It may also be valuable for cult survivors.

It has been a while since I have done any type of monthly wrap-up, but for whatever reason, I was in the mood to do it for April. I have been slowly having this need to read something really dark begin to creep up on me so I thought it would probably be a good idea to get in some picture books before diving into the darkness to help balance things out. Now I want to read more picture books....AND read something dark. So if things get too dark, I have a way to brighten them back up immediately. 

This is what I read in April of 2022:

Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls & illustrated by David Litchfield

• ★★★★★ 5/5 - Absolutely beautiful book. It has been added to my physical book wishlist. 

What If... by Samantha Berger & illustrated by Mike Curato

• ★★☆☆☆ 2.5/5 - Boring and basic. I wasn't a fan of the illustrations either.

I would like to say a quick thank you to Random House Children's Publishers and Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend for me to read and review!

Winnie Zeng is about to start middle school. This is something she takes very seriously. Regardless of preparing for almost every scenario she can think of, after making mooncakes using her grandmother’s cookbook, she is faced with something she wasn’t able to prepare for. Now, she is forced to choose between saving the world and keeping up with the overwhelming pressure of growing up in an Asian household.

I loved this book and have placed it on my physical book wishlist. The cover is beautiful and was the main reason I decided I wanted to request an ARC. It just screamed, "Hey Sarah! This is a book you are going to devour! Come get it! "

Thankfully, the contents are just as wonderful as the cover. All bookworms know that the best reading experience is the kind when you start reading a book and it just starts flowing as if you are watching a movie. The world disappears, and time no longer exists. Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend did that for me. The characters are all interesting, and the dynamics between them are realistic. I also really love Winnie’s personality. I need the rest of the series immediately!!!

Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend by Katie Zhao is expected to be published on April 26th, 2022.

Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

Is it worth reading?

Absolutely. A great read regardless of age. This is especially perfect for fans of Turning Red and those interested in Chinese culture.

Book Information:  Goodreads

Author Information: Official Site, Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, Youtube

*I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy. 

Expected publication: December 20th, 2022 by Storey Publishing, LLC

This is an in-depth and easy-to-understand book that helps you build the perfect long-term backyard habitat for wild birds. At first, just looking through the book, the amount of information given can be a bit overwhelming. As someone who just started using bird feeders a year ago, I had no idea how much there was to know about creating the best possible environment for my winged friends.

However, the information is presented in a way that is both friendly to beginners and still interesting to those who have more experience. It has so many useful tips (invasive plants, different perspectives..etc) and includes details for each season as well. I love how organized the book is too. It is set up to be more than just a book you read once and then move on. It is the perfect book to have on hand to use as a constant reference when changing things up in your outdoor space.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4/5

Should you read it?

👍 Great for those just starting to take an interest in birds and those working on gardens.

Book Information: Goodreads

Author Information: Goodreads 

I was absolutely shocked at how good this book was. I received a copy from Hidden Gems to review and Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls is without a doubt a very special hidden gem.

Eleven-year-old Marco Swift is really having a tough time. His father has just died a mysterious death and his mother is struggling with bipolar disorder. In order for his mother to receive in-patient treatment, Marco and his little sister Sophie are forced to relocate from America to their paternal grandmother’s vineyard in Italy. Forced to deal with all the sudden changes, it is understandable that Marco is not handling it very well. On the trip to the vineyard he ends up in a fight with a bully, Luca, who he later finds out is his cousin. Shortly after arriving at his new home, they end up in another fight that results in his Aunt Elda taking him to his room. He keeps picking up hints of a voice that will eventually lead him on an adventure involving the ancestral castle, Crispo.

Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls falls into one of my all-time favorite categories to read: portal fantasy. The majority of the book takes place in Mortem, which has a very unique magical system. Magic is powered using gemstones that, once deprived, need time to recover (similar to how “mana” works in many fantasy games). I have never read a book with this type of system and found it both refreshing and vastly interesting. The main theme of this book deals with grief and forgiveness. Marco blames himself for pretty much everything that has gone wrong but as he progresses, he begins to heal. The big reveal at the end was done brilliantly.

I read the majority of this in one sitting. For a thirty-something-year-old, this is a very quick read…but I loved every second of it. The pacing was good and the characters were all interesting.  Some moments were predictable, but Cunningham did a wonderful job of placing enough doubt on what I thought was about to happen for me to question myself.

I also really enjoyed the black and white illustrations. The monochrome aesthetic fits the story wonderfully. 

*I received a copy of this book from Book Sirens.

This is a super adorable bedtime children's book. The illustrations are just precious. The story is told using a repetitive rhyming scheme that is often found in similar books. The lines in the story needed to be separated a bit more. I think the rhyme is supposed to be two people going back and forth, but it reads like one person which was a little weird.  Outside of that, I really enjoyed it.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4/5

Worth Reading? -  It is a perfect bedtime book for little ones who love animals.

A poor mouse and a rich mouse compete in the Country Bake-Off to see who can make the best tasting cake in Mouse Country. The story itself is nothing new but still done in an easily digestible way. What I enjoyed the most about this book was the beautiful illustrations done by Evgeniya Kozhevnikova. They are super cute.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4/5

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy. 

*Disclaimer: I won an ARC of this book from Goodreads Giveaways.

The Supernatural Society is a middle-grade novel written by Rex Ogle. It was released on February 1st, 2022. 

I had high hopes for this book. It has everything I love to see in a middle-grade book. However, I was ultimately left a bit disappointed. Many books take inspiration from others, and I see nothing wrong with that. The problem, however, is the author’s ability to use that inspiration in a way that is not jolting or so obvious that it feels like low-key copying. Taking the inspiration and then building off it to create something unique takes work. Otherwise, it just leaves the reader feeling like they are reading fanfiction or a rip-off. 

This is the main problem I have with this book. There are far too many obvious references to Harry Potter, and the attempt at a Lemony Snicket-style narration left me annoyed before even reaching page 50. I would read and get into what was going on…only to have a paragraph of random narration that felt unneeded. It left me feeling like reading the book was a chore as it felt tedious to get through.

I was also disappointed in the lack of character growth. I get that this is meant to be an introduction to what is meant to be a series, but it felt like the characters you meet at the beginning are exactly the same at the end. It was also a bit faster-paced than what I would prefer, but not too bad.

There is good in this book though. I really appreciated the amount of diversity and the writing (outside of the Snicket-style monologues) is quite good. I have a ton of quotes I plan on adding to Goodreads that are just fantastic. The inclusion of multiple codes for the reader to solve was also really interesting, and I’m sure young readers will find them fun and engaging. I like the idea of the story, and I hope that it is improved upon in the next book.

Overall, I think it just felt a little…too basic.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 3/5

Is it worth reading? - A good choice for middle-grade readers who are good with spooky books. 

Book Information: Goodreads

Author Information: Rex Ogle @ Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads,  Official Site

I will read pretty much anything. I admit to having a few genres that I will bury myself within for long periods, but ultimately I just love reading itself and the escape it provides. The ability of a good book to paint a world that slowly but surely teleports you inside of it is something I both crave and find necessary for my survival. 

I often choose what book I pick up based on the mood I am in at the time. “How far away do I seek to be from reality? What am I hoping to feel?” I have noticed this as my depression has worsened, I tend to gravitate more towards scifi adventures that take me to other galaxies. I seek to feel powerful, like a hero. This can be very therapeutic, but I have a cycle in which it eventually leads to a reading rut and the only way to get out of it is to go on a blind date with a book that doesn't seem like something I would typically like.

I prepare ahead of time for these moments. I regularly go on downloading sprees that fill up my kindle with free books. I don't think much about what the book is about (I usually don't even read the summary.). That is why I have a massive amount of books on my kindle that I will probably never get around to reading. But, when the book rut happens, a lottery occurs and the first one to grab my attention wins the right to me actually reading it. That is how I came to read About the Night by Anat Talshir.

What caught my eye was the cover. I’m not sure why. I simply scrolled past it multiple times and just kept coming back to it. So it won the book lottery and I promptly downloaded it to my devices. It turns out this book is a historical romance. What is my absolute least favorite genre? Yeah...romance. Keep that in mind as you read how amazing I think this book is.

The book tells the story of Elias Riani and his true love, Lila, as they struggle to survive amidst the tragedies of war. Separated due to the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, their paths take vastly different directions before they are able to find each other again. It is a tale that is similar to the one told in The Notebook, but far more realistic and heart-wrenching. 

Anat Talshir's writing perfectly paints the struggles of all the characters in this book. They are all so very real and I felt myself wanting to reach out and hold their hands or hug them. I cried quite a bit while reading this one and had trouble restraining myself from reading it in one sitting. 

It is one of those books that has several characters. I know some people have trouble with those types, which is why I'm mentioning it. I had no trouble keeping up with everyone though, as each character is thoroughly brought to life. About the Night is easily one of the most beautiful books I have read in years. I am so happy I picked it. (it won my book lottery this time)

Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5 

Is it worth reading?

👍  Absolutely. Extra perfect for anyone who regularly reads historical romance or loved The Notebook by Nicolas Sparks.

Rating: 18+

Runtime: 2 hours 7 minutes

Genre(s): Drama

Released:  October 24th,  2020

Directed by: Hwan Lee

Written by: Hwan Lee

Starring: Lee Yoo-mi, Hani (Ahn Hee-yeon)

You are dropped into the world of Sejin who is a very peculiar character. The way she just generally seems unbothered by most things is both shocking and disturbing. When she does react, it seems…off. Viewers don’t get much information about her background, but it does seem that at some point before the film begins, something traumatic happened to her and has led to an apathetic outlook. Yet, at the same time, she comes off as astonishingly naive and aloof. However, as the film progresses it becomes questionable as to how genuine this naivety actually is. Overall she comes off as a long-lost character from a Sayaka Murata novel. 

After finding out she is pregnant, Sejin leaves home in search of a way to get enough money to pay for an “operation”.  The film follows this journey and the people Sejin meets along the way. The way Young Adult Matters is described and how the story is set up makes it seem like it is going to make some large statement about youth and the struggles they are dealing with. However, all the violence and cruelty just seems pointless, which may be a statement in itself, especially considering these are the moments in the film in which we linger the most. It has moments that feel almost poignant in its delivery, but they are hard to take too seriously when combined with the moments of absolute absurdity. It was almost as if Hwan Lee could not decide how dark of a film he wanted to create.

What the film lacks in its writing, it makes up for with its visuals. The way some of the scenes were framed and the usage of light was absolutely stunning. The acting was also superb, especially by Lee Yoo-mi (Sejin) and Hee-Yeon Ahn (Jooyoung). 

A quick note: While I did not enjoy how this film was written overall, I do think that since the film is in Korean and I do not speak said language, things definitely could have been lost in translation.

Rating: 6.5/10 ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Should you watch it?

👍This is good for those who are already fans of Korean films and don't mind a little violence.

Rating: R

Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes

Genre(s): Drama

Released: January 27, 2022

Directed by: Megan Park

Written by: Megan Park

Starring: Jenna Ortega, Maddie Ziegler, Niles Fitch

Yep. We have another film with a school shooting as an important part of the story. I know I mentioned in my review of Run Hide Fight that you shouldn’t be surprised if I posted a list or something on this topic, but I did not expect to be writing another film review so soon. 

This review contains spoilers. Please do not continue if you hate having things ruined before watching for yourself.

The Fallout focuses mostly on Veda, a survivor of a school shooting, and how the trauma affects her and those around her. This film is very much a modern version of the films that come before it. It was an obvious inspiration taken from the Parkland tragedy which leaves some characters feeling very cliche. Other characters come off as extremely realistic and raw (in a very “tv teenager” sort of way). This series feels like someone took a show meant for Freeform and gave it an R rating, but didn’t want it to be as shocking as something like Euphoria. However, this does not make the film bad, because it isn’t. Jenna Ortega’s performance as Veda and Maddie Ziegler’s as Mia were especially well done.

This is a solid directorial debut from Megan Park. The intensity of the shooting was felt deeply by the viewer, even though the main violence was thankfully off-screen. The emptiness and isolation of trauma were shown in the silence and long scenes of simplicity, which made it feel more realistic. I was worried when things near the end started heading for the cookie-cutter “everything is fine” ending that so many similar films tend to take, but I was left pleasantly surprised with the last 30 seconds. Trauma doesn’t just quickly go away, and the panic at the end was the most realistic depiction of PTSD I have seen in a film in a while.