Mindy's Book Journey

  Title: Of Starlight and Plague Author: Beth Hersant Genre: Science Fiction/ Horror Published: August 28, 2021 by Troubador Publishing I received a copy through NetGalley. After losing his daughter to rabies Dr. Pickman becomes determined to find a cure. Instead he created a new strain of the virus that is a lot more dangerous. As the new disease spreads we follow what people will do to survive.  This was a harrowing story of survival against a disease taking over the population. It includes a great mix of science fiction and horror. The creation and spread of the disease is covered with great detail and was heart pumping and exciting. There was a lot of heart in the story as well with what the characters must face. I would have liked some more time spent on character development. The experimentation on animals was really hard to read.  However, it had such a great premise and the plot was really well crafted. Overall, this was a great disease outbreak story that is wor...

  Title: Stay Awake Author: Megan Goldin Genre: Thriller Published: 8/9/22 by St. Martin's Press I received a copy for review through Netgalley. Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi with no memory of how she got there. She forgets the last two years every time she falls asleep. The police are looking for her as a suspect in a murder she doesn't remember committing.  This was such a fast paced thriller with an unreliable narrator. Such an interesting way to follow someone in figuring out the truth. This is an enjoyable thriller that will leave the reader wanting to find out what really happened along with the main character. Since the main character keeps forgetting things when she falls asleep there ere some repetitive parts in the story as she retraces the first steps several times. There is some skipping around in time from two years ago, when she was first trying to figure out her past, and present day. Most of the time these time jumps were easy to keep track. I did fi...

  Title: The Devil Takes You Home Author: Gabino Iglesias Genre: Horror/Thriller Published: 8/2/2022 by Mulholland Books I received a copy through Netgalley for review. Mario is driven to a job as a hitman to pay for his daughter's cancer treatment and support his family. He takes on a near impossible job that takes him into the depths of the cartels with the hopes of snagging $200,000 to start a better life. This novel will grab you emotionally right from the start with Mario's story of tragedy and struggle and is full of emotion throughout. This sets up a deep investment that carries the reader through this gruesome violent tale. Really important social commentary is weaved in to the story, and supernatural elements are sprinkled in as well that will speak to the horror reader's heart. Iglesias uses the most beautiful dark metaphors effortlessly showcasing his incredible talent for writing the macabre. If you are looking for an emotional ultra-violent horror/thriller that...

  Title: Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Movies Author: Nina Nesseth Genre: Nonfiction Published: July 26, 2022 by Tor Nightfire I received a copy for review through Netgalley. How do people respond to fear? Why do people like watching horror movies? How do film makers use their skills to make movies more affecting? All of these questions and more are answered in this nonfiction book exploring the science of horror films.  The book is heavy on the science and references many scientific studies. All of the resources and further reading on the subjects can be found in the back of the book. I really appreciated that the scientific answers given in this book were so well researched.  Nightmare Fuel is also written in a fun way with a lot of the authors voice coming through. It is not a dry read at all. It also references and huge list of horror movies. All of the films referenced can be found listed in the back as well. I would make sure that you have seen a lot of the ...

  Title: What Moves the Dead Author: T. Kingfisher Genre: Horror Published: 7/12/22 by Tor Nightfire I received a copy for review through NetGalley. Alex Easton is visiting childhood friends with declining health in their crumbling estate. With the help of an expert of fungus and a doctor they need to find out what is causing the strange sickness in the people and animals in the area. What Moves the Dead is a fantastic retelling of "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe. This story is dripping with atmosphere. It is true to the story and mood of the original while adding on to the story making it all new. This is a story that can be read on its own, but the experience is enhanced by reading the original first.  If you are a fan of Poe, if you love retellings of popular stories, or if you just like a creepy atmospheric tale I recommend this book for you. My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

  Title: Flames of Mira Author: Clay Harmon Series: The Rift Walker Series Book 1 Genre: Fantasy Published: July 12, 2022 by Rebellion Publishing Among the volcanoes beneath Mira’s frozen lands, people like Ig are forced to undergo life-threatening trials that bind chemical elements to the human body. One of Mira's most powerful elementals, Ig works in secret as an enforcer for the corrupt Magnate Sorrelo Adriann, but is cursed with flesh binding magic — magic that will kill him at the first sign of disobedience. His days are spent hunting down anyone who would oppose the magnate, a shell of his old self who clings to old memories and his budding friendships with the magnate's son and daughter. When Sorrelo is overthrown in a coup and the country is thrown into chaos, Ig quickly learns he can do far worse than what Sorrelo has asked from him so far. If he can’t rediscover the person he was and escape the flesh binding in time, he will have to kill countless innocent...

  Title: Price Manor: The House That Bleeds Author: Jamie Stewart Genre: Gothic, Horror Published: Feb.11, 2022 by Deadline Horror Collective Other Books in the Price Manor Series Price Manor: The House That Burns by Mike Salt (Book 1) Price Manor: The House That Falls by Jay Alexander (Book 3)   A small community in rural Russia is rocked when an old gothic manor appears on the shore of a lake. Homes don't just appear from mid-air so Father Alexander Nicholai is sent in to investigate. This was a really well paced creepy modern take on a gothic haunted house story. The characters in the story were very well developed. The main character Father Alexander Nicholai with his struggles of faith makes a great perspective to follow as he takes on the forces within the house. The house is a great character unto itself with its bleeding walls and sinister intentions. I have not read the first book in the series, but this story was very easy to follow. I want to go back and read the re...