Feel the Fear … and Beyond, by Susan Jeffers
Full disclosure, I’ve been writing Susan Jeffers monthly newsletter articles for years and have worked for the company for more than a decade. I hadn’t read this book of hers, which is more of a workbook, but I was looking for new material for my articles. This is a solid follow-up to her super famous Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. The book offers solid advice about how to turn your fears into triumph.
 
The Beckoning Fair One, by Oliver Onions
A horror novella from early 20th century. A middle-aged writer moves into a long-abandoned house in a quiet neighborhood to finish his next novel. The house has other plans for him and does not want any interference (especially in the form of his lady friend). Creepy in the same vein as The Turn of the Screw, but much more intelligible. Fun, quick read.
 
Obsessed: Building a Brand People Love from Day One, by Emily Heyward
A second nonfiction entry this month! I mentioned before that one of my jobs is becoming more intense and I’ll be doing a lot more marketing, so I picked this book up to expand my skills. It’s an interesting take on what a brand can be and how to connect it to customers. It was more specific to start ups than what I was looking for, but still offered a lot of good advice. Plus, the stories behind famous brands was super interesting.
 
What If You & Me, by Roni Loren
I started listening to this romance because I thought there was going to be a bit of horror to it. There wasn’t. Podcaster and horror writer, Andi, keeps everyone at arms-length since her high school boyfriend turned out to be a killer. Former firefighter, Hill, keeps everyone at arms-length since he lost a leg in a fire. Now these two are neighbors, let the romance ensue. This was a nice, standard romance. It’s the second in a series, and I’ll probably read more. Sometimes I just need nice.
 
The Ship of Stolen Words, by Fran Wilde
A children’s book where there is a portal between the human world and the goblin world in a neighborhood’s Little Free Library. Goblins come to this world to steal words, which are very valuable in their world. When goblin Toliver steals Sam’s ability to say “sorry,” Sam gets in big trouble. To get his word back, he has to work with Toliver and his Nana to bring down the goblin pirate prospectors. A lot of great adventure in this book, plus word magic and word hogs.
 
Austenland, by Shannon Hale
I finally got this book as an ebook through a library. It was surprisingly hard to find. The story follows Jane (another one this month!), a Jane Austen-obsessed singleton who is gifted the opportunity to spend three weeks in an immersive country estate where she gets to pretend she’s a young unmarried woman in Regency England. Yes, this is a romance, and yes, it is impossibly cute right up to the grand romantic gesture and happy ending.
 
The Death of Mrs. Westaway, by Ruth Ware
On lists of folk horror, Ruth Ware comes up a lot, even though she is considered a thriller writer. A cozy thriller writer, is that a thing? Hal is a young woman without any family since her mother was killed in an accident three years before. Broke and being threatened by a ruthless money-lender, she takes advantage of an offer to go to her wealthy grandmother’s funeral—even though she knows that the woman is not her grandmother. Or is she? Hal becomes entrenched in a family saga that includes her mother and a family she knows nothing about, that puts her in a dangerous position. I liked this story. It wasn’t quite horror, but there were definitely some creepy stuff in it.
 
(An odd note: this book is about a psychic with a booth on Brighton’s board walk where there is also a mystery involving an inheritance. Just like The Moon, the Stars, and Madame Borova. An odd coincidence.)

After a dry spell during June and July, I made up for with 15 books in August. Several were books I'd start a month or more before and four were audio books, so it's not like I started all of them from scratch. 

​The Final Girl Support Group, by Grady Hendrix
Another hit from Hendrix. The premise is fun—all the slasher movies in the 70s and 80s were based on real life events and now, all grown up, these Final Girls have to face real life with all their mental and physical scars. But then someone starts targeting them. Now Lynette, the survivalist among them, has to make them believe someone wants them all dead and has to figure out who is behind the sinister plot. Yes, just as fun as it sound. It is horror, so if you can take some really intense scenes, you’ll also get the excellent mystery of the plot.
 
The Moon, the Stars, and Madame Burova, by Ruth Hogan
Reading Ruth Hogan is like getting a hug. I really loved The Keeper of Lost Things and this too is a delight. The story surrounds Imelda Burova, a beloved psychic with a booth on Brighton’s boardwalk. Alternating between the early 1970s and now, we get to know both young and old Imelda and the secret she has been keeping all these years.
 
The Way Back, by Gavriel Savit
Set in the 19th century in a rural corner of Eastern Europe primarily populated by Jews, two young teenagers come face-to-face with Death, only to thwart it. This leads them on a fanciful adventure through the Far Country (the place of demons in Yiddish folklore) and real life. Along the way, they meet some of the most famous biblical demons and learn that without death, there is no life. Interesting read, though a bit convoluted at times. Overall, it was an interesting book.
 
The Ghost Road, by Charis Cotter
I pulled this book out of the returns cart at work and I’m so glad I did. It’s a middle grade novel about a girl who is sent to Nova Scotia to live with her long-dead mother’s family for the summer. There she meets a cousin who looks just like her and learns about a curse that has haunted her family for generations. Atmospheric, historical, somewhat magical, and fascinating. I really liked this novel and am looking forward to reading more by this author.
 
Enola Holmes & the Black Barouche, by Nancy Springer
Yay! A new Enola Holmes. This one is aimed at the YA crowd (after the Netflix movie) but starts only a few months after the sixth book. In this story, Enola works directly with Sherlock to find a woman who is presumed dead, but whose sister insists that she lives. This book didn’t come out until the end of August, but I listened to it with an advance listening copy (ALC). It was so great to have another Enola story and this one is just as good as the previous series. Plus, this book is good for long-time fans or new ones.
 
The Wife Upstairs, by Rachel Hawkins
Another audio. This book is a Southern Gothic version of not only Jane Eyre, but also of Rebecca. We start off knowing main character Jane is a con artist. She takes advantage Eddie Rochester, quickly becoming his live-in girlfriend, but really, who is conning who? This book has a lot of plot twists and leaves you guessing until the very end. A definite recommend from me.
 
Childgrave, by Ken Greenhall
This is another Valancourt Press republish, they had the ebook on sale, so I thought I’d give it a chance. (I was looking for another creeper.) It was all right. Set in 1982 in NYC, photographer Jonathan becomes obsessed with a harp player and his four-year-old daughter starts seeing ghosts—which he can photograph. This leads him on an odyssey to the rural village of Childgrave, New York, which has some very creepy secrets. The story was kind of meh. I kept waiting for it to get exciting … and it did in the epilogue.
 
Terciel & Elinor, by Garth Nix
This book is out in October, so I read the ARC. Another excited ‘Yay’ from me, since the Old Kingdom series is one of my all-time favorites. This book did not disappoint. It tells the story of how Sabriel’s parents met and how a great enemy was once defeated. It’s a direct prequel to Sabriel, however, I think it could be another entry point to the series. 

Skeen’s Leap, by Jo Clayton
I’d heard a lot about this book, but it wasn’t really for me. Clayton is a classic Sci Fi writer, but her writing is choppy and world-building was … lacking. It was hard to follow as there were dozens of other sentient species that are described in a way that assumes you’ll follow along even without more details. Also, it was kind of long for the story and finished in the middle. Maybe it wasn’t the best story to start with for Clayton.
 
The Unknown Ajax, by G. Heyer
July was hard. I needed happy books and this one is so wonderfully happy. Third or fourth read and it stands up every time.
 
ACE: What Asexuality Reveals about Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex, by Angela Chen
Asexuality is a relatively new identification on the sexuality spectrum and this book does a great job at explaining asexuality and its nuances. Mixed with research, interviews, and personal experience, I learned a lot from this read. Particularly about the insidiousness of compulsive sexuality and how it muddies choice and experience.
 
Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All, by Laura Ruby
I listened to this one the first time and it only got better by reading it. Ruby is a great talent writing in the YA sphere. Pearl and Frankie’s stories are so compelling. I look forward to more of her work.
 
The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor, by Shaenon K. Garrity
A graphic novel about a pocket universe that is perpetually set in a regency romance. Haley has read all the gothic romance so when she gets to this universe she knows just how to behave. Unfortunately, an interdimensional monster soon joins her. Silly, inventive fun.
 
The Lord of Stariel, by A.J. Lancaster
A fun magical romance about an ancient family magically tied to their land. When the Lord dies, his family gathers to find out which member the land will choose to be the next lord. Disgraced daughter, Hetta, returns and is as shocked as everyone to find she’s the new lord. Especially when she finds the estate is disrepair and the fairy realm about ready to cross over their ancient boundaries. Perfectly entertaining but I probably won’t keep going with the series.
 
A Psalm for the Wild-Built, by Becky Chambers
This warm hug of a novella about a tea monk living in a peaceful world, well-adjusted world just can’t find satisfaction. Then he meets a creature of myth—a robot of the wild. As the two journey together, their conversation forms the heart of the story. A lovely read and I’m looking forward to more.
 

So, this summer has been really busy. I have more work these days (good thing!), but that means less time for the work that doesn't pay. Since I'm posting this so late, I thought I'd change up the format a bit. 

​A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, by T. Kingfisher
A wonderfully imaginative and adventurous take on magical ability. Mona is the only magical person left in a city being attacked by barbarians, only her magic is being a great baker. I loved this one.

​Everybody Writes, by Ann Handley
I’ll be reading a lot more business-related nonfiction due to my changing job. This was a good basic guide to writing for the internet. It is definitely meant for those uncomfortable writing, but did have some good advice for blogging and social media. 

​The Lost Village, by Camilla Sten
The perfect amount of horror with a haunting story that will stick with you. It takes place in an abandoned, rural village in Sweden. A documentary filmmaking group journeys there to find out what happened to all the townspeople who disappeared all at once sixty years before. With flashbacks to the village before it was abandoned, the story is makes excellent use of situational and cult horror. 

​Competitive Grieving, by Nora Zelemansky
Interesting look at how grieving can make us selfish and how we can never truly know those friends we are close to. Also a fun, snarky, romantic romp.

​Death of a Necromancer, by Martha Wells
Magical heists and a necromantic serial killer set in a medieval-like world. Yup! It’s just as fun as it sounds.

​The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, by India Holton
A hilarious take on historical romance. The ladies observe the smallest details of civil society, all the while plotting robberies and murders. Add a fun romance with an untrustworthy young man and a ridiculous appearance by Queen Victoria. A joy.

​The Convenient Marriage, by Georgette Heyer
The first reread of this one and while the heroine’s stutter is still annoying, I liked it a little better than the first time. It has all the hallmarks of a fun Heyer—know-it-all hero, ingenue, ridiculous family, and a revengeful villain. Perfect.

Elatsoe, by Darcie Little Badger
This is ostensibly a YA book that would also be good for middle grade readers. Elatsoe—Ellie—lives in a world much like ours but where magic, fae, and vampires also exist. She is the descendent of a famous Lipan Apache who developed a method of bringing back the ghosts of dead animals, a skill that is passed down through her family. Ellie is very good at connecting with the dead, so when her cousin suddenly dies and visits her through the ghost realm, she knows that his death was not an accident. With the support of her parents and her best friend at her side, she delves into the secrets of perfect-looking Willowbee, Texas—bringing danger to them all. Elatsoe has great world-building and characters who are friendly enough that you’d like to join them, even when facing immortal evil.
 
Real Men Knit, by Kwana Jackson
Her Harlem neighborhood is devastated when Mama Joy suddenly dies, leaving her four adopted sons and longtime worker in charge of her declining yarn shop. The youngest son, Jesse, wants to keep the shop afloat and he appeals to Kerry, who has been visiting and working in the shop most of her life, to help him. They have a long history of not-quite liking each other, so when they’re thrown together, sparks fly. This book was a fun, comfort read. Sometimes I just need a nice romance and this one checked all the boxes.
 
Cousin Kate, by Georgette Heyer
This first time I read this book, I liked it well-enough. I think I liked it more this time around. It’s meant to be a gothic romance, but the gothic never quite manifests. Instead, it is an interesting story about penniless Kate who is taken in by her wealthy aunt to be a companion to her cousin Torquil. She soon realizes that there are some big secrets, even violent secrets, at her new home which might put her life in danger. I think you can see this one as one of GH’s attempts at Regency mystery. There isn’t much of a mystery, but you never quite know what turn the story is going to take. I think this is a fun read.
 
The Moorstone Sickness, by Bernard Taylor
This was a real gothic horror. A young married couple, Hal and Rowen, decide to move to very rural Moorstone after losing their son. The village is perfect, yet Hal can’t quite like it. The people are all beautiful and friendly, but only to a point. The stories about themselves they tell don’t quite add up. And people who are friendly one day are completely different the next. Hal and Rowen fight about it, but he can’t make her see that something is wrong, until it’s too late. I liked this one enough. The problem I had with it is that you knew what the ‘thing’ was about a third of the way into it. Had it been written as a novella, it could have been truly terrifying, but instead there was a lot of unnecessary build-up. Still, it was fun.
 
The Time of Green Magic, by Hilary McKay
When Abi and her new stepbrothers move into an ivy covered home in the middle of London, it feels as if they’ve moved to the country, especially with all the wildlife that they now encounter. The old house is odd but peaceful until Abi discovers a secret magic. When younger brother invites a new kind of wildlife into the house, the magic and real-life clash. This is a delightful middle grade book that explores blended families and how a crisis can bring them together. I very much recommend this one.
 
My Brilliant Life, by Ae-ran Kim
This story was both delightful and gut-wrenching. It follows 16-year-old Areum who has accelerated aging disease, so his body is that of an 80-year-old. He is very close to his parents who love him dearly and he wants to give them back something before he dies—which is likely to be soon. He writes their teenaged love story and how he came to be born. It’s a quiet book. Areum’s insights are both worldly and naïve and his capacity to love and accept is inspiring. There were a couple of passages I marked for rereading and they are just as lovely the second and third time as the first. I read an advanced reading copy, and now I plan to get a finished copy for my library. I will definitely read this book again.
 
A Head Full of Ghosts, by Paul Tremblay
This book actually scared me. Most of the horror I’ve been reading is eerie, discomforting, but I haven’t been frightened. This book did it. I wound up only reading it during the day. Fifteen years after her family’s breakdown on TV through the reality show, The Possession, Merry is working with an author to tell the story beyond what was seen on TV. As she is the only surviving member of her family, she tells what happened when she was eight and her 14-year-old sister began showing signs of acute schizophrenia or maybe possession by an evil spirit. On the verge of losing their house, the Barret family agree to be filmed as they wrestle with Marjorie’s illness. The story is interesting, not just in the surface, linear story, but how pop culture and the internet can feed alternative interpretations and hide the real story. Definitely recommend!
 
The Last Watch, by J.S. Dewes
So, this book. I’m not quite sure what to write about it. I liked it … enough? Even though I had been looking forward to it, I found it a bit of a slog to get through. I’ve just been reading other reviews to see if I could get my head around why it didn’t do anything for me. It’s a story of outcast soldiers monitoring the edge of the universe, the Divide, and who are the only ones in a position to do anything when the universe starts contracting. The first third was really clunky, with lots of soldier/prison tropes and a forced love story. The second two thirds is action packed—but almost too crammed with action. The two POV characters see some growth, particularly Cavalon, the rogue playboy, but it wasn’t really enough to make me care about the characters. The weird thing is that this is the first in a series and where the book left off actually interests me more than the whole of The Last Watch. There is a good chance I’ll read the second one, but we’ll see how I remember it next year when the second book comes out.