Unlocked Dive by A.K. Blythe
A tender and vulnerable MM romance that will make you believe in true love.
This is the second book in the Broken Boys of Cirque series, but it does not need to be read in order. The connection between the first book and this one is mainly the small international circus community. A few characters from Wristlocked show up, which is lovely, but if you haven't read AK Blythe yet, start here!
Bad Weather Mammals: Poems by Ashley-Elizabeth Best
A deeply impactful, brutally honest poetry collection about the joys and trauma of living with a disability.
I highlighted SO much of this book. The prose are stunning, the imagery is compelling, the way Elizabeth-Best plays with form elevates her words beyond the page.
For me, reading poetry is a deeply intimate act that connects the reader to the author in really vulnerable ways. In Ashley-Elizabeth's case, she takes her specific lived experiences and then cracks it open to create a connection to others in this really compelling way.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark
A no-nonsense assassin is given an impossible case, in this sci-fi/fantasy novella infused with dark humour.
Our FMC is dead, well un-dead, and has signed her soul over to an ancient goddess in return for becoming an assassin. However, when she sees her latest mark, she realizes the young woman in front of her is impossible, and yet, there she is.
Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram
This is one of my favourite books of the year.
Get lost in a liminal maze, while staring at yourself in the mirror, in this gorgeously written nightmare novella.
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
A Macbeth retelling, but make it gothic feminine rage. The prose are gorgeous. The pacing was consistent. The gothic descriptions of Macbeth's castle made me feel the stones beneath my fingers.
Noire Moon: A Prologue Novella by Elliott Rose
A spicy Halloween-themed prequel novella that introduces us to three new men in Port Macabre.
Vengeful Gods is one of my favourite books of the year, so when Elliott announced we'd get to meet the next three men, and introduce us to their love interest, I scrambled for it.
The novella follows Poe, as she mysteriously wins a ticket to an exclusive Halloween haunted house in a mansion run by a secret society.
dRead Con Featured Author: Ai Jiang
This will be the first-ever Dark Fiction Literary Festival in Canada, and I am so excited to promote and rep by favourite Canadian horror authors.
One of the authors I am so excited to see is Ai Jiang! Ai is a Chinese -Canadian writer, as well as an Ignyte, Nebula, and Bram Stoker winner. Also, she’s a really cool person. Check out the images below for more about Ai’s books and her recommended reading and horror films /TV shows.
I’ll be there for most of the day watching panels and eating snacks! Come find me.
I’ll be there for most of the day watching panels and eating snacks! Come find me.
I’m going to dRead Con Canada
This will be the first-ever Dark Fiction Literary Festival in Canada, and I am so excited to promote and rep by favourite Canadian horror authors.
There will be author panels, a marketplace, and a launch event for the new book from C.M Forest! New and upcoming authors will also be able to meet with other indie publishers including Eerie River Publishing and ECW Press.
I’ll be there for most of the day watching panels and eating snacks! Come find me.
dRead Con Featured Author: Tim McGregor
I am thrilled to announce that I have been selected as an influencer for dRead Con Canada!
This will be the first-ever Dark Fiction Literary Festival in Canada, and I am so excited to promote and rep by favourite Canadian horror authors.
One of the authors I am so excited to see is Tim McGregor. Tim is a Shirley Jackson Award nominated author. He also has cool book launch parties. Check out the images below for more about Tim’s books and his recommended reading and horror films /TV shows.
dRead Con Featured Author: Steve Stred
I am thrilled to announce that I have been selected as an influencer for dRead Con Canada!
This will be the first-ever Dark Fiction Literary Festival in Canada, and I am so excited to promote and rep by favourite Canadian horror authors.
One of the authors I am so excited to see is Steve Stred. Steve is a multiple-award nominated author from Edmonton, Alberta. His Instagram stories are hilarious! Check out the images below for more about Steve’s books and her recommended reading and horror films /TV shows.
I’ll be there for most of the day watching panels and eating snacks! Come find me.
I’ll be there for most of the day watching panels and eating snacks! Come find me.
Karma by Lauren Biel
This dual POV erotic horror will have you wanting to buy the fancy nails from your hardware store.
Out of the Drowning Deep by A.C. Wise
A sci-fi murder mystery novella that will have you praying to gods old and new.
This is a wildly imaginative and beautifully written novella which really excels in character development. Our main characters are a newly created angel, an investigator with addiction issues and an automaton that has achieved consciousness, but worries he may not have a soul. All of this on the backdrop of a lone tower, on a forgotten planet where a key religious leader known as 'the pope' has been murdered.
The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir
This nightmare of a book will keep you awake all night.
I love an unreliable narrator. Iðunn is having the worst sleep of her life; she keeps waking up with unexplained bruises, dirt under her fingernails and more tired than before she fell asleep.
Heart of Frost and Scars by Pam Godwin
You'll never be able to escape in the last book of the Frozen Fate trilogy.
This final book answered all of our outstanding questions about who is stalking Frankie, what happened to Wolf, and how will all three alphas be able to live under one roof with the love of their life, Frankie.
Final Boy by Dixon Sloughleigh
So much depravity shoved into 16 pages.
We have
🔪 Snuff film makers
🔪 Adorable twink
🔪 Dicks
🔪 Revenge murder
🔪 Violence
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
Long live dislikable female main characters with this flip on traditional fantasy tropes.
I love the idea of flipping the script on fantasy tropes, where our main characters are fundamentally good or working towards good. Our main character Ray, is pretty dislikable the entire time. She is selfish, and self-absorbed. She leans into being a villain so hard that she calls her guard Key "minion" regularly.
Time's Agent by Brenda Peynado
A horror sci-fi that explores metaverses to contemplate grief, loss identity and capitalism.
The discovery of Pocket Worlds changes everything for science, nature and our understanding of time. These worlds are small slices of heaven, some no larger than a small island and populated with nature and artifacts. Our main character, archeologist Raquel and her wife, Marlena work for an institute dedicated to exploring and uncovering these worlds and who may have lived there previously. Perhaps even discover an entire second universe.
Want Me by Neve Wilder
A hot MM college romance that will unlock so many new kinks for you.
I asked my bookish community for recommendations on the hottest books they've ever read and this one came up a few times.
I can confirm, this is hot. Spice starts early and often. It's written in a way that is so believable and incredibly descriptive.
The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch
A queer romance full of vibes and good intentions.
You won't know which is sweeter, the mexican hot chocolate you're drinking or the love story between our two holiday princes. Words that come to mind with this book are adorable, earnest and cozy.