Masks of Death is a collection of 13 short horror stories written by Thomas Stewart. The majority of the stories begin in a similarly hurried manner. The stories unfold quickly, leaving little time for character development or time to breathe and take in what is happening. I also found the back-to-back first-person narratives tedious, and I love first-person. The cover and title of the book also feel like they are trying to advertise something else. If you judged this book by its cover, you would probably expect gory, intense horror. However, what you get is very tame, basic horror that I don't see as being very entertaining to cynics like myself who have binged too much horror over the years. To readers like myself, many of the stories and "twists" come off as very cliche and predictable. However, it's not all bad.

I think the very thing that led to me not really enjoying most of this book is what could make it very important to the horror genre as a whole. This collection would serve as a wonderful introduction to horror writing for someone new to the genre. It gives you a little taste of different sub-genres and gives you a great place to find out what your taste could be. 

In one of my previous reviews of a short-story collection, I rated each story individually and the book as a whole. For Masks of Death, I just want to highlight my favorites. The "Fear Itself" Game and When Lacie Came Home are fantastic. The gem of this collection, though, is definitely Project Demigod. This short story felt like you were being introduced to a new series, and I really hope that Thomas Stewart considers expanding on this tale. 

Masks of Death is a promising collection by an author with a passion for horror. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this author's future works and look forward to seeing his growth over time.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 3/5

Should you read it?

If you have read a lot of horror, this may not be the most enjoyable read, especially if your tastes are more into body horror or super gore. However, if you have been interested in horror or you are new the genre, this is a wonderful place to start.

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Thomas Stewart: Official

Set against the backdrop of the war between science and God, reason and faith, Einstein in the Attic is the story of one scientist’s search for truth and meaning when faced with the ultimate question: Is there a God? Fleeing war-torn Lebanon, Adam Reemi’s faith is shaken by the hardships he has endured, but when he and a colleague successfully construct a nano hadron collider, and using sound waves, Adam finds unheard-of power at his fingertips. To help him answer the greatest question mankind has ever posed, he zaps the best philosophical minds of all time–namely Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Soren Kierkegaard, and Baruch Spinoza–from the past and into his attic. Not all goes according to plan, however, and Adam finds himself in a race against time to formulate an answer to the question of intelligent design… or risk losing everything. -Goodreads

*I received an e-ARC of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.*

It can be challenging to write a review of a book you didn't like, even if it wasn't a bad one. I just couldn't connect to it. Einstein in the Attic by Dana Dargos and Said Al Bizri is an adventurous science fiction novel that sounds like it would be right up my alley. However, the combination of the slow pacing and an extremely whiny and pretentious main character left me struggling to finish this book. This is totally a "me" thing, though, as Einstein in the Attic is actually very well written. I just prefer medium pacing and have a need to connect with or at least understand the main character. If I don't, or, even worse, find them annoying, I tune out. 

Rating:★★★☆☆ 3/5

Should you read it?

There's definitely a demographic for this book, but it definitely wasn't me. The book has a lot of science and philosophy, so if you enjoy long-winded conversations about both, this may be a good pick for you. 

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: January 31, 2022

Authors:

Dana Dargos: Goodreads, Twitter, Official

Said Al Bizri: Goodreads

Speak of pain, and I’ll tell you of the Time who stole it away…

Besieged by war, ravaged by monsters, and crawling with the undead, the land of Okarria is dying. Seventeen-year-old Emara survives by using her modest healing gift to save as many as she can while eluding the invaders who thirst for her enchanted blood.

So when a cursed cat saves her life and reveals Emara is the legendary Time Heir the necromancer king’s been searching for, she agrees to act as bait in a plot to destroy him. But when the plan goes horrifically awry, Emara must discover how deep her powers go, what she can change…

And what she cannot.

Unfortunately, Time Heirs have a history of getting killed, and with Okarria’s future on the line, Emara may have no choice but to follow in her ancestors’ footsteps. -Goodreads

 *I received an eARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Time's Orphan is book three of the Odriel's Heirs trilogy. I have not read the other books in the series...yet. The book was described to me as a standalone, but I had every intention of reading the whole series and then reviewing each one before the release of Time's Orphan. However, life happens, and as a mood reader, that means that I went from wanting to completely disappear into a world of fantasy to one of scifi adventure. So this review got delayed, and the other books are still on my TBR. They won't be there for long, though. This book was an absolute joy to read, and I can't wait to experience the rest of the trilogy.

It reminded me of why I love to read—how the written word can transport you to different worlds and allow you to become immersed in a story. Hayley Reece Chow's writing leaves you feeling like you are not actually reading. You are part of the story right there with Emara, Jai, and Chipo. The elements of romance feel natural and are not forced. The characters grow in ways that you would expect given their circumstances. Then, of course, you have a cursed cat. If you have read any other review of mine about anything that has a cat, you know how I feel. I'm a sucker for a good feline companion.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4/5

Should you read it?

Absolutely. This is perfect for those looking for a fantasy series that doesn't require you to read the books in order. 

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: February 8, 2023

Author: Goodreads, Twitter, Official

The mythical Island of Mayatte was never meant to be discovered by anyone, and its natives are about to find out why.

When a ship of foreigners crashes along the coast, everyone but Naña is wary of their inexplicable arrival. While others are suspicious and fearful, Naña is curious and even helpful, especially when one of the outsiders becomes gravely ill. But her goodwill might be a fatal flaw that puts the entire island in jeopardy. - Goodreads

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

The fantasy novella Mayatte's Catharsis introduces us to a new, intriguing, but underdeveloped world. The writing is beautiful, and I love the small glimpse we get of Mayatte. Despite how good it is, the book feels incomplete. All the elements of a 5-star read are here. It just needs to be fleshed out more. The pacing felt a little rushed, and I found the ending unsatisfying. It would be fantastic if the novella were expanded into a full novel. I'm curious about the island's inhabitants, and I'm intrigued about what happens next.  The novella contains great potential for further exploration, and I think the idea would be well served with more detail and context.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 3/5

Should you read it?

I think this is perfect if you love fantasy and need something quick to read. 

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: December 12, 2022

Author: Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram, 

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

This is a beautifully written coming-of-age picture book that would be perfect for young adults about to spread their wings. I do wish it had different illustrations, though, as I found them to be a bit distracting. Nonetheless, this story captures the special feelings of anticipation and fear that come with growing up and preparing to embark on your own for the first time.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 3.5/5

Should you read it?

I think any age can get something out of this book, particularly those leaving the nest for the first time.

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: December 26, 2022

Author: Goodreads

*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.