rekt by Alex Gonzalez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh wow. I haven't read a horror for years that genuinely creeped me out like this.

I mean, sure real life can creep me out nearly as well, and that's kinda the point. There are a lot of really bad people out there, and this really taps into that rich, ugly vein.

Dark corners of the internet aside, this novel does something rather unique. It made me actually care for the narrator. Sorrow, obsession, and being broken is the major flavor here--and then it gets really dark. When the darker side of the internet comes out, it really rears its worst side. Generated snuff films?

Wow, DARK. The book really snuck up on me. Yikes.


For those of you who want a true low-budget psychological thriller horror feel, don't sleep on this. It'll be worth the shivers.

Now, I need read or watch something super light. I don't think I'll write a synesthesia review of this novel. Nobody needs that level of creepy-pasta.




Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.

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Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

More subtle than thrilling, this horror novella seemed to have a fairly strong start. Frankly, I was invested in these characters and not the rest. For all the fungi goodness, I may be getting a bit burned out on this particular trend. Maybe I'm just no longer a fun guy.

There were some fairly good aspects to this short work, however, and while I didn't really like the end, it's not like I'll avoid the author in the future.

I'm just scrunching up my nose to this particular work. My taste buds are rebelling.




Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.

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All Better Now by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, it's a book JUST FOR ME. :)

Strangely, I expected a YA novel with a novel premise, but it really truly didn't feel YA at all. It just felt like great SF, a-la what would happen if a pandemic that makes people AT PEACE, devoid of HATE, became an actual PROBLEM for the rest of humanity.

As I was reading it, I was thrilled with the idea of a humanity becoming EMPATHETIC and CONSIDERATE, and there was NOTHING anyone could do about it.

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

*happy dance*

It's like all my worries, concerns, absolute terror about the world around me just washed away.

Except, of course, novels don't work that way. There's conflict. And Shusterman is great about avoiding irony or humor when a truly sobering look at the world could be had. And it is had.

Great novel.

A synesthesia review probably should have come with a slightly sterile smell, or the scent of a mask, since it IS, quite, a very pandemic-feel novel, but to me, I just smelled flowers. I smelled the scent of hope. Let's change human nature.



Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.

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Cold Iron Task by James J. Butcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The third book in the UF is truly circling back to pick up the cliffhangers of the first. This is pretty great. But more importantly, we're getting a lot more details and character building. Action, magic, and mystery is great, but any story is ultimately going to hang on how much we like the characters.

At least for me, I'm solid there. It's like I'm getting a good dose of vitamin C with the pulp of this orange juice of a book. At least for the synesthesia part of the review, I kinda feel like I'm fighting off a cold, which is strange for how much our MC keeps bursting into flame, or walking around like a soot-mobile. So thank goodness for the juice, even if it doesn't mix too well with the carbon sheen.

I'm still having a lot of fun. I really like the snark.




Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.

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Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

By now a very nice yearly January tradition, these Wayward Children are a treat in every way--be it for the frogs or turtles or just drowned girls.

It sounds weird when I say that. But it's true. And these books are simply--comforting. Always and forever comforting. A prosthetic story for a missing ideal.

I smelled salty water the entire time I read it, so I guess that means I'm drowned, too.




Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.

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Long Past Dues by James J. Butcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first book was a strong start, imho.

Even so, Grimsby is a nice little unicorn--a young, genuinely nice, and LUCKY protagonist-witch, doing his best and relying on some cool peeps, be it a funny familiar or his grizzled non-magical, gun-toting mentor/partner.

This UF is pretty standard stuff. Mystery, theft, undead-ish baddie, ritual sacrifice, unimaginably powerful sorcery, and pranks.

While there's nothing out of the ordinary, here, it's also a pretty standard UF fare. That's not to say it isn't fun, because I had fun throughout. Indeed, instead of calling it popcorn, I'd call it the literary synesthesia equivalent to a nice foot soak with epsom salts. It's good while the water is warm.




Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.

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The Tympanist of the Berlin Philharmonic, 1942 by Kim Stanley Robinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sometimes life surprises you. Just when you think you know what to expect from your favorite authors--Kim Stanley Robinson, for me--sometimes they can throw something that sends you spinning. Or in this case, drumming.

This short story of his isn't SF. It's just the sheer glorious humanity of some musicians in the heart of the Third Reich trying to make their hearts soar with a little Beethoven's Ode, a defiance against the small-mindedness of men.

A great little musical piece, with emotions on proud display.

Of course, this is timely. Quite timely. As it should be. For every 50 people trying to rip the world to shreds, there's always one trying to set off an explosion of beauty. It's a good reminder that we are not all of one thing.




Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.

Arctunn.com

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