I couldn’t find any confirmation on the interwebs whether avuncular marriage was normal for the place and time, but their flirtation felt icky to me, though I got no indication from the text that this was an issue. 

As the very good boy and at least part Australian cattle dog (just like my old girl Laika, also rescued from a shelter) alerts them almost immediately, evil is afoot.

What I got that I was expecting: dark comedy and vampires

What I got that I was not expecting: family drama, characters dealing with misogyny and/or racism, and some legitimately scary and/ or tense scenes - made especially so by the amazing audio production.

She’s a Lamb is everything it promises - dark, funny, smart. What surprised me is how Meredith Hambrock makes us empathize with Jessamyn - especially since Jessamyn is fundamentally incapable of feeling empathy for anyone - even herself.

Returning to the world Travis Baldree built in Legends & Lattes is like any of the metaphors having to do with coziness - being wrapped in a warm blanket, having a cup of tea or cocoa or mulled wine or brandy, enjoying an evening by the fire in the company of friends.

As someone who unironically uses the phrase "statistically significant" in her day job several times a week, I was drawn to Lucky Day's concept, and, in true Chuck Tingle style, it delivered.

In classic T. Kingfisher style, Hemlock & Silver is filled with intrigue, adventure, surprise, and humor , sprinkled with a touch of body horror and a little romance. 

Greenteeth, told from Jenny’s perspective, is full of adventure and humor and reminds us of the importance of family - including found family.

The Library at Hellebore is like what would happen if you populated Brakebills (“The Magicians”) with gods and monsters then held a battle royale.

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline had everything I look for in an engaging gothic thriller - a relatable heroine, a mystery, romance, a surprise inheritance, and, as a bonus, a touch of the supernatural.

The No-End House is a haunted house escape room whose challenges are created using deepest fears from the players’ sub-consciences.

Put Mira Grant’s science in T. Kingfisher’s fantasy folk horror, and you’ll get something that approximates Wendy Wagner’s Girl in the Creek, which follows Erin who finagles a work trip to a forest in the Pacific Northwest so she can look for her missing brother.

Ten Sleep has everything I want in a weird west novel and some things I didn’t even know I wanted - part folklore, part body horror, part personal and interpersonal demons, and part Watership Down.

Part Hollywood tell-all, part rags to riches story, Cassandra appeared not to pull any punches in naming names or sharing painful memories from her life. 

Johanna van Veen has become a must-read author for me. Blood on Her Tongue has all the hallmarks of a gothic novel (twin sisters, mysterious illnesses, atmospheric castles) with 100% more body horror and a dash of spice.

This book may have suffered from over-hype as I felt like I saw it being recommended everywhere, and, even at its modest length, it dragged at times.

The Covid pandemic serve as the stage for the serial killings, it serves as a shorthand to communicate the fear, anxiety, loneliness, irrationality, and all the other things that came with it in the months (now years) after it began. 

After listening to a strong, atmospheric New England Gothic novel, I realized it was less than half over, and the ride was just beginning.

Another solid slightly supernatural thriller from Sarah Pinborough. Freddie and Emily as dual narrators are not always reliable or likable, as intended by the author and used successfully as a primary plot point..

Diavola is perfect for fans of modern gothic horror, especially if you like it laden heavily with dark humor.