Five Midnights by Ann Dávila Cardinal

I received an ARC of this book thanks to Net Galley and publisher Tor Teen in exchange for an honest review.

This book deserves a lot of kudos for not really being like anything I've read before. Five Midnights is a story set in Puerto Rico about a group of boys who are all part of the same gang (or used to be). They are being killed off one by one before their 18th birthdays, supposedly by a mythical creature called El Cuco. Our main characters are Lupe, the teenage niece of the policeman investigating the case and the cousin of one of the victims, and Javier, one of the boys who was in the gang but has cleaned up his act.

I very much enjoyed the tone and atmosphere of this book. I thought the plot was paced well and I was intrigued by the story as more and more details unfolded. Some of the characters were developed brilliantly and that helped propel the plot forwards. I did however struggle to keep track of several of the characters, and I'm not sure if this was due to my unfamiliarity with Puerto Rican names or whether this was because several members of the gang blended together. I'm inclined to go with the latter since it was specifically the boys I kept mixing up and I thought Lupe's interactions with a couple of them were very similar at the start.

The overall mystery was interesting enough to keep me reading, although I feel like the solution was revealed very early on which was a bit of a shame. There's not a lot of possibilities for what could be going on and it becomes pretty easy to work it out. The story is strong enough without the mystery though to still be an engaging read, although I would have liked more of both the mystery and monster aspect to be played up.

Overall, I did really like this book and I recommend checking it out if you like the sound of the blurb. It executes the concept it promises well and it has a wonderful setting which is described in a lot of loving detail with a lot of expert knowledge. I liked being introduced to mythology I had never heard about before and this was a refreshing and enjoyable read.

Overall Rating:

.5

Till Death Do Us Part by Stephen Edger

I received an ARC of this book thanks to Net Galley and publisher Killer Reads in exchange for an honest review

Oh dear, another thriller I absolutely love until the ending. I am so disappointed to not be able to rate this book more highly because it started off so well. This is a thriller about a woman whose husband gets arrested for murder on their wedding day and this is such a fantastic premise for a thriller in my eyes. The main character was very well-written and I really felt for her as she had to navigate the horror of having her wedding spoiled by something so out of the ordinary. The other characters varied from alright to somewhat flat but in general, the writing was compelling and I was invested in the story. Not a ton happens during the middle section admittedly but my interest in the protagonist and the situation kept me reading.

Sadly I did not find the solution a satisfying one. Without giving too much away. there are two components to the conclusion of this mystery. The first one was decent enough and I actually would have preferred it if that character was responsible for the whole thing. The second one involved a character I forgot existed which is a massive problem. I can't really be shocked by something if I have no idea who the person it involves is. I really wish the ending of this had been different as it had huge potential and I enjoyed the other 75% of the book enormously.

Overall, this isn't a bad book by any means and I would definitely be interested in checking out more from the author. He crafts an interesting situation and populates it with decent characters. It's just a shame that the payoff wasn't as good as the set-up.

Overall Rating:

Fresh Flavors for the Slow Cooker by Nicki Sizemore

I received an ARC of this book thanks to Net Galley and publisher Storey Publishing in exchange for an honest review

And now for something completely different!

I have never reviewed a cookery book before but I saw this on Net Galley and I couldn't resist. My slow cooker is one of my favourite kitchen tools and I am always on the lookout for new, simple recipes. I was a bit hesitant when I started flicking through and saw what looked like a lot of fancy stuff but thankfully I was pleasantly surprised.

This book does so much right and it really deserves kudos for it. You can tell Nicki has been writing recipes for a long time and she really does include a lot of fantastic detail. It starts off with a general introduction followed by some slow cooker tips. These weren't all new to me but it was still useful to include them and it shows the attention to detail put in.

Now onto the recipes themselves. They are divided up into 5 sections: vegetables, chicken/turkey/pork, lamb/beef, seafood and brunch/breakfast. I was actually glad not to have a dessert section since I never tend to use these parts of my recipe books but I can see some people potentially wishing it had one. This structure makes sense for the most part, although the pork does seem a little out of place with the poultry.

Each recipe is laid out fantastically. It starts with an overview of the dish, followed by ingredients which are sorted by where you use them (most dishes are slow-cooker focused but may require some stove work or other elements). Beneath this is a little box which contains information about which ingredients/steps you can plan up to days ahead. I found this incredibly useful as people using a slow cooker are often pushed for time, so it's great to know what can be done earlier. After this comes the method, followed by fridge/freezer instructions (again, incredibly useful) and finally there is a little additional tip.

As mentioned above, I really was a fan of the content of the recipes. There's a fair range of dishes but I was impressed by how the main slow-cooker dish was usually simple but the side dish would be fancier/involve rarer ingredients. Firstly, the inclusion of a complementary side dish for every main one is something that added a wonderful touch to this recipe book and showed the skill of the chef behind it. Secondly, by doing it this way it means that you can easily skip the side dish if you only want a tasty simple meal, but have the option for more extravagance if you're hosting or have money/time to spare. Not counting sides, I would happily try making 24 out of 46 recipes which sounds low until you realise I don't eat beef or lamb. Excluding those, it has a much higher ratio than any other recipe book I've bought.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book and will certainly be checking out the author's food blog as a result of reading it. The layout and attention to detail is phenomenal, the recipes are varied and tasty, and the tips and other notes are useful on the whole. A wonderful find for anyone with a slow cooker.

Overall Rating:

The Devil and the Deep edited by Ellen Datlow

I mentioned in my last post about Ellen Datlow how I planned to read more collections edited by her, and The Devil and the Deep is the next one I chose. I have always enjoyed stories about the sea and I was excited by the idea of reading horror stories all themed around the ocean. Sadly I didn't quite get what I wanted but I enjoyed this collection nevertheless. As per usual, I'll be going through the stories one by one.

Deadwater by Simon Bestwick-This was a great story to start with. A woman's lover is found dead, handcuffed to a post by the sea and drowned. It's ruled as a suicide but she's not so sure. This is a straightforward story, rooted in reality and it was great to read because of that. It also had a compelling main character which is very impressive in a short story.

Fodder's Jig by Lee Thomas-This was about a disease that comes from the sea, starts with people dancing uncontrollably and ends with them committing suicide by walking into the water. It was an interesting concept if a little mishmash. I would have liked more focus on the cause behind the disease and the dancing element didn't make much sense really/felt out of place with the overall theme.

The Curious Allure of the Sea by Christopher Golden-A woman's father dies at sea and she finds a strange amulet on his boat. The amulet gets stolen but she is compelled to get a tattoo of it on her arm and this tattoo calls things to her. This was a really unique story and I loved how it fit in with the collection's theme. It built up well and had this subtle sinister tone to the whole thing which made it really enjoyable.

The Tryal Attract by Terry Dowling-There is a skull coated in silver and it talks to people, although no one can ever make out the words. Our protagonist goes to check it out and becomes the first person to understand it. This was a hard story for me to get into and just when it got going, it ended. I felt the climax was too abrupt and I didn't 100% follow what was going on since I couldn't engage with it. Maybe with different pacing I could have really enjoyed this.

The Whaler's Song by Ray Cluley-A group of whalers maybe get attacked by whales? This started off so well and I think would have benefited from a more simple execution of the core concept. There was a weird mystical element and something surreal going on and it muddied the horror of the story for me. Good characterisation and certainly one of the stories that most strongly follows the anthology theme.

A Ship of the South Wind by Bradley Denton-This is a cowboy and 'indjuns' story about two mixed race Native Americans who encounter an unfriendly cowboy and his son. This wasn't a bad story but it had absolutely nothing to do with the sea, apart from a harpoon being involved. I enjoyed it but it has zero to do with the anthology concept in my opinion.

What My Mother Left Me by Alyssa Wong-God, I don't even know where to begin with this story. Our main character's mother dies and leaves her a cottage by the sea. When she gets to the cottage, a very disturbing part of her mother is still there. This might be the weirdest story of all in a pretty weird collection and I hated it at first, then it kind of grew on me. I understood what it was trying to do mythology-wise which I think helped, even if it went about it in a very unusual way. Still, points for creativity.

Broken Record by Stephen Graham Jones-A guy washes up on a desert island and strange items start washing up one by one. This has such a cool premise and the beginning was really enjoyable. It was well written but I think ultimately the idea could have been used to much greater strength. Near the end it lost the potential it had earlier on and while I still liked it a lot overall, it took a weird turn which I sadly could have done without. Still one of the strongest in the collection.

Saudade by Steve Rasnic Tem-While on a cruise for lonely singles, a man encounters a strange woman at night. Early on I thought I knew where this story was going and I was very glad when I was wrong. However, it's another one that ended weaker than it started off. It had some good moments and it wasn't forgettable but it wasn't one of my favourites either.

A Moment Before Breaking by A. C. Wise-Sadly I didn't really 'get' this story. It's about a girl being transported somewhere by boat I think but beyond that, I couldn't really say what was going on. There's a storytelling mechanic which I think is meant to explain what is going on but it doesn't work for me. One of the weakest in my eyes.

Sister, Dearest Sister, Let Me Show You to the Sea by Seanan McGuire-I am always LIVING for Seanan McGuire's contributions to these anthologies and this is no different. A girl wakes up to find herself being drowned by her sister, only to be offered an opportunity to survive...at a price. This had a fantastic atmosphere, intriguing characters and it packed so much good stuff into such a short amount. I would read a whole book with this concept and I loved it.

The Deep Sea Swell by John Langan-I forgot this story when writing this review which is never a good sign. It's about a couple who go on a boat trip and end up in the worst accommodation when they insult a staff member. As is becoming a theme with this anthology, it started off well and then just became incoherent and hard to follow. A poor execution of a good idea.

He Sings of Salt and Wormwood by Brian Hodge-This one deserves kudos for having a very surreal and unusual premise and actually executing it well. A surfer guy is dating a woman who regularly receives presents from the sea that wash up on the shore. Things soon take an unsettling note however and he begins to worry about what the presents mean. I was utterly drawn into this story and I had no idea where it was going which is always good. I am getting the ending of it a little confused with another story in this collection but I really liked it overall.

Shit Happens by Michael Marshall Smith-This story has the weirdest premise and it shouldn't work but it does? While on a business trip taking place on a cruise ship, a mysterious affliction strikes people who are close to the sea. This is one of those short stories I could see being expanded into a whole book and it would make a great comedy horror one. It worked extremely well as a short story in my eyes but I did kinda want more from the world and the characters. One of the strongest in the anthology.

Haunt by Siobhan Carroll-I possibly didn't give this story the chance it deserved because I was sort of done with the anthology by the time I reached it. It has the strong general premise of a ghost ship relating to slaves being drowned but the execution just wasn't there. It had some good moments but overall it wasn't enough to keep my attention or leave a lasting impact.

Overall, this anthology falls into the usual 'mixed bag' category. I did find myself loving many of the stories and I was pleased that most of them managed to stick to the theme so strongly. A major running problem for me was that many of the stories had strong concepts but executed them in bizarre or muddled ways. Maybe it comes down to personal taste but I do enjoy short stories that are simple but effective, and that doesn't describe many of the ones found here. However, I would still recommend this anthology and it definitely has some real belters.

Overall Rating:

.5

The Lost Coast by Amy Rose Capetta

I received an ARC of this book thanks to Net Galley and publisher Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful beautiful book. I was so excited to read this because the words 'queer witches' are instant attention-grabbers for me, and thankfully The Lost Coast did not disappoint. This is the story of a close-knit group of witches who live in a town surrounded by redwoods. One of their group has recently 'changed' so while she is physically present, she is no longer herself mentally. They cast a spell to call someone to them to help find her and the spell brings Danny, a girl who does not know she is a witch but has strong finding magic. When Danny arrives, a boy is found dead and the mystery behind what happened to their friend becomes a little more complicated.

I think the first thing I have to discuss about this book is the writing style. I am normally not a fan of overly poetic books and this certainly counts as one. Usually extended metaphors and dreamy prose yank me out of the story and distract me from the plot. However, Capetta's writing is beautiful and I found the story so compelling that it was only occasionally that the flowery language distracted me. It still did happen but there were also some powerful and/or beautiful sentences which I really did love. This writing style definitely won't be for everyone though and it's something to bear in mind. The book also switched between third and first person between chapters which bothered me at first but I soon got used to. Again, I can see this bothering some people.

The characters are perhaps this book's biggest strength. I didn't quite fall in love with everyone in the admittedly-large cast but I almost did. Hawthorne was definitely the weakest and I kept getting her mixed up with Haven due to their similar names. Everyone else had fairly distinct personalities and I found myself missing them in the second half where there seems to be less focus on the side characters. There is a lot of queer content in this which was great and it was incorporated well into the plot. The plot itself is actually stronger than I expected from this kind of story and I found the ending satisfying which almost never happens with books where plot isn't the main focus.

Overall, this is a gorgeously-written and compelling book about queer witches and the complexities of close-knit groups. If you like the sound of this book, you're almost certain to enjoy it as the blurb gives a perfect sense of what you're going to get. This is a standalone as far as I'm aware and I'm not sure a sequel would work but I almost wish I had more from this world and I would certainly love more about these characters. I will definitely be keeping an eye on Capetta's future work.

Overall Rating:

.5

The Surface Breaks by Louise O'Neill

No book review can ever be objective but in most cases, my ratings given to books reflect how I think most people will react to it. If I rate a book highly, not only do I love it but I usually think most people will enjoy it as well. The Surface Breaks is a book that hasn't always been well-received and I completely understand why but I love Louise O'Neill's writing with a burning passion and so I have to love this book.

This book has a fair few problems. Firstly, the feminism is very overt and not remotely subtle. This will definitely annoy some people regardless of their political beliefs. Secondly, this follows the plot of The Little Mermaid almost identically so there aren't any surprises here. This is definitely a retelling rather than an reimagining and that may disappoint some people as well. Every beat of the story can be predicted which some may see as a huge flaw.

However, having said all that I could not put down The Surface Breaks. O'Neill is one of my favourite writers and I love her poetic, brutal, gut-punch prose. She packs so much emotion and bleakness into every line that it's hypnotic to read. Only Ever Yours is one of my favourite books ever and The Surface Breaks shares many of the same qualities as that, albeit done less subtly. The feminism fits the world less and the protagonist comes across as weaker given the change of setting from a dystopian society to an underwater one. However, it remains beautifully-written and certainly has a lot to say.

If you only read one O'Neill book, I would not recommend this one. That being said, this is a fantastic retelling of The Little Mermaid with strong themes of feminism, sexism and the dangers of not questioning your choices. It is full of heartbreak but also strong worldbuilding and a somewhat interesting take on the traditional story. I cannot wait to read the rest of O'Neill's work and this is a book I will not forget in a hurry.

Overall Rating:

.5

The Secret Child by Caroline Mitchell

I received an ARC of this book thanks to Net Galley and publisher Amazon Publishing UK in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited when I saw this book was coming out. I read the first book in this series, Truth and Lies, only a few months ago and I found it to be a really enjoyable thriller. I am pleased to say that the sequel continues this trend.

My main concern upon finishing the first one was that I wasn't sure where the story could go. The main plot of Truth and Lies is that a detective discovers her birth mother is a serial killer and she must work with her secretly to uncover the locations of victims' bodies to give their families closure. This plot actually follows neatly on from this and the crime that must be solved involves a secret facility that experimented on children. One of these children supposedly died in a fire years ago but now someone claiming to be him is kidnapping children in the modern day and forcing their parents to play a deadly game to ensure their child's safe return. This plot wasn't quite as compelling to me as the first one but it did neatly incorporate the themes of children being lied to about their past and it offered some nice character moments for Amy, our main protagonist.

The writing in this continues to be of top quality. It was engaging and well-paced, although the plot was a lot more linear than the first book. While the first one had various intriguing subplots going on, this lacks pretty much any. That's not really a huge negative quality, it was just something missing that I had really enjoyed. There is sort of a subplot involving Amy's reporter ex-boyfriend but it's largely downplayed. Her serial killer mother is clearly going to play a large part in the next book but her presence in this one was a little intrusive and mostly seemed to serve to make sure we didn't forget who she was.

Overall, this is still a really enjoyable police procedural series and I am definitely excited for the next ones to come out. I appreciate police procedurals with consistent themes and interesting characters which this provides in spades. The crime of this could have been stronger but it was a great thriller on the whole.

Overall Rating:

.5