Writer and Editor C.B. Calsing/ G.G. Royale

A Review of Cynthia Gomez's "Muneca"

2026-09-17T12:35:29.378-05:00

Cynthia Gómez's "Muñeca" is a sapphic romance wrapped in a package of witchcraft and familial obligation.

Natalia Fuentes grew up helping her mother around the grand Miramontes house, polishing wood and silver. There, she first meets Violeta, the privileged, pale-skinned ancestor of original Californios. They grow up and go their separate ways: Nati to become a human calculator at a bank, and Violeta to marry. Nati learns, however, that Violeta has become bedridden, unable to communicate, and she believes something sinister has befallen the woman. She also believes she has the power to cure her. Nati takes a position as Violeta's caretaker, and with the training she received from her grandmother, slowly starts to break the curse on Violeta.

This was a fun, quick read. I enjoyed the details in the spells and the tidbits of California history sprinkled in. The contrast of Nati's family to Violeta's, and the two women's different experiences, paint a believable and timely portrait of the Bay Area in the 1960s. Muñeca means doll in Spanish, and the title works on multiple levels.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope to see more in a similar vein from Cynthia Gómez.

A Review of Robert Jackson Bennett's "A Trade of Blood: An Ana and Din Mystery"

2026-09-04T11:18:48.510-05:00

Robert Jackson Bennett's "A Trade of Blood: An Ana and Din Mystery" continues the adventures of Ana and Din as the third installment in the series.

When a young girl is discovered murdered in the room of an inn, the logical—and correct—assumption is that her lover, who was in the room with her at the time, committed the crime. But is it that simple? Detective Ana Dolabra and her researcher/ assistant, Din Kol, are tasked with digging deeper into the mystery. Set in a world of cattle barons and decaying wealth, "A Trade of Blood" offers twists and new treatments of old tropes.

Bennett continues to turn out interesting mysteries with solid world building. In this latest story, we are treated to the innerworkings of the equivalent of the cattle industry in the Empire. We also delve into the history of the different godlike tribes that existed before the modern era. As with the previous books, I was very interested in the unique aspects of this fantasy world. Din is as good a narrator and assistant, doing most of the work really, but I found Ana to be less likable, more caustic. We get a few more clues as to her origin and history, but that mystery is far from solved by the end.

"A Trade of Blood" is a solid continuation of a series that I am not yet ready to stop reading. I hope there is more to come. I received a copy of the book from NetGalley. 

Link to my review of the first book: https://cbcalsing.blogspot.com/2023/11/a-review-of-robert-jackson-bennetts.html 

Link to my review of the second book: https://cbcalsing.blogspot.com/2025/04/a-review-of-robert-jackson-bennetts.html 

A Review of "Femme Feral" by Sam Beckbessinger

2026-05-16T11:21:40.701-05:00

“Femme Feral” by Sam Beckbessinger is the book I needed while entering perimenopause. It is definitely more entertaining than a self-help book, and it features an antiheroine I could oddly identify with.

Ellie has a lot on her plate: her father-in-law’s care, a daughter who once had an eating disorder, her husband and his dreams, and her career. Add to that a strange mix of symptoms that—surprise, surprise—can only mean menopause is right around the corner. Or could they be a sign of something else?

Brenda, a senior living alone and going blind, finds her cat dead one day. Then she learns that other animals in her neighborhood are also dying or going missing. Is it a fox? A stray dog? Or something more legendary?

I enjoyed this book a great deal, and it is definitely due, in part, to my own stage of life. The narration switches mostly between Ellie and Brenda, and it was refreshing to have two women at the center of the story. Ellie’s evolution felt real, and I was right there with her.

A note: The author admits to using AI to create some content in the book that is supposed to be generated by a fictional AI. I am generally against the use of AI in fiction. I understand this use, however, and I’ll give the author a pass.

I would recommend Sam Beckbessinger’s “Femme Feral” to readers of werewolf horror; it’s a good addition to the genre. It’s a fun read as far as women’s fiction goes as well, if the reader can stomach the gory bits. I received a copy from NetGalley.

A Review of Keala Kendall’s “That Which Feeds Us: A Hawaiian Gothic”

2026-05-05T02:00:00.003-05:00

Keala Kendall’s “That Which Feeds Us: A Hawaiian Gothic” uses a horror narrative to remind readers that the real horrors of colonialism still exist in this world.

Twins Lehua and Ohia have a rough time. Their mother abandoned them with their grandparents in Arizona, never to be seen again. When their grandparents die, they end up in foster care. Finally, after getting accepted into college, Lehua leaves to become a mortician, and Ohia disappears. Learning that her sister has gone to Hawaii, Lehua follows. She tracks her twin to a strange island off the coast of Maui. Supposedly a luxury resort and farm, the island attracts the idle rich. Lehua becomes stranded, and with the help of another young woman who has arrived there to work, tries to piece together what happened to Ohia. But the clues are few, and the staff and guests seem to be pushing her in other directions. And then there is the very odd owner of the island…

“That Which Feeds Us” turns an island paradise into a hot, sticky hell in this imaginative, dark tale. I loved that the cast was mostly made up of women, women who are strong and loyal and take risks for the people they care about. The plot itself is something of a slow burn, and it takes time to solidify what the actual evil is. The reader learns about the threats of the island right along with Lehua.

I enjoyed this book; it fits right into all the niches of horror that I enjoy. “That Which Feeds Us” is atmospheric and uses its tropes well while being new and interesting. I would recommend this to any fans of traditional gothic horror who are looking for something fresh. I received the e-book from NetGalley.

Presale available now for "Magpies and Misdirection: A Quintha Thistlewhite Adventure"

2026-04-11T19:30:00.001-05:00

Buy links:

https://books2read.com/u/b66Wkp

Amazon

A Review of Kiersten White's "The Fox and the Devil"

2026-03-10T02:00:00.031-05:00

I have been a fan of Dracula spinoffs since early high school, probably. I wrote my first Dracula fanfic, if you can call it that, as a freshman. One novel in particular, I picked up at a newsstand (yes, honest to god) sometime in the early 1990s, probably. The plot element I remember most about that one was that Queen Victoria becomes a victim of Dracula and turns into some morbid, corpulent vampire queen.

Most recently, I’ve viewed the film "Van Helsing’s Boys" with Bosch’s Titus Welliver and read—at the same time, by coincidence—Kiersten White’s "The Fox and the Devil." As far as stories that deal with the potential of Van Helsing’s offspring, "The Fox and the Devil" is definitely my preference, and I will focus on it here.

Anneke Van Helsing wanted nothing more than to replace her dead brother in the eyes of her father, but her brother’s loss changed her family, and she never received the approval she wanted. When her father is murdered, she dedicates her life to finding his murderer. She hunts vampires and deranged killers, believing she is on the tail of the hauntingly beautiful woman she saw over her father’s corpse the night he died. But despite her intellect and the team of investigators she’s surrounded herself with, the truth eludes her, until finally, she must face exactly what happened in her past and how it will affect her future.

This book is beautiful, poignant, chilling, entertaining… The settings are engaging and lush. The characters are driven and compassionate, intelligent and broken. The story succeeds at each turn. I would love to see the next adventures of the Van Helsing Detective Agency.

For fans of old vampire stories, Sherlock Holmes, and Victorian/ Edwardian procedurals, this is going to be a hit. The burgeoning field of forensics juxtaposed against the folklore of Europe makes for a great story. I highly recommend "The Fox and the Devil." I received a copy of the ebook from NetGalley.

New Release from G.G. Royale!

2026-02-11T11:31:00.000-06:00

Welcome back to Lupine Meadow, where love is unexpected, and the werewolves are mostly domesticated.

Glory Guidry, a rougarou from southeast Louisiana, is happy with her work, friends, and community. She isn't looking for love, even on Valentine's Day, but when a mysterious stranger rolls into town, she can't look away.

Atzi Hernández—jaguar shifter, private investigator— is tasked with finding a missing woman. The case brings him to Lupine Meadow, where he quickly learns that the residents aren't altogether normal. Can he solve his case in this den of wolves?

And then there's Antoine Livaudais, who came to Lupine Meadow to see his old friend Glory but is attracted to the woman traveling with the private investigator. The grieving pediatrician needs someone to protect her, and he wants to be that man. How can he convince her to take a chance on a perfect stranger?

Tropes: soft love triangle, undercover detective, older couple, love at first sight, rescuer, small town, Valentine's Day, shape shifters

Triggers: Alcohol use, drugging, attempted kidnapping, hunting

https://a.co/d/02nQqXM1

https://books2read.com/u/mgQlBD

Don't forget to read the first book in the Lupine Meadow series, Howliday Homecoming.

And read the bonus prologue to Valentine's Cat-tastrophe on my Substack.

Bonus Read from G.G. Royale!

2026-02-05T10:58:00.003-06:00

Valentine's Cat-tastrophe

By G.G. Royale

Bonus Prolgue: An Old Acquaintance

Monday, December 9

Glory

Living through winter on a sailboat in an alpine lake sucks. Like, really sucks.

Luckily the space is small enough to heat easily, and one of my neighbors lets me run an extension cord to the dock from their cabin, but jeez, if I wake up one more morning with frost on the inside of my portholes, I’m going to throw a fit.

By about nine thirty, though, the sun has cleared the hills, and the beams are beating down on the bow of my boat. This is the perfect location to get warm. I sip my café au lait and watch the water.

Yesterday was a good day at the roadhouse, with two California-based NFL teams going head-to-head. Lots of people came up from the valley to enjoy the mountain air and the camaraderie of watching their favorite team with other fans.

Most of them tipped well too.

And today, I will descend into Fresno with my newest potential friend, Loni.

We haven’t had a chance to talk really since she saw me get stabbed and spontaneously heal at the roadhouse last week. I ran into her by chance the other day, and since then, one of the other residents of our small town has explained more about our peculiarities to her.

I’m anxious though.

I hear an electric motor from a vehicle behind me and turn. A large green SUV is pulling into a parking spot near the boat launch. It has to be Loni.

I stand and wave as she climbs out of the driver’s seat. She’s polished like only an executive from NYC can be. I don’t envy that glam, but it suits her well, and I do admire her, based on what I’ve heard.

I dump my cooling coffee into the lake, put my mug in the small galley sink, then head back to the deck. I don’t bother extending an invitation to Loni to come aboard; the quarters are too tight, and we’re headed to more interesting places anyway.

“Morning, Miss Sunshine,” I say as I hop from the port side to the tiny dock my little boat calls her mooring.

“Morning, Glory.” Loni smiles, like she gets the joke the greeting and my name create. “Ready to head into town?”

“Yup.”

We walk over to her SUV, and I can’t help but admire that too. It cost a pretty penny, I’m sure, and has all the bells and whistles.

I open the door, which doesn’t squeak or grind, and slide onto the pristine leather seat. Loni gets in the driver’s seat.

“This is nice,” I tell her.

“I treated myself. I never owned a car in the city.”

“Well, you need one around here.” My old beater Jeep, hell to drive into town but necessary when I need supplies for the roadhouse that my vendor won’t deliver, is parked nearby.

She starts the car, so quiet I can hardly believe it, pulls out of her spot, and heads back to the highway.

“So,” she says as she drives down the twisty mountain road, her gaze never leaving the pavement. “Tell me the story of how you ended up living on that little sailboat in Lupine Lake.”

I told her I’d share the story today. I don’t start right away, though, but take a few moments to get my thoughts right. Telling it wrong might put a pall over our day.

“Well, I was twenty. Back in 2005, I lived in a tiny town on the bayou in Louisiana with a lot of my extended family…”

We were all rougarou, a particular type of werewolf, prowling through sugarcane fields and marshes by night, trawling for shrimp or farming oysters during the day. Not many bothered us, and we didn’t bother many. Worst time for my family, before Hurricane Katrina, had been during the Trapper War in the 1920s, when some of the conflict between Judge Perez and the Islenos came a little too close to home. But I digress…

Before the hurricane, my grandpa and I ran the little corner store/saloon that was the primary spot to get news, have a drink, or play some cards. I was about to head back to college that summer when Hurricane Katrina started making the news. The weatherman out of New Orleans went from telling us to “wait and see” to “get the fuck out” in hardly any time at all.

So we made a flotilla of the boats and ran them out to sea. Prayed we’d stay together, save our investments and our way of life.

But the storm was worse than anyone expected.

And that little sailboat and me… We ended up separated from everyone else.

I tried to find my way back to my home, but the hurricane had fundamentally changed the surface of the bayou, and the old canals we used to follow were gone. Others were blocked by downed cypress, fallen bridges, and even houses that had washed into the water.

The Coast Guard eventually found me and towed me to a suitable dock. I stayed there, not sure what to do next. My home was gone. My college closed for the foreseeable future, dorms flooded, and everything was lost there too. I slept on the boat. I ate on the boat. I tried to track down anyone from home, but I couldn’t find my family.

Then, the people around started getting a little suspicious. They started to see I was different. Without the support of my community, without a place to be myself, I started to go a little stir crazy, which wasn’t good for no one.

About that time, I woke up one morning to see this old woman, wearing furs in the hot, humid early fall.

Vera.

She told me to come with her, that she had a home for me where I’d be welcome. Where I could be myself.

And I told her, under no uncertain terms, that I was not leaving this boat; it saved my life.

So she produced a trailer and an old Jeep to tow it and told me where to go.

“And here I still am.” I haven’t looked Loni in the face. I wonder what she’s thinking. Out the window, oak trees have replaced the pines as we’ve descended in elevation. Cows graze in green fields.

“And you… You never found any of your family?”

I chuckle. “A few cousins here and there, but not my grandpa. We’re a tough breed, but not tough enough to take on a bitch like Katrina.”

“And your town was destroyed?”

“Never to be seen again.”

An awkward silence falls between us, and I don’t blame Loni. This is a lot to take in when we’ve only just met and are trying to form a friendship.

“You got any stories like that?” I prompt, knowing she doesn’t. And, as I hope, she laughs.

“One time, my younger brother…much younger…broke my Discman.” She fades off at the end, telling me she doesn’t even want to finish the sentence.

I laugh too, to make her feel better.

“I think lunch today is going to absolutely need cocktails,” she says eventually.

I hum in agreement.

We drive in silence that isn’t exactly companionable, but it’s not awkward now either. I pretend to check a few items at the restaurant supply on my phone so she doesn’t have to try to talk to me.

We run my errand first at the supply store, then do some Christmas shopping.

Loni assures me she’s found just the spot for lunch, and I’m floored when we pull up to one of the nicest places in Fresno. She does her research. It has won several diners’ choice awards throughout the years, and there’s talk of a Michelin star in its future.

The host shows us to our table, and as we cross the dining room, something pings in me, that sort of preternatural sense that tells me to be on the lookout. I scan the room. Hovering over the scents of fine food, drink, and perfumed diners is something else, something I recognize from a long time ago.

At the bar across the dining room, a man with a furrowed brow is watching me.

Do I know him?

The hostess sits me facing away from the bar, but the unease does not dissipate.

Loni’s head is buried in the drinks menu, and she’s chatting about the interesting cocktail options, but I’m being rude, barely paying attention.

I can still feel that gaze burning into the back of my neck, and my hackles are going up. I feel my wolf almost clawing to get out.

Then I hear footsteps. I can feel him getting closer.

I watch as Loni looks up, past my shoulder, and smiles. “Hello?” she says.

I turn.

Antoine Livaudais.

He’s all tan and rugged, with silver shooting through his blond hair and crinkles around his bright blue eyes. He’s filling out his gray suit to perfection, and I don’t know what to say about the way he is looking at me.

“Well, little Glory Guidry, as I live and breathe.” The sound of his voice is home and holds all the familiarity of Spanish moss in the cypress trees.

I stand, my knees wobbly. I can’t figure out what to say. Other than those few cousins over the years, I’ve never seen anyone from home.

“Do you know each other?” Loni sounds posh and welcoming but opens the floor to end my tongue-tied idiocy.

“Tony used to live near me, growing up.”

He started working in the oil fields right out of high school and was in Texas when Katrina hit. Five years older than me, he wasn’t exactly a friend, but I knew who he was and vice versa.

Now, looking at him, I would very much like to get to know him again.

“Can I hug you?” he asks. “It didn’t even—”

Without waiting for an answer, he wraps his arms around me, and I’m enveloped in his scent, his warmth.

Oh god.

I reach up and hold his shoulders, feel the strength of them. Afraid of making it awkward, I let go and extricate myself.

“You still in oil?” I ask, finally getting my brain back on track.

“Alternative energy now,” he says.

And the very expensive watch on his wrist tells me it’s working out for him. I also notice the lack of a ring on his left hand.

“Up from Bakersfield for a meeting,” he continues.

“Would you like to join us?” Loni motions to one of the two empty chairs at the table.

“I’m actually waiting on a client now”—he looks back at me with those Paul Newman eyes—“but I’d love to catch up sometime.” He reaches into his breast pocket and, classy and old-school as fuck, takes out a business card.

He hands it to me. “Call me. Please. Any time.” I can see in his gaze that same hunger for home I have, the need to reconnect still strong after twenty years.

“I will.”

He smiles again, nods at Loni, and then walks back to the bar.

I collapse into my chair, clutching the card.

“Holy fuck,” Loni mouths at me across the table.

And all I can do is nod. Holy fuck indeed.

I feel as if my world has just shifted on its axis.

And maybe Antoine Livaudais is my new north.

Download Valentine’s Cat-tastrophe: Lupine Meadow Book Two from your favorite ebook retailer.

And read Howliday Homecoming: Lupine Meadow Book One first!

New from C.B. Calsing "Hedgehogs and Hedge Wizards"

2026-01-04T12:17:00.005-06:00

Quintha Thistlewhite is an unremarkable, solitary cottage witch. On what is supposed to be an unremarkable trip to the fall market to stock up for winter, she becomes embroiled in a rather remarkable murder mystery.

Can she clear her name before winter sets in? Or will she hang at the end of a noose for a crime she didn’t commit?

Granny Weatherwax meets Miss Marple in this cozy fantasy featuring a hedgehog, an imperious wizard, and lots of good ale.

Available at:

A Review of Kristi DeMeester's "Dark Sisters"

2025-12-09T02:00:00.001-06:00

Kristi DeMeester’s “Dark Sisters” is a horror tale that addresses the relationship between women’s power and their duality. Themes of oppression and exploitation are explored through a traditional horror lens.

Camilla is the daughter of a very wealthy, very elite preacher who basically runs a cultlike country club. Women who don’t quite fit in are sent to “Retreat:” drugs, spa treatments, and prayer. As Camilla comes of age and plans to finally attend her Purity Ball, a mysterious illness attacks her mother. Through two other narratives, one at the founding of the cult and the other set in the 1950s, the reader uncovers the curse plaguing Camilla’s family and community and comes to realize the real threat to the women living there.

This was a great horror novel. I enjoyed the three-fold narration which didn’t uncover too much too quickly. The primitive lifestyle of the founders and the overly posh women in the future narratives offers a glaring juxtaposition which helps build the horror elements. Each of the women at the front of the different stories is flawed yet driven, likable and believable. The story as a whole was satisfying and creepy.

I look forward to more from Kristi DeMeester and definitely recommend “Dark Sisters” to fans of female-forward horror.

I received this novel from NetGalley.

Writing News from Me

2025-11-26T16:41:00.001-06:00

It has been a very long time since I had the chance to post some good news about my own writing. The last few years, between moving back to California from Hawaii in 2022 and then moving two more times since then, have left me moderately exhausted and a little uninspired. While we have settled on an amazing property in the Sierra Nevada, it has taken a lot of work to get it livable.

Finally, though, we are at a place where I can take time again to sit and create. I’ve carved out a little office in the laundry room, which is great in the winter because the dryer keeps me warm.

A few weeks ago, stricken with inspiration, I sat down and pounded out a holiday romance novella in about two weeks. Howliday Homecoming was one of the quickest pieces of this length I have ever written, and it felt like I could get back to the work of writing without much struggle—a huge relief, really, after such a long hiatus.

I hope you can check my fun read this holiday season. Expect more stories in the coming months, including a murder mystery and a cozy fantasy, from both C.B. Calsing and G.G. Royale.

A Review of Megan Mary's "The Dream Dimensions"

2025-10-07T11:49:00.002-05:00

Megan Mary's "The Dream Dimensions: A Metaphysical Mystery of Magick" is a satisfying conclusion to the Witches of Maple Hollow trilogy.

Hannah has faced challenges before, but in this final installment, she must prevent the demise of someone in Maple Hollow. Over the course of seven days, she solves various riddles and navigates Maple Hollow through the countdown to Halloween. In addition, a mysterious stranger seems to be popping up all over town.

Like the two previous books in the series, I loved the fall-themed setting and details, like the food and costumes described. The mystery element, along with the riddles, is fun and easy to follow. In addition, having a female-centric cast with no love story is refreshing for younger readers.

While I started off reading the text-version of the novel, I immediately switched to the audiobook as soon as it was available. Pearl Hewitt is delightful as the narrator, and her voice is part of the reason I enjoyed the first two books so much.

If you enjoyed the Witches of Maple Hollow books before this, you should definitely finish up the series by reading "The Dream Dimensions" from Megan Mary. I received both the novel and the audiobook from NetGalley.

A Review of Anbara Salam's "The Salvage"

2025-10-07T02:00:00.001-05:00

Anbara Salam’s “The Salvage” is a cold but cozy horror novel set on a small Scottish island in the 1960s.

Marta Khoury is a Syrian-Scottish marine archaeologist in a decade where most of those positions are taken by men. When she arrives on Cairnroch to survey the wreck of a Victorian whaling ship that has recently been repatriated to local waters, everyone expects her to be a man. She generally shrugs this off and goes about her job, diving into the icy water to catalog what remains on the ship. Between dives, however, many of the priceless relics of Auld James, celebrated native son and captain, go missing. Marta must find the pieces to save her career and, she thinks, the island. This task is muddled by several factors: the Cold War, the death of a friend, her pending divorce from her boss, an intense winter, and (maybe) a ghost.

Marta is an unreliable narrator, full of contradictions. She is insecure in her relationships but confident in her work. She is a scientist trained in observation but easily believes in hauntings and curses. There are times I cheered for her, and times I yelled at her to make better choices. She is well-rounded. The plot has all the good elements of a winter-bound horror: the cold, the hunger, the damp... These combine with Marta’s character to create a nicely balanced horror novel that is engaging and satisfying.

If you enjoyed Dan Simmon’s “The Terror,” “The Salvage” by Anbara Salam would make an excellent companion read as it deals with similar tropes. The story is more intimate but just as creepy and bendy. I look forward to additional works from this author. I received this ebook from NetGalley.

A Review of T. Kingfisher's "Hemlock and Silver" (audiobook)

2025-08-29T11:56:00.000-05:00

What do I love best about T. Kingfisher? One, she retells fairy tales. Sure, a lot of people do that, but not in same way she does. She doesn't just "fracture" them or tell the story from a different perspective of a character you already know. She takes the kernel of the story and goes off in an entirely new direction with it.

Take "Hemlock and Silver," for instance. From the title, you'd have no idea it was inspired by Snow White. There is, in fact, a character named Snow and another named Rose, and a mirror is definitely involved, and maybe there is a reference to a heart getting cut out. None of these tropes, however, appear in the way the reader expects. The story is told from a fresh, new perspective as well. Anja is a poisons expert who is called in by the king to diagnosis and hopefully cure what ails his daughter, Snow. I love that the main character is a woman who has spent her life perusing a passion rather than a man. She maybe thinks love is off the table at this point, but, really, who knows?

The other thing I love about T. Kingfisher—or maybe this is more about the team who she surrounds herself with—is the narrators used for her audiobooks. I have never been disappointed by the voice or the character the voice actor creates. They always fit perfectly with the main character's thoughts, age, background, etc. Jennifer Pickens as Anja was no exception. I felt as if I was listening to Anja really tell her story rather than Pickens reading a text.

I really can't ever wait for the next T. Kingfisher story to hit Libby, NetGalley, or wherever I can find them. They are entertaining, inventive, and always provide a happy ending worthy of a fairy tale. I recommend "Hemlock and Silver" to any reader who enjoys fantasy, fairy tales, and strong female leads. I received the audiobook from NetGalley.

A review of Nicky Gonzalez's "Mayra"

2025-07-22T02:00:00.001-05:00

Did we all have one of those best friends? The kind that captivated us when we were young, but slowly the veil was lifted and reality set in. Then, years later, you reunite. Is the new dynamic just growing up or…something else?

In Nicky Gonzalez’s “Mayra,” the narrator, Ingrid, is invited to a mysterious house in the Florida Everglades to reunite with her best friend from school, the titular character. They’ve drifted apart over the years, each blaming the other for changing. Reunited by Mayra’s boyfriend, Benji, the two women alternately bond and fight about the past and how they’ve changed. Slowly, Ingrid realizes there is something else going on in the house, not just their shifting relationship dynamics. Why is this strange window in this room? How come Ingrid seems to get turned around so easily in the surrounding swamp? Why is Benji doing THAT? The mysteries compound until Ingrid learns a terrible truth.

I would peg this is a great horror beach read. It’s gripping and pleasantly atmospheric in waves. There’s the nostalgia of the two women reminiscing about growing up in a Cuban community near Miami. Good food is described in detail. Then, the creepy elements start to…creep in. We follow Ingrid, the first-person narrator, as she explores and discovers. We are pulled down into the truth with her, and it’s hard to get out.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it to Gothic horror fans who like a contemporary spin on a classic. I’m looking forward to what else Nicky Gonzalez has to offer. I received this title from NetGalley.

A Review of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's "The Bewitching"

2025-07-15T02:00:00.013-05:00

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is definitely rising to the top of my must-read authors list. Each story I've read of hers has not disappointed. They are historic, atmospheric, and scary. The latest I've read, "The Bewitching," stacks up well against my previous favorites.

This horror novel is told from three points of view. First, there is Minerva in a close third. She is a college student in the 1990s, studying New England's stories of witches and ghosts for her thesis. Then, there is the narrative of her great-grandmother Alba (who had a hand in raising her), told in third person in the early 1900s. She lives on a farm in Mexico. Finally, there is the story told through diary entries in the first person of Beatrice Tremblay, a writer who attended the same school as Minerva during the Great Depression. Both Alba and Beatrice face a mystery and a malicious, existential threat to themselves or loved ones, and their knowledge helps Minerva face her own peril in her time.

Like Minerva, I was in college, studying literature, in the 1990s, so I identified with this heroine. She's independent, kind, and inquisitive. She doesn't balk in the face of danger but instead relies on her wits and the wisdom of her ancestors. Alba, though young and rather sheltered, has pluck and fortitude. Beatrice delves into the mysteries around her, refusing to give up even when failure seems the only option. Each woman is well-rounded and engaging. The antagonists are equally interesting, but I won't go into detail on those so as not to give away any spoilers. I enjoyed the unwrapping of the mystery at each level as well as the historic and folk-magic details. The scares here were not intense but thorough. There were some solid tropes—abandoned factory, taxidermy in the setting, lost documents, fictional New England setting—used well.

I always look forward to Silvia Moreno-Garcia's next work, and "The Bewitching" satisfied. I can't wait to see what's next. I received this ebook from NetGalley.

A Review of Megan Mary's "The Dream Mirrors" (audiobook)

2025-05-30T02:00:00.001-05:00

Where were these books when I was a teenager? “The Dream Mirrors: A Metaphysical Mystery of Magic/ Witches of Maple Hollow/ Book 2” by Megan Mary feels like a metaphysical self-help book in the form of a cozy mystery. I definitely could have benefited from both the female protagonist and the message of self-discovery and strength the story shares.

Two years have passed since Hannah Skye moved to Maple Hollow to live with her aunt. On September 9, 2009, a portal will open, and Aunt Jewelia has gathered a party of six to take advantage of this auspicious night. During the ceremony, however, something goes terribly wrong. One visitor falls into a mysterious coma, and another disappears. Hannah, with the help of her aunt and friends (both human and cat), must solve the puzzle before it’s too late.

This was a quick, fun read. Like the previous book in the series, “The Dream Haunters,” this book would make for a great fall vacation read or listen. The setting is cozy and nostalgic. The characters, friendly and wise. The plot begins with high-stakes and the tension that comes with searching the grounds of a manor house in a storm.

Really, my only minor issue with this book is the lack of urgency regarding the conflict once the plot kicks off. With one person in a mysterious coma and another missing, the other characters seem to go about their day as if nothing is amiss. They do some research and meet to discuss the issue, but they also go to perform their regular gig in the piano bar and have naps. A little more tension in the plot throughout would have been more believable.

I was happy to see the narrator, Pearl Hewitt, return for this audiobook. Her different approaches to the various characters are entertaining and believable.

Like the first installment, “The Dream Mirrors” is a quick, fun read that fans of witches and cozies will thoroughly enjoy. I’m looking forward to the next installment, “The Dream Dimensions” By Megan Mary, later this year.

I reviewed the first installment of this series last year, and you can read that review here: https://cbcalsing.blogspot.com/2024/10/a-review-of-megan-marys-dream-haunters.html

I received this audiobook from NetGalley.

A Review of Robert Jackson Bennett's "A Drop of Corruption"

2025-04-01T02:00:00.001-05:00

Robert Jackson Bennett’s “A Drop of Corruption” is the follow-up to “The Tainted Cup.” In this sequel, we return to the world of detective Ana Dolabra and her assistant, Dinios Kol.

This time, they are investigating a disappearance, theft, and murder in Yarrowdale, an outlying kingdom which may soon join the empire. Ana is put to the test by the mechinations of the criminal, and Dinios has a hard time keeping up but proves himself again and again. “Will we ever solve this mystery?” is the question hanging over the story from beginning to end, and the reader feels the weight of it.

Like “The Tainted Cup,” I loved “A Drop of Corruption.” It is very true to the original world-building, and mystery keeps one intrigued throughout the book. The supporting cast is interesting, and as always, Ana, through the eyes of Dinios, is an engaging and enticing character.

Author Bennett has definitely found his genre, and I look forward to following these two on more adventures. I received this book from NetGalley.

A Review of Genoveva Dimova's "Monstrous Nights"

2024-11-22T12:23:00.001-06:00

As soon as I finished Genoveva Dimova’s “Foul Days,” I jumped online to see when I could expect the sequel. I was so happy to get it almost immediately. “Monstrous Nights” picks up right where the action in “Foul Days” ends, and it does not disappoint.

Kosara teams up again with Asen, working to finish the job of tracking down the infamous smuggler Konstantin Karaivanov while fighting off the city’s monsters. Along the way, Asen is thrown a major curveball, but finds belonging in unlikely company. Kosara has to learn to control her new-found powers while exploring her developing feelings for Asen.

This was, again, a very satisfying, atmospheric read that ticks all the boxes in an urban fantasy romance mashup. The use of Eastern European lore and folktale gives it a fresh spin. The characters are fun and varied. I would love to see these two books adapted into film or a TV series. I received this book from NetGalley.

A Review of Megan Mary's "The Dream Haunters" (audiobook)

2024-10-03T07:00:00.001-05:00

“The Dream Haunters” by Megan Mary is about as close to a fall beach read as you can get. Imagine sitting on a blustery dune, the wind whipping the gray waves, a thermos of hot cider nearby… You get the picture. This is the book you will want to read or listen to while bundled beneath your woolen cloak.

Hannah Skye has lost most everything she ever valued: her parents, her cat, her grandmother, and her job. Out of nowhere, she receives a letter and a plane ticket from her estranged aunt. The same day, she learns her aunt has disappeared. Immediately enmeshed in the mystery, Hannah sets out to Maple Hollow and her family’s ancestral Skye Manor. Maple Hollow exists in a state of perpetual fall, with pumpkins growing and the leaves on the trees in shades of orange, yellow, and red. There, she must uncover the truth of what happened to her aunt as well as find her own truth.

This was a very quick listen. The narrator, Pearl Hewitt, did a lovely job giving life to the different characters, even a tiny talking cat. The mystery is engrossing, and the cast of supporting characters offers both solace and menace to our main character. It’s fairly light as far as gothic-style stories go, and a novice in the area of astrology and witchcraft will appreciate the explanations, though sometimes a smidge pedantic, that Hannah receives from those wiser around her. These lectures can draw the reader out of the action, but the loss is not too great.

I enjoyed this quick, fun listen and wish I had more of it to launch me into autumn and toward Halloween. I received this audiobook from NetGalley.

A Review of "The Monsters in our Shadows" by Edward J. Cembal

2024-09-16T18:40:00.012-05:00

If you enjoyed “Logan's Run,” but wished it were a bit darker, then you will probably love “The Monsters in our Shadows” by Edward J. Cembal.

In a sort of alternate future, humankind has been devastated by Shivers, a ghostlike being that attaches itself to a person and eventually devours them. There is no knowing when the beast will decide to feed. You could live with your shiver for years. Once the Shiver consumes its host, it will eat any person it comes across. Anthem is the Exilist for Atlas, a small settlement of survivors. His job is to remove those who are about to be consumed by their Shiver and leave them on the other side of the city wall so the Shivers won’t run amuck in the town. But then, the town’s leader sends him on a mission beyond the wall to save the small population, and Anthem learns that all is not as he has been taught.

This was a fun read. Don’t you love it when, as a reader, you come up with a solution to a problem, and you think, “Boy, I hope the author solves it this way,” and the author does? So satisfying! This was a really novel take on near-future sci fi and horror. While some questions are left unanswered, the adventure along the way is full of twists and turns and emotion and tension. I can't wait to see the movie that comes from this material.

Cembal’s “The Monsters in our Shadows” is the first book I’ve read of his, but I’m definitely interested in more. I recommend this read to fans of dystopian horror. I received this book from NetGalley.

A Review of Lilliam Rivera's "Tiny Threads."

2024-08-27T02:00:00.001-05:00

Lilliam Rivera’s “Tiny Threads” is part horror novel, part behind-the-scenes glimpse at the workings of a fashion house.

Samara is finally ready to move away from the sphere of her parents and their life in New Jersey to take a job as a copywriter at a fashion house in Vernon, California. The designer, Antonio, welcomes her with open arms at first but slowly becomes volatile as the date of his big fashion show approaches. This, however, is not Samara’s only problem as she is plagued by noises in the walls of her historic apartment and the inability to function throughout the day without just a splash of vodka. Then there’s the beautiful woman she keeps seeing but can never really find. Is Samara being haunted, or are her own psychosis and trauma raising their ugly heads?

I love the description of this book. I think the premise and the basic plot have a lot going for them. I appreciate the details about the town of Vernon. It is definitely a character unto itself. The cast of characters surrounding Samara all contribute to her slow descent into madness, and several of them are wickedly evil. I would have liked, however, to see a little more strength from Samara. I wanted her to have more guts rather than relying on the drinking to get her through her problems. She also seems to be a horrible judge of character, despite the positive influence of her abuela early in life. Ultimately, I wanted more of the “final girl” spirit from her.

I received this ARC from NetGalley.

A Review of Claudia Gray's "The X-Files: Perihelion"

2024-07-30T03:00:00.009-05:00

Claudia Gray’s “The X-Files: Perihelion” adds another adventure to the lives of Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. I’m a huge X-Files fan, having watched the entire series two or three times straight through, seen the movies multiple time, and read a couple of other books from different authors as well. I really looked forward to this read.

Now working for an independent genetics clinic that helps children, Scully finds she is pregnant again. She and Mulder move in together in an effort to finally create a normal family. Both are still mourning the loss of their first son, and Mulder is somewhat adrift when it comes to his career. When a mysterious assassin, who can disappear in a cloud of smoke, attracts the attention of the FBI, Mulder and Scully are called back to the agency. At the same time, however, a serial killer is brutally murdering pregnant women, and Scully has caught his attention. While torn between tracking down the two killers, Mulder and Scully also must address their relationship, their grief, and the strange new ability Scully seems to have acquired.

This book hits all the notes when it comes to the X-Files mythos. A lot of things readers expect to happen in an episode or novel set in this world do occur. Claudia Gray started out writing fanfic in this setting, and it’s clear she has a strong understanding of the tropes. The ending, however, felt abrupt and seemed to lack a satisfying resolution. Perhaps this is in expectation of a sequel?

I generally enjoyed the story, though I think it could have used a little more finessing. I do look forward to seeing what Claudia Gray will do when she has the chance to spend some more time in this world of the X-Files. I received a copy from NetGalley.

A Review of Yolanda Sfetsos's "Wings of Sorrow"

2024-07-19T02:00:00.019-05:00

Props to this cover artist.
Excellent and evocative.

Yolanda Sfetsos's "Wings of Sorrow" is a modern take on a more classic gothic novel, based
in myth and set on an appropriately windswept cliff, complete with anachronistic manor and neighboring lighthouse.

Thera inherits her aunt’s house, and she decides to go clean it out before listing it. Hector, her horror-writing husband, comes along for the potential inspiration. The house immediately draws him in and the words begin to flow. Thera, however, is battling the ghost of her aunt and her ominous warning that nothing good will come of Thera and Hector staying at the house.

The premise of this story is intriguing with the genders sort of swapped from the more traditional tellings. The why of things, which we learn from the ghost and Thera’s forgotten memories, are equally fascinating. The delivery, however, left something to be desired. The truth comes out in a lot of exposition where I would have liked to see more mystery-solving and discovery by the characters involved in the immediacy of the plot. As a reader, I felt plenty of sympathy for Hector, but I found Thera a bit distant.

A quick and entertaining read with a good setting and an engaging premise, “Wings of Sorrow” would be a good read for any fan of horror. I received a copy from NetGalley.

A Review of Genoveva Dimova's "Foul Days" (audiobook)

2024-07-04T12:44:00.001-05:00

Genoveva Dimova’s “Foul Days” is a fun paranormal mystery suitable for fans of Van Helsing and similar monster-story revisions.

Kosara is a witch who, one fateful night, must trade her shadow in order to escape from her former demon (dragon?) lover, Zmey the Tsar of Monsters. With the help of a copper from the other side of the wall, she must recover her shadow before she fades away completely. Together, they battle various monsters as they run to ground the clues to help save themselves and the city of Chemograd.

I really enjoyed this story. It was fun, action-filled, and the world-building was spot on. It felt like a soviet-era spy novel, but with witches, ghosts, and other ghouls. I would absolutely read any follow-ups.

The narrator, Zura Johnson, did an excellent job with the different characters’ voices and the emotion needed to tell this story.

I definitely recommend this book. It’s a fun summer read or listen and kept me engage from page one. I received a copy from NetGalley.