Double review: What Grows in the Dark, by Jaq Evans, and Terror at Tierra de Cobre, by Michael Merriam

I’ve been in a mood for reading horror lately, and a fair number of interesting stories in that field have been crossing my path, so I’m combining reviews here of two debuts from this week. Although they’re both pretty brisk reads that include LGBTQ+ protagonists and diverse casts, they’re quite different in focus and tone.
Book Review: Sun of Blood and Ruin, by Mariely Lares

Like xocolatl, the original chocolate drink, this book is a rich, frothy brew, and the conclusion, although it has its bittersweet elements, goes down smoothly.
Book Review: What Feasts at Night

As always, Kingfisher does a wonderful job immersing the reader in whatever environment she’s describing; I was reveling in the description of the countryside from the first page.
Book Review: The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles, by Malka Older

If you loved Malka Older’s The Mimicking of Known Successes, you will almost certainly find pleasure in The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles too.
Book Review: Resurrections, by Ada Hoffmann

Resurrections shows a wide range of subject matter, themes and topics; nearly all of the pieces are interesting and engaging, and some of them are breathtakingly gorgeous and moving.
Book Review: Rosalind’s Siblings, edited by Bogi Takács

If you missed Rosalind’s Siblings when it was published in September 2023, please consider adding it to your reading list for the new year. It’s a very interesting anthology of speculative fiction and poems, containing some fascinating ideas and characters and some really beautiful language.