Friends! Do I have some reviews for you! We journey through unsettling feminine power stories, move on to cryptids, try to solve a kidnapping, and then end with some sweet graphic novels. It’s a crazy week of stellar stories.
Let’s just jump in.
INCUBATE: A HORROR ANTHOLOGY OF FEMININE POWER
By Various
“Women are groomed from birth to appease the fragile rage of men. To smile and pander and dress correctly to avoid our own rapes and murders.
If we survive, we are told all the ways we failed.”
What a quote to start a review, eh? And the first one to boot! But I needed to set the stage of this anthology. It’s not “burn your bra” or “fuck the patriarchy”. It’s “we DO have a voice so listen. No please. No demure request. Listen.” And I fell head over heels for this.
From the first story to the last, the reader is forced to navigate through often too familiar territory (for men and women). Eight authors tell their tales, and they do not spare your feelings.
The New Wife by A.R.C. Mitra - Peter has a new wife and Shanice is none too happy about it. Shanice will get her revenge; you can set your watch to that. (10/5)
Aggrieved by Hope Madden - Brian is being stalked? Followed? Targeted? But he is doing it as well. Armed with his words and backpack, things will change because of “her”.
The Dogs by Maureen O’Leary - All Casey wanted to do was run from the past she caused but, unfortunately, her boss, Cynthia, get mixed up too.
The Town Bike by LCW Allingham - 20 years ago, Samantha wasn’t protected and became an old wives’ tale for young girls, a cautionary tale. Can lessons be learned before it’s too late?
Motherhood Changes You by Dave W. Glaser - Not knowing yourself and your newly birthed child is extremely common along with PPD, PPA, and PPP. But this particular unknown may be a first.
A Hole Where Your Back Should Be by Sofia Tantono - Do those that inflict harm, pain, or other malice on women receive their comeuppance? Ayu will be telling you in graphic detail (10/5)
Perfect Immortality by River Eno - A young girl turns into the woman of her admirer’s (and future husband’s) dreams until she dies… but she isn’t exactly going quietly into that good night.
Famine by Sydney Hodges - Men, if a woman makes you feel like you need to worship her, run. If a woman seems too good to be true, run. You know what, just run.
Two were standouts but the others are thought-provoking as well. I want… no. I NEED you to read these. To experience these stories. I promise you; you won’t be disappointed.
A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5/5.
THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE WATER
By Eric Butler
Do you like cryptids?
Do you like a bunch of blood and guts?
Well, do I have a recommendation for you!
Butler has expanded the original and let me tell you, you need the refresher. Between the amount of kills and the way they die, the reader is chomping (ha) at the bit to continue into the new story.
I can’t really explain it without ruining parts so I will tell this much, look up what a Dobhar Chu is. And then send hateful messages to Butler for your new nightmares.
The creativity of the kills continues from the original story and that’s so hard to do. I don’t like water and most of this is centered around it. So… I was uncomfortable 95% of the time. Even the land sections are unnerving.
Butler consistently shows readers he is a force to be reckoned with. Add to that his ability to get me to cuss him out in chats, well, you have a double winner.
Another stellar book from Butler.
A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5/5.
UNKNOWN WITNESSES
By Chris Besonen and Fredrick Niles
These two, I tell you what. They are a duo to watch!
Sonja, a seven-year-old, goes missing. But things aren’t exactly adding up. An aloof mother, an absent father, a van, and little to go the detectives are in for a case of a lifetime.
Told in an epistolary format (transcripts), we learn slowly what may have happens and then the next line, we are in the dark again! Who is to be believed? To be trusted? To be blamed for the disappearance?
Unnerving, tense, and smartly unraveled (story and our mentality), UNKNOWN WITNESSES is not to be missed.
A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5/5.
MOB PSYCHO 100 Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by One
Mob is your typical school age boy, trying to make friends and fit in. Oh, but he has psychic powers. His mentor (can we really call him that) Reigen, a self - proclaimed spirit medium. The problem is, Mob is getting more and more pissed at the world which we, the reader, watches in time with the increase. Will Mob learn to control himself or will he lose it?
I am not versed in manga, but this one was so much fun! The characters were absolutely insane and relatable in extremely interesting ways. The illustrations were engaging just as much as the plot.
A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5/5.
PATRICIA BRIGG’S: MERCY THOMPSON - HOPCROSS JILLY
Co-Written by Patricia Briggs and Rik Hoskin
Illustrated by Tom Garcia
Ho. Lee. Toledo. Shapeshifting coyotes, werewolf packs, and a shit ton of dead kids. Do I have your attention?
Mercy (the shapeshifting coyote) along with her husband and his pack of werewolves' stumble across some bones. Little did they know it would start an unearthing that would bring a legendary tale of a fae to life. But when Mercy’s stepdaughter becomes prey, can the gang solve the mystery AND save her stepdaughter?
Ohhhhh, friends. I loved every page of MERCY THOMPSON. The characters had depth, and I found myself holding my breath at certain spots because I didn’t know what was coming. And that fae… I will have nightmares for weeks. Absolutely stellar from the first to last word.
A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5/5.
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