Review: Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

Japanese GothicJapanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My first 5-star read of 2026!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow, okay. Japanese Gothic. Is this going to be for everyone? No, most likely not. Was it for me though? Hell yes!

I am blown away by how unique, beautiful and creative this story is. It’s tragic. It’s challenging and captivating. It hurt my head a little and my heart a lot.

I finished this novel close to a month ago, and have been sitting with it in my mind ever since. As it turns out, this is going to be one of those cases for me that I love a book so much, I really don’t know how to review it.

There’s only so many ways one can say, this is amazing.

Kylie Lee Baker is so versatile in her writing, and this is a clear example of her tremendous talent. I think maybe for Readers who have only read Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng from her, they might be surprised by this one.

For Readers who have read her earlier works, such as The Keeper of the Night, or The Scarlet Alchemist duologies, both of which I recommend, this may be less of a surprise.

Those Horror Fantasy duologies both leaned heavily into more historical settings. In The Keeper of the Night duology, we also had the incorporation of Japanese folklore and mythology explored through a Horror lens.

In Japanese Gothic, it feels like KLB is blending both her earlier works with Bat Eater, and I mean this style-wise, as we have two main characters, Lee, living in our modern world in 2026, and Sen, living in historic Japan in 1877.

After Lee flees New York under distressing circumstances, he goes to stay in his father’s new home in Japan. A house with a haunting aura and history.

It’s in this location that Lee’s and Sen’s worlds end up colliding. So there’s this beautiful blend of the modern with the historical. It’s a story of two times, two worlds, but how are they connected, and why?

This book is such a journey, such a ride. I was so curious about how KLB was going to work these two perspectives and I loved how it was done. The way we learn about the characters through their experiences with one another, it unfolded in such a natural way.

I definitely crept up on me. I didn’t know how invested I was until the events began to escalate and become higher stakes. I loved the mystery of it as well. There’s no info dumping as to what is going on here, or why, it just evolves.

The revelations at the end, the truth of what’s going on with these characters and the connection, it was jaw-dropping and incredible. I was in awe of what KLB did here.

I could see this one going either way with Readers. It takes its time. It’s truly a slow burn, but I loved the Horror imagery and dark content KLB included, while also making it heartfelt and thought-provoking.

I think for the Readers it hits with, it’s really going to hit, and I fall into that camp. For me, this is Kylie Lee Baker’s best work yet, and I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve read from her. I just feel like the complexity the story, the themes explored and it’s construction, is all next level.

I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who feels like the premise sounds intriguing. I think if you go in knowing it’s going to unfold in a slow, meticulous way, you’ll have a better shot connecting with it. Be willing to take the time.

Thank you to the publisher, Hanover Square Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I know it’s early, but I can say with confidence that this will be on my Best Books of 2026 list!

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Review: The Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry

The Place Where They Buried Your HeartThe Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Christina Henry is one of those authors whose latest releases I always anticipate. I don’t love them all, some definitely work better than others, but what I really appreciate is how varied her stories are and the risks she’s willing to take.

I feel like a lot of authors, including many of my favorites, have a very distinct style, some may even say formula, for knocking out novel after novel. For Henry, I feel like even her style varies depending on the story she is developing.

Regardless of my final feelings on any of her books, I am always impressed with her breadth of ideas and ability to create such rich stories again and again.

The Place Where They Buried Your Heart will stand out as one of my favorites from her in terms of how memorable it is and how much I have continued thinking about it after completion. While I didn’t love all aspects of this story, particularly towards the end, it truly got inside my heart.

In this story, set in a Chicago neighborhood, we have the typical set-up of a creepy house at the end of the street. We all know one of these houses. There are local stories about it, usually involving terrible things that have happened there. Kids either avoid it, or dare each other to go inside.

That’s what happens in this case. When Jessie’s little brother, Paul, is annoying her, she thoughtlessly dares him to go inside, which he does with two of his friends.

Unlike his friends though, Paul never comes back out. Upon searching, he’s completely disappeared. It’s like the abandoned house has actually consumed him.

Wracked with guilt, we follow Jessie, in the aftermath of this terrible day that truly shattered her family unit. Even as Jessie grew up, she never left the street though, never giving up hope that she could one day find out the truth of what happened to her baby brother.

As the years pass, the house continues to be a menace to the neighborhood. I loved when Jessie really started digging into the past of the house, and trying to figure out the evil that lays at the heart of it.

In fact, there were many aspects of this that I loved and appreciated, but a few others that I didn’t care for as much. Most specifically, for me the concluding portions felt too simplified in their resolution and quite anticlimactic after the great build.

It’s also a heavy story. I’m not saying that as a judgement. I love a grief-focused Horror story. I just want to prepare unsuspecting Readers, who may be anticipating a straight, fun-filled Haunted House tale.

There’s a lot going on with Jessie and her family. Her relationship with her parents, it’s not great. None of them ever really healed from Paul’s disappearance, so there’s some pretty toxic interactions going on amongst the three of them. Jessie was able to find solid relationships outside of her home though, and I really liked the found family elements Henry included.

Additionally, the atmosphere, mystery and descriptions of the house were very well done. Though ending rubbed me the wrong way, overall it’s a great read.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review.

Christina Henry is an incredible talent and I will continue to look forward to everything she writes in the future!

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Review: Morsel by Carter Keane

MorselMorsel by Carter Keane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Morsel is a Horror Thriller novella that definitely packed more of a punch than I expected. This is also a debut and I was certainly impressed by the creativity of it.

In this story we’re following Lou, who on a work assignment ends up in the hill country of rural-Ohio. It requires the surveying of some land, so she’s on foot through some diverse terrain, but she’s got her dog, Ripley, with her, her truck and her phone. All should be fine.

She sees something horrifying in the woods though, and fearing for her safety and that of Ripley, she races them back to her truck, for what’s she’s hoping will be a fast getaway.

Unfortunately, her truck appears to have been sabotaged, so she’s not escaping this dangerous situation that way. From the plot goes places that I truly didn’t expect.

For a while, I wasn’t sure exactly where Keane was headed with this story. It felt a little odd in the beginning, but I trusted we were gonna get somewhere I was going to enjoy. The build-up was unsettling enough to lock me in.

Then around the mid-way point, an unexpected event startled me so much, it knocked me off my loafers. I was shocked and horrified. I didn’t see it coming. From there it was like I was buckled into a hell ride, holding on for dear life, praying Ripley would be okay.

As mentioned above, IMO Morsel is a really strong debut. While I wasn’t completely sold on every single aspect of the story, I did love that the author took it all the way. There were some great graphic descriptions and a few twists that took me completely by surprise.

If you’re going to deliver me gore, I want it all out and Keane delivered. They didn’t hold anything back, and I appreciated that risk. Overall, a super solid story with some toe-curling descriptions and intriguing social commentary.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire for providing me with a copy to read and review. I look forward to seeing what Carter Keane writes next!

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Review: The Midnight Knock by John Fram

The Midnight Knock: A NovelThe Midnight Knock: A Novel by John Fram
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars**

The Midnight Knock is a really difficult book to talk about without giving anything away. I’ve been sitting with my thoughts on this one for a month. I’ve been trying to figure out a fair way to explain why this didn’t work for me more than it ultimately did.

While reading, I was locked in the majority of the way through, finding it completely engrossing. There’s a dark mystery to all that’s happening, and I was so desperate to get to the bottom of it.

This story follows a group of strangers coming together and having to survive the night at a remote Texas motel. The majority of the characters are traveling in pairs and over the course of the story, we learn about them and what brought them to where they’re at.

There’s also a murder mystery component, where a guest at the hotel, Sarah Powers, is killed and now they all need to figure out the whodunit before it’s too late.

And by too late, I mean the owner’s of the hotel give the remaining guests an ultimatum. If they don’t figure out who did it by midnight, they’ll all die when the protective motel lights go out, because there’s something sinister lurking out in the West Texas dark.

The Midnight Knock channels some of the vibes of From Dusk Till Dawn and pairs them with The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. As mentioned above, it does have a super compelling build.

However, for me, the downfall was when the truth behind what was happening was revealed. The component at the heart of the matter lost all of it’s sinister nature for me. It just felt ridiculous, like, this is what we’ve been in fear of this whole time?

In the end, I was just disappointed by the whole conclusion. I hated the way the big bad was ultimately portrayed after that huge, intense, and slightly disturbing build.

The 3.5-stars definitely is here for the vibes, the characters and the mystery. It’s worth picking up because I feel like my issue with it is personal taste, and you could feel completely differently. John Fram is obviously a very talented writer and I have to give them props for taking risks and being creative.

Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. While this isn’t my favorite from this author, I am still glad I read it and can appreciate its merits.

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Review: Blood Like Ours (The Blood Trilogy #2) by Stuart Neville

Blood Like Ours (Blood Trilogy #2)Blood Like Ours by Stuart Neville
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

Blood Like Ours is the 2nd-book in the Blood Trilogy by Stuart Neville. The 1st-book, Blood Like Mine, took me completely by surprise when I read it last year.

Initially, I thought that one was a standalone, so I was super excited when I discovered it was actually slated to be a trilogy. Since that time, I’ve been anxiously awaiting this installment and it didn’t disappoint.

These books are a stellar blend of Horror with Crime Fiction. It’s got such a tone to it. Dark, intense, and oh yeah, there’s a lot of blood involved.

Coffin Moon, which was a fairly-hyped Horror release this year, would be a fairly good comp in my opinion. So, if you enjoyed that one and are looking for more in a similar vein, you should check this series out.

Vein…did you see what I did there??

In this installment, we continue to follow Rebecca and her daughter, Monica, who she calls Moonflower. We also continue to follow FBI Agents, specifically, Special Agent Sarah McGrath, who’s very familiar with their case.

The cat-and-mouse dynamics from the 1st-book carry over here, but we also get a new perspective, an young Irish immigrant, who ends up with a shocking connection to Monica and Rebecca.

I love how this book continues to build out this world and cast of characters involved in this story. When it all started, it felt quite insular, with Rebecca and Monica feeling like islands unto themselves. As the story has progressed though, we discover just how many players are actually involved in this whole thing.

It’s intriguing as heck. The way Neville moves all these pieces around, it feels like you’re witnessing a first class chess match with a bunch of blood splatter.

This ending too, OMG!!!

There’s so much more to explore and I can’t wait to discover where the 3rd-book is going to lead us. One of my favorite aspects of this one was the new perspective, Emma, and all the insights she brought to the historical side of this story.

I don’t want to say too much, because the synopsis keeps it vague. I will say as a sequel, it’s completely successful at continuing the original story, whilst also bringing in a lot of new information and truly expanding the stakes, as well as the intrigue.

Thank you to the publisher, Recorded Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Book 3 cannot come fast enough. I can’t wait!!

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Review: Disappearance at Devil’s Rock by Paul Tremblay

Disappearance at Devil's RockDisappearance at Devil’s Rock by Paul Tremblay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars rounded up**

As a Reader, I focus a lot on new releases. In the majority of cases, if I don’t get to a book either before, or within like 4 or 5-months, of its release date, it’s going to end up languishing on my shelves, or Kindle, unread for years.

A month ago, I was browsing books that were past nominees for the Bram Stoker Awards, and this just happened to be one of them. I decided it was high time I get to it. I’ve owned this book since it’s release and am kicking myself for not picking it up sooner.

This story features a sort of classic set-up: three teen boys enter the forest, only two return. We follow the missing boy, Tommy’s, mom, Elizabeth, and his younger sister, Kate. We also get the perspective of the boys in the days leading up to Tommy’s disappearance.

There are a lot of moving parts to the narrative, but they’re all blended together so well that it makes for a seamless, emotional and engaging story.

I am huge Tremblay fan, so I wouldn’t say I was necessarily surprised at how much I enjoyed this, or how good the writing was, however, I do walk away feeling this is one of Tremblay’s best works to date. I can’t stress enough how incredibly well-told it is; completely immersive. I was drawn in quickly and couldn’t stop.

The inclusion of the boys perspectives, since they are just teens, had a certain Coming of Age feel that enjoy. That combined with various real world horrors, really played into my tastes. I thought the audiobook narration was perfect for the tone of the story as well. Overall, just exceptional.

At the end of the day, Disappearance at Devil’s Rock was a great reminder for me to not neglect my backlist. There are so many incredible stories lurking on the shelves just waiting to be discovered.

I would absolutely recommend this to people who enjoy genre-bending, emotionally-impactful stories, full of haunting imagery and real world horrors. I’m so glad that I finally made time for this one!

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Review: The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong

The Haunting of Paynes HollowThe Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

The Haunting of Paynes Hollow follows Samantha Payne, who is shocked to learn upon the death of her Grandfather that she’s received a very valuable lakefront property that’s been in the family for generations.

It’s an extremely prized piece of real estate, a summer retreat on Lake Ontario, that the whole family has enjoyed for years. Samantha is left scratching her head as to why he would have bequeathed it to her of all people.

The property also has a bit of a lurid past though, one Samantha would rather not think about. It was at that lakefront cottage that her father was thought to have killed a local child. Sadly, he ended up taking his own life as a result of this horrific incident.

Since that time, 14-years ago, Samantha has been practically estranged from that side of the family, except for her Aunt Gail, who she’s remained quite close with.

As it turns out, the inheritance does have one small caveat. Sam needs to reside at the cottage for a month before the property will be officially conveyed into her name. There are very strict rules applied to this as well.

Needing the money the property could some day grant her, Sam decides to take on the challenge, and along with her Aunt, heads back to the property she hasn’t revisited in over a decade.

From the start things seem slightly off, like someone is trying to scare them away. Not only that, being back at the site, stirs up all sorts of long-buried memories and emotions for Sam. It’s a lot.

When Aunt Gail goes missing a few days into their stay, Sam begins to question everything she thought she knew, both about her past and their family.

Exhausted from nightmares and plagued by paranoia, Sam swears she sees lights and shapes moving under the rippling waves of the lake. Can the truth of what lies below also be the truth at the heart of her family legacy?

I had fun reading The Haunting of Paynes Hollow. This was my first Kelley Armstrong, and I was excited to check out her work. The initial set-up was fantastic, hooking me quickly. I always love an inheritance story.

I loved also that we follow a Niece-Aunt duo. I’m so close with my own nieces, seeing that relationship dynamic explored was extra special. It’s not one you see often.

I also tend to enjoy when people return somewhere from their past and try to solve old mysteries, which in a way, this is as well. Sam was just a child when everything went down with her father, so she has some repressed memories that start to bubble to the surface once she’s living there.

I liked all of those things. However, there’s also just A LOT going on. At times it bordered on being too much. I feel like it did come together for the most part though.

The lore of the family was interesting, as well as all of the long-buried secrets that were revealed. I think for me the setting was the best part, and the unsettling atmosphere created by the odd goings-on was a close second.

Though I did feel it started to get a bit repetitive towards the middle, the ending was worth getting through all that. I would definitely recommend this to Readers who are looking for something a little different in the Creepy Reads space.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m definitely looking forward to picking up more from this author!

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Review: Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward

Nowhere BurningNowhere Burning by Catriona Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

Nowhere Burning is a dark, melancholic novel set deep in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains.

Although told via three main perspectives, the perspective that kicks off our tale, and really serves as the heart of the story, is that of Riley, a young girl, who saves herself and her brother from the clutches of their abusive Uncle’s home.

Running away in the middle of the night, Riley has one plan in mind, to join a group of unhomed teens squatting on the abandoned grounds of a infamous movie star’s ranch, aptly named, Nowhere.

I don’t want to mention the other two perspectives, as the Publisher’s Synopsis leaves them out, therefore I don’t want to be accidentally giving things away.

Just know this story is much more complex and nuanced than the synopsis may lead you to believe. One of the most interesting aspects of this novel, in my opinion, was trying to figure out how all three were going to ultimately connect.

Initially it seems Nowhere is the only connection, but is that actually true?

This novel is quite stark and gritty. It feels bleak, the tone of which reminded me a bit of the 2010 movie, Winter Bone. It’s also a very slow burn, that sneaks up on you emotionally.

I didn’t realize how much it had captured me until the very end. I begrudgingly admit this book made me cry actual tears and they seemed to come out of nowhere.

I was shocked at the emotion Ward was able to draw out of me. It was like a punch in the gut. I feel like the way she pulled everything together, it was just beautifully done. It was hard to not feel emotion and empathy for this set of characters that life seemed to be so unkind to.

The world isn’t always an easy place, but beauty, hope and love can often be found even on the darkest of days. This story felt like moving through a deep, unending fog, but it’s worth the darkness; it’s worth the trudge.

I would recommend this to Readers who like a dark, emotional slow burn. It feels very Literary Horror, with plenty of dark subject matter to really sink your teeth into. For fans of Ward, this is a must read.

Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I feel like this one is going to stick in my mind for a long time to come!

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Review: Another by Paul Tremblay

AnotherAnother by Paul Tremblay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚

Another is beloved Horror author Paul Tremblay’s Middle Grade debut, and it was such a delight to read. I found the concepts fun, well-imagined and eerie. There were some genuinely creepy moments that got under my skin.

I would have been obsessed with this as a kid!

In this story we’re following Casey, a middle school boy currently living with Transient Tic Disorder, or TTD. The disorder first presented itself, unfortunately, when remote learning was a thing during the Covid pandemic.

All of Casey’s classmates witnessed his tics during a Zoom session. Casey has since been treated like a social pariah, and he has started isolating, keeping to himself a lot more.

When his parents receive an odd phone call one day, and then report to him that he has a friend coming to the house for a sleepover, Casey is confused. Who could it be? What friend? He knows nothing about it.

When Morel shows up, Casey is even more confused. He’s never seen this kid in his life. And what’s going on with his skin? It looks like clay and Morel doesn’t speak.

In spite of the oddness of Morel’s appearance and behavior, Casey’s parents act like nothing is off. In fact, they seemed charmed by him, and Casey is certainly in no position to turn away a potential new friend.

The longer Morel is there though, the more unsettled Casey becomes. Morel is evolving the more he interacts with the family, and Casey is left scratching his head about the nature of his new friend.

Another is an extremely well-crafted story. I didn’t know what to think when Morel first arrived. The whole circumstance with him being there, it felt dangerous, before I actually knew whether it was or not. It left me unnerved.

This story definitely channeled the nostalgic feel of classic kids horror from my own childhood, but done in a modern, more thoughtful way.

I feel like Tremblay put a lot of care into these characters and Casey is so well-developed and empathetic. He’s a character you can get behind and I felt like I went on this wild and crazy journey with him.

Morel’s presence was entirely unsettling. Particularly, because it felt like Casey was so on his own in this. His parents were captivated by Morel’s presence, they could see no wrong, leaving Casey to navigate all the mysterious happenings on his own.

I did enjoy Casey’s relationship with his older sister, Ally, but she was away at college, so couldn’t be much help to him in this situation.

I also enjoyed the real world issues that Trembay explored, such as the challenges of remote learning and isolation. I don’t tend to enjoy any stories that touch upon Covid, but I feel like it was done well here, and in a way that didn’t feel overwhelming to the rest of the plot.

I would highly-recommend this to anyone who enjoys Spooky Middle Grade stories. This has such a vibe and was so much fun to read. It’s fast-paced and engaging, with an excellent audiobook to boot.

Thank you to the publisher, Quill Tree Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m hoping to see a lot more of Tremblay’s work in the Middle Grade space!

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Review: One Bad Night & Other Stories an Aardvark Original Horror Anthology

One Bad Night & Other StoriesOne Bad Night & Other Stories by Isabel Armiento
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One Bad Night & Other Stories, a Horror Anthology, is an Aardvark Original developed to celebrate Aardvark Book Club’s 3-year anniversary in October.

I knew immediately upon seeing the cover that I had to have it, but then I read the list of authors and was doubly-sold. Those authors are Kay Chronister, Del Sandeen, Kylie Lee Baker, Rachel Harrison, CJ Leede, Jennifer Marie Thorne, S. A. Barnes, and Stephen Graham Jones, all of whom have had previous novels offered via Aardvark.

If you are unfamiliar with Aardvark, they are an online book subscription service offering new and varied releases each month. The quality that makes Aardvark my favorite service is the amount of new Horror they offer, my favorite genre.

This collection features 8-stories, and below are my brief thoughts/ratings on each story:

1. Two Observers of the Slaughter Rites on Gannet Island by Kay Chronister — ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — This story follows a husband and wife duo embarking on some cultural anthropological field research on a remote island. It was so bizarre and fun and I became completely invested in it.

2. My Lithopedia by Del Sandeen — ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 — This was fun and it definitely got under my skin. Anything involving dolls, or things resembling dolls, which I would categorize the feel of the stone baby from this story as, usually get under my skin. I felt like this had such a classic horror feel, but was also a creative concept, so it played on past tropes, but brought something completely new to the table!

3. Lady Jawbone by Kylie Lee Baker — ⭐⭐⭐.5 — I liked the feel of this as well, but was left a little dumbfounded by it. I feel like, having read other things from this author, this was very different from her other work. I like the description of the setting, being in nearly constant dark, it sort of took away the visual sense, so it made me feel like I was in the dark as well.

4. A Necromancer’s Guide to Reconnecting with an Ex by Rachel Harrison — ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — I love Rachel Harrison’s writing so much. Her MCs always feel so true to life. While this didn’t pack quite the punch as her regular full-length novels, it was still very well-crafted.

5. Red Tide by C.J. Leede — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — This story was so interesting, including some sea-related horror, which I tend to enjoy. There were some super yucky descriptions, which I loved and also enjoyed how full-circle this felt.

6. 47 Pineview Way by Jennifer Marie Thorne — ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 — This was eerie. If it were a full-length novel and I was writing one of my regular reviews, it would be rounded up to a 4. This is a suburban-set story with the feel of the goblin market to it. It was def interesting and I cannot imagine being in the MCs position.

7. A Meditation on the Existence of Certain Cutlery by S.A. Barnes — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — This story was very S.A. Barnes! It almost felt like it contained a whole novel, it was so well-imagined. I don’t know what to believe about the end, I have different theories, and I love that Barnes left it open to the Reader’s interpretation.

8. One Bad Night by Stephen Graham Jones — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — I almost didn’t make it through this story, NGL. The topics explored mirror pretty closely things going on in my own life at the moment, and I’ll tell you, it’s wasn’t easy.

I pushed through, skimming certain sections, because a friend read it before me and I sort of knew ahead of time the direction it would ultimately take. I was gutted by this story. It’s written with such raw detail and emotion. So, yeahhhh, SGJ, one of my favorite authors of all time tearing my heart out yet again. I love his writing so much. It’s always so heartfelt and real. What an end to the collection. Wow.

Overall, this was such a fun and well-rounded collection, ending with that gut-wrenching story from one of my favorite authors of all time, SGJ, which spoke to my soul.

Aardvark did a phenomenal job with their selection of authors and works for this anthology. I hope they create more of these in the future. I’d definitely be buying and reading them!

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