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elleisa's reviews
105 reviews
Playground by Aron Beauregard
slow-paced
3.0
Many of us know that this novel went viral on TikTok, shocking and revolting many in its wake. For this reason I avoided it for a long time, especially since one of my triggers revolves around anything kid related. I forced some members of our book club to read it this mont so I could still get the scoop if it became too much.
Well, it ended up being a bit of the opposite. The foundation of the story is shocking: a wealthy, twisted woman lures low-income families into testing out her “state of the art playground” paired with a hefty sum of cash for the parents. What’s the catch? Well the playground is actually a series of death traps that the kids must escape while their trapped parents have to watch. Aron’s prose is strong. His writing is solid and his concepts bring a unique take on extreme horror.
Unfortunately, it just did not pack the punch that was expected. As a now seasoned horror reader, the situations fell a bit flat for me. The kids sounded more like high schoolers in their thought processes, which dampened the shock value. The playground puzzles ended up being too descriptive that I got lost when imagining the characters navigating them. I also find that I’m growing weary of the crude & inaccurate descriptions of women’s reproductive organs in extreme horror or using these descriptions for shock value… With that being said, if I were newer to the genre, I think this would be pretty jarring for me.
I’ve had a brief personal convo with Aron and he was incredibly kind. It’s very clear he cares deeply for his craft and even more for his readers. I think he’s got a lot to offer and will only see that shine as he publishes more and more of his work!
Well, it ended up being a bit of the opposite. The foundation of the story is shocking: a wealthy, twisted woman lures low-income families into testing out her “state of the art playground” paired with a hefty sum of cash for the parents. What’s the catch? Well the playground is actually a series of death traps that the kids must escape while their trapped parents have to watch. Aron’s prose is strong. His writing is solid and his concepts bring a unique take on extreme horror.
Unfortunately, it just did not pack the punch that was expected. As a now seasoned horror reader, the situations fell a bit flat for me. The kids sounded more like high schoolers in their thought processes, which dampened the shock value. The playground puzzles ended up being too descriptive that I got lost when imagining the characters navigating them. I also find that I’m growing weary of the crude & inaccurate descriptions of women’s reproductive organs in extreme horror or using these descriptions for shock value… With that being said, if I were newer to the genre, I think this would be pretty jarring for me.
I’ve had a brief personal convo with Aron and he was incredibly kind. It’s very clear he cares deeply for his craft and even more for his readers. I think he’s got a lot to offer and will only see that shine as he publishes more and more of his work!
Spiteful, Sinister, Violent by Aiden E. Messer
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Spiteful, Sinister, Violent lives up to its name in Aiden E. Messer’s newest book. We are immediately thrown into the public corporal punishment of a main character. Tied to a pillory and publicly denounced sets the scene to how visceral this story will be. Theres a lot packed into its ~130 pages and is fast paced and intense from start to finish. Set in a post apocalyptic world with many original and unique elements.
The last few chapters were BRUTAL. A lot of very unique and new concepts were conjured up in Messer’s storytelling that wasn’t like anything I’ve read thus far. Which says a lot in the splatter scene!
The only components of Spiteful, Sinister, Violent I would have liked to see more of were world building and pacing. A lot of mentions of an earth changing event occurring, but not enough explanation on what happened and clarification as to why there were these various new terminologies/ways of life. In a lot of great ways it reminded me of The Last of Us, highlighting upon the ways that humans can be the biggest monsters of all, but also showing the tenderness of companionship in extremely high stress environments. More world building and slowing the story way down could have strengthened an already sound foundation.
Thank you to Aiden for this ARC and trusting me with your work! I look forward to seeing what else Messer’s mind can conjure up next!
3.5/5
The last few chapters were BRUTAL. A lot of very unique and new concepts were conjured up in Messer’s storytelling that wasn’t like anything I’ve read thus far. Which says a lot in the splatter scene!
The only components of Spiteful, Sinister, Violent I would have liked to see more of were world building and pacing. A lot of mentions of an earth changing event occurring, but not enough explanation on what happened and clarification as to why there were these various new terminologies/ways of life. In a lot of great ways it reminded me of The Last of Us, highlighting upon the ways that humans can be the biggest monsters of all, but also showing the tenderness of companionship in extremely high stress environments. More world building and slowing the story way down could have strengthened an already sound foundation.
Thank you to Aiden for this ARC and trusting me with your work! I look forward to seeing what else Messer’s mind can conjure up next!
3.5/5
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
GAH. This BOOK!!!!!
I can't tell if I absolutely am enthralled by this novel or downright enraged by it. The twists and turns and room for interpretation kept me completely glued to the story. I still don't know what to think. Thriller lovers everywhere will love this one, but it's left a lot for me to think about. I've got to go middle of the road on this because I'm more curious with what the authors message in this novel was. I think it was written to allude to there is more that meets the eye with this story. The multiple narratives were done well and you felt both bad and angry for all the characters involved. Jewell's storytelling is always so vivid. She does a fabulous job of rolling out the things you least expect...
More thoughts below, but they will harm your reading experience so I only recommend reading if you've read!!
SPOILERS:
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Why is Walter not being held more responsible for being a groomer/pedo!? Why is he hidden behind the armor that is being "a good dad" (he's BARELY that) when he started dating Josie as child, cheating on his wife both with a mother and HER DAUGHTER. Then abandoning his two kids to have two more with someone who was 30 years his junior? To only put it all on Josie? Idk, I don't like that. I think that Josie was incredibly wrong for what she did, but I also feel like no one else was held responsible for the way that they treated Josie and their part in the downfall of these two families. I think everyone in this story is guilty, even Alex, and I think Walter & Pam should have gotten way more flack for their part in this. With that being said, I think that is what Jewell was going for in this story. She wanted the reader to be enraged by it all, of that she did a wonderful job. I think she highlighted the internalized misogyny that all the women in this story carried. That in the end, Walter was let off the hook - Nathan, too (although I found Nathan to be a bit more forgiving. Addiction is a disease and it's clear he was succumbing to that). I don't think there is resolve to the multiple narratives, but I think this was intentionally done to leave it up to the reader to decide how they feel - which is quite realistic to many cases we hear of today. So many left for interpretation; so many unsolved and unresolved.
I can't tell if I absolutely am enthralled by this novel or downright enraged by it. The twists and turns and room for interpretation kept me completely glued to the story. I still don't know what to think. Thriller lovers everywhere will love this one, but it's left a lot for me to think about. I've got to go middle of the road on this because I'm more curious with what the authors message in this novel was. I think it was written to allude to there is more that meets the eye with this story. The multiple narratives were done well and you felt both bad and angry for all the characters involved. Jewell's storytelling is always so vivid. She does a fabulous job of rolling out the things you least expect...
More thoughts below, but they will harm your reading experience so I only recommend reading if you've read!!
SPOILERS:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Why is Walter not being held more responsible for being a groomer/pedo!? Why is he hidden behind the armor that is being "a good dad" (he's BARELY that) when he started dating Josie as child, cheating on his wife both with a mother and HER DAUGHTER. Then abandoning his two kids to have two more with someone who was 30 years his junior? To only put it all on Josie? Idk, I don't like that. I think that Josie was incredibly wrong for what she did, but I also feel like no one else was held responsible for the way that they treated Josie and their part in the downfall of these two families. I think everyone in this story is guilty, even Alex, and I think Walter & Pam should have gotten way more flack for their part in this. With that being said, I think that is what Jewell was going for in this story. She wanted the reader to be enraged by it all, of that she did a wonderful job. I think she highlighted the internalized misogyny that all the women in this story carried. That in the end, Walter was let off the hook - Nathan, too (although I found Nathan to be a bit more forgiving. Addiction is a disease and it's clear he was succumbing to that). I don't think there is resolve to the multiple narratives, but I think this was intentionally done to leave it up to the reader to decide how they feel - which is quite realistic to many cases we hear of today. So many left for interpretation; so many unsolved and unresolved.
Ladybugs in November by Brittany Johnson
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Johnson sure knows how to write a good short story, she hooked me with Maneater & yet again with Ladybugs in November!
I particularly love in short stories when a reader is left to fill in some of the blanks. I think it adds a dreary, eeriness to the feel of it. What did the ladybugs mean? What do they symbolize? I’ll be pondering these things in the coming days.
I could smell this book, I could feel the story; how gross and dank the house was, the men’s faces in a grim awareness in the end. Deliciously creepy!
As a sidenote, I like that Johnson added in the first chapter of Mississippi Blue after the authors note. This is a nice touch and makes me really excited to read that next!
I particularly love in short stories when a reader is left to fill in some of the blanks. I think it adds a dreary, eeriness to the feel of it. What did the ladybugs mean? What do they symbolize? I’ll be pondering these things in the coming days.
I could smell this book, I could feel the story; how gross and dank the house was, the men’s faces in a grim awareness in the end. Deliciously creepy!
As a sidenote, I like that Johnson added in the first chapter of Mississippi Blue after the authors note. This is a nice touch and makes me really excited to read that next!
Any Man by Amber Tamblyn
5.0
“Yes, I am still breathing. No, I am not living.”
I am having a very hard time encapsulating the profound impact this book has had on me - on my being, how I perceive the world, how I understand my own grief & survival in a world that does not believe victims. The content is extremely heavy, gross, and outright traumatic. Please tread with extreme caution. I do not take that statement lightly.
The wildly creative use of writing through platforms like diary entries, voicemails, twitter podcasts & more made this so much more impactful. The first time I shared my own experience out loud was through a small spoken word group in high school. Many aspects of this novel read similarly.
Any Man now lives, to forever hold a place in my heart, in my top 3 favorite reads of all time. Tamblyn is a force; a relentless nature to be reckoned with. I look forward to reading the rest of her work. I genuinely thank her for creating such a brilliant & important statement through Any Man.
The audiobook is a wildly enjoyable production. Marc Maron & the other actors do a wonderful job of bringing this story to life.
I am having a very hard time encapsulating the profound impact this book has had on me - on my being, how I perceive the world, how I understand my own grief & survival in a world that does not believe victims. The content is extremely heavy, gross, and outright traumatic. Please tread with extreme caution. I do not take that statement lightly.
The wildly creative use of writing through platforms like diary entries, voicemails, twitter podcasts & more made this so much more impactful. The first time I shared my own experience out loud was through a small spoken word group in high school. Many aspects of this novel read similarly.
Any Man now lives, to forever hold a place in my heart, in my top 3 favorite reads of all time. Tamblyn is a force; a relentless nature to be reckoned with. I look forward to reading the rest of her work. I genuinely thank her for creating such a brilliant & important statement through Any Man.
The audiobook is a wildly enjoyable production. Marc Maron & the other actors do a wonderful job of bringing this story to life.
Return To The Black Farm by Elias Witherow
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is one of the best done series I have ever read in the horror genre. I am completely in awe by Witherow’s storytelling abilities. I cried so much at the end. Return to the Black Farm was a perfect accompaniment to The Black Farm. Just wow.
***SPOILER AHEAD***
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My only beef with this book is that the god figure was a man. Would have been more impactful as a non-binary individual or a woman IMO!
***SPOILER AHEAD***
.
.
.
.
My only beef with this book is that the god figure was a man. Would have been more impactful as a non-binary individual or a woman IMO!
Low Blasphemy by Judith Sonnet
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is, without a doubt, my favorite Sonnet book. Absolutely top tier horror, with so much emotion, vivid imagery, & wall to wall gore.
There are so many elements of this story that I could not get enough of. You quickly fall in love with the Karkoff’s: somewhat of a chosen family, made up of Reece, Paisley and their mom, Hollie. Reece is uprooted and moved to the small Missouri town of Kissing-Brooke after her mother begins acting strangely…leading to a murder-suicide of her parents. Hollie mourns the loss of her sister, but is quick to welcome Reece as her own. Malcolm, a friendly Neighbor and long-term friend of Hollie, is not only a dear friend but an integral part of the family. After finding a crude statue of Christ in the woods behind their home, all hell breaks loose. An entity known as The Chosen One has come to claim what he believes is rightfully His in a non-stop gore fest.
One of my favorite characters in the story is Keegan, the non-binary best friend of Reece’s sister Paisley. The love that each character feels for one another is so big and you really cannot stop rooting for them the entire time. This was so well written, and the story flowed perfectly. Next to Beasts of Burden, I think this is Judith’s best novel and has entered my top 5 favorite books! I love her novellas and relentless splatter, but stories like Low Blasphemy shoots Sonnet’s work into a whole next level of indie horror.
Regardless of all the above…do you want to read about a 10-year-old girl rightfully kicking demon ass? Read this, you won’t regret it!!
There are so many elements of this story that I could not get enough of. You quickly fall in love with the Karkoff’s: somewhat of a chosen family, made up of Reece, Paisley and their mom, Hollie. Reece is uprooted and moved to the small Missouri town of Kissing-Brooke after her mother begins acting strangely…leading to a murder-suicide of her parents. Hollie mourns the loss of her sister, but is quick to welcome Reece as her own. Malcolm, a friendly Neighbor and long-term friend of Hollie, is not only a dear friend but an integral part of the family. After finding a crude statue of Christ in the woods behind their home, all hell breaks loose. An entity known as The Chosen One has come to claim what he believes is rightfully His in a non-stop gore fest.
One of my favorite characters in the story is Keegan, the non-binary best friend of Reece’s sister Paisley. The love that each character feels for one another is so big and you really cannot stop rooting for them the entire time. This was so well written, and the story flowed perfectly. Next to Beasts of Burden, I think this is Judith’s best novel and has entered my top 5 favorite books! I love her novellas and relentless splatter, but stories like Low Blasphemy shoots Sonnet’s work into a whole next level of indie horror.
Regardless of all the above…do you want to read about a 10-year-old girl rightfully kicking demon ass? Read this, you won’t regret it!!
The Unicorn Killer by Candace Nola
4.0
I loved this one! Totally silly and fun! Nice prose & a unique story. Looking forward to reading more from this author!
The Laws of the Skies by Grégoire Courtois
3.0
The Laws of the Skies is a rendition of a story that has been told in various, brutally sad ways. Where it differed from the others was in its almost elegant prose. Sometimes poetic at times, broke up the story to directly address the readers.
We’ve heard the story before: children go into the wilderness for a trip where they are to learn about survival through controlled teachings. Only for all hell to break loose and the children are quickly left without adults and must fend on their own.
I really did not find this story any more moving than The Troop or Lord of the Flies. Where I felt immense empathy and sadness for the kids always fell short when we were reminded that they were only 6-7 years old….look, I have a almost 6 year old and the only realistic aspect of their thought process was when they were begging for the comforts of home. I feel like the story would’ve carried so much more weight had the children been 9 to 12 years old and where some of the dialogue was more accurately representative of that age group. Reading the thoughts of a 40 year old man in a 6 year old translated poorly.
I really have never enjoyed authorial intrusion. In this particular book, it felt particularly out of place. The only portion I didn’t mind it was in the end, but I rather have heard how the kid in the story was feeling vs imagining myself in this situation.
The poetic nature of The Laws of the Skies kept me reading, but overall I found it fell short in too many ways. Especially for a story that has been done so well by others before.
We’ve heard the story before: children go into the wilderness for a trip where they are to learn about survival through controlled teachings. Only for all hell to break loose and the children are quickly left without adults and must fend on their own.
I really did not find this story any more moving than The Troop or Lord of the Flies. Where I felt immense empathy and sadness for the kids always fell short when we were reminded that they were only 6-7 years old….look, I have a almost 6 year old and the only realistic aspect of their thought process was when they were begging for the comforts of home. I feel like the story would’ve carried so much more weight had the children been 9 to 12 years old and where some of the dialogue was more accurately representative of that age group. Reading the thoughts of a 40 year old man in a 6 year old translated poorly.
I really have never enjoyed authorial intrusion. In this particular book, it felt particularly out of place. The only portion I didn’t mind it was in the end, but I rather have heard how the kid in the story was feeling vs imagining myself in this situation.
The poetic nature of The Laws of the Skies kept me reading, but overall I found it fell short in too many ways. Especially for a story that has been done so well by others before.