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Creature Feature Collection Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Creature Feature Collection Review

*SOME SPOILERS AHEAD*

I binged this collection of novellas over the weekend and thought why not combine them all in one review! Overall this was pretty good, I didn’t overtly hate any of the stories but a couple of them I know for sure I’m going to forget everything that happened in a couple days.

The first book I read was Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix. This one was very memorable for sure. The way the book starts out really draws you in and even though this was one of the shorter novellas it was actually pretty haunting and horrific. I would love for this concept to expanded into a full length novel. ⭐️3-5 stars

The next one I read was Big Bad by Chandler Baker and I really enjoyed this. It was one of the longer novellas but I thought it enabled us to connect with all of the characters a lot more. I loved the multiple perspectives that we got, we got a pretty even amount of time between each of the characters and even though I thought the main was going to be the mother the daughters took up a lot of the book. A decision made by one of them being the catalyst for how the book ended I thought was very well done! ⭐️4-5 stars

In Bloom by Paul Tremblay was next and it was a bit of a snooze honestly. There was a lot of scientific talk to start the book off and that kind of stopped me from getting to invested in the plot. There was too much jargon and not enough time establishing the characters and setting. I did enjoy the flashback scene but then I couldn’t quite envision in my mind what was going on for the majority of the plot which for being such a short read isn’t ideal. The ending was disappointing as well. ⭐️2-5 stars

My first Josh Malerman read was next with It Waits in the Woods and I was pleasantly surprised. I had a feeling his writing was either going to be a hit or a miss for me and I actually really enjoyed this book. I thought the premise was solid and the execution was on point. I was invested right from the start and felt like I made a connection with the characters from the onset. It felt like a pretty well rounded story for being a novella, it didn’t feel like anything was missing or needed to be added. It isn’t the most mind blowing story I’ve even read but I was engaged throughout. The audio of the monster’s voice in the audiobook was one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever heard! ⭐️3-5 stars

The Pram by Joe Hill was one of the novellas that I’m going to forget as soon as I finish this review. The overall premise was promising but was another snooze of a story for me. The main character wasn’t likeable at all and came across quite insufferable at times. I think if this was a multiple or even just a dual perspective story with his wife we would of been able to make more of a connection with them and I might of actually cared about what was happening. The setting and atmosphere gave me the horror vibes but I couldn’t make myself care about either of them and the consequences of his actions. ⭐️2-5 stars

And to finish it off was Best of Luck by Jason Mott and this was pretty good! We start off with a bit of a bang and as the story progressed we hear about the life of these characters and the contrast between them. It felt pretty rudimentary to me though, I definitely think this is one of the stories that could of been a lot more successful if it was a full length novel. I did enjoy the twist at the end but it didn’t leave me feeling fulfilled at all. ⭐️3-5 stars

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Witchcraft for Wayward Girls Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Witchcraft for Wayward Girls Review

In the sweltering summer of 1970, fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the Wellwood Home in Florida, a place where unwed mothers are sent to have their babies in secret before being forced to give them up for adoption. Isolated from the world, Fern finds herself among other girls in the same predicament—strong-willed Rose, who dreams of escaping to a commune with her child; determined Zinnia, who believes she’ll return home to marry her baby’s father; and delicate, silent Holly, whose pregnancy is shrouded in mystery. Under the strict rule of Miss Wellwood, the girls’ lives are tightly controlled, their pasts erased, and their futures decided for them. But when a librarian slips Fern a book on witchcraft, the girls begin to grasp a power they’ve never known. What starts as a glimmer of hope soon spirals into something darker, because power is never given freely—it comes at a cost, one that may be paid in blood.

Hendrix does a great job capturing the suffocating reality these girls faced, showing just how desperate they were to have a say in their own lives. The book’s horror elements (especially anything pregnancy-related) are intense and unsettling, so if that’s a sensitive topic for you, consider this a warning. The real horror, though, comes from the way these girls are treated, and that’s what makes the story hit hard.

That said, the pacing is a bit of a struggle. It takes a while for things to really get going, and even after the witchcraft elements kick in, the story moves in waves, some parts are gripping, while others drag. The characters are also hit or miss. Side characters like Rose and Zinnia bring some much-needed energy, but Fern, as the main character, feels pretty bland until the very end. There’s also the issue of how Black characters are written.. several moments feel tropey, and they’re mostly used to serve the white characters’ stories, which didn’t sit right with me.

By the end, the story ties itself together well, leaving you with plenty to think about. But the slow pacing, uneven character development, and the book’s own uncertainty about its message on witchcraft make it a bit of a mixed bag. If you’re into slow-burn horror with deeper themes, you might enjoy it, but if you’re looking for something fast-paced and witchcraft-heavy, this might not fully deliver.

⭐3/5 stars Not the best I’ve read from him but definitely not the worst.

Reviews

Rest Stop Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Rest Stop Review

A young musician finds himself locked inside a gas station bathroom in the middle of the night by an unseen assailant, caught between the horrors on the other side of the door and the horrors rapidly skittering down the walls inside.

Abe is a deeply layered character, and despite this being a novella, we’re given plenty of insight into his background, which I really appreciated. The story delves into his past and explores his relationships with those closest to him. That phone call with his brother at the beginning did a great job of establishing who Abe is and where he stands within his family.

I really enjoyed the gradual buildup of tension and anticipation throughout the story. The addition of the animals from the reptile farm was unsettling, and as someone who’s terrified of spiders, those moments in the bathroom were particularly tough to get through. I can’t even fathom being in that situation—trapped, terrified, and then having to decipher cryptic notes on top of it all.

This wasn’t the most gruesome book I’ve read, but it definitely had its fair share of unsettling moments. While I didn’t find it especially scary, the vivid descriptions made it easy to picture everything playing out in my mind. It certainly makes you think twice about stopping at a gas station in the middle of the night!

⭐️3/5 A shorty, wacky and wild read!