A deep sea submarine horror adventure series that deals with the world-shattering effects of environmental cataclysm and the struggle for power between two brothers.
Two brothers locked in a sibling rivalry wrestle for command of a massive nuclear submarine, The Absolution, in a near-future irrevocably altered by climate change. Chief Science Officer Liana Pearson finds herself not only caught between the Wilder brothers, but drowning in her fear of the surface world. When something alien infiltrates The Absolution and upends the balance of power, Liana is left with only two deadly options–reaching the toxic surface world or steering the sub into the unforgiving abyss and crush depth–Breathe Deep!
Opening Page:
Musings:
I wish the story was as good as the art was in this comic, because the art was phenomenal. However, fantastic art cannot hide just an ok story. Which made reading Crush Depth kinda a disappointment for me. The story is just ok. I did not hate it, but when you give a comic like this that level of incredible artwork the holes in the story really show.
I wanted to be head over heels in love with a story like this. It has so many things that attract my attention. Yet, it left me wanting so much more and unfortunately I likely will not continue on to read more of these comics in the future.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING!
This month’s charity recommendation is https://www.aclu.org/ they fight for lgbt and abortion rights and do so much to change laws and educate the public on lgbt and abortion issues. They are also currently fighting for the right to birthright citizenship.
A summoning ritual gone awry kicks off a lush, witchy graphic novel series with joyful streaks of found family and polyamorous sapphic romance—in this first volume of the hit Webtoon coming-of-age story, now with bonus content.
It has been thirteen years since the mysterious fire at the Severin family manor that killed Camille’s mother and twin sister, and the last thing Camille wants to do is return to her old home deep in the swamps of Louisiana. But she doesn’t have a choice. Deeply ingrained family tradition and Matriarch Athalie—Camille’s coldhearted aunt and head of the Severin household—demand it.
When the time comes for Camille to perform the demon-summoning blood ritual that every prospective matriarch in her family must complete, she is afraid of making a mistake. No matter how hard she tries to be a witch worthy of the Severin name, nothing is ever good enough for her aunt. Camille has practiced and practiced, but instead of the beat of demonic wings or the snap of talons, her blood calls forth evergreen vines and leaves. Terrified of what this might mean, she flees into the swamps.
But her failed ritual gives her something precious: time away from Aunt Athalie. Time to spend with her beloved familiar Toben and kindly cousin Silvia. And—unbeknownst to her—time to fall in love, discover the truth of her magic, reunite with long lost family, work through her grief, and solve the mystery of who killed her mother and sister.
Complete with an exclusive bonus chapter, this first volume includes episodes 1-27 of the highly popular Webtoon webcomic Muted.
Musings:
This Webtoon is so fantastic. It had been a while since I first read it so I re-read it to write this review. It was even better to me the second time around. Camille is going through a time of great discovery. She finds out not only is she a blood witch, but also a plant witch. Witches from duel bloodlines are not supposed to exist and yet through her parents love, there she is. Camille is learning to accept and explore who she is and what her magic can do.
My favorite part of this first volume is the party scene where she and a new friend go and calamity ensues and in her drunkenness Camille lets out more then she probably should have to someone she just met. My other favorite part is towards the end of Volume 1 where Camille explores her other powers for the first time and I won’t spoil it, but it’s such a fun part of her growth as a teen becoming an adult and also as a witch coming into her own power.
Muted is wonderfully written and at times a little dark. The illustrations are gorgeous beginning to end. If you love a witchy fantasy I highly recommend picking up Muted!
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING!
This month’s charity recommendation is https://www.aclu.org/ they fight for lgbt and abortion rights and do so much to change laws and educate the public on lgbt and abortion issues. They are also currently fighting for the right to birthright citizenship.
Cover Rating: 2/10 unfortunately I really dislike this cover. I would not have wanted to read it because of the cover. I definitely picked this up based on the title and the author. This is way too plain and uninteresting for me.
Publisher: Saga Press
Publish Date: August 31st, 2021
Number of Pages: 405
Received: Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc! All opinions are my own.
Shirley Jackson meets Friday the 13th in the rollicking, bloody first novel of The Indian Lake trilogy by the master of modern horror Stephen Graham Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter.
“Some girls just don’t know how to die…”
Shirley Jackson meets Friday the 13th in My Heart Is a Chainsaw, written by the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians Stephen Graham Jones, called “a literary master” by National Book Award winner Tananarive Due and “one of our most talented living writers” by Tommy Orange.
Alma Katsu calls My Heart Is a Chainsaw “a homage to slasher films that also manages to defy and transcend genre.” On the surface is a story of murder in small-town America. But beneath is its beating heart: a biting critique of American colonialism, Indigenous displacement, and gentrification, and a heartbreaking portrait of a broken young girl who uses horror movies to cope with the horror of her own life.
Jade Daniels is an angry, half-Indian outcast with an abusive father, an absent mother, and an entire town that wants nothing to do with her. She lives in her own world, a world in which protection comes from an unusual source: horror movies…especially the ones where a masked killer seeks revenge on a world that wronged them. And Jade narrates the quirky history of Proofrock as if it is one of those movies. But when blood actually starts to spill into the waters of Indian Lake, she pulls us into her dizzying, encyclopedic mind of blood and masked murderers, and predicts exactly how the plot will unfold.
Yet, even as Jade drags us into her dark fever dream, a surprising and intimate portrait emerges…a portrait of the scared and traumatized little girl beneath the Jason Voorhees mask: angry, yes, but also a girl who easily cries, fiercely loves, and desperately wants a home. A girl whose feelings are too big for her body. My Heart Is a Chainsaw is her story, her homage to horror and revenge and triumph.
Opening Sentence: “On the battered paper map that’s carried the two of them across they’re not sure how many of the American states now, this is Proofrock, Idaho, and the dark body of water before them is Indian Lake, and it kind of goes forever out into the night.”
Musings:
Many have called this a love letter to the slasher genre and to me that is the very best description for it. Slashers are Jade’s hyper-fixation. She knows everything there is to know about slashers and she uses that knowledge in great detail to predict and try to understand the patterns of the current killer on the loose at Indian Lake.
If you love the slasher genre as a whole and adore horror this book will be one that you love. If you hate slashers well… I have no idea why you would pick this up. The absolute depth of love for slashers is incredible in this book. It could almost be educational.
Beyond that there is still this tense story of a killer killing at Indian Lake and Jade is doing everything she can to support who she feels is the final girl and to do everything she can to not become the killers next victim herself.
The intensity doesn’t fully pick up until a bit over halfway in the book. Once it does pick up though it is incredibly intense. Plus, it of course has some great kills as any slasher worth its salt would have.
I enjoyed this book so much and I especially loved its ending! For any horror movie lover this book is an absolute must read!
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING!
This month’s charity recommendation is https://www.aclu.org/ they fight for lgbt and abortion rights and do so much to change laws and educate the public on lgbt and abortion issues. They are also currently fighting for the right to birthright citizenship.
Cover Rating: 10/10 This edition of Legends & Lattes is perfectly cozy and fits the story perfectly. It is understated and the edges help create the full package.
Publisher: Tor
Publish Date: June 7th, 2022
Number of Pages: 296
Received: My partner bought me the special edition from Barnes & Noble.
After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time.
The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.
If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone.
But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.
“Take a break from epic battles and saving the world. Legends & Lattes is a low-stakes fantasy that delivers exactly what’s advertised: a wholesome, cozy novel that feels like a warm hug. This is my new comfort read.”—Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch’s Heart
Opening Sentence: “Viv buried her greatsword in the scalvert’s skull with a meaty crunch.”
Musings:
Legends & Lattes is the place where you can settle down after slaying your foes and drink a latte and be merry with your fellow adventurers. I have loved the concept of this book since I first heard about it and several years later, having read it, I was not disappointed. I enjoyed this book very much.
Normally, I feel like a story of building a coffee shop and finding success and good people might be boring, but there’s a warm magic to Legends & Lattes that is undeniable. I can imagine after living the life Viv had lived creating her own livelihood and for the most part putting down her sword is an immense relief. I love that it was a practice in allowing life to unfold before you and not fighting it.
The people that came into Viv’s life in this period are the bestest of friends she has ever had. People who genuinely care about her for her and will put their necks out for her success. Thinking of how tough Viv’s neck actually is makes it even more powerful. As strong as she is, allowing a community to form around her was beautiful to see.
I loved that along with the friendship, love also came into Viv’s life. I adored the warm caring of Viv’s and Tandri’s relationship. It is a slow and quiet kind of love that also I think is super wholesome considering the orc and the succubus are both not the sort of beings you would think would have such a gentle love.
I am so excited to read more! I will be reading the graphic novel and the sequel very soon!
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING!
This month’s charity recommendation is https://www.aclu.org/ they fight for lgbt and abortion rights and do so much to change laws and educate the public on lgbt and abortion issues. They are also currently fighting for the right to birthright citizenship.
PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • NEW YORK TIMES TOP TEN BOOKS OF THE YEAR • USA TODAY BESTSELLER
The critically acclaimed author of the “crazily enjoyable” (The New York Times) Whalefall returns with an immersive, cinematic novel about five World War I soldiers who stumble upon a fallen angel that could hold the key to ending the war.
Private Cyril Bagger has managed to survive the unspeakable horrors of the Great War through his wits and deception. But his survival instincts are put to the ultimate test when he and four other grunts are given a deadly mission: venture into the perilous No Man’s Land to euthanize a wounded comrade.
What they find amid the ruined battlefield, however, is not a man in need of mercy but a fallen angel, seemingly struck down by artillery fire. This celestial being may hold the key to ending the brutal conflict, but only if the soldiers can suppress their individual desires and work together. As jealousy, greed, and paranoia take hold, the group is torn apart by their inner demons, threatening to turn their angelic encounter into a descent into hell.
Angel Down plunges you into the heart of World War I and weaves a polyphonic tale of survival, supernatural wonder, and moral conflict.
Opening Sentence: Unfortunately I cannot provide the opening sentence for this book as the entire book is a single sentence.
Musings:
I listened to this book as an audiobook and the performance was fantastic. However, I did not realize this book was a single sentence going into it and that was to my own detriment. Sometimes it was hard to focus on what was being said because it felt like there was so much being said without a pause. Now I know why that was the case and I feel like at a later date I should read this again with that knowledge in mind.
Angel Down really does feel like this relentless stream of consciousness of horrible thing after horrible thing. It takes the idea of a higher power that asks you to cast away the worst parts of yourself and if you do then something of great good will happen. There is a desperate feeling of, yes yes! I will do whatever you ask. I will cast away anything. However, saying and wanting is completely different from accomplishing what is being asked of you.
It also captures the desperate and relentlessness of war. Things get progressively more dire and relentless as it goes on and the ending lends itself to being never-ending. I feel that people that enjoy stories like Metro 2033 with the desperate and sheer hopelessness of that world, would also enjoy Angel Down.
I am definitely going to give myself some space from this one and revisit it later. Maybe listen and read it at the same time (truly the performance was so well done). I feel like this read through of it was not enough for me to fully take it in. The book definitely did make me uncomfortable and anxious and almost breathless. I just feel like I will be able to talk about it in more depth at a later date.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING!
This month’s charity recommendation is https://www.aclu.org/ they fight for lgbt and abortion rights and do so much to change laws and educate the public on lgbt and abortion issues. They are also currently fighting for the right to birthright citizenship.
Cover Rating: 8/10 I think this cover is striking in its own way. It definitely shows that there is going to be something sinister happening inside the story.
Publisher: First Second
Publish Date: July 7th, 2026
Number of Pages: 336
Received: Netgalley provided an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
In her solo graphic novel debut, Megan Kearney weaves a fresh tale of dark academia and brutal competition. This psychological thriller is perfect for fans of Black Swan!
Arriving at Saint Anselmus in the middle of the year, Rosamund Hammond is ready to practice hard and prove she deserves to be there. But something at this boarding school doesn’t feel right.
It turns out that just before Rosamund enrolled, a student disappeared without telling anyone. Was it really a leave of absence—or something more sinister? Together with her new roommate, Rosamund spirals deeper and deeper into an obsession with the truth. As the school prepares for its showcase performance of Coppélia, can she commit to her hard-earned ballet dreams while solving the mystery that’s haunting her—or will she lose herself in the process?
Opening Page:
Musings:
I thought this comic was beautiful! I adored the art style and it married creepy with beauty in a wonderful way. It is a story where you kinda know where things are going before they happen and you want the characters to make better decisions, but of course they are doing what they feel is right and do not know any better.
I also loved that this was a lot of what I enjoy about Ballet as a whole. It is a stunning sport, but it is also brutal in practice. This story lends itself to showing a level of cutthroat brutality that goes pretty far. This story plays with your mind as much as it plays with the mind of Rosamund. I was enthralled the entire ride.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING!
This month’s charity recommendation is https://www.aclu.org/ they fight for lgbt and abortion rights and do so much to change laws and educate the public on lgbt and abortion issues. They are also currently fighting for the right to birthright citizenship.
The Exorcism at 1600 Penn by Hannah Rose May & Vanesa Del Rey (illustrator)
My Rating: 4 stars
Cover Rating: 6/10 I want to like this, but also for me there is something strange about it that makes the top half and the bottom half feel like they are completely different images. It is unique. I just probably would not have been attracted to pick this up based on the cover.
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Publish Date: August 19th, 2025
Number of Pages: 128
Received: Netgalley provided an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
The most famous address in the U.S. becomes the center of an epic struggle in this chilling supernatural-horror graphic novel!
Kelly Doyle has just been elected the first female president of the United States of America, and boiling political tension could spill over at any second. Having to balance being a mother to two teenagers and navigating the shifting media landscape, all while preventing World War III, has Kelly spread thin, but she could never predict that the nation’s hallowed halls would soon become a demonic battleground for good versus evil.
From the pen of rising comics writer Hannah Rose May (Rogues’ Gallery) and acclaimed artist Vanesa Del Rey (Scarlet Witch) comes this psychological tale perfect for fans of Nice House on the Lake and The Haunting of Hill House.
Opening Page:
Musings:
I definitely liked and was entertained by this comic. The art was not my favorite, but it did suit the kind of story that this was. There is a darkness and creepiness to this story that I liked a lot. The setting provided a feeling of seeing a story play out in a place where a story like this is not supposed to happen.
I think this is fun and worth reading for what it was. It dares to be different and even if the exorcism story itself was pretty standard, the setting provided enough of a twist to keep things interesting.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING!
This month’s charity recommendation is https://www.aclu.org/ they fight for lgbt and abortion rights and do so much to change laws and educate the public on lgbt and abortion issues. They are also currently fighting for the right to birthright citizenship.
A beautifully-illustrated story about a girl who longs for magic in her life and learns that, on the inside, she already is what she wishes she could be. Reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, this lushly-drawn story was voted one of the top 10 manga of the year in 2018 by the Japanese manga industry.
TRIAL BY FIRE
Join Coco as she continues her spellbinding journey of magic and discovery!
After traveling to the mystical township of Kalhn with her new master to buy a casting wand, a strange, masked witch transports Coco and her three sister apprentices to an eerily quiet city. But they soon find out that they’re not alone, and they encounter a ferocious dragon! Do these fledgling witches have what it takes to defeat the fire-breathing beast, or will their plans and lives go up in flames?!
Opening Page:
Musings:
I have nothing but praise for Witch Hat Atelier. It is one of my absolute favorite mangas I have read in my entire life. The art is stunning. The story is emotional and inspiring. It is a story about growth, becoming, and learning about each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
I have been reading the manga super slowly because it is a treat to myself that gives me a huge uplift in how I feel. I love the way the story unfolds and how beautiful the world is. I love the magic system so much and the way it is centered on practice and slowly improving vs. simply just being born good at it.
I love the dragon arc in volume 2 and I love that it is the first real challenge the girls experience together. I love how the solution that is agreed upon is one that highlights each of their individual strengths and requires all of them to come together to execute it.
I love that this volume sets up some of the overall conflict that will become apparent as the story moves forward. I know the story is light and fun right now, but I know later on it is only going to get darker and I am so excited about that.
I love Witch Hat Atelier with my whole heart. I cannot wait to read more and to collect all the Grimoire editions as the release.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING!
This month’s charity recommendation is https://www.aclu.org/ they fight for lgbt and abortion rights and do so much to change laws and educate the public on lgbt and abortion issues. They are also currently fighting for the right to birthright citizenship.
Synopsis: In the country of Adnogg, people known as dragon vets are responsible for treating the many different types of dragons that inhabit the land. After the death of her father, a military dragon vet, a girl named Luca decides to honor his final wishes by becoming a dragon vet herself. She enters Cogniel School of Dragon Studies, where she and her fellow trainees soon experience all the trials, tribulations…and occasional messes that come with treating creatures many times their size. The road to mastery may be long, but when there’s a dragon in need, the dragon vets answer the call!
Opening Page:
Musings:
This is how you start off with a bang! I ADORE this manga. I cannot wait for more. I need this to have the story go on forever and it gets popular so that it gets an anime adaption. This is so damn cool.
I love the concept. I love the art of it all. Every page is so beautifully drawn. I love the emotional aspect to it and the emphasis on what it means to be a veterinarian. I am so excited about this manga and I need more!
The characters are well developed. There are stakes and conflict and most of all there are lots and lots of dragons! I am obsessed with this! As someone who is going into the veterinary field and grew up with a dragon obsession it feels like this series was written for me and I cannot wait to advocate for this for the next 5-10 years and beyond.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING!
This month’s charity recommendation is https://www.aclu.org/ they fight for lgbt and abortion rights and do so much to change laws and educate the public on lgbt and abortion issues. They are also currently fighting for the right to birthright citizenship.
Visceral, gritty, and unforgiving, GRIEF EATER is a zombie story like you’ve never read before.
When Kristina rises from her violent death, she’s not the same fragile woman her family once abandoned. She’s rageful, powerful, and hungry-for the blood of the ones who were supposed to love her. With a newfound craving to see vengeance and grief served, she launches into a once-in-an-undead-lifetime journey across blood-slicked highways to the scorched Australian bush and her hometown. As her body fails and her mind fractures, she’s left with one final question: Is she here to forgive, or to feed?
A transgressive, gory examination of queer identity and found family, GRIEF EATER sinks its teeth into trauma and what it means to be devoured by grief.
Opening Sentence: “I die alone in the back of an abandoned car.”
Musings:
What an emotional and raw experience it was to read this book. Kristina clings to her humanity only to enact revenge on her family who abused her because she came out as queer. This book may have been short, but it was gritty and deep and so visceral with its violence. Yet, there is a sense of understanding and righteousness that you feel for Kristina as she moves about the world already dead. As she kills people you learn more about her memories as well as the memories of those she murders. You start to feel deeply for her and think to yourself in a desolate world like this that is without hope at least there is some justice in the pursuit of revenge.
It is also a sorrowful journey as it is not just family she encounters and with her now a zombie her desire to kill knows no boundaries. Yet, her desperation to cling to some semblance of humanity driven by pure rage was as admirable as it was heartbreaking. I loved this book so much. Every word stuck with me and my heart hurt in the end of it. This was such an effective exploration of grief and I feel like in a time of great loss I would read this book all over again.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING!
This month’s charity recommendation is https://www.aclu.org/ they fight for lgbt and abortion rights and do so much to change laws and educate the public on lgbt and abortion issues. They are also currently fighting for the right to birthright citizenship.
