Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects–and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. Will Light’s noble goal succeed, or will the Death Note turn him into the very thing he fights against?
Opening Sentence: “Two Deaths Heads. I win again.”
Musings:
Let’s be real here. Death note is one of the best manga’s and anime’s out there. It’s so well beloved and for good reason. It’s mysterious and thrilling and unique. There are high stakes and constant tension between L and Light. There’s the idea of being in control of who lives and who dies that is done in such a “high” moralistic point of view that you wonder who your rooting for.
One of my all time favorite parts of reading this manga is how the uses for the death note are next to the new chapter art.
The art style of this manga is dark and stunning. It adds to its dark horror fantasy mystery feel. All the elements combined story and art make it out to be the excellent manga that it is.
If you haven’t read or watched death note I highly suggest you think about picking it up. It’s a thrilling read that does not disappoint.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!
I have been a major horror movie kick recently. Wanting to dip my toes into classic horror films and also newer films too. I’ve felt like getting to know more about the different horror genres and enjoy all that horror has to offer.
So I started with a classic that I felt would be fun that I’d never seen before and that was the Scream films. Especially with the 5th movie coming out in January I thought it’d be appropriate.
Scream
The opening scene of this film is so good. The dialog is very entertaining and I think those first 5 minutes made the franchise. I think the first scream is the best of the four. All of them are meta, but I think it introduces everything so well and it’s funny and suspenseful throughout.
Scream 2
Scream 2 was a mixed bag for me. I liked it. I actually jumped during one part and it surprised me. It was very self aware and meta, but I also felt that it somewhat stopped being a parody of itself and became what it was parodying. I did think that the ending was interesting when the killers are revealed. I wasn’t really expecting it.
Scream 3
I feel like I felt similarly to scream 3 as scream 2. The problem is I’m not really remembering much of what happens in this film. Upon looking it up I did like this one more and feel it’s the better of the sequels. I liked who the killer was. I thought that final scene was very interesting. While not as iconic as the original it was good and entertaining.
Scream 4
I’m currently rewatching this one as I only half paid attention watching it the first time. I remembered the beginning pretty well, but the middle gets lost. Somehow even with me only having half paid attention it still feels way better to me then the second film. The extra meta in the beginning and then the way it ends. It was a lot of fun.
All in all:
This franchise is such a fun one. It’s very high in entertainment value, but it’s also not serious enough that you can’t be enjoying other things as well in the meantime. I’m really excited for the 5th movie and seeing how more modern technology changes the dynamics of this killer and what hi jinx ensues.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!
Last night my best friend Marble asked me to watch a movie with her and of course I was down. I always enjoy watching a movie with her. So, this movie night she picked 13 Ghosts. A movie I’d never seen and knew nothing about. This is how it went:
The first thing of note is that this poster is exactly all that this movie is. The flashes of visions the psychic has and the all around fear that is present throughout the film. It’s a perfect representation of 13 Ghosts.
One thing about this movie is that it’s very memorable, especially because it’s visuals are so unique to it. The opening itself with the very strange way all this yellow tape moves in this car junk yard adds to the very creepy feel the movie has. Add that to the many many opening deaths that occur in very awful ways it is something to remember.
Then we have the family featuring the dad played by Tony Shalhoub who is also the actor who plays Adrian Monk. Seeing him in this movie is what initially really got me invested. I wanted to see the man who plays one of the most iconic characters ever play a whole different role.
Honestly, his role here wasn’t so dramatically different. His wife was also dead in this movie. He’s still acting scared even though in this movie there’s a more real threat then general germs like in Monk. He was still as steady and clear minded as he is in Monk.
What was cool and what I think most of the budget was spent on was the house. It’s massive and full of turning parts like a huge puzzle. Glass walls with words written on them are everywhere. If I had to guess most of the budget was spent on creating this for the movie. I gotta say they did a pretty awesome job with it.
I think the makeup done for the 13 ghosts was pretty much what you see at any six flags fright fest. Which is scary often, but it did make me analyze the film more in the way it was made rather being fully immersed in it, but again it is very much a product of that era of film so I’d say they did a pretty good job.
While there is quite a few glaring flaws of the film, I did very much enjoy watching it. I don’t really think any of them should have survived the film. The reasons for their survival were pretty chance based and so many more things could’ve gone wrong, but the ending was pretty neat.
Overall, I’d recommend this writers fever dream of an idea became real just for how unique it is. If you like early 2000’s horror films you’ll enjoy this movie.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!
Hello and welcome back to one of the most classic posts on my blog that I haven’t done in ages. My monthly most anticipated releases! So without further ado, The Most Anticipated Ya Book Releases of August 2021!
The Perfect Place to Die by Bryce Moore
“Stalking Jack the Ripper meets a YA Devil in the White City in this terrifying story of a girl trying to save her sister from one of the most notorious mass murders in history
When Zuretta’s sister, Ruby, travels to Chicago, and disappears, Zuretta leaves home to find her. She has a little bit of money from her Utah church, an abiding fandom of the legendary Pinkertons, and a deep hope and faith of finding Ruby soon.
After a series of mishaps, she claws her way forward, taking a job in the very place her sister Ruby last worked—a hotel owned by notorious serial killer Dr. H. H. Holmes.
But Zuretta’s efforts to find out what happened to her sister don’t go unnoticed, and before long, she finds herself up against one of the most infamous mass murderers in American history—and his custom-built death trap.”
This book sounds like so much fun! I love the idea of it so much and it’s right up my alley.
The Silent Unseen by Amanda McCrina
“A mesmerizing historical novel of suspense and intrigue about a teenage girl who risks everything to save her missing brother.
Poland, July 1944. Sixteen-year-old Maria is making her way home after years of forced labor in Nazi Germany, only to find her village destroyed and her parents killed in a war between the Polish Resistance and Ukrainian nationalists. To Maria’s shock, the local Resistance unit is commanded by her older brother, Tomek―who she thought was dead. He is now a “Silent Unseen,” a special-operations agent with an audacious plan to resist a new and even more dangerous enemy sweeping in from the East. When Tomek disappears, Maria is determined to find him, but the only person who might be able to help is a young Ukrainian prisoner and the last person Maria trusts―even as she feels a growing connection to him that she can’t resist.
Tightly woven, relentlessly intense, The Silent Unseen depicts an explosive entanglement of loyalty, lies, and love during wartime, from the acclaimed author of Traitor Amanda McCrina.”
Sometimes you need a good wartime love story. This one sounds so intense and twisted too! I’ll love to read it.
Dangerous Play by Emma Kress
“Propulsive, electrifying, and high-stakes…
Zoe Alamandar has one goal: win the State Field Hockey Championships and earn a scholarship that will get her the hell out of Central New York. She and her co-captain Ava Cervantes have assembled a fierce team of dedicated girls who will work hard and play by the rules.
But after Zoe is sexually assaulted at a party, she finds a new goal: make sure no girl feels unsafe again. Zoe and her teammates decide to stop playing by the rules and take justice into their own hands. Soon, their suburban town has a team of superheroes meting out punishments, but one night of vigilantism may cost Zoe her team, the championship, her scholarship, and her future.
Perfect for fans who loved the female friendships of Jennifer Mathieu’s Moxie and the bite of Courtney Summer’s Sadie.”
This book sounds both heavy and fun. Females taking something difficult to deal with into their own hands and maybe messing stuff up a little, but doing the best they can anyway and that’s what matters.
The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino
“Tess Matheson only wants three things: time to practice her cello, for her sister to be happy, and for everyone else to leave her alone.
Instead, Tess finds herself working all summer at her boarding school library, shelving books and dealing with the intolerable patrons. The worst of them is Eliot Birch: snide, privileged, and constantly requesting forbidden grimoires. After a bargain with Eliot leads to the discovery of an ancient book in the library’s grimoire collection, the pair accidentally unleash a book-bound demon.
The demon will stop at nothing to stay free, manipulating ink to threaten those Tess loves and dismantling Eliot’s strange magic. Tess is plagued by terrible dreams of the devil and haunting memories of a boy who wears Eliot’s face. All she knows is to stay free, the demon needs her… and he’ll have her, dead or alive.”
I can’t stress enough how fun this book sounds. I adore the premise. I want to see what trouble this book gets into.
The Last Words We Said by Leah Scheier
“Nine months ago, Danny disappeared and everything changed for his friends. Rae’s pouring herself into rage-baking. Deenie’s deepening her commitment to Orthodox Judaism. And Ellie—Danny’s best friend and girlfriend—is the only one who doesn’t believe he’s dead.
Because she still sees him.
Moving back and forth between past and present, the story of Ellie and Danny unspools, from their serendipitous meeting to Danny and Ellie falling for each other. In the past, they were the perfect couple—until it all went wrong. In the present, Ellie’s looking for answers. Her friends are worried about her mental health, but Ellie’s certain that the tragedy that’s rocked their modern Orthodox community isn’t as simple as they all believe. She’s determined to uncover the truth about what happened to the love of her life. But to do that, she’ll have to be more honest with herself.”
I’m so curious about this book. Is it a true ghost story that she’s still seeing him? Or is it more that it has everything to do with her mental health? Either way I have questions only reading could fulfill.
The Wild Ones by Nafiza Azad
“From William C. Morris Finalist Nafiza Azad comes a thrilling, feminist fantasy about a group of teenage girls endowed with special powers who must band together to save the life of the boy whose magic saved them all.
Meet the Wild Ones: girls who have been hurt, abandoned, and betrayed all their lives. It all began with Paheli, who was once betrayed by her mother and sold to a man in exchange for a favor. When Paheli escapes, she runs headlong into a boy with stars in his eyes. This boy, as battered as she is, tosses Paheli a box of stars before disappearing.
With the stars, Paheli gains access to the Between, a place of pure magic and mystery. Now, Paheli collects girls like herself and these Wild Ones use their magic to travel the world, helping the hopeless and saving others from the fates they suffered.
Then Paheli and the Wild Ones learn that the boy who gave them the stars, Taraana, is in danger. He’s on the run from powerful forces within the world of magic. But if Taraana is no longer safe and free, neither are the Wild Ones. And that…is a fate the Wild Ones refuse to accept. Ever again.”
This sounds like a fun superhero rescue story, but also intense too. The way these girls were hurt sounds painful to read about.
The Dark Way Down by Chelsea Ichaso
“A gripping new psychological thriller from the author of Little Creeping Things—can a grieving girl discover the twisted truth behind her sister’s hiking accident?
Piper Sullivan never should have been at Suicide Point the day she fell. Her older sister, Savannah, knows this with all her heart—just as she knows that Piper’s “accident” was entirely her fault. Savannah did something awful, something she can barely stand to think about, and now Piper is in a coma.
But just as Savannah’s guilt threatens to swallow her whole, she finds something strange in Piper’s locker: a note inviting Piper to a meeting of their school’s wilderness club…at the very place and on the very day she fell. Which means that there’s a chance Piper wasn’t alone.
Maybe it isn’t Savannah’s fault, after all. Someone in the club might know what really happened. Someone might have done something. But why? If Savannah wants to find out the truth about that tragic day, she’ll have to join the club on their weekend long camping trip…on the very same mountain where her sister fell. And with everyone in the club a suspect, she’ll need to be careful or she might follow her sister into the dark.”
I have read and enjoyed ‘Little Creeping Things’ and I think it’d be fun to try this book out too.
The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould
“The Dark has been waiting for far too long, and it won’t stay hidden any longer.
Something is wrong in Snakebite, Oregon. Teenagers are disappearing, some turning up dead, the weather isn’t normal, and all fingers seem to point to TV’s most popular ghost hunters who have just returned to town. Logan Ortiz-Woodley, daughter of TV’s ParaSpectors, has never been to Snakebite before, but the moment she and her dads arrive, she starts to get the feeling that there’s more secrets buried here than they originally let on.
Ashley Barton’s boyfriend was the first teen to go missing, and she’s felt his presence ever since. But now that the Ortiz-Woodleys are in town, his ghost is following her and the only person Ashley can trust is the mysterious Logan. When Ashley and Logan team up to figure out who—or what—is haunting Snakebite, their investigation reveals truths about the town, their families, and themselves that neither of them are ready for. As the danger intensifies, they realize that their growing feelings for each other could be a light in the darkness.
Courtney Gould’s thrilling debut The Dead and the Dark is about the things that lurk in dark corners, the parts of you that can’t remain hidden, and about finding home in places—and people—you didn’t expect”
This sounds so interesting! I wonder what the paranormal investigators have to do with the disappearances and if they will help or hinder Ashley’s quest to find out what happened?
The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins
“Stephanie Perkins returns with another blood-chilling contemporary horror novel, the perfect companion to her New York Times bestseller There’s Someone Inside Your House, soon to be a Netflix feature.
A traditional backwoods horror story set–first page to last–in the woods of the Pisgah National Forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Two girls go backpacking in the woods. Things go very wrong.
And, then, their paths collide with a serial killer.”
Since this is making its way to Netflix I’d love to read the book and watch the movie!
Beyond the Mapped Stars by Rosalyn Eves
“A sweeping adventure, set in the late 19th century, about science, love, and finding your place in the world, perfect for fans of Ruta Sepetys and Julie Berry.
Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Bertelsen dreams of becoming an astronomer, but she knows such dreams are as unreachable as the stars she so deeply adores. As a Mormon girl, her duty is to her family and, in a not too far away future, to the man who’ll choose to marry her.
When she unexpectedly finds herself in Colorado, she’s tempted by the total eclipse of the sun that’s about to happen—and maybe even meeting up with the female scientists she’s long admired. Elizabeth must learn to navigate this new world of possibility: with her familial duties and faith tugging at her heartstrings, a new romance on the horizon, and the study of the night sky calling to her, she can’t possibly have it all…can she?”
The journey of a girl’s love for science! Count me in!
House of Glass Hearts by Leila Siddiqui
“Maera and her ammi never talk about the Past, a place where they’ve banished their family’s heartache and grief forever. They especially never mention the night Maera’s older brother Asad disappeared from her naana’s house in Karachi ten years ago. But when her grandfather dies and his derelict greenhouse appears in her backyard from thousands of miles away, Maera is forced to confront the horrors of her grandfather’s past. To find out what happened to her brother, she must face the keepers of her family’s secrets—the monsters that live inside her grandfather’s mysterious house of glass.
Seamlessly blending history with myth, HOUSE OF GLASS HEARTS follows a Pakistani-American teen’s ruthless quest to find her missing sibling, even if the truth would reveal her grandfather’s devastating secret and tear her family apart. In a narrative that switches between colonial India and present-day America, this ambitious debut explores how the horrors of the past continue to shape the lives of South Asians around the world.”
I’ve never read a book about a Pakistaní American teen before. I know so little about the culture I’m very curious to see what this book could teach me.
The Girl With the Hickory Heart by Lauren Nicolle Taylor
“Luna, the girl with the hickory heart, can’t feel.
Lye, the girl with all the power, can’t forget.
Together, two teens from warring tribes hold the fate of their torn worlds. One is destined to destroy. The other is desperate for deliverance.
For Luna, the price of peace in a time of war is a heart of hickory. But to have a hickory heart leaves no room for love. When the lives of her three brothers are tied to refugee siblings from the warring tribe, Luna must test the limits of her wooden heart to trust those she’s been taught to hate.
Seventeen-year-old Lye is the Shen keeper. There’s only one. Ripped from her village as a child to perform the sacred task of awakening elements in every Shen soldier, she’s become an unwilling instrument of violence and death. And it’s starting to dismantle her conscience.
In an island nation akin to a wooden Hong Kong, two Asian girls from warring tribes must put aside their pasts in order to move forward.”
I mean look at that cover!?!? Couldn’t not want to pick this up.
Take Me With You When You Go by David Leviathan and Jennifer Niven
“From the New York Times bestselling authors of All the Bright Places and Every Day comes a story of hope, siblinghood, and finding your home in the people who matter the most.
Subject: You. Missing.
Ezra Ahern wakes up one day to find his older sister, Bea, gone. No note, no sign, nothing but an email address hidden somewhere only he would find it. Ezra never expected to be left behind with their abusive stepfather and their neglectful mother—how is he supposed to navigate life without Bea?
Bea Ahern already knew she needed to get as far away from home as possible But a message in her inbox changes everything, and she finds herself alone in a new city—without Ez, without a real plan—chasing someone who might not even want to be found.
As things unravel at home for Ezra, Bea will confront secrets about their past that will forever change the way they think about their family. Together and apart, broken by abuse but connected by love, this brother and sister must learn to trust themselves before they can find a way back to each other.”
This book sounds like a hard and emotional read. Sometimes those are the most inspiring and wonderful books.
The Endless Skies by Shannon Price
“Shannon Price’s The Endless Skies is a breakout standalone epic fantasy about shapeshifting warriors perfect for fans of Adrienne Young and Wonder Woman.
Sixteen-year-old Rowan is about to become one of the famed Leonodai Warriors—the elite magical fighters who protect the floating city Heliana from the world of Men. Until disaster strikes the city’s children.
Against orders from the king, Rowan sets out on her own and tracks down one of the Warrior teams—only to find herself face to face with both the man she loves and the one who holds the dark secrets of their past. With time running out and Men on their tail, Rowan must risk everything to save her beloved city.”
There’s not too many stand-alone fantasies out there and I’d love to check out this one!
In the Wild Light by Jeff Zetner
“From the award-winning author of The Serpent King comes a beautiful examination of grief, found family, and young love.
Life in a small Appalachian town is not easy. Cash lost his mother to an opioid addiction and his Papaw is dying slowly from emphysema. Dodging drug dealers and watching out for his best friend, Delaney, is second nature. He’s been spending his summer mowing lawns while she works at Dairy Queen.
But when Delaney manages to secure both of them full rides to an elite prep school in Connecticut, Cash will have to grapple with his need to protect and love Delaney, and his love for the grandparents who saved him and the town he would have to leave behind.”
Another heartbreaker I am very much interested in.
Eyes of the Forest by April Henry
“After a bestselling fantasy author disappears, only his biggest fan believes he’s in danger and has the courage to uncover the truth in this fast-paced mystery with a chilling psychological twist.
Bridget is RM Haldon’s biggest fan. His epic fantasy series, Swords and Shadows, created a lifeline between Bridget and her mom as she lost her battle with cancer. When Bridget met Haldon at his only book signing, she impressed the author with her encyclopedic knowledge of the fantasy world he’d created. Bridget has been working for him ever since as he attempts to write his final book. Now, Haldon is missing, and Bridget is the only person who seems concerned. Can Bridget piece together Haldon’s clues and save him before it’s too late?
Master mystery-writer April Henry weaves another heart-stopping young adult thriller in this story that seamlessly blends suspense with fan culture. For readers of Courtney Summers and Karen McManus.”
Haven’t read a mystery in ages! I would love this.
Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis
“For fans of Us and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comes a witchy story full of black girl magic as one girl’s dark ability to summon the dead offers her a chance at a new life, while revealing to her an even darker future.
Katrell doesn’t mind talking to the dead; she just wishes it made more money. Clients pay her to talk to their deceased loved ones, but it isn’t enough to support her unemployed mother and Mom’s deadbeat boyfriend-of-the-week. Things get worse, when a ghost warns her to stop the summonings or she’ll “burn everything down.” Katrell is willing to call them on their bluff, though. She has no choice. What do ghosts know about eating peanut butter for dinner?
However, when her next summoning accidentally raises someone from the dead, Katrell realizes that a live body is worth a lot more than a dead apparition. And, warning or not, she has no intention of letting this lucrative new business go.
But magic doesn’t come for free, and soon dark forces are closing in on Katrell. The further she goes, the more she risks the lives of not only herself, but those she loves. Katrell faces a choice: resign herself to poverty, or confront the darkness before it’s too late.”
This books sounds like it has the most kickass disaster protagonist and I love it!
The Great Destroyers by Caroline Tung Richmond
“
Vampires, Hearts, and Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston
“In this heart-wrenching debut YA novel that’s The Coldest Girl in Coldtown meets They Both Die at the End, a teen girl takes a trip to New Orleans with her estranged best friend to find a vampire to save her dying father.
Victoria and her dad have shared a love of the undead since the first vampire revealed his existence on live TV. Public fear soon drove the vampires back into hiding, yet Victoria and her father still dream about finding a vampire together. But when her dad is diagnosed with terminal cancer, it’s clear that’s not going to happen. Instead, Victoria vows to find a vampire herself—so that she can become one and then save her father.
Armed with research, speculations, and desperation—and helped by her estranged best friend, Henry—Victoria travels to New Orleans in search of a miracle. There she meets Nicholas, a mysterious young man who might give her what she desires. But first, he needs Victoria to prove she loves life enough to live forever.
She agrees to complete a series of challenges, from scarfing sugar-drenched beignets to singing with a jazz band, all to show she has what it takes to be immortal. But truly living while her father is dying feels like a betrayal. Victoria must figure out how to experience joy and grief at once, trusting all the while that Nicholas will hold up his end of the bargain…because the alternative is too impossible to imagine.”
Adorable vampire novel! Hell yes!
Me (Moth) by Amber McBride
“A debut YA novel-in-verse that is both a coming-of-age and a ghost story.
Moth has lost her family in an accident. Though she lives with her aunt, she feels alone and uprooted.
Until she meets Sani, a boy who is also searching for his roots. If he knows more about where he comes from, maybe he’ll be able to understand his ongoing depression. And if Moth can help him feel grounded, then perhaps she too will discover the history she carries in her bones.
Moth and Sani take a road trip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors. The way each moves forward is surprising, powerful, and unforgettable.
Here is an exquisite and uplifting novel about identity, first love, and the ways that our memories and our roots steer us through the universe.”
I will always love a novel in verse. Always.
Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America by various authors
“Authors (Philmonel)
Twenty stand-alone short stories, essays, poems, and more from celebrated and award-winning authors make up this YA anthology that explores the Mexican American experience. With works by Francisco X. Stork, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, David Bowles, Rubén Degollado, e.E. Charlton-Trujillo, Diana López, Xavier Garza, Trinidad Gonzales, Alex Temblador, Aida Salazar, Lupe Ruiz-Flores, Sylvia Sanchez Garza, Dominic Carrillo, Angela Cervantes, Carolyn Dee Flores, René Saldaña Jr., Laura Perez, Justine Narro, Daniel García Ordáz, and Anna Meriano.
In this mixed-media collection of short stories, personal essays, poetry, and comics, this celebrated group of authors share the borders they have crossed, the struggles they have pushed through, and the two cultures they continue to navigate as Mexican American. Living Beyond Borders is at once an eye-opening, heart-wrenching, and hopeful love letter from the Mexican American community to today’s young readers.”
This anthology looks so damn amazing! Would love to read it!
Dagger Hill by Devon Taylor
“Stranger Things meets One of Us Is Lying in this creepy paranormal mystery about four friends who find themselves hunted by a malevolent presence in their sleepy hometown.
It knows your fear…
Summer, 1989. Four best friends—Gabe, Kimberly, Charlie, and Sonya—are preparing for their last summer together before senior year, after which they’ll all be splitting up to start college in different parts of the country. They make a promise to always find their way back to each other, no matter how far away from their sleepy Pennsylvania hometown they get.
But their plans are destroyed when a plane crashes right on top of their favorite hangout outside of town—and right on top of them.
In the catastrophic aftermath of the incident, Gabe, Sonya and Charlie are plagued by eerie visions and messages from an unknown watcher. They soon realize that the plane crash was no accident, and now they are being hunted by a sinister presence. And everyone is still searching for Kimberly, who has been missing ever since Gabe saw somebody wearing a gas mask carry her out of the woods the day the sky fell down on them…”
Not only would I cover buy this, but the description sounds awesome! It sounds so mysterious and so cool!
How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao
“In a YA thriler that is Crazy Rich Asians meets One of Us is Lying, students at an elite prep school are forced to confront their secrets when their ex-best friend turms up deadand they’re the prime suspects in her murder.
When Nancy Luo’s former best friend Jamie Ruan, the top ranked junior at Sinclair Prep, goes missing. Nancy is shocked. She’s even more shocked when Jamie is found dead.
The police suspect murder, and Nancy and her three friends become the prime suspects-fhanks to The Proctor, someone set on publicdy incriminating them via the school’s social media app. The quartet used to be Jamie’s dosest friends – and she knew dangerous secrets about each of them that could ruin their reputations as the other top- ranking students. For Nancy, the stakes are even higher, because unlike her wealthy friends, she could lose her full ride scholarship, too.
As the group struggles to dear their names while maintaining their perfect GPAS, they race to uncover Jamie’s true killer-before the Proctor exposes al of their darkest secrets. But Nancy can’t help but suspect that one of her friends is lying. Or is there a missing piece in her own memory that could expose the truth-not justabout Jamie’s fate, but also about herself?”
I’ve heard awesome things about this book! Plus, the description sounds so good!
Mark of the Wicked by Georgia Bowers
“A young witch tries to unravel the mystery of who is framing her for dark magic in Georgia Bowers’ creepy YA debut fantasy, Mark of the Wicked.
Magic always leaves its mark.
All her life, Matilda has been told one thing about her magic: You use only when necessary. But Matilda isn’t interested in being a good witch. She wants revenge and popularity, and to live her life free of consequences, free of the scars that dark magic leaves on her face as a reminder of her misdeeds.
When a spell goes awry and the new boy at school catches her in the act, Matilda thinks her secret might be out. But far from being afraid, Oliver already knows about her magic – and he wants to learn more. As Oliver and Matilda grow closer, bizarre things begin to happen: Animals show up with their throats slashed and odd markings carved into their bodies, a young girl dies mysteriously, and everyone blames Matilda. But she isn’t responsible — at least, not that she can remember. As her magic begins to spin out of control, Matilda must decide for herself what makes a good witch, and discover the truth…before anyone else turns up dead.”
Hell yes! A bad witch story? I can’t wait to pick this book up!
A Lesson in Vengence by Victoria Lee
“Felicity Morrow is back at Dalloway School.
Perched in the Catskill mountains, the centuries-old, ivy-covered campus was home until the tragic death of her girlfriend. Now, after a year away, she’s returned to graduate. She even has her old room in Godwin House, the exclusive dormitory rumored to be haunted by the spirits of five Dalloway students—girls some say were witches. The Dalloway Five all died mysteriously, one after another, right on Godwin grounds.
Witchcraft is woven into Dalloway’s history. The school doesn’t talk about it, but the students do. In secret rooms and shadowy corners, girls convene. And before her girlfriend died, Felicity was drawn to the dark. She’s determined to leave that behind her now; all Felicity wants is to focus on her senior thesis and graduate. But it’s hard when Dalloway’s occult history is everywhere. And when the new girl won’t let
her forget.
It’s Ellis Haley’s first year at Dalloway, and she’s already amassed a loyal following. A prodigy novelist at seventeen, Ellis is a so-called “method writer.” She’s eccentric and brilliant, and Felicity can’t shake the pull she feels to her. So when Ellis asks Felicity for help researching the Dalloway Five for her second book, Felicity can’t say no. Given her history with the arcane, Felicity is the perfect resource.
And when history begins to repeat itself, Felicity will have to face the darkness in Dalloway–and in herself.”
I follow Victoria on Twitter and she’s so cool! I’d love to read her book!
Alright! After an hour and a half I finished this! So many great reads to look forward to!
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!
I have had a wonderful day and I was having a little trouble thinking about what kind of post I wanted to write. So, I decided to end off the day watching a movie randomly recommended to me off Likewise.
Hush is about a deaf mute writer who has a killer attack her home. The killer himself is completely deranged and takes pleasure in drawing out the kill when he can. He wants his victims to suffer and it’s a mind game for him.
Maddie lives alone isolated in the woods. The movie never explains why she was isolated, but she does say she didn’t chose it for herself.
I am writing as someone who isn’t mute or deaf and I read reviews from deaf and mute reviewers to get a better since of if the movie handled deafness in a respectful way. From what I gathered most really wanted a deaf mute actress to play Maddies role. This would have made her feel more authentic and the sign language wouldn’t have been mixed in its versions.
There also was a moment where Maddie reads the killers lips from too far of a distance that wouldn’t be plausible for someone who was truly deaf.
For a more detailed review of this from a deaf reviewer click here.
As far as the horror goes, I did enjoy it. 100% I’d have loved to see this played by a deaf actress and movie makers need to start listening to the communities they are portraying in films and actually cast people from those communities to play them. I think it’s important for everyone to see an authentic representation of themselves on screen.
Watching Hush was scary. There was certain things I felt where they were trying to get the deafness part right, but couldn’t hit the mark because they didn’t cast a deaf person for the role.
That being said enjoyable as the movie was I think it just showcases how important it is to cast the community your portraying and go that step further (though it shouldn’t be the step further, but the default) and make a movie that sorta is a step forward and steps backward all at once into something amazing and way more worth the watch.
I did find the other interesting part of this movie is that she used her brain as a writer to fight the killer. As I writer that is a part that I really enjoyed.
All in all, I’ll be really excited to watch more movies that actually incorporate deaf actors for deaf roles, and trans actors in trans roles, and actors who are autistic to play autistic roles and so on. This movie highlighted for me that I want to start searching for movies and shows that make it a point to cast from the communities the show portrays. It makes a world of difference.
I’ve been watching this podcast called Mee Dark Presents and they were discussing this horror movie that came out recently called Host.
Host is completely filmed on a zoom call. I highly recommend checking out the podcast after watching this film, because they describe some of the behind the scenes part and it was so entertaining to hear about. https://youtu.be/0CRBR22uoNQ
It’s freaky and unsettling. The way they use zoom features to create that feeling of suspense and fear is really creative. It feels very much like the whole of 2020. Just trying to connect with friends in a world that is entirely quarantined and doing something to have some fun that turns out horrifically.
All the actors did an amazing job. They felt so fluid and real. It felt genuine as they were reacting to what was going on on the screen. It’s definitely set in the reality of 2020, but with a paranormal twist that makes it feel something totally brand new.
I enjoyed this movie immensely. I highly recommend it to any horror movie fans out there. This definitely a horror film that fits perfectly in its era and it was beautifully done.
I want to talk so much more about this movie and the things I loved about it, but I do not want to spoil it for anyone and I have a feeling that not too many of you have seen it so this is me saying go on and watch it now or add it to your watch list because it’s amazing!
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!
“Ever since Margot was born, it’s been just her and her mother, struggling to get along. But that’s not enough for Margot. She wants family. She wants a past. And she may have just found the answer: A photograph, pointing her to a town called Phalene. Only, when Margot gets there, it’s not what she bargained for.
As soon as they see her face, everyone in town knows who Margot belongs to. It’s unmistakable–she’s a Nielsen. And when a mysterious girl who could be Margot’s twin is pulled from a fire, Margot realizes that her mother left Phalene for a reason. But was it to hide her past? Or was it to protect Margot from what’s still there?
The only thing Margot knows for sure is there’s poison in their family tree, and their roots are dug so deeply into Phalene that now that she’s there, she might never escape.”
Opening Sentence: “flick and catch of the lighter, fire blooming between my fingers.”
Musings:
This is a book that barrels you to the end wondering what’s going to happen? What’s going on? What happened back then? And all these questions are a good thing. Cause, you may wait for the answers and when they get there it’s an experience.
That’s what ‘Burn Our Bodies Down’ is, an experience.
What I Loved:
The Pain. It’s been a while since a book reminded me of my relationship with my grandmother. The gas lighting and the want to be accepted but knowing you never will. Much of this was painful for me. Not everyone ends up with good family and knowing you deserve to thrive in spite of it is an important thing.
The Curiosity. This book has you asking questions from start to finish and in a good way. More answers you get the more questions and you feel exactly as Margot must’ve felt.
The ending. Now this is a book with an ending. That whole time my eyes went bigger and bigger and my mouth dropped lower and lower. It’s a damn hell of a fantastic ending.
It’s creepy. This book unsettles in subtle ways. It makes you feel safe and then it takes it away a little and then a little more. It’s so well written.
The atmosphere. It’s dry and dusty and full of corn that’s not growing well. The way the world is written is so well done. You can feel how small and yet how vast everything is.
All inall:
This is a fantastic horror novel. It’s completely different from ‘Wilder Girls’ and it’s so good in its own unique way. It’s a must read for horror lovers.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!
Likewise is a cool new app that recommends you books, podcasts, tv shows, and movies based on what you’ve previously watched and enjoyed.
I was playing around bored yesterday and downloaded this app. I filled out some of my favorite films, tv shows, books, and anime. The movie part ended up being horror heavy which isn’t surprising cause I watch a lot of horror films.
So it did not surprise me at all when the very first film recommended to me was:
This survivalist horror film “Here Alone” was actually pretty entertaining for me. I was going to finish watching no matter what just cause I liked the idea of the app and was curious if it’d pick something off the bat I’d enjoy and it was pretty decent. Very on the nose for the pandemic that’s going on right now, except to a far more extreme level. Definitely not something you want to watch if you are desiring escapism.
But, it was cool. It had its twists. It was definitely scary. I was kept on the edge of my seat. I do think the trailer gives a bit too much away, but it does show the main reasons why the story is worth watching.
The story is about hopelessness and desperation and what you do in a terrible situation to keep on living. It’s about family and the very fleeting nature of joy in a situation like this one. Also, it’s about how messed up you can get when death is around the corner at every moment staring you in the face at every waking moment.
If you like survival horror I highly recommend you watch this one. It definitely does fall into the category of bird box and a quiet place which was why this movie was recommended to me.
Best part is I got to watch “Here Alone” on Tubi which was completely free. (This is not sponsored) I just think it’s cool. I liked that I found a new streaming service I liked through ‘Like Wise’.
All in all, this all was a really fun experience and I’ll definitely continue using the app and talking about the shows I find through here I probably wouldn’t have known about or tried otherwise.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!
Cover Rating: 10/10 this cover is GORGEOUS! The second I saw this cover I had to own this book and I knew nothing about it till I got it. And now it’s one of my absolute favorites.
“It’s been eighteen months since the Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. Since the Tox hit and pulled Hetty’s life out from under her.
It started slow. First the teachers died one by one. Then it began to infect the students, turning their bodies strange and foreign. Now, cut off from the rest of the world and left to fend for themselves on their island home, the girls don’t dare wander outside the school’s fence, where the Tox has made the woods wild and dangerous. They wait for the cure they were promised as the Tox seeps into everything.
But when Byatt goes missing, Hetty will do anything to find her, even if it means breaking quarantine and braving the horrors that lie beyond the fence. And when she does, Hetty learns that there’s more to their story, to their life at Raxter, than she could have ever thought true.”
Opening Sentence: “Something.”
Musings:
I want thing book to become a movie so bad! Or better yet, an animated tv show. It would be so creepy and gorgeous and so good! The imagery in this book is incredible. I couldn’t get enough of it. The story immediately sucked me in and I read all of it in one day.
Things I Loved:
Genuinely horrific. This book has some genuinely awful things that happen within it. Some of it feels worse then a death. The mangled girls that continue to get more and more mangled. Becoming one with nature in the most gruesome of ways.
The Government aspects. The government in this book like in real life is hiding this disease from the world. Cover ups and pretending to care about the girls on the island but not actually caring at all. It’s a terrible truth of this novel. Yet it sucked me in all the more.
How I don’t want to say to much. I want to say everything and nothing about this book all at once because I want all of you reading to pick this book up and see for yourself how awesome it is.
The writing is beautiful. I love the writing. The horrific descriptions. The tragedy’s. How real each girl feels. How different their perspectives feel. It’s such a beautifully written story. I could never say that enough.
The romance hasthe same energy the whole book has. I want to say so much about this, but I know I’ll end up spoiling it. God just loved it. That’s all I’ll say. If you know what I mean please leave a comment. I’d love to talk about this.
All in All:
I adore this book. I can’t recommend it enough. It is just amazing.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!
I have been in the biggest horror movie mood lately and it’s been the best. Today I took advantage of all of it by doing a horror movie triple feature. Well somewhat quadruple feature cause I’m watching one more as I write this, but ultimately it’s been amazing!
You’re Next
This movie was amazing! I loved Erin and I loved the plot. It was super intense and I didn’t know the twist before it happened. Well, the initial one, but gosh it was so cool!
The AdamsFamily
Gosh this was adorable and I loved it so much! I loved the story it was so cute. The art was so awesome. The nostalgia felt great too. It was funny and made me feel the full on Halloween feeling and it’s just amazing.
Zombieland
This also was a really cute and fun movie. All I can think is “Get Tallahassee a Twinkie!”. It’s fun and still spooky in its own way. I really enjoyed it. It made me laugh.
While I’m writing this I’m watching the second movie and so far it’s great too. Today’s been so much fun. The blonde is crazy, but very funny. The flirting is so weird, but I love it.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!
The Book Raven 