Jason Cavallaro's Best and Worst of Jamurary 2024

BEST OF THE MONTH

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

This is Tananarive's best novel, and considering the kind of career she's had, this is most definitely a mic drop for her. One of the best ghost stories, and one of the best historical fiction novels I've ever read as well.

WORST OF THE MONTH

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross

As soon as I saw the blurb, "Swept me away from the very first page," and I wasn't swept away....I knew there would be a problem. However, people with the patience for romantic epic fantasy may go for this.

The rest:

Mickey7 by Edward Ashton. Solid sf. Being adapted by Bong Joon-Ho (Parasite). Grade: B
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. Wholesome YA fantasy. Reminds me of Studio Ghibli films. Grade: A
The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi. I really expected to like a novel with "kaiju" in the title more. Grade: C
The 100 Greatest Graphic Novels by Hill/Langley. Great insight into comics. I could've done with less YA selections, but still good. Grade: B
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle. It was VERY good up until the halfway point. Once questions are answered, the plot was less interesting. Grade: C
What Kind of Mother by Clay McLeod Chapman. Very good book about grief, with a very WTF premise. Grade: B
After Silence by Jonathan Carroll. Even when Carroll writes a relatively straightforward thriller, it's still kind of weird. Grade: B
The Militia House by John Milas. Military horror, which I usually like. Grade: D
Moonshine by Azzarello/Risso (graphic novel). Werewolf prohibition tale. Sounds awesome, but I was bored. Grade: D
Roxy by Neil and Jarrod Shusterman. I liked their previous collaboration more (Dry), but this one wasn't bad. Grade: C
White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link (collection). Folk/fairy tales are always hit or miss with me, and this was a miss. Grade: D
Far From the Tree by Robin Benway. A YA This is Us. Very good. Grade: A
Monstrilio by Gerardo Samano Cordova. One of those literary horror books that everyone seems to like but me. Grade: D
Colder by Tobin/Ferreyra (graphic novel). Great art with lackluster story. Grade: C
The Butcher of Paris by Philips/Kotz (graphic novel). True crime comic. Grade: C
They Walked Like Men by Clifford D. Simak. Love Simak, but this isn't in his upper tier to me. Grade: C
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung (collection). Another folk/fairy tale collection. Another miss. Grade: D
Plunge by Hill/Immonen (graphic novel). Figuring how much I love Locke and Key and Basketful of Heads, I thought I'd like this one more. Grade: D
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh. I normally like sappy stuff like this, but it was a little long-winded. Grade: D
Echoes by Fialkov/Ekedal (graphic novel). Very dark and disturbing comic. The black and white art enhances the dreariness of the story. Grade: B

Reviews by Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
Twitter: @pinheadspawn