Lots of books read, so no time for dilly-dallying!
BEST OF THE MONTH
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
Yes, it sort of sounds like it would be about a bad cat peeing in the living room, but wipe that smirk off your face, because this is serious business. This book is truly scary. The Japanese-horror-film kind of scary. No question this book will be on awards ballots next year, but for now, you're going to have to wait until Del Rey drops it on June 25th.
WORST OF THE MONTH
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P Djeli Clark
Ok, maybe it isn't THAT bad. But, there aren't any cats in it, AND I had high hopes because I really liked Ring Shout.
The rest:
Bruises on a Butterfly by Chad Lutzke. Not amongst my faves from Chad, but not bad by any means. Grade: C
Hack/Slash Vol 1 by Seeley/Caselli (graphic novel). A slasher comic series?! Thought I'd like it more. Grade: C
Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke. Another one I thought I'd like more. Literary style writing. Grade: D
Megahex by Simon Hanselmann (graphic novel). It's like an R-rated Regular Show. Grade: B
Grotesque: Monster Stories by Lee Murray (collection). Collection of monster stories with varying degrees of quality. Grade: C
Slam by Lewis Shiner. It's no Outside the Gates of Eden. Grade: C
Snow Shark by Brian G. Berry. Figure I'd give him a shot. Not for me. Grade: D
One Bad Rat by Brian Talbot (graphic novel). Talbot is hit or miss with me. Miss. Grade: C
Rovers by Richard Lange. Near Dark meets Of Mice and Men. Grade: B
Between Two Fires by Christopher Buelmann. Really good, but just a little too long. 1st and 2nd act better than the 3rd. Grade: C
Black Mouth by Ronald Malfi. REALLY good up until around halfway. Lost some steam. Grade: C
This Skin was Once Mine and Other Disturbances by Eric LaRocca (collection). Best story is "Prickle," but that was the highlight. Grade: C
Human Pieces by James Cooper (collection). Some brilliant stuff, and some boring stuff. Grade: C
Pomegranates by Priya Sharma. So disappointed. I love Ormeshadow. Grade: D
Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird by Agustina Bazterrica (collection). Get Tender is the Flesh instead. Grade: D
Veil by Rucka/Fejzula (graphic novel). Not bad, but not my fave from Rucka. Grade: C
Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith (graphic novel). Probably didn't need the epic page count for this Frankenstein-themed comic, but some of it was great. Grade: C
The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness. My least favorite novel from Ness. Grade: C
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu. I just don't have the patience for these high concept sf novels anymore. Grade: D
The Silver Coin (graphic novel anthology, various authors/artists). Fun anthology; reminds me of EC comics. Grade: C
Reviews by Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
twitter: @pinheadspawn
BEST OF THE MONTH
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
Yes, it sort of sounds like it would be about a bad cat peeing in the living room, but wipe that smirk off your face, because this is serious business. This book is truly scary. The Japanese-horror-film kind of scary. No question this book will be on awards ballots next year, but for now, you're going to have to wait until Del Rey drops it on June 25th.
WORST OF THE MONTH
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P Djeli Clark
Ok, maybe it isn't THAT bad. But, there aren't any cats in it, AND I had high hopes because I really liked Ring Shout.
The rest:
Bruises on a Butterfly by Chad Lutzke. Not amongst my faves from Chad, but not bad by any means. Grade: C
Hack/Slash Vol 1 by Seeley/Caselli (graphic novel). A slasher comic series?! Thought I'd like it more. Grade: C
Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke. Another one I thought I'd like more. Literary style writing. Grade: D
Megahex by Simon Hanselmann (graphic novel). It's like an R-rated Regular Show. Grade: B
Grotesque: Monster Stories by Lee Murray (collection). Collection of monster stories with varying degrees of quality. Grade: C
Slam by Lewis Shiner. It's no Outside the Gates of Eden. Grade: C
Snow Shark by Brian G. Berry. Figure I'd give him a shot. Not for me. Grade: D
One Bad Rat by Brian Talbot (graphic novel). Talbot is hit or miss with me. Miss. Grade: C
Rovers by Richard Lange. Near Dark meets Of Mice and Men. Grade: B
Between Two Fires by Christopher Buelmann. Really good, but just a little too long. 1st and 2nd act better than the 3rd. Grade: C
Black Mouth by Ronald Malfi. REALLY good up until around halfway. Lost some steam. Grade: C
This Skin was Once Mine and Other Disturbances by Eric LaRocca (collection). Best story is "Prickle," but that was the highlight. Grade: C
Human Pieces by James Cooper (collection). Some brilliant stuff, and some boring stuff. Grade: C
Pomegranates by Priya Sharma. So disappointed. I love Ormeshadow. Grade: D
Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird by Agustina Bazterrica (collection). Get Tender is the Flesh instead. Grade: D
Veil by Rucka/Fejzula (graphic novel). Not bad, but not my fave from Rucka. Grade: C
Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith (graphic novel). Probably didn't need the epic page count for this Frankenstein-themed comic, but some of it was great. Grade: C
The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness. My least favorite novel from Ness. Grade: C
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu. I just don't have the patience for these high concept sf novels anymore. Grade: D
The Silver Coin (graphic novel anthology, various authors/artists). Fun anthology; reminds me of EC comics. Grade: C
Reviews by Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
twitter: @pinheadspawn
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