Due to a few extra days off this month, my reading expanded into 23 books read. No time to waste!
BEST OF THE MONTH
We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune
This was an easy pick. Far and away the best of January. I'm a big fan of The House in the Cerulean Sea, so I wasn't really surprised at the quality of this one. It an apocalypse story, but focuses on a cross-country trip of a gay couple. Epic in scope, but done in a slice-of-life way. Brilliant stuff. It drops on April 28, from Tor Books.
WORST OF THE MONTH
The Vessel by Adam Nevill
I know Nevill is really popular, so this could be seen as a hot take. I'm sure there is a good story in there somewhere, but I just cannot get past his adverb/description-heavy writing style.
The rest:
You Weren't Meant to be Human by Andrew Joseph White. Another hot take right here, for one of the hottest horror releases of 2025. Grade: D
The NYE incidents by Streiber/Spector/Floor (graphic novel). I was intrigued by the team-up of Streiber and Spector for this alien-themed graphic novel. Grade: C
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie. Another reminder that maybe the fantasy genre just isn't for me. Grade: C
The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden. Historical erotic fiction. Not for me. Grade: D
Athanasia by Kraus/Dani (graphic novel). Super original superhero concept, but decent execution. Grade: C
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart. Another borderline unreadable "literary" novel. Grade: D
Jumpscare by Bunn/Luckert (graphic novel). Great idea, with great art, but paper-thin characters. Grade: C
The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buelmann. Buelmann is good, but more miss than hit for me. Grade: C
Devil House by John Darnielle. A multi-faceted story with some unreliable narration. I'd try him again, but this wasn't for me. Grade: C
Eternal Wives by Lesley Camphouse. Gorefest with no connection to characters. Grade: D
Harrower by Jordan/Revel (graphic novel). I was on a slasher graphic novel kick this month and this one was my favorite. Grade: B
Murder Kingdom by Van Lente/Panda (graphic novel). Another slasher graphic novel, this one in a theme park. Grade: C
Dear Stupid Penpal by Rascal Hartley. Make this epistolary a tad bit shorter, and this would've been a hit. Grade: C
I Don't Recognize This World Anymore by Kristopher Triana. I liked this crime drama way more than I thought I would. Grade: B
Werewolf Movie by Stephen St Francis Decky. For such a short novella, it still seemed too long. Grade: D
The Slasher's Apprentice by Richards/Halvorson (graphic novel). Some fun humorous moments. Reminded me of that film, Behind the Mask, but not as good. Grade: C
The Cold Visitor by Jonathan Butcher. Butcher's foray into more classic horror. Good concept, but second act is just a bit too long. Grade: C
A Short Stay in Hell by Steven Peck. Too heavy-handed with the philosophy. Grade: D
Night of the Slashers by Scott/Fry (graphic novel). It's gory, but forgettable. Grade: C
Cold Storage by David Koepp. Info dump city. Also, not as funny as the blurbs suggest. Grade: D
Godzilla vs the Marvel Universe by Various (comic anthology). This one is pure brainless fun. Grade: B
Reviews by Jason Cavallaro
Jcavallaro42@gmail.com
Twitter: @pinheadspawn
Instagram: @jcavallaro42
BlueSky: @jasoncavallaro
BEST OF THE MONTHWe Burned So Bright by TJ Klune
This was an easy pick. Far and away the best of January. I'm a big fan of The House in the Cerulean Sea, so I wasn't really surprised at the quality of this one. It an apocalypse story, but focuses on a cross-country trip of a gay couple. Epic in scope, but done in a slice-of-life way. Brilliant stuff. It drops on April 28, from Tor Books.
WORST OF THE MONTH
The Vessel by Adam Nevill
I know Nevill is really popular, so this could be seen as a hot take. I'm sure there is a good story in there somewhere, but I just cannot get past his adverb/description-heavy writing style.
The rest:
You Weren't Meant to be Human by Andrew Joseph White. Another hot take right here, for one of the hottest horror releases of 2025. Grade: D
The NYE incidents by Streiber/Spector/Floor (graphic novel). I was intrigued by the team-up of Streiber and Spector for this alien-themed graphic novel. Grade: C
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie. Another reminder that maybe the fantasy genre just isn't for me. Grade: C
The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden. Historical erotic fiction. Not for me. Grade: D
Athanasia by Kraus/Dani (graphic novel). Super original superhero concept, but decent execution. Grade: C
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart. Another borderline unreadable "literary" novel. Grade: D
Jumpscare by Bunn/Luckert (graphic novel). Great idea, with great art, but paper-thin characters. Grade: C
The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buelmann. Buelmann is good, but more miss than hit for me. Grade: C
Devil House by John Darnielle. A multi-faceted story with some unreliable narration. I'd try him again, but this wasn't for me. Grade: C
Eternal Wives by Lesley Camphouse. Gorefest with no connection to characters. Grade: D
Harrower by Jordan/Revel (graphic novel). I was on a slasher graphic novel kick this month and this one was my favorite. Grade: B
Murder Kingdom by Van Lente/Panda (graphic novel). Another slasher graphic novel, this one in a theme park. Grade: C
Dear Stupid Penpal by Rascal Hartley. Make this epistolary a tad bit shorter, and this would've been a hit. Grade: C
I Don't Recognize This World Anymore by Kristopher Triana. I liked this crime drama way more than I thought I would. Grade: BWerewolf Movie by Stephen St Francis Decky. For such a short novella, it still seemed too long. Grade: D
The Slasher's Apprentice by Richards/Halvorson (graphic novel). Some fun humorous moments. Reminded me of that film, Behind the Mask, but not as good. Grade: C
The Cold Visitor by Jonathan Butcher. Butcher's foray into more classic horror. Good concept, but second act is just a bit too long. Grade: C
A Short Stay in Hell by Steven Peck. Too heavy-handed with the philosophy. Grade: D
Night of the Slashers by Scott/Fry (graphic novel). It's gory, but forgettable. Grade: C
Cold Storage by David Koepp. Info dump city. Also, not as funny as the blurbs suggest. Grade: D
Godzilla vs the Marvel Universe by Various (comic anthology). This one is pure brainless fun. Grade: B
Reviews by Jason Cavallaro
Jcavallaro42@gmail.com
Twitter: @pinheadspawn
Instagram: @jcavallaro42
BlueSky: @jasoncavallaro
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