The Magicians, by Lev Grossman

I've talked a lot about my experiences with the Butler University Visiting Writers' Series, and here's another book from another one of those visiting writers. Lev Grossman visited during 2016, and The Magicians was the book my MFA program promoted the most ahead of his visit. I hadn't read the book at that point, but … Continue reading The Magicians, by Lev Grossman →

A Resistance of Witches, by Morgan Ryan

It's so interesting to observe trends in literature during certain periods in time. For example, dystopic young adult literature was all the rage during the early 2010s, but when a certain someone took power in the U.S., it suddenly wasn't as much fun to read about corrupt governments and resistance groups led by plucky teenagers. … Continue reading A Resistance of Witches, by Morgan Ryan →

Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White

This past week, as I worked my way through an intense heat wave and another depressive episode, I thought ahead to when my partner and I will attend our state's summer fair. I cheered myself with thoughts of eating funnel cakes and riding rides on the midway and seeing all the farm animals. At last … Continue reading Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White →

The Winter of the Witch (The Winternight Trilogy #3), by Katherine Arden

So this review is a long, long time coming. The final book in the Winternight trilogy came out almost ten years ago, and I bought a hardcover copy as soon as it was released. But I have been very slow to read anything these days, much less a book that has been hiding in my … Continue reading The Winter of the Witch (The Winternight Trilogy #3), by Katherine Arden →

The Green Mile, by Stephen King

The Green Mile is an evocative title for me. I remember in 1999 seeing the Tom Hanks movie poster appearing on one of those scrolling paper ad screens you saw in shopping malls. I was also astounded to learn that The Green Mile, one of the most emotionally-heavy stories of the last couple of decades, … Continue reading The Green Mile, by Stephen King →

Cujo, by Stephen King

You all know the drill by now: Stephen King's name pops up on this blog and I generally laud the author and the story he created. And that's what I usually expect to write when I go into each of his books. I was a little wary of Cujo, though, because how could King build … Continue reading Cujo, by Stephen King →

A Witch in Time, by Constance Sayers

When it comes to stories about witches, I have a very specific idea in my head. I not only expect for them to be powerful, but also to have the ability to overcome a serious obstacle with their magic. If they're lacking in either of those, an interesting story can at least compensate for that. … Continue reading A Witch in Time, by Constance Sayers →

Lessons in Magic and Disaster, by Charlie Jane Anders

While pursuing my MFA at Butler University, I had the privilege of meeting Charlie Jane Anders, whose work crossed journalism, fantasy, and science fiction. I remember talking to her at a Visiting Writers event, where she asked me what my MFA thesis was going to be, and when I told her the plot in detail, … Continue reading Lessons in Magic and Disaster, by Charlie Jane Anders →

A Mother Always Knows, by Sarah Strohmeyer

A few years ago, I said my true crime fix was stalkers, but I think I've added another one to the list: cults. Jonestown, the Ant Hill Kids, the Work, anything that involves a sociopathic narcissist roping innocent victims into their twisted orbit, under the guide of improving their lives. Everyone says that they are … Continue reading A Mother Always Knows, by Sarah Strohmeyer →

Witch You Would, by Lia Amador

I think this is the first romance I've read in a bit that, to my knowledge, has not been rabidly hyped up on social media. It's probably going to be a while until I read another Abby Jimenez book (Abby, I admire your work, but your formula is wearing off), so books like Witch You … Continue reading Witch You Would, by Lia Amador →