Fiction
"You'd Look Better As A Ghost": A Serial Killer Story About Grief
Originally published in the UK in 2023 and released in the US in 2024, I first discovered You’d Look Better As A Ghost in an email from Penguin Books. I haven’t read many serial killer protagonists in fiction that I’ve liked, but the novel struck me with its clever title and cover. Plus, the idea a part-time murderer going to a grief support group sounded like a fun read.
J. S. WongPublished about 8 hours ago in BookClubClocking Out of the Supernatural
Chloe wasn't your average thirteen-year-old. Sure, she enjoyed the occasional pop song and had a questionable obsession with glitter, but her true passion lay in the realm of the extraordinary – specifically, unearthing evidence of the supernatural. Her bedroom resembled a cluttered museum of the peculiar: a jar of "ghost breath" (stale air), a collection of "alien antennae" (twisted pipe cleaners), and a framed photo of her neighbor Mr. Johnson (labeled "possible vampire – sleeps all day").
ANNA CORALPublished about 20 hours ago in BookClubThe Daughter's Desolation
The unforgiving sun beat down on Eva's back as she trudged across the cracked earth. Her once vibrant green eyes, now dull with exhaustion, scanned the horizon for any sign of life. The once fertile fields of her village lay barren, ravaged by a relentless drought. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, a constant companion for weeks.
ANNA CORALPublished about 20 hours ago in BookClubFlight of the Phoenix Weaver
Asala, with eyes the color of twilight and hair like spun moonlight, was a weaver's daughter, her life as intricately woven as the tapestries her father crafted. Her nimble fingers, though small, possessed an uncanny talent, whispering stories into silk and dreams into wool. Every thread held a memory, every knot a whispered tale. But fate, a fickle weaver itself, decided to unravel Asala's life with a cruel twist. A raging storm at sea claimed her fragile vessel, leaving behind only a half-finished tapestry depicting a magnificent phoenix rising from a pyre of crimson flames.
ANNA CORALPublished a day ago in BookClub## Princess Tiara and the Whispering Waterfall
Princess Tiara loathed tiaras. The heavy jewels dug into her scalp, their sparkle a constant reminder of the gilded cage her life felt like. Unlike her sisters, who dreamt of balls and eligible suitors, Tiara yearned for adventure, for tales whispered on dusty scrolls and maps crinkled with the touch of explorers. The library, not the rose garden, became her sanctuary. There, with the scent of aged parchment and the hushed whispers of forgotten knowledge, Tiara felt truly alive.
ANNA CORALPublished 2 days ago in BookClubRachel Reviews: Ransom by David Malouf
My familiarity with Homer's The Iliad is limited. I have an idea of some of the characters discussed and the traits but I cannot profess to have much detailed knowledge. I have it on my bookshelf but I have never read it.
Rachel DeemingPublished 2 days ago in BookClubThe Fascinating Universe of Philippine Folklore
Philippine folklore stories have long been enchanting our minds, because, that is how wonders, mysteries, and ethics are mixed in. They knew that these must be the stories that progress from generation to generation, showing how rich is the cultural heritage of the Philippines. They don't delight us only, but also, they do chat about those things that we care about the most. The mythical characters and the legendary heroes that are our favorites are what they always are so proud to read about.
Thelma PerezPublished 2 days ago in BookClubCover Reveal: Blood of Midgard by Baptiste Pinson Wu
Hello, book friends! Today I'm happy to help reveal the cover of Baptiste Pinson Wu's upcoming Norse epic fantasy novel, Blood of Midgard, the first book in the Army of One trilogy.
Marie SinadjanPublished 4 days ago in BookClubWill I Die or Will I Graduate?
Most of us had a rough high school experience, but maybe not one where we were trying to avoid getting eaten on the daily. (WARNING: THIS SYNOPSIS HAS SLIGHT SPOILERS)
Grace Genet-AllenPublished 4 days ago in BookClubHappy book anniversary to Monster Ridge!
Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Victor and Silje thought they'd already left Hotel Fen and its horrors behind. But hunting them are Victor's godly brothers: Thor the Thunderer, Tyr the Battle-God, and Hodr the God of Winter. Convinced that Ragnarok, the end of all things, is about to begin, they either want Victor fighting on their side — or out of their way. With Ada the gretten katt and their dwarven weaponsmith Ivaldi, Victor and Silje set off for Vanaheim, seeking out the Vanir runemistress Freya, and a safe haven. But the more their pasts unfold, the more they realize that they're caught in the crosshairs of an ancient feud between Odin, the King of the Nine Realms, and his blood brother Loki, the Destroyer of Worlds.
Marie SinadjanPublished 5 days ago in BookClubRachel Reviews: The Age of Treachery by Gavin Scott
The Age of Treachery is a book which is many things in terms of genre as my snippet explains. Duncan Forrester is our protagonist, a university fellow at Oxford who is settling into life post-war when a colleague is killed and Forrester takes it upon himself to uncover the perpetrator of the crime. This gains greater importance when Forrester's friend is implicated for the murder and out of a sense of friendship as well as personal guilt, Forrester is compelled to help him.
Rachel DeemingPublished 5 days ago in BookClub"Your House Will Pay" Explores America's Racial Strife
Your House Will Pay takes place in Los Angeles in the wake of the shooting of a Black teenager, echoing the riots from the 1990s. According to the author, the novel’s premise is based on the 1991 murder of 15-year old Latasha Harlins by Soon Ja Du, a Korean grocer, who accused Harlins for stealing orange juice, and shot her in the back of the head. Although Soon Ja Du was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, she served no jail time. Published in 2019, the book’s subject matter continues to have cultural relevance today with the Black Lives Matter movement.
J. S. WongPublished 6 days ago in BookClub