Review: King Sorrow

King Sorrow by Joe Hill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A decision to rescue a friend leads to decades of death and despair as King Sorrow litters history with his burning desire for terror.

Arthur Crane becomes forced to steal sixty thousand dollars worth of rare books from one of his favorite spots and place of work, his college library, to pay back the debts of a criminal family. Despite trying his best to conceal his new fate to his closest friends, the group finally becomes aware of his predicament. In an attempt to rescue Arthur from torment, the group reach into The Long Dark to summon a dragon to protect their friend and target those tormenting Arthur. Only to realize that King Sorrow is hungry and has no intention to leave their world for good. And now this year, and every other year, the group must provide King Sorrow with a fresh target at Easter.

I really enjoy the character development of Arthur as he takes his new found curse and dedicates his life to academics at Oxford, studying dragons and other creatures from The Long Dark, in an attempt to free himself and his friends from the grip of King Sorrow. The novel is overall filled with vast character arcs as the story takes place over several decades. The friends each other thought they once had adjust their loyalties and some ploy for complete control through crossing their closest friends.

King Sorrow is an almost 900 page novel that Hill makes engaging enough to be a complete page turner. The world as a whole is large and the timeline spans near 30 years with Hill's vivid descriptions really coming into their own during the small setting scenes. Each interaction feels intentional, properly developed, and crafted in descriptive and unsettling ways. Not only is the world well developed but Hill does remarkable work instilling a sense of individuality and character within each character's personality. Every character is complete with their own motives, style, and behaviors which all contribute positively to the overall arc of the novel.

The pacing always felt right where it needed to be and provides a strong balance of fast action with slower bridges that let the weight of events settle. Even when the story slows down, those quieter moments help reinforce the consequences and keep the tension present. From mass destruction in a city, to traps and puzzles in a troll's cave, to a 737 over the Atlantic stalked by King Sorrow, to quieter scenes with federal law enforcement and planning for the next years targets, everything collectively drives the novel forward and keeps it impossible to put down.

Throughout King Sorrow, there is a notion that you can collectively think of something so strongly that it's possible to pull it out of The Long Dark and manifest it within your own reality. With the right tools, intention, and sacrifice, great power can be summoned; although the repercussions and lasting effects of such maybe unknown until its too late. This novel explores the ideas of grief, generational decisions, sacrifice, selfishness, the desire to be in control, and the clashing of folk lore with reality.

Joe Hill hits the emotions of each character very well and I could see each one of them truly developing over the course of the novel. Their aspirations, acceptance with being in control of a hand of death, and coping mechanisms all change and grow throughout. I found this to rely less on overall shock factor of horror, although the descriptions can be extremely detailed, and instead be more psychologically driven as characters grapple with the feeling that they are stuck in the claws of a beast with weeks left to survive, and no way out.

By the time the novel reach its conclusion and I tore through every corner of the book I felt satisfied with the culmination and resolution of the plot. Hill does a good job of tying things together, giving insight into the endings for each of the characters. I do feel like the door is left just a crack open to allow for what would be a very welcomed new volume into what lays within The Long Dark.

Overall King Sorrow beyond hit the marks in every facet, exceeding my expectations, and places itself well atop my favorites for 2025. Hill has expertly stitched together this epic and provided us with yet another compelling story that is impossible to put down until the very last page concludes.

Rating: ★★★★ ★(5/5)

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Review: The Bewtiching

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A multi-generational account of witchcraft interactions, craftily told in a split-timeline novel from the perspectives of three women in different eras. Moreno-Garcia absolutely delivered on this suspenseful thriller until the last page!

I am usually not one that finds split-timeline novels gripping enough to remain interested in the intertwined plots, connections, and backgrounds. However, Moreno-Garcia executes this method in a way that kept me invested and eagerly looking forward to the next chapter from each era. The book is told from the perspective of characters in 1908, 1934, and 1998, each chapter alternating between the eras. Although with most novels told from the perspective of different people, and especially those told generations apart, there is the initial barrier of setting the scene and getting acquainted with characters that is almost three times the depth of a novel told from one perspective. Despite that, the intros were interesting enough to get you to the main plot without dragging too long.

I think this lands right in the realm of dark academia as Minerva’s, the main character’s, thesis on witchcraft and horror authors stands as a primary driver of plot progression. I found the research and rich history of horror authors to be a great addition to the backdrop and theming of The Bewitching. That being said, I believe this novel fits more comfortably as a multi-layered supernatural thriller with touches of graphic scenes and themes that scratch the edge of horror. The pacing is done well and is a true thriller with portions being unsettling, albeit not to the point of creating any sleepless nights.

The plot itself is strong and kept me hooked throughout the entirety of the book. Even though I was able to identify the twists and reveals at about the 75% mark, the way each plot was executed and played out was enough to keep the suspense and intrigue. I also found the links and connections between the three generations to be done extremely well and was ultimately satisfied with how they joined. The suspense created by going into a life-or-death situation with a witch that has feasted on those around her for decades is further amplified by the characters’ plan to take her down essentially being folklore from three generations prior.

I greatly enjoyed this one and I think it’s great for anybody that is a fan of supernatural suspense. It’s presented well throughout and shines by staying true to its darker depictions of sinister witchcraft.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

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Review: News From The Fallout #1

News From The Fallout #1 by Chris Condon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

News From The Fallout #1 opens with a gripping Cold War horror premise and immediately pulls you into a bleak, irradiated world where silence and shadow do most of the storytelling. Jeffrey Alan Love’s stark black-and-white artwork is stunning and unsettling, creating a heavy atmosphere that feels both timeless and deeply eerie. The creative restraint in dialogue and exposition gives the issue a haunting, dreamlike quality, where every panel feels deliberate and loaded with tension. It is visually bold, atmospheric, and completely committed to its tone, making for a memorable and striking opening chapter.

Where this debut shows its limitations is in how spare the narrative feels. The story is so minimal that some moments land more as impressions than fully grounded beats, and readers looking for stronger character context or a clearer foundation may find themselves wishing for more substance beneath the excellent style. That said, the sparse approach does serve the mood, and the intrigue it builds sets the stage for something bigger. If future issues expand the world and deepen the emotional stakes to match the aesthetic strength, this series could become something truly special.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

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Review: Stalin's Army of Apes: The Mechanized Puppeteers

Stalin's Army of Apes: The Mechanized Puppeteers by Itamar Friedman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A bold Cold War sci-fi concept with strong pacing, but the execution feels trimmed and underdeveloped, leaving narrative gaps where context should be.

Thank you to the publisher for the early review copy.


What Worked

The premise is extremely engaging. A Soviet-era genetic engineering project tied to real historical experimentation provides an immediate hook, and the story loops back to the protagonist’s past in a way that gives the plot a satisfying arc.

It is fast paced, imaginative, and easy to move through. The speculative elements land well, and the overall concept feels fresh. When the book leans into its scientific-thriller angle and Cold War tension, it is energetic and entertaining.

What Didn’t Work

Where the book falters is not in the idea, but in the execution and structure. The story is linear and clear in intent, yet it often reads as though significant passages were cut without updating the surrounding context to support those edits. Characters react to things that were never established, emotional moments arrive without setup, and motivations appear suddenly instead of developing naturally.

Instead of unanswered mysteries, it feels like missing connective tissue. Narrative beats that should bridge scenes, relationships, or decisions seem absent, and the text does not compensate by adjusting dialogue or narration to fill those gaps. It gives the impression of a draft that was shortened for pacing but never structurally reinforced afterward.

Character development suffers as a result. Emotional and interpersonal moments come across shallow not because the ideas lack depth, but because the supporting detail that would make them resonate seems removed.

Terminology and phrasing around intelligence work and military structure also frequently feel inaccurate or simplified, breaking immersion in a story grounded in real geopolitical history.

The effect is a reading experience where you find yourself repeatedly acknowledging something happened, mentally noting the missing context, and pushing forward. Over time, that cumulative "accept it and continue" effort makes it hard to fully believe in the reality the story gestures toward.

Overall Thoughts

This is a creative and engaging speculative premise handled with speed and momentum. If you approach it as pulpy Cold War entertainment and do not expect deep character grounding or fully fleshed-out espionage realism, it can be a fun ride.

However, the narrative feels trimmed rather than crafted at times, and the missing connective context keeps the story from achieving the weight the subject matter invites. A concept this compelling could support more depth, and the lack of development limits the impact this narrative deserves.

For readers who enjoy high-concept alternate history and fast reads, this is worth picking up. For those looking for fully-realized character arcs and tightly constructed realism within speculative fiction, it may fall short of its potential.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

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Review: George Orwell's Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel

George Orwell's Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel by Christina Dumalasova
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel is a stunning adaptation of George Orwell’s classic story about revolution, power, and corruption. I thought it did an excellent job of translating the novel’s core message into a visual format that feels natural and immersive. The artwork is striking and perfectly captures the bleak tone of the story, using sharp contrasts and moments of red to emphasize violence, propaganda, and loss of innocence. It felt faithful to the original while still standing strong on its own, making Orwell’s warnings about power and equality even more immediate.

I also liked that the story didn’t feel over modernized or watered down. It kept the pacing tight and the themes clear, and while some moments of nuance were lost compared to the full novel, it never felt shallow. The visuals add new emotional weight to scenes I remembered from reading the original, especially as the animals’ revolution slowly turns against them. Overall, it’s a beautifully crafted and powerful rendition that honors Orwell’s work while making it feel new again.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: "Solarflare and the Sapphire Ring"

Solarflare and the Sapphire Ring by Matt Hensell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mark and Chuck make for a likable and funny duo. Both are around seventeen, and while their friendship is entertaining, Mark’s impulsive dialogue and decisions sometimes border on irritating. The book blends high school life, superhero antics, and pirate/Atlantis lore in a way that feels light and fun. It never takes itself too seriously, making it an easy and enjoyable read. The twists and reveals are fairly predictable, but that does not take away from the overall entertainment.

The pacing can feel uneven, with a large portion of the story set in school that slows the momentum compared to the more adventurous sections. Some character motives remain unclear, and while the ending ties up the main story threads, one expected reveal between major characters never happens on the page. Despite these issues, Solarflare and the Sapphire Ring is consistently entertaining and delivers a fun superhero adventure that is worth the read. 

Rating:
★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)

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Review: "The Mirror's Truth"

The Mirror’s Truth by Michael R. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Manifested delusions from every angle clash and contort reality, as characters twist fate to match their fractured beliefs.

World & Lore:
Fletcher returns to his gritty, broken world with the same vivid grime and chaotic beauty that made Beyond Redemption so immersive. The depth of world-building here continues to shine. Everything feels lived-in, scarred, and dangerously teetering on the edge of belief and madness.

What keeps it fresh is how he layers new forms of delusion onto each new character. Every introduction brings a warped curiosity: What do they believe, and how will that belief reshape the world around them? This isn’t just a narrative mechanic, it’s the beating heart of the world, and it gets more disturbing and addictive with each page.

There’s also one chapter that stands out as the most grotesque, visceral thing I’ve ever read. No spoilers, but it was so creatively revolting that I had to reread it five times. Fletcher makes discomfort an art form and I couldn’t look away.

Characters & Arcs:
Stehlen, Wichtig, and Bedeckt return, but their paths diverge—and in that space, their delusions and egos have room to spiral. Their bond is frayed, tugged between lingering loyalty and unchecked selfishness. Do they owe each other anything anymore? Or have they outgrown even that?

New characters expand the mental battlefield, often exposing the original trio’s deeper flaws. These aren’t just side stories; they act as a lens into the distorted psyche of every major player.

Morgen, now a god, wrestles with what it means to lead. What does justice look like when belief defines truth? What kind of morality can a delusional god uphold?

Plot & Pacing:
The Mirror's Truth is steady, deliberate, and deeply psychological. The weight comes from internal fractures, from the way characters chase their delusions and deal with the wreckage they leave behind.

There are great fights, but most of the tension comes from watching characters spiral, lie to themselves, and double down when the truth threatens to surface. It’s about cause and effect, belief and consequence, and how no one ever really has all the information they need to make the right call.

If Beyond Redemption asked what belief could create, The Mirror’s Truth asks what it costs.

Themes & Tone:
Identity, madness, ambition: these aren’t just abstract ideas, they’re the fuel. Fletcher dives into the terrifying idea that belief is more than personal—it’s infectious, manipulable, and dangerous. The world doesn’t just bend to belief. It breaks.

This book explores:

• The seductive nature of delusion

• How power distorts perception

• The fine line between ambition and godhood

• How past loyalty competes with present selfishness

The tone is bleak, violent, and philosophical but laced with brutal humor that keeps it grounded. The characters are deeply flawed, sometimes hilarious, often despicable, and always interesting.

Fantasy Flavor:
Instead of traditional tropes, The Mirror’s Truth leans on:

• Godhood born from belief, not birthright

• Morally ambiguous choices with far-reaching consequences

• Characters that are selfish, scorned, and sometimes suicidal

• Gritty philosophical questions

If you like your fantasy dark, unhinged, and more concerned with why someone acts than what they do, this is for you.

Quotes That Hit Hard:
“The facts don’t matter. Facts are a hindrance. Unless they support whatever it is you’re saying, in which case they are the most important thing in the world and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot.”

"We live meaningless lives and then die. Why should the Afterdeath be any different?"

"This is a dirty world. Rules and cleanliness are temporary. Chaos and filth are forever. You will try and build perfection, and then you will watch it crumble at your feet."

Personal Takeaway:
The Mirror’s Truth delivered on every front. The layers of belief, raw character development, and deeply flawed perspectives kept me turning pages late into the night. Fletcher doesn’t just write characters—he builds unstable minds, gives them power, and lets you watch the world burn in their wake.

I’m fully locked into this series. The world of Manifest Delusions is an absolute descent into the best kind of madness.

Rating:
★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)

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Review: "The Tenant"

The Tenant by Freida McFadden
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Tenant was an underwhelming read that lacked character depth and offered minimal suspense for a book marketed as a thriller. The stakes felt weightless, and the twists—far from surprising—came off as rushed and unearned.

Pacing:
Hard to pin down. I finished this in a day not because it was gripping, but because the content was light and undemanding. Unfortunately, that also meant a lack of suspense to keep me hooked. Some chapters—like those dedicated to a fish funeral—felt like pure filler.

Suspense and Atmosphere:
Any tension that built up dissolved quickly with overly convenient explanations. Moments that could’ve simmered were instead wrapped up immediately, leaving little to hold onto.

Characters:
Krista came across as more annoying than compelling, and her role in the story felt too minimal to matter. Blake’s constant hand-wringing and helplessness wore thin fast. Whitney had potential, but like the rest of the cast, lacked the depth to feel truly developed.

Twists and Reveals:
The reveals felt like afterthoughts—stacked at the end and rushed through with little buildup. Without tension or meaningful setup, the payoff just wasn’t there. Nothing felt earned, and the conclusion wrapped up without the satisfying complexity a good thriller needs.

Underlying Issues:
Themes like self-worth, trust, and relationship strain are touched on but never explored with any real depth.

Psychological Focus:
The premise—being forced to take in a tenant due to financial hardship—sets up some psychological tension, but it’s played too safely. The unease of opening one’s home to a stranger had potential, but it barely scratched the surface.

Darkness and Disturbance:
This is a “safe” read—nothing too graphic, intense, or emotionally raw. Everything is kept at a surface level, which undercuts any sense of real dread or unease.

- Final Thoughts
The Tenant feels like a book written quickly, checking the right boxes without digging any deeper. It might work for someone looking for a breezy one-day read with minimal emotional or narrative investment, but if you’re looking for a thriller with tension, complexity, or weight, this likely won’t do it. Every conflict is presented with an immediate explanation, which makes for a passive reading experience.

Rating:
★★☆☆☆ (2/5 Stars)

I was excited to read this given its popularity, but it ended up falling flat and never really went deeper than the page itself.

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