Morren Aconite

This post also includes several books I’ve finished in August, since I skipped last month’s post.

Too Old For This, Samantha Downing

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A thriller about a retired serial killer who has to go back to her old ways when a young woman threatens to disturb her peace. This one was entertaining and got me out of a bit of a slump.

The Choice, Edith Eger

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An insightful and thought-provoking memoir by a therapist who went through all circles of hell as a child. Not my usual read, but I’m grateful I received this book from my subscriber, because it was just what I needed at that moment.

Hungerstone, Kat Dunn

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘There was nothing to tell, I thought. But perhaps the truth was there had been no one to listen.’

One of the most relatable books I’ve read in years. In this gothic novel, the MC explores wanting and depression, darkness and lust, all against a backdrop of an ancient manor and wilderness.

Blood on her Tongue, Johanna Van Veen

⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Once one had been deemed mad, anything and everything could be interpreted as a symptom, especially if one was a woman, A desire for sex, sullenness, cursing…’

Another gothic that gave me the exact amount of creepy vibes I craved in September.

All the Other Mothers Hate Me, Sarah Harman

⭐️⭐️⭐️

A fast-paced thriller with an irreverent MC who’s faced with the possibility that her 10-year-old son might have killed a classmate. For the sake of protecting him, she sets out to find the truth, which ends in a string of some rather misguided choices. I found the ending to be a tad underwhelming, hence the three stars instead of four.

The Dead Husband Cookbook, Danielle Valentine

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This thriller started as wildly intriguing and ended up being completely disappointing.

Gothictown, Emily Carpenter

⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Amazing how self-aware I could be about all my shit and still refuse to deal with it.’

Yet another novel boasting strong gothic vibes, though the story failed to keep me invested past the midpoint.

The Dream Hotel, Laila Lalami

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The concept explored in this story was interesting, but it dragged along so slowly that I found myself completely checking out.

Julie Chan Is Dead, Liann Zhang

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This thriller was like a piece of plain cheesecake – delicious at first, non-original, and hard to finish, because at some point it becomes too sickeningly sweet (a.k.a. generic AF).

The Unworthy, Agustina Bazterrica

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can’t even begin to explain what this was supposed to be about. I’ll just say I expected the story to be much more impressive than it turned out to be. Bazterrica’s writing is still amazing, though.

We All Rot Eventually, Mia Ballard

⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘It feels like everything is on fire, and I’m the only one who doesn’t want to put it out.’

A horror novella about an insatiable desire to be seen and the power of ambition to drive anyone insane.

They Never Learn, Layne Fargo

⭐️⭐️⭐️

An ok thriller if you like books about women who do the world a service by killing terrible men.

Sojourn, R.A. Salvatore

(The Legend of Drizzt #3)

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I keep re-reading Salvatore, and it’s an odd experience, considering it’s been over a decade since the first time I read these books. This one was fun, though Drizzt and his dramatic whining are about the worst parts of the series.