Such a creepy story and so unsettling, but this is why I read horror, to know the darkest part of the mind, to map my own interior. Jones writes with purpose and audacity and the images beckon to be explored. Just be careful where you go I suppose: You might get bitten or find some dark water.
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Michael Gouker reviewed Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones
Michael Gouker reviewed Stars and Bones by Gareth L. Powell (Continuance #1)
Review of 'Stars and Bones' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Absolutely blown away by this beautiful story about broken angels and motherhood set against a multiverse that feels familiar and coherent yet transcends the trammels of humanity like a Greek myth. I especially loved the clever critique of capitalism! LOL.
Review of 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I waited to have time to appreciate this one after starting it once before. I am so impressed with Lynch's craft. This book is fun, but it's also artistic, filled with brilliant witty dialogue and descriptions that are storytelling themselves, like how goats are gentled, which turns out to be REALLY important. Simply put, I loved it.
Michael Gouker rated L'Espirit de L'Escalier: 4 stars
L'Espirit de L'Escalier by Catherynne M. Valente (duplicate)
L'Espirit de L'Escalier by Catherynne M. Valente is a provocative retelling of the Greek myth, in which Orpheus, the musician …
Michael Gouker reviewed A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark (Dead Djinn Universe, #1)
Review of 'A Master of Djinn' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Oh, I loved this one. The atmosphere created by the author is perfect. I love the characters, the Djinn, the world building, and the just under the surface sexual tension. Great story!
Michael Gouker rated Mr. Death: 4 stars
Michael Gouker reviewed Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine (Teixcalaan book 2)
Review of 'Galaxy, and the Ground Within' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Arguably nothing happens in this story and maybe that is part of its magic. It's time well spent with a group of people who become friends, some familiar, some not. It largely doesn't matter to the people stuck on Gora that more consequential events are happening in the background. They each have personal issues vital to them, if for no one else. How they overcome these challenges reveals so much about how these people interact with each other, how they celebrate their common being and their wild differences. It's just incredible. Absolutely enthralling.
Michael Gouker rated She Who Became the Sun: 4 stars
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
An absorbing historical fantasy, She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan reimagines the rise to power of the Ming …
Michael Gouker reviewed Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Review of 'Project Hail Mary' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I saw a theme in Weir's books about the heroic nature of his MCs, how they are always right and worthy, and I like how the author has disabused me of my presumptioon. A strong novel where the science is fundamental to the story. We can only hope that when it's time to understand the nature of alien life we have enlightened people like this in charge, even with their lovable shortcomings.
Review of 'Across the Green Grass Fields' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Wayward Children is an excellent series. McGuire has incredible talent especially how she writes young people. I also liked how the author portrayed intersex, and the difficult conversations. The prose is so good too. No, this isn't my favorite of the series (that's #4) but this is a solid entry and sets up the next part of the series.
Michael Gouker reviewed Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire (Wayward Children, #5)
Review of 'Come Tumbling Down' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
I enjoyed the story and world building. The characters are from the other stories, which I liked, but this felt a bit rambling. At the same time, some of this might be on me, since I'm mainlining these short books and there is some blurring.
Michael Gouker reviewed Black Nerd Problems by William Evans
Michael Gouker rated Beneath the Sugar Sky: 4 stars
Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire, Seanan McGuire (Wayward Children, #3)
Beneath the Sugar Sky, the third book in McGuire's Wayward Children series, returns to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children …