Author: Emily Martin

The Fright Stuff: Monster Monday

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date March 8, 2024

Sponsored by

Happy Monday, horror fans! It’s the best day of the week, because it’s the day we all get to geek out about horror. And because I am a word nerd and a horror nerd, I thought today we’d go with a little alliteration and call today, March 11, Monster Monday. Stay tuned to find out more.

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Bookish Goods

Cryptid Field Art Sketchbook by Ballyraven

For all my monster fiends tuning into The Fright Stuff today, happy Monster Monday. This Cryptid Field Art Sketchbook is the perfect introduction to the world of monsters, with colorful illustrations and QR codes to access even more information about all of your favorite cryptids. You can purchase a paperback version for $23, or a coil-bound copy for $27.

New Releases

Chicano Frankenstein by Daniel A. Olivas

We’re talking monsters this week, so I have to mention this new Frankenstein adaptation that just came out this month. Against the backdrop of a United States politicizing the reanimation process, an unnamed paralegal is brought back to life. All memories of his life pre-reanimation have been lost, and as he searches for answers on the life he left behind, he falls in love with a lawyer named Faustina Godínez and comes to terms with a world that would rather he didn’t exist.

The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste

Okay, not a monster novel (sorry), but this is a book I hyped late last year, so now I have to ring the alarm and alert everyone that it’s out. Meaning, you can go read it right now. Twenty years ago, Velkwood Street and everyone who lived there disappeared overnight. The only ones who survived were three best friends. They watched their homes and their loved ones disappear behind a near-impenetrable veil that’s now known as the Velkwood Vicinity. But what happened all those years ago? Now that a researcher is tracking down the survivors, will they finally be able to get answers?

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen

Want some more monster horror novels to celebrate Monster Monday? Here’s one of my favorites. When the finalists for the dating reality TV show The Catch go to Otters Island to film the last episodes of the season, they’re expecting to compete with one another for the lead’s attention (and, of course, the social media clout that comes with that). What they’re not expecting? Patricia, a woefully misunderstood creature who hides in the dark and is looking for a connection of her own.

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi

We can’t really talk monsters without mentioning Frankenstein at least twice, right? And this is a really great retelling worth checking out as well. Set in U.S.-occupied Baghdad, this is the story of Hadi, a scavenger who collects human body parts and stitches them together as a statement to the government about recognizing body parts as people and giving them a proper burial. But when his stitched-up body goes missing, troubling news begins circulating around the city. A horrifying criminal who seemingly cannot be killed is indiscriminately murdering people.

I hope you had a marvelous Monster Monday. Let’s do it again soon. Until then, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Read This Book

Read This Book…

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date March 7, 2024

Sponsored by

Welcome to Read This Book, your go-to newsletter if you’re looking to expand your TBR pile. Each week, I’ll recommend a book I think is an absolute must-read. Some will be new releases, some will be old favorites, and the books will vary in genre and subject matter every time. I hope you’re ready to get reading!

Novels are my first love, but I’ve been making room in my heart for more graphic novels lately. And so I thought it would be fun to share with you one of my favorite graphic novels I’ve read this year, and if you love cosmic horror, this is a really fun one.

Content warning: body horror and suicidal thoughts.

Black Paradox by Junji Ito

If you know anything about horror manga, then you’ve likely heard of Junji Ito before. Ito’s name is basically synonymous with the genre, and he’s developed quite the cult following. I’d consider graphic novels like Uzumaki and Tomie contemporary horror classics, they are already so beloved and revered. But Ito’s catalogue goes a lot deeper than his most popular titles.

I know I’m newer to graphic novels, but when I picked up Black Paradox at my local bookstore (shout out to Elliott Bay Book Company!), I had never heard of it before. Aside from just knowing and appreciating Ito’s work, I was also intrigued by this particular story and its artwork. Obviously, I was not disappointed. Black Paradox is a quick read with shocking imagery you won’t soon forget, and it deserves to be recognized alongside Ito’s most popular works.

Black Paradox tells the story of a group of four strangers who all meet each other on a website called Black Paradox, where people meet to help plan and facilitate each other’s deaths. All four have their reasons for seeking out death. Maruso is a nurse whose dark visions of the future leave her with uncontrollable anxiety. Taburo is pursued relentlessly by a doppelgänger. Baracchi is haunted by the birthmark on her face. And Pii-tan’s robot clone has him questioning his own existence. Maruso, Taburo, Baracchi, and Pii-tan agree to meet in person to carry out their suicides together. But right from the beginning, nothing goes according to plan. And nothing is what it seems.

Yes, the material in Black Paradox is dark, and no, the four main characters aren’t particularly likable. But if you can appreciate dark subject matter and morally gray characters, there’s so much to love about this story. With every turn of the page, there’s another mind-bending, reality-warping twist that just pulls you deeper into the web of Ito’s sick, twisted world. I won’t give any of those twists away because I didn’t know what I was getting into when I picked this one up, and I think it’ll be so much more fun for you if you do the same.

This is the shortest graphic novel I’ve read from Junji Ito, but Black Paradox packs a punch. It was such an unexpected journey and one I’d love to see more people share with me — mostly because, selfishly, I’d love to talk about this book with more people! If you’ve never read Junji Ito before, this is a wonderful way to dip a toe in. If you already know and love Junji Ito, this might still be one that isn’t on your radar yet. Either way, make sure you check it out! And report back. Warning: I will not hold myself responsible for any weird dreams/nightmares you may have after reading this.

Happy weekend reading, book fans! Feel free to follow me on Instagram @emandhercat, and check out my other newsletters, The Fright Stuff and Book Radar!

<3 Emily

Book Radar

Here Comes a New Novel Set in the RAYBEARER Universe and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date March 6, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi Book Friends!

Greetings, and happy Thursday! I haven’t really spoken much about this in the newsletter, but I thought I should let you know. I am writing you from the hospital today. My husband had a pretty big surgery last week, and it’s been a rough week in the hospital as he recovers. Just keep us in your thoughts, and hopefully he will be better soon. Hopefully, next time you hear from me, I’ll report back with better news. But books stop for no one, so let’s talk book things.

Book Deals and Reveals

Here’s the cover of Jordan Ifueko’s upcoming novel The Maid and the Crocodile, set in the same world as the Raybearer series. It’s out from Abrams Books this summer.

Southwest Review has revealed the cover of Mark Haber’s Lesser Ruins. The book will be published by Coffee House Press on October 8.

And here’s the cover of Beth Revis’s Full Speed to a Crash Landing. This sexy space heist novella is the first in a trilogy. It’s out on August 6 from DAW Books/Astra Publishing House.

Netflix has dropped a new trailer for Ripley, a series starring Andrew Scott and based on the novel The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. Ripley premieres on Netflix on April 4.

Haruki Murakami revealed his new yet-to-be-published short story “Kaho” at a Tokyo book event called “The Owl Reads in Spring.”

Speaking of Murakami, the author is publishing his first novel in six years, The City and Its Uncertain Walls, later this year. The publisher, Harvill Secker, says the novel “revisits a town his readers will remember, a place where a Dream Reader reviews dreams and where our shadows become untethered from ourselves.” It’s out in November.

In an interview with Bustle, Dakota Johnson says she’s “not surprised by how critics and viewers have panned her film Madame Web. Johnson says, “Decisions are being made by committees, and art does not do well when it’s made by committee. Films are made by a filmmaker and a team of artists around them. You cannot make art based on numbers and algorithms. My feeling has been for a long time that audiences are extremely smart, and executives have started to believe that they’re not.”

Here’s the official trailer for Butterfly in the Sky, the documentary about Reading Rainbow. The film premieres in select AMC theaters on March 17 and 20.

Worcester Public Library is clearing fines for damaged or lost materials if patrons show or draw a photo of a cat this month.

The winners of this year’s Audie Awards for best audiobooks have been announced!

Book Riot Recommends

Hi, welcome to everyone’s favorite segment of Book Radar called Book Riot Recommends. This is where I’ll talk to you about all the books I’m reading, the books I’m loving, and the books I can’t wait to read and love in the near future. I think you’re going to love them too!

Can’t Wait for This One

Make My Wish Come True by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick (Simon & Schuster, September 1)

Too early to talk about holiday rom-com books? NEVER! Especially sapphic holiday rom-coms. If you’ve been around for a while, then you know I love a TBR list full of holiday rom-coms for the winter months, and I’m already planning this year’s list now. Make My Wish Come True is described as “a sapphic Netflix-esque Christmas movie meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” Intrigued? Let’s chat about it.

Hollywood teen actor Arden James just can’t shake her party girl image, which is a problem because she’s missing out on a dream role. How can she convince the picky director to give her a chance? Simple. Tell a small lie based on a truth. She tells the director that she’s a simple small-town girl (which is true). And she tells the director her childhood best friend Caroline is actually her long-term girlfriend (this is a lie).

When Arden approaches her ex-best friend Caroline and asks her to play along with this lie, Caroline is skeptical at first. After all, she hasn’t given Arden much thought over the past several years. But Caroline has long dreamed of becoming a journalist. And Arden suggests that their twelve romantic days together over the Christmas holiday could lead to a big break with Cosmopolitan. How can Caroline say no?

Of course, we know how these fake dating stories go. Fake feelings might just turn into real feelings. And with the magic of Christmas helping to guide these two back together, a real-life snowy romance might just be in their future.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Grief is the space between two states of being: who you were and who you are.”

— Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

a photo of a white and orange cat in a window

This picture is a little shadowy, because it’s so sunny outside today. But my joy every day has been going home to feed my kitties and visit with them for a little bit before I head back to the hospital. I feel like the boys torment Cersei while I’m not there, because she’s been hiding in my sock drawer every time I come home. I’m glad she felt safe enough to come out of hiding while I was around.

Well, friends, I’m going to get back to caring for the patient! I’ll see you next week. Have a lovely weekend. Read some good books.

Emily

The Fright Stuff

Marching into More Horror

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date March 1, 2024

Sponsored by

Happy March, Horror Fans! Wild that we’re already into month three of 2024. This is such a weird time of year, where it really starts to settle in that the year isn’t so new, and if we were really planning on getting our lives together, now is the time to start. Are you feeling that right now? I know I am. And that’s scarier than any horror book I’ve ever read. Still, I have some pretty scary books to share with you this week, so let’s talk about them.

Bookish Goods

Uzumaki T-Shirt by Castoshigama

Horror manga fans, you’re going to love this colorful T-shirt based on the manga Uzumaki by Junji Ito. It’s soft and 100% cotton! And so gorgeously neon. $28+.

New Releases

The Invisible Hotel by Yeji Y. Ham

Every night, Yewon dreams of a hotel with infinite keys to infinite rooms. She can’t control her dreams of this place, a place that’s horrifying and intriguing all at once. As Yewon’s real life gets further and further out of her control, she finds herself retreating more and more into her dreams, to the strange hotel in her mind.

Murder Road by Simone St. James

Simone St. James has established herself as a must-read if you love twisty supernatural horror thrillers. And her latest is out tomorrow. In the summer of 1995, Eddie and April Carter are driving to their honeymoon hotel when they see something disturbing on the side of the road: a hitchhiker covered in blood and on the brink of death. Even though they rush her to the hospital, she dies, and the young couple become suspects in a murder. What’s more, this is only one of several murders that have occurred recently on that same road. As April and Eddie dig into the history of the town in the hopes of clearing their name, they discover that something supernatural might be going on in Coldlake Falls.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

Horror fans, the year is going by so fast; you might have missed these two books that are already out right now! This dark academia horror novel follows Sunny Behre. When a classmate is murdered at her private school, everyone looks to Sunny’s youngest brother, Dom, who was previously found guilty of second-degree murder. Dom swears he is innocent, and while Sunny isn’t sure she believes him, she promised her mother she would take care of her little brother. Together, Sunny and Dom race to prove his innocence, a mission that becomes all the more urgent as more and more dead bodies are discovered.

Cymbals Eat Guitars by Josh Hanson

I’m so obsessed with the cover of this one. Cymbals Eat Guitars is about three friends who are doing one last Farewell Tour with their punk band. But when they make a stop in a small mountain town, they are forced to face off against a population that has been turned into zombies.

Friends, I hope your March is amazing. I’ll see you next week! Until then, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Book Radar

Sally Rooney to Publish a New Novel this September and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date March 1, 2024

Sponsored by

Dear Book Friends,

It’s Monday again, which means it’s time for another round of Book Radar! It’s a new week and a new month filled with lots of new books and exciting book news, so let’s get into it.

Book Deals and Reveals

Paste shared the cover of Andrew Joseph White’s Compound Fracture. The cover artist is Evangeline Gallagher, and Lily Steele is the lead designer. It’s out from Peachtree Teen on September 3.

Speaking of big books coming out this September, Sally Rooney will be publishing her fourth book this September. Intermezzo will be published on September 24.

R.F. Kuang’s Babel has been optioned for an on-screen adaptation by Wiip, the same group responsible for The Mare of Easttown. No scriptwriter is attached to the project yet.

Speaking of film adaptations, here are eight sci-fi and fantasy books that are soon to become movies!

One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz has announced her new memoir, Dinner for Vampires. The book, which details the actor’s experiences in a Hollywood cult, will be out on October 22.

Atria has launched a new bilingual imprint, Primero Sueño Press, dedicated to publishing Latinx/Latine/Hispanic authors in both English and Spanish.

Are you reading for the 2024 Audies? You can livestream the 2024 Audies Gala on Monday, March 4, 2024. The show will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The Reading Rainbow documentary Butterfly in the Sky will be released in select AMC theaters and digitally through Fifth Season.

Book Riot Recommends

Prepare Your Shelves!

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne (Tor Nightfire, March 26)

Horror covers this year have really been giving me the creeps. Just look at the cover for Jennifer Thorne’s upcoming gothic horror novel Diavola. It’s giving mystery. It’s giving uncanny. It’s giving me literal shivers down my spine. But the contents of this book are actually even more exciting. So prepare your shelves, because this is going to be one of the most unique horror novels you experience this year.

This book is a bitingly funny, deeply unsettling family drama, vacation thriller, and straight-up, bone-chilling horror. The Pace family is heading off on a vacation in a remote villa in Monteperso. So much family togetherness is almost too much for Anna Pace to bear. She’s always felt like an outsider in her family. And now, to make matters worse, she keeps hearing strange noises at night, and the villagers approach the family with unsettling warnings about the villa’s violent past.

What I’m Reading This Week

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

Codename: Sailor V by Naoko Takeuchi

Dead Girls Walking by Sami Ellis

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones

Monday Memes

I am totally obsessed with all of the Willy Wonka memes following the disastrous “experience” in Glasgow. This one is especially for the people who work in publishing. Shout out to y’all!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Look at these two bad cats! They are definitely up to something. Just look at how big their eyes are. Why do cats look so cute when they’re getting into so much trouble?

And…that’s all I have for you today, friends! Have a wonderful week. Let’s check back in on Thursday. Happy reading!

Emily

Book Radar

Oprah Winfrey Chooses Next Book Club Pick and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date February 28, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, Book Friends!

You’re getting one bonus Book Radar for the month of February, because it’s a leap year! How lucky are we? So let’s leap right into this book talk. Sorry, that was so corny, but I had to do it.

Book Deals and Reveals

a graphic of the cover of The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing by Lara Love Hardin

Oprah Winfrey has chosen her next book club pick! And it’s The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin.

Electric Literature has shared the cover of Unsex Me Here, a collection of short stories by Aurora Mattia. It’s out from Coffee House Press on September 24.

The Nerd Daily’s got the cover reveal for Sir Callie and the Witch’s War by Esme Symes-Smith. This is the third book in the Sir Callie middle grade fantasy series, and it’s out this October.

Entertainment Weekly has shared the cover and an exclusive excerpt from Chloe Gong’s upcoming novel Vilest Things. This is a sequel to last year’s Immortal Longings, and it’s out on September 10.

BookTuber Cindy Pham has written a book and signed on with book agent Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. Pham wrote on Instagram, “I’m resisting the urge to share too many details about my book until the time is right, but here is a baby step. As you may know, publishing is a very slow process, but I hope to share more announcements in the future.”

John Waters is filming an adaptation of his novel Liarmouth. Aubrey Plaza is set to star in the movie, Waters’s first film in 20 years.

Lionsgate is looking to make a new adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dead Zone, with Roy Lee attached to produce.

Max Greenfield is publishing a children’s book inspired by his late friend Leslie Jordan. The book is called Good Night Thoughts, and it’s illustrated by James Serafino. It will be published this fall by Putnam Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.

Actor Jay Ellis has announced a new memoir, Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (Or Just Me)? “I never thought I would write a book. It wasn’t something that I aspired to,” Ellis told PEOPLE. “But one day during the pandemic, I sat in front of my computer and started writing stories from my childhood.” The book is out on July 9.

Book Riot Recommends

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Can’t Wait for This One

Memorials by Richard Chizmar (Gallery Books, October 22)

We all know October is for horror, and here’s one coming out this October that I can’t wait to read. It’s a new one from Richard Chizmar, author of Chasing the Boogeyman and Becoming the Boogeyman. So you know you can expect something inventive and bone-chilling from this author.

In 1983, three students ventured into the backwoods of Appalachia to film a documentary project for their American Studies class. But what starts as a fun road trip between friends turns dark when they start to notice that the memorials they are filming include strange symbols. Symbols that suggest something sinister is going on.

Things escalate for the group when they realize they are being followed, and one night, their vehicle is tampered with. When they try to reach out to local authorities, no one seems to care or take them seriously. The group begins to wonder if all the roadside accidents along this stretch of empty road are really accidents. Or is something truly terrible happening out here?

Words of Literary Wisdom

“We’re not normal people. We are monsters. But if we’re monsters, we’ll thrive in the dark. Together.”

— Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

a photo of an orange cat under a blanket

If you’ve been here for a while, then you probably already know that Murray is a baby. But here’s some more evidence: Murray all tucked up like a baby in his little Sailor Moon blankie. Sweet dreams, Murray.

That’s all for today, friends. Have a wonderful Thursday and a great weekend. See you Monday!

Emily

The Fright Stuff

February Is Going Fast, So Let’s Read Vampire Stories

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date February 23, 2024

Sponsored by

Hello, scary story-loving friends! It’s Monday, the scariest day of the week. Yes, because we have to get back to work, but mostly because we get to talk about horror books. Let’s see what we have going on this Monday, the last one of February. RIP, February.

Bookish Goods

Personalized Skeleton Cat Journal by ForestNine

These personalized journals have an embossed image of two of my favorite things: a skeleton and a cat. This is available lined or unlined, and in four different colors. $29.

New Releases

Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa

This gothic horror novel is described as Carrie meets The Exorcist. Amara is the daughter of the village Capuwa, or demon priest. Normally, her father is who everyone turns to when anything supernatural happens in the village. But now, something is attacking people in the jungle, and everyone thinks Amara’s father is behind the attacks. As Amara works to clear her father’s name, she also uncovers unsettling truths about her own past.

An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson

S.T. Gibson, the author of A Dowry of Blood, is back with a reimagining of the classic sapphic vampire story Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu. From the very first day Laura Sheridan enters Saint Perpetua’s College, she finds herself in an intense and surprisingly passionate rivalry with fellow student Carmilla. But rivalry turns into obsession as the two become more deeply entrenched in each other’s lives and that of their strange and darkly mysterious poetry professor, De Lafontaine.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler

And while we’re on the topic of vampires, here are two vampire-y novels by Black authors. In this sci-fi take on a vampire story, “Ina” are vampire-like creatures who are biologically created rather than supernaturally made. They also co-exist with humans in a symbiotic relationship. The Inas’ existence is explained through science rather than the supernatural here, and through this conceit, Butler explores racism and the fear of racial contamination.

My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due

This book is the first in Tananarive Due’s African Immortals series. David seems like everything Jessica could want in a husband. He’s smart, attentive, and extremely attractive. But when people close to Jessica begin to die mysterious, violent deaths, David has a shocking confession: he is more than 400 years old. Many years ago, he traded his humanity for immortality.

February is going by so fast, friends! The next time I talk to you, it’ll be March. Wild! In the meantime, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Book Radar

Read an Excerpt from Rebecca Serle’s New Novel and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date February 23, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, Book Radar Readers!

Friends, it’s Monday, and honestly, last week was a long week, so I hope this week goes better. For everyone! Even if you had a good week last week, I hope your week is better this week. With lots of books, of course. Let’s talk books.

Book Deals and Reveals

cover of When Mimi Went Missing by Suja Sukumar

Here’s a cover reveal and an exclusive excerpt from the upcoming YA novel When Mimi Went Missing by Suja Sukumar. This debut novel is out from Soho Teen this November.

Excited to read the latest from Rebecca Serle, author of One Italian Summer? Here’s an excerpt from Expiration Dates, which hits shelves on March 19.

Matt Haig has sold the rights to his new novel The Life Impossible to Viking. The publisher says the novel is “a story of hope and the life-changing power of a new beginning.” It will be out this September.

Sarah Pinborough has sold North American rights to her gothic thriller We Live Here Now to Flatiron Books. The book will be published in summer 2025.

Natasha Lyonne and Simon Baker have joined the cast of Klara and the Sun, an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, directed by Taika Waititi.

Libby has announced their new book awards, along with the finalists. Winners will be announced on March 12th at 7 p.m. EST.

Speaking of awards, here are the finalists for the 2024 Bram Stoker Awards, presented by the Horror Writers Association.

Anything But You, the recent adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, has grossed $189 million globally, making it the second highest-grossing live-action Shakespeare adaptation ever. This movie comes in under Baz Luhrman’s Romeo + Juliet, which grossed $300 million when accounting for inflation.

Book Riot Recommends

Prepare Your Shelves!

James by Percival Everett (Knopf, March 19)

Okay, it’s almost March, so that means it’s time to start looking forward to March releases. And I’m so excited about this one. Just to make sure we’re all on the same page, have you seen the Academy Award-nominated movie American Fiction? Well, it’s based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett. And yes, it’s a favorite of mine. So, if you didn’t know it and/or you haven’t read it, I’m going to let you pause and take a second to add it to your TBR. Then come back here when you’re done.

Okay, you did it? Great. Welcome back. Percival Everett has a lot of bangers (23 so far, to be exact), and I always look forward to new releases from this author, but this one sounds especially good.

Everett’s 24th novel is a perceptive and often hilarious retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. Just as in Mark Twain’s classic novel, this novel follows Jim and Huck Finn’s journey by raft down the Mississippi River. But this version sheds new light on Jim’s character and his fight for agency.

What I’m Reading This Week

Thorn Hedge by T. Kingfisher

The Book of X by Sarah Rose Etter

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Codename: Sailor V by Naoko Takeuchi

Family Family by Laurie Frankel

Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby

Monday Memes

Jane Austen fans, do y’all relate to this? Because I definitely remember this feeling.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Hey, you know what the best thing about having a cat is? Besides everything?

Cats are so good at knowing when you’re having a bad day and cuddling up and purring on you and making you feel better. Murray is always a velcro cat, but he was especially good at taking care of me this week. I really don’t know how people do life without animals. Y’all are stronger than I am.

Okay then! We’re coming into this week with positive energy, and I’m looking forward to every day of it. I hope you are, too. See you on Thursday, friends.

Emily

Book Radar

Richard Osman Publishing New Crime Series and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date February 21, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, Book Friends!

Welcome to another Thursday Book Radar! I’m coming to you from my kitchen with a cup of coffee and a tuxedo cat in my lap. What a great way to start the day, with a coffee, and a cat, and talking to you. Let’s do this.

Book Deals and Reveals

Here’s the cover of Beautiful Dreamers, the forthcoming novel by Minrose Gwin. It’s out from Hub City Press on August 27.

Richard Osman, author of the Thursday Murder Club novels, is releasing a new crime series called We Solve Murders, which will introduce father-in-law and daughter-in-law detective duo Steve and Amy Wheeler. It’s out this fall.

We have a lot of YA cover reveals this week, thanks to Epic Reads. Here’s the cover of Till the Last Beat of My Heart by Louangie Bou-Montes. It’s out on September 10.

Black Mirror meets Superstore in the YA novel Aisle Nine by Ian X. Cho. Check out the cover here. This one’s coming at you on September 24.

More September YA releases! Here’s the cover of Kendare Blake’s Warrior of Legend, out on September 17.

Let’s keep the YA cover reveal ball rolling! On October 29, we’re getting Loni Crittenden’s The Ancient’s Game, inspired by African Diasporic folklore. Here’s the cover, designed by Catherine Lee, with art from Jeryce Dianingana.

We’re getting a sequel to Lena Jeong’s And Break the Pretty Kings this year. Here’s the cover, designed by Chris Kwon and illustrated by Priscilla Kim. It’s out on October 29.

The Oscar-nominated animated film Nimona is now available to watch for free on YouTube!

LeVar Burton is set to release not one but two new books! Burton’s publisher, Pantheon, says the actor, director, and podcast host will release an inspirational memoir on how to be your authentic self in 2026 and a book on the importance of reading in 2028.

Book Riot Recommends

Can’t Wait for This One!

The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim (Erewhon Books, June 25)

I know I briefly mentioned this book at the end of last year, because it is definitely one of my most anticipated books of 2024. And it’s a debut novel, which means we’re getting an exciting new voice in horror fiction this year. It’s also being described as Crying in H-Mart meets My Sister, the Serial Killer. Those are some pretty amazing comps, so I am all in.

I also want to take a moment to shout out this cover, because it’s really making me feel a lot of things. Intrigued. Disgusted. Concerned. Disturbed. You get the idea.

But what is it about? Well, it’s a psychological horror story with lots of family drama. When her father leaves unexpectedly, Ji-Won is forced to keep the rest of her family together and care for her grieving mother. Then Ji-Won’s mother tells her eating fish eyes could bring them good luck, so Ji-Won tries it. Now, all she can think about is eating eyes. And not fish eyes this time. Human ones.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“The problem with compromise is that, often, everybody loses. You sit on the fence for so long that you discover you’ve built a kingdom on it.”

— Gwen and Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

What’s Up in the Book Community?

My iPhone is constantly telling me I spend too much time staring at my screen, which is honestly so rude. But this means I spend a lot of time scrolling around the online book community: BookTube, Bookstagram, BookTok, BookLinkedIn (JK. That’s not a thing…I don’t think). You get the idea. Don’t have the time, energy, or the will to do all of that yourself? No problem. I got you. In this weekly section of Book Radar, we’ll take a look at something cool, interesting, and/or newsy that’s going on in the book community.

Okay, I just can’t get enough of this Cait Corrain story. I’m a little obsessed. And since we last talked about this, an article was published that sort of apologizes for Corrain’s behavior. I’m not going to post the link to the article because I don’t think we should support that narrative. But I will link to some YouTubers talking about it, because that’s more my speed:

Enjoy? That feels like a weird thing to say. But enjoy.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

a photo of a calico cat curled up on a couch beside the remote

Have you been watching this season of Love is Blind? Because Cersei and I have been watching! Here’s a pic of her last night on the couch with us watching the show. You can tell she’s very invested. Can you guess who her favorite couple is? Maybe I’ll do a big reveal next week.

And that’s all friends! Have a beautiful weekend. I’ll see you soon.

Emily

The Fright Stuff

Ghost Stories and Other Scary Stuff

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date February 16, 2024

Sponsored by

Horror fans, hello! I’m back with more horror talk for you on this fabulous Monday. I’m hanging here with my orange cat Murray, which is perfect because, fun fact: all cats believe in ghosts. And we’re talking about ghost stories this week. Let’s go.

Bookish Goods

The Green Ribbon Magnetic Bookmark by artMARRRT

If you’re a real horror fan, then you know the story of the green ribbon. And you probably still have nightmares about it. Now you can continue to have those nightmares, no matter what book you’re reading, because you can use this magnetic bookmark. Only $6!

New Releases

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

Here’s a new ghosty book to get us started: the supernatural historical horror novel The Warm Hands of Ghosts. During the First World War, Laura Iven is a combat nurse who is discharged only to find out shortly after that her brother Freddie died in combat. Only, Laura is sure it isn’t true. Searching for the truth, Laura returns to Belgium in search of her brother. Everywhere, people whisper about ghosts in the trenches. Laura wonders if her brother really is still alive or if something else has happened to him.

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

Also out now is the highly anticipated sequel to What Moves the Dead. Retired soldier Alex Easton has escaped the Usher manor and heads to their family’s hunting lodge in the country of Gallacia. But when they arrive, nothing is as it should be. The caretaker has died, and there is talk in the village of a horrible monster who has taken residence there.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Let’s talk ghost stories. Specifically, ghost stories by Black authors in honor of Black History Month. And while this might seem like an obvious pick, we can’t talk about ghost stories without talking about Beloved, one of my favorite novels of all time. Set after the Civil War, this unforgettable novel is the story of a formerly enslaved woman named Sethe who is haunted by the ghosts of her past (both literal and metaphorical).

The Good House by Tananarive Due

Here’s another chilling ghost story about a woman facing the traumas of her past. Angela Toussant has lost her son to suicide, and she has decided to return to the same home where her son died. When it comes to death by suicide, there really are no satisfying answers to make the grief any easier. And yet Angela is hoping to find closure. Instead, she finds a sinister presence that drives people to acts of violence.

Enjoy your ghost stories, and I’ll see you next week to talk more horror books. In the meantime, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!