30 Days of Horror #18: Redder Than Blood #HO17 #30daysofhorror

Join me for 30 Days of Horror in which we spotlight one horror book for each day until we reach Halloween!

Tonight’s horror book choice is by an author that I’ve been meaning to try for ages now. This book was only released in April, but when I first saw the cover I thought it was from the 90s or something. I like it! It’s a short story collection of horror-interpreted fairy-tales. Sounds awesome.

Available in digital formats only, 209 pages

Published April 4th 2017 by DAW

A vampiric Snow White whose pious stepmother is her only salvation….
A supernatural Cinderella who strikes at midnight, leaving behind a prince mad with desire….
A sleeping beauty never meant to be woken…

In her World Fantasy Award-nominated short story collection, Red as Blood, Tanith Lee deconstructed familiar fairy tales, recapturing their original darkness and horror in haunting new interpretations. Behind gilded words and poised princesses, she exposed a sinister world of violence, madness, and dangerous enchantments.

With Redder than Blood, Lee resumes the tradition of twisting tales. Among its nineteen tales, this volume explores unnerving variations of Beauty and the Beast, The Frog Prince, Snow White, and other classics, including three never-before-published stories.

A recognized master fantasist, Tanith Lee has won multiple awards for her craft, including the British Fantasy Award, the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, and the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Horror.

 

Goodreads // Not My Review

Have you read it? What did you think?

Up Next on Horror October:

Flash Fiction Battle: Entry #2

Top Ten Tuesday: Spooky Autumnal Book Covers

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish (click the link to visit them) who pick a different topic each week.

I’m adding a twist to this week’s topic and choosing my top ten spooky covers that scream Autumn/Fall. It is Horror October after all.

These are in no particular order because that’s more than my brain can handle right now…

The above covers scream Autumn to me. They aren’t horror books, but I chose these covers because they all have something ominous about them. The fox looks sinister with his fur of autumn leaves, the skull in the Riggs book is cheesy but makes me smile, and the other two simply intrigue me!

I don’t know why most of the covers I’ve chosen have trees on, but I guess that’s what means Autumn to me. These six covers are spooky reads that I would want to pick up just as Autumn hits, solely on the basis of the covers.

I love the retro Goosebumps covers, and the Girl in the Well is a book I’ve wanted to read since it came out on the strength of that simple but foreboding cover. I don’t actually like the Kendare Blake cover that much because it screams CGI, but I do love that the leaves are falling like blood. Or is that blood dropping like leaves?

Do these covers make you want to read them?

Or have you read any of them already?

#HorrorOctober: Life After the Undead by Pembroke Sinclair *Cover Reveal*

Wow, it’s been ages since I’ve done a cover reveal. I thought this new Zombie Apocalypse YA novel sounded perfected for this time of year! Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for letting me join in.

Life After The Undead

Author: Pembroke Sinclair
Published by: Booktrope Publishing
Publication date: October 27th 2015
Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult, Zombies

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Krista must quickly figure out how she’s going to survive in the zombie-destroyed world. The one advantage humans have is that the zombies hate humid environments, so they’re migrating west to escape its deteriorating effects. The survivors plan to construct a wall at North Platte to keep the undead out, and Krista has come to Nebraska to start a new life.

Zombies aren’t the only creatures she has to be cautious of—the other survivors have a dark side. Krista must fight not only to live but also to defend everything she holds dear—her country, her freedom, and ultimately, those she loves.

Join Krista in her quest to survive in this thrilling apocalyptic novel by Pembroke Sinclair.

[Drum roll please]…The Cover…

Meet the Author

Pembroke Sinclair is a literary jack of all trades, playing her hand at multiple genres. She has written an eclectic mix of fiction ranging from horror to sci-fi and even some westerns.

Born in Rock Springs, Wyoming–the home of 56 nationalities–it is no wonder Pembroke ended up so creatively diverse. Her fascination with the notions of good and evil, demons and angels, and how the lines blur have inspired her writing.

Pembroke lives in Laramie, Wyoming, with her husband, two spirited boys, a black lab named Ryder, and a rescue kitty named Alia, who happens to be the sweetest, most adorable kitty in the world! She cannot say no to dessert, orange soda, or cinnamon. She loves rats and tatts and rock and roll and wants to be an alien queen when she grows up.

Contact/Links

Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Blog

Friday Feature: It’s all about the Trees…

I’m a fan of trees. Is that a weird thing to say? But you know, some trees are just really cool, like these ones…

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t know if it’s just because it’s finally Spring, but I swear I’ve been seeing trees all over book covers lately, so I thought I’d investigate and choose my favourites.

New/Recent Releases

(Click image to enlarge)

• The Glittering World ~ Robert Levy: Published February 10th 2015 by Gallery Books
• Empty Bodies ~ Zach Bohannon: February 3rd 2015 by Createspace
• The Bargaining ~ Carly Anne West: February 17th 2015 by Simon Pulse
• Go Set a Watchman ~ Harper Lee: Expected publication: July 14th 2015 by Harper
• Descent ~ Tim Johnston: Published January 6th 2015 by Algonquin Books

Best of the Rest

• Wuthering Heights ~ Charlotte Bronté
• Stardust ~ Neil Gaiman
• The Stolen Child ~ Keith Donohue

• The Magicians ~ Lev Grossman
• The Book of Lost Things ~ John Connolly

• Born at Midnight ~ C.C Hunter
• Dark Eden ~ Chris Beckett

I love the way different types of trees are used to convey completely different things. In this selection alone there’s mystery, magic, beauty, and they’re all pretty ominous.

What’s your favourite tree cover?

Top Ten Tuesday: Cover Trends

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish (click the image to visit them) who pick a different topic each week.

This week the theme is: Cover Trends (likes or dislikes)

Ooh I like this topic because I probably give too much kudos to book covers; I definitely choose a lot of books based on their covers alone. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t.

There were just way too many trends to choose from so I’ve split my ten (series count as 1) into two topics and given my favourites and least favourites.

Models & Epic Dresses: I’m not a huge fan of having models on the covers of books. I don’t like going into a story with a picture of what the protagonist may look like, which is why I find it hard to read books after I’ve seen film or TV adaptations.

However, the trend of having models on book covers isn’t something you can avoid anymore, especially in YA Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. And it seems I’m kind of OK with it when there’s hot ladies in pretty dresses on the covers…make of that what you will.

The Good: The Selection Series; Alice in Zombieland; Entwined

The Bad: Vampire Academy; The Mortal Instruments (see the lack of a pretty dresses here just makes them terrible.

Graphics: I don’t really know what to call this category, but I basically mean covers without models, y’know arty/graphicy ones.

The Good: The Mystery Man Series; Scarlet Thomas; The Lunar Chronicles

The Bad: Ruby Redfort; Hunger Games; Rainbow Rowell’s novels.

I really enjoyed two of the Ruby Redfort books but I would never have picked them up if they only had this type of cover. It’s just boring and looks too childish, and that’s why I’ve never picked up any of the Rainbow Rowell books either. The covers just don’t do it for me. But I’ve been told to get over it because they’re great.

And then there’s the Hunger Games. The first edition I saw had this horrific cover and it in no way made me want to read it. In fact, it sat on my flatmate’s shelf for like a year until we decided to read it. And I wanted to cry because we’d left it that long!

Thank the unicorns they sorted that out!

Do you choose books by their covers?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Covers

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish (click the image to visit them) who pick a different topic each week.

This week the topic is Covers That You’d Frame as Pieces of Art.

So I wouldn’t necessarily want all of these hanging on my walls, but here are some my favourite book covers.

The red and gold, with black edges to the pages makes this look so badass!

This cover is bizarre, but excellent!

I didn’t love this book, but I love the cover!

Still haven’t gotten round to reading this, but so pretty!

The picture doesn’t do this book justice, it’s so pretty!

1. The End of Mr Y – Scarlett Thomas
2. Zombies Vs Unicorns – Holly Black et al
3. Graceling – Kristin Cashore
4. The Princess Bride – William Goldman
5. The Assassin’s Blade – Sarah J. Maas
6. Words Once Spoken – Carly Drake
7. The Book of Lost Things – John Connolly
8. Doon – Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon
9. Inkheart – Cornelia Funke
10. Dark Eden – Chris Beckett

And one more for good measure: I found this book in a charity shop a while back and was so taken with it I had to buy it. It’s so terrible, but in a really great way. It’s very pulp fiction. And I don’t mean the film. I just love it – the head is all shiny! I would totally hang this on my wall – I’m weird like that!

Ice Orchids (1984)

Friday Feature – Let’s Fangirl for a Second

I had a a proper post all planned out for today’s feature – with notes and everything – but then I saw that the cover reveal for Throne of Glass #3 came and went yesterday and it got me excited/distracted!

The ToG books, not to be confused with GoT which I kept calling it at first, is becoming one of my favourite series. I haven’t found them perfect reads by any means, but the protagonist Celaena Sardothien is so awesome I’d probably read about her painting her nails and still enjoy it! Not to mention how pretty they are…and you should all know by now that pretty book covers will eventually be my downfall.

So here are the two covers revealed on the Throne of Glass Fb page yesterday. They may be pretty similar but I still think we Brits get the better one! In your face America. Ahem.

And while I’m in fangirl mode, guess what’s coming out in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS….

….THE ONE (The Selection #3), OBVS!

FINALLY!!!

The Selection Stories [insert squeal here] by Kiera Cass.

Two novellas set in the world of Kiera Cass’s #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series are now available in print for the first time. The Prince and The Guard both offer captivating views into the hearts and minds of the two men fighting to win America Singer’s love. This collection also features exclusive bonus content, including a sneak peek at The One, the eagerly anticipated third novel in the Selection series.

Before America arrived at the palace to compete in the Selection, there was another girl in Prince Maxon’s life. The Prince opens the week before the Selection begins and follows Maxon through the first day of the competition.

Raised as a Six, Aspen Leger never dreamed that he would find himself living in the palace as a member of the royal guard. In The Guard, readers get an inside look at Aspen’s life within the palace walls–and the truth about a guard’s world that America will never know.

Just in case you’ve missed my previous fangirling installments, I’m a teeny bit obsessed with Kiera Cass’ The Selection Series, certainly more obsessed than any 30 year old should be (shudder)! But I’ve never been one to read novellas, especially when they’re only available online, so I was pretty stoked when this was released last month to add to my collection of pretty covers.

Oh Maxon. Swoon.

There’s not a great deal to The Prince and The Guard really, but they still quenched my Selection thirst and will tide me over until The One is released next month.

Both novellas let us see the selection process from different perspectives than the books. In The Prince, we see Maxon prepare for the arrival of the girls, his anxieties and fears. And we also get more of an insight into his relationship with the king.

I liked finding out what he thought of America and the other girls, and becoming king. He’s just so cute, and slightly damaged which obviously hot. TEAM MAXON all the way.

In The Guard, we get a better insight into the royal guard and Aspen’s plans to win America back, set at the time of the second book, The Elite. We also see more of the sinister underbelly of the court, and the rebel attacks.

Also, there was this weird part about the guards taking drugs to enhance their abilities, which never really developed into anything but was a welcome element of intrigue. Hopefully it’ll develop into more in The One.

I think it would be hard to recommend this to anyone who hasn’t read the books, but it could be a good taster. The series is definitely not for everyone, but I think it’s a masterpiece in YA trash. I can’t get enough.

Is it May 6th yet???

Disclosure?: Nope, I bought it!
Title: The Selection Stories
Author: Kiera Cass
Details: Paperback, 227 pages
Published: February 4th 2014 by HarperTeen
My Rating: 4/5

Monthly Round-Up

November 2013
November was a bit of slow one for me as far as reading/blogging was concerned. I found myself in one those funks where you’re just not in the mood to read anything. Thankfully that’s a distant memory and I’m really looking forward to some festive reads this December. I also did some blog maintenance and read my first blogging book. Here’s the summary.

Total Posts: 28

New WP Followers: 30

Books Read & Reviewed (5):

• The Wolves of Mid-winter – Anne Rice, 3/5 (Review)
• City of Ashes (TMI #2) – Cassandra Clare, 4/5 (Review)
• Orbital Kin – James E. Parsons, 3/5 (Review)
• City of Glass (TMI #3) – Cassandra Clare, 4/5 (Review)
• The Prince, The Fairy and The Fouly – Jim Fitzsimmonds, 4/5 (Review)

Read but not yet reviewed

• How to Make Money Blogging – Bob Lotich
• Game, Set and Murder – Elizabeth Flynn

Favourites Fridays:
Most Fridays I have been posting about my favourite books or authors. Although I didn’t do so well this month.

• #18 The Magician’s Nephew – C.S Lewis (View Post)
• #17 The Book of Lost Things – John Connolly (View Post)

Most Viewed Posts:

1. *Fangirl Alert* The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass (View Post)
2. WWW Wednesday 06/11/2013 (View Post)
3. TTT: Books I’d recommend to reluctant readers (View Post)

Books Purchased: 

I mainly bought festive reads to get me in the mood for Christmas, which I well and truly am already. As well as Starry Night, I bought The Night Before Christmas by Scarlett Bailey.

Books Swapped: 

Swap #1: Stormbreaker by Anthony Horrowicz for The Magic of Christmas by Trisha Ashley

Swap#2: The Black Dragon by Julian Sedgewick for A Christmas Visitor by Anne Perry

If you want to get involved in book swapping in the UK visit Readitswapit.co.uk. My username is Lipsyp1.

ARCs/Giveaways:
I received these Advanced Reader Copies via Netgalley.

*BOOK OF THE MONTH*

*COVER OF THE MONTH*

*MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH*

I hope you all had a good November. And now, onto CHRISTMASSSSSSSSS!

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Turn-offs

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish (Click the image to visit them). This week the theme is Top Ten book turn-offs.

It takes a lot for a book to annoy me enough to put it down but here are the things that sometimes make me want to throw in the towel! These are in no particular order…I hate them all equally!

1. Unnecessarily Long Chapters: I get distracted easily and when chapters run on and on I find my mind wandering. I like chapters to be short and snappy so I can dip in and out of a book and not be lost.
2. Too Much Description: You know when the author just has to describe EVERYTHING in minute detail making the book really hard-going and putting too many images in your mind? I prefer to visualise things my own way – otherwise I’d just put a film on!
3. Jumping Timelines: When done well this can be great (Kate Morton for eg) but I feel like sometimes it’s done to mask a dull plot, or just for the sake of it and it makes me angry.
4. Poor Editing/Proofreading: The odd mistake makes no difference to my enjoyment of a book but there have been a few occasions where the text is sooooooo laden with mistakes that it makes the book hard to read.
5.  Unlikable Characters/ Characters with no Redeemable Features: Sometimes having a horrible/evil character as a protagonist can work but on the most part unlikable characters are a big turn off. I particularly can’t stand narcissistic/ shallow characters and have to really push myself to keep reading to see if they change throughout the book – they usually do, but it’s never a good start for me!  Also related is when you just can’t relate to a main character on any level.
6. Tenuous Links: You know when there is a plot hole and the author tries to cover it up with a very tenuous link or a coincidence or something? I can’t think of an example right now but it happens quite a bit in YA Fantasy. Ugh.
7. Models on Covers: This is impossible to get away from, especially if you read a lot of YA and Paranormal Romance but ahh I don’t like it. I don’t mind when the covers aren’t centered on the models face but when they are it makes me angry because they never look like the characters described. And again, I like to visualise characters myself – this is why I also hate most film adaptations! BOOK RUINERS.
8. Overwiriting/Trying too Hard: I hate it when authors try to sound clever or unique by using stupidly long, or odd words instead of simple ones. Yes, it’s good to be different but a twig is a twig! Hemlock Grove springs to mind here. ‘Her heart was a flicked mold of gelatin’ – Whaaaaat? That one will haunt me forever.
9. Obsessive Romances/Stupid Teenage Girls: You all know the ones. Those so-called romances where the girls are unhealthily obsessed with a boy, or where the girls are all ‘but it can’t be because he likes me’ when it’s so obvious that he does. Rage! Just Stop!
10. All Tell and no Show AND Preaching: I wanted both of these on this list and I could probably choose another ten to be honest. The  former speaks for itself and the latter, well I hate when the author is trying to prove a point or take the moral high ground on an important topic that just comes across as preaching. No Thanks.

That was better than therapy, thanks, Hosts!