Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne: A lush, terrifying descent into the Void

Tatiana Schlote-Bonne’s What Feeds Below is an immersive fantasy horror novel filled with lush worldbuilding, gruesome monsters, claustrophobic environments, and enough heart-pounding action to make you feel as though you’re trapped alongside its characters in the depths of the earth.

At the edge of the City of the Void lies a massive chasm that stretches miles underground. Known simply as the Void, its layers are filled with monsters, carnivorous plants, and dangers that become increasingly difficult to understand—and survive—as travelers descend. For Petra and Jade, two orphaned best friends living in the city’s slums, the Void is also a way out. They make money by guiding tourists who are willing to risk their lives in search of whatever treasures might be waiting below.

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Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

The Sisters of Crimson House by Melissa Anderson Sweazy: A Southern Gothic about family secrets and inherited expectations

Melissa Anderson Sweazy’s The Sisters of Crimson House is a Southern Gothic horror novel about a family of psychics, a haunted Memphis mansion, and the secrets that can shape a person’s entire understanding of who they are. I have to admit that I approached this book with some skepticism. Lately, just about every book I’ve read that has been compared to Practical Magic has turned out to be a dud for me, so when I opened the description of The Sisters of Crimson House and saw that comparison, I groaned. Out loud. But I had already received the ARC, so I figured I might as well give it a chance.

Fortunately, The Sisters of Crimson House turned out to be better than the recent Practical Magic comps that have disappointed me. It isn’t a book I would put in the same category as one of my favorites, but there was enough going on to keep me reading, and that’s something. At least I didn’t DNF this one.

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Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce is a haunting #spooktober thriller that cuts deep

Daisy Pearce’s Something in the Walls is the kind of book that makes you glance over your shoulder while reading. Equal parts folklore horror and psychological suspense, it delivers a chilling blend of witchcraft, mob mentality, and small-town secrets that feel both timeless and terrifying. If you’re looking for a gripping #Spooktober read, this one absolutely delivers.

Get your copy of Something in the Walls from my independent online bookstore today!

The story follows Mina, a young psychologist still finding her footing, who takes on the case of Alice Webber, a troubled thirteen-year-old girl in the remote village of Banathel. Alice insists she’s haunted by a witch, and her symptoms grow more alarming as the days pass. Mina, desperate to prove herself and help the girl, joins forces with journalist Sam Hunter. But Banathel is a place steeped in superstition, and the villagers have their own brutal methods of “dealing with” witches. The deeper Mina digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes—especially as echoes of her own past begin to surface.

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Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Spooktober Book Review: So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

Rachel Harrison’s vampire novel So Thirsty is by far my most favorite horror(ish) read this #Spooktober! It is a thrilling exploration of female empowerment, friendship, and the darker sides of human nature, wrapped in a vampire tale that is both bloody and thought-provoking. The story centers around Sloane Parker, a woman dissatisfied with her life, including her failing marriage and stagnant sense of self. When a birthday getaway with her impulsive best friend Naomi takes a wild turn, the two women are transformed—literally and metaphorically—into vampires. This transformation forces them to confront their dissatisfaction with life, their friendship, and their buried desires.

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison is so far my favorite #Spooktober read of 2024!
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Conventions & Conferences, Events

Meet the author at Nightmare on 2nd Street in Chillicothe, IL!

Join me this Saturday, October 26th for Nightmare on Second Street at Chillicothe City Park (Chillicothe, IL) in support of brain tumor awareness. I’ll be selling and signing my books along with lots of other bookish and spooky gifts at my vendor booth.

The 2024 Nightmare on Second Street takes place this Saturday, October 26, at Chillicothe City Park.
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Conventions & Conferences

Meet author Mandy Webster at an upcoming author event!

Would you like to meet me in person and get a signed copy of one of my books? Check out my events calendar for the next few weeks to find out how!

@amandalwebster

Meet me at an upcoming author event! October 18 & 19: #LouisvilleBookFestival October 26: Nightmare on 2nd Street, Chillicothe, IL November 1 & 2: Midwest Holiday Market, Effingham, IL Village Square Mall #authorevent #holidaymarket #zombiewalk #zombie #villagesquaremall #centralillinois #octoberreading #webringbookstolife #louisvilleky #authorlife #booktok

♬ Paint It Black – Wednesday Addams
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Book Reviews

4 New books I’m *dying* to read this #Spooktober

I love thriller/suspense novels, but come October, I’m always looking for something a bit more– dark. I guess that’s why they call it “Spooktober!”

This Spooktober season, I’m really looking forward to reading the following books:

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