Book Reviews

By Emma Torzs
5/30/23
416 pages
$30
William Morrow

‘Ink Blood Sister Scribe’

What do you like with your fall leaves and pumpkin spice? How about some dark family secrets, a couple of mysterious libraries, and a heavy dose of whimsical literary magic? I couldn’t ask for a better autumn, myself.

Joanna and Esther are sisters estranged by a family legacy they only half-understand. Both are alone in different, but equally brutal, ways. Joanna stays locked in a lonely house in Vermont, caring for the small library her father entrusted to her until his cruel death. Esther stays far away, on the run from the last thing her father gave her — the job of protecting her family. Together, the loneliness of their secrets draws both sisters into treacherous circumstances that will see them reunited, but only if they can figure out the puzzle they’ve spent their lives trying to piece together. 

Full of delightful magic and rich characters who leap off the page, this book absolutely enchanted me. The perfectly melancholy atmosphere, gorgeous writing, and delicious twists had me staying up way too late to finish this fantastic book. I’ve fallen completely in love with these characters and can’t wait for the sequel. This is the perfect fall read. n — Review by Julie Goodrich

By Alex Grecian
11/7/23
464 pages
$28.99
Tor Nightfire

‘Red Rabbit’

Did you ever wish The Oregon Trail had more demons? If so, do I have the book for you. I didn’t know I needed a spooky western quest novel with a motley band of witch hunters, but, oh, I needed it in the worst way. This is a delightful, atmospheric thrill ride that made me think I should read more westerns — at least the weird ones with witches, monsters and creepy children. 

Ride along with Old Tom and his mute apprentice, Rabbit, as they hunt the possibly evil witch, Sadie Grace. As there is a large bounty on her head, they are joined by bounty hunters in the form of a pair of cowboys, Moses and Ned, who have their own reasons for a westward journey, and the widow Rose Nettles who has layers all her own. This unexpected caravan finds themselves a stolen red stagecoach and heap of trouble in the form of monsters — both obvious and insidious — in this twisted Wild West adventure.

Often hilarious, sometimes scary and always compulsively readable, “Red Rabbit” was unexpected and enchanting and bloody good fun. Read this during spooky season, or perhaps on your next road trip. It certainly beats dying of dysentery.  n 

— Review by Julie Goodrich