Category: Book Review

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

by The Lit Bitch3 Comments on Review: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Right now, The Haunting of Hill House is everywhere thanks to the Netflix mini series. My sister and I do a buddy read for October/Halloween every year and each of us pick a book to read for the month and then we read it together. My pick was Frankenstein and The Haunting of Hill House was her pick.

I wasn’t terribly excited about this book, but I’ve been looking for something similar to Crimson Peak (the movie) and this one sounded like it would be in the same vein—-though a more modern setting.

I also picked up the Penguin Horror edition with an intro by Guillermo del Toro and I was incredibly impressed with his artistic insight into the Gothic and horror genre. I normally skip over the intros by people when reading classics etc, but Guillermo del Toro is one of my favorite directors and I was eager to see what he thought. Plus I LOVE Gothic horror—–more emphasis on Gothic than the horror—-and I was excited to see what his observations were for this book.

The classic supernatural thriller by an author who helped define the genre. First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. Continue reading “Review: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Witch Elm by Tana French

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Witch Elm by Tana French

Tana French has been an author that has been on my radar for years. In The Woods has been on my bookshelf for years but I just don’t think about it when I am looking for something to read.

Though that might change now that I have actually experiences French’s writing. Her Dublin Murder Squad series has a huge cult following and people either love it or hate it, so that alone intrigues me, but yet about I find that I just don’t think to pick up her books.

The Witch Elm is her first standalone book so I was eager to test out her writing and story telling without feeling like I needed to commit to a series.

Toby is a happy-go-lucky charmer who’s dodged a scrape at work and is celebrating with friends when the night takes a turn that will change his life – he surprises two burglars who beat him and leave him for dead. Continue reading “Review: The Witch Elm by Tana French” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: True Places by Sonja Yoerg

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: True Places by Sonja Yoerg

I have been long impressed with Yoerg’s novels and when she has a new one come up, I am always happy to review it! One of the things that I love about Yoerg’s books is that they are standalone novels and the character arcs are wrapped up in the book rather than stretching it out to multiple novels.

She writes strong and impactful stories that leave readers satisfied with a resolved story that will stand out in the readers minds. This latest book is no different—a strong and memorable plot the left me wanting more yet left me feeling satisfied by the resolution.

A girl emerges from the woods, starved, ill, and alone…and collapses.

Suzanne Blakemore hurtles along the Blue Ridge Parkway, away from her overscheduled and completely normal life, and encounters the girl. As Suzanne rushes her to the hospital, she never imagines how the encounter will change her—a change she both fears and desperately needs. Continue reading “Review: True Places by Sonja Yoerg” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Girl from Berlin (Liam Taggart & Catherine Lockhart #5) by Ronald H. Balson

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Girl from Berlin (Liam Taggart & Catherine Lockhart #5) by Ronald H. Balson

I needed little convincing when this one came up for review. The cover is beautiful and it’s set in pre war Italy. It was an easy yes for me.

I didn’t know that this book was part of a series when I agreed, and honestly I don’t think that it mattered too much with this one. Sure there is a backstory between Liam and Catherine, but the heart of the book is the mystery and the historical details of Ada’s plot line.

An old friend calls Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggart to his famous Italian restaurant to enlist their help. His aunt is being evicted from her home in the Tuscan hills by a powerful corporation claiming they own the deeds, even though she can produce her own set of deeds to her land. Catherine and Liam’s only clue is a bound handwritten manuscript, entirely in German, and hidden in its pages is a story long-forgotten…
 Continue reading “Review: The Girl from Berlin (Liam Taggart & Catherine Lockhart #5) by Ronald H. Balson” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Lost Queen (The Lost Queen Trilogy #1) by Signe Pike

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: The Lost Queen (The Lost Queen Trilogy #1) by Signe Pike

I only needed to see this book marketed as a cross between Outlander and an Arthurian legend and I was immediately excited about reading and reviewing this one.

This book is a debut novel and what a debut it is! I was blown away by the story and you need to immediately move this one up on your TBR list, the hype for this book is real. I was torn between devouring the book to find out what happened and slowing down because I didn’t want the magic to end.

Intelligent, passionate, rebellious, and brave, Languoreth is the unforgettable heroine of The Lost Queen, a tale of conflicted loves and survival set against the cinematic backdrop of ancient Scotland, a magical land of myths and superstition inspired by the beauty of the natural world. Continue reading “Review: The Lost Queen (The Lost Queen Trilogy #1) by Signe Pike” →