Just Like Home - Book Review

 

Just Like Home

by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:

“Come home.” Vera’s mother called and Vera obeyed. In spite of their long estrangement, in spite of the memories -- she's come back to the home of a serial killer. Back to face the love she had for her father and the bodies he buried there.

Coming home is hard enough for Vera, and to make things worse, she and her mother aren’t alone. A parasitic artist has moved into the guest house out back, and is slowly stripping Vera’s childhood for spare parts. He insists that he isn’t the one leaving notes around the house in her father’s handwriting… but who else could it possibly be?

There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. Vera must face them, and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes.

What did I think of it:

I'm a huge fan of Sarah Gailey, so you bet I got my trotters on this book asap.

And this is yet another amazing read.

It is soon clear disturbing things happened in Vera's childhood home, and that these things had an effect on the relationship between Vera and her mother. But how much of the dark mood that hangs over the house is caused by their broken relationship and their past and how much of it is something more sinister?

I was invested from the start, trying to figure out what was going on and what happened during Vera's childhood. The story switched back and forth in time, slowly revealing more about the past and about Vera, her father, and her mother.

The mood is deliciously creepy, and fits the story perfectly. Near the end things get more dark and weird, and I loved it! This book is very different from the other novels by Gailey, although at times it does have similar creepy vibes as the comic Eat the Rich.

You bet this is going on my keeper shelves, and that I'll continue to buy Gailey's books.

Why should you read it:

It's creepy and atmospheric 

On McPig's Radar - Just Like Home

 

Just Like Home

by Sarah Gailey

“Come home.” Vera’s mother called and Vera obeyed. In spite of their long estrangement, in spite of the memories -- she's come back to the home of a serial killer. Back to face the love she had for her father and the bodies he buried there.

Coming home is hard enough for Vera, and to make things worse, she and her mother aren’t alone. A parasitic artist has moved into the guest house out back, and is slowly stripping Vera’s childhood for spare parts. He insists that he isn’t the one leaving notes around the house in her father’s handwriting… but who else could it possibly be?

There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. Vera must face them, and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes.

Expected publication July 19, 2022

Eat the Rich #5 - Quick Comic Book Review

 

Eat the Rich #5

by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:

'TIL DEATH DO US PART! Astor finally proposes but the cost of marrying into the 1% is too terrible for Joey to even contemplate. Too bad saying no isn't an option if she wants to get out of Crestfall Bluffs in one piece! With the horrible truth fully revealed, can Joey escape a proposal much too rich for her blood, or will she get eaten alive by the secrets of the rich and powerful?

What did I think of it:

After the absurd turn in #4 things get back on track in this issue. 

It's the last, so the story reaches a cool and satisfying climax. I was surprised by the ending, but in a good way. I will most certainly reread the whole series in one go to get everything that's going on in one sitting, and might even get myself the bundled series in print.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool Horror Comic

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Eat the Rich #4 - Comic Book Review

 

Eat the Rich #4

by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:

Even as Joey struggles to make sense of everything she's seen, what role her beloved Astor has in it, and what it means for her relationship with him, Crestfall Bluffs is a flurry of activity preparing for the Thistleburn Unveiling Gala Party. When Joey intervenes in a situation she doesn't fully understand, it will bring everything to a head in the most unexpected way!

What did I think of it:

Things are getting absurd in this issue.

I liked the start, the story seemed to take a turn I was hoping for, but then things got weird... Maybe it's just me, and others might find it suspenseful or scary, but it felt almost like slapstick to me at times.

Still I'm curious how this all will end, so I'll get my trotters on the last issue for sure.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun horroresque comic

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Eat the Rich #3 - Comic Book Review

 

Eat the Rich #3

by Sarah Gailey and Pius Bak (Illustrator)

What is it about:

Still uncertain about what she saw in Pip's office, Joey confides in Kitty... but Kitty's response only confuses her more, leaving Joey with no choice but to play along with the family. Until Fourth of July, when at a party Joey suspects what she thought she saw then is happening again. Can Joey come to terms with what is really happening in Crestfall Bluffs... and can she still walk away alive?

What did I think of it:

This issue takes the story in a direction I did not see coming. I expected there to be an acceleration of the violence from the first issue, but instead there's more revelations, and Joey does things I hadn't thought she would do.

I can't say I minded, I was intrigued by the unrolling events, and I'm eager for the next issue to see where this all will lead to. You bet I'll get my trotters on the next issue once it releases.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool and suspenseful horror story.

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Eat the Rich - Comic Book Review

Eat the Rich (Eat the Rich, #1)

by Sarah Gailey, Pius Bak (Illustrator), Roman Titov (Illustrator), and Cardinal Rae (Illustrator)

What is it about:

What unspeakable horror eats away at the heart of Crestfall Bluffs?

With law school and her whole life ahead of her, Joey plans to summer with her boyfriend Astor in his seemingly perfect hometown of Crestfall Bluffs.

It's a chance to finally meet Astor's family and childhood friends, all while enjoying a vacation with every need attended to by servants.

But beneath the affluent perfection lies a dark, deadly rot... will Joey discover the truth before it's too late, and if she does, can she survive to tell the tale?

What did I think of it:

Apart from one short story that just wasn't for me, I've loved everything by Gailey that I've read. So you bet I got my greedy trotters on this comic. 

The art-style isn't my favorite, but it works good enough. It reminded me of some of the Sandman comics in tone and style. If you get this comic in print there are several covers you can choose from, and I can tell you that I would totally have chosen one of the other covers if that had been possible for the digital version.

As for the story:

I very much enjoyed the story and how it is set up. It's not very subtle in my opinion, and telegraphs the horrors to come from Joey's boyfriend telling he started drinking at 12, to other even more obvious chilling remarks.

But this is a horror story after all, so I didn't mind at all. Instead I was eager to see where the story would lead.

This being issue 1 of a 5-issue series it does end just as things begin to unravel, leaving you hungry for more. You bet I'll be getting my trotters on issue 2 when it releases.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool horror comic

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The Echo Wife - Book Review

 

The Echo Wife

by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:

I’m embarrassed, still, by how long it took me to notice. Everything was right there in the open, right there in front of me, but it still took me so long to see the person I had married.

It took me so long to hate him.

Martine is a genetically cloned replica made from Evelyn Caldwell’s award-winning research. She’s patient and gentle and obedient. She’s everything Evelyn swore she’d never be.

And she’s having an affair with Evelyn’s husband.

Now, the cheating bastard is dead, and both Caldwell wives have a mess to clean up.

Good thing Evelyn Caldwell is used to getting her hands dirty.

What did I think of it:

I've loved everything I've read by Sarah Gailey so far, so once again I preordered this as soon as it became available.

This is a beautiful, but also difficult book.

Evelyn Caldwell is very detached from her feelings, and as this book is written from her perspective it's difficult at times to connect to what's going on. But as the story progresses it becomes clear why she is as she is, and I could understand why there's so much emotional distance.

So yes: I struggled with the story at first, but a few chapters in I fell for it hard and couldn't stop reading. I had to know everything that had happened to Evelyn, and I had to know how she and Martine would solve their problems.

All in all this is yet another beautiful and thought provoking book, and you bet Sarah Gailey will stay on my auto-buy author list. This book will get a place next to their other books on my keeper shelves.

Why should you read it:

Its a beautiful and thought provoking read.

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The Fisher of Bones - Book Review

The Fisher of Bones
by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:
The Prophet is dead.

The eyes of the Gods have turned to his daughter. But she isn't ready. Not for the whispers in her ear, for the divinations... for the blood. Her people's history and their future, carved by ancients into the bones of long dead behemoths, are now her burden. Only she can read them, interpret the instructions, and guide them to the Promised Land.

Their journey is almost at an end, but now, without the Prophet, she must find a way to guide them to the place they will call Home. Through blood and through sand, against the will of her own flock, against the horrors that haunt the darkness, only she can bring her people Home.

The Prophet is dead. Long live the Prophetess.

What did I think of it:
I think it's no secret by now that I'm a bit of a fanpiggy when it comes to Sarah Gailey ever since reading their American Hippo books. I've gotten hold of most of heir books by now, and The Fisher of Bones was the last I still needed to get my trotters on. (next: getting hold of all the short stories)

And this is such an achingly beautiful read.

The Fisher of Bones drew me in, made me fall in love, and then stomped on my heart and feasted on my tears!

The atmosphere and mood in this story are beautiful. I was totally rooting for Fisher (the Prophetess) to succeed in leading her people to the Promised Land foretold in the bones only she can read. She has to deal with the doubters, the fanatics, the greedy, and with her own doubts and insecurities. I read this story in one sitting as I just couldn't put it down (Ok, it's a short read, but I'd have done the same had it been longer).

All in all this is an amazing read, and I'll be rereading it for sure!

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful and emotional read.


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When We Were Magic - Book Review

When We Were Magic
by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:
Keeping your magic a secret is hard. Being in love with your best friend is harder.

Alexis has always been able to rely on two things: her best friends, and the magic powers they all share. Their secret is what brought them together, and their love for each other is unshakeable—even when that love is complicated. Complicated by problems like jealousy, or insecurity, or lust. Or love.

That unshakeable, complicated love is one of the only things that doesn't change on prom night.

When accidental magic goes sideways and a boy winds up dead, Alexis and her friends come together to try to right a terrible wrong. Their first attempt fails—and their second attempt fails even harder. Left with the remains of their failed spells and more consequences than anyone could have predicted, each of them must find a way to live with their part of the story.

What did I think of it:
Once again Sarah Gailey proofs it was a good thing I added their releases to my auto-buy list.

Even with an accidental death on their hands and all the problems this brings I envied these girls. The bond they share is special and strong. Their friendship and how they deal with it when that friendship is tested is the heart of this book. The magic they have and the accidental death may play a very important part, but both are less important in my opinion.

It was so cool to see how these girls, who are all very different, come together and stick up for each other. The way they deal with the crisis and the aftershocks was wonderful to read. As they work together to make things right, Alexis has to face her feelings as well as decide what to do with them. I rooted for her to figure things out, and for all of them to solve their problems.

All in all a wonderful read about the bonds of friendship and about figuring out where you stand in the world. You bet I'll impatiently wait for Gailey's next release!

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful YA read about friendship.


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Upright Women Wanted - Book Review

Upright Women Wanted
by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:
In Upright Women Wanted, award-winning author Sarah Gailey reinvents the pulp Western with an explicitly antifascist, near-future story of queer identity.

"That girl's got more wrong notions than a barn owl's got mean looks."

Esther is a stowaway. She's hidden herself away in the Librarian's book wagon in an attempt to escape the marriage her father has arranged for her--a marriage to the man who was previously engaged to her best friend. Her best friend who she was in love with. Her best friend who was just executed for possession of resistance propaganda.

The future American Southwest is full of bandits, fascists, and queer librarian spies on horseback trying to do the right thing.

What did I think of it:
After reading American Hippo and Magic For Liars Sarah Gailey became an auto-buy author for me. Their writing style, humor, and stories are totally my jam!

So even though this is a Tor novella and therefor pricey, I preordered this baby so I could have it in my greedy trotters as soon as possible.

And what a cool read!

I really could understand Esther. She comes from a small town where patriarchy and heterosexuality are the norm, and anything outside of the norm is considered wrong. So it's not strange she sees herself as bad, weird, and maybe not deserving to live. I rooted for her to see she is perfect and deserving of happiness, and being who she wants to be instead of who others think she should be.

The librarians and other women she travels with are all very interesting as well. All have secrets for the fascist and restricting country they live in, and all have their own way of dealing with it. I loved how different ways of fighting oppression were shown in this story, and how each affect you and those around you.

This is a story that made me cry, smile, and hope, and that I can recommend to anyone looking for a powerful story about resistance, identity, and queer librarian spies.

Why should you read it:
It's a wonderful and powerful novella.


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Magic for Liars - Book Review

Magic for Liars
by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:
Ivy Gamble has never wanted to be magic. She is perfectly happy with her life—she has an almost-sustainable career as a private investigator, and an empty apartment, and a slight drinking problem. It's a great life and she doesn't wish she was like her estranged sister, the magically gifted professor Tabitha.

But when Ivy is hired to investigate the gruesome murder of a faculty member at Tabitha’s private academy, the stalwart detective starts to lose herself in the case, the life she could have had, and the answer to the mystery that seems just out of her reach.

What did I think of it:
I love American Hippo, so I really wanted to try more by Sarah Gailey. I had the opportunity to pick up Magic for Liars at Worldcon and got it signed as well.

And what an amazing read!

I was hooked from the start. Ivy is very easy to relate to. She pretends she never wanted to be magic like her sister, but it's clear she feels tons of resentment and jealousy. When she gets the opportunity to investigate a murder that happened at the Magical academy it's easy to understand how she feels, and why she's comparing the school life at the academy with her own, and why she slowly gets caught up in the magical life she could have lived.

Next to the emotional journey Ivy embarks on in this story there is a really intriguing murder mystery, teen dramas and secrets, and more. I was totally invested and rooted for Ivy to find out what happened. The school was a perfect setting and I loved trying to guess what was going on and who had something to hide.

All in all this is a really cool and awesome read that I will most certainly reread. I will also get my greedy trotters on more books by Gailey for sure.

Why should you read it:
It's an amazing magical murder mystery


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Worldcon stories on my other blog

I'm still posting about Dublin & Worldcon over at my other blog

American Hippo - Book Review

American Hippo (River of Teeth #1-2)
by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:
In 2017 Sarah Gailey made their debut with River of Teeth and Taste of Marrow, two action-packed novellas that introduced readers to an alternate America in which hippos rule the colossal swamp that was once the Mississippi River. Now readers have the chance to own both novellas in American Hippo, a single, beautiful volume.

Years ago, in an America that never was, the United States government introduced herds of hippos to the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This plan failed to take into account some key facts about hippos: they are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two.

By the 1890s, the vast bayou that was once America's greatest waterway belongs to feral hippos, and Winslow Houndstooth has been contracted to take it back. To do so, he will gather a crew of the damnedest cons, outlaws, and assassins to ever ride a hippo. American Hippo is the story of their fortunes, their failures, and his revenge.

What did I think of it:
I read River of Teeth shortly after it released and loved it. I meant to read Taste of Marrow as well, but you know what happens when too many cool books arrive at the same time: some end up forgotten, no matter their awesomeness.

And then I saw this beauty!!!

Look at it! How can any hippo lover resist this? I couldn't anyway!

So when American Hippo arrived I dove right into it and reread River of Teeth before devouring the rest of the stories as well.

What a wonderful and awesome world Gailey created here. It's an alternate history where feral hippos rule the Mississippi and hippo wranglers ride hippos through the swamps. This is a hippo lover's dream! I loved the world building and the atmosphere in these stories.

I must say I enjoyed River of Teeth even more than the first time I read it. I was totally engaged and rooted for Winslow and his crew to succeed. I once again fell in love with Hero, they absolutely do their name proud in my opinion. And the hippos! There were lots of hippos: smart hippos, feral hippos, hippo mayhem: All the hippos!!

And I finally got to read what happens after that cliffhangery ending! Taste of Marrow was just as awesome as River of Teeth, and there were lots of hippos once again. Hero was once again my favorite character, although some of the others got more screen-time and were very cool as well.

Things were dire at times, and I was on the edge of my seat to see if things would turn out ok. The ending was everything I could hope for.

Next there were two short stories that take place before the start of River of Teeth and that are fun little extras you don't want to miss if you loved the duology.

All in all a hippo-filled and awesome book! I'm so going to try to get this beauty signed by Gailey when I'm at Worldcon.

Why should you read it:
Hippos in the Mississippi!
Awesome characters!
A daring caper operation!


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River of Teeth - Book Review

River of Teeth (River of Teeth #1)
by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:
In the early 20th Century, the United States government concocted a plan to import hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This is true.

Other true things about hippos: they are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two.

This was a terrible plan.

Contained within this volume is an 1890s America that might have been: a bayou overrun by feral hippos and mercenary hippo wranglers from around the globe. It is the story of Winslow Houndstooth and his crew. It is the story of their fortunes. It is the story of his revenge.

What did I think of it:
Some of you may know I love hippos.

So maybe you can understand I wasn't able to resist when I saw mention of this novella about feral hippos and hippo wranglers.

And even though it was a bit pricey for its size I can tell you it was worth every cent.

Winslow and his crew are a diverse group of mercs. Some I immediately liked, others I had my doubts about. Together they set out to rid the marshlands of the feral hippos. Little do they know there's more opposition to this plan than you'd expect.

This being a novella character building has to be short and sweet, which made that some of the characters are a bit grotesque. That aside I very much enjoyed this story from start to finish. It has everything you could want from a novella about hippos in the American marshland: Hippo wranglers, feral man-eating hippos, hippo mayhem, betrayal, and much more.

The ending was quite epic and left a lot of things open, so I'm glad there will be a second book in September. You bet I'll get my trotters on it!

Why should you read it:
Hippo mayhem!


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