Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
I've been getting more into sci-fi recently, and I enjoy Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire's writing style, so I had to check this out. It felt like a mix of Little Shop of Horrors, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Independence Day. There was a lot of conversation around belonging, humanity, and family. What does it mean to be human? How do we treat those we perceive as different from ourselves? What happens when someone we know turns out to be a man-eating plant from space? I found Stasia to be very endearing, and there were moments I felt for her. She faces numerous changes throughout the book, and it was interesting to see how they reshaped her outlook. The pacing was a little wonky; the first half dragged, and the second felt rushed, and I could feel my attention waning. However, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it.
If you're looking for a book that gives off spooky Hallmark movie vibes, then look no further. This was so charmingly quaint and cozy. I loved the setting of Prince Edward Island. All the foggy imagery worked so well and added another level of eeriness to the story. As for the characters, I wasn't as taken with them. I found Cassie a bit annoying, and her fear of inadequacy started grating on me by the end. Her relationship with her sister also felt a bit much. She kept pulling the "big sister" card and not letting Eliza do anything, even if it could potentially help Cassie out, so that was frustrating as well. Some of the other side characters also didn't feel fleshed out, so I found it difficult to connect with any of them. The magic and conflict felt a bit silly, but they kept me entertained. While not the best witchy book I've ever read, it was a quick read and would be perfect if you just want to pick up something light for Halloween.
This is only the second book by Cañas that I've read, and my feelings on both are pretty middling. Her premises always sound right up my alley, yet something about their executions just doesn't totally work for me; such was the case here. There were aspects I enjoyed: the atmosphere, the historical and cultural references, and especially the possession element, which added such tension and creepiness. However, my biggest issue was that I didn't connect with any of the characters. While I liked Alba and Elías enough, I wasn't desperate to find out what would happen to them. Additionally, the pacing posed a problem. At times, it dragged, and I could feel my interest waning alongside the story. Still, I liked how everything wrapped up, and overall, I thought it was just an okay read.
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| Pub Date: 5-6-25 Adult - Sci-Fi/Horror |
Overgrowth- Mira Grant: Anastasia Miller has always told everyone she's ever met that she's an alien disguised as human and that one day an armada would be coming to invade. When she was three, they said she was imaginative. Now, as an adult, they say she's weird and either indulge her fantasies or outright laugh in her face. But when a scientist inadvertently catches an alien airwave from space, Stasia knows the time has come. Instead of Stasia shoving her "I told you so's in everyone's faces, she takes it upon herself to be the go-between for the human race and her biological family. She may be from another world, but she was raised human, and she has people she loves and cares about that she doesn't want to see turned to plant food. But Stasia is changing, and she's beginning to see humanity's true colors and how they might not be worth saving at all.
I've been getting more into sci-fi recently, and I enjoy Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire's writing style, so I had to check this out. It felt like a mix of Little Shop of Horrors, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Independence Day. There was a lot of conversation around belonging, humanity, and family. What does it mean to be human? How do we treat those we perceive as different from ourselves? What happens when someone we know turns out to be a man-eating plant from space? I found Stasia to be very endearing, and there were moments I felt for her. She faces numerous changes throughout the book, and it was interesting to see how they reshaped her outlook. The pacing was a little wonky; the first half dragged, and the second felt rushed, and I could feel my attention waning. However, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 8-19-25 Adult - Fantasy |
The Late-Night Witches- Auralee Wallace: Cassie Beckett has too much on her plate to deal with her home being overrun by vampires. Her younger sister is out of control, and she has been taking care of her three teenage children by herself after her husband left. So, when she learns of long-buried family secrets-- one being that she's a witch and an ancient vampire is now after her--she's at her wits' end. Now, Cassie, helped along by her family and handsome new neighbor, must learn what it means to be a witch and tap into her repressed magic if she hopes to stop the vampires from taking over Prince Edward Island and to put an end to a curse that's been haunting her family for centuries.
If you're looking for a book that gives off spooky Hallmark movie vibes, then look no further. This was so charmingly quaint and cozy. I loved the setting of Prince Edward Island. All the foggy imagery worked so well and added another level of eeriness to the story. As for the characters, I wasn't as taken with them. I found Cassie a bit annoying, and her fear of inadequacy started grating on me by the end. Her relationship with her sister also felt a bit much. She kept pulling the "big sister" card and not letting Eliza do anything, even if it could potentially help Cassie out, so that was frustrating as well. Some of the other side characters also didn't feel fleshed out, so I found it difficult to connect with any of them. The magic and conflict felt a bit silly, but they kept me entertained. While not the best witchy book I've ever read, it was a quick read and would be perfect if you just want to pick up something light for Halloween.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 8-19-25 Adult - Horror |
The Possession of Alba Díaz- Isabel Cañas: In 1765, a plague drives Alba Díaz, her parents, and fiancé, Carlos, to seek refuge at his family's isolated mine. There, Alba suffers from strange hallucinations, sleepwalking, and violent outbursts, feeling something cold inside her. The only one who recognizes her struggle is Carlos’s cousin Elías, who’s determined to escape the shadow of his family. Despite his resolve, Elías feels drawn to Alba—can he save her from the demon threatening to take control?
This is only the second book by Cañas that I've read, and my feelings on both are pretty middling. Her premises always sound right up my alley, yet something about their executions just doesn't totally work for me; such was the case here. There were aspects I enjoyed: the atmosphere, the historical and cultural references, and especially the possession element, which added such tension and creepiness. However, my biggest issue was that I didn't connect with any of the characters. While I liked Alba and Elías enough, I wasn't desperate to find out what would happen to them. Additionally, the pacing posed a problem. At times, it dragged, and I could feel my interest waning alongside the story. Still, I liked how everything wrapped up, and overall, I thought it was just an okay read.
Rating: 3/5
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