Sunday Funday: LOHF Anniversary Readathon - Wrap Up & Mini Reviews

Happy Sunday everyone!  Today I'm sharing my wrap up and mini reviews for the LOHF Anniversary Readathon hosted by Ladies of Horror Fiction and Alex @ Hey Little Thrifter in celebration of the Ladies of Horror Fiction's anniversary which will run for the entire month of September.  You can check out my TBR post here.  I just managed to complete all of the books I had on my TBR and for the most part I enjoyed what I read.  Read on to see my thoughts on these books:

By an indie author

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The Rust Maidens by Gwendolyn Kiste is an incredibly atmospheric Cleveland set horror fantasy.  The way the author explores decay in its many forms is fascinating as is the transformation from girl to woman and even other.  I'm going to have to read more from this fellow Ohioan in the future.

My review can also be found on Goodreads.


By an LGBTQ+ Author

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Caitlin R. Kiernan certainly has a way with words, doesn't she?  Wow!  It took me a minute to get into the swing of it, but I'm so glad I kept going.  If you like Neil Gaiman's style, I have a feeling you'll love The Red Tree by Caitlín R. Kiernan.  I need to read more of this author's work in the future.

My review can also be found on Goodreads.


By a POC Author

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Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of the most unique vampire books I've ever had the opportunity to read.  And, it's exactly the kind of book I've been looking for.  I need more from this author and this world.

My review can also be found of Goodreads.


A YA/ MG Novel - I'm reading one of each!

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I really wanted to like The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring, a debut YA Horror novel since the concept sounded like it had so much potential.  Unfortunately, it didn't really work for me overall.  What I did like was all of atmosphere and the author's style in the beginning especially.  Of the two perspective characters, Mavi was the only one I was particularly intrigued by.  As this overly long novel progressed I wished that we didn't have split POV chapters.  Also just a fair warning about the ending - the twist really comes at you from nowhere and a lot of readers are probably going to find it to be very polarizing.  I, for one, am firmly in the what-kind-of-ending-was-that camp.

My review is also available on Goodreads.

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Tunnel of Bones (Cassidy Blake #2) by Victoria Schwab is an excellent sequel to City of Ghosts.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, Schwab is brilliant and I love her style no matter what she's writing.  I loved getting to explore the world of the Paris catacombs with Cass and Jacob.  The author's world building is very atmospheric and perfectly spooky.  Her characters are just as engrossing as any - Cass is such a Gryffindor and we also get to learn a bit more of about Jacob as well.  Overall, I highly recommend this Middle Grade paranormal fantasy with a perfect dash of horror.  I'm can't wait to see what's next for Cass and Jacob in Bridge of Souls!

My review is also on Goodreads.


A Translated Book or a Book Set in Another Country

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The concept of The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter (The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club #1) by Theodora Goss sounded so cool and I had very high hopes for it.  Luckily for me, this series opener was exactly up my alley and is one of my favorite reads of 2019.  It might even been a new all-time favorite.  I'm thrilled at how successfully Goss was able to combine so many classics (and my favorites) - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Frankenstein, Rappaccini's Daughter, and Sherlock Holmes.  The only one I wasn't familiar with was Nathaniel Hawthorne's Rappaccini's Daughter which as it turns out helped to inspire DC's Poison Ivy.  Anyway, this historical fantasy was an absolute delight and I can't wait to read the sequel.  I can't recommend this novel enough - if you haven't already read it, what are you waiting for?

My review can also be found on Goodreads.

I love this series so much and Grave Importance (Dr. Greta Helsing #3) by Vivian Shaw is hands down the best installment.  I just wasn't ready for the trilogy to end here.  Shaw's style is brilliant and I truly became invested in Greta, Ruthven, Varney, and Fastitocalon.  I hope we get to see more of them again in the future - perhaps a spinoff of some kind.  I highly recommend this series to fans of Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman and Supernatural.  I can't wait to see what Vivian Shaw does next!

My review can also be found on Goodreads.

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I really wanted to love Grim Lovelies (Grim Lovelies #1) by Megan Shepherd since the premise and setting sounded so interesting, but it never quite worked for me.  This series opener never hooked me and reeled me in.  As our lead, Anouk wasn't my favorite either - I was kind of bored with her to be honest. 

My review can also be found on Goodreads.

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The Mortification of Fovea Munson by Mary Winn Heider was a fun and very unique middle grade novel. The sense of humor was exactly my style.  As a fan of classic monster movies this was a breath of fresh air.  I need to read more by this author in the future.

My review can also be found on Goodreads.

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Cat Winters is a fantastic historical fantasy who has quickly become an all time favorite.  I enjoyed getting to meet these two sisters.  The story is all about family and it was marvellous to meet theirs even if it is a little broken.  Each voice was quite distinct and both were very fleshed out.  I was also quite pleased to see such great disability representation. Tru had polio at age two and now she walks with a cane and a leg brace and sometimes she uses wheelchair as well.  If you're a fan of Supernatural and are interested in the Wayward Sisters (if it would ever get off the ground), Odd & True by Cat Winters is definitely one for you.

My review can also be found on Goodreads.

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Wilder Girls by Rory Power by is absolutely addicting.  Once I got started in on it I didn't want to put it down.  The author's prose really make the cast and the horrific post-apocalyptic world of the Tox on the island.  The atmosphere totally had me on the hook.  I can't wait to read more from Rory Power in the future.

My review can also be found on Goodreads.


Did you take part in this readathon?  What are you planning to read to get into the autumn and Halloween spirit?  As always, thank for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!