How DOES a Vampire Kill Themselves When Sunlight Doesn't Work?

 

TITLE: Aubrey Wants to Die

AUTHOR: Pip Knight

PUBLISHER: Hanover Square Press

PUBLISHING DATE: March 3, 2026

PAGES: 368   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: Love is hard. Being undead is harder ... Dolly Alderton meets True Blood in this dark, funny hell of a story 

Aubrey is not what she seems. She's young, beautiful, romantic, obsessive and ... a vampire. All she wants is to be human again, and failing that, she wants to die. But the problem is, she can't. Not by stake through the heart or holy water or crucifix or garlic or fire. And she'd know, she's tried every method ... Twice. 

So she's stuck here on this earth, all alone. Even the vampire who made her this way — an aristocratic douchebag called Oscar — has abandoned her. 

But everything changes when one fateful night, she meets Jonathan. He's everything Aubrey's ever dreamed of, and what's more, he's her soulmate. Her Bella—Edward story. For the first time in 150 years, she has a reason to hope — eternal life might be bearable after all. So when Jonathan unexpectedly breaks up with her, she'll do anything to get him back. 

But that's the exact moment Oscar swoops back into her life. And he has other plans for her. Soon, she's thrown into a world of glamour, glitter, blood and hedonism, a world that has her questioning everything she knows to be true—about life, but also about herself. A world where nothing is simple ... And no—one is safe, either.

MY THOUGHTS: I want to clear something up.  I went into this not really knowing what genre it fell in.  I thought horror, then I thought thriller, then romance.  Who knows what I thought?  But now that I've read it, I will say it probably leans more heavily into romance with a few horror/thriller aspects.  But be warned, these vampires do not sparkle - thank the Heavens!

Aubrey was turned 150 years ago and immediately afterwards, her maker split.  This left her to figure out a lot on her own.  After seeing another vampire kill a young buy while feeding, Aubrey refused to feed on humans, so she has lived on blood bank blood ever since.  Because of this, she never reached her full vampire potential and after 150 years, is getting tired of her boring life where she has to move every 5-10 years and start over because doesn't age and can't tell the people around her, she is a vampire. 

She is tired of living this way and has tried to kill herself in the past, just to find out all the things she believed killed vampires isn't working.

Fast forward and Aubrey has finally fallen in love with a man named Jonathan.  She is happier than she has ever been but is trying a bit too hard so Jonathan dumps her.  She enlists her only two friends to try to win him back but about that time, her maker Oscar walks back into her life.  She is very angry with him for leaving her helpless all those years ago but gets stuck spending time with him because there is a new group of Vampire Hunters trying to prove vampires really exist and Oscar fears that Aubrey, with her lack of skill and knowledge, may lead to their downfall.  

This book was so much fun.  Don't get me wrong, Aubrey is a hot mess, but I loved her as a character, and it was nice to see someone trying to navigate their way through life and who hasn't been sold on the vampire lifestyle even though she herself is one.  I found myself really rooting for her and Jonathan...until I wasn't.  And Oscar is a jerk.  He is mean to Aubrey a lot of the time and definitely has his own agenda so of course, I loved him as well.  I feel this book does lean heavily into its True Blood comparison (one of my favorite book series) and if you are familiar, think Eric more than Bill.  

This book was very unpredictable, and I loved how the ending played out. I also feel it would appeal to a lot of people as it does seem to encompass elements of a lot of different genres. Although everything basically wraps up in the end, there is a hint that it could continue so I really hope a sequel is in the works. I really do need more Aubrey and Oscar too!

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - The Disco at the End of the World

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

June 2, 2026

FROM GOODREADS: In 1977 - a world in which America launched its space program shortly after WWII - Mitch Ward followed Flynn, the lost love of his youth, into the US Space Guard. Now, he’s stuck on a backwater moon base with his only friend, Gloria, watching every shuttle in the hope Flynn will be on it.

After an inexplicable encounter with a strange, euphoric being, Mitch and Gloria find themselves dishonorably discharged, and stuck in a USA rapidly sliding into fascism with no plans and no future. There’s nothing for it but to move to Los Angeles to chase their dreams, and find their people in the discos of the city.

But when Flynn crashes back into their lives, claiming to be the host for an emissary of a utopian civilization approaching Earth, he offers Mitch the power to protect himself and friends across the queer community, so they never have to live in the shadows or face oppression again.

With the world on the brink of cataclysm, and Mitch and his friends being squeezed out of every space, it’s down to this community of disco-loving outcasts to stand up for what is beautiful and right.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: This doesn't sound like something I would pick up on first glance, but I love nostalgic reads and it sounds like it may have a "found family" vibe which I love.  We will see.

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

2 Bloggers 1 Book - Shadow of the Mothman

 

 Stormi and I have a long history of buddy reading Hunter Shea books.  He is one of my favorite indie authors and his creature books are some of the best I've read.  So, when this one came out at the end of last year, it was a given we would get to it eventually and well, February ended up being the month. So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads for hers. 

 

TITLE: Shadow of the Mothman

AUTHOR: Hunter Shea

PUBLISHER: Severed Press

PUBLISHING DATE: December 15, 2025

PAGES: 271   

SOURCE: KU

FROM GOODREADS: First There Was Dread and Death

In 1967, the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, was terrorized by a winged creature stalking the night skies, along with a host of other bizarre and frightening paranormal phenomena. It all came to an end with the tragic collapse of the Silver Bridge on a cold December evening. 

Then It Returned 

Ken Orsulak survived the Silver Bridge disaster, only to awaken from his coma sixteen years later. A man out of time and confined to a wheelchair now, he’s taken back to his childhood home of Remington, Massachusetts. By day, the bucolic farming town is just as it was when he left in 1967. By night, shrieks, strange shadows and unexplainable lights send ripples of fear throughout its residents. Something sinister has descended on the town. Has the terror of Point Pleasant come for Ken? 

Now All Hell Has Broken Loose 

The creature has a name – Mothman. The high strangeness surrounding the monster defies explanation. Ken and the town fight for answers, then find themselves fighting for their lives. Enter John Keel, the stalwart reporter who made the mysterious cryptid infamous. Has he arrived just in time, or is he too late to save Remington from the unknowable intentions of the Mothman? Remington is coming apart at the seams. Will anyone be left standing when…and if…the Mothman’s reign of terror ends? 

A cryptid tale of existential dread unlike any other. Shadow of the Mothman will pull you into a world of mythical beasts, UFO folklore, men in black, and ghostly visions. The nostalgia of the 80s is plunged into the mystifying world of In Search Of in this love letter to the beasts and enigmas that plague our nightmares.

MY THOUGHTS: I love creature feature books and since I reside in WV and actually grew up about 35 miles from the home of the Mothman and the Silver Bridge incident, I couldn't wait to read this one.

Ken and his parents are traveling back from a Christmas visit with family when the find themselves stuck in traffic on the Silver Bridge in Pt. Pleasant.  Ken starts hearing some weird radio transmissions and soon sees two glaring red eyes right before the bridge collapses.  Ken and his mother survive but the accident leaves Ken in a coma for 16 years.  When he finally awakens, he has trouble adapting to the 80s and the fact that mentally, he is still a teen who is waiting to give his girlfriend an ankle bracelet for Christmas.

Ken and his mother, along with that girlfriend from long ago who is now Ken's primary nurse, head to the family's hometown of Remington.  Soon, weird things start happening, men in black start showing up in town and people start seeing a large, winged creature with glowing red eyes. Ken is convinced that he is the reason the Mothman is back and terrorizing his hometown.  Working with a John Keel, a reporter who first covered the Mothman years ago and is now investigating a link between it and the current happenings in Remington, Ken tries to survive the Mothman's curse and more importantly, save the ones he loves.

Some things worked for me in this book, and some didn't.  I loved the 80s nostalgia and for the most part enjoyed the characters. Especially the elderly owner of the town grocery store who runs the local Video Rental store - Ken's favorite way to catch up on what he missed while in the coma.  I loved the Mothman lore and true to Shea's other books, the action was spot on.  However, there was kind of a lull before the action started happening and quite a few animal deaths (well, and people too but let's be honest, you know I'm all about the animals).  Also, I felt the ending was a bit weak and am not sure I bought the explanation for the Mothman's arrival in Remington.

 

Finally, I have to mention Patch, a brave dog who lives with his owner on her farm.  RIP Patch - you never stood a chance.  I actually messaged Shea about sacrificing Patch and he pointed out others died as well but if you know me, I pretty much automatically deduct a rating point for pointless dog deaths. If you are really interested in the Mothman, which I am, and love cryptid tales, this one is worth picking up.  Not my favorite Shea book but still worth a read.

MY RATING: 3 PAWS

Watch Out for Falling Buckets

 

TITLE: The Silenced

AUTHOR: Diana Rodriguez Wallach

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press

PUBLISHING DATE: September 16, 2025

PAGES: 384   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Hazel Perez thought her school project on the abandoned Oakwell Farms School for Girls—or "The Farm" as it’s known to locals—would be just another assignment. But when a late-night research trip ends with her falling unconscious, she reawakens with a desire for revenge that isn't her own. Desperate to free herself from these sudden violent urges, Hazel begins to investigate. 

As she delves deeper into Oakwell Farms' past, Hazel discovers the harrowing experiences of the girls who were once forced to live within its walls—under the eyes of sinister men—and the spirits who still linger. 

With the help of some unlikely allies, Hazel must navigate a treacherous path of corruption, history, and the supernatural to bring peace to the restless spirits and uncover the truth about her family's involvement. 

The Silenced delves into the Trouble Teen Industry through a riveting exploration of a reform school's haunted past colliding with the traumatized present.

MY THOUGHTS: I had seen this book on a few sites and the cover immediately drew me in so when I saw it at my local library, I had to snatch it up.  

Hazel Perez is pretty much a loner at school.  She used to be part of the "in" crowd until her sister died and her best friend ghosted her.  However, her other sister, Maddie, is her best friend and the two support each other no matter what.  Hazel ends up being paired up with her ex-bestie and her clique on a class project which takes them to the abandoned Oakwell Farms.  The Farms used to be a home for troubled girls and is owned by her ex-bestie's family.  While there one night, Hazel has an accident which not only has people questioning her health but has Hazel questioning her sanity.  Not only does Hazel feel like someone is always following her and doing things which are totally out of character, who is the scary young woman who she sees attached to her back whenever she sees her reflection.

I really enjoyed this book a lot more than I anticipated.  I really enjoyed how Wallach opened up the history of girls' reformatory schools and how misrun they were throughout history.  I also think it really addressed sexuality and choices as the ghost haunting Hazel was sent to The Farms after falling in love with another girl.  I loved the character arc of the ex-bestie and the family drama around who Deidre, the ghost haunting Hazel, really is.  

Told from Hazel's POV with interspersed chapters from "The Farm" and Deidre, the book is fast-paced and although YA, still quite terrifying.  Of course, it's no secret that real life is often more terrifying than fiction and people are often the real monsters. If you want a YA horror with some meat to it, then definitely consider this one.  

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

My Year in Books (2025)

I saw this over at Lark Writes blog and thought it looked like fun.  She credited it for originating with Anne over at My Head is Full of Books.  Make sure you check out their posts as well. They state you may end up with some serious as well as some silly answers.  Yep, I sure did! 

In high school I was: Done and Dusted (Lyda Sage)

People might be surprised: I'll Make a Spectacle of You (Beatrice Winifred Iker)

I will never be: (a) Victorian Psycho (Virginia Fieto)

My fantasy job is: Death in the Dark (Bryce Moore)

At the end of a long day I need: (a) Roadtrip with a Vampire

I hate: The Unholy (Heather Graham)

Wish I had: Christmas at the Ranch (Julia McKay)

My family reunions are: Another Fine Mess (Lindy Ryan)

At a party you’d find me: Proven Guilty (Jim Butcher)

I’ve never been (on a): Dead Stream (Mar Romasco-Moore)

A happy day includes: Fang Fiction (Kate Stayman-London)

Motto I live by: Life's Too Short (Darius Rucker)

On my bucket list is: The Blond Dies First (Joelle Wellington)

 [

In my next life, I want to have: A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer (Maxie Dara)

Hope you enjoyed this fun little tag.  Look for a review of a recent read tomorrow!

Feed Your TBR - Fitcher's Bird

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

October 6,2026

FROM GOODREADS: When sisters Chloe, Zoe and Dido were children, their father died and their mother could no longer care for them, so they were sent to live with the local doctor’s family: mother, father and three sons. Soon after, however, Ashwood Farm burned to the ground, and only the three young girls survived.

Years later, the sisters live very separate lives, each dealing with their painful past in different ways. But when first Chloe, and then Zoe disappears, it’s left to Dido to rake through their history and find out if her sisters are still in the world or paying the price for what happened that long ago summer night.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  Simple - the cover. Well and the Gothic vibes aren't hurting its chances to be picked up either.

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

I Finally Figured It Out, I'm a Genre Junkie

 

TITLE: Booking for Trouble (Library Lovers #16)

AUTHOR: Jenn McKinlay

PUBLISHER: Berkley

PUBLISHING DATE: February 24, 2026

PAGES: 304   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: Just off the shores of the coastal Connecticut town of Briar Creek are two small islands, which library director Lindsey Norris visits with her new book-boat, inspired by the bookmobiles she’s seen traveling across the country. Nothing, not even the infamous feud between the families who own the Split Islands, can stop Lindsey from getting books into the hands of readers. But when Lindsey and her boat captain husband, Mike Sullivan, discover a body on the rocky outcropping of one of the islands, Lindsey’s new library venture quickly becomes a murder investigation. 

At news of the crime, hostilities between the two families are reignited. Long buried secrets are revealed, tensions spark, and suspects abound. As Lindsey navigates treacherous waters (both literal and metaphorical), she must use her research skills and community ties to solve the murder and bring peace to the islands before her book-boat dreams are sunk.

MY THOUGHTS: I honestly can't believe this is the 16th installment in one of my favorite series. I have heard some rumors that this might be the last one from the author and while I will miss reading a new one each year, I can see why she might want to hang it up and move on.  

This time around, the murder mystery focuses on the islands surrounding Briar Creek. Hoping to garner more support for library funding, Lindsey and the gang create a mobile boat library which will go around all the small islands and make it easier for patrons to access all the reading material their hearts desire. They are able to do so because of special funding provided by some elusive island club which ended up sponsoring them.  However, as usually is the case, Lindsey stumbles upon not just one dead body but two in a matter of a week.  Afraid of bad publicity, the club wants to pull their funding, but Lindsey is determined to make sure the mystery is solved and find the killer as well. 

This was a fun little read and while I enjoyed that the mystery branched out to the surrounding islands, I have to admit I miss some of my old faves.  This series just hasn't been the same since "The Lemon" library became mayor and became less bitter and one of the gang. Yet McKinlay still manages to make The Lemon one of my favorite characters. The mystery kept me guessing and I was very pleased with the resolution.

I find cozies great palette cleansers when I need something lighter between all my darker reads.  This one was no exception. There were even scenes with dear Heathcliff, who not only manages to dominate the cover again but manages to make it my favorite cover yet. Oh, and my blog title?  In the book, Linsey references a patron who reads all kinds of genres both current and backlisted as a "genre junkie."  I also refer to myself as an eclectic reader but from now on, I am claiming this title.  Anyone care to join me?

MY RATING: 4 PAWS