The Smell of Ink/Lukten av Trykksverte

I read the horror novel The Prettiest Girl in the Grave by Kristopher Triana earlier this year and today I'll post my review of the book. Description from Goodreads From the author of international horror sensation Gone to See the River Man comes a new tale of terror that will drag you to the darkest corners of the soul. Some girls are fearful, others are brave. One girl’s a princess, the next one, a slave. But all girls are equal, when they’re down in this cave, until just one is left standing—The Prettiest Girl in the Grave. It’s only supposed to be a game. When Bella, Celeste, and Rose meet with new friends at a graveyard in the woods, they soon realize they’re unprepared for what’s planned. At twenty-four, Aubrey is older than the high schoolers, and she knows of a secret game that’s been played by local girls for decades. It starts with personal questions, but quickly moves on to a test of courage as Aubrey guides them into an underground crypt. But even Aubrey doesn’t know w...

As I've been fascinated by the whole Sleepy Hollow due to a certain Tim Burton movie from 1999, I couldn't resist reading the retelling Horseman by Christina Henry and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Everyone in Sleepy Hollow knows about the Horseman, but no one really believes in him. Not even Ben Van Brunt's grandfather, Brom Bones, who was there when it was said the Horseman chased the upstart Crane out of town. Brom says that's just legend, the village gossips talking. Twenty years after those storied events, the village is a quiet place. Fourteen-year-old Ben loves to play Sleepy Hollow boys, reenacting the events Brom once lived through. But then Ben and a friend stumble across the headless body of a child in the woods near the village, and the sinister discovery makes Ben question everything the adults in Sleepy Hollow have ever said. Could the Horseman be real after all? Or does something even more sinister stalk the woods? My Thought...

Ages ago, I read the paranormal novel Cackle bt Rachel Harrison, and today I'll post my review of the book. Description from Goodreads All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. She’s stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation. Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That’s how Sophie lives. Annie can’t help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem…a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some...

I decided going a bit Non-Fiction November this month, so today I'll review Louisiana's Haunted Plantations by Jill Pascoe here on this blog. Description from Goodreads New Orleans has been called the most haunted city in America, and with good reason. But there are more ghosts in Louisiana than can be held in one city and the plantations of this state, with their luxurious buildings and centuries old trees, are the ideal resting ground for spectral inhabitants. In some places there are questions about the existence of ghosts. At Louisiana’s plantations the question is how many? In this collection of thirteen chilling tales you will explore the ghosts along the River Road at some of Louisiana’s best known plantations, and also along the back bayous of the state. You will encounter the ghosts of the most haunted house in America, meet ladies in white and black who refuse to leave, learn of spectral children who continue to play, Civil War soldiers trapped where they died, pirat...

As a fan of Kindres Spirits, I couldn't resist reading the book Life with the Afterlife: 13 Truths I Learned about Ghosts by Amy Bruni with Julie Tremaine and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Star of Kindred Spirits and paranormal investigator Amy Bruni shares stories from her years of experiences with ghosts, organized around thirteen truths that guide her approach to the supernatural. Amy Bruni, co-star of Kindred Spirits and one of the world's leading paranormal investigators, has learned a lot about ghosts over her years of research and first-hand experience. Now, in Life with the Afterlife , she shares the insight she has gleaned and how it has shaped her unique approach to interacting with the spirits of the dead and those who encounter them. From her earliest supernatural encounters as a child, through her years appearing on Ghost Hunters and the creation of her company Strange Escapes, which offers paranormal excursions to some of America's...

Earlier this year, I read Haunted Healthcare: Medical Professionals and Patients Share their Encounters with the Paranormal by Richard Estep and today I'll post my review of the book. Description from Goodreads Many of those who have chosen the medical profession are no stranger to the paranormal. Ghosts walk the hallways of hospitals both old and new, haunting the wards and operating rooms. Join Richard Estep, paramedic, paranormal investigator, and cast members of TV's "Haunted Case Files" and "Haunted Hospitals," as he talks to EMTs, nurses, medical professionals, and patients alike, documenting their most intense and chilling encounters with ghosts and spirits. Dare YOU walk the hallways of some of the world's most haunted medical facilities? Welcome to the world of Haunted Healthcare... My Thoughts on the Book Considering how much trauma and death that occours at hospitals, I'm not surprised there's a few paranormal encounters. Haunted Heal...

I came across the Autumn Activities Book Tag over at  Portobello Book Blog and I decided to play along as it looked like a fun tag. Apple Picking A book on your TBR that looks so delicious you can’t wait to take a bite out of it. The Long Shadows of October by Kristopher Triana Corn Maze A book that’s so much fun to get lost in. The Whispering Dead by Darcy Coates Haunted Houses A book that scared you silly. I don't get scared easily, but The Exorcist's House by Nick Roberts is a bit creepy. Pumpkin Patch The latest book you picked up (purchased). The House On The Pumpkin Farm by Sarah Shadi Scenic Drives A book that is lyrically beautiful. The Voivod: A Ghost Story by Dominic Selwood Pumpkin Carving A book you didn’t like and wouldn’t mind carving up. A Class of Conjuring by Evie Wilde Hiking A book that was a highly enjoyable romp. Greyfriar's Reformatory by Frazer Lee Drinking Apple Cider A sweet book to curl up under the covers with. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova...

I can admit that I binge read the three first books in the Gravekeeper series by Darcy Coates, so today I'll post my review of The Twisted Dead. Description from Goodreads Keira is ready for her life to return to normal. Though, to be fair, normal is a tall ask when your ability to see ghosts has landed you the job of groundskeeper in a small town’s cemetery. When Keira receives an invitation to dinner at Dane Crispin’s crumbling ancestral estate, she knows she can’t refuse. The last living descendant of the Crispin family is reclusive. Keira only met him once…on the night he tried to kill her. The mansion is steeped in history that is equal parts complicated and bloody. Keira senses the presence of restless spirits the moment she steps through its door. And Dane, waiting for her inside, wants to ask for her help. My Thoughts on the Book The Gravekeeper series is still an engaging series and I love the dynamics between Keira and her friends. There's some more clues to Keira...

A little while ago I read the horror novel Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell and today I'll post my review of the book. Description from Goodreads A romantic cabin getaway doesn’t go exactly as planned. High up on the windswept cliffs of Pale Peak, Faye and Felix celebrate their new engagement. But soon, a chorus of ghastly noises erupts from the nearby the screams of animals, the cries of children, and the mad babble of a hundred mournful voices. A dark figure looms near the windows in the dead of night, whispering to Faye. As the weather turns deadly, Felix discovers that his terrified fiancée isn’t just mumbling in her sleep – she’s whispering back. Originally a contest-winning story on reddit.com’s horror community NoSleep , Stolen Tongues has received widespread acclaim and is now being adapted into a feature film. My Thoughts on the Book Stolen Tongues certainly has the creep factor and I loved the atmosphere in the book. Don't get me wrong, even though I love splatterpun...

As I've got a weak spot for the haunted house trope in horror fiction, I ended up reading The Haunting of Blackwood House by Darcy Coates and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads How long could you survive? As the daughter of spiritualists, Mara's childhood was filled with séances and scam mediums. Now she's ready to start over with her fiancé, Neil, far away from the superstitions she's learned to loathe...but her past isn't willing to let her go so easily. And neither is Blackwood House. When Mara and Neil purchased the derelict property, they were warned that ever since the murder of its original owner, things have changed. Strange shadows stalk the halls. Doors creak open by themselves. Voices whisper in the night. And watchful eyes follow her every move. But Mara's convinced she can't possibly be in danger. Because ghosts aren't real...are they? Description from Goodreads The Haunting of Blackwood House by Darcy Coates is one o...

As it's finally September and thus an autumn month, I figured out it was time I played along on The Autumn Book Tag I came across over at Portobello Book Blog . What is your favourite thing about autumn? As I love all things autumn, I struggle to pick just one thing, but a few highlights include the beautiful foliage, the crisp air, curling up under a blanket, making use of my woodburning stove, and read spooky books. September brings back school memories. Which book reminds you of your school days? What were your favourite and least favourite subjects? I can't deny the Goosebumps series by R. L. Stine reminds me of my school days, as it was in part that series that got me into horror in the first place. In school, while I somewhat enjoyed Norwegian, English, and history as subjects, I have no issues admitting I had a dislike for math. Needless to say there's reasons why I did a history minor and English major at university, and not studied STEM. What cover reminds you of ...

As Darcy Coates has written plenty of haunted house horror novels, I ended up reading The Haunting of Rookward House and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads She's always watching... When Guy finds the deeds to a house in his mother’s attic, it seems like an incredible stroke of luck. Sure, the building hasn’t been inhabited in forty years and vines strangle the age-stained walls, but Guy is convinced he can clean it up and sell it. He’d be crazy to turn down free money. Right? The house is hours from any other habitation, and Guy can't get phone reception in the old building. He decides to camp there while he does repairs. Surely nothing too bad can happen in the space of a week. But there’s a reason no one lives in Rookward House, and the dilapidated rooms aren’t as empty as they seem… A deranged woman tormented a family in Rookward forty years before. Now her ghost clings to the building like rot. She’s bitter, obsessive, and jealous… and once Guy has m...

It's Tuesday and perhaps time for another Top Ten Tuesday post courtesy of  That Artsy Reader Girl and the theme of the week was books that defied my expectations. As I'm focusing on horror and paranormal books, here's my ten picks that defied my expectations in a good way. Misfits by Hunter Shea Description from Goodreads During the height of the 90s grunge era, five high school friends living on the fringe are driven to the breaking point. When one of their friends is brutally raped by a drunk townie, they decide to take matters into their own hands. Deep in the woods of Milbury, Connecticut, there lives the legend of the Melon Heads, a race of creatures that shun human interaction and prey on those who dare to wander down Dracula Drive. Maybe this night, one band of misfits can help the other. Or maybe some legends are meant to be feared for a reason. The Haunting of Las Lágrimas by W. M. Cleese Description from Goodreads Argentina, winter 1913. Ursula Kelp, a young Eng...

As soon as I finished the first book in the Gravekeeper series by Darcy Coates, I had to read The Ravenous Dead too and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads He'll never let go... Keira, hired as Blighty Graveyard’s new groundskeeper, lives surrounded by the dead. They watch her through the fog. They wordlessly cry out. They’ve been desperately waiting for help moving on—and only Keira can hear them. But not every restless spirit wants to be saved. Sometimes the dead hate the living too much to find peace. As Keira struggles to uncover the tangled histories of some of the graveyard’s oldest denizens, danger seeps from the darkest edges of the forest. A vicious serial killer was interred among the trees decades before, his spirit twisted by his violent nature. He’s furious. Ravenous. And when Keira unwittingly answers his call, she may just seal her fate as his final intended victim. My Thoughts on the Book The Ravenous Dead was an enjoyable read as The Whisperi...

August is officially over by now, so it's perhaps time to take stock of what spooky books I managed to read, as well as my book haul. August wasn't my most productive month reading-wise, but at least I managed to read a little bit. Books I've Read The Prettiest Girl in the Grave by Kristopher Triana The House on The Pumpkin Farm by Sarah Shadi The Haunted Bookstore by Shinobumaru Book Haul The House on the Pumpkin Farm by Sarah Shadi The Long Shadows of October by Kristopher Triana