Top Reads of 2016 and Looking Ahead to 2017

For some reason, I feel like I didn't have a great reading year this year. I didn't read as much as I would have liked to have read and the majority of my reading time in 2016 was spent reading books send to me by publishers, authors, or via Netgalley. I have so many books I want to get to that have been getting neglected due to other reading obligations. So, I am planning on changing my reading habits for the year ahead.

I plan in 2017 to read more of the physical books that I have on my shelves. I will still be reading books I receive for review, but I will be more strict with what I accept for review, and more strict with myself to make sure I make a point of reading my own books alongside them. I do try to accept books for review that I know I will enjoy, but I seem to have been a bit less successful on that front in 2016. At one point during the year, I felt myself getting into a bit of a reading slump and I realised that I wasn't enjoying reading as much as I usually do. It had started to feel more like a chore rather than my favourite pastime. I want to make sure I avoid that in 2017, so fingers crossed I will have a more successful year ahead.

Now that my blethering is done, let's get to my top reads. In previous years I have had a pretty decent list of books to choose from at the end of the year, this year, however, there are only a few books that have stood out over all the others.

The following, in no particular order, are my top reads of 2016:


Beloved Poison by E.S. Thomson

I was completely captivated by this book. The imagery was so vivid that I was transported completely to another time. I was so wrapped up in the dark and gloomy world of victorian London, surrounded by the sights, the smells, and the crumbling old buildings, that the world around me ceased to exist. When I wasn't reading I found myself thinking about the world and the people that I had left behind on the pages, eager to get back to them... click here for complete review


Wrathbone and Other Stories by Jason Parent

Wrathbone sat on my mantel for a full month tempting me to read it, but I was determined to save it for Halloween night and I'm so glad that I did. I couldn't put it down. This is how you write a short story collection! I can honestly say that each story was easily 5 star worthy on its own.

Wrathbone is not only the first short story collection to ever make it onto one of my top reads of the year, but it's also the first short story collection to ever to make my favourites list!... click here for complete review

Prince of Nightmares by John McNee

The premise of Prince of Nightmares really intrigued me and as an added bonus I discovered that not only is John McNee a Scottish horror author, the story is also set in Scotland. Result! Being from Scotland myself it's a real treat to come across a Scottish horror author, especially one who sets their story in Scotland, and one who's book is now one of my top reads! Prince of Nightmares is expertly written, a pleasure to read and much more than I was expecting... click here for complete review


Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

It's not very often that a book surprises me in the way that Dark Matter did. Just when I thought I knew where the story was heading and had prepared myself for what was ahead, I was totally blindsided and catapulted down an expertly crafted, extremely clever and mind blowing path...
click here for complete review




 All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things is a book that not everyone is going to be comfortable reading. It's a book that had me questioning myself, my feelings and my emotions. On finishing it I wasn't sure how I felt. I enjoyed it but at the same time, my mind was all over the place trying to analyse what I was feeling. It's controversial, it's uncomfortable, it's shocking, it's raw and it's a very powerful and emotional read that will take you out of your comfort zone but it's because of this that I enjoyed it so much. Not many books can create this kind of reaction... click here for complete review

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Before I sign off, I would like to give a couple of honourable mentions to a few books which, despite not making it onto my top list, I really enjoyed and have stuck with me and deserve a mention:



A Living Grave by Robert E. Dunn 
Fantastic female protagonist.
click here for review

Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield

A tragic, beautiful and heartbreaking read.

click here for review

 The Hatching: A Novel by Ezekiel Boone
Man eating spiders who think and move like a hive,
out thinking and outsmarting their prey. There's no escape...
click here for review

 

The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko by Scott Stambach 

A very poignant story told by a very memorable character

 click here for review

They Rise: A Deep Sea Thriller by Hunter Shea
The sea can be a scary force to be reckoned with on its own
but throw in the horrors found in this book and you have a
whole different level of scary.
click here for review

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 So, there you have it folks! All that is left for me to say is that I hope you have a great 2017 and may all your reads be 5 star worthy.

Happy Hogmanay tae ane an'aw’ an' mony may ye see!

Scarlet x

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Review: Beloved Poison by E.S. Thomson

Beloved Poison by E.S. Thomson

My Rating:

I would like to thank Little, Brown Book Group for providing me with an advanced reading copy of this book.

I went into this book not sure what to expect. It was initially the beautiful cover that caught my eye and on reading the blurb it piqued my interest even more, but I knew nothing more about the book. I didn't know if it was a mystery, crime, or a thriller etc. I had no inkling of what genre it fit into so I didn't have any expectations going in, and I certainly didn't expect it to enthral me as much as it did.

I was completely captivated by this book. The imagery was so vivid that I was transported completely to another time. I was so wrapped up in the dark and gloomy world of victorian London, surrounded by the sights, the smells, and the crumbling old buildings, that the world around me ceased to exist. When I wasn't reading I found myself thinking about the world and the people that I had left behind on the pages, eager to get back to them.

The writing style played out in my head like a movie. I could picture everything, the sights, the smells, the characters, the environment, and I was completely taken over by the book the whole time it was in my hands. The characterisation was fantastic. Every character was so well written and fleshed out, especially those of Jem and Will. Jem is an amazing character, she enveloped me and drew me into her world, she was as real as I was and I was right there with her from start to finish. Her voice was a light in the darkness and I was drawn to it and couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

I want to say Beloved Poison is a character driven story, the characters are a huge part of the book and feel as real as you or I, but it's also very world driven. Victorian London surrounded me the whole time I was reading, I was there amongst the old buildings, breathing in the tainted air and passing the people on the street like I was one of them. To me, this was a story that I lived rather than a story read. Even though there is a mystery running throughout, and of course I wanted to know who the guilty party was, it was the experience of living and breathing in Victorian London and my love for Jem's character that made this an outstanding read.

Quite unexpectedly, Beloved Poison is one of my favourite reads of 2016. I never thought I would ever say that about a historical fiction book. I can't wait to get my hands on the next instalment!

Beloved Poison is going to be a hard book to follow. I'm going to have to choose my next read very carefully.

Highly recommended.




Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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Review: Wrathbone and Other Stories by Jason Parent

Wrathbone and Other Stories by Jason Parent

My Rating:

Wrathbone sat on my mantel for a full month tempting me to read it, but I was determined to save it for Halloween night and I'm so glad that I did. I couldn't put it down and almost read it in one sitting, but instead, I saved the last story for the following day in order to make it last a little longer. I didn't want it to finish.

These are my kinda short stories! I find that many short stories read like they are incomplete or are a small part of something larger, but not so with Wrathbone. Each story felt complete and they were all so different both in style and subject matter.

Wrathbone - I loved the writing style of this one. I could feel the horror and madness building as the story progressed. Was it evil or madness? You'll have to read it to find out.

The Only Good Lawyer - I want to say this one was my favourite, but I loved all of them for different reasons. I do have a thing about stories with anything voodoo in them so this one hit all the right spots for me.

Dorian's Mirror - A modern take on The Portrait of Dorian Gray. Be careful what you wish for! I'm starting to sound like a broken record, yes, I loved this one too!

For the Birds - See, this right here makes me glad that I don't like birds! Poor Nev. I did have a good chuckle at this one, at Nev's expense of course.

Revenge is a Dish - This was my ultimate favourite from the collection, even though I loved them all this is the one that I found myself engrossed in the most. I think it's because the descriptions were so vivid and easily pictured while reading, and it went down a completely different route from what I was expecting.

This is how you write a short story collection! I can honestly say that each story was easily 5 star worthy on its own.

Wrathbone is not only going into my Best of 2016, but it's also the first short story collection ever to make it onto my favourites list.

Highly recommended!



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Synopsis

• Print Length: 160 pages
• Publisher: Comet Press
• Publication Date: October 3, 2016

Terror follows those who let it into their hearts.

Wrathbone

Guests of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, Major Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris attend a showing of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. On that fateful night, a great man falls, but he is not alone. For Henry and Clara, the night is only the beginning of lives wrought with jealousy, madness, and horror.

The Only Good Lawyer

Bradley is a savvy defense attorney with no scruples. Under his representation, many a guilty man has gone free. But when a voodoo priest takes the stand, Bradley soon discovers that he, too, is on trial, and the punishment for guilt may be more than he could bear.

Dorian's Mirror

Dorian loves himself, and why wouldn't he? Every guy wants to be him, and every girl wants to be with him. He would trade all he has to make his looks last forever, but bargaining with the devil may leave him short a soul.

For the Birds

Nev's best friend is his parrot. In fact, it's his only friend… and his only ally when his home is invaded.

Revenge is a Dish

Maurice has landed a dream job, chef for a rich couple on their yacht. The wife has carnal desires for him. Maurice has some carnal desires of his own.

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 Biography


In his head, Jason Parent lives in many places, but in the real world, he calls New England his home. The region offers an abundance of settings for his writing and many wonderful places in which to write them. He currently resides in Southeastern Massachusetts with his cuddly corgi named Calypso.

In a prior life, Jason spent most of his time in front of a judge . . . as a civil litigator. When he finally tired of Latin phrases no one knew how to pronounce and explaining to people that real lawsuits are not started, tried and finalized within the 60-minute timeframe they see on TV (it's harassing the witness; no one throws vicious woodland creatures at them), he traded in his cheap suits for flip flops and designer stubble. The flops got repossessed the next day, and he's back in the legal field . . . sorta. But that's another story.

When he's not working, Jason likes to kayak, catch a movie, travel any place that will let him enter, and play just about any sport (except that ball tied to the pole thing where you basically just whack the ball until it twists in a knot or takes somebody's head off - he misses the appeal). And read and write, of course. He does that too sometimes.

Please visit the author on Facebook, on Twitter, or at his website for information regarding upcoming events or releases, or if you have any questions or comments for him.

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Praise for Wrathbone and Other Stories

From the eerie opening tale to the grisly closer, and all of the wonderfully mean-spirited tales in-between, Wrathbone is a winner!” — Jeff Strand, author of Dead Clown Barbecue

“Wrathbone and Other Stories is a hard-hitting collection that you can completely immerse yourself in. The title story is a beautifully written period tale of love and tragedy. I finished and realized that I was breathing shallowly because I was genuinely affected that much. A tale that leaves you breathless? Yes, please!” - Mercedes M. Yardley, author of the Bram Stoker Award winner Little Dead Red.

"An elegantly written novella of madness, murder, and demons, Jason Parent's Wrathbone reads like Edgar Allan Poe's take on 'Jacob's Ladder.'" --Adam Howe, author of Tijuana Donkey Showdown, Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet, and Black Cat Mojo

“Jason Parent is a master of controlling how you perceive the characters and the events in these stories, making sure you read it exactly how he wants you to read it. It’s like mind control. Powerful stuff!” – Nev Murray, Confessions of A Reviewer 

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Media, information and graphics provided by Erin Al-Mehairi from Hook of a Book Media & Publicity. 

 

Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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Review: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

My Rating:


I received a free copy of Dark Matter from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Dark Matter is the easiest 5 stars I have given this year. In fact I would go as far as to say that it may very well end up in my number one spot for book of 2016.

It's not very often that a book surprises me in the way that Dark Matter did. Just when I thought I knew where the story was heading and had prepared myself for what was ahead, I was totally blind sided and catapulted down an expertly crafted, extremely clever and mind blowing path. I found myself thrown by how quickly and cleverly things changed and I had to put the book down for a minute to digest just how excellent and unexpected the turn of events were. I have to admit, I was totally mind blown and fangirling at that point, something that very rarely happens and I haven't done since reading The Martian.

Dark Matter is packed full of action, tension and suspense and has twists and turns that will pull the rug from under your feet. Highly recommended! I have already recommended it to all my family and friends who love to read.



Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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Review: All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

My Rating:


I received a free copy of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things: A Novel from the publisher in return for an honest review.

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things was an uncomfortable read. I want to say it was uncomfortable in a good way but because of the controversial story line it feels wrong to even say that. It's also a very hard book to write a review for without ruining a lot of the storyline for those who haven't yet read it.

The story brought out all sorts of conflicting emotions and at times I found myself thinking that it was wrong of me to be getting so much enjoyment from it. The relationship between Wavy and Kellen is sad, compelling and disturbing. If you were to stumble upon this happening in real life you would be outraged. It's wrong on so many levels. But, experiencing their story, seeing their relationship through their eyes, you begin to view it differently. All of sudden it doesn't feel so outrageous and then you realise that you feel this way and have a WTF moment and find yourself feeling disgusted and uncomfortable with where your thoughts and feelings have taken you.

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things is a book that not everyone is going to be comfortable reading. It's a book that had me questioning myself, my feelings and my emotions. On finishing it I wasn't sure how I felt. I enjoyed it but at the same time my mind was all over the place trying to analyse what I was feeling and why it left me feeling so conflicted. It's controversial, it's uncomfortable, it's shocking, it's raw and it's a very powerful and emotional read that will take you out of your comfort zone but it's because of this that I enjoyed it so much. Not many books can create this kind of reaction.

Highly recommended!



Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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Review: Prince of Nightmares by John McNee

Prince of Nightmares by John McNee

My Rating:


I received a free copy of Prince of Nightmares from the publisher in return for an honest review.

The premise of Prince of Nightmares really intrigued me and as an added bonus I discovered that not only is John McNee a Scottish horror author but the story is also set in Scotland. Result! Wild horses couldn't have held me back. I love all kinds of horror but being from Scotland myself it's a real treat to come across a Scottish horror author, especially one who sets their story in Scotland. Of course that doesn't mean that I am going to love it or that I'm going to give it 5 stars based on those facts alone.

Prince of Nightmares is expertly written, a pleasure to read and much more than I was expecting. At times I wasn't sure if what I was reading was real or if it was a dream but that just added to the imagery and surreal feel of the story.

I honestly don't think I could pick just one thing that stood out for me. I enjoyed everything about this one: the writing style, the imagery, the pacing, the atmosphere, and more. Fans of horror will devour the imaginative, twisted and horrific scenes within the pages of this book. I know I certainly did.  It's bloody, it's gory, it's vicious and certainly not for the faint of heart and I was totally immersed and enjoyed every minute.

I would love to read a prequel set around the history behind the hotel.

Highly recommended.




Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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