An Immaculate Deception by Isabela Livino

A debut Gothic horror set in 1870s Brazil—a tale of creeping suspense in which a young pregnant woman finds herself unable to escape her lover’s isolated family home, and a family’s deal with the devil goes terribly wrong.

1877, Pernambuco, Brazil: Raised in a deeply religious household, Madalena knows Dante’s Inferno by heart and fears her mother’s reaction as much as she fears God. When she falls pregnant with a child conceived in sin, her mother issues a threat: marry or surrender the baby. Madalena is confident that the father, the dashing Leandro Neves, will do right by her and propose. But just as she is about to tell him about the baby, a violent storm sends their carriage careening off the road.

Madalena awakens in Leandro’s sprawling, secluded home, under the care of the mysterious and larger-than-life Doctor Lobo. Leandro is there . . . but he is no longer the charming poet she knew. He’s silent. Obsessed. Always watching.

Strange perfume haunts a locked room. Pages vanish from books. Jewels lie untouched in a forgotten wardrobe. And mirrors begin disappearing after Madalena sees something—or someone—ghastly in the reflection.

Leandro is unraveling. Doctor Lobo may be hiding something even darker. Trapped in a decaying house of secrets, Madalena must uncover the truth before the men around her destroy her, and before the hell she fears becomes the one she’s living in.

Madalena is young, pregnant, and madly in love with the man of her dreams. Unfortunately, the year is 1877, when being an unwed mother from a strict family is a worse fate than death. She was sure that the baby's father would ask her to marry him as soon as she told him about it, but alas, a tragic accident means she will never find out what he would have said.

When she awakens in his home after the accident, he is changed towards her. He is acting strangely and downright cold. Is it just shock from the accident or something more sinister? He doesn't seem to want her there, and yet he and the doctor who has been called will not let her leave.

I read this book because it was described as gothic horror, but I think I may have preferred it without the horror; I would have enjoyed it more as just a historical fiction. I was already so intrigued by the story, long before the horror aspect, that when it did come into play, I felt like it was just unnecessary and maybe even in the way. I was stunned by the clever and shocking reveal when we find out why the baby's father has changed towards her, but once that secret was let loose, I felt it should wrap up a little quicker. It stretched on too long for my tastes.

My thanks to Dutton for the e-ARC.

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Steal Me by Helen Grant

 Rowan Byrne hasn’t stolen anything for ages—not since she started to straighten her life out after a personal tragedy. But the volume she’s just picked up in the new bookshop in town seems to want her to steal it. The text is very persuasive. There’s a book for everyone in Legends—a book that will encourage their worst impulses. Steal. Fear. Burn. Kill. It’s not long before Rowan’s small town, isolated from the outside world, is descending into mayhem. Assailed by her own demons, Rowan could try to cut and run. Or she could make a stand, and try to save the community she loves . . .

In a small town where everyone knows everybody else's business, it's odd that a brand new shop could appear seemingly overnight with nobody knowing it was coming. Yet here it is, and Rowan can't wait to get a look inside this new book store. But there's something else that seems off. These are no ordinary books, and one in particular knows her darkest secrets. This is a very special store that captivates everyone who enters with a book meant just for them. It preys on your weaknesses. But why? What secrets do these elderly shop owners hide behind their cheerful facade?

I loved Rowan, and her would-be love interest Jack (if only either of them could muster up the courage to ask the other out!) Beyond the chemistry they had together was their bravery in attempting to save the town from evil. Delving into German folklore, the two unlikely heroes are the town's only hope. 

Steal Me is a fast paced thrill ride through folklore and fairy tale that had me in its thrall from the first page. I don't normally like to compare, but the dark vibes of this mysterious shop and unnerving proprietors reminded me just a bit of King's Needful Things. 

5 out of 5 stars

My thanks to PS Publishing for the finished copy.

A Coven of Witches by Alexis Powell Illustrated by Marina Vidal

 A spellbinding collection of 20 original spooky tales that reimagine witches from folklore, myth, and history.

A girl receives a Christmas gift far worse than coal. An sideshow lures in new recruits. A birthday party turns into a grisly scavenger hunt. A werewolf stalks a ghostly graveyard. A train ride proves quite deadly. These stories are as enchanting as they are eerie, shining a light on the magical world of these legendary witches.

Features stories inspired by Baba Yaga, Marie Laveau, Circe, the Salem Witch Trials, La Lechuza, and more. All brought to life through gorgeous full-color illustrations.

This gorgeous book with glow in the dark cover and beautiful illustrations contains 20 scary stories for kids.

They each have a spookiness rating of 1-3, so you know in advance if it may be too scary for younger children.

Every story begins with its own full color illustration and ends with some fascinating information about the origin of the witch in the story.

The stories are separated into sections of Folklore, Mythology, and History with a brief explanation of each. Of course, my favorites all had the level 3 spookiness rating, but all of the stories are entertaining and sure to grab the attention of young readers without being so scary as to induce nightmares. This is exactly the kind of book I would have considered a treasured find when I was a child. If you are looking to keep your kids engaged in reading over the summer, I highly recommend A Coven of Witches.

My thanks to Gibbs Smith Books for the gifted hardcover.

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The House That Eats the Dead by Max Doty

 A family moves into their dream home—only to discover that it hides an insatiable hunger—in this dread-laced and darkly outrageous domestic horror novel.

The new house is a fresh start for Claire and her family. It's a move away from the cityscape of a declining San Francisco and towards the quiet suburban life she has craved since her turbulent childhood; a step up the corporate ladder for her husband, Tom; and a safe haven for their two children.

Yet as they unpack their boxes, she senses something is wrong. Fresh flowers dry up, store-bought eggs are inexplicably hollow, and her daughter's favorite toy disappears. Claire soon confronts a series of impossible The house is hungry. It's devouring anything that was once alive. And only Claire and Tom, the owners of the house, will remember that this "food" ever existed.

When Claire exploits the house's power in a moment of weakness, she and the house forge a fragile bond. But as its hunger intensifies and Claire loses control, she fears who else might be drawn to her home—and what sinister appetites they’ll bring.

Claire and her husband Tom get a great deal on a multimillion-dollar home. It wasn't that long ago that their teenage son was a victim of assault. This will be a fresh start and a move away from the crime and violence of the city. 

When they settle in, Claire is the first to notice the strange noises and the way items go missing. What's more, she is the only one who remembers that the missing items ever existed. Her husband doesn't believe her at first until he sees it for himself. 

It may sound like something you've read before, but it was quite unique.

This was a fast paced original take that breathed new life into the old haunted house trope. The house isn't haunted; it's alive and needs to be fed. The house is neither good nor evil, merely hungry, but it could be a dangerous tool in the hands of the wrong sort of person.

Although there is a supernatural aspect to the plot, with the house exerting its influence over occupants and even the would-be occupants, that was not the true horror of the story. People change drastically in this house, but it is more an unmasking of their true personality traits than a possession. 

If you are in the mood for a dark domestic horror, full of mystery, suspense, and murder, I highly recommend The House That Eats The Dead.

My thanks to Bantam Books for the e-ARC

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