Laura Recommends
Lyrical, existential, and above all accessible, Alexis' latest novel is filled with enchanted pastoral scenes juxtaposed by violence and death. DAYS BY MOONLIGHT is a joy to read, perfect for lovers of Saša Stanišic's rich provincial worlds or Claire-Louise Bennett's poetic prose. This book has the quiet power of thunder in the distance; echoing, rousing, and inevitable.
Intense, evocative, and lush. Everything Under shocked me with its lyrical prose and twisting, intricate plot. Johnson explores everything from fate to gender identity in a story haunted by an unknowable monster.
This is a stunning novel with quiet, powerful prose to take your breath away. Sopinka flawlessly inhabits the rich inner world of her protagonist. Powerful in a soft way.
This novel takes place in a town that can only be described as "curmudgeonly." Its host of characters ranges in both age and species. Over the course of an evening the sleepy town descends into chaos. Full of a distinctively Eastern European brand of magical realism, this is an enchanting fireside tale.
A beautiful novel made more stunning through Pyle's precise observations of the natural world. Fans of Claire-Louise Bennett will sink into the captivating prose. Whether he's describing a Greyhound bus or the winter activities owls, Pyle will keep you entranced with his perfect imagery. Absolutely enchanting!
A postmodern fairytale, dark and enchanting in its simplicity. Set in a crumbling cultural period, this book shows a child’s perspective of an idyllic life during a tumultuous moment in history. Each vignette is an exploration of family, identity, and the loss of innocence.
This French bestseller translates beautifully into a double narrative: one voice young and disillusioned with her bourgeois world, the other old and radiant, yet masked by humble origins. A gently sardonic and bittersweet exploration of philosophy, love, and art. It will remain in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page.
“The circus arrives without warning,” and in a similar manner this book invites you into its world. Rarely are books such an absolute feast – for the senses and the imagination. And I envy you that you are about to read The Night Circus for the first time. Savor it!
Pond is a complete and utter escape on par with a certain other Irish writer’s masterpiece. Contemplative, rich, and an absolute delight – pure aesthetic pleasure.
Enchanting and eerie. The Changeling is a literary classic and cornerstone for writers like Daisy Johnson and Karen Russell. Highly evocative, this book is a force unbeholden to the reader, the writer, or the world.
Hauntingly beautiful with prose that echo deeper than the ocean. This book is an intimate exploration of youth, love, and the tragedies that can define our lives. A siren song that will entrance you.
This book was absolutely fantastic! A knock-out cast of diverse characters, a complex and layered world, and an ever increasing descent into chaos that left me breathless. Is it too bold to say that this series could be the next Throne of Glass? My only wish is that the second book was here already!
A dark and thrilling take on the epic Beowulf! The characters are powerful and raw, the story bloody and wrenching. Tucholke has given new life to the classic story, creating depth and unlocking meanings previously unknown.
A sly beast of a novel, this gothic tale will entrance you! Hypnotic prose, an unreliable narrator, and a spiraling story with no foreseeable end make this book truly haunting. Perfect for a crisp October night!
This gorgeous translated book cuts to the heart of what it is to occupy a female body - the fear, the joy, and the rage. Twelve stories demonstrate a vast range of emotion. At times they are uplifting and peaceful before diving back into the narrative's constantly present, violent underbelly. Haunting, visceral, and so important.
This book is powerful, fraught with an underlying tension that echoes from our modern society. Moss grapples with sexism, "race purity," and classism in her stunningly rich prose. This book brings to the forefront of the reader's mind the subtle yet constant fear minorities and oppressed peoples must deal with ever day. GHOST WALL works to answer one dark and twisted question: has modern man progressed from his primitive self?
An electric tale of friendship and betrayal, this book fearlessly explores the vicious fierceness that lives buried in all dangerous women. Milla is a beautifully human character: loyal and good, yet plagued by demons, fear, and the rash decisions of youth. Every character is so wonderfully flawed, caught up in a tragedy that seems unstoppable if only because of their nature. This is an excellent story that will leave the reader haunted long after turning the last page.
A fierce and fiery tale of sisterhood and betrayal set in a world rich in magic and deception. In this story there is no one who is wholly good or entirely evil, each person and group is haunted by history and intention. This is an intricately written debut that is sure to amaze fans of Alwyn Hamilton and Sabaa Tahir! Fascinating characters, magic, and world-building, Pau Preto is a name to watch!
THE LADY FROM THE BLACK LAGOON is the true story of lost film pioneer Milicent Patrick. Patrick was the artistic and creative genius behind one of cinema's most famous monsters. How do we not know more about this creative and trailblazing woman? Her work was claimed by a jealous male colleague and what should have been a bright career was cut tragically short. With dogged persistence and years of research, horror filmmaker Mallory O'Meara sets out to discover more about this forgotten icon. LADY reads like a detective thriller, captivating and rewarding for those who are willing to explore the sexist culture that has shaped Hollywood to this day.
WICKED SAINTS has everything I look for in a book: dark monsters, powerful magic, and a stunning atmosphere that permeates every page. This book is lush and darkly romantic, filled with blood and bones. Perfect for fans of Maggie Stiefvater and Leigh Bardugo, Duncan's thrilling debut explores the ecstasy and heart-breaking tragedy of what it is to love a monster.
Ambitious and extensive, UNDERLAND plunges the reader into an epic journey below the earth; from sea caves to the catacombs of Paris to fungal networks and beyond. This haunting and lyrical treatise is an exploration of humanity's expansive ties to the subterranean, not only including Macfarlane's travels and observations but those of artists, murderers, and explorers. Macfarlane seeks out the darkness of our world, weaving his findings together in a narrative of mystery, strangeness, and ultimately, brilliance.
Reading THIS WICKED TONGUE is like plunging into a glacial pool: there is a moment of shock, the thought that these feelings shouldn't be humanly possible, and then there is pure exhilaration and the knowledge that this experience will stay with you forever. Elise Levine is a raw, visceral writer and her latest stories are devastatingly gorgeous. She explores the lives of her characters not with the detached fascination of a scientist but the deep connection of someone intrinsically tied to her stories. She leads us through an exploration of identity with the precision of an expert knife-thrower.
Elizabeth Lim's latest novel is completely enchanting! Lim reimagines the tale of Thousandfur in an epic adventure filled with beautiful, rich imagery and a stunning, breathless plot. SPIN THE DAWN reminds readers of the possibilities of stories - the ways they can be reimagined and re-spun into new and fascinating works of artistry.
Sometimes a book is just too good for words - this is one such book. WILDER GIRLS is a raw, speculative debut filled with stunning prose and a brutally fierce story. The atmosphere of Raxter is eerie, permeating every page. Powers is unflinching when looking into the hearts and minds of adolescent girls - their wants, fears, and will to survive. This is exactly the sort of story we need right now.
Davis follows in the footsteps of April Genevieve Tucholke and Tomi Adeyemi with her new, intersectional Western! When Clementine accidentally kills a man she uproots her small band of girls and begins a hunt for vengeance the country of Arketta will only give over its cold, dead body. THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS is bloody, electric, and built with grit. Davis fearlessly shines a light at America's own injustices and navigates a break neck plot with the speed and precision of a bullet.
The world of Sabor is fascinating and complex, the characters are nuanced and powerfully written. Ultimately, this is the enemies-to-allies road trip adventure you've been waiting for! Completely engrossing!
Filled with references to the occult, Eve writes like a modern Emily Brontë; gothic, eerie, and bafflingly original. THE GRACES crackles with an electric mix of characters all following a path to the inevitable conclusion. Haunting!
STRANGE HARVESTS follows the journey of several natural commodities from harvest to marketplace. It's a fascinating insight into humanity's connections with the natural world, a complex tapestry of first hand narratives, history, and science. Through the book Posnett shows us the subtle harmony of ecology and economy, posing the question: can humanity balance our desire to consume or will we inevitably destroy our harvests?