My reading has taken a turn lately … into the supernatural and spooky and weird. I always try to read and watch creepy type things this time of year, and so far I am succeeding.

Let’s start with… Small Favors by Erin A. Craig

Out of the three I am reviewing, this one is my favorite! I love the worlds that Craig creates, I find them so unique and unusual, slightly darkly whimsical with imaginative plots and interesting characters. In Small Favors, the book starts off gently, with the working of beehives by a father and daughter..then slowly, slowly things start to go off the rails, building to a crescendo of an ending. Ellerie is a great mix of strength of vulnerability, even if the vulnerability is hidden. And, I loved the character Whitaker so much that I named one of my released butterflies after him. I highly recommend this read if fantasy/horror is your jam.

Next up.. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

This one was my least favorite, however, that doesn’t mean I disliked it. I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. I feel like it was a bit rushed and I would have liked to hear more about these characters, especially Nella, and about the mystery in the past of the “apothecary murders”. I felt the ending was a bit hurried, but overall I did like this book. When I checked this out from the library, there was a note from another patron who had read it that said “Good book. Fast read”. And I would have to agree. (although, this cover is my favorite. It is gorgeous right?)

And finally, the mind bending book that was Bunny by Mona Awad.

This book was crazy insane; my mind felt broken after reading it. I felt like I had lived through some sort of nightmare. It made me uncomfy. The writing was brilliant, and made me think of creepy bars with concrete floors and bad lighting, unfamiliar feeling and intimidating. I absolutely loved it, although I don’t feel like I can definitively explain what it was about. I was trying to tell my husband about it last night but instead sounded like I was telling him about some sort of drug fueled fever dream. It is lonely and busted and reminded me of Alice in Wonderland but told by Chuck Palahniuk. It might be one of the best books I have read all year, based more on the actual writing than the plot which was…confusing… It was crazy, but also crazy good.