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The Leper’s Garden and Other Contagions

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ** I received an ARC for an honest review ** Description These eleven tales of historical dark romance and horror will guide through the teeming streets and markets of old Hong Kong, the listless heat of French Senegal and the fog of Victorian London. Step inside penny arcades, shadow theatres and freak shows. These… Continue reading The Leper’s Garden and Other Contagions

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Carmilla: Week 13

XIII. The Woodman “There soon, however, appeared some drawbacks. In the first place, Millarca complained of extreme languor—the weakness that remained after her late illness—and she never emerged from her room till the afternoon was pretty far advanced. In the next place, it was accidentally discovered, although she always locked her door on the inside,… Continue reading Carmilla: Week 13

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Carmilla: Week 12

XII. A Petition “‘Then we are to lose Madame la Comtesse, but I hope only for a few hours,’ I said, with a low bow. “‘It may be that only, or it may be a few weeks. It was very unlucky his speaking to me just now as he did. Do you now know me?’… Continue reading Carmilla: Week 12

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First Nations Month Reads

November is First Nations Month, so I’m reading and recommending quite a few amazing indigenous authors in genres spanning from epic fantasy, dystopian Grimdark fantasy to horror and weird fiction. Rebecca Roanhorse I’m currently reading Mirrored Heavens in the final in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy by Rebecca Roanhorse. This is an amazing epic… Continue reading First Nations Month Reads

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Ghost Girls & Rabbits

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ** I received an ARC for an honest review ** Description Flush with the victory of winning the election as Alaska's first Athabaskan Senator, Noni Begay wakes to find herself buried alive. When her coffin lid opens, though, it's not to rescue but to six years of captivity, betrayed by the one person she… Continue reading Ghost Girls & Rabbits

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Carmilla: Week 11

XI. The Story “With all my heart,” said the General, with an effort; and after a short pause in which to arrange his subject, he commenced one of the strangest narratives I ever heard. “My dear child was looking forward with great pleasure to the visit you had been so good as to arrange for… Continue reading Carmilla: Week 11

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What Moves the Dead

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Description When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania. What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks… Continue reading What Moves the Dead

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Carmilla: Week 10

X. Bereaved It was about ten months since we had last seen him: but that time had sufficed to make an alteration of years in his appearance. He had grown thinner; something of gloom and anxiety had taken the place of that cordial serenity which used to characterize his features. His dark blue eyes, always… Continue reading Carmilla: Week 10

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Carmilla: Week 7

VII. Descending It would be vain my attempting to tell you the horror with which, even now, I recall the occurrence of that night. It was no such transitory terror as a dream leaves behind it. It seemed to deepen by time, and communicated itself to the room and the very furniture that had encompassed… Continue reading Carmilla: Week 7

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2025 Favourite Reads…so far

This year has been a whirlwind of amazing books by established voices and incredible works from new authors. Enter Shepard to save the day! readers 👉🏻 I’ve read 63 books so far this year but wantrd to share my favourite ones so far which have had the greatest impact on me. Writers 👉🏻 Shepherd are… Continue reading 2025 Favourite Reads…so far