NOW AVAILABLE: Doctor Who 70-79

 

So, you know. It's downtime for Doctor Who. Maybe it'll be back soon, maybe it won't. We simply do not know at this point. But, fortunately, there are plenty of other things coming out in the interim: reference books, charity anthologies, official fiction, and the like. I'm embedded in some of this stuff, some of which is still in the chute waiting to come out. But one thing is currently ready, and it's very pretty.

Doctor Who 70-79 is a publication by the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, covering an entire decade of the series during the tenures of Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker. The volume includes interviews with Caroline John and Mary Tamm, reminiscences about specific serials and major events of the era, and much more. Like the other special publications (including DWAS annuals), this is a gorgeous full-color hardcover, as nice to look at as it is to read.

As for my part, I cover two fourth Doctor stories: Genesis of the Daleks and The Deadly Assassin. And just from that selection, you may have an idea of what topic I discuss.

My major fascination in this space is how fans and surrounding media interact with the show, and how that in turn affects the story and evolution of the series. In this case, I'm zooming in on two of Mary Whitehouse's major complaints as regards violence. Granted, I do bring an American viewpoint to this (as I state early on), but my focus is more on how this shock value serves the narrative than on if it's "okay" for young viewers. Having lived through the congressional hearings on violence in video games at an age when I would have been the demographic "at risk," I'm always fascinated by this sort of topic.

If that sounds like your jam, I hope you'll pick it up. And if not, there are so many other articles to choose from, including look-ins from Dale Smith, Simon Guerrier, Don Klees, and many others I'm very fond of. Bruce Nicholson and Paul Smith did an amazing job bringing this together, and I look forward to working with the DWAS more on similar projects in future.

Grab your copy of Doctor Who 70-79 here, and be sure to let me know what you think!

BOOK REVIEW: Little Monsters

LITTLE MONSTERS
by Máire Roche
Available now

It's Halloween in Salem, and the March sisters and their foster mother Marmee are scraping by as best they can. Meg is working hard to ensure she and her sisters can afford the Halloween costumes of their dreams, but there's a more pressing issue on the horizon: the neighborhood is being terrorized by a monster. And given the gaps in her memory and the dirt on her feet in the morning, Meg is very worried that that monster is her.

You see, the March sisters have a secret: each has a unique monstrous form they are working to hide, and even Marmee doesn't know. But the attack on the Laurences' chicken coop has many of Meg's classmates curious, and some appear to know more about her than they should. While Meg would prefer to spend her time with cute tutor John Brooke, she feels she has to solve this problem on her own, before the whole neighborhood finds out her family's dark secret. But it seems like the neighborhood at large may have secrets of their own, too.

As a middle-grade book, Little Monsters is a great read, with an important lesson threaded throughout. As Meg learns, no one can be expected to handle everyone's problems on their own. And similarly, we can't know what others are going through. The girls' monstrous forms could easily be a metaphor for any number of unique issues, including and especially neurodivergence.

That said, I have one major quibble with this book, which is that I'm not sure what makes it a Little Women retelling beyond extremely surface-level similarities. There are four girls who share names with the March sisters, and there are surrounding characters who fill similar roles to their namesakes, but it feels too much like its own thing - possibly it's both present-day and paranormal, and thus most of the trappings of the original are left far behind. It doesn't seem to be saying or doing much that ties it to Little Women meaningfully. Perhaps it's because this year also brought us the exceptional Beth Is Dead, a modern retelling whose differences from the original were the entire point of the story. But Little Monsters feels more like a fanfiction that's strayed so far from the source that it might as well file the serial numbers off and be its own story.

This doesn't mean that this book "shouldn't exist" - as I said before, it's a good story with good lessons and interesting worldbuilding. But cramming it into the Little Women box rather than letting it exist on its own distracts from the story and leaves it feeling like it's missing something. Since so many elements of the original are absent or glossed over, Little Monsters ends up feeling incomplete. Amy and Beth are barely there, to the point that I can't remember who had the mermaid traits and who had the bat traits. Jo is something of a caricature of what a modern Jo March might be, right down to dressing up as Louisa May Alcott for Halloween. It feels like the Little Women ties exist solely to get eyes on the book; and, ironically, I believe it would be a far better and stronger book if it embraced its worldbuilding and presented itself as fully original.

TEA PAIRING: March Home in Bloom
A really nice white tea that much more forgiving than other white teas if you steep it a bit too long. I enjoy the light floral blend and, while white tea absolutely has caffeine in it, it's still nice for a lighter brew later in the day. Use my code KARA15 for this and other bookish teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

FEATURED CANDLE: March Family Pudding
Another Little Women-inspired find, this candle is a bit more Christmas than Halloween: a super-cozy blend of fig, almond, and brown sugar. Use my referral link for a discount on other book-inspired candles from Frostbeard!

BOOK REVIEW: My Killer Family Reunion

 

MY KILLER FAMILY REUNION
by Dinesh Thiru
Available now

Everyone in Jayshree's family has plotted out how they'd kill Grand Mom. It's been a running joke for years. But at the most recent family reunion, Grand Mom declares that she's changing the will so only three people will receive a share of her massive fortune in the form of valuable properties. So it's a nasty coincidence when Grand Mom is nearly hit by a car in the parking lot right after dinner, leaving her in a coma.

That is, of course, assuming it was a coincidence.

Jayshree may be all but invisible to most people, but Grand Mom knew she had a keen eye for mysteries. While the family waits for their matriarch to wake up, Jay and her cousins put their deductive skills to the test (and their lives on the line) to figure out who's behind the attempted murder. But it's not all dire: her family has done a bit of playful matchmaking between Jay and Hernando, a very handsome friend of one of her cousins. Working out her feelings for him provides a fun distraction... assuming, of course, he's not involved somehow.

Mysteries for teen readers are hit and miss; they're either overly patronizing or so dense that they don't stick the landing. My Killer Family Reunion threads that needle, while also ensuring that any red herrings lead to equally valuable secondary discoveries.  Jay's family is both loving and broken in equal measure, with some members doing their best while others are outright abusive. But both are depicted well, and the latter pulls no punches (sometimes literally).

Jay is also allowed to be as smart as the reader, which can be a difficult thing in mysteries for readers of any age. Oftentimes the detective is a step behind (to give the reader the thrill of discovery) or much too far ahead (to stake their claim as a brilliant detective). Jay moves at about the same pace as the reader, and it's a believable pace for someone of her age and intelligence: analytical enough, but still prone to the worries and hesitations that we all feel as teens.

The introduction of Hernando, while he does eventually play a role in the plot, felt a little odd, though. Perhaps it's because I'm not from the demographic depicted in the novel, but his introduction via a fake wedding "prank" (meant as part of Jay's cousins' attempts to get her a "coat closet hook-up," which... fair enough) felt odd. But just because a Lebanese girl doesn't get it doesn't mean it's unrealistic. I'm perfectly willing to assume I'm missing something. That said, Hernando's early appearances do still have that sort of shoehorned-in romance feel to it, and I'm not sure if that detracts from or offsets the mystery at the book's core.

All that aside, My Killer Family Reunion is a fun summer read with a lot of interesting and unique characters, including and especially the highly-targeted Grand Mom. All else being equal, that woman is truly aspirational.

TEA PAIRING: Sunrise Breakfast
While a lot of chai is drunk in this book, it's also used as a way to get women out of the room when men are talking, so we're not doing that. Instead, we're going with Sunrise Breakfast: a bold English breakfast that's caffeinated enough to get the grey cells working. It's also blended with bright yellow marigold petals. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other bookish teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

FEATURED CANDLE: Fictional Crush
With the pretend romance between Jay and Hernando underscoring much of the book, it felt like a good time to highlight one of my favorite limited scents from Frostbeard. This blend of sandalwood, dark musk and resin is legitimately one of the best they've ever put out. Use my affiliate link for a discount on other book-inspired candles from Frostbeard!

BOOK REVIEW: Survival Show

 

SURVIVAL SHOW
by Juno Dawson
Available now

Scottish refugee Taryn Beck loves to sing, but there's only so far that will take her in the post-War world. With her father approaching the maximum life expectancy of refugees and her brother in desperate need of expensive medical care, a solution occurs to her: audition for Starmaker, an international talent competition. It's an all-or-nothing solution. Winners get everything they ever dreamed of, but each week's loser is executed live on air, sacrificed as part of series sponsor Project Population.

Against all odds, Taryn is one of the final ten. Even better news? This season of Starmaker is forming a five-girl group to be named DOLLHOU5E, so her chances have shot up considerably. But meeting her heroes and working toward her dreams brings with it bloodthirsty jealousy, uncomfortable truths, and a look behind the curtain at a corporation that's even more corrupt than it appears on the surface. Even if she escapes being gassed in the Pyramid, a "win" might not be an escape.

In her afterword, Juno Dawson describes her ultimate YA novel as "The Hunger Games meets Spice Girls," and that's absolutely Survival Show. There's clearly a lot of love for girl groups, especially British and Korean, with a heavy lean into music stan culture. While it's clearly an affectionate lean, it doesn't avoid looking at the toxic side of both the fandom and the industry. Some chapters are bookended by trashy tabloid articles and toxic social media feeds: a reminder that even the most conscientious celeb can only escape public opinion for so long.

We're in a flood of dystopian literature at the moment, and being awash with any genre makes me more critical of it. (See recent reviews of mine for more of that.) It's as un-nuanced as dystopian fiction tends to be, with each week's bottom contestant executed in a glass pyramid flooded with Barbie-pink gas. Where Survival Show stands apart from so much recent dystopian fiction is that the in-between world — the space between now and the story — feels fleshed out and lived in. The worldbuilding is not lazy. The entire political landscape of the globe is reinvented, and that space between is packed with fictional entertainment spoken about with the same casual tone as real-world pop stars. It makes everything feel lived-in and believable. Plus, it has the side effect of making the reader pause and consider the real-world brands that survived into the book's corporate dystopia. Whole nations have fallen, but Hello Kitty remains.

Survival Show pulls no punches. Characters really do die, and "don't worry, she survived actually" fake-outs are few and far between. There are stakes, and even the "unlikable" characters among the Starmaker participants have some mitigating factor about their story. It's complicated and difficult, and that's a very good thing.

DRINK PAIRING: Elixir of Hydration
While Survival Show is extremely gruesome, it also adheres to its aesthetic. Velvet Hammer's Elixir of Hydration is pink and sparkly, and it's definitely much better for your health than everything the Starmaker cast put the girls of DOLLHOU5E through. Use my affiliate link for a discount on this and other sparkly book-inspired elixirs from Velvet Hammer!

FEATURED CANDLE: Spice Factor
This citrus and ginger candle is meant to evoke slow-burn romance, but the name is reminiscent of a certain girl group that inspired much of Survival Show. (And the bright color reminds me of Taryn's mid-season rebranding, complete with hair extensions.) Use my affiliate link to save on this and other bookish candles from Frostbeard!

BOOK REVIEW: Local Gods

 

LOCAL GODS
by Melinda Salisbury
Available now

Folk horror is seeing something of a resurgence in recent years, both on the screen and on the page. While not every offering digs fully into the genre, the new novel Local Gods goes surprisingly deep into those classic vibes. Starting as a typical coming-of-age story with a little bit of oddness (and perhaps romance) around the edges, it slowly unravels into a tale of otherness, ancient curses, and human hubris.

Sylvie Singer has become public enemy #1 in her hometown since returning, thanks to her father swindling the locals and disappearing with the money. Her only hope is to earn her high school diploma (and thus a small trust fund from her grandmother) and disappear. As the entire town turns their back on her, she scrapes by in an unfinished railway station in the cursed West Woods, surrounded by stark-white carnivorous animals. Other than local goth girl Chantry and occult shop owner Zelda, Sylvie's only constant companion is Illican: a horned man who leaves her gifts and to whom she feels herself inexplicably drawn.

As the town sinks further into ruin, Sylvie begins searching for ways to save both it and Illican. But the deeper she digs into the history of the town, the more mysteries she encounters, and the more aggressive the locals get. As animals disappear and businesses are shut down, Sylvie resorts to desperate measures to save her home. Unfortunately, the locals are about to resort to desperate measures of their own.

At the outset, Local Gods (while well-written and interesting from the first page) feels like a YA romance with the vague trappings of folk horror. But the further down the rabbit hole you follow Sylvie, the more the truth starts to unfold. Fans of The Wicker Man, Midsomar, Starve Acre and other full-on examples of the genre will see familiar beats start to emerge slowly, culminating in a dramatic, fiery finish.

The only reason I would tell you not to read Local Gods immediately is because it feels like such a fall book. Should you read it? Absolutely. But it begs for a read (or re-read) during the darkest, coldest months.

TEA PAIRING: Letters of Lavender
Flowers are a big part of the communication between Sylvie and Illican, and the dark floral Letters of Lavender feels like a perfect fit for this setting. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

FEATURED CANDLE: Baba Yaga's Hut
This limited-edition candle's notes of wood and ember are absolutely the vibe of this book... especially the final chapter or two. Use my affiliate link for a discount and check out more bookish candles from Frostbeard!

BOOK REVIEW: Killing Sadie

 

KILLING SADIE
by Rachel Peterson
Available now

Given the simultaneous broad allure and ethical issues surrounding the true crime genre, I am hugely in favor of there being more accessible crime fiction. When done well, it scratches that itch without mining the trauma of real people. Killing Sadie is a strong entry in this genre... and, quite frankly, does right what so many other books like it do wrong.

The "Sadie" of the title is one of a pair of beautiful, popular twins. And she was murdered last night. Now, the three survivors on the scene are being questioned. Her boyfriend Ben is suspected of killing her murderer in self defense. Her best friend Liz blames herself for the horrors of the night before. And her twin sister Jayne, who never approved of Liz's presence, is learning for the first time how it feels to be on her own. Through their separate testimonies, the reader starts to develop a picture of the fateful party where Sadie lost her life, and the literal months and years of circumstances leading up to the tragedy.

But (and I don't think it's a real spoiler to say this) at least one person isn't telling the whole truth. And everything clicks into focus in the final stretch, when Sadie tells her side of the story from beyond the grave.

I tend to judge contemporary crime novels a little unfairly heavily, simply because so many don't give the reader credit for reading comprehension or analytical skills. But Killing Sadie is, without exaggeration, one of my favorite books of the summer. It attempts all the things I see done wrong so often and does them right, including and especially multiple narrators. It seems to be the trend in YA fiction in particular, but in many cases it seems like what the author really wants is third-person omniscient, because the characters never truly think or speak differently. But in Killing Sadie, each narrator has a unique voice and perspective that adds to both the plot and the intrigue.

This is one that demands multiple readings. Early on, it's clear that each narrator is wording things carefully even in their own inner thoughts. Do the police "need to believe" certain claims because they're true or because they support an alibi? Are nervous tics present because someone is lying or because this is a distressing situation. And when accounts of the night in question don't match up, who do we believe? Even if you do suss out part of what's going on, the whole truth is both surprising and narratively satisfying.

It's so rare to just... not have any problem whatsoever with a book. And it feels great to say "It's just good. Just read it."

TEA PAIRING: Secrets in the Garden
Our narrators were subjected to less-than-relaxing bagged green tea, so let's swap in some that's actually good! This summery new blend adds watermelon and lime to green tea for a brew that's fantastic hot or iced. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other tea blends from Chapters Tea & Co.!

FEATURED CANDLE: Summer Thriller
A past seasonal candle inspired by books just like Killing Sadie: summertime thrillers that keep you intrigued. The blend of oud, amber, and coconut carries a tinge of vacation months with an undertone of creepy vibes. Use my affiliate link to get a discount on more book-inspired candles from Frostbeard!

BOOK REVIEW: The Season of Light and Darkness

 

THE SEASON OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS
by Jillian Cantor
Available August 4

Dystopian novels are the "it" thing right now, and that could be for a couple reasons. On the one hand, The Hunger Games is huge and lots of people want a piece of that. On the other, there's a data center in my state whose mere existence is killing cows. So, you know. It could really be either or.

A book falling into the current hotness does not automatically make it bad, but it does (for better or for worse) make me look on it with a somewhat more critical eye. Is this a diamond in the rough that's going to stand out above its peers and prove that the subgenre has teeth? Or is it going to be just one more for the pile? In the case of this book, my answer (at the moment) is a resounding "I have no idea."

The basic plot run-down sounds like an idea with legs but not a lot of thought given to how to evolve said idea. One of our many protagonists is Ellie, whose scientist father decides that the best way to weather an incoming horrible presidency is to cryogenically freeze himself and his family for ten years. However, Ellie is found only three years into President Lyon's four-year term. She awakens to a country reinvented: ReAdmission programs brainwash the public, force all women to bleach their hair and go into stereotypically "lady" professions, and science and medicine are outlawed. However, there are rebels who hang on, including Ellie's brother Scott who refused to join the family in cryosleep. Meanwhile, ReAd Olivia finds herself shaken out of her blissful ignorance by a peanut allergy.

The thing with The Season of Light and Darkness is that the prose is good and it's clear this came from a lot of very current feelings. And I want to emphasize that the prose is good, because the rise of generative AI is bringing with it the idea that anything polished can't possibly be human. No matter how I feel about a book in terms of how it spins its plot, I will always champion human writing, and any critiques I have just mean it's worth bothering to take time to critique.

There were two big feelings I came away from with this. One was that the worldbuilding felt rushed. The springboards from which this story originated are relatively obvious, and it's a little hard to demand subtlety and subtext in dystopian narratives. The problem is, a lot of what's played out starts to crumble under the lens of real-world experience.

Why would an educated man believe that four years of bad sociopolitical decisions could be walked back in six years, enough that it would be worth waking his family that early? In fact, why would a scientist consider a science experiment a safe place to store his family in the wake of a movement that's doing away with science? Unless we discover in a later book that her parents were plotting an elaborate suicide, it doesn't scan.

Similarly, the horrors of ReAdmission feel a little too blunt. Again, it's difficult to demand nuance from a dystopian novel. But as much as I liked the characters and their particular concerns — Ellie feeling guilty for longing for prom when the world is burning was great, for instance — the overarching intrigue feels patchy and undeveloped. If we were only seeing through Ellie and Liv's eyes as they come out of their respective hazes, it would be one thing. But so few things click, even as we accompany freedom fighters, that the thread of ReAd feels more like an all-purpose bogeyman than a legitimate statement.

There are other issues at play. The fact that the only undrugged, unhazy women in the narrative are sidelined or outright killed, even as Liv proclaims she doesn't need a man to save her, feels a little harsh. Even in a narrative denouncing the systemic subjugation of women, it's the male protagonists who get to be grey and nuanced.

I wanted to like The Season of Light and Darkness, and I especially wanted to see how it handled difficult situations like when and how to take action in a crisis. But it feels like so much of the story was focused on being visually striking that a lot was lost in the actual meat of the story.

I'd love to be proven wrong in later volumes, and I'd love to see this prose shoring up something really insightful and incisive. But the first book, while an interesting series of character studies, doesn't really thrill. Nonetheless, I am ready and willing to eat my words if later books prove these concerns either incorrect or part of some bigger narrative plan.

TEA PAIRING: The Dragon's Flame
Between a group of freedom fighters burning through the current regime and Ellie needing a serious thaw, this warming cinnamon spice tea is my pick for this pairing. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

FEATURED CANDLE: Elven Vale
This month's limited-edition candle is thematically worlds apart from the story, but the calming natural scents bring to mind a world left behind, and one that our heroes can hopefully find once again. Use my referral link for a discount on other bookish candles from Frostbeard!

BOOK REVIEW: Adventure in the City of Stories

 

ADVENTURE IN THE CITY OF STORIES
by Emma Otheguy
Available July 21

Cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy are in big trouble when they discover that their aunt is in possession of some valuable — and missing — items. A book and two puppets belonging to librarian and storyteller Pura Belpré have mysteriously shown up in Tía Xía's home, and simply returning them could lead to some major misunderstandings. Fortunately, their aunt has a secret: a small fleet of time-traveling boats that can only be steered by members of her family!

Together, the four travel back to 1930s New York, where they plan to return the items to their old home. But standing in their way is the wife of a pencil magnate, set on putting Puerto Rican people (and people she assumes are Puerto Rican) in their place. With Tía Xía's magic, and the magic of stories, the family works to help a local girl blow the whistle on her father's employer, return Pura Belpré's belongings, and get home to the present day safely.

This new book follows Otheguy's Cousins in the Time of Magic, which I haven't read. However, it takes little time to immerse oneself in this world, with its straightforward but unique magic system. The story also blends historical figures with historically-inspired original characters, painting a vivid picture of early 20th century New York (its ups and its downs). In addition to the history lesson, readers will also learn some legendary children's stories.

I recommend reading Adventure in the City of Stories with your kids. Not because there's anything difficult or objectionable in it, but because it opens doors to a lot of frank discussions and potential questions. It's a literal learning experience (complete with endnotes and a bibliography), but it's also an opportunity to discuss some more difficult topics with young people. There's very little nuance in the verbal bullying of the book's villain, which might feel a little blunt to older readers; but for kids, the frank depiction might help them recognize issues in their own lives.

TEA PAIRING: Magical Library Butterbrew
This story takes place across several libraries, many of which have surprising and magical things happening in them. This smooth butterscotch tea is inspired by cozy magical libraries, which seems just about right for this particular story. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

TEA REVIEW: Three More Teas from Plum Deluxe

 

In addition to the Literary Tea collection I reviewed not long ago, Plum Deluxe were also kind enough to send along three more teas they thought might suit my taste. I'm not about to let a good tea go un-shouted-out, so here we are again with a new trio of reviews!

This set of teas isn't on any particular theme, but rather is a selection from across their catalogue.

Welsh Dreams Herbal
While I'm not a big herbal tea drinker, I'm trying to get better about cutting my caffeine after a certain time of day. So good herbals and decafs are always nice to find. This is a soft, comforting blend with a honeybush base and notes of peppermint and vanilla. But it's not strong, candy-like peppermint. It's sweet but not too sweet, and very relaxing at the end of the day.

Picard Black Tea Blend
This is the blend I've had my eye on for some time... after all, I'm a Star Trek fan and an Earl Grey fan. Plum Deluxe has several interesting twists on Earl Grey, and this is another of them. The cinnamon pecan flavoring makes it taste almost like a pastry, which gives it a sort of breakfasty feel. While it's not my favorite of their Earl Greys (that would be their Grantham Grey), it's still an extremely nice one.

Porch Sippin' Pecan Black
Maybe I'm just desperate for autumn, but this tea was my favorite of the trio. This black tea has a very strong, sweet praline flavor with big fall vibes. This would make an incredible milk tea, either hot or iced. And especially now, in the heat of summer, it was a welcome dose of cool-weather feelings.

If you'd like to try these or any other teas from Plum Deluxe, be sure to use my affiliate link! And check out my previous review, showcasing their Literary Tea collection.

COMIC REVIEW: Howliday Inn the Graphic Novel

HOWLIDAY INN: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL
by James Howe and Andrew Donkin; illustrated by Stephen Gilpin
Available now

If you grew up around the time I did, James and Deborah Howe's Bunnicula novels were mainstays of school story time. Given the longevity of the series itself, as well as spinoffs and adaptations, I imagine it's a familiar series for multiple generations. And yet, I was unaware until just recently that there was a Bunnicula graphic novel adaptation underway. Fortunately, I got on board with the second one, Howliday Inn, and it's safe to say this version hits just right: a satisfying blend of faithful adaptation and visual nostalgia.

If you're new to the series, let's get you caught up. Harold the dog is our narrator, accompanied on his misadventures by Chester the cat. Their comfy nuclear family home has been invaded by Bunnicula: a rabbit who drains the juice from vegetables vampire-style with his pointy little fangs and prefers to sleep during the day. Chester is convinced Bunnicula is a legitimate paranormal threat and wants nothing more than to get rid of the interloper. As Howliday Inn, the second story in the series, begins, all three pets are boarded as their family goes on vacation. There, they meet other dogs and cats (including three dogs in a complicated love triangle), and Chester becomes convinced that werewolves are on the prowl. As their stay goes on, boarders begin to disappear, including Chester, and Harold must crack the case before whatever is lurking comes for him, too.

Stephen Gilpin's art has a very 70s/80s comic vibe to it, and I love how unique each character looks. My only quibble is Chester; there's something about his face that veers a little too close to human, a la early movie Sonic the Hedgehog designs. But everyone else looks fantastic, humans and animals both. Bunnicula in particular looks spot on, vampiric but still plausibly just a little guy. It makes me wish we'd gotten to see a little more of him, though we do at least get a very cute Bunnicula face to close out each chapter.

What I liked most, though, is that it's a very active adaptation that understands it's a comic book and plays with that. Harold and Chester have quibbles with the artist, including a few pages where Gilpin closes up shop for the weekend and very nearly leaves them on a blank page. The self-awareness, combined with dialogue that gives young readers credit for being intelligent enough to follow it, reminds me a lot of the indie comics and graphic novels I'd read in my tweens and teens. The book closes out with a brief Sherlock Holmes tribute, starring Chester as a feline version of the great detective and Harold as his Watson.

Will kids love this new Bunnicula treatment? I can see myself as a kid loving this, so sure. Will grownups who grew up reading the original stories enjoy these comics? Without question. This is a massive nostalgia bomb, faithful without being precious, and I'm hopeful that the adaptations will continue.

TEA PAIRING: Secrets in the Garden
While the "bungalows" our heroes stay in during their time away were pens rather than holiday houses, the beginning and end of the book definitely put one in a vacation mood. This watermelon lime green tea feels like just the sort of thing the Monroes might enjoy during their trip. Best of all, it's great iced! Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

BOOK REVIEW: Of Dread, Decay, and Doom

OF DREAD, DECAY, AND DOOM
edited by Jendia Gammon, Gareth L. Powell, and Scarlett R. Algee
Available now

Horror anthologies are, at least in my experience, a mixed bag solely because of what they are. Everyone finds different things frightening, so some stories will resonate with some people and fall flat with others. This is especially true with anthologies with a secondary theme beyond genre. That said, Of Dread, Decay, and Doom doesn't camp out in one style of horror. It runs the full gamut, from slasher tropes to environmental horror, from small personal stories to vignettes that hint at something vast and dangerous. This anthology's broad reach is its strength: because it has a little bit of everything, it's highly likely to have something that resonates with each reader.

From its very first story, this anthology makes it very clear that there are no safety nets. Existing in one of these worlds means you might not make it out alive. Some do, of course: alive, but changed. Others find a strange sort of peace. But these are not stories where it's wise to get attached. Our heroes (or antiheroes) are always potential sacrifices, literally and figuratively, on the altars of their own narratives.

What's especially impressive, and this is absolutely down to a trio of very skilled editors choosing and guiding the anthology's selection of authors, is how the stories work with each other without stepping on each other's toes. There are crossovers in terms of styles of stories — for example, both Vincent V. Cava's "Killbilly Drive-Thru" and Tim Waggoner's "The World Has Teeth" play with serial killers dealing with their would-be victims in public places. Both are, as one might expect, darkly comical at times. But each has its own style and upshot, making them complementary rather than crowding each other out.

A few other high-ranking stories in this anthology... or, at least, the ones that gave me chills:

"The Cleansing" by Lee Murray: The majority of this one doesn't read like a horror story so much as a musing on the state of growing up Asian. (I grew up Lebanese, but I've heard stories.) Its chilling descent into very literal imagery in the final few sentences recontextualizes the whole piece in a heartbeat. Endings like this are not easy to pull off, so it's always a treat to see it done well.

"Elderflower Cordial" by Mark Stay: A story from the Witches of Woodville series. This was my first encounter with the series, and it's made me want to read more for sure. Set in 1981, it folds folk horror and revenge into a seemingly innocent concept: children selling lemonade(?) by the side of the road. I love the ambience of this, the tonal shift as the story changes narrators at the end, and the strangely beautiful gentleness of the finale.

"The Children of Light" by David Quantick: Barely an ereader page long, this short-short story investigates an intriguing possibility: what if darkness, not daylight, killed vampires?

"Changing Hands" by Alice James: A worker finds his body being taken over, starting from the left hand, as he collects energy from portals. I love this one in particular for its skillful worldbuilding in a confined space, as well as the narrator's unique voice.

"Time After Time" by Sarah L. Miles: Probably my favorite in the whole anthology, this risky little piece plays with time loops and the horrors (mundane and otherwise) that lurk in the dark. I call it "risky" because its format could sink it if not done correctly and committed to fully. But it does both and comes out fantastic.

There isn't a bad story in the book, and the ones that stand out to each reader will likely be very different. But as a whole, it's a fascinating exploration of what "horror" means to a wide swath of skilled horror writers.

TEA PAIRING: Edgar Allan Poe Bundle
Not just because a certain story late in the anthology makes a certain reference! This pairing of bold Earl Grey (Poet's Study) and sleepy herbal (Dream Within a Dream) covers a broad spectrum of tea tastes, just as this anthology covers a broad spectrum of horror tastes.

BLOG TOUR: Strange Pictures

 

STRANGE PICTURES Vol. 1
by Uketsu, illustrated by Kikou Aiba
Available July 14

Not long ago, I got a big brown envelope from my friends at Titan Manga. The envelope contained the first volume of Strange Pictures, a manga adaptation of the bestselling novel of the same name, and five... well... strange pictures. The seemingly innocent artwork already had a somewhat uncanny feel to it, but that feeling just increased once I'd sat down to the manga volume itself.

I'll admit, I'm not familiar with Uketsu's original novel. This is my first exposure to it. I'm aware that Uketsu is a well-regarded YouTuber and writer, but that's about it. Having now read this first volume, I completely get why.

Strange Pictures starts with a psychological analysis of a child's drawing, but quickly moves on to a different set of pictures. These are discovered on a pseudonymous man's blog, apparently drawn by his pregnant wife and (by her reckoning) meant to be images of what the unborn child will look like at different ages. However, the blog has a gap of several years, followed by an unnaturally vehement declaration concerning the wife's crimes.

Some out-of-the-box thinking and careful analysis turns these images into a shocking prediction. But just as quickly as the case is solved, we're on to a new one: one that will have to be addressed further in Volume 2. But already there are similarities between these two stories: a deceased parent, an odd drawing, and a gap of three years.

This more visual form is an excellent way to discover Strange Pictures. The solution unfolds itself eventually, but clues are scattered in such a way that the reader has a little time to try and crack the case themselves. If you're a lover of horror, mysteries, and "puzzle box" books, Strange Pictures will draw you in.

Thanks to Titan Manga for sending along a copy of Strange Pictures Vol. 1 for my perusal!

TEA REVIEW: Plum Deluxe Literary Tea Collection

 

While I do have a handful of brands and stores I'm loyal to, I'll never turn down an opportunity to try new tea. Plum Deluxe reached out to me recently, recommending their Literary Tea collection, and of course that sounded like exactly like my kind of thing. They sent along a tin for me to try, which of course I paired with some of my daily reading.

The collection comes with a mix of five teas in several level of caffeination, as well as everything you need (short of your own mug) to brew up the perfect blend. Read on for my thoughts on each offering!

Reading Nook Black
One of two black teas in the set, this blends rose, lavender, and chamomile for a cozy floral flavor. I'll be honest, I have never considered the merits of chamomile in a caffeinated blend, since I think its reputation for being a sleepytime herbal is at the forefront of everyone's minds. But this was really lovely. I'm a big fan of floral black teas, and this cozy blend is exactly the vibe I strive for in my own home library.

Bookshop Blend White
White teas are notoriously finicky, but this one is fairly forgiving. It has a wonderful fruity aroma and flavor, almost like gummy bears (but more natural). That's down to the orange, apple, and blackberry in the mix. There's a cinnamon flavor that comes out in the flavor more than the smell, and it tastes a little out of place with the fruit blend, but it's not a deal breaker.

Soul Warmer Herbal
If you're a fan of drinks that taste like desserts, there are two winners in this box for you. This rooibos blend has chestnut, hazelnut, and caramel flavors, as well as a bit of apple to it. It's a nice caffeine-free option for evening, very autumnal in flavor. I know rooibos can be hit or miss, but this is one that I really enjoy.

Buttery Shortbread Herbal
This is absolutely my top pick of the caffeine-free blends in this box, and another great one if you love dessert-y drinks. This is a vanilla honeybush tea, but the name isn't just a vague descriptor. This really does have a legitimate shortbread flavor to it, and I absolutely love it. The Soul Warmer blend is still good, but this one is the winner of the two when it comes to sleepytime brews.

Gratitude Earl Grey Black
Regulars will know I'm an absolute sucker for Earl Grey and Earl Grey-adjacent blends, so of course I was going to fall in love with this one. This tea is flavored with bergamot and strawberry, making it somewhat sweeter than other Greys. I do wish the strawberry was a little bolder when steeped, though it does come out a little more when the tea cools; so I imagine it's a much more forward flavor when iced.

The tin also comes with a very cute basket-style tea infuser with celestial cutouts along the rim. I've been using it quite a bit since getting the tin, and it's fabulous for single-cup loose tea steeps.

The Literary Tea Collection Gift Tin is a great selection of multiple types of cozy tea. If you know a person likes a very specific type of tea (all black or all herbal, for instance), it might not be the best fit. But for someone who enjoys variety and a certain cozy vibe, these are perfect. The bags are only about an ounce each (less than the standard 2-3 oz bags you'll see elsewhere), so bear that in mind as you buy. But especially during a hot summer like this, when many of us are dreaming of the coziness of autumn, these are a lovely escape.

Be sure to use my referral link for a discount, and thank you to Plum Deluxe for providing samples for review!

BOOK REVIEW: The Lure of Wolves and Whispers

 

THE LURE OF WOLVES AND WHISPERS
by Amanda Connolly
Available July 7

The isle of Eirann was once full of magic. But in Maeve's lifetime, magic is bought and sold illegally. When she finds herself in need of a cure for her beloved sister Finn, she trades herself for a small bottle of magic. And in return, she finds herself working as a spy to bring down the king.

Maeve is shuffled into a ceremony known as the Assay: a multi-part competition in which noblewomen vie for the hand of the crown prince. One commoner is always thrown in the mix as a sacrifice, to show what happens to those who would rise above their station. But backed up by a shadowy organization of Whispers (and in particular the brooding and mysterious Wolf), Maeve intends to fight her way to the top. Along the way, she finds herself embroiled in a political struggle bigger than even she imagined.

A Lure of Wolves and Whispers has a lot going for it: a unique magic system, a fantasy world inspired by Irish folklore, and interesting characters. However, this is capital-R Romantasy at its core, complete with trope-tastic MMCs and FMCs and the sort of weighty, purple prose ("betrayal tasted like ashes") that comes with the genre. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? It depends on if that's what you're looking for.

The problem with a story that cleaves so close to the romantasy pattern is that, no matter what else is good about it, it becomes predictable. I loved the presence of ogham as a language, I loved that the inspiration came from somewhere beyond mainland Europe, and I loved how large the world seemed to be. But the heavy BookTokishness of it made this big world feel smaller, like a sprawling narrative was cramming itself into something marketable. And that made me a bit sad.

In short, The Lure of Wolves and Whispers has a lot to recommend it. But this one is pitched squarely to Romantasy Girls, and readers into other styles of fantasy (or even fantasy romances that aren't "romantasy") may not quite click with this one.

TEA PAIRING: The Dragon's Flame
The Lure of Wolves and Whispers is set in a world where magic is dwindling and tensions are high. This spicy cinnamon tea is a perfect pairing for this intense story. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

Sir Sherlock 1: The Red Letter Day

 

Back in 1982, Tom Baker took a turn as legendary detective Sherlock Holmes in a multi-part adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles, opposite Terence Rigby as Dr. Watson. Now, thanks to AUK Studios, he's back in the role... though things are a bit different this time!

I was one of many backers for the new Sir Sherlock full-cast audio drama, starring Baker as an older, knighted Holmes and John Leeson as Dr. Watson. The casting of the two opposite each other once again is, on the surface, a fun conceit (as they famously starred as the Fourth Doctor and K-9 in Doctor Who). But even ignoring the novelty of the decision, this pair make a wonderful duo, and their spin on a Holmes and Watson in a more modern era is stellar.

This first story, The Red Letter Day, takes place in 1924, just after Holmes has accepted his knighthood. He's just come in from London after time away with his bees and is, of course, reacquainting with Dr. Watson. But as the two are catching up, Holmes receives a strange missive — red ink on red paper — pointing him to a certain ancient monument in London. The two set out to discover what inspired the letter, and find that a double murder has taken place near Cleopatra's Needle. After so many years apart, the two decide to get back on the case. But they'll be matching wits with not only a murderer, but also a new sleuth who is reminiscent of Holmes in his heyday.

Tom Baker's performance is, of course, delightful. He's a Holmes who is more relaxed, even cheerful, but still the same observant and set-in-his-ways Sherlock deep down. Leeson's Watson is a perfect match, equal parts fond and frustrated but still believably contained within one character. The two have a complicated job, creating a version of this legendary chemistry that has evolved believably over time. And, frankly, they've done it. This isn't just "Holmes and Watson but not thirty years old." These are those personalities with time and experience sharpening some angles and weathering others. Never once did I catch myself analyzing the performances, simply because I was immediately on board. They are Holmes and Watson from the get-go.

Like any "first episode," The Red Letter Day has a lot of heavy lifting to do, meaning there's more of a balancing act between the mystery and the worldbuilding. A great deal of time is spent setting up the new cast, including Lestrade's granddaughter Emily in her role as police sergeant and the mysterious newcomer Norton. But there is intrigue enough to be had in the double murder, and it comes to a sufficiently twisty, but interesting conclusion. (And that's not to mention the reveal of who this new consulting detective really is!) As ever, Barnaby Eaton-Jones is fantastic on the production side, and he's put together a truly brilliant project.

Included with the CD was a novelization by Kenton Hall, which mimics the style of the classic Doyle stories excellently. I've worked with Kenton on a Holmes book before, so I was already aware of how well he nails the style. While I encourage everyone to listen to the audio drama for the full experience, the books are excellent on their own.

Also included was "The Long Goodbye," a shorter audio primarily between Emily Lestrade and Norton. It's a much more character-driven piece, bridging the gap between the first and second episodes. I enjoyed it a great deal, and it was a nice denouement after the action of the main attraction.

I already knew I was fully on board with Sir Sherlock when I backed the first Kickstarter campaign, and this first episode has absolutely delivered.

The Kickstarter for the second episode, The Sickle and the Sea, has a few days remaining and is at over 300% of its goal. Plus, if you pledge, you can add on a copy of the CD of The Red Letter Day!

I'm Back on The Glam Gizmo!

 

There was a time when I was doing a lot more voiceover work. Nowadays I'm more committed to writing, but I'll still sit in for a handful of things for friends if asked nicely. And The Glam Gizmo is one of those things. Season 6 is streaming as we speak and, oh yeah, I'm back for that!

I first met Tom, the fella behind the series, when we started working together on Aron Toman's The Chronicles of Oz (me as Dorothy, Tom as the Lion). A part had opened up, and I figured I'd go for it, not sure if it was going to be a one-and-done or a recurring thing.

You know. Six seasons in, it's recurring.

The series takes place in Melbourne and sees everyday humans stumbling into otherworldly scenarios. There's definitely a flavor of Doctor Who to it, if that's your sort of thing. (And since you're hanging out in my blog, I suspect it is.) But while there are "Celestials" in this universe, it's the humans who are at its center.

I just happen to play one of those Celestials: Lydia, an old friend of a certain Professor Paradox. She's a Celestial who, despite spending a good deal of her time away from human problems, has gotten herself involved in recent seasons. You'll even catch her popping in and out of other series within the Gizmoverse!

Being an entire continent away, I don't often get to hear how things are going for the series. But this season, it's been gratifying to find out that it's doing pretty well in the rankings in Australia. Here's hoping Tom lets Lydia (and me!) stick around for a bit!

Being that far away also means I'm not in studio. So I'm generally recording from my office, here at the same computer I type at. It's not the most glamorous, but it gets the job done. And it's always fun to see new scripts roll in.

Right now, you can hear me in both Season 6 of the main series and in the spinoff, Boltizor. Keep an ear out and let me know what you think!

Visit the official website
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts

Eighth Doctor! Tenth Doctor! More from the DWAS

 

It's about that time again, and what a time for it to be that time. As we're all still figuring out how to feel about the Doctor Who news, we're also navigating anniversaries for the show itself. At present, I've got several things in the works for the coming months, but there are two I can talk about at present, both courtesy the DWAS. One is ready for you to enjoy now, and the other is on the way later this year.

First, it's a new Celestial Toyroom! This one is pulling double duty, celebrating both the 50th anniversary of the organization and the 30th anniversary of the TV movie starring Paul McGann. Rather than my usual book reviews and things, I've written a reflection for the latter of these two occasions. I was, after all, one of those Americans who became a fan via the movie. You know, that thing that was intended to happen?

Download the new issue now and read my piece, plus lots of fantastic articles and interviews.

The second of these items won't be available for a bit, but I'm looking forward to everyone seeing it! Doctor Who 70-79 is a lovely upcoming publication from the DWAS, covering stories and topics from across that decade of the series. There are a lot of fabulous contributors in whose company I'm extremely happy to be, as well as interviews from the DWAS archives!

My essay covers the "brutality" of serials like Genesis of the Daleks and The Deadly Assassin. Were these episodes really "too much"? What can/should young viewers handle? And how does the brutality potentially complement the message or theme of the episode? As someone who remembers the congressional hearings about violence in video games all too well, I'm always interested in really interrogating why we avert our eyes from difficult visuals, and what purpose they might actually serve.

Keep an eye on the DWAS social media accounts for more news and eventual pre-orders.

As for what's next... well, let's just say I am very busy.

BOOK REVIEW: The Lovers, the Liars, and Me

 

THE LOVERS, THE LIARS, AND ME
by DeAndra Davis
Available June 23

Jaylia has just graduated high school as valedictorian, but she still feels small and unseen. She's never done anything especially daring, and she's even going to college close to home in Miami just to be safe. When her dad suggests she go to Jamaica for part of the summer to catch up with her uncle and cousins, she rejects the idea. But then an unsigned letter comes in, asking to see her again. Jaylia, convinced it's from her absentee mother, decides to take the trip after all.

Rekindling friendships and family bonds is tough at first, and her cousin is immediately standoffish. But she hits it off again with her childhood friends Deon and Andre, the latter of whom she's crushed on for quite some time. But then there's India: Deon's new friend who seems to like Jaylia instantly, and whom she discovers (much to her own surprise) she might have feelings for in return.

In between days of shopping and sightseeing and nights of partying, the group search for Jaylia's mother, following a seemingly endless string of clues. Before the summer is out, she will have several questions to answer about herself: who does she really love? Who is she as a person? And how much does finding this lost piece of her past matter?

The Lovers, the Liars, and Me is very deeply rooted in Jamaican culture, especially in Jaylia's feeling that she is too American for Jamaica and too Jamaican for America. Even if you're not familiar with the minutiae of the culture, this book is a love letter to everyday life: food, concerts, and life in general. But it also doesn't shy away from more difficult topics of family and spirituality. It's a rough read at times, and it won't be for everyone, but it's a good coming-of-age story with an ending that, while not what every reader will want, is probably the most uplifting it could be.

TEA PAIRING: A Dream Within a Dream
This sleepy, Shakespeare-inspired tea seems like a perfect match for the book's young heroes, many of whom spend sleepless nights figuring themselves and their families out. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

BOOK REVIEW: Love & Gelato (Collector's Edition)

 

LOVE & GELATO (COLLECTOR'S EDITION)
by Jenna Evans Welch
Available now

YA romance novel Love & Gelato completely passed me by on release. It dropped in 2016, and has since gained a loyal readership and an apparently not-so-great film adaptation in 2022. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the original novel, and with the occasion comes a really lovely collector's edition release. As a complete newbie to the novel, this is where I'm starting. And you know, this is pretty darn good.

The novel starts heavy: teenager Lina has just discovered that her mother has cancer and doesn't have long to live. And she's going off to Florence to live with "Howard," an old friend her mother cares for very much. In other words, her father. The following summer, she's living with a man she's never met before in the cemetery he looks after, allegedly preparing to go to a new school and trying to get her life sorted. And as all that is happening, she receives a surprise: her mother's diary from her time attending college in Florence. In other words, the story of who Howard is and where Lina comes from.

As Lina picks through the diary bit by bit, retracing her mother's steps, she also gets to know Lorenzo (Ren for short). Ren is half-American, friendly, and cute. He's also dating another girl in Lina's potential school. Hot British boy Thomas turns her head as well, but Ren is the one who helps her dig into her mother's diary, wants to impress Howard, and teaches her about the beautiful spots and delicious food all over Italy. Together, they read about her mother's love for "X" and their ill-fated relationship. But she soon learns that things aren't as they seem at first glance, and the reason for her mother's silence is far more complicated than she imagined.

What makes Love & Gelato a stronger read than most YA rom-coms that find their way to me is the fact that it has multiple focuses, and Lina and Ren's romance isn't the be-all end-all. It's important, sure. But ultimately, this is a book about a girl connecting with her mother when she thought she had lost that chance. There's a real love for Italy baked into this story, with so much of it digging into hidden gems, folklore, and even an admission of the less pleasant sides of life there. It does have its fairly generic teen romance story arc, but everything surrounding it made this a better read than I was expecting.

This collector's edition also features a bonus short story taking place on the night of Lina and Ren's Act 3 falling out. It follows Thomas, the jilted lover, from his point of view as he recovers from the situation with Lina and discovers his own romance may be closer at hand than he thoughts. You can really see the evolution of Welch's writing here, and it's a lovely read at the end of everything.

TEA PAIRING: Letters of Lavender
For a story about two romances across the years connected by a single piece of correspondence, this lavender Earl Grey is a perfect match. The floral and bergamot blend is inspired by love letters, and perhaps that is what one could consider the diary at the center of this story. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other literary-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

MANGA REVIEW: Eko Eko Azarak Reborn Vol. 1

EKO EKO AZARAK REBORN Vol. 1
by Yamada Jta
Available now

Back in the late 1970s, Shinichi Koga drew the dark horror manga Eko Eko Azarak, starring the lovely dark witch Misa Kuroi. Short of a live-action drama on Amazon Prime, it's pretty hard to get your hands on any version of this classic story these days. Or it was. A new manga starring Misa, titled Eko Eko Azarak Reborn, is casting its spell on readers in a new Titan Manga release.

Fortunately, especially given the difficulty of obtaining any of the original media, you don't have to know a thing about the original to enjoy this new manga. The series takes place in a version of our world haunted by demons and witches. And Misa Kuroi, a mysterious beauty in an old-fashioned school uniform, is one of those witches. This inaugural volume follows Misa through a series of mostly-unconnected adventures, usually involving a human who's gotten a little too cozy with a demonic artifact. While Misa isn't above throwing a bit of black magic around, the innocent (i.e., fellow students) tend to come out of these encounters safe, if not better than they were. Punishments are karmic and grotesque, and on more than one occasion we witness Misa doling out some serious justice. Or simply allowing justice to dole itself out.

Eko Eko Azarak Reborn is both beautiful and grotesque, with echoes of the era of horror manga that inspired it. The blend of shoujo-adjacent art and gory visuals will resonate with fans of Junji Ito's Tomie and Remina especially. This will make a gorgeous addition to any manga lover's library.

TEA PAIRING: Poet's Study
My favorite moody Earl Grey, inspired by dark poetry, is a perfect fit for this beautiful horror manga. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!