Shrike 🐦‍⬛

Not the ear demons 😭

My books! “Glimpsing Aberrations,” “Patient No. 8,” and “Looney Lynda Darcey.”

Gotten some new followers since I started on here, so hi y’all! I’m Connor and I write horror books! Allow me to share a little bit about my books! #booksky #authorsky

My first book Glimpsing Aberrations is a short story anthology. Patient No. 8 is a queer horror about conversion therapy. And Looney Lynda is a slasher that gender swaps its killer and survivor (fem slasher, final guy). If you’re looking for your next spooky read, come find something you like!

Thanks so much to Saga Press for sending an advance copy my way via Netgalley. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

Graphic of Wretch by Eric LaRocca beside a shrike perched behind a camera with photo frame graphics in the background. Below, text reads "grief at its most selfish"

Wretch by Eric LaRocca

Wretch shows grief at its most desperate and selfish. I wanted to shake Simeon out of denial only to recognize my own reflection in his ugliest moments. I knew I'd find the LaRocca book for me but didn't expect it would find me first!

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#NetGalley #griefhorror

I'm glad I picked this book up for the Indie Ink Awards. I'm leaving this review of my own accord; it does not directly reflect how I scored the book.

Graphic of a fluffed up shrike perched on the cover of You're Ours by D.C. Emerson against a matching green background. The text " Sweet and spicy polyam romance" and a vine graphic frame the cover.

You're Ours by D.C. Emerson

You're Ours is a sweet and spicy polyam romance with an established couple and their work crush. I came for the lust to love and stayed for the relationship negotiations, emotional maturity, and self-discovery.

#bookreview
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#IndieInkAwards

Thanks so much to LMH for the chance to read an advance copy. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

The plot moves fast. I feel like it ends in the middle of the story, which made me excited to see what happens next. I hope I get to know Messiah a bit better in the future - Josiah sure knows how to steal the show!

Graphic with the cover of On Air With the Devil by Sirius featuring a retro TV and a shrike perched on a microphone

Happy pub day to On Air With the Devil by Sirius!!

While technically a standalone, this book functions best as a Part 2 for The Devil Owns Primetime. I walked through those church doors already feeling some kind of way about a certain terrible little man.

#bookreview
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Thanks to @tenebrouspress.bsky.social for sending an advance copy my way. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

Kayak's structure is unconventional: Stittle fore(aft?)shadows past events by revealing their consequences. The dual timelines took some getting used to but I loved how they build suspense.

Graphic of a shrike swimming through water viewed from the underside beside the cover of Kayak by Kristal Stittle and the text "a sobering survival story"

Kayak by Kristal Stittle

Stittle transforms what could be a comical premise into a sobering survival story. I picked this book up relatively blind and can't say I expected a teen processing grief for the first time while fleeing a dirt monster apocalypse and pining for an unrequited crush.

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I'm curious to see what happens next, especially between a certain gruff fella and scientist...

Thanks so much to the author for a chance to check out an advance copy. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

I like how each chapter is framed as records with locations and timestamps. It keeps those sweet sweet scifi vibes going strong. I struggled with the pacing and number of characters early on. Once the scope narrowed to a few main characters, though, I started feeling more invested.

Graphic with scifi text reading "scifi with a lil hint of slow burn" above the cover of The Third State Project Lazarus by C.L. Ambrose with a purple glowing biohazard symbol in the background

The Third State: Project Lazarus by C.L. Ambrose

Project Lazarus is an exciting departure from Ambrose's low-angst romances. I sense a slow-burn simmering, but this book is first and foremost a scifi survival story.

#scifi #bookreview
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Bonus points for the fantastic playlist that matches the book's energy. Bon Jovi is near and dear to my heart.

Thanks so much to the author for sending an advance copy my way! I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

Their chemistry is everything. I especially loved how they grow to love themselves (self?) while loving one another.

The story had me so invested with well-balanced angst, silliness, and plenty of heat. I was locked in for the scifi shenanigans.

Graphic of a shrike perched on the cover of Doppelbanger by W.H. Lockwood on a purple background with lightning bolts surrounding it. The text reads "interdimensional sparks fly" in glitched text

Döppelbanger by W.H. Lockwood

What a fun ride! Döppelbanger is everything it promised: all the wildest what-ifs come to life when August meets August and interdimensional sparks fly.

#bookreview
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Thanks so much to the author for sending a copy my way! I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

I'm partial to collections with interconnecting threads, and this book delivers. Mr. Moonlight's spooky programming is an especially cool intersection. I love imagining these wildly different stories illuminated by the same black-and-white broadcast.

Paperback of Momentary Aberrations by Tom Cardamone surrounded by fall colored leaves and a glass pumpkin

Momentary Aberrations by Tom Cardamone is beautifully written queer speculative fiction. Gold Elevator, the first piece, sets the tone perfectly: "Keep swallowing flesh and breathe out new languages." I adore this exploration of fear, filth, and fantasy. Onto the favorites shelf it goes.

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Any updates on shipping the rest of the physical copies? 🙏

Special edition dust jacket of Lover Thy Name is Pestilence featuring a human heart on a plate with a fork and knife.

Special edition cover of Lover Thy Name is Pestilence featuring a bloody axe on a stark white background

Print, sticker, and coaster featuring "Chef Daddy Ed," a bloody bookmark, and a candle named after the book

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Special edition of Lover, Thy Name is Pestilence by AL Davidson @maybemockingbird.bsky.social in all its gory. 😉

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I'm so happy it got the special treatment with this beautiful hardcover and jacket art by the incredible artist and author @airic-fenn.bsky.social (Lamb, Stag & Wolf SLAPS).

I'm going through it right now and really needed this spark of joy. ♥️

Lover, Thy Name is Pestilence by @maybemockingbird.bsky.social was my favorite book of 2024 and has a special place in my heart. It's queer love at its most desperate and bloody. I cannot recommend it enough. 🔪🩸

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Spread of all four Nights in New Eden books by AL Davidson with little wreath earrings framing the two Christmas themed books on the ends. A demon bookmark with a tassel rests below the books.

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Look at these babessss! The complete Nights in New Eden series by @maybemockingbird.bsky.social 💖 Cozy holiday romance with a lil spice 🔥

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Graphic of a shrike perched on There's a Monster in the Woods by Fae Quin with the text "Short sweet and sexy" above a patch of pumpkins

There's a Monster in the Woods by Fae Quin

Definitely check this one out if you want something short, sweet, and sexy.

This book somehow managed to be, simultaneously, a slow burn and a quick read. The payoff was everything I was hoping for in a monster romance.

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#bookreview

I'm looking forward to seeing what still lurks in the cult's shadows.

Thanks so much to the authors for the chance to check out an advance copy! I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

Graphic reading The Stakes are Rising above the cover of Solemn Vows by CJ Tuma and Quinn Cameron. Bone graphics flank the book and a shrike perches atop the cover

Solemn Vows by CJ Tuma and Quinn Cameron

Solemn Vows carries the cozy elements of First Oaths while finally shaking Penny and Kit's false sense of security. This series has been a slow burn but the stakes are rising...

#arcreview
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