I’m sharing another instalment of my Mini Review Mondays, the most recent of which was the other week. In case you haven’t seen any of my previous posts, I do ‘mini’ reviews of books that I’ve previously read and am now ready to share my full thoughts about.
First up, I’d like to talk about Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning. Thank you to Michael Joseph for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Willow is in need of an escape.
A former sitcom star, she’s been publicly shamed on the internet after posting something she really shouldn’t have.
She checks in to Camp Castaway, an adults-only retreat based at an old campground in the woods.
It’s the first night and the campers gather round the fire and decide to tell some ghost stories. That’s when Willow hears the tale of Knock Knock Nancy. A local urban legend about a witch, brutally beheaded in this very woodland.
They say her restless spirit knocks on doors late at night. If you answer, she’ll take your head.
Willow doesn’t believe in ghosts, after all, they’re just stories. But the next day, a camper has vanished under mysterious circumstances. And then that evening, in her cabin, Willow hears it…
Knock, Knock, Knock.
Publication Date: 8th August
TW: death, murder, gore, violence, child abuse, physical abuse, decapitation, cancer, injury, addiction, homophobia, bullying
My Thoughts:
Heads Will Roll was the kind of horror that keeps you glued to the page in fear and suspense. It was delightfully creepy and dark, full of slasher goriness and excellent characters.
This is an appropriately twisted love letter to the slasher genre, full of blood and guts in more ways than one. The kill scenes themselves are graphic and nightmare fuel, taken to outlandish points at times that are not quite Final Destination but aren’t far off. Winning gives each victim one final moment of agency, something that speaks to the core of their character. I had my personal favourite, but I will let you discover these dark scenes yourselves. The pacing and atmosphere are (forgive me) killer, with enough room for excellent character work that doesn’t slow down the breakneck pace of the novel and the constant sense of tension. The stakes are clear and they are sky high. It is precisely because Winning does not hold back with the death and destruction that you have a very real sense of just what could happen next. We are taken to some extremely dark places and wallow in the mire.
Winning also incorporates some interesting conversation starters that leave you ruminating while you shiver in fear. The book is incredibly meta, as good slashers have a tendency to be. It is very self-aware of the horror genre and the conventions within. A lot of the book revolves around the acting industry across TV and film, particularly in terms of fandom and how people can start to blur the line between character and actor. They become somewhat obsessed with their one role, until this is all that they are defined by. Stepping outside of this box can lead to vitriol and hatred beyond your wildest dreams. Willow embodies this as our protagonist, fleeing the implosion of her life, but still somewhat controlled by her public facade. She needs to work out who she is and this is one hell of a training ground for that.
Heads Will Roll is a blood-curdingly good time. This was one of the slashers of this summer – it sits perfectly for your horror binge alongside Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle and I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones. All of this are up to their elbows in blood and gore, paying homage to classic horror narratives with a meta wink at the audience.
Next up, I’d like to talk about Mistress of Lies by K. M. Enright. Thank you to Orbit for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The daughter of a powerful but disgraced Blood Worker, Shan LeClaire has spent her entire life perfecting her blood magic, building her network of spies, and gathering every scrap of power she could. Now, to protect her brother, she assassinates their father and takes her place at the head of the family. And that is only the start of her revenge.
Samuel Hutchinson is a bastard with a terrible gift. When he stumbles upon the first victim of a magical serial killer, he’s drawn into the world of magic and intrigue he’s worked so hard to avoid – and is pulled deeply into the ravenous and bloodthirsty court of the vampire king.
Tasked by the Eternal King to discover the identity of the killer cutting a bloody swath through the city, Samuel, Shan and mysterious Royal Bloodworker Isaac find themselves growing ever closer to each other. But Shan’s plans are treacherous, and as she lures Samuel into her complicated web of desire, treason and vengeance, he must decide if the good of their nation is worth the cost of his soul.
Publication Date: 15th August
TW: death, murder, patricide, racism, blood, injury, manipulation, mind control, violence, child abuse, rape, experimentation
My Thoughts:
Mistress of Lies is a scheming, duplicitous book full of blood and lies.
This is such a backstabber of a book. I absolutely adored how deeply it delved into politics and the ever-shifting dynamics of power. It is an elaborate game of chess and you cannot see the next five moves coming. Enright has crafted such a tightly woven plot that is complex and compelling. Right from the opening few pages, I was seduced by this darkly entrancing book. It does not hold back with a fairly brutal scene that speaks to years of abuse and planning. Immediately you know that this book has teeth and it is not afraid to use them. It draws the first blood and keeps moving from there.
Straight away I was drawn to Shan and her drive – she is determined to gain power and wreck revenge on all those that have wronged her and her family. There is a deep seated sense of loyalty and love there, buried beneath facade upon facade necessary to keep playing the game. She has always been underestimated due to her gender and race, all of which stokes the powerful fire of her anger. That kind of rage burns bright and strong and yet you are drawn to the flame regardless. It is such brilliant character work and her arc is so interesting to watch unfold, even though we do not always know every facet of it. Enright keeps some aspects shadowed until you reach extraordinary reveals that made my jaw drop. The mystery plot is well-executed and ties into these wider ideas of legacy, revenge and the pursuit of power at all costs.
Mistress of Lies is a dazzling gem of a book, but beware its shine for it hides the blood seeping beneath. It has such an interesting take on vampirism and focuses on political intrigue, court dynamics and the pursuit of power above all else.
Finally, I’d like to delve into Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher. Thank you to Bloomsbury for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mariel, a newly blooded captain of the Merry Men, is desperate to live up to the legacy of her grandfather, the legendary Robin Hood. Clem, a backwoods assistant healer known for her new-fangled cures, just wants to help people.
When Mariel’s ramshackle band kidnap Clem as retribution for her guardian helping the Sheriff of Nottingham, all seems to be going (sort of) to plan … until Jack Hartley, Mariel’s father and Commander of the Merry Men, is captured in a deadly ambush. Determined to prove herself, Mariel sets out to get him back – with her annoyingly cheerful kidnappee in tow.
But the wood is at war. Many believe the Merry Men are no longer on the right side of history. Watching Clem tend the party’s wounds, Mariel begins to doubt the cause to which she has devoted her life. As the two of them grow closer, one thing is clear. They must prepare to fight for their lives – and for the lives of everybody in the greenwood.
Publication Date: 15th August
TW: death, grief, injury, sexism, homophobia, abandonment, manipulation
My Thoughts:
Not for the Faint of Heart is an excellent blend of humour, heart and queer historical romance that made my heart sing. It had excellently flirty dynamics that built from enemies to lovers and a touching exploration of legacy, expectations and found family.
Croucher’s character work is excellent, taking this ragtag group of misfits and instantly finding a place for them in your heart. I really connected with each of them, making the stakes that much higher and increasing the tension. You wanted the best for each of them and therefore your heart broke when this was not always achieved. It really feels like a love letter to found family, which is especially pertinent in a queer community. We sometimes have to find our people to allow ourselves to have the acceptance and love we deserve. So to see this in YA is heart-warming and delivers such an important message.
Our two central characters are Clem and Mariel, both shouldering the weight of legacies and familial expectations on their shoulders. Mariel has this magnified to the extreme and this often guides her actions throughout the narrative. Clem is a healer, wanting to save as many as she can, whereas Mariel has always been in the role of the leader, but striving to actually been seen as powerful. I loved how outspoken and passionate Clem was. Their dynamic is just everything to me and grew naturally over the pages. There is an initial evident dislike that grows into something more. Their chemistry spills out of the pages and their dialogue is often hilarious but also heartfelt, with a little extra charge in there that wasn’t there before. That’s something I really enjoyed here – the pitch perfect balance of humour and heart. It is sometimes a darker tale but keeps its focus on these brilliant characters.
Not for the Faint of Heart was such a fun and wholeheartedly excellent read.
A Short Book Lover 
Ohhh you’ve made me add heads will roll onto my list! Xx
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Excellent, I hope you enjoy it!
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