First Line Friday (22): Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

First Line Friday is a bookish tag hosted over at Abstract Books that is used to showcase your favourite first lines of books.

There really is something to be said about a good first line, and I'm going to be using this tag from now on to showcase my current read's first lines.

My current read this week Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling.

Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.

Goodreads synopsis 

When a letter arrives for unhappy but ordinary Harry Potter, a decade-old secret is revealed to him that apparently he's the last to know. His parents were wizards, killed by a Dark Lord's curse when Harry was just a baby, and which he somehow survived. Leaving his unsympathetic aunt and uncle for Hogwarts, a wizarding school brimming with ghosts and enchantments, Harry stumbles upon a sinister mystery when he finds a three-headed dog guarding a room on the third floor. Then he hears of a missing stone with astonishing powers which could be valuable, dangerous - or both. An incredible adventure is about to begin!

--

I'm sure everybody and their mother already knows the first line of the Harry Potter series, but it's my first time reading it, so I wanted to share anyway. You can add it to your Goodreads TBR here!

First Line Friday (21): What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

First Line Friday is a bookish tag hosted over at Abstract Books that is used to showcase your favourite first lines of books.

There really is something to be said about a good first line, and I'm going to be using this tag from now on to showcase my current read's first lines.

My current read this week is What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher.

The mushroom's gills were the deep-red color of severed muscle, the almost-violet shade that contrasts so dreadfully with the pale pink of viscera. I had seen in an number of times in dead dear and dying soldiers, but it startled me to see it here.

Goodreads synopsis

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 Ruravia.


What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady of the nerves.

Aided by a redoubtable British mycologist and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.

--

As a reimagining of The Fall of The House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe, it's only right to kick off the story mentioning the mushrooms that surround the house. This was my final spooky read of October and I absolutely loved it. If you're looking for a quick horror story, I would highly suggest this one. It released just last year on July 12, 2022, and you can add it to your Goodreads shelf here!

Confessions of a Christmasholic by Joss Wood

Title: Confessions of a Christmasholic

Author: Joss Wood

Publisher: HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter

Publication date: October 19, 2023

Intro

Drunk, broke, and unemployed, Sutton comes into Gus' life like a tornado. Gus doesn't really have the time to deal with a drunk stranger, but recognizing that Sutton is the victim of some unfortunate circumstances, Gus welcomes her into his home for the holidays as his nanny. He has his hands full with his twins at the best of times, but nicknamed Mr. Christmas, he is especially busy during the holidays and he could definitely use some help.

Falling for each other is not the goal, but it doesn't take long for sparks to start flying.

My thoughts

This was definitely a cute, easy read, and if you're looking for a quick holiday Hallmark-esque book set in a small town that is reminiscent to that of Stars Hollow from the Gilmore Girls, to get you into the holiday spirit, this could be the book for you! It's adorable overall and easy to read in just a few hours if you're looking to cozy up with a book on a chilly afternoon.

However, if you're looking for anything deeper than just a cute holiday romance, this may not be the book for you. It was very fast paced, and while the relationship between Gus and Sutton was cute, it felt very superficial. When they were having thoughts about falling in love, or having thoughts about already being in love, I found it very hard to believe because they had very little under their belt in terms of meaningful interactions that would lend themselves to falling in love. So if you can't get behind insta-love, or at least, close to insta-love, you might not love this story.

I also wish that the backstories of Gus and Sutton were developed more. It is mentioned multiple times that Sutton had to grow up fast because it was up to her to raise her siblings, and Gus was having marital issues before his wife passed away. Both of these things were mentioned multiple times but the author didn't provide much more details than that. I feel like if those backstories were developed into deeper, I would have felt more connected to the characters.

Lastly, I feel like the ending came about a little abruptly and because of that, I would have loved to see an epilogue. I would have loved to see how Sutton and Gus handled everything a couple months down the road from where the proper story left off.

Despite my small gripes, I enjoyed the novel for exactly what it was. I was on the look out for a cute holiday read and that's exactly what was delivered.

First Line Friday (20): Confessions of a Christmasholic by Joss Wood

First Line Friday is a bookish tag hosted over at Abstract Books that is used to showcase your favourite first lines of books.

There really is something to be said about a good first line, and I'm going to be using this tag from now on to showcase my current read's first lines.

My current read this week is Confessions of a Christmasholic by Joss Wood.

'I love you, you love meeeeee...'

Sutton Alsop couldn't remember the next line to the song she'd sing to her younger half-siblings and wrinkled her nose. Given she'd belted it out about a million times, it should be burned on her mental hard drive. Maybe if she tried again. 'I love you, you love me...'

Goodreads synopsis

Sutton Alsop hates Christmas. So much so, when confronted with a house that looks like Santa himself vomited Christmas all over it, she accidentally (drunkenly) destroys every fairy light, fake reindeer and candy cane in sight. Unfortunately for Sutton, this house belongs to none other than Gus Langston, single dad and owner of the village’s year-round Christmas shop – aka Mr Christmas himself. But Mr Christmas has a secret only Sutton knows… With the two of them forced together for the holidays, the sparks between them are hot enough to melt even the coldest of hearts!

--

Confessions of a Christmasholic was published on October 19, 2023, and my review of this little Christmas romance will be published tomorrow! You can add Confessions of a Christmasholic to your Goodreads TBR here!

Last Christmas by Maria Frankland

Title: Last Christmas

Author: Maria Frankland

Publisher: Autonomy Press

Expected publication date: November 10, 2023

The last place that Neil wants to spend Christmas is at his in-laws new house, especially since the whole family seems to be aware that he's a depressed, out of work, alcoholic with a strained marriage. A miserable few days is what he expects. What he didn't expect is that the miserable few days at this in laws house would end up being his last days alive. Now his wife is left to figure out the circumstances of his death. What happened? Who is responsible? Nobody in her family really liked him, but who could hate him enough to want him dead?

I want to state first that I feel a little bit mislead by this being classified as a thriller. To me, it is more of just a family drama. It's an extremely dysfunctional family with a mysterious death looming in the middle of it, but mostly the plot is focused on all of the members of the family taking turns being awful to each other.

I feel that it lacked the suspense and anticipation that drive most thrillers, and I also found that even with all the drama that all the characters brought around, it still fell flat for me. I would have preferred if the characters were developed a little deeper emotionally, so I would have felt more moved by each characters distress.

My lack of strong connection to any of the characters aside, I did enjoy the occasional switch in POV. It was really nice to have a peek into a few of the characters lives, I just wish that it could have been fleshed out more.

Overall, I didn't love this book as a thriller, but it was alight as a family drama. If you're looking for a quick read about an extremely dysfunctional family with a bit of mysterious circumstances around the edges, you might enjoy this one. 

Teaser Tuesday (24): Confessions of a Christmasholic by Joss Wood

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can participate in Teaser Tuesdays. Just do the following:• Grab your read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers!
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

For this week's Teaser Tuesday, I'm sharing teasers from Confessions of A Christmasholic by Joss Wood.

Goodreads synopsis

Sutton Alsop hates Christmas. So much so, when confronted with a house that looks like Santa himself vomited Christmas all over it, she accidentally (drunkenly) destroys every fairy light, fake reindeer and candy cane in sight. Unfortunately for Sutton, this house belongs to none other than Gus Langston, single dad and owner of the village’s year-round Christmas shop – aka Mr. Christmas himself. But Mr. Christmas has a secret only Sutton knows… With the two of them forced together for the holidays, the sparks between them are hot enough to melt even the coldest of hearts!

My teasers

"He'd been so busy he hadn't even had time to go into the storeroom and bang his head against the wall in frustration, something he'd done more than once before."

"All he wanted was to come home to a quiet house, a stiff whiskey and a long bath. But mostly he craved a quiet house free of anything Christmassy."

--

Confessions of a Christmasholic will be released in two days, on October 19, 2023, and you can add it to your Goodreads shelf here!

Freaky (2020)

Maturity rating: R. Strong violence, sexual content, language.

Genre: Horror, slasher

Release date: November 30, 2020

Director: Christopher Landon

Writers: Michael Kennedy, Christopher Landon

Runtime: 1h41m

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton, Katie Finneran, Celeste O'Connor, Misha Osherovion, Alan Ruck, Uriah Shelton, Dana Dori

Intro

Stories of The Butcher go around every year, but no matter how gruesome and bloody the stories might get, nothing could have prepared Millie for the bizarre event that followed her unfortunate encounter with the killer. After he stabbed her with an ancient knife, they swapped bodies. She soon learns that she only has until midnight to get her body back, or she'll be stuck in a killer's body forever.

My thoughts

This is a true horror comedy. Moments of bloody kills were offset by comedic moments, and I really liked it. Body swapping is a storyline that we've all seen before, but seeing it mixed in to a slasher was a refreshing and fun twist on an otherwise tired trope.

I think Vaughn and Newton did a fantastic job in the lead roles. It was fun to see Vaughn with the mannerisms of a teenage girl. I chuckled to myself frequently during his scenes. Newton also did a great job with embodying the personality and tendencies of a serial killer. I think she did a great job showcasing her acting range, and her acting was definitely a highlight of the film.

I did feel as though some of the relationships were a little underdeveloped, most notably the relationships between Millie and her family. Millie's father had recently passed, and it was touched on a few times that it has been a difficult transition, but it was never delved into. There is a scene where Mille, as the Butcher, is connecting with her mother of the passing of her father, but it felt very superficial to me. A touching moment between mother and daughter for sure, but I didn't feel like it had any emotions behind it to back it up. I feel like having a recent loss in the family didn't really contribute to the plot at all and really could have been left out. If Millie's mom and sister had been more developed characters, I think a strained family unit would have been a good aspect to add to the film. As it is, the recently-dead-family-member background felt like it was added in as a shallow afterthought.

My indifference to Millie's family relationships aside, I did like this film. With the comedy aspect included, it's something of a lighthearted slasher that is a great beginning-of-spooky-season movie, and it is one I will most likely revisit soon.

Hello October

September wrapped itself up extremely fast. I can't believe we are already the first of October, but I am very excited about it! It's my favourite time of the year. I am obsessed with Halloween, and I am loving the drop in temperature. Cozy season is beginning and I can't wait to be curling up under my blankets with a book.

Speaking of books and book related content, I actually don't have any posts sitting in my drafts like I usually do, so I can't really say what'll be appearing on my blog, book-wise, in the coming weeks. I will say that I have started reading the last ARC I have before I start the journey of actually reading all the books I own, which is going to be a long journey.

For content unreleated to books, I will be posting at least one movie review. Freaky (2020) will be the second ever movie review to grace this blog. The first one was my review of Scream (1996). I am sure I will start sharing my thoughts on movies that aren't of the horror genre, just maybe not this month. Spooky season means spooky movies the whole way through.

Since I have no posts lined up this month so far, I'm excited to see what this month brings me. I hope everybody has a lovely October :)

Scream (1996)

Rating: R

Genre: Horror, slasher

Release date: December 20, 1996

Director: Wes Craven

Cast: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, Skeet Ulrich, David Arquette, Matthew Lillard

It's September which means it is officially the beginning of the best time of the year to watch scary movies. This year, I've decided to start my favourite time of the year by watching a fan favourite, Scream (1996).

I'm sure everybody that is going to see this blog post is well aware of the plot, but in case you've been living under a rock for 26 years, I'll introduce it briefly:

The sleepy town of Woodsboro is usually peaceful, so it's a shock when teens start being mercilessly attacked by a masked killer, everybody is on edge. Who's behind the mask? And who will be the next victim?

--

I think watched this movie for the first time when I was about 13, and it's been a long time since I rewatched it. In the decades since it's release, I really think it's held up as a great slasher. Maybe it has its cheesy, cheeky moments at times, but it's full of 90s camp vibes and I adore it just as much now as I did when I was 13.

The 90s camp and slight goofiness aside, I think all the actors did a fantastic job in each of their respective roles. Neve Campbell was a great leading lady, and I will always have the softest spot in my heart for Courtney Cox and Matthew Lillard.

I have always loved the reveal of Ghostface in the final act. I was surprised at 13 and I still go crazy for the ending a decade later.

Overall, Scream will always hold a place in my horror-loving heart and it a must watch, or more likely, a must rewatch, especially this Halloween season.

Waiting On Wednesday (21): Off the Air by Christina Estes

Waiting on Wednesday's is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. *It appears that Breaking the Spine hasn't been active since 2016, but I still want to credit them as the creators.

For this week's Waiting on Wednesday I'm spotlighting Off the Air by Christina Estes.

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Expected publication date: March 26, 2024

Goodreads synopsis

Equal parts thought-provoking and entertaining, Emmy Award winning reporter Christina Estes introduces Jolene Garcia in her Tony Hillerman Prize winning debut, Off the Air .

Jolene Garcia is a local TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona, splitting her time between covering general assignments―anything from a monsoon storm to a newborn giraffe at the zoo―and special projects. Stories that take more time to research and produce. Stories that Jolene wants to tell.

When word gets out about a death at a radio station, Jolene and other journalists swarm the scene, intent on reporting the facts first. The body is soon identified as Larry Lemmon, a controversial talk show host, who died under suspicious circumstances. Jolene conducted his final interview, giving her and her station an advantage. But not for long.

As the story heats up, so does the competition. Jolene is determined to solve this murder. It’s an investigation that could make or break her career―if it doesn't break her first.

--

I am on a real murder/thriller kick recently, so I'm very excited for the release of this novel on March 26, 2024. You can add it to your goodreads TBR here!

Top Ten Tuesday (16): Books on my 2023 Fall TBR

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week the Top Ten Tuesday topic was "books on my fall 2023 to-read list." My TBR is a mile long, so it was hard to whittle it down to just ten, but I did it. :)

1. Murder in the Fourth Position: An On Pointe Mystery by Lori Robbins

This one is actually the book that I am currently reading, so I'm fairly certain I'll get this one done.

2. Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

This one releases tomorrow, and I'm so excited about it that it's already sitting in my Indigo cart.

3. Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

I originally read this book back in 2013, and I read a few books further into the series but I never finished the series completely. I own the entire series, so in the interest of reading every book I own before I buy new ones, I'm going to reread this book and hopefully the others in the series this fall as well.

4. What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher

This is another one that is patiently sitting in my Indigo cart. I am so excited about it. I loved The House Of Usher and I adore retellings so I think this book will be right up my alley.

5. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes & Other Lessons From The Crematory by Caitlin Doughty

This one has been on my TBR for so long. I'm really trying to get to it this fall.

6. Last Christmas by Maria Frankland

A Christmas time murder is never one that I'll pass up, so I'm very excited to get to this Netgalley ARC. 

7. Carrie by Stephen King

A modern classic that I somehow still haven't gotten around to reading, but will hopefully get to this fall.

8. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Same deal here as with Carrie. I've owned this novel for years and I still have somehow not gotten around to cracking it open.

9. How to Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

A third one patiently waiting in my Indigo cart. I'm sure by now nobody is shocked. I have a collection in there.

10. Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

If I'm going to read one Grady Hendrix this fall, I might as well read two. Imaginary bonus points for anybody that can guess where this one is waiting for me. (If you said in my Indigo cart, you're right and I have bestowed upon you the imaginary points.)

I can't wait to see everybody's top ten this week. I think it'll give me even more books to add to my never-ending TBR.

Murderabilia: A History of Crime in 100 Objects by Harold Schechter

Title: Murderabilia: A History of Crimes in 100 Objects

Author: Harold Schechter

Publisher: Workman Publishing Company

Publication date: September 26, 2023

Told through items surrounding brutal crimes, Murderabilia delivers their stories, and those of the deranged criminals behind them, in bite sized passages. Each crime and criminal is summarized in just a few pages each.

I think that this is the perfect book for those who are just getting started in the genre of true crime, because readers get a taste of 100 different crimes, each of which are covered in about 1-3 pages. With the gist of each crime covered briefly, readers can then choose the crimes that fascinate them the most and tumble down the rabbit hole that is true crime media to delve deeper.

Although the crimes and their criminals are covered in just a few pages, the content is well researched and no important detail is forgotten.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It covers the well known killers like Ted Bundy, Jeffery Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, and the lesser known ones, spanning back 100 years. with this wide range, I think there's cases featured here that both new and veteran true crime fans will enjoy. 

All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology

Title: All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology

Authors: Kalynn Bayron; Ashia Monet; Liselle Sambury; Sami Ellis; Joel Rochester; Joelle Wellington; Brent C. Lambert; Donyae Coles; Ryan Douglass

Publisher: Amberjack

Expected publication date: October 17, 2023

Goodreads synopsis 

Welcome to the Dark.

We are all familiar with tropes of the horror genre: slasher and victims, demon and the possessed. Bloody screams, haunted visions, and the peddler of wares we aren’t sure we can trust. In this young adult horror anthology, fans of Jordan Peele, Lovecraft Country, and Horror Noire will get a little bit of everything they love—and a lot of what they fear—through a twisted blend of horror lenses, from the thoughtful to the terrifying.

From haunted, hungry Victorian mansions, temporal monster–infested asylums, and ravaging zombie apocalypses, to southern gothic hoodoo practitioners and cursed patriarchs in search of Black Excellence, All These Sunken Souls features the chilling creations of acclaimed bestsellers and hot new talents, with stories from Kalynn Bayron, Donyae Coles, Ryan Douglass, Sami Ellis, Brent Lambert, Ashia Monet, Circe Moskowitz, Joel Rochester, Liselle Sambury, and Joelle Wellington.

My thoughts

This was a great anthology. The wide range of themes covered means that there is something for everyone. Are you into haunted mansions? Bloody Mary-esque legends? Zombies? Insidious lovers? You'll find it in here. The wide range of themes here makes it perfect for new and old horror fans alike, and as someone who has consumed her fair share of horror media, I really enjoyed all of the stories, they were unsettling in exactly the way that I hope horror stories will be. 

If you were a fan of the horror anthology Night of the Living Queers: 13 Tales of Terror Delight, and would like to keep delving into the world of horror anthologies especially while we approach the Halloween season, I think this book would be a perfect one for you.

Waiting On Wednesday (20): I Kill Killers by S.T. Ashman

Waiting on Wednesday's is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. *It appears that Breaking the Spine hasn't been active since 2016, but I still want to credit them as the creators.

For this week's Waiting on Wednesday I'm spotlighting I Kill Killers by S.T. Ashman. 

Publisher: Ashman Books

Expected publication date: October 10, 2023

Goodreads synopsis

When a genius pianist turned hunter of serial killers finds herself linked to her latest victim by a startling coincidence, her life enters a chilling vortex. Caught up in a high-risk chase with a determined FBI agent, she also finds herself in a life-threatening face-off with a shadowy enemy whose lethal cunning could rival her own.

"I Kill Killers" takes you on a thrilling ride, constantly reshaping the boundaries between hero and villain. This captivating tale promises to twist your perception and stay embedded in your thoughts long after the journey concludes.

--

I haven't read a book with a serial killer plot in a hot minute, so I can't wait to get my hands on this one this fall. You can add I Kill Killers to your Goodreads TBR here and look out for its release on October 10, 2023!

Waiting On Wednesday (19): The Murder After The Night Before by Katy Brent

Waiting on Wednesday's is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. *It appears that Breaking the Spine hasn't been active since 2016, but I still want to credit them as the creators.

For this week's Waiting on Wednesday I'm spotlighting The Murder After the Night Before by Katy Brent. 

Publisher: HQ Digital

Expected publication: June 11, 2024

Goodreads synopsis

From the author of How to Kill Men and Get Away With It , don’t miss this utterly thrilling and laugh-out-loud novel, perfect for fans of Bella Mackie, Dawn O’Porter and Killing Eve. Available to pre-order now!

 Something bad happened last night.
I’ve woken up with the hangover from hell, a stranger in my bed, and I’ve gone viral for the worst reasons. But I can’t remember a thing…
My best friend Posey is dead. The police think it was a tragic accident. I know she was murdered. There’s only thing stopping me from dying of shame. I need to find a killer.

--

From the reviews, this book sounds like a comedic but also engrossing thriller. With so many positive reviews already out this far from it's release, I can't wait to get my hands on it to experience the story for myself. You can add it to your Goodreads TBR here, and look out for its release on June 11, 2024.

Top Ten Tuesday (15): Top Ten Books I Thought I Would Love But Didn't

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week the Top Ten Tuesday topic was "top ten books that defied your expectations" in a good way or a bad way. I've decided to take it in the direction of books that I really thought I would love, but just didn't live up to the hype for me. So without further ado, here is my list:

1. Dorthy Must Die by Danielle Paige

2. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

3. Everything the Darkness Eats by Eric LaRocca

4. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

5. Matched by Ally Condie

6. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

7.  Allegiant by Veronica Roth

8. Paper Towns by John Green

9. Velveteen by Daniel Marks

10. Rosebush by Michele Jaffe

I wouldn't say that any of these books are bad at all. I think what happened was that the majority of these books got so much hype that my expectations were sky high and they just didn't live up to those expectations. I wanted to love all of these books so bad, but they all just fell short for me.

Hello September + A Blog Makeover

Lots of things are happening over here in my little blogging universe, the first and most obvious is that I have changed the name and URL of my blog! say goodbye to tired, plain, boring old YA Book Reviews and say hello to The Painted Moon!

This little revamp has been a long time coming. I started YA Book Reviews when I was almost strictly reading YA, and only doing reviews, almost ten years ago. Now that I am older, I have interest in books that are outside the realm of YA, so the title of my blog has been feeling a little misleading for the passed few years. I really wanted to fix that so my blog can reflect more of my interests now, and I can feel less boxed in to who I was a decade ago.

Feeling boxed in has been a major problem for me as I've grown. I love to talk about books. I will always use this blog to talk regularly about books. I just want to talk about books that belong to any genre, whenever I feel like reading them. I want readers to be able to find thoughts on all types of books that they might be interested in reading themselves, without attracting a solely YA audience. (although YA content is still on the way!) 

I also want to review things that aren't books. I love books and I always will, but I also love all other media, and I want to be able to talk about that as well. With this revamped blog, it feels like I can create a space to do that. So going forward, I'll also be posting reviews of movies and podcasts. So if you love books, movies, and podcasts, The Painted Moon is for you.

All that being said, I do have few things planned for this month so far. I've got a Top Ten Tuesday planned for tomorrow. (It might even be a full list, which is practically unheard of for me.) I have a couple Waiting on Wednesdays scheduled to be posted, and a review of All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology also waiting in the drafts. I am also in the middle of working through my thoughts on Murderabelia: A History of Crime in 100 Objects by Harold Schechter, so that should be posted most likely sometime this week.

I'm also currently typing out my first movie review! Scream (1996) is the movie review that'll be making its grand entrance on here on The Painted Moon, and I couldn't be more excited about it.

Overall, I have grown and changed, so it's high time that my blog does some growing and changing too. As always, I'm looking forward to talking bookish things with everybody, and hopefully talking movies too!

I hope this month treats everybody well :) 

Waiting on Wednesday (18): How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

Waiting on Wednesday's is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. *It appears that Breaking the Spine hasn't been active since 2016, but I still want to credit them as the creators.

For this week's Waiting on Wednesday I'm spotlighting How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin 

Publisher:  PENGUIN GROUP Dutton

Expected publication date:  March 26, 2024

Goodreads synopsis

FRANCES ALWAYS SAID SHE'D BE MURDERED...
SHE WAS RIGHT.

In 1965, when Frances Adams was seventeen, a fortune teller told her that one day she'd be murdered. Thus began a lifetime of trying to prevent the crime that would be her eventual demise.

No one took Frances seriously for sixty years - until, of course, she was murdered. But for Frances, being the village busybody was a form of insurance. She'd spent a lifetime compiling dirt on every person she met, just in case they might turn out to be her killer. In the heart of her sprawling country estate lies an eccentric library of detective work, where the right person could step in and use her findings to solve her murder.

When her great-niece Annie arrives from London and discovers that Frances' worst fear has come true, Annie is thrust into her great-aunt's last act of revenge against her sceptical friends and family. Frances' will stipulates that the person who solves her murder inherits her millions, and she's challenged a group that includes Annie to prove to the world that Frances was right all along about her future.

Can Annie unravel the mystery and find justice for Frances, or will digging up the past lead her into the path of the killer?

--

I love love love a murder mystery. And I've seen this one be compared to Agatha Christie and Knives Out, so if it comes even close to the likes of those works, I know I'll be obsessed the second it releases. If you're looking for a new murder mystery like me, you can add How to Solve Your Own Murder to your Goodreads TBR here!

Teaser Tuesday (23): All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology

 Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can participate in Teaser Tuesdays. Just do the following:• Grab your read

• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers!
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

For this week's Teaser Tuesday, I'm sharing teasers from All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology

Goodreads synopsis

The stories in All These Sunken Souls explore horror through a blend of genres—from the thoughtful to the terrifying—as the reader wanders farther and farther from reality. By delivering a multitude of profound nightmares, this YA horror anthology by established and debut authors contains something for every horror fan—and for anyone who dares to open these pages.

From haunted Victorian mansions, temporal monster-infested asylums, ravaging zombie apocalypses, to southern gothic hoodoo practitioners, the anthology features stories from Kalynn Bayron, Donyae Coles, Ryan Douglass, Sami Ellis, Brent Lambert, Ashia Monet, Circe Moskowitz, Joel Rochester, Liselle Sambury, and Joelle Wellington.

All These Sunken Souls tackles a genre that historically has tokenized and exploited Black characters and opens discussion on how horror translates into the current time we live in.

My teasers

    Her hug tightens. "This house isn't good for you."

    "What do you mean?" Vienna whispers.

    "It rubs you raw. You'll start peeling, and I do not think you'll like the new skin."

    I think I was haunted as a child, Vienna thinks. There was a monster when I was a child.

Page 147.

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All These Sunken Souls is expected to be released on October 17, 2023, and you can add it to your Goodreads TBR here! 

First Line Friday (19): All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology

First Line Friday is a bookish tag hosted over at Abstract Books that is used to showcase your favourite first lines of books.

There really is something to be said about a good first line, and I'm going to be using this tag from now on to showcase my current read's first lines.

My current read this week is All These Sunken Souls by Kalynn Bayron; Ashia Monet; Liselle Sambury; Sami Ellis; Joel Rochester; Joelle Wellington; Brent C. Lambert; Donyae Coles; Ryan Douglass.

What is the punishment for murder? I guess it depends on who you are and how much money you have.

Goodreads synopsis

The stories in All These Sunken Souls explore horror through a blend of genres—from the thoughtful to the terrifying—as the reader wanders farther and farther from reality. By delivering a multitude of profound nightmares, this YA horror anthology by established and debut authors contains something for every horror fan—and for anyone who dares to open these pages.

From haunted Victorian mansions, temporal monster-infested asylums, ravaging zombie apocalypses, to southern gothic hoodoo practitioners, the anthology features stories from Kalynn Bayron, Donyae Coles, Ryan Douglass, Sami Ellis, Brent Lambert, Ashia Monet, Circe Moskowitz, Joel Rochester, Liselle Sambury, and Joelle Wellington.

All These Sunken Souls tackles a genre that historically has tokenized and exploited Black characters and opens discussion on how horror translates into the current time we live in.

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All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology will be available on October 17, 2023. You can add it to your Goodreads TBR here!