This book was unlike any I have read before. It contains many tropes that other authors have tackled like gothic mansions, time loops, and murder mysteries, but this is done in a way that keeps the reader wondering what the overlying plot is; we unfold it with the protagonist as he discovers more about theContinue reading “Book Review: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton”
Author Archives: W. M. Ashley
Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Just when I thought there could not be another way for someone to retell the Cinderella story, I was very pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong. Cinder–part girl, part machine–makes a living fixing androids in order to help financially support her stepmother and stepsisters. That is, until she finds herself wrapped up in a strangeContinue reading “Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer”
Book Review: The Ghost of Graylock by Dan Poblocki
Summary Intrigued by the supernatural, Neal feels drawn to the mysterious Graylock Asylum when he spends the summer with his aunts and sister, thankfully away from the drama of his current home life. However, as he learns more about a former Graylock resident, he finds his past creeping back up on him. Hoping to solveContinue reading “Book Review: The Ghost of Graylock by Dan Poblocki”
Book Review: The Gilded Page: The Secret Lives of Medieval Manuscripts by Mary Wellesley
“…You must always keep searching, because you might find something magical, beneath some mouse-eaten cover, while looking for something quite different altogether.” Page 54 Summary In this deep-dive into the nature and study of medieval manuscripts, and especially many lesser known ones, Wellesley brings to light how recent research of these texts influenced the literaryContinue reading “Book Review: The Gilded Page: The Secret Lives of Medieval Manuscripts by Mary Wellesley”
12 Ways to Promote Your Book as an Indie Author
“Whether you’re an indie or hybrid author, the marketing of your book comes down primarily to you, and this sometimes can be quite a pain. However, here are some tips to make it a little easier!”
Book Review: The Graveyard Riddle by Lisa Thompson
This book came as a surprise to me. Here I was thinking, “Oooh! It had graveyard in the title. And it talks a bout a plague house on the back cover…It must be spooky!”, but lo and behold, I find out that it doesn’t have all that much to do with hauntings or spooky thingsContinue reading “Book Review: The Graveyard Riddle by Lisa Thompson”
February 2024 Reading Blog
Boy, am I behind in my book reviews, but this year has started off with some great reads! Ghost Hunter’s Daughter by Dan Poblocki To help me in my MG ghost story research, I searched for authors like Mary Downing Hahn who write ghost stories for MG readers and I guess this author has quiteContinue reading “February 2024 Reading Blog”
2023 Reading Wrap-Up
I hate the flu. But thankfully, I’m better and ready to mini-review the last books I read for the year of 2023! Matilda Bone by Karen Cushman Summary Teenage Matilda is distraught when she must leave her home at a convent to actually work for a living in a poor part of London. However, sheContinue reading “2023 Reading Wrap-Up”
Book Review: The Girl in the Lake by India Hill Brown
Browsing through the new library that recently opened in my hometown, I came across this middle grade title. The cover struck me, as I hadn’t yet come across a ghost story featuring a girl of color, so I was curious about the premise. Summary Celeste is afraid to swim, so she is naturally apprehensive toContinue reading “Book Review: The Girl in the Lake by India Hill Brown”
Book Review: The Whispering Dead by Darcy Coates
I wanted to branch out to other authors of the genre I like to write, supernatural/suspense, who, like Mary Downing Hahn, tell stories (for children, teens, or adults) that involve the concept of overcoming fear. I’ve found that Darcy Coates’ books fall under this umbrella. This is the first book of hers I’ve read, andContinue reading “Book Review: The Whispering Dead by Darcy Coates”
