Category: Blog Series Page 12 of 220

BBNYA SEMI-FINALIST SPOTLIGHT: Litany of the Destroyer by Chaz Lebel

On November 22, 2025

I’m very pleased today to welcome The BBNYA Semi-Finalist Spotlight Tour for Chaz Lebel’s Litany of the Destroyer! This book has made it to the semi-finals, so you know there’s something good going on–but before getting to this Spotlight, let’s start with a word about BBNYA.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 (17 in 2025) finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official.

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Book Details:

Title: Litany of the Destroyer by Chaz Lebel
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Age Category: Adult
Format: Hardcover/Paperback/Ebook
Length: 294 Pages
Publication Date: September 7, 2022

About the Book:

After a close encounter with a summoned demon, Sir Galien Banforth is left in fear for his immortal soul, bound by oath to a life of bloodshed for his king. When the world’s greatest kingdoms march to war, Galien abandons the battlefield, and his knighthood, searching for a way to repent.

He’s about to find it.

After meeting Emi, a secretive orphan with a dark history of her own, the two uncover the works of a malevolent cult, and a conspiracy that threatens all of Europe. Soon, Galien will find himself in a new war, against the renegade angels of Hell, and the Apocalypse itself.

Litany of the Destroyer is intended for a mature audience. It contains depictions of graphic violence, and occult/religious themes some may find offensive. Reader discretion is advised.

No AI was used in any part of the creation of this book.

Book Links:

Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The Story Graph

About the Author:

Chaz Lebel is a huge nerd with a passion for the power of a well-told story. He lives in El Paso, Texas with his dog Bailey and his existential dread.

Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Bluesky

My thanks to The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

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BBNYA SEMI-FINALIST SPOTLIGHT: Lost Blades by Liz Sauco

By HCNewton

On November 21, 2025

In Book Tour, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction

I’m very pleased today to welcome The BBNYA Semi-Finalist Spotlight Tour for Liz Sauco’s Lost Blades! This book has made it to the semi-finals, so you know there’s something good going on–but before getting to this Spotlight, let’s start with a word about BBNYA.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 (17 in 2025) finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official.

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Book Details:

Title: Lost Blades by Liz Sauco
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Age Category: New Adult
Format: Hardcover/Paperback/Ebook/Audiobook
Length: 507 Pages
Publication Date: September 12, 2023

About the Book:

As the world ends once more, the goddess chooses who she will wield against Abomination.

In Lyndiniam: A street thief attempts a heist far more ambitious than anything he has done before, but due to circumstances outside his control, finds himself locked up for crimes he both did and did not commit. A strange woman with abilities Jamirh does not understand breaks him out, and he finds himself on the run – fleeing to Romanii, a country he thought no longer existed.

In Ni Fon: A shinobi is banished by the Empress for killing her daughter and his fiancée, Princess Hotaru. This is a ploy, however – Takeshi is still working for Ni Fon despite the murder, trying to learn information about a rebellion against the Rose Empire that Ni Fon will be able to leverage to regain their own freedom.

Though thousands of miles apart, both Jamirh and Takeshi find themselves pulled into an ancient struggle between forces far beyond anything they have ever dreamed of, whether they want to be or not.

Book Links:

Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The Story Graph

About the Authors:

Liz Sauco is an author from Rhode Island who enjoys a host of nerdy pastimes, such as crocheting cute animal plushies and playing video games. After graduation from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Classics, she spent several years teaching Latin to high school students while working on her first manuscript.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Discord ~ Instagram ~ TikTok

My thanks to The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Love and Death by Vicky Earle

By HCNewton

On November 20, 2025

In Book Tour, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

I’m pleased to welcome the Book Tour for the sixth book in Vicky Earle’s Meg Sheppard Mysteryseries, Love and Death. You’re going to want to look into this one.

Book Details:

Title: Love and Death by Vicky Earle
Series: Meg Sheppard Mystery, #6
Format: Kindle/Paperback
Length: 324 pg.
Publisher:‎ Wordzworth Publishing
US Publication Date: October 18, 2024

About the Book:

A cheating racehorse trainer is dead, and someone close to Meg is under suspicion.As she digs for the truth, past gang members involved in a murder, and a zealous animal rights group bring danger to Meg.

Wounded by a gunshot, Meg is reluctant to continue as a sleuth.

Does she have the resilience to face the danger and investigate a stolen horse, another death, and two attempted murders while struggling to cope with the likelihood of a devastating personal loss?

Book Links:

Amazon ~ Indigo (Canada) ~ Waterstones (UK)

About the Author

Vicky Earle is a recipient of a Canada Book Award and was CEO of the Ontario SPCA for several years. Her experience with owning and breeding thoroughbred racehorses, as well as country life, inspired her to write the Meg Sheppard Mystery Series. The series features fast-paced, action-packed mysteries which unfurl within the worlds of thoroughbred horse racing and country living.

Animals have always been a big part of Vicky’s life. She couldn’t imagine writing a book without including some.

Vicky currently lives on a small horse farm near Uxbridge, Ontario, with her husband.

Website ~ Instagram

My thanks to Paste Creative Book Tours for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

BBNYA SEMI-FINALIST SPOTLIGHT: Love Awaits: A Tale of Unbroken Promises by Harshita Nanda

By HCNewton

On November 20, 2025

In Book Tour, Fiction

I’m very pleased today to welcome The BBNYA Semi-Finalist Spotlight Tour for Harshita Nanda’s Love Awaits: A Tale of Unbroken Promises! This book has made it to the semi-finals, so you know there’s something good going on–but before getting to this Spotlight, let’s start with a word about BBNYA.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 (17 in 2025) finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official.

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Book Details:

Title: Love Awaits: A Tale of Unbroken Promises by Harshita Nanda
Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Age Category: Adult
Format: Hardcover/Paperback/Ebook
Length: 176 Pages
Publication Date: January 29, 2025

About the Book:

FA tale of enduring love that triumphs over adversity.

Mira is on a carefree holiday to a hill town when she stumbles upon Sunshine Coffeehouse, where she meets Raghunath Sharma. Every morning, Raghunath, an ex-professor, waits for someone in the coffeehouse. Intrigued, Mira wonders who Raghunath is waiting for and why. The revelation that Raghunath has waited for years fuels her curiosity.

The only person who can tell Mira Raghunath’s story is Manan. But will he reveal the story of the one person he loves most to a stranger?

Moreover, will Mira be able to ignore the attraction she feels for Manan and what her heart desires?

In a world filled with violence and negativity, Love Awaits, A Tale of Unbroken Promises reminds us of simpler times, evoking emotions through its heartfelt narrative.

Book Links:

Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The Story Graph

About the Authors:

Harshita Nanda is an author, blogger and book reviewer based in Dubai, UAE. An engineer by qualification, she changed tracks to become a full-time writer. Her stories have a strong emotional quotient with a streak of feminism. Avoiding unnecessary drama, she focuses on the universal appeal of human emotions.

One of the shortlisted candidates for the Rama Mehta Writing Grant, 2023, her short stories have found a home in many anthologies such as The Blogchatter Book Of Thrillers, The Blogchatter Book of Love, and Lightning Strikes, An Anthology of Flash Fiction by Indian Writers. Her words have appeared on websites like Kitaab, Porch Lit Mag and Roi Faineant Literary Press.
An author of four books, Love Awaits: A Tale of Unbroken Promises is her fourth book.

Twitter ~ Instagram

My thanks to The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

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WWW Wednesday—November 19, 2025

By HCNewton

On November 19, 2025

In Books, Currently Reading, News/Misc., WWW Wednesday

I finished my Goodreads Challenge last week, which was a nice little dopamine hit–the books I’ve been reading have basically been nothing but dopamine hits, but who doesn’t want more of that?
2025 Goodreads Challenge

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Seems easy enough, right? Let’s take a peek at this week’s answers:

What are you currently reading?


A Judgement of Powers by Benedict Jacka	Turn Coat by Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters

Jacka’s new series keeps going in places and directions I don’t expect. I’m eager to see how he confounds me this time.

I remember Turn Coat having one of the more powerful endings in the Dresden Files (nothing compared to a few others, but still). I’m steeling myself already.

What did you recently finish reading?


The Last Colony by John Scalzi	The Greatest Possible Good by Ben Brooks, read by Emma Gregory

The Last Colony is yet another of those books that I intended to read years ago (since 2011, according to Goodreads). I am so angry at myself for wasting all that time not being able to re-read it.

I’m honestly not sure what Brooks was going for in his book. There were some interesting bits, some decent writing, and solid characters–but I need to think a little more about it to know if it was worth it.

What do you think you’ll read next?


Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis	Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum by Michael J. Fox & Nelle Fortenberry

Caspian might be my favorite Narnian book, so this is going to be fun.

Speaking of fun, Fox (and Fortenberry) writing about that strange period in his life when he was shooting Back to the Future and Family Ties and then narrating it? Sure thing.

How’ve you been sourcing your dopamine lately?

BBNYA SEMI-FINALIST SPOTLIGHT: Magical Girl Blues by Russell Isler

By HCNewton

On November 19, 2025

In Book Tour, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Science Fiction

I’m very pleased today to welcome The BBNYA Semi-Finalist Spotlight Tour for Russell Isler’s Magical Girl Blues! This book has made it to the semi-finals, so you know there’s something good going on–but before getting to this Spotlight, let’s start with a word about BBNYA.

Also, come back in few hours when I will finally get my post about the book up–almost 3 months after I read it.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 (17 in 2025) finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official.

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Book Details:

Title: Magical Girl Blues by Russell Isler
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Thriller
Age Category: Adult
Format: Hardcover/Paperback/Ebook/Audiobook
Length: 478 Pages
Publication Date: November 26, 2024

About the Book:

Some things are worse than death… Or high school

Xenia Findlay should be dead—just like her parents, and her best friend Bethany. After the crash, she moves to the tranquil small town of Porter Valley to live with her great aunt. But her recovery is plagued by terrible headaches…and hallucinatory visits from her dead friend.

Worse, the students of Porter Valley High have begun to disappear.

As the missing teenagers join Bethany in Xenia’s visions she begins to suspect that everything she thought she knew—about the world, about death, and about herself—is wrong.

Which means a ghastly force really is lurking in the shadows of her idyllic new home.

And unless Xenia can unlock the power she’s discovered, she might just lose herself, her town—and her very soul.

Book Links:

Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The Story Graph

About the Author:

Russell Isler was born in Champaign, Illinois. As a child, his fate was sealed the evening his parents took him to see Star Wars. Practically obsessed with spaceships, robots and dragons for his entire life, he pursued a career in animation. After a couple decades jumping between the video game and commercial television VFX fields he stumbled into a new group of friends, who went on to create the award winning Adventures of the League of S.T.E.A.M. web-series. In addition to becoming head of VFX for the League, Russell also acted in several of the episodes. The League also gave him his first taste of writing. His writing on the series finale won “Best Screenplay” in the 2017 Dublin Web Festival. By then he realized that he’d had so much fun writing those screenplays that he should probably write down that book idea that had been living in the back of his head.

Website ~ Instagram ~ Bluesky

My thanks to The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

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BBNYA SEMI-FINALIST SPOTLIGHT: Maid in Heaven by Aurora Alba

By HCNewton

On November 18, 2025

In Book Tour, Fiction

I’m very pleased today to welcome The BBNYA Semi-Finalist Spotlight Tour for Aurora Alba’s Maid in Heaven! This book has made it to the semi-finals, so you know there’s something good going on–but before getting to this Spotlight, let’s start with a word about BBNYA.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 (17 in 2025) finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official.

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Book Details:

Title: Maid in Heaven by Aurora Alba
Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction
Age Category: Adult
Format: Hardcover/Paperback/Ebook/Audiobook
Length: 368 Pages
Publication Date: August 13, 2024

About the Book:

From award-winning author Aurora Alba comes a fresh romantic comedy about the antics that ensue when Will Jessup starts a sexy all-male cleaning service catering to bored Jackson Hole housewives.

But Will doesn’t just clean lonely women’s houses half-naked for the thrill of it. He’s a single dad in a small — but expensive — town whose spirited young daughter has racked up a mountain of medical debt. No stranger to performing manual labor for the upper echelon, Will sees an untapped market with infinite potential and high demand. Why not use it to give his daughter a better life?

Ava Quinn believes in love, even though it always seems to take an almost comical detour around her. With the ruins of her failed marriage in her rear-view, at least Ava can thrust herself head-first into her job in finance. That is, until her sassy best friend hires a handsome hunk in a tear-away policeman’s costume to dust off Ava’s cobwebs. With Will deep cleaning, flustered Ava botches her video conference regarding a new multi-million-dollar acquisition further nose-diving her life into chaos.

When Will tries to make the disastrous encounter up to Ava, their feelings begin to blossom. But modern dating in the Grand Tetons isn’t easy and love is never squeaky clean. In this fresh, new series full of love, lust, and laundry, you can expect a wild ride of romantic mishaps, meddling besties, and blush-worthy spice. Join Will and Ava for the flirty, laugh-out-loud beginning of what is sure to be a booming new business.

The Man Maid series is recommended for fans of Meghan Quinn, Lucy Score, & Pippa Grant and features workplace romance, men in uniform, single dad, small town, he falls first, and cinnamon roll contemporary romance tropes.

Book Links:

Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The Story Graph

About the Authors:

Award-winning author, Aurora Alba, is a writer of contemporary and paranormal romance. She writes from a small town in Wyoming with the support of her husband and furbabies. A captivating writer where love, in all forms, is her passion.

My thanks to The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

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BBNYA SEMI-FINALIST SPOTLIGHT: Mary and Bright by Nikki Perry and Kirsty Roby

By HCNewton

On November 17, 2025

In Book Tour, Fiction

I’m very pleased today to welcome The BBNYA Semi-Finalist Spotlight Tour for Nikki Perry and Kirsty Roby’s Mary and Bright! This book has made it to the semi-finals, so you know there’s something good going on–but before getting to this Spotlight, let’s start with a word about BBNYA.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 (17 in 2025) finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official.

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Book Details:

Title: Mary and Bright by Nikki Perry and Kirsty Roby
Genre: Romance
Age Category: Adult
Format: Ebook
Length: 307 Pages
Publication Date: October 1, 2024

About the Book:

Albright Nicols is not a fan of Christmas.

He’s too busy running his business and worrying about his increasingly oddly behaved father to deal with the festive season.

That is until he meets Mary – an infuriatingly joyful and sparkling woman who loves her job at the retirement village and is determined to help Bright find his holiday spirit.

Book Links:

Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The Story Graph

About the Authors:

Nikki and Kirsty are sisters from New Zealand, approaching middle age gracelessly. They are best friends, avid readers, writers, foodies and cocktail enthusiasts. Old enough to write from experience but young enough to still believe in love, they write quirky, light- hearted stories that are a welcome escape in this current world climate. Neither of them can do a cartwheel for love nor money.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Bluesky

My thanks to The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award 2025 Semi-Finalist badge

BBNYA SEMI-FINALIST SPOTLIGHT: Mushroom Blues by Adrian M. Gibson

By HCNewton

On November 17, 2025

In Book Tour, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Science Fiction

I’m very pleased today to welcome The BBNYA Semi-Finalist Spotlight Tour for Adrian M. Gibson’s dynamite Mushroom Blues! This book has made it to the semi-finals, so you know there’s something good going on–but before getting to this Spotlight, let’s start with a word about BBNYA.

Also, come back in few hours when I will finally get my post about the book up–almost 3 months after I read it.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 (17 in 2025) finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official.

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Book Details:

Title: Mushroom Blues by Adrian M. Gibson
Genre: Mystery, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Age Category: Adult
Format: Hardcover/Paperback/Ebook/Audiobook
Length: 408 Pages
Publication Date: March 19, 2024

About the Book:

Blade Runner, True Detective and District 9 meld with the weird worlds of Jeff VanderMeer and China Miéville in Adrian M. Gibson’s fungalpunk noir debut.

NKPD homicide detective Henrietta Hofmann begrudgingly partners up with fungal patrol officer Koji Nameko to investigate the mysterious murders of fungal and half-breed children, a case that drags them deep into the seedy underbelly of a war-torn city.

Book Links:

Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The Story Graph

About the Author:

Adrian M. Gibson is an award-winning Canadian SFF author, podcaster, illustrator and tattoo artist. In 2021, he created the SFF Addicts podcast, which he co-hosts with fellow authors M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly. The three host in-depth interviews with an array of science fiction and fantasy authors, as well as writing masterclasses. Mushroom Blues is his debut novel.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Bluesky

My thanks to The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

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Saturday Miscellany—11/15/25

By HCNewton

On November 15, 2025

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

I really thought I had a long list for today, but…not so much. I do have an eclectic one, however. And that makes me just as happy. Hopefully there’s something here that strikes your fancy. (and if not, come back in 7 days)

Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet Steve Hofstetter recently gave a speech to the American Association of School Librarians that’s worth your time (in my non-humble opinion). He was nice enough to provide both the full video and the text version.
bullet Bones & Betrayals: A Chat with Andi Ewington, Erica Marks and Calum Alexander Watt—loved this.
bullet Caffinated Reader’s 13th Annual Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon Sign-up—may intrigue some of you
bullet Eileen Mueller and several other fantasy authors have a dynamite-looking giveaway up: November 2025 Win Deluxe Edition Epic Fantasy Books Giveaway—(and yes, you entering via that link gets me more entries, so, you know…help a guy out)
bullet EVEN MORE Unusual and Riveting Retellings!—The Orangutan Librarian has tempted me to take the rest of the month off to work through this list
bullet I Have An Agent—I know there’s a long gap from this to us getting to hold a Peat Long tome in our hands, but this is a great step.

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
bullet Crime Writers of Canada Joel Nedecky, The Broken Detective—I enjoyed it, you might to. Also, let me remind you to read The Broken Detective

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago This Week?
bullet Indexing: Reflections, Episode Seven: False Love’s Kiss by Seanan McGuire
bullet X by Sue Grafton
bullet The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
bullet Never Tell by Alafair Burke
bullet And I mentioned the releases of: The Promise by Robert Crais; Winter by Marissa Meyer; Rules for a Knight by Ethan Hawke; Dear Mr. You by Mary-Louise Parker; Home by Matt Dunn; Mad Men Carousel: The Complete Critical Companion by Matt Zoller Seitz

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree—by far the least cozy of the series, but fans won’t mind. Greatest breadknife in literary history. I finished this yesterday and relished every second of it.
bullet Guns Of Brixton by Paul D. Brazill—Fahrenheit Press has this great looking book out in it’s Pocket Noir series (I need to do a separate post just about that series one day). How do you turn down “a hard-boiled black comedy packed with crooked cops, washed-up crooks, and the kind of dialogue that snaps like a switchblade.” in an attractive package? (I sure don’t)
bullet There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm—”Humanity is under assault by malevolent ‘antimemes’—ideas that attack memory, identity, and the fabric of reality itself—in this whip-smart tale of science-fiction horror, an entirely reimagined and expanded version of the beloved online novel.”

That lack of an “s” on “BOOK” is really going to drive me nuts