Unreliable Narrators & Characters In Fiction…

Do we as readers not long for deliciously flawed protagonists, flagrant lies, and potently malevolent villains? For stories that unfold in uncommon and innovative ways. For an author drop us unceremoniously in the middle of the plot, making us scramble to gain our footing. I love to be lied to, led astray.  My mind toyed with. At least where my reading is concerned. Sometimes, the best parts of a book are the parts that simply didn’t happen the way we’re told they did. If you are prepared to be enthralled, confounded, and outsmarted, for a narrative that deviates from the usual, follow me…

Fiction You Can Sink Your Teeth Into…

I was bitten by the vampire bug early. Ever since the tender age of thirteen, I’ve been obsessed with the undead rulers of the night, Vampires. Whatever trope an author embraces; stake through the heart, the must have invitation; the hot mesmerizing, undying love…I’m there for it! Don’t get me wrong, I fear the reaper. Yet I am drawn in by the allure of the Vampire. They surpass many other folklore monsters and continue to spark our imaginations, not to mention our libidos. So, if you are prepared to be seduced beyond your wildest imagination…the wait is over. Come in.

Enter The World Of Speculative Fiction…

When I pick up a book, I am often looking for something that doesn’t reflect the real world as I might be experiencing it. What I want is to see how people act when the rules change. What I want is something faintly recognizable that provides me with a path back. Speculative fiction achieves that. Make no mistake, it’s total fabrication, in the way that looking in a mirror is fake, it distorts the image back at us. Good news for readers, speculative fiction has crept it’s way into every genre of book you can imagine. So buckle up, book lovers. If you’re eager to take a ride to the outer limits of literature, you’re in luck: I’ve got you covered!

Romance Novels That Will Make You Swoon…

If you're a reader of Paranormal Romance, I have some news for you. We're rule breakers. Rebels. The magnetic-eyed eccentrics of the genre who won't accept society's stifling and conservative demands! We want sex, we want scandalous behaviour, and we want hot, superhuman characters to have it with. A LOT of it with. And for the icing on this yummy cake, sassy and snarky banter is a must. Is that really too much to ask? With my latest feature, I’ve got you covered. Or maybe uncovered is a better way to put it…no judgement here!

Felon(ish) Females In Fiction…

Gone are the days when female characters were confined to boring old stereotypes and placed into predetermined boxes. Sure, they could be a little sassy and occasionally snarky, but only within the confines of societal expectations. But guess what? Those limits are getting blasted wide open, and the ladies are unlocking a whole new level of villainy, and let me tell you, the potential for mischief and mayhem is off the charts! Damn, it’s a good time to be alive. If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to keep company with a murderess or two. Trust me, you’re safe. Probably…

Mystery Solved…The Who, Why & How Of It All

“The writer of murder, like all writers, must be a miser, conceding revelations bit by bit; for every novel is a puzzle, every writer a murderer, and every reader a sleuth.”

Ah, the allure of a tantalizing, twisty plot! In these curated titles you will find no swift resolution, no failure of the writer in keeping you glued to the page, no lack in the pushing at the bounds of plausibility. You will find yourself in the company of characters that are all plotting in one way or another; to further their ambitions, for true love, for revenge, and even for sheer entertainment. Certainly, for your entertainment dear reader.

Familial(ish) Sagas Of The Fictional Kind…

Finding oneself part of an ideal family or friendship must be a kind of harmonic bliss. The traditions! The matching sweaters! The heart to hearts! But where’s the fun in that? Write about such euphoric contentment and you’re at risk of putting people to sleep. Where’s the misbehaving parent, the pesky sibling, the friend who sucks you into their drama, the crush you love from afar, the drama queens and the bad boys who keep readers turning pages? The spectacle and the discord that propel the plot forward? Right here, that's where!

Who I Want To Be When I Grow Up…

Coming of age stories are not just for the young…they resonate at all ages and stages of a life, and to this day I hold a reverence for these narratives. It’s been proven across centuries that they are rich fodder for good literature. My hunger wasn’t for the stories of the normal rites of passage, it was for discovering my hidden superpowers or for being the sole person capable of saving the world. For seeing things and doing things that adults couldn’t begin to fathom. And in these reads, my dreams, and maybe your own, are realized!

A Literary Odyssey Of Good & Evil…

Contrary to popular belief, right and wrong, moral and immoral, are not always on opposite ends of the spectrum of good and evil. The line between is much finer than that. Heroes and villains represent an embattled dichotomy, and they require one another to propel a story forward. Some of our most iconic fictional characters are rivaled by equally magnetic baddies. Thank goodness! If the vexing villain were to be removed from the tale, what fun would that be? Here I have gathered for you the stories of the saints, and the sinners. The devil himself might not show up, but I make no promises.

Let Horror Fiction Reign…

When it comes to the dark Fu*ckery of the human heart, there are no limits.” Stephen King

Horror fiction, at its finest, feeds whatever crazed deviance you are exploring, or depraved hunger you are attempting to satiate. And those of us brave enough have an invitation to vicariously experience all our worst possible nightmares on those pages. In my latest feature I’ve got all the angles covered. So follow me…if you dare!

It’s Your Move…Game Fiction

People are hard-wired to seek answers, to fill in any blanks. So, it’s no surprise we are predisposed to extrapolate clues from our environment to solve puzzles, whether it’s to move, to advance, or even to survive. Every game we play requires thoughtful consideration, a series of choices and navigations that shapes the course of play. With all this in mind, is it any wonder game theory and culture has resulted in so many well plotted books? I think not. So, tap into your inner child, embrace your inherent nerdiness, spark those creative juices, and come play with me.

Fiction To Feed Your Wanderlust…

We've all heard it, we've all said it; put one foot in front of the other, keep moving forward. At times, our feet may need a little inspiration. And if that inspiration comes in the form of a literary road trip, tales told from aboard a train, or a luxurious fictional flight, I’m all for it! Whatever path you choose, even if it’s an exploration of the road not taken, I hope the wanderings you find yourself on as an armchair traveler through the reads gathered here invite you to immerse yourself in an adventure. Bon Voyage!

Steal Like An Artist…

If you delve deeply enough into the books we choose to read, more often than not you will reveal a connection to something recognizable. That in fact they capture contemporary narratives from the bones of centuries of storytelling. Mythologies, legends, classics and fairytales have all been plundered for plot in myriad of ways and an upon myriad of occasions. So, open the door and take a peek.  A bevy of beauties, an abundance of adversaries, a cast of creatures, kings and queens, hags and ingénues, stepmothers and godmothers, pixies, giants and gladiators; which will you find? And what else might await you…

No Happy Endings Here…

Noir fiction offers an alternate reality, one rife with vice, temptation, corruption, and deep-seated desperation. At its best, noir is a roadmap to the subversive. It is where the clarity of moral division disintegrates, where the black and white blur into gray. Where flawed characters are revered, and the truth wielded with blunt force. These novels are not for the faint of heart or those looking for a happy ending. Or even a satisfying one. If you like your prose gritty, your verbs punchy, your settings darkly lit, your plots twisty and unpredictable, and your protagonists utterly, irrevocably doomed…here we go.

“Just One More Thing”…

I have wonderful memories of watching television mysteries with my mom. Sunday nights were must-see TV, hobnobbing with Jessica Fletcher as she ambled into yet another murder in her quaint hometown. Thursdays were all about Columbo, our eyes were riveted to the boob tube in stupefied fascination as the seemingly bumbling detective laid it all out. The chagrin of the dastardly culprits as they were unmasked by either of these genius sleuths was priceless. Is it any surprise that love translated to books? Enjoy a read that celebrate sleuths of all kinds!

5 Top Book Picks Across 5 Fav Genres Over 5 Years…

September 7th, 2023 will mark the 5th Anniversary of Cracking The Spine.

Over these years I have shared an abundance of content with my readers. Profiling 1,500+ books through innovative and in-depth features as well as reviews of the books I have read during this time. To honor this moment of celebration, I will share my five-fav reads in the last five years under each of my five-fav genres.

I hope you have found as much joy in my bookish wanderings as I have in sharing them! More to come…

Pull Of The Stars…

For as long as most of us have been alive, we have looked up at the stars and dreamed of the remarkable. Visions of sprawling and distant worlds, parallel universes, artificial intelligence, unearthly creatures, and concepts we would be hard pressed to put a name to have tumbled through our minds. Recent offerings in the genre are limitless, bringing to the page the fantastical as well as the futuristic. Fans are ravenous and the last few years have offered up an unprecedented level of satiation for that hunger.

Tell Me A Story…

At the very least, books are meant to ignite our imagination.  That spark, when given full reign is arguably the most transformative and revelatory capacity we as humans have access to. And no genre wields this influence more fully than Fantasy. Authors in this category regard a sheet of paper empty of words as a blank canvas on which to paint unfathomable universes. So reader, allow me to lead you into the language of dreams.

Eat Your Words…

Content Warning: the books gathered here are full of foodie delights, reading these books may cause hunger pangs that can lead to loud, possibly embarrassing growling to emerge from your stomach, as well as likely salivation that results in drooling. Proceed with no caution whatsoever…

A Backstage Pass To A World Of Wonders…

There's one fantasy that doesn't get old even as we do: running away with the circus. Escaping to a place where you can inhale the mouthwatering scent of cotton candy and fresh popcorn, behold dazzling lights that turn night into day, be held captive by impossible feats of magic, and surrender yourself to a place of vast spectacle. Bring a spark of extraordinary into your everyday life with these incredible books that will sweep you away to the dark and glamourous world of carnivals and circuses, where nothing is as it seems. A setting ripe for literature as any I can imagine.