Alessandra is reading…

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw – Review

A group of “friends” who seek haunted corners of the earth decide to host a wedding in a haunted mansion. A trip for a fun wedding, of which, goes terribly wrong.

I liked the premise, this was scary at first. But after a while, Overall, I’m disappointed. But when you pick books based off of the covers, there’s bound to be some disappointments in there. I have found so many good books based off of picking them up by loving their covers. Even one of the books I grabbed this month that I found in the thriller section of my favorite used bookstore a couple years ago – that was so interesting – it was The Farm by Tom Rob Smith, which I should be publishing the review for soon. And the last library haul I had done, I hadn’t picked up Slade House by David Mitchell from the cover, but upon first looking at it, I definitely would have.the constant references to “what happens in scary movies” just didn’t click for me. The characters felt mostly flat, though I felt it would be more interesting if there was more background about the people or a scene from their history before they got to the mansion. 

The dead are lonely in the dark, and they all miss the sun.

Cassandra Khaw, Nothing But Blackened Teeth

Overall, I’m disappointed. But when you pick books based off of the covers, there’s bound to be some disappointments in there. I have found so many good books based off of picking them up by loving their covers. Even one of the books I grabbed this month that I found in the thriller section of my favorite used bookstore a couple years ago – that was so interesting – it was The Farm by Tom Rob Smith, which I should be publishing the review for soon. And the last library haul I had done, I hadn’t picked up Slade House by David Mitchell from the cover, but upon first looking at it, I definitely would have.

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Let’s think of some other books I’ve picked up based off of the cover and loved…(this will be a list, so you can stop reading if you don’t care for these lists that I make.)

• What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
• Dracula’s Child by JS Barnes
• White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton – the title also influenced me on this one
• Real Life by Brandon Taylor
• Milk Fed by Melissa Broder
• My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki

Doing this (buying or borrowing books based on the cover) has given me this many favorite recent books and a few new favorite authors – Ruth Ozeki, Brandon Taylor, and David R Slayton. Their books will always hold instant love and happiness for me, even if I have yet to crack the spines. 

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Read on and if you get books based on the covers, don’t stop. If you don’t, consider doing it, because I promise you you will find some really amazing books.