Kampung Kreepy

Five stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This novel is well-written, with just the right amount of creepiness and coziness. The intriguing mystery and the high stakes keep you glued to the page. The protagonist, one Daphne Heartstone, is a sorceress who works as a journalist. On the quest for that next headline, she stumbles upon a murder at an old, empty building that once served as a hospital. Before long, she finds the murder may be but one in a long string of killings. Daphne is well-rounded, and I also liked the side characters. I especially liked the contrast between the hospital’s dark atmosphere and the warmth and comfort of Daphne’s family and home. Each enhances the other, making the book all the more enjoyable. One point to consider: This is the first book in author Krista Walsh’s Dark Descendants series, but there were numerous references to Daphne’s backstory, which must be in the prequel that I didn’t read. I think the book can stand alone, but it may be helpful to pick up the prequel first

I’m not a fan of Godzilla movies. I mean, I like them well enough, but I won’t go out of my way to watch them. So I was really surprised to find how much I liked Godzilla Minus One , which I caught on Netflix . This isn’t yet another kaiju (giant monster) movie in which the creature wrecks Tokyo and terrorizes its residents. Instead, it’s character-driven, and really tugs at your heartstrings. You’re so much more invested in a flick if you actually care that the people in it survive. The movie was produced and released in 2023 by Japan’s Toho Studios. It has found worldwide success, reportedly raking in $116 million compared to an estimated budget of $10 - $12 million. It is Toho’s highest-grossing Godzilla movie ever, at a time when American movies are sluggish at the box office. Godzilla Minus One takes place shortly after World War II, when Japan is reeling from its ignominious defeat by the Allied Forces. The main character is Koichi Shikishima, a former kamikaze pilot who mus

Can it be June already? For this month, a group of urban fantasy authors—myself included—have teamed up to offer a great selection of books. Check it out, and find your next summer read and/or next favorite author!  Link:  https://books.bookfunnel.com/uf-faka-june/hsyy1cla3y

Five stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I was drawn to the book because of its setting. My parents were born in Malaysia, and many of my relatives still live there. Zen Cho definitely is an authentic voice for that part of the world. Her dialogue is spot on, and her characters feel so real they could be my relatives. Not only that, her description of how people in Malaysia and Singapore view the supernatural is funny, and devastatingly accurate. Cho’s protagonist Jess is a sympathetic figure. Brought up in the U.S. by conservative Malaysian-Chinese parents, she has a foot in both the West and the East, and a hard time belonging to either. Her problems are compounded when she moves with her parents back to Malaysia. She is haunted by her deceased grandmother and dragged against her will into a world of gods, gangsters and Chinese mediums. The book is an engaging read with many layers. It’s about the clash between cultures, generations, religions, and the modern versus the old. It is about the clash within

The Soul Stealer is now available in paperback. This means the complete Geomancer’s Apprentice series is available in both ebook and paperback. Yay! If you haven’t already read it, the series is about two underdog feng shui practitioners who find, to their dismay, that they must save the world (or at least Washington, D.C.). Please check the books out if you’re in the mood for fast-paced adventures set in a supernatural world of Asian magic, feng shui, ghosts, monsters, dragon lines and minor gods. Click here to read my thoughts on releasing the final book in the series. If you're interested in reading a deleted scene from The Soul Stealer , please subscribe to my newsletter. Get the details here . Here's the blurb for The Soul Stealer : ***************** How do you fight a phantom from a nightmare? Feng shui practitioners Junie Soong and Joe Tham are still dealing with the fallout from their last case. They are forced at the same time to work for the secretive ben

Five stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I’m totally enchanted by protagonist Howard Marsh. I mean, this man is seriously flawed. He’s a down-and-out addict who lives in a storage container and is well-known to the police. He calls himself a methgician and ekes out a petty life doing small jobs with the magic that runs in his family. Marsh manages to redeem himself, however, through surprising acts of kindness and sacrifice. In Marsh, author Bob McGough has crafted a complex and interesting character. You want to hate him, but you also love him. This character will stay with me. I also love the rural lore, and the beauty that McGough brings out in the dirt roads and ramshackle buildings of Jubal County. This first book of the series has the protagonist engaged in two separate jobs. Both adventures are well-written and engaging. I especially liked the second story because it shows more facets of Marsh’s character. I highly recommend this book.