Can't-Wait Wednesday: Hungerstone by Kat Dunn, Gliff by Ali Smith, & Daughter of Daring by Mallory O'Meara, & After the North Pole by Erling Kagge

 

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released. 

I planned my CWW posts poorly this month, so today we have another post featuring four anticipated releases!

Hungerstone by Kat Dunn
Publication: February 18th, 2025
Zando
Hardcover. 336 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"For what do you hunger, Lenore?

Lenore is the wife of steel magnate Henry, but ten years into their marriage, the relationship has soured and no child has arrived to fill the distance growing between them. Henry's ambitions take them out of London and to the imposing Nethershaw manor in the countryside, where Henry aims to host a hunt with society’s finest. Lenore keeps a terrible secret from the last time her husband hunted, and though they never speak of it, it haunts their marriage to this day.

The preparations for the event take a turn when a carriage accident near their remote home brings the mysterious Carmilla into Lenore's life. Carmilla who is weak and pale during the day but vibrant at night; Carmilla who stirs up a hunger deep within Lenore. Soon girls from local villages begin to fall sick before being consumed by a bloody hunger.

Torn between regaining her husband's affection and Carmilla's ever-growing presence, Lenore begins to unravel her past and in doing so, uncovers a darkness in her household that will place her at terrible risk . . .

Set against the violent wilderness of the moors and the uncontrolled appetite of the industrial revolution, Hungerstone is a compulsive feminist reworking of Carmilla, the book that inspired Dracula: a captivating story of appetite and desire."

I'm so intrigued by this premise, and even more interested in the fact that it's inspired by the novella Carmilla, which I don't think I knew was an inspiration for Dracula.

Gliff by Ali Smith

Publication: February 4th, 2025

Pantheon

Hardcover. 288 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:

"From a literary master, a moving and genre-bending story about our era-spanning search for meaning and knowing.

An uncertain near-future. A story of new boundaries drawn between people daily. A not-very brave new world.

Add two children. And a horse.

From a Scottish word meaning a transient moment, a shock, a faint glimpse, Gliff explores how and why we endeavour to make a mark on the world. In a time when western industry wants to reduce us to algorithms and data—something easily categorizable and predictable—Smith shows us why our humanity, our individual complexities, matter more than ever."

I always hear so many great things about Ali Smith and this sounds really good, so I'm eager to check it out. 

Daughter of Daring: The Trick-Riding, Train-Leaping, Road-Racing Life of Helen Gibson, Hollywood's First Stuntwoman by Mallory O'Meara

Publication: February 18th, 2025

Hanover Square Press

Hardcover. 384 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:

"From Los Angeles Times bestselling author Mallory O'Meara, the exhilarating story of America's first professional stuntwoman, Helen Gibson, who worked during a time when women ruled Hollywood

Helen Gibson was willing to do anything to give audiences a thrill. Advertised as “The Most Daring Actress in Pictures,” Helen emerged in the early days of the twentieth-century silent film scene as a rodeo rider, producer, performer and stunt double for iconic stars of the era. Her exploits were as dangerous as they were glamorous, featured in hundreds of films and serials—yet her legacy was quickly overshadowed by the increasingly hypermasculine and male-dominated evolution of action films in the decades that would follow her.

In this fast-paced and feminist biography, award-winning author Mallory O'Meara presents Helen’s life and career in exhilarating detail, including:

• Helen’s rise to fame in The Hazards of Helen, the longest-running serial in history

• How Helen became the first-ever stuntwoman in American film

• The pivotal and overlooked role of Helen’s contemporaries—including female directors, stars and stuntwomen who shaped the making of narrative film.

Through the page-turning story of Helen’s pioneering legacy, Mallory O'Meara gives readers a glimpse of the Golden Age of Hollywood that could have been: an industry where women call the shots."

I love nonfiction about interesting people, and Helen Gibson certainly sounds like she fits that!

After the North Pole: A Story of Survival, Mythmaking, and Melting Ice by Erling Kagge, transl. Kari Dickinson

Publication: February 11th, 2025

William Morrow

Hardcover. 352 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:

"The Norwegian explorer, philosopher and acclaimed writer chronicles his historic 58-day journey to the North Pole on skis in this gripping and thought-provoking memoir that is also a profound meditation about nature and our place within it.

The North Pole looms large in our collective psyche—the ultimate Otherland in a world mapped and traversed. It is the center of our planet’s rotation, one of the places that is most vulnerable in an epoch of global climate change. Its sub-zero temperatures and strange year of one sunset and one sunrise make it an eerie, utterly disorienting place that challenges human endurance and understanding.

Erling Kagge and his friend Børge Ousland became the first people “to ever reach the pole without dogs, without depots and without motorized aids,” skiing for 58 days from a drop off point on the ice edge of Canada’s northernmost island.

In magisterial prose, Erling narrates his epic, record-making journey, probing the physical challenges and psychological motivations for embarking on such an epic expedition, the history of the territory’s exploration, its place in legend and art, and the thrilling adventures he experienced during the trek. It is another example of what bestselling author Robert MacFarlane has called “Kagge’s extraordinary life in wild places.”

Erling offers surprises on every page while observing the key role that this place holds in our current climate and geopolitical conversations. As majestic, mesmerizing, and monumental as the terrain it captures, The North Pole is for anyone who has gazed out at the horizon—and wondered what happens if you keep going. 

The North Pole is illustrated with 12-14 photographs.

Translated from the Norwegian by Kari Dickson."

I've not read anything from Erling Kagge before, but he sounds like he's had some fascinating experience and I'm curious to learn more about them and his thoughts. 

Review: Why Taiwan Matters: A Short History of a Small Island That Will Dictate Our Future by Kerry Brown

Why Taiwan Matters: A Short History of a Small Island That Will Dictate Our Future by Kerry Brown

St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: January 28th, 2024

Hardcover. 272 pages.

About Why Taiwan Matters:

"Taiwan expert Kerry Brown sums up the history of Taiwan and the danger of a Chinese takeover in this succinct and authoritative book.

When the bloody Chinese Civil War concluded in 1949, two Chinas were born. Mao’s Communists won and took China’s mainland; Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists fled to Taiwan island. Since then, China and Taiwan have drifted into being separate political and cultural entities.

Taiwan is now a flourishing democracy and an economic success just one of its companies produces over 90 per cent of the semiconductors that power the world’s economy. It is a free and vibrant society. For the United States and the West, the island is a bastion of freedom against China’s assertive presence in the region. And yet China, increasingly bellicose under Xi Jinping, insists Taiwan is part of its territory and must be returned to it. Should China blockade the island and mount an invasion, it would set off a chain reaction that would pitch it against the US – escalating a regional war into a global one. Taiwan is thus a geopolitical powder keg. Why Taiwan Matters helps us understand how and why we’ve arrived at this dangerous moment in history. With unparalleled access to Taiwan’s political leaders and a deep understanding of the island’s history and culture, Professor Kerry Brown provides a new reading of Taiwan, its twenty-three million people, and how they navigate being caught in this frightening geopolitical standoff.

Why Taiwan Matters is the essential book for understanding Taiwan’s unique story told in an accessible, expert and urgent way."

Kerry Brown’s Why Taiwan Matters is a fascinating nonfiction exploration of Taiwan’s history and its current role in an ever-shifting geopolitical landscape. Going into this book,  I knew a little bit about Taiwan going into this and had a general understanding of its significance, but this book went into so much more detail and left me with a much clearer and deeper understanding of all things relating to Taiwan.

This book begins with Taiwan's origins and moves chronologically through its development, emphasizing how external influences have shaped its development. The primary focus, however, is on Taiwan's tenuous relationship with China, as well as it's relationship with the United States, particularly because of its critical role in semiconductor production–an area in which Taiwan holds global dominance. Additionally, Why Taiwan Matters explore Taiwan's embrace of democratic ideas, which further increases tensions with China, which views Taiwan as a part of the People's Republic of China, while nations like the United States recognize it differently.

As previously mentioned, prior to reading this book I was aware of some of the general issues between China and Taiwan, but Brown's detailed explanation showed why those tensions exist, the historical and present day factors that led to them, and potential consequences for the future. He clearly illustrates how volatile the situation can be and the potential threats that it may pose, as well a variety of perspectives on it. 
 
The book is largely split between a history of Taiwan and Taiwan's current political issues and statuses, which I think worked well for the shorter format. It's a concise and efficient way of understanding Taiwan's history and some key insights without every feeling overwhelming. For readers like myself with a limited knowledge and understanding of Taiwan, this is a great introduction to learning more; however, readers who are already well-versed in Taiwan's history and politics may not find anything new information-wise, though perhaps Brown's own insights could still provide value.

One thing that stood out most to me what Brown's emphasis on Taiwan's unique identity and role on the global stage. Brown highlights Taiwan's resilience and importance as a singular place, distinct from influences from both China and the West, and through this is able to create what I thought was a lot of respect for the people, history, and culture of Taiwan. Brown does an exceptional job explaining complex topics in readily accessible ways throughout the entirety of this book.. He also narrated the audiobook version of this book and does an excellent job with that as well.  

Why Taiwan Matters is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in Taiwan's history, it's geopolitical significance, or anyone generally interested in current events.  I really feel like I learned a lot and I would happily read more on these topics from this author! 

*I received a copy of Why Taiwan Matters in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Whiteout by R.S. Burnett, The Fourth Consort by Edward Ashton, & Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey

 

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! 

Whiteout by R.S. Burnett
Publication: February 25th, 2025
Crooked Lane Books
Hardcover. 352 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"A researcher stranded in Antarctica receives a radio message that a nuclear war has broken out in this claustrophobic survival thriller, perfect for fans of The Martian, The Last Murder at the End of the World and Breathless.

It’s been four months since glaciologist Rachael Beckett left her husband and daughter to join an urgent research trip to a remote field station deep in the Antarctic. But after losing all communication with her crew at base camp, she’s trapped and alone – and running out of supplies. The only information she has about what’s gone so catastrophically wrong is an emergency radio broadcast playing on a a nuclear war has broken out, and Rachael might be the last survivor on Earth.

Abandoned and starving, all she has left is a fierce determination to stay alive in the extreme cold and perpetual darkness of the polar winter. The research she’s gathered about catastrophic climate damage means she holds the fate of the continent and the world in her grasp…if there’s even a world left to save.

Struggling with loneliness and grief over the unknown fate of her family back home, Rachael knows both her life and her sanity balance on a knife edge. As she battles to stay alive in unimaginable conditions, she soon discovers she’s not completely alone in the dark and cold–but she might wish she was…"

A survival story set in Antarctica–need I say more? Of course I'm going to read this! But in all honesty, I read so much nonfiction about survival in cold climates that I'm really intrigued by this entire premise and have high hopes for it. 

The Fourth Consort by Edward Ashton
Publication: February 25th, 2025
St. Martin's Press
Hardcover. 288 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Dalton Greaves is a hero. He’s one of humankind’s first representatives to Unity, a pan-species confederation working to bring all sentient life into a single benevolent brotherhood.

That’s what they told him, anyway. The only actual members of Unity that he’s ever met are Boreau, a giant snail who seems more interested in plunder than spreading love and harmony, and Boreau’s human sidekick, Neera, who Dalton strongly suspects roped him into this gig so that she wouldn’t become the next one of Boreau’s crew to get eaten by locals while prospecting.

Funny thing, though—turns out there actually is a benevolent confederation out there, working for the good of all life. They call themselves the Assembly, and they really don’t like Unity. More to the point, they really, really don’t like Unity’s new human minions.

When an encounter between Boreau’s scout ship and an Assembly cruiser over a newly discovered world ends badly for both parties, Dalton finds himself marooned, caught between a stickman, one of the Assembly’s nightmarish shock troops, the planet’s natives, who aren’t winning any congeniality prizes themselves, and Neera, who might actually be the most dangerous of the three. To survive, he’ll need to navigate palace intrigue, alien morality, and a proposal that he literally cannot refuse, all while making sure Neera doesn’t come to the conclusion that he’s worth more to her dead than alive.

Part first contact story, part dark comedy, and part bizarre love triangle, The Fourth Consort asks an important how far would you go to survive? And more importantly, how many drinks would you need to go there?"

I've been wanting to add more sci-fi to my reading and this one sounds so interesting! I read Ashton's Mal Goes to War and found it to have a really interesting premise and I've been meaning to read more from him, so this seems like a great option to do so. 

Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
Publication: February 4th, 2025
Random House
Hardcover. 320 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Birdie’s keeping it together, of course she is. So she's a little hungover sometimes on her shifts, and she has to bring her daughter Emaleen to work while she waits tables at an Alaskan roadside lodge, but it's a tough town to be a single mother, and Emaleen never goes hungry.

Arthur Neilsen is a soft-spoken recluse, with scars across his face, who brings Emaleen back to safety when she gets lost in the woods one day. He speaks with a strange cadence, appears in town only at the change of seasons, and is avoided by most people. But to Birdie he represents everything she’s ever longed for. He lives in a cabin in the mountains on the far side of the Wolverine River and tells Birdie about the caribou, marmots and wild sheep that share his untamed world. She falls in love with him and the land he knows so well. Against the warnings of those who care about her, Birdie moves to his isolated cabin.

She and her daughter are alone with Arthur in a vast wilderness, hundreds of miles from roads, telephones, electricity, or outside contact, but Birdie believes she has come prepared. She can start a fire and cook on a wood stove. She has her rifle and fishing rod. But soon Birdie realizes she is not prepared for what lies ahead."

Eowyn Ivey's prose is always so gorgeous that I'll pretty much read anything from her no matter what the premise is, so I'm looking forward to checking this one out. 

Mini-Review: Lightfall by Ed Crocker

Lightfall by Ed Crocker

St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: January 14th, 2024

Hardcover. 384 pages.

About Lightfall:

"An epic fantasy of vampires, werewolves and sorcerers, Lightfall is the debut novel of Ed Crocker, for fans of Jay Kristoff’s Empire of the Vampire and Richard Swan’s The Justice of Kings.

No humans here. Just immortals: their politics, their feuds—and their long buried secrets.

For centuries, vampires freely roamed the land until the Grays came out of nowhere, wiping out half the population in a night. The survivors fled to the last vampire city of First Light, where the rules are simple. If you’re poor, you drink weak blood. If you’re nobility, you get the good stuff. And you can never, ever leave.

Palace maid Sam has had enough of these rules, and she’s definitely had enough of cleaning the bedpans of the lords who enforce them. When the son of the city’s ruler is murdered and she finds the only clue to his death, she seizes the chance to blackmail her way into a better class and better blood. She falls in with the Leeches, a group of rebel maids who rein in the worst of the Lords. Soon she’s in league with a sorcerer whose deductive skills make up for his lack of magic, a deadly werewolf assassin and a countess who knows a city’s worth of secrets.

There’s just one problem. What began as a murder investigation has uncovered a vast conspiracy by the ruling elite, and now Sam must find the truth before she becomes another victim. If she can avoid getting murdered, she might just live forever."

Let’s start by saying that I’m not typically a huge vampire fan. However, I am someone who likes to keep an open mind for something fresh and that brings something new and exciting to any particular trope or genre--for instance, Jay Kristoff’s Empire of the Vampire series has been a surprising delight, as it offers unique twists on traditional vampire lore. Therefore, when Ed Crocker’s Lightfall was pitched to me and it sounded like something with vampires that I’d never read before, as well as had an incredibly intriguing synopsis, I couldn’t resist diving in. I’m happy to report that Lightfall does indeed deliver a fresh take on the vampire novel and weaves together an imaginative world with vampires, werewolves, and sorcerers, and plenty of lore to make for a fascinating story.

What I liked: The world-building in Lightfall is phenomenal! The intricate background of this world is one of Lightfall’s most riveting aspects, as it provided a multi-layered and immersive setting that I could really sink my teeth into (pun intended). We follow a fairly diverse cast of characters, and I appreciated how these characters’ journeys allowed us to delve deeper into the world’s structure, including a look at societal roles and hierarchies among both different beings and within each group’s own social dynamics. I was also particularly compelled by the absence of humans in this world, which completely shifts dynamics from what readers usually expect in a vampire novel. Instead, we get to explore a world inhabited by vampires, sorcerers, and werewolves, which fostered some intriguing interactions and relationships. I was especially fascinated by the lore surrounding the enigmatic ‘Greys’ and the lingering question of whether mortal existed, and, if so, what happened. There’s really so much depth to this world and this entire story, and I’m eager for additional books in this series which I’m sure will explore even more.

What I didn't like: The only real complaint I have with this book is that the dialogue at times felt a bit stilted and awkward. For me, it did disrupt the flow of the story at times, which pulled me out of the otherwise immersive experience. That being said, I did read a fairly early ARC of Lightfall, so it’s possible that some of these issues have been refined and/or resolved in the final version. The dialogue’s stiffness does give the book a slight debut feel, but to me it also hints at the author’s potential for growth and leaves me optimistic about Ed Crocker’s future work and books in this series.

If you’re looking for a fresh new take on vampires and intricately crafted fantasy with rich world-building and a plethora of interesting characters to follow, then I’d encourage you to give Lightfall a read!

*I received a copy of Lightfall in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Friday Face-Off: Current Read #34

                         

 Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme at Books by Proxy. Join us every Friday as we pit cover against cover, and publisher against publisher, to find the best artwork in our literary universe.  You can find a list of upcoming topics at Lynn's Books.

This week's topic is:

Current Read #34

 I was actually going to post a review today, but some things came up and changed those plans, so instead we've done a last minute pivot to a Friday Face-Off, because why not? It's been a while since I've done one, and it's always nice to take some time to appreciate cover art.  I actually decided to re-read How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu this week, and it's been just as heartbreaking and wonderful as I remember. Honestly, sometimes I wonder why I do these things to myself considering how sad  some of the stories in this collection are. But regardless, there are some lovely editions of this book out in the world, so let's have a look at some of them. 

2022 US Hardcover | 2024 Catalan/Valencian | 2024 Arabic

2022 UK Hardcover | 2023 UK Paperback | 2023 Italian

2023 Chinese | 2023 Bulgarian | 2024 Korean

My favorite(s):

These are all so gorgeous! I am finding myself particularly drawn to the Chinese and US Hardcover editions. I just love the simplicity of most of these, and I wish I could own a copy of the Chinese one (I already own the US edition) because it's so beautiful and I think it really captures the sort of melancholy/hopeful/sad feelings this collection evokes. 

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Black Orb by Ewhan Kim, Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods, & The Poorly Made and Other Things by Sam Rebelein

 

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! 

The Black Orb by Ewhan Kim
Publication: February 4th, 2025
MIRA
Hardcover. 304 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"One evening in downtown Seoul, Jeong-su is smoking a cigarette outside when he sees something impossible: a huge black orb appears out of nowhere and sucks his neighbor inside. Jeong-su manages to get away, but the terrifying sphere can move through walls, so he’s sure he won’t be able to hide for long.

The orb soon begins consuming every person caught in its path, and no one knows how to stop it. Impervious to bullets and tanks, the orb splits and multiplies, chasing the hapless residents of Seoul out into the country and sparking a global crisis with widespread violence and looting. Jeong-su must rely on his wits as he makes the arduous journey in search of his elderly parents. But the strangest phases of this ever-expanding disaster are yet to come and Jeong-su will be forced to question everything he has taken for granted.

Dryly funny, propulsive and absurd, The Black Orb is terrifyingly prescient about the fragility of human civilization."

This sounds so weird and I'm totally here for it.

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods
Publication: February 18th, 2025
Tor 
Hardcover. 432 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Saint-Malo, Brittany, 1758.
For Lucinde Leon, the youngest daughter of one of Saint-Malo's wealthiest ship-owners, the high walls of the city are more hindrance than haven. While her sisters are interested in securing advantageous marriages, Luce dreams of escaping her elegant but stifling home and joining a ship's crew. Only Samuel—Luce's best friend and an English smuggler—understands her longing for the sea, secretly teaching her to sail whenever she can sneak away. For Luce, the stolen time on the water with Samuel is precious.

One stormy morning, Luce's plans are blown off course when she rescues Morgan de Chatelaine, the youngest son of the most powerful ship-owner in Saint-Malo, from the sea. Immediately drawn to his charm and sense of adventure, she longs to attend the glittering ball held in honor of his safe return and begins to contemplate a different kind of future for herself.

But it is not only Luce's hopes at stake—the local fae are leaving Brittany and taking their magic with them, while the long-standing war with the English means Saint-Malo is always at risk of attack. As Luce is plunged into a world of magic, brutality, and seduction, secrets that have long been lost in the shadowy depths of the ocean begin to rise to the surface. The truth of her own power is growing brighter and brighter, shining like a sea-glass slipper.

Or the scales of a sea-maid's tail."

I enjoyed Woods' After the Forest and I'm really intrigued by the general setup of this one, so I'm looking forward to checking it out.

The Poorly Made and Other Things by Sam Rebelein
Publication: February 11th, 2025
William Morrow
Paperback. 288 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"There’s something wrong in Renfield County.

It’s in the water, the soil, the wood. But worst of all, it’s in the minds of the residents, slowly driving them mad. When Lawrence Renfield massacred his family and drew The Giant in his farmhouse with their blood, no one imagined the repercussions. At the very least, the bloodstained wood should have been set aflame, not chopped down and repurposed as furniture, décor, and heirlooms across the county. But that’s exactly what happened. Now regular people—like you and me—are sitting on… eating with… admiring… the cursed wood and reaping the consequences.

These are their stories.

In “My Name Is Ellie” a young girl uncovers disturbing secrets hiding in the walls of her beloved grandmother’s home. An unassuming box, built with reclaimed wood, connects a grieving widower with his late wife’s lingering spirit in “Hector Brim.” In “Detour” a father, desperate to return home, finds himself trapped in a dizzying maze, haunted by stories of lurking monsters that live off the remains of weary travelers.

Playing with the uncanny to explore themes of loneliness and grief, Sam Rebelein returns upstate to unravel the mysteries of Renfield. But regardless of what started the trouble, there’s one thing of which we can be for those living here, the nightmare is far from over."

I haven't read anything from this author yet so I'm unfamiliar with the setting of this book, but I'm hoping that's okay because this sounds so good! 

Review: The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks

The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks

Angry Robot

Publication Date: January 14th, 2024

Paperback. 400 pages.

About The Way Up is Death:

"When a mysterious tower appears in the skies over England, thirteen strangers are pulled from their lives to stand before it as a countdown begins. Above the doorway is one word: ASCEND.

As a grieving teacher, a reclusive artist, and a narcissistic celebrity children’s author lead the others in trying to understand why they’ve been chosen and what the tower is, it soon becomes clear the only way out of this for everyone… is up.

And so begins a race to the top, through sinking ships, haunted houses and other waking nightmares, as the group fights to hold onto its humanity, while the twisted horror of why they’re here grows ever more apparent – and death stalks their every move."

This was my first encounter with Dan Hanks' writing, and I’m already keen to explore more of his work, especially when I’m craving something intense and gripping. The Way Up Is Death is a dark, stress-inducing mystery wrapped up in a high-stakes horror/thriller. It’s also supremely high stakes, and those high stakes only grow as the story progresses and our characters ascend in this mysterious structure. There are new horror awaiting the characters around every corner, and it is truly relentless with an atmosphere drenched in dread and anticipation.

The Way Up is Death kicks off with the sudden appearance of a strange, floating structure in the sky. Initially, there's panic and speculation as people try to understand its purpose, but when nothing significant happens after a while, society gradually returns to normal. That is, until one day when thirteen individuals are seemingly plucked out of thin air from their lives and find themselves inside this enigmatic tower. Once there, a countdown begins with only word shown: ascend. All they can do now is try to figure out a way to go up, though none of them know what awaits them at the top, and most importantly, they must survive the trip.

The cast of characters is diverse and compelling. There's a mix of personalities, from the harmless to those you root for to the mildly annoying, and to the downright egotistical and dangerous. While such a wide array of characters can sometimes feel a bit exaggerated, I felt it served a good purpose here in offering a glimpse into how different types of people might react under extreme stress and chaos. This also applies to a sense of predictability that sometimes comes into play with some stereotypes and how you might expect things to turn out, but I think it all work out well together. It was also initially a little tricky keeping track of everyone, but as the story progressed it became easier to note each character’s distinct traits, and I found watching how they evolved–or didn’t–a really engaging aspect.

One of my favorite parts of The Way Up is Death is the sheer creativity involved in the design of the tower’s “levels” (or, perhaps, the sadistic creativity, one might say?). Each new level presents a unique and often harrowing challenge, and I thought some of the later stages were particularly intriguing. The puzzles and obstacles are intricate and imaginative and provided a great foundation to learn more about characters and their perspectives, as well as how they interact with one another.

The pacing is relentless from start to finish, with action-packed sequences there to keep driving the narrative forward. As much as this can sometimes be welcome in books to make for a gripping narrative, I was slightly disappointed by just how quickly this moved at times and how much it really seemed to just be one action event after another. We got a little down time here and there to get to know our characters, but I wouldn't have minded a few more moments of meaningful discussion from them. That said, we do still get some great conversations between our characters around the tower’s purpose, humanity’s role, the earth, and a few topics that added a lot of depth to the story.

I found that hope seemed to be a recurring theme in this story as well, with some of our characters offering reflections on their own lives and what the future may hold for both themselves and others. These moments of introspection and thoughtfulness provided a nice counterbalance to the terror and fear that permeates the rest of the story.

The ending is fittingly intense and momentous, though it left me wanting more–more background, more about the tower–but I also understand that some mysteries are meant to remain unsolved, and this book handled that idea really well. It’s both resolved and a little bit open-ended, and it struck that balance well.

Overall, The Way Up is Death is a compelling blend of SFF, horror, and thriller. If you’re looking for something fast-paced, high-stakes, and thought-provoking, then this may be a good option for your next read.

*I received a copy of The Way Up is Death in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my rating.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org