6-1-25 — Christina Critiques
- Christina Pfeiffer
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Wooooo. We made it another week. And I have your reward - reviews! Four of them are early reviews so get that pre-order button ready.
Let’s get into them.
EARLY REVIEW
KILLER PICTURES
By: Hope Madden
Release: 6/17/25
Page count: 73
Synopsis: Dez is so excited to be judging the next set of film festival entries… until names she starts recognizing the names that accompany the films.
First line: “The squelching sound made her cringe more than the images on the screen.”
Favorite line: “MEATBOAT!”
Thoughts: Imagine The Ring mixed with a film festival, a bunch of deaths, and plenty of blood. Super fun, fast paced, and hold on to your butt insane. Hope is one to keep your eyes on.
Rating: 4.5/5
Other recommendations: ROOST, INCUBATE
EARLY REVIEW
WHERE MONSTERS LIE Vol. 2 - Cull-de-Sac
By: Kyle Starks
Illustrated: Piotr Kowalski
Release: 6/17/25
Page count: 106
KU: No Hoopla: TBD
Synopsis: Continuing where Volume 1 left off, Connor must prove himself to the surviving group. Problem is, Connor has plans of his own.
First line: “So, after the [redacted by reviewer] that went down at Wilmhurst, we’re down a ton of people, and we’re all going to have to do some overtime.”
Favorite line: “I’m the Holiday Killer, Barry! What holiday am I supposed to do?!” “I don’t know, Ray.” “Arbor Day?”
Thoughts: This is classic Kyle Starks. He’s back with his gang of lovable serial killers and friends. Starks has such a way of taking an often-overdone trope (serial killers) and turning it on its head. Stellar from the first line to last.
Rating: 5/5
Other recommendations: WHERE THERE BE MONSTERS Vol. 1
EARLY REVIEW
MY NAME ISN’T PAUL
By: Drew Huff
Release: 11/18/25
Page count: 114
KU: TBD Hoopla: TBD
Synopsis: Paul is having a bit of a mid-life crisis and it’s only getting more difficult to deal with. It’s “bugging” him. (Ha!)
First line: “I pretended to be human for the last seven years it finally caught up to me.”
Favorite line: “It was a bug-eat-bug world. Only the strongest would survive it.”
Thoughts: What a clever and inventive story. Body horror, plenty of heart, friendships, and Brillo pads? … wait - checks notes - nope, that’s correct. The journey from “husband” to villain was so fascinating and fun to watch as a reader.
Rating: 4/5
Other recommendations: FREE BURN, THE DIVINE FLESH
EARLY REVIEW
THE NUT HOUSE
By: Patrick Barb
Release: 6/6/25
Page count: 136
KU: Yes Hoopla: TBD
Synopsis: A squirrel must pay off his debt utilizing a ragtag group of squirrels and a sugar glider to break into house for the acorn score of a lifetime.
First line: “Asher Black remembers the tree on fire, his family burning as the dry trunk explodes from the inside out.”
Favorite line: “Teeth sharp, eyes blind, fur sparse and white as Asher Black remembers fire.”
Thoughts: How in the hell did a bunch of squirrels and a sugar glider make me cry? Don’t let the idea of animals as the main characters detour you from this book, because it has one of the most brutal kill scenes I have read in years. Another win from Barb.
Rating: 5/5
Other recommendations: THE NIGHT OF THE WITCH-HUNTER, JK-LOL
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH Vol. 1 - THE END OF THE WORLD
By: James Tynion IV
Illustrated: Martin Simmonds
Release: 2/24/21
Page count: 128
KU: No Hoopla: Yes
Synopsis: Cole Turner worked for the FBI until he learned his new job and being a conspiracy theorist may save his life.
First line: “I’d like some legal representation. These police officers have not allowed me to have any.”
Favorite line: “Are you going to kill me?”
Thoughts: This is a conspiracy theorist’s dream (and the doubters). Between the characters relatability and both sides of conspiracies being explored, I’m obsessed. The artwork though - chef’s kiss.
Rating: 4.5/5
Other recommendations: I will continue the series
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