Sage Nestler's Blog, page 3

Book Review: A Book that Should Become Required Reading

The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. WurthSynopsisRating5/5Spooky Rating4/5Quick Take

The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. Wurth was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, and I read my ARC within two days because I was so captivated. It beautifully captures grief; sheds light on important historical event and had a twist that took me by surprise. It was tragic, painful, and the suspense was palpable. This book simply deserves to become a must-read in the thriller/horror realm.

Tell Me More

It has taken me a long time to compile my thoughts on The Haunting of Room 904, because I am afraid that my words will not do it justice.  This is the first time that I have felt that way, because this book is so important to me.

I have loved Wurth’s work for quite some time.  I also think it is great that we live in the same state, because the places she often mentions are places that I am aware of or have been a part of my entire life since I was born in Colorado and remain here.  But beyond that, there is something about her writing style that is just so unique and edgy.  I went into The Haunting of Room of 904 blind when I was honored to receive an ARC of it months ago, but I seriously could not tear myself away.

The book is at once suspenseful, and a lighter paranormal thriller/horror, but incorporates a historical event that I knew nothing about.  I am still so angry that I never knew about it, especially since I live here.  I will call it the Massacre, as Wurth does in the book out of respect.  The book features a website about the Massacre that can give you further details, so I don’t want to go too far into it.  But you can find the link below.  I just want to say that the way Wurth incorporated it, and two-spirit representation, was brutal, painful, and so, so necessary.  My heart genuinely hurts after reading this novel, and it is essential reading, to say the VERY least.  I read it twice to try and ensure that my review gives it justice.

Olivia, our main character, lost her sister and never expected to receive the gift to hear or see spirits.  She is one of the most sought-after paranormal investigators in Denver, and Wurth’s incorporation of different listings for various tools for paranormal investigators was a fun addition.  I loved the LGBTQ+ representation throughout the novel, as well as HIV, and how a big plot point in the story takes place at the Brown Palace here in Denver.  Wurth created a unique cast of characters and events with twists that I did not anticipate – which was a nice surprise.  For a paranormal thriller/horror to also pack such an emotional punch is something only Wurth is capable of, and I have been recommending this novel to everyone I know.  I simply have no words, other than PLEASE READ IT.  

QuotesResources

Sand Creek Massacre: https://www.sandcreekmassacrefoundation.org/

People of the Sacred Land: https://peopleofthesacredland.org/

Suicide in Indian Country: https://www.nicoa.org/national-american-indian-and-alaska-native-hope-for-life-day/

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OPEN CALL: Horror Submissions by Queer Authors

Hello, Everyone!

At Pride with a Bite, my queer horror publisher, we are officially open for independent queries! We recently published our first charity anthology, We Bite Back – which fully supports Human Rights Campaign – and we are releasing a poetry collection by a new author soon.

However, we are looking for independent queries of horror/horror-adjacent novels, novellas, or collections by queer authors.

For query information and requirements, please visit: https://pridewithabite.com/query/

Questions?

Email us at info@pridewithabite.com

Sage Moon

Editor-in-Chief of Pride with a Bite

Cover Reveal: We Bite Back – A Queer Horror Anthology

I am so excited to reveal the cover for the upcoming queer charity anthology through my indie publisher, Pride with a Bite, “We Bite Back!”

Full Submission Information: https://pridewithabite.com/charity-anthology-we-bite-back/

Submissions are open through December 31, 2024

There are not a lot of restrictions on what you can and can’t write or create. I want this to be as open as possible, so you have the chance to channel whatever you feel brewing within you.

Your community needs your voice now more than ever, and we will always be a safe space for you.

You are important. You matter. The world would not be the same without you.

WE would not be the same without you.

Be angry, be sad, feel your grief and fear, and then channel it into your work. I hope that opening this opportunity up for you, you can find some solace in the creation and know that you are not alone – it is an excellent way to meet other creators who are in your corner.

While this is not a paid opportunity, all royalties will go to support Human Rights Campaign – an organization that fights for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community

TO SUBMIT

Email info@pridewithabite.com with the following information:

NameName you would like your piece published under (if using a pen name or “anonymous”)Title of workIf the piece has been published elsewhereShort bio with any identities you would like shared (this is not required – and you do not have to submit a bio if publishing “anonymously”)Please attach written pieces as a Word documentPlease attach art pieces as a PDF300 DPIUp to 6×9 inchesQuestions or need support?

Feel free to email us: info@pridewithabite.com

Bonus information

Your pieces don’t have to be new, and they can be submitted to both our anthology and ezine if you’d like. It is also okay if your piece has been published before, as long as you didn’t sign a contract with another anthology saying it won’t be published elsewhere.You can submit your pieces to be published anonymously or under a pen name to protect your information and identity. Your identity will not be shared and you do not have to include a bio in these case – just make a note of this when submitting your pieces.Make a one-time donation

Thank you so much for your support! It means the world to me.

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Book Review: One of the Most Important Reads of the Year

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White SynopsisOverall Rating

5/5

Spooky Rating

4/5

Quick Take

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White is an extremely hard read that should be required reading. I simply cannot sum it up for you more than to just say – read it.

Tell Me More

Ooof, you guys. I had said a while back that this book played a huge part in saving my life, and that has only intensified since I have officially changed my pronouns to They/He and have opened up about being trans masculine during a very scary time in our world.

Compound Fracture is bloody, gritty, and horrific in every sense of the word. But the scares here aren’t classic. While there is a paranormal aspect, it is about how the worst monsters are human, and those who SHOULD protect us are so often violent beyond measure. The book is set in White’s native West Virginia, and sheds light on Appalachian and mining culture, oxycontin addiction, lack of proper healthcare, police brutality, generational trauma, and the dangers of being queer and/or having a disability, or in any way being “othered,” in these rural areas.

The book follows Miles, a trans, autistic teen from a bloodline that has long been targeted by the sheriff and his family. Miles is attacked by the sheriff’s son and his friends, to the point of near death and permanent disfigurement, and after the assault, sets off on a mission to get bloody revenge on his attackers with his best friend, Cooper – following an accident that occurs with one of the boys. However, things unravel drastically, and the events lead to an atrocious climax that left me sobbing.

If you have followed me for any length of time, you are probably aware of my dislike for animal cruelty in horror. But in this case, it was necessary to portray the extent of evil of some of the characters. White did not include any unnecessary violence, he just shed light on these very real atrocities in such a brilliant and delicate (while still gruesome) way.

However, one character – my absolute favorite – is named Dallas and they are nonbinary, have permanent burn scars, and present masculine. I LOVED how White highlighted how nonbinary folx DO NOT owe anyone androgyny, and we are all valid however we present, which is something I often struggle with. He also highlighted aromanticism apart from asexuality, and how both orientations are entirely separate from each other despite being seen as one and the same most times.

White’s writing is a beacon of hope for trans/queer and neurodivergent readers such as myself, and while his books are young adult, they go SO HARD. If I had had his books as a teen it might not have taken me until I was 30 years old to come out as trans/queer and acknowledge my autistic traits to get help and understand myself. Instead, I always felt like something was wrong with me and internalized it (this book was an essential tool in helping me see myself in Miles’ experience with autism). Even so, it appears that this book came into my life exactly when it was supposed to do so.

White stated in his author letter that this story burns like moonshine going down, but to me, it felt more like a railroad spike shoved down the throat. While the ending is hopeful, the excruciating pain of that spike remains.

If you read nothing else this year, or any year, read this book. And that is something I have never said about any book. It is that important.

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Author Signing Announcement: Lennox Rex

We are beyond excited at Pride with a Bite to announce that we have signed with author Lennox Rex to publish his upcoming poetry collection! Lennox is one of our staff writers and has been published in a multitude of anthologies and publications. We love how eloquent his writing is, and we are positive this collection is going to help so many people and save so many lives.

This is a large project, and two editions of the collection will be published; however, the first edition is slated to be published in March 2025.

Stay tuned for more information!

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Interview with C.J. Leede

I had the honor of interviewing author C.J. Leede for her newest novel, American Rapture, and I am so excited to share it with you.

This book meant so much to me and it is an absolute must-read – especially for those who have been affected by religion in one way or another. C.J. Leede’s first novel, Maeve Fly, was a smash hit, and I love the ferocity that she translates into her writing. My official review of American Rapture will be up soon, but please enjoy her interview for the time being.

As someone who was raised Catholic and experienced a lot of abuse within the faith, I found your novel, American Rapture, to be so cathartic.  Do you have any specific experiences with the faith that led to the conception of this novel?

I’m so sorry to hear that, and I hope you’re okay. I was really so lucky in that I personally never experienced abuse in the church, but of course I know people who did, though I didn’t know that until I was older. For me growing up, I just struggled a lot with the ideas we were taught there, and they never really stopped hounding me for many years. It’s hard to pinpoint a moment because there were so many–my entire childhood in church and CCD and choir, and I was the kind of kid who listened to everything and took it all in, and the stories really are so frightening when you listen. But I do remember a Sunday school teacher specifically telling us that little girls were born into more sin than little boys, and that moment just stuck with me so much for so long because I kept thinking, that can’t be right, can it? Sometimes a little thought like that is all it takes.

I was moved to tears by your letter to the reader in the back of the book, and I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet soul-dog. I lost my soul-cat a year ago, a loss that was also more extreme than any I have experienced before, and I still wonder how I am going to survive.  How do you think readers experiencing any form of grief can find comfort, or at least exploration, in the horror genre?

Thank you, and I’m so sorry for your loss. I truly think it’s one of the worst things a person can live through, and it’s just one of the cruellest facts of our reality that our animals’ lifespans aren’t as long as ours. I feel in general that horror is a safe and important space to explore the worst things we live with in order to at least know that there is shared experience in those things. It’s a space to also show by contrast all that is beautiful and kind and gentle in this world, and I hope in my books (potentially Maeve being a bit of an outlier in this way) to always show both, to always reaffirm that life holds beauty and love too. And that even if we’re going to lose the ones we love one day, or they’ll lose us, we got the time together, and that’s really what matters.

You are such a master at creating strong female characters within the horror genre, first with Maeve Fly, and now with Sophie. Why do you think that it is important to create horror stories that surround such strong (if not wonderfully unhinged) women?

Thank you! I mean to me (and I’m sure many), it’s just so obvious– there are so many strong women in this world, so why wouldn’t they be in our books? I also feel that as a writer you have to love your characters for the reader to love them, and I personally tend to really love and respect characters who are curious and don’t take no for an answer and who are uniquely and imperfectly themselves, so I always try to give those attributes to my main characters especially.

Are there any religion-based horror novels or stories that inspired you with American Rapture?

I really didn’t read many when I was working on this actually. It was largely inspired by the Divine Comedy, and then of course biblical stories I learned growing up. I think probably on a slant it was inspired by Anne Rice because I am just so generally obsessed with all her work, but I wasn’t totally aware of it if so. But since I finished the book, I’ve read a lot more religious horror, and it’s been a fascinating education! There’s so much out there, and so much to learn from other authors and all the incredible work they’re producing.

Lastly, do you have any projects on the horizon that we can look forward to?

Yes! I’ve been working on a Colorado book for a while about ghosts, cannibals, and what lies beyond. I’m really so excited about it, and right now it’s tentatively set to come out Spring 2026. I got to explore two very distinct sides of myself with Sophie and Maeve, and the two main characters of this third book hold a lot more of the side of me that I haven’t gotten to write about yet– the outdoors-loving, quiet-seeking road hound and wanderer, and I’m very excited to live in that space while finishing it. In many ways, this third book is the truest to who I am now, and it feels very special to me for that reason. I’m hoping readers will feel the same when it gets in their hands and becomes theirs!

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Charity Anthology Open Call: We Bite Back

I am excited to announce that through my indie publisher, Pride with a Bite, we are putting together an anthology of queer horror/horror-adjacent and non-fiction works, and all proceeds will go to benefit Human Rights Campaign.

As a part of the queer community, this is a cause near and dear to my heart. With the amount of hatred and abuse I have experienced since the election results, as well as many of my loved ones in the community, it is more important than ever that we make our voices heard.

We are here, we have always been here, and we will STILL BE HERE.

FIND FULL OPEN-CALL INFORMATION BELOW

Charity Anthology Open Call: We Bite Back

Are you in need of 2SLGBTQIA+ resources?

Please find them below

HRC RESOURCESMake a one-time donation

Thank you so much for your support! It means the world to me.

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New to My Shop: Eye See You E-Reader, Book or Tablet Sleeve

For those who don’t know, I run an Etsy shop called The Bookish Crocheter, where I feature handmade bookish accessories. I am a master crocheter with the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) and have been crocheting for over 22 years. I create all of my own designs, and specialize in unique e-reader, book, and tablet sleeves. However, I also feature various bookish accessories.

With the holidays just around the corner, I will be listing new items frequently for your perusal and sharing them on here.

First up is the Eye See You Sleeve !

Are you worried about the safety of your e-reader, book, or tablet? Fear no more with the Eye See You Sleeve! It puts an eye front and center to make sure no one lays their grubby hands on your valuables.

This sleeve is made from my own design using recycled materials from a local found objects craft store. All of my designs are my own and cannot be found anywhere else! It features flaps to secure your e-reader, book, or tablet in place. I professionally finish my sleeves by cleaning them with a special soap to remove any oils, dirt, etc. that may naturally occur while it is being made, and I block them to maintain their shape and secure the crochet stitches. They all come with a lifetime warranty as well, so any repair you may need in the future is covered!

*NOTE: This sleeve is special, because you can choose the color of the iris of your eye, whether you want it bloodshot, as well as change out the chartreuse stripes for a different color! The color of the flaps will match the iris color that you choose. (Fill out personalization information when ordering)

*MADE TO ORDER* – Select which size you would like based on the size of your Kindle, Nook, any other e-reader, or choose for it to fit standard paperbacks or hardbacks.

*Don’t see the size that you need? Feel free to message me! I can make this sleeve in any size that you would like. (Prices differ depending on the size)

*FREE US SHIPPING

ORDER HERE

Book Review: Grief and Video Game Horror Tango in this YA Horror Debut

Such Lovely Skin

by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne

SynopsisTL;DR

Click on the images below to zoom

Overall Rating

4/5

Spooky Rating

3/5

Quick Take

Such Lovely Skin by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne is a beautiful mix of so many things. At first glance, it is reminiscent of The Ring and focuses on an evil video game that overhauls a young girl’s life; however, deep grief and guilt underly it all. It is as frightening as it is heartbreaking, and that is truly what makes it such an essential read for young adults and adults alike.

Tell Me More

I am a huge fan of young adult horror and have loved watching the genre expand. Young adult horror for me, growing up, meant Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. These are still ingrained in my soul, but I wish that there had been more options. This is exactly why I have so much fun reading young adult horror as an adult due to the intense variety now available.

Such Lovely Skin by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, and I was more than honored when I was granted an ARC for it! The book reminds me a lot of the movie Cam on Netflix due to its focus on mimics – a horror concept I find absolutely terrifying (make sure to watch that movie if you haven’t, it is superb*). But this book went above and beyond. It focuses on grief horror and cancel culture, while highlighting how many of us – but especially the younger generations – are obsessed with subscriber/follower counts on social media and other platforms, while trying to be seen and feel important in a world where everything about our lives is shared for public consumption and criticism. It highlights how the competition for recognition is so toxic and detrimental to our wellbeing and sense of self, which can often cause us to make mistakes or poor choices. Schlote-Bonne didn’t shy away from controversy, and she showed not only in her main character, Viv, but also in her side character, Ash, that all of us can be misunderstood, toxic, and unlikeable because we are all human and we aren’t black and white.

Our mistakes do not make us bad people, and I think that is such a beautiful message – especially for the younger audience for whom this book is intended.

Viv struggles with grief and guilt over the death of her little sister because she blames herself for the accident. She never told her parents the truth behind how her sister died, and her part in it, which caused the guilt to take over her life. She is a horror video game streamer and is offered the opportunity to test out a new game, but the game ends up capturing her information and a mimic forms to take over her life. A lot of the novel focuses on Viv trying to fight the mimic to avoid the loss of her reputation and damage to her personal life, while also struggling with hiding the true cause of little sister’s death. I loved how the language was written well for a younger age group, but the book tackled intense subjects that may save a lot of lives. Schlote-Bonne opened up the door for readers to see that it is more than okay, in fact, it is essential that we share things that we may have done and are ashamed about, because it helps us to connect with others and realize that we are not alone.

This brings me to Ash. The author started Ash out as this Christian Slater-esque, brooding outsider that is common in so many teen books and films. But she turned the trope on its head and created him to be a character who is real and defied all stereotypes. Her ability to create compelling characters is magical, and I was amazed. The mix of horror with real-world issues will connect not only to teens, but to adults as well.

Sometimes Viv was a character who was hard to love. She was unlikeable to the point of almost being insufferable; however, I must mention that this was extremely important for her character. Grief, guilt, and growing up at the same time are more than messy, and it highlighted how painful these experiences are on their own, but life-shattering when combined. At first, she did come off as self-absorbed, but I thought that this was crucial in telling her story. It made the reader see her in this difficult light, before peeling away her layers and revealing what was underneath.

The writing felt like a younger level of writing, but based on the author’s letter, she wrote this book to try and write a book for young, reluctant readers. I thought that this made a lot of sense, because Schlote-Bonne highlighted heavy subjects in a language that was easier to follow and absorb. Just be aware that if you are an adult, the writing style might not be for you.

If you love video game based horror with deep messages and compelling characters, you are going to love this book. I cannot stop thinking about it, and the fact that Such Lovely Skin is a debut novel has made Tatiana Schlote-Bonne an essential author to watch!

*NOTE: Please be advised that Cam focuses on sexual “camming” and “cam girls,” which may be disturbing for some viewers.

Featured QuotesMake a one-time donation

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Your contribution is appreciated.

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NOTICE: Hiatus

Important Notice

Due to a severe mental health crisis and personal circumstances, I am on hiatus. My Instagram account is temporarily deactivated, but all reviews are still posted on Goodreads, Medium, Tumblr, and Amazon.

I will resume all reviews, interviews, articles, etc. I have committed to when I return. I appreciate your patience and kindness.

*NOTE: I am closed to review requests until further notice

Thank you,