Black Flame by Gretchen Felker-Martin -> Starting August 5th, 2025

[Jamie]

Manhunt author Gretchen Felker-Martin is back with Black Flame, a historical horror about one woman's deadly obsession with a haunted film, perfect for fans of Midsommar and Night Film.

Ellen, a deeply closeted lesbian spends all her time in solitude, restoring films at a failing archive in New York City.

When a group of German academics present her with a print of an infamous exploitation film believed to have been destroyed during the Holocaust, Ellen finds herself forced to confront her own repressed sexuality. And the more she works on the restoration, the more obsessed she becomes over its depictions of occult practices and queer debauchery.

She’s soon convinced that the acts portrayed in the film are not fiction, but reality. And they’re happening to her…

[Trisha]

I have the audio, so I can't tell how far along I am % wise so trying to count chapters! lol

[Trisha]

Through - The Negative

this is a very dark read so far - very reminiscent of Eric LaRocca

(view spoiler)[ wow, the cut from the film is wild.

and the tie in with her being Jewish and gay is interesting - she seems to be struggling to be a "good" person - that her parents deem good.

but wow, to be tied to a Nazi film?!?! Yikes! the prejudice is uncomfortable but I think that's the point

and Jesse is gross, real gross.

I'm not sure what to make of this film and how much its messing with her. is it because she isn't facing who she is that she is having such a visceral reaction to it? is it haunted?

and I can't 100% tell what is really happening, if she's hallucinating and losing sense of reality or if it's something like a demon or haunting (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

through Nitrate

this is a wild wild read so far. it's pretty dark and gross

(view spoiler)[
ugh, the F word with the 2 g's and hard t is killing me - because I'm listening to it so I flinch every time I hear it. . .

I'm shocked Freddie has popped into the story! What is that?

and Jesse?!!? OMG what a creep and horrible guy. but, again, I can't tell if that was him or if it was a demon or something else from the film. Her fever and obvious infection is really sending her spinning and I can't tell what's really going on (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

through Artifact

(view spoiler)[
wow, what is this new "you'll never have a baby" thing happening?

and her mom and aunt are both awful.

and omg, the thought of eating film. it was so sharp it messed up her hand, can you imagine putting it in your mouth?!? OMG

and, again, I just can not tell if she's just losing it and her repressed feelings and emotions are making her feeling haunted or if something is really haunting her.

the baroness sounds so frightening to see! I love that she's throwing someone else to her. who will she bring?? Jesse? someone else? and OMG Molly saw her!?? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

and end

OMG - I never (view spoiler)[ saw that Philip would be first. And then her dad?!
and that last show - OMG they were all just shredded

The baroness wanted to hurt so many.

the mom was still awful in the end.

the questioning of gender was nicely woven into the story and I liked how Ellen struggled and then claimed a new name, Benjamin. (it's silly, but I got a little teary-eyed. I love that they/He chose that new name and that the new name felt right)

and jesse still sucked - I was glad when it was finally called rape and jesse was sacrificed in the end! his was the most satisfying death.

(hide spoiler)]

this was an odd, gory, gross read.

[megs_bookrack]

Hahaha, odd, gory and gross does pretty much describe GFM's stories. I can't wait for this one!!

[Trisha]

it really was pretty good! the ending, I got surprisingly teary-eyed!

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "it really was pretty good! the ending, I got surprisingly teary-eyed!"

Ooo, really!? I'm can't wait to see what happens...

[megs_bookrack]

I am waiting for the library copy of the audiobook to come through for me -- should be within a week!

[megs_bookrack]

My library hold came through on my audiobook!! I'm just going to finish The Locked Ward tonight and then I'll finally be starting this one! Better late than never...LOL

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "Through - The Negative

this is a very dark read so..."

Yeah, I can't tell either if (view spoiler)[this is happening somehow or if it is in her head. I've listened to 47% of the audiobook today, and I gotta say, it's my least favorite of this author's works so far. Maybe I'm just not in the mood for all the overly sexualized descriptions, but it just doesn't feel fluid or coherent at all. (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "through Nitrate

this is a ..."

It seems you're picking up more than me. I have zero clue what's happening here...

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "through Artifact


wow, what is this new "you'll never ..."

I am feeling it could fall into either category, right? (view spoiler)[Like maybe there is a supernatural basis for all that's happening, or maybe it is just her repressed feelings/unresolved issues rearing they're ugly heads and they're manifesting that way because she's working on the film? (hide spoiler)] I don't know! 🤣🤣🤣

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "and end

OMG - ..."

The end was wild. I actually wish this would have been longer, because the end was when I just started to get into it. That's what I had been waiting for. I don't know what to think though, it's my least favorite of her works. I am going to give extra credit for gender identity examination and creativity.

[Trisha]

right?! I think this was my first from the author and I hated that I didn't follow it fully. And yes, the ending really did start to dive into it and really dig in! I loved how it all pulled together - I got a little teary eyed, the ending was so good! But yeah, the route there was confusing and I wanted to love it more!!

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "right?! I think this was my first from the author and I hated that I didn't follow it fully. And yes, the ending really did start to dive into it and really dig in! I loved how it all pulled togeth..."

Agree, agree, agree. I feel like I always appreciate the topics GFM explores, but sometimes the road there isn't always easy to understand. I think this is the least coherent though, I wish we could have had a little more boost to the substance of that plot that was easier to follow.