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The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart
Published by Zando on September 13 2022 Genres: Thriller Format/Pages: Hardcover, 256 pages Available Formats: Hardcover, Audio, Ebook Buy on Amazon Goodreads Warnings: Details in dead bodies/autopsies, Death/Murder Rating:
⭐⭐
Rating: 2 out of 5.
Summary
“A thrilling debut novel told from the dueling perspectives of a notorious serial killer and the medical examiner following where his trail of victims leads.
Something dark is lurking in the Louisiana bayou: a methodical killer with a penchant for medical experimentation is hard at work completing his most harrowing crime yet, taunting the authorities who desperately try to catch up.
But forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller is the best there is. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of historical crimes, and years of experience working in the Medical Examiner’s office, she’s never encountered a case she couldn’t solve. Until now. Case after case is piling up on Wren’s examination table, and soon she is sucked into an all-consuming cat-and-mouse chase with a brutal murderer getting more brazen by the day.“
When I first heard Alaina from Morbid, I had immediately preordered it. I mean, she is an autopsy technician who wrote a murder mystery book?! Sign me up!
However, after months of waiting and my excitement grew, I was disappointed with the read.
The best way I can think of to describe these characters are that they were very stereotypical and exaggerated. There was a lot of potential for deep character development, but the characters are very flat with nothing to really connect or emphasize with.
Even for the characters that I thought I had some sense of their motives, some of the ways they were introduced were vastly different than just a page later. For example, one of the victims near the end went from being super ditsy and drunk in a bar to someone who knew what amalgamation means.
“You’d be surprised how many secrets the dead have told me.”
– Alaina Urquhart, The Butcher and the Wren
Most of the dialogue did not feel natural or like what someone would actually say:
“I really am sorry about the cream. I know you hate it when I leave the empty container in the fridge like an asshole,” Leroux asked sheepishly.
While I like dialogue that helps move the plot along, I think it is extremely overdone to the point where it was a bit distracting.
“What book was that? I’m looking for some good mindless reading.” said to a book that randomly fell out of a messenger bag. I get that the character was trying to make awkward small talk, but seriously?
On that topic, there were so many scenes where action was laking, notably in regards to where someone is location wise. I found myself asking, “hold on, when did that happen??” so often I lost count.
One page he would be watching from some monitors watching their conversation, the page flips and suddenly he is hiding in the bushes right next to them. I reread that page about 10 times trying to find when he moved, but it was never explained.
“But now Cal’s crooked smile haunts her once more”
– Alaina Urquhart, The Butcher and the Wren
Now, this book is not all negatives. The basic plot was intriguing and kept me reading – the twist surprised me (to be fair I’m always surprised).
I thought the dual perspective was an interesting addition. Although I think it could have been portrayed better I liked the contrast between the two storylines.
Overall, I wanted to love this book but I was quite disappointed. If you are wanting to read it, I would say read it, but if you have no prior want, I don’t think you’re missing anything.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Here are some of my biggest book pet peeves (and a bonus reading ick!)
Thin Pages
This is going to be controversial, but I like to write in my books. (I actually prefer my books to look like they have been read, so crack those spines!) But I haven’t found a pen that 100% WON’T bleed through thin paper, which makes it hard to read when you turn the page.
Also, thin paper rips so easily. I like my books read, not ruined.
Long chapters bother me most when there are a lot of unnecessary, dragged-out descriptions. I appreciate the writer’s attention to detail, but I have a short attention span – I can’t spend pages on the background with no action.
In contrast, when chapters are so short there is not sufficient information or action, it feels like pointless fluff.
Inconsistency
I’m not the best at noticing inconsistencies, but when I do (or more likely, they’re pointed out to me), I fixate on it. It’s hard to keep things straight when writing a book, or a series, so I understand not being able to catch every single thing.
But when it’s a BIG plot point or multiple simple things to keep consistent, it drives me nuts.
You are reading a book, whether that be at home, on the train, in a park, or in a coffee shop. Someone sees you and decides to come up to you.
They ask, “What are you reading?” You tell them.
They ask, “What do you think of it?” You say you like it so far, but you just started.
Turns out, they hate it! And they go on about exactly how much they hate it and what they hate about it.
All you are trying to do is read your dang book! Why so negative dude??
If it wasn’t clear, these are not deal breakers for me personally, just little tics I could do without if given the choice. And these are my own opinions.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Why hello there! After a short stint away (adjusting back to college was more time-consuming than originally planned), I’m back! And of course, seeing as it’s about to be October, I have to talk about spooky books… I mean, what else is there to talk about?!?!
But before we dive into that, I have some news… I started a NEW JOB at a BOOKSTORE!!! I know, it’s exciting, isn’t it?! It’s bringing me back to my roots 🙂
So, in the spirit (get it – spirit? haha) of things, here’s my list of 7 new and upcoming spooky books to add to your tbr to get in the Halloween spirit!
Alice Lawrence is the sole witness in her sister’s murder trial. And in the year since Claire’s death, Alice’s life has completely fallen apart. Her parents have gotten divorced, she’s moved into an apartment that smells like bologna, and she is being forced to face her sister’s killer and a courtroom full of people who doubt what she saw in the corn maze a year prior.
On the first day of the murder trial, as Alice prepares to give her testimony, she is knocked out by a Sidney Prescott look-alike in the courthouse bathroom. When she wakes up, it is Halloween morning a year earlier, the same day Claire was murdered. Alice has until midnight to save her sister and find the real killer before he claims another victim.
For generations, every Frankenstein has found their true love and equal, unlocking lifetimes of blissful wedded adventure. Clever, pretty (and odd) Angelika Frankenstein has run out of suitors and fears she may become the exception to this family rule. When assisting in her brother Victor’s ground-breaking experiment to bring a reassembled man back to life, she realizes that having an agreeable gentleman convalescing in the guest suite might be a chance to let a man get to know the real her. For the first time, Angelika embarks upon a project that is all her own.
When her handsome scientific miracle sits up on the lab table, her hopes for an instant romantic connection are thrown into disarray. Her resurrected beau (named Will for the moment) has total amnesia and is solely focused on uncovering his true identity. Trying to ignore their heart-pounding chemistry, Angelika reluctantly joins the investigation into his past, hoping it will bring them closer. But when a second suitor emerges to aid their quest, Angelika wonders if she was too hasty inventing a solution. Perhaps fate is not something that can be influenced in a laboratory? Or is Will (or whatever his name is!) her dream man, tailored for her in every way? And can he survive what was done to him in the name of science, and love?
From the co-host of chart-topping true crime podcast Morbid, a thrilling debut novel told from the dueling perspectives of a notorious serial killer and the medical examiner following where his trail of victims leads.
Something dark is lurking in the Louisiana bayou: a methodical killer with a penchant for medical experimentation is hard at work completing his most harrowing crime yet, taunting the authorities who desperately try to catch up.
But forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller is the best there is. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of historical crimes, and years of experience working in the Medical Examiner’s office, she’s never encountered a case she couldn’t solve. Until now. Case after case is piling up on Wren’s examination table, and soon she is sucked into an all-consuming cat-and-mouse chase with a brutal murderer getting more brazen by the day.
The two-hundredth anniversary of the Headless Horseman’s legendary haunting of Sleepy Hollow is approaching, but Kat van Tassel wants nothing to do with the town’s superstitious celebrations. As a descendant of the original Katrina van Tassel, Kat knows she’s expected to fulfill her ancestor’s legacy by someday marrying her longtime boyfriend and running the prestigious family estate. But Kat dreams of a life outside Sleepy Hollow.
Then Kat meets Isadora, a new girl in town who challenges Kat to reexamine those expectations, opens her eyes to the possibility that ghosts are real, and makes her question who she truly wants to be . . . and be with.
When Kat is given the original Katrina’s diary, a new legend begins to take shape, one that weaves together the past and the present in eerie ways. Can Kat uncover a two-hundred-year-old secret, and trace its shocking reverberations in her own life, in time to protect what she truly loves?
A cemetery full of the restless dead. A town so wicked it has already burned twice, with the breath of the third fire looming. A rural, isolated bridge with a terrifying monster waiting for the completion of its summoning ritual. A lake that allows the drowned to return, though they have been changed by the claws of death. These are the shadowed, liminal spaces where the curses and monsters lurk, refusing to be forgotten.
Hauntings, and a variety of horrifying secrets, lurk in the places we once called home. Written by New York Times bestselling, and other critically acclaimed, authors these stories shed a harsh light on the scariest tales we grew up with.
Included Authors: Alex Brown, Olivia Chadha, Chloe Gong, Courtney Gould, Shakira Moise, Aden Polydoros, Allison Saft, Erica Waters, Hannah F. Whitten
The old gods have fled, and the monsters they had kept at bay for centuries now threaten to drown the city of Valentine, hunting mankind as in ancient times. In the midst of the chaos, a serial killer has begun ritually sacrificing victims, their bodies strewn throughout the city.
Lilac Antonis wants to stop the impending destruction of her city by summoning her mother, a blood god—even if she has to slit a few throats to do it. But evading her lover Arcadia and her friends means sneaking, lying, and even spilling the blood of people she loves.
Alex and Cecil of Ace Investigations have been tasked with hunting down the killer, but as they close in—not knowing they’re hunting their close friend Lilac—the detectives realize the gods may not have left willingly.
As flooding drags this city of cars and neon screaming into the jaws of sea demons and Arcadia struggles to save the people as captain of the evacuation team, Lilac’s ritual killings at last bear fruit, only to reveal her as a small piece in a larger plan. The gods’ protection costs far more than anyone has ever known, and Alex and Cecil are running out of time to discover the true culprit behind the gods’ disappearance before an ancient divine murder plot destroys them all.
When two former friends reunite after decades apart, their grudges, flawed ambitions, and shared obsession swirl into an all-too-real echo of a terrible town legend.
Centuries ago, beautiful young Ilsbeth Clark was accused of witchcraft after several children disappeared. Her acquittal did nothing to stop her fellow townsfolk from drowning her in the well where the missing children were last seen.
When author and social media influencer Elena returns to the summer paradise of her youth to get her family’s manor house ready to sell, the last thing she expected was connecting with—and feeling inspired to write about—Ilsbeth’s infamous spirit. The very historical figure that her ex-childhood friend, Cathy, has been diligently researching and writing about for years.
What begins as a fiercely competitive sense of ownership over Ilsbeth and her story soon turns both women’s worlds into something more haunted and dangerous than they could ever imagine.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Hello there! I thought it would be cool if you (yes you!) knew a little bit more about Emma (that’s me!), the person behind the words you see! Since this is a literary blog, I went searching for a set bookish related questions to answer so you can get a feeling of me and my preferences.
In that search, I discovered the A-Z tag on ZeeZee with Books, however the original creator was Jamie at Perpetual Page Turner if you want to go check them out!
With much anticipation: the A-Z Book Tag!
A – Author you read the most books from:
I can’t recall one specific author I read much more than others, but I do enjoy Ruta Sepetys books!
To stay the most up to date on my current reads, friend me on Goodreads or follow the Instagram!
D – Drink of choice while reading:
I don’t have a preference, but usually it would be water or Mr Pibb.
E – E-reader or Physical Book:
While I love the feeling of having a physical book in my hand, I love how portable my kindle is, making reading on the go much easier!
F – Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:
Honestly, I didn’t really date in High School, so I don’t feel like there is a character that I would have dated. However, I would have totally had a crush on Jem from The Infernal Devices.
G– Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:
I’m going to switch this up slightly by stating a genre of books, and that is non fiction. I used to hate reading non fiction, but lately I have find myself picking out more non fiction that fiction books to read!
I read this in 8th grade for our historical fiction unit and I absolutely fell in love with it. It is the first book I remember pulling an all nighter to finish.
I – Important moment in your reading life:
I’m going to switch this one up a bit as well with an important moment in my writing life. And that would be when I decided to take Creative Writing my sophomore year of high school!
I had an amazing teacher (who is still supporting me years later! Shout out to Mrs Trier!). The creative writing classes with her were what helped me to see that I could actually do what I love!
J – Just finished:
Why She Wrote: A Graphic History of the Lives, Inspiration, and Influence Behind the Pens of Classic Women Writers by Hannah K. Chapman and Lauren Burke, Illustrated by Kaley Bales
K – Kinda of books you won’t read:
I like to think I’m pretty versatile when it comes to reading, I’m not completely opposed to any single genre. However, if I had to pick an answer, I would say I tend to not read books on agriculture, just don’t enjoy the topic much – weird for someone living in Iowa 🙂
L – Longest book you’ve read:
According to Goodreads, at 729 pages, the longest book I’ve read is:
I don’t remember the last book I became completely immersed in after finishing. I’ve been on a non fiction kick lately!
N – Number of bookcases you own:
1 cubby bookcase, 1 bookcase attached to my bed, and 6 additional shelves of books on my wall (plus another small cubby bookcase for my dorm!)
O – One book you have read multiple times:
The False Prince by Jennifer A Nielsen (this will not be the first time you will hear about this book on this blog)
P – Preferred place to read:
Cuddled in the corner of the couch with a blanket and my dog next to me. Although, lately my family has also been spending time just reading in our basement together and I quite enjoy that time also!
Q – Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:
“There is more to living than not dying.” ― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess
R – Reading Regret:
The first memory I have of Harry Potter was the graveyard scene in The Goblet of Fire. It terrified a young Emma, and so I had refused to read Harry Potter because I thought it was too scary. I regret that so much now that I actually watched and read them!
S – Series you started and need to finish (all books are out!):
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland. I’ve read the first one, but haven’t gotten around to reading the second… even though I own it.
T – Three of your favorite all time books:
U – Unapologetic fangirl for:
The False Prince…. I told you.
V – Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:
The Butcher and The Wren: A Novel by Alaina Urquhart coming September 2022! I listen to Morbid, Alaina’s true crime podcast and when I heard about her upcoming novel, I immediately pre-purchased it.
W – Worst Bookish Habit:
Buying more books when I don’t have the time to read them all.
X– X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:
I JUST went to Barnes and Noble yesterday (at the time of writing this) and bought a few notebooks along with an anxiety workbook and God is Not One by Stephen Prothero, a book for one of my fall classes.
Z – ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):
The last time a book kept me up late was actually a college life hack book I was reading on my phone!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Stuck on what to read next? Since it is a brand new (okay its been a week, but still new!) month, here are the 4 books I am planning on reading for the month of August. You are, of course, completely welcome to read this with me as well!
Why: A graphic novel about some of the greatest women who wrote in history? Sign me up! It was actually the question posed in the summary got me interested: in a time when being a woman writer often meant being undervalued, overlooked, or pigeonholed, why did she write?
Why: I have been dying to see the movie, but I know I would regret not reading the book first. I like comparing how I imagine the characters to the film. How about you? Do you have to read the book first or can you just go straight to the movie?
Why: This year I am doing the 52 Book Challenge created by Liz over at The 52 Book Club (highly recommend checking it out!). One of the prompts is Title Starting with “F”.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Series: Nightbooks #1 Published by: Katherine Tegan on July 24th 2018 Genres: Horror, Fiction, Fantasy, Middle Grade Source: Library Format/Pages: Hardcover; 320 pages Available Formats: Physical, Audio, Ebook Buy on Amazon Goodreads Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Summary
“A boy is imprisoned by a witch and must tell her a new scary story each night to stay alive. This thrilling contemporary fantasy from J. A. White, the acclaimed author of the Thickety series, brings to life the magic and craft of storytelling.
Alex’s original hair-raising tales are the only thing keeping the witch Natacha happy, but soon he’ll run out of pages to read from and be trapped forever. He’s loved scary stories his whole life, and he knows most don’t have a happily ever after. Now that Alex is trapped in a true terrifying tale, he’s desperate for a different ending—and a way out of this twisted place.”
I’m not going to lie, the cover of this book is what originally drew me to it. The summary is what made me need to borrow it from the library right then and there. Magic, witches, scary stories, fairytales, what more could you even ask for? And let me say, I was NOT disappointed.
Overall, I loved the characters. I think just about anyone who picks this book up can find a bit of themselves in Alex. He is curious, constantly asking “what if?“and is excited by stories (especially the scary ones). Even when he is kidnapped by the witch, he is amazed and intrigued with everything happening. Definitely see myself here!
“‘The other kids,’ Alex said, twisting his nightbook in his hands. ‘They play with dogs. I play with what ifs‘”
– J. A. White, Nightbooks
Nightbooksreads very much like a middle grade novel or a collection of scary stories to read around a campfire, which I love. The inclusion of the stories in a handwritten font added to this feeling. Additionally, I found that showing the notes from Unicorn Girl to add much to the story more than just telling what she said. Personally, if it did not include these details, I don’t think the book would have had the same impact to me.
Although I’m not the biggest fan of clichés (they get old fast), this book does it well. J.A. White almost overdoes it to add to the story, not as the whole substance of the book.
I think I would have adored this book if I read it in middle school. It deals with friendship, companionship, and courage as well as the struggles with creating things.
“If scary stories are the sweet dreams that lull her to sleep, then courage, friendship, compassion – those are the nightmares that will wake her up.”
– J. A. White, Nightbooks
Alex is tasked with writing stories during the day, but he had major writer’s block. Writing advice (that beginners and experts alike can learn) is sprinkled throughout. These bits can also be applied to anything where you are creative as it deals more with the obstacles and self doubt that stops you.
