Friday, November 29, 2019

2020 Most Anticipated - Of Curses and Kisses


The next book in my 2020 Most Anticipated event is a fairytale retelling (which should surprise nobody). It also happens to be one of my favourite fairytales.


It is, of course, a Beauty and the Beast retelling! Sandhya Menon's Of Curses and Kisses offers up a modern twist on the classic tale.


The Goodreads synopsis is more than enough to make you want to read this. It teases a version of the classic tale that balances just enough from the original with the new.
From the New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi comes the first novel in a brand-new series set at an elite international boarding school, that’s a contemporary spin on Beauty and the Beast.

Will the princess save the beast?

For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge. Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart. But much to Jaya’s annoyance, Grey’s brooding demeanor and lupine blue eyes have drawn her in. There’s simply no way she and her sworn enemy could find their fairy-tale ending…right?

His Lordship Grey Emerson is a misanthrope. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed once he turns eighteen. Sequestered away in the mountains at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence—until Jaya Rao bursts into his life, but he can't shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck…

As the stars conspire to keep them apart, Jaya and Grey grapple with questions of love, loyalty, and whether it’s possible to write your own happy ending. 
I am intrigued by that rose-shaped ruby pendant and how it is going to play into the Beauty and the Beast tale.

My top three reasons for wanting to read Of Curses and Kisses;

1. It is a fairytale retelling. I adore them and especially love ones based off of Beauty and the Beast. 

2. Sandhya writes incredible romances and I cannot wait to see what she does with that element of Beauty and the Beast. I predict it'll be pretty romantic.

3. The modern take on the story and the fact that it is set at a boarding school has me very intrigued. It is also the start of a series of books that are based around this boarding school They are each going to be a different fairytale retelling with the setting being the backdrop for all of them. I can only hope that the characters will appear as background characters in the other books.


Of Curses and Kisses releases February 18, 2020 but you can pre-order it right now from any retailer (and it'll make a perfect Valentine's Day gift).

You can find out more about Sandhya by following her on Twitter, and by visiting her her website. You can also find out more about her books on the publisher website.

Do you love fairytale retellings? Which are your favourite to have retold? Let me know what you think in the comments.

Be sure to stop by Monday to for the next book on my 2020 most anticipated list. 

Thursday, November 28, 2019

2020 Most Anticipated - Kelly from Kellyvision




Today's post is a little different. I thought it might be fun to share the titles that other people are excited for and this is the first of that kind of post. My friend Kelly, who blogs over at Kellyvision, has kindly put together a list of some of the books she is looking forward to in 2020.

I'm really excited for 2020. I'll be turning 40, there's a new Halloween movie coming and hopefully we'll be getting a new president.

But except for those three things, I'm most excited for the books.

Six books I've preordered:

The Mountains Sing by Que Mai Phan Nguyen. A friend told me about this one and it sounds amazing. It's a sweeping family saga set against the backdrop of the Vietnam war and it's from the perspective of the Vietnamese. I'm going to very strongly pitch it to my book club.

Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick. I love her books so much and I feel like I've been waiting forever for a new one. This is a middlegrade and it feels very different from her earlier books. I'm really excited to see where it goes.

If it Bleeds by Stephen King. He's my literal favorite author. I'm not huge on novella collections but I do love his.

You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen. I've loved their first two collaborations. I'm trying to go into this one as blind as possible, but I'm really, REALLY excited. It's out a month before my birthday, but don't bother getting it for me; I am not waiting.

Seven Clues to Home by Gae Polisner & Nora Raleigh Baskin. I don't know what this is about, but I am all in for everything Gae does. Nora is a new author to me, but I think we're already going to be great friends.

The State of Us by Shaun David Hutchinson. Amazon doesn't even have a plot description for this but Shaun David Hutchinson wrote it, so I'm in.

Five series installments I'm desperate for (without explanation, because it's obvious):

Ten Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon

The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzi Lee

The King of Crows by Libba Bray

Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Four backlist books I'm determined to read:

Butterfly Yellow by Thanhha Lai

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray (I haven't read this and book four is coming out soon!)

Three releases you need to read:

The Mall by Megan McCafferty. Her books are always fun but this one is a complete delight.

Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me by Gae Polisner. All of her books are great; this is her best one to date.

The Assignment by Liza Wiemer. Absolutely captivating. Go into this one knowing as little as possible.

Two titles I'm stepping out of my comfort zone for:

The Unwilling by Kelly Braffett. I don't read a lot of fantasy but Kelly Braffett is amazing and this is her first book in ages. She's earned my trust.

Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon. I don't love fairy tale retellings as a rule, but...Sandhya Menon.

The author I'm binging in 2020:

Nic Stone. I saw her speak with Laurie Halse Anderson a few weeks ago, and I'm very excited. Dear Martin, Odd One Out and Jackpot are out now, but we have some great books ahead, too: her middlegrade debut (Clean Getaway) and a Black Panther novel centered around Shuri! There's also going to be a Dear Martin sequel, but I think that's next year. Either way, I'm really excited to read everything she's written up to this point and then everything from here on out.

A huge thank you to Kelly for participating in this. There are so many amazing sounding books on her list as well.

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for another title that I am eagerly anticipating!

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

2020 Most Anticipated - Loveboat, Taipei


The next book on my 2020 most anticipated list is, for various reasons, associated with tea for me.


One reason is that the publisher recently had a splashy advance reader copy giveaway at an event and those early reader copies came with a bubble tea (which is incredibly fun) but also because of all the gossip and drama I am sure are within these pages.

I am excited to feature Abigail Hing Wen's Loveboat, Taipei which sounds like a young adult contemporary fans must read for winter 2020.


The Goodreads synopsis for this novel sets up a dreamy sounding premise filled with an incredible setting, lots of romance, and a fantastic coming of age story.
For fans of Crazy Rich Asians or Jane Austen Comedy of Manners, with a hint of La La Land

When eighteen-year-old Ever Wong’s parents send her from Ohio to Taiwan to study Mandarin for the summer, she finds herself thrust among the very over-achieving kids her parents have always wanted her to be, including Rick Woo, the Yale-bound prodigy profiled in the Chinese newspapers since they were nine—and her parents’ yardstick for her never-measuring-up life.

Unbeknownst to her parents, however, the program is actually an infamous teen meet-market nicknamed Loveboat, where the kids are more into clubbing than calligraphy and drinking snake-blood sake than touring sacred shrines.

Free for the first time, Ever sets out to break all her parents’ uber-strict rules—but how far can she go before she breaks her own heart?
Does this not sound amazing? That comparison is enough to make me want to read it all on its own. I am,  however, also looking forward to the Ever and Rick romance!

Abigail has has kindly taken some time to dish on her novel, and some of the inspirations behind it (and crafted a delicious sounding ice cream).

1. What gif best describes Loveboat, Taipei?

The amazing HarperCollins cover reveal!


2. If someone were to make a signature ice cream in honour of your book, what might be included?

Ooo, I like this one! Definitely red beans and fresh coconut. Maybe boba or a milk tea flavor.

3. Your book revolves around a summer program that the protagonist gets sent to.  Did you do any specific research for this part of the novel? If so, what was the most surprising thing you discovered?

I attended the actual program myself as a teenager. I also interviewed a number of alum and visited Taiwan to refresh my memory. The most surprising thing? Running into unexpected alum! Alum include Eddie Huang, author of Fresh Off the Boat, U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu and even colleagues at work and friends I didn’t realize had attended.

4. Name a song you listed to for inspiration while writing this novel 

Rewrite the Stars, from The Greatest Showman. I love that impossible romance!

5. If you could travel to anywhere, in any time period, when and where would you want travel?

 2100. I work in artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley, and I believe it’s going to have an enormous impact on the future. I’d love to see where technology has taken us.

6. What 2020 release are you most anticipating?

There are so many amazing debuts coming out. I want to put in a special shoutout to the #roaring20sdebuts. I'd especially love to highlight my fellow VCFA alum,  Nora Carpenter, whose debut novel The Edge of Anything comes out March 24, 2020, and Kate Pentacost, whose Elysium Girls comes out April 14. We all served as Grad Assistants together at VCFA this past summer!

In the non-book world, I would add Westworld Season 3. I loved Season 1, wasn’t as big a fan of Season 2, but it ended on an incredible plot twist and cliffhanger and I’m excited to see what happens next!

7. If not too spoilery, can you share the first line of Loveboat, Taipei.

“The envelope drops through our mail slot like a love letter."


I have a feeling this is going to be a super cute read! The fact that this is based off of a real program that the author took part in has me even more intrigued to read this. This also seems to be the start of a series which is always exciting.

Loveboat, Taipei releases January 7, 2020 but you can pre-order it right now from any retailer (and it will be a great purchase for those holiday gift cards).

You can find out more about Abigail by following her on Twitter, and by visiting her her website. You can also find out more about her books on the publisher website. You can also visit the official website of the series to learn more.

Do you enjoy young adult contemporary novels? Let me know in the comments.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to for the next book on my 2020 most anticipated list. 

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

2020 Most Anticipated - Where Dreams Descend


The next book in my 2020 Most Anticipated event is being teased as Moulin Rouge meets Phantom Of The Opera. That description basically makes me want to have this book in my hands immediately.


The book, of course, is Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles and it comes with a stunning cover, and an intriguing synopsis.


The Goodreads synopsis teases a competition of sorts, and only touches on some of the characters we will meet in this magical sounding world.
In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.

As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.

The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost

The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told

The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide

Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards fantasy duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed.
I love that this one is emphasized as being romantic. I am expecting something tragic and epic with the Moulin Rouge and Phantom of the Opera comparisons.

My top three reasons for wanting to read Where Dreams Descend:

1. Did you miss the Moulin Rouge meets Phantom of the Opera comparison? That alone is enough for me to desperately want to get my hands on it.

2., The potential for a lush, magical world. We get teases of a city covered in ice, and the promise of magic. This world could be a mix of destruction and beauty and I am excited to see what Janella does with this setting.

3. The potential for heartbreak. We all know that both Moulin Rouge and Phantom of the Opera do not have feel good endings, so I am preparing myself to cry my way through some of the book. There can be beauty in sadness and I think that is what we might get here.


Where Dreams Descend releases June 2, 2020 but you can pre-order it right now from any retailer (or snag it with those holiday gift cards).

You can find out more about Janella by following her on Twitter, and by visiting her her website. You can also find out more about her books on the publisher website.

Does the idea of a Moulin Rouge meets Phantom of the Opera style book excite you as much as it does me? Do you love books that involve some magic? Let me know what you think in the comments.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to for the next book on my 2020 most anticipated list. 

Monday, November 25, 2019

2020 Most Anticipated - Seasons of the Storm



It is one again the most wonderful time of the year! It's time for me to kick off my annual most anticipated event. Each year I spotlight the books that I am eager to get my hands on in the upcoming year in hopes it'll put them on your radar as well.

This year I am starting with a book that has forbidden romance, the seasons as actual characters, and probably at a lot of action and angst.


Elle Cosimano's Seasons of the Storm promises all of this and more and it is wrapped up in a very pretty package. The cover is STUNNING.


The Goodreads synopsis for this novel makes it seem like it is going to be the best mix of fantasy elements and romance.
One cold, crisp night, Jack Sommers was faced with a choice—live forever according to the ancient, magical rules of Gaia, or die.

Jack chose to live, and in exchange, he became a Winter—an immortal physical embodiment of the season on Earth. Every year, he must hunt the Season who comes before him. Summer kills Spring. Autumn kills Summer. Winter kills Autumn. And Spring kills Winter.

Jack and Fleur, a Winter and a Spring, fall for each other against all odds. To be together, they’ll have to escape the cycle that’s been forcing them apart. But their creator won’t let them go without a fight.
This sounds amazing. It also has one of my favourite tropes, star-crossed lovers, going for it. I am curious to see what makes Jack have to make a life defining choice and am already eager to see how he and Fleur meet.

Elle has  very kindly, agreed to take part in my event this year! She's shared a few details about the book, and some of her inspirations while writing it.

1. What gif do you think describes Seasons of the Storm?



But seriously, I also have a really fun Pinterest inspiration board for the book here:

https://www.pinterest.com/ellecosimano/seasons-of-the-storm/

2. If someone were to make a signature ice cream in honour of your book, what might be included?

My Summer’s favorite: boardwalk soft serve with jimmies on a cone

3. The seasons obviously play a big role in this novel. What inspired you to create this mythology that revolved around the seasons and which season is your favourite?

A few years ago, I was challenged by a group of friends to write a flash fiction piece inspired by this gif.


A lot of people liked it, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters. I started messing around with a possible full length story idea, and it sort of took on a life of its own.

I love all four of my Seasons, but if I had to choose the one I felt most deeply connected to, it would probably be Jack Sommers (Winter). His magic was so much fun to write, maybe because I live in a tropical climate year-round and there are elements of winter I miss. Or maybe because I see so much of my own teen self in him.

4. Name a song you listed to for inspiration while writing this novel (if you didn't listen to music let me know and I can quickly send another question)

I listened to the same playlist almost exclusively for the two years I spent drafting and revising this book. It’s long and eclectic, the songs representing the different time periods my characters grew up in, and many of them reflecting the seasons and themes in the story. I had songs that put my in the headspace for specific scenes, and you can probably figure them out as you read. You can listen to the whole thing here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrrKj5l9Phj6zvluayey9dhF_YfgQ6oeU

But if I was going to pick one song that helped inspire the book, I’d have to go with The Chainsmokers & Coldplay, “Something Just Like This”.

5. If you could travel to anywhere, in any time period, when and where would you want travel?

Time travel isn’t really an element in my story, so I haven’t really thought about it. But this book took me back to my own youth in the 80s, and it was so much fun to reconnect with the music and remember a time before internet and social media and cell phones, when the most fun you could have with your friends was taking off on an epic road trip, discovering yourselves and each other off the grid.

6. What 2020 release are you most anticipating?

SO. MANY! There’s been an embarrassment of riches in the YA fantasy market and I’ve been devouring so many amazing, captivating series. I’ve got alerts set for new releases from Holly Black, Sarah Maas, SabaaTahir, Renee Ahdieh, Leigh Bardugo, Taherah Mafi, and so many others. I love getting lost in their worlds.

7. If not too spoilery, can you share the first line of Seasons Of The Storm

 There’s something inherently wrong with a home that’s easy to get into and hard to break out of.


The Pinterest board for this is so pretty! I recommend checking it out. You get a sense of some pretty epic battles, lots of swoon worthy romance, and some teases of what the 'seasons' powers might be/how they might manifest themselves.

Seasons of the Storm releases June 23, 2020 but you can pre-order it right now from any retailer (and use up some of those holiday gift cards).

You can find out more about Elle by following her on Twitter, and by visiting her her website. You can also find out more about her books on the publisher website.

Do you love fantasy novels as much as I do? What about forbidden romances? Let me know in the comments.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to for the next book on my 2020 most anticipated list. 

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Weekly Obsessions


The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

BOOKS

Cover of Something To Talk About by Meryl Wilsner (goodreads)

This book has been on my radar since the deal announcement and I am so excited that it has a cover!


Such a bright, fun cover, too! I love how eye catching it is and how it is very on trend with the rest of the rom-com book covers out there. I cannot wait to read this one!

The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzi Lee (goodreads)

I am obsessed with the fact that this book will exist and the cover!


It matches the others in this series perfectly and I am so excited that we are going to get another book about a Montague sibling!

MOVIES/TV

Riley Keough To Star In Daisy Jones and The Six

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Riley Keough has snagged the role of Daisy in the upcoming television adaptation of Daisy Jones and the Six. It's set to be a series available through Amazon. I loved the book and am thrilled with this casting news. They've chosen a great actress to play the part and I think she is going to be a perfect Daisy. Now we just have to wait and see who they cast as Billy.

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Disgraceland by Jake Brennan



Disgraceland by Jake Brennan
Release Date - October 1, 2019
Publisher Website - Hachette
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  288 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**purchased**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis
From the creator of the popular rock 'n' roll true crime podcast, DISGRACELAND comes an off-kilter, hysterical, at times macabre book of stories from the highly entertaining underbelly of music history.

You may know Jerry Lee Lewis married his thirteen-year-old cousin but did you know he shot his bass player in the chest with a shotgun or that a couple of his wives died under extremely mysterious circumstances? Or that Sam Cooke was shot dead in a seedy motel after barging into the manager's office naked to attack her? Maybe not. Would it change your view of him if you knew that, or would your love for his music triumph?

Real rock stars do truly insane thing and invite truly insane things to happen to them; murder, drug trafficking, rape, cannibalism and the occult. We allow this behavior. We are complicit because a rock star behaving badly is what's expected. It's baked into the cake. Deep down, way down, past all of our self-righteous notions of justice and right and wrong, when it comes down to it, we want our rock stars to be bad. We know the music industry is full of demons, ones that drove Elvis Presley, Phil Spector, Sid Vicious and that consumed the Norwegian Black Metal scene. We want to believe in the myths because they're so damn entertaining.

DISGRACELAND is a collection of the best of these stories about some of the music world's most beloved stars and their crimes. It will mix all-new, untold stories with expanded stories from the first two seasons of the Disgraceland podcast. Using figures we already recognize, DISGRACELAND shines a light into the dark corners of their fame revealing the fine line that separates heroes and villains as well as the danger Americans seek out in their news cycles, tabloids, reality shows and soap operas. At the center of this collection of stories is the ever-fascinating music industry--a glittery stage populated by gangsters, drug dealers, pimps, groupies with violence, scandal and pure unadulterated rock 'n' roll entertainment.
We've all heard stories of rock and roll legends behaving badly. The saying is 'sex, drugs, and rock and roll' after all. We've all been fascinated, repulsed, or intrigued by the actions these entertainers get away with, and the impact their actions have on their careers (or not in some cases). Disgraceland looks at a few of these stories and shines the spotlight on a particular element of that story and does so with a captivating, intriguing writing style that pulls you into the stories effortlessly.

Anyone who has listened to the Disgraceland podcast will instantly recognize Jake Brennan's style and voice reflected in these pages. It reads exactly how the podcast sounds and I felt Brennan's style translated with ease from the podcast to this novel. I could easily hear Jake narrating the chapters and it made reading the book feel like listening to a collection of podcast episodes. Fans of the podcast will immediately feel comfortable and new fans will be dazzled by the storytelling talent Brennan posses and comes across with apparent ease.

The stories, much to my delighted surprise, do sort of link together in a way. They flow into one another in a way that felt natural, and compliment each other. It's book ended by two chapters about Elvis Presley that both perfectly open and close the book by setting the tone and wrapping up the overarching message of the book.

This book more than flirts with the fact that people like their rock stars to be bad. They want them to be larger than life. They want them with an edge. It takes this as a fact and runs with it. It also inspires the reader to question what about that aspect of the rock and roll mythology speaks to people in such a way. It's hard to argue with this when the biggest rock stars are well known for the exact behaviour highlighted within these pages.

The stand out chapters, for me, were the ones on the Norwegian Black Metal scene and the church burning and murders that came from it, the chapter detailing the unknown (to me at least) history of Colonel Tom Parker, and the chapter on Phil Spector. Each dives into a slice of the story that grabs your attention and is just as captivating as the voice being used to tell the story.

The research that went into this is impeccable and Brennan sites all of sources in the back of the novel (just in case you thought any of these stories too scandalous to be real).  The research makes the writing stronger, and focused. It also allows Jake to spin a tale that entirely captivates you. His citations make further rabbit hole jumping very easy. This, like anything in true crime genre, has the potential to lead you down the path of devouring any other media related to a particular story that you can get your hands on.

Disgraceland is for anyone who likes true crime, music and that sweet spot where the two interconnect. It's a fast read thanks to its writing style and definitely leaves you wanting more. If you, like me, are interested in the darker side of rock and roll I highly recommend picking this one up. I also recommend, if you end up loving it, listening to the podcast that came before it. 

Thursday, November 21, 2019

American Horror Story: 1984 - Final Girl


Welcome to Camp Crystal Lake Redwood. This season of American Horror Story takes a page from classic 80's slasher films and goes to summer camp.

Here is your official spoiler warning before we dive into the events of episode nine - Final Girl.

Here we are at the final episode of this season. We're about to say goodbye to Camp Redwood along with all of its inhabitants.

I am just excited that Finn Wittrock is in this episode! Pretty sure I've already guessed who he is playing.

The episode begins with someone pulling up to the camp. The car looks really modern. Turns out we're in 2019 and Finn Wittrock has taken an Uber to the campgrounds. The car can only go so far though because it's all overgrown. Finn's character says's he'll get out and walk and the guy offers a "be sure to give me 5 stars" as he pulls away.

We next catch up with Finn's character hiking through the grounds surrounding the camp. He comes across a bloody wood chipper and eventually the entry sign to the camp. He sees the run down stage from the concert and stops to snap some photos of things around him. It isn't long before he draws the attention of Montana though. She wants to know what he has in his hands. He tells her that it's his phone. She laughs and doesn't believe him. He questions how she doesn't know what a phone looks like. She asks him if she can see it and he hands it over. She's delighted.


Montana's a big fan of modern cell phones. She's adorably clueless on how to use it. He is confused/concerned the whole time. She asks what year it is and has her mind blown when he tells her it is 2019. He's the first person to show up at the camp in a LONG time. She muses that people stopped coming and now she understands why. She quickly tells him that he needs to leave because everyone he meets is likely to kill him. She asks if she can keep his phone which gets a very prompt 'no' from whoever Finn is playing. He tells her that he is not leaving until he gets some answers. He wants to know what happened to his father and the answers are at the camp. When Montana questions him he reveals that his name is Bobby Richter - aka the son of Jingles. Montana's eyes light up and she gets emotional and hugs him saying that he is Mr Jingles' son. I entirely called this because who else would care enough to go to this place in modern times? Also, Finn is around the right age to play a grown up Bobby Richter.

Montana, I guess, decides to give Bobby a tour because she takes him to one of the cabins. It turns out that Bobby has done his research though, and Montana looks super familiar to him because she looks exactly like Montana. Bobby is confused because it is not possible because Montana Duke died (and if she didn't she'd be in her 50's). He demands to know what is going on. She promises to tell him but he has to answer her questions first. She adorably rapid fires questions at him about what is going on out in the world. She wants to know what everyone thinks of the 80s, if aerobics is still popular, who the president is. Bobby explains that the 80s are having a bit of a resurgence. People are into the music and fashion but shares that aerobics are a bit of a joke now. This brings out Trevor who makes a quip about breaking into the camp just to break their hearts and kisses Montana. So, Trevor obviously died. Bobby, who is not dumb, recognizes Trevor immediately and his mind is so blown he has to sit down. Montana fills Trevor in on Bobby's parentage. Turns out that Bobby's Aunt told him the truth about his parents on her death bed. Oh, and someone has been sending Bobby money in the form of cheques. He thinks it is his dad and he wants to talk to him. Montana gently shares that Jingles is dead. Bobby wants to know all about his father. He cannot reconcile the guy from the video store with the vicious killer he has read so much about. Montana shares that dark forces took him away and that she hasn't seen him since. Trevor chimes in that none of the other ghosts have seen him. This catches Bobby's attention who thinks they are bullshitting him (which is fair). Montana and Trevor decide to prove it to him. They taunt him and tell him to go ahead and kill them, when Bobby refuses they kill themselves and come back a few seconds later (much to Bobby's surprise).

Bobby has a lot of questions (as would I) and that leads into a flashback of what happened at the infamous concert of 1989.

Margaret is freaking out because the talent was supposed to have arrived 45 mins ago. She wants to know what the hold up is and for the contracts they have signed to be enforced. Bruce is upset because he wanted to kill Debbie Gibson. Richard just wants what he was promised ...


He is going to be upset if Billy doesn't show up. Courtney rushes in and declares that he knows why nobody has arrived yet - Trevor. Trevor has created a road block and is turning everyone away from the camp when they arrive. Courtney hypothesizes it is because Trevor hates her and wants her to fail. That, and the fact that he told Trevor about what happened to Kajagoogoo. This causes Margaret to shoot Courtney and she tells Richard and Bruce to clean it up while she goes and deals with her husband.

Trevor is turning people away by telling them that the fire department shut them down when Margaret storms up in her car. They argue and she reminds him that he was fine with her using death to make money when it benefited him. He says that she is evil and he was corrupted by her but now he wants redemption. He's found love and that has shown him the error of his ways. He is going to bring in the authorities and plans to file for divorce. Margaret handles this the same way she handles everything else - by shooting Trevor. Trevor tells her that she won't get away with this. Margaret tells him that she will because he is outside Redwood grounds. This means that if he dies he won't be coming back. She shoots him again, this time in the penis. She storms away and Montana appears. She is hysterical and begging him to crawl to her. Trevor tries, but it doesn't look like he'll make it. Brooke comes walking up and helps Trevor up and brings him close enough to the campgrounds so that Montana can grab him. Montana questions why Brooke would help her and Brooke bitingly replies:


Brooke basically gave Montana eternity with the guy she loves so I say Brooke has grown. Montana tearfully tells Trevor he can die and he does but reappears right behind her and they embrace.

Back in 2019, Bobby's mind is understandably blown by all of this, and questions Brooke surviving death row. Brooke's kindness changed Montana forever. She decided to become a better person. The killing had to stop. They rounded up the rest of the ghosts and they all bonded as a community over their shared fate. They just had to take care of Margaret, Bruce, and Richard before they could have a happily ever after.

One of the ghosts of the counselors that Margaret killed is being chased by Bruce. He thinks she is still alive and is excited at the thought of getting his seventh solo kill. She trips and while Bruce is distracted Trevor comes out and attacks. He admires Bruce's mustache but he needs to ensure that Bruce dies off property so they kick him down a hill and away from the campgrounds.

Montana muses that killing Bruce was easy, it was Richard that was difficult. We are shown that she approaches Richard and flirts with him. She tries to get him to stay but he wants to go kill 'this kid in Alaska' but she grabs him and embraces him. She starts to move the flirtation into a more sexual territory but tells him that she knows a better place for them to hook up. She wants to take him to meet Billy Idol first. Billy is apparently a big fan of Richard's and wants to meet him. Richard calls her out for lying because he knows about the roadblock. She tells him that only a true rebel could have sang 'Rebel Yell' and Billy managed to sneak into the camp. Richard feels that this seems legit so he goes with her. There is, of course, no Billy Idol. It's a trap. All of the ghosts are there and they take turns attacking Richard. Montana gets to have her redemption moment and it is glorious. The entire scene is bloody and gross. As Richard lays dying he tells them that he'll be back. Montana says that she is counting on it as she slices his throat for good measure.

Bobby, smartly, questions why they didn't just make sure that Richard died outside the grounds rather than trap him inside with the rest of them. Montana says that since the devil already brought him back the rules don't apply to Richard. If he was outside the camp he would just be brought back by Satan and if he was in the camp he'd be able to walk right out of the camp. They came up with the idea of a literal death watch - they each took turns waiting for him to come back and killing him again and again. Year after year. There is a bloody, over the top montage of all the creative ways they've killed Richard.  This montage also offers up the one fun Xavier scene of the finale:


He even revs the chainsaw first. Montana shares that they kept coming up with more painful ways to kill him because of all the pain he had inflicted on others. You see that Richard eventually is entirely over it.

They finally tell Bobby that they are doing it mainly to keep him alive. They tell him that Richard swore to kill him because of the feud he had with Jingles. Bobby thanks them. Montana is basically like "no biggie, but you have to leave". She doesn't want him to be killed on the grounds if Richard wakes up and gets free. Bobby refuses to leave though. He knows that there are ghosts so that means he can talk to his dad because his dad died on the grounds. Montana reminds him that nobody has seen him since the late 80's. Bobby just becomes more determined to find him.

Chet and Bertie are on Richard watch. Bertie gets flirty and starts to straight up proposition Chet. She wants to play strip Pictionary. She has seen Chet hook up with both men and woman so she knows he is up for anything. While Chet and Bertie are distracted, Richard wakes up and gets the jump on them. So, Richard is awake and walking around. This cannot mean anything good for Bobby.

Trevor is telling Bobby the harsh truth - even if he finds his father, Jingles is not exactly warm and fuzzy. Bobby still wants to try. Richard comes crashing in and tries to attack Bobby. Trevor holds him off while Montana gets Bobby to run out of the cabin before helping. Bobby runs straight into Ray who is pissed until he sees that Richard is back. Chet and Bertie run into help as Montana screams for Bobby to run (which he does). He, sadly, doesn't run fast enough. He is hit in the back with a knife that Richard threw. Richard finally catches up to him. Richard threatens to kill him to settle the debt Jingles owes to Satan. All of the ghosts come running up and attack Richard. Montana tells Bobby to leave and never come back. She also tells him to go to the asylum and ask for the medical director if he wants answers.

Bobby heads there next. He is a bloody, tired mess and it is the middle of the night so the staff is less than thrilled to see him. He asks to speak to the medical director and freaks out the secretary when he gets angry when she declines his request. The secretary promises to call the medical director but calls security instead. She is under the impression that he needs to be checked into the asylum. Bobby starts screaming that he needs to speak with the medical director about Benjamin Richter and this brings out .... Donna! She's older, still alive, and apparently the medical director now. She also doens't look like 30 years has passed. She agrees to sit with Bobby. She shares that Jingles was innocent and that Margaret planted all of the evidence. She muses that Margaret almost got away with it all until the night of the concert.

We flashback to the night of the concert. The ghosts, having taken care of both Bruce and Richard, are now ready to take care of Margaret. They all show up outside her cabin with torches and weapons. Margaret locks the door and starts loading her gun, but Donna is already in the cabin and attacks her. When Margaret gets the upper hand Brooke rushes in to help. Brooke is stabbed in their scuffle and Donna gets back up just in time to see this. Brooke is laying injured on the floor. Donna rushes to let in the ghosts and demands they take Margaret. They grab her and drag her out of the cabin. They take her to the wood chipper. Margaret says that if they kill her she'll just come back and be with them forever. They have a plan for that though. They are going to cut her into pieces and put those pieces into the wood chipper which will deposit them on the other side of the campground. Margaret croaks that there is a flaw in the plan ... she's still going to die on this side of the grounds. Montana reveals that the brain can live on for thirty seconds after decapitation and so they are just going to throw that in last.

Donna wishes that Brooke had been alive to see this happen. Does this mean that Donna is the final girl?! Bobby muses that Brooke was a patsy just like his father. Donna used to go visit the camp afte but it got hard for everyone seeing that she was able to age and change. She eventually stopped going. Bobby figures that this means that she sent the money and thanks her for her help. Donna is genuinely confused though and says that she never sent him anything. Bobby quickly realizes that this means someone else survived the events of Camp Redwood.

They drive to the bank that the money came from to stake out and see who shows up. Bobby thanks her again and Donna shares that she isn't just doing it for him. She obviously wants to know who survived as well. Someone shows up and it seems that Donna recognizes who it is. They follow the person home and it is, unsurprisingly, Brooke. Brooke greets them at the door with a 'what took you so long'. She also looks like she has barely aged. She claims it is from leaving her previous life behind ... well, that and being married to a dermatologist husband helps too. Donna is angry that Brooke didn't let her know she was alive. Brooke just needed a clean break, which I get. She had to move on. She apologizes and Donna reveals that all she wanted was to be part of Brooke's life.

Brooke survived because of Ray! He came back and found her on the floor. He helped her get outside the grounds because he felt she deserved better than to die there and she ended up getting help. I am not sure this makes up for Ray being a complete asshat the rest of the time. Brooke proves what a bad ass she is by walking out of the grounds on her own. Once she was healed enough she took off as quickly as she could.

Bobby just wants to know why Brooke sent him the money. Brooke did it for reasons that were not entirely unselfish. She wanted to believe that a life away from the camp was possible. She wanted to give Bobby a chance because she needed the hope for herself. She apologizes to Donna again and express the hope that Donna could forgive her. Donna tells her that they are bonded for life. I love their friendship so much. They share a smile and Brooke states that they are both the final girl which is AMAZING.

Bobby and Donna are saying goodbye. Donna wants to buy him lunch but Bobby needs to go back to the camp. He felt something protecting him and he thinks it was his dad. Bobby, please do not go back to the camp. Think of your pretty face.

We cut to Bobby back at the camp. He is at the lake where Jingles was last seen. Margaret shows up! I knew it was too much to hope that their plan worked and she didn't come back. Ugh. Bobby recognizes her immediately and he is pissed. He accuses her of framing his father. She realizes he is Jingles' son and she perks up. She offers to take him to his father and claims that she is able to find him because of their connection. Bobby declines and says that he doesn't trust her. She basically just shrugs and says she doesn't care if he sees his dad or not. Bobby is making all of the bad decisions and decides to follow her. Bobby questions how she can still be there when the ghosts went through great lengths to keep her from coming back. She reveals that she died just seconds before being spit out of the wood chipper. She basically has been in hiding and waiting this whole time so that she could kill him. She goes to attack Bobby but Jingles shows up and stops her. There is a very touching reunion between father and son.


It is a beautiful moment. Jingles asks why Bobby came back to the camp. He doesn't feel like he was a parent to him. Bobby tells him that he is wrong. He did what all good parents do - sacrifice for their child. Bobby says that he came back to thank him. Jingles says that Bobby was worth it. He wants Bobby to run away and forget this place and just live. He tells him that he loves him right before Margaret comes from behind and kills him. Bobby is shocked. Margaret screams that she is always the final girl and goes to attack Bobby who runs away .. and right into his grandmother. The lady in white demands that Margaret leave her grandson alone. Margaret, unsurprisingly, doesn't listen and so Lavinia kills her.

She turns to Bobby and is a way better grandmother than a mother. She's soft, and gentle with him and in awe of how handsome he is.


She muses that he looks just like her Bobby would have if he had been able to grow up. The rest of the ghosts show up and Lavinia tells them to take Margaret away.

Montana approaches Bobby and tells him to leave and never come back. She wants him to not forget them though. She urges him to tell their ghost stories to his children so they can live on forever.


This is both sad and beautiful and tragic. Ugh. I don't understand how Ryan Murphy keeps making me cry over these horrible people. She urges him to go and Bobby takes off running out of the camp.  He runs until he reaches the sign (looking over his shoulder the entire way). When he is outside the camp he pauses to catch his breath and feels someone watching him so he turns to look behind him to see his family at the gate. It's beautiful and I am crying as the music swells. One last smile between them and Bobby walks away from the camp ... and doesn't look back.


Other Bobby waiving KILLED me. *clutches heart*.

The ending was emotional in so many ways. It gave the kind of happy endings I have come to expect from some of these seasons. Very bittersweet but cathartic in their own way. They are also endings that are better than some of the characters often deserve, but somehow feel earned by the end. I thought it was a fantastic wrap up and a beautiful way to say goodbye to the 80s.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

W. O. W. - The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzi Lee

** Potential Spoilers For The Previous Novels In The Series **


Here is the Goodreads synopsis
Return to the enchanting world of the Montague siblings in the finale to the New York Times bestselling and Stonewall Honor-winning series, featuring a teenage Adrian Montague as he desperately seeks the now adult Monty and Felicity—the older siblings he never knew he had.

The sole heir to his family’s fortune, Adrian Montague desperately wants to be free—from his father’s high expectations; the grief of losing his beloved mother; and the constant war being waged inside his mind. Adrian was diagnosed with hysteria at a young age and it’s always been kept a secret. But when he has a breakdown at his engagement party, the public learns Adrian’s worst fear: he might not be fit to run the Montague estate.

Thankfully, Adrian is given an opportunity to avoid the impending scandal: a trip to the Caribbean to claim the last of his mother’s possessions. But along the way, Adrian discovers another secret lurking in his family tree. He is actually the youngest of three children—his sister Felicity and brother “Monty” went missing over a decade ago. Now Adrian has the chance to find them and offer to pass the estate back to the rightful heirs.

Adrian expects to win his long-lost brother over with the promise of wealth and inheritance, while dreaming of a quiet life where Adrian doesn’t feel like a burden to anyone. But when Adrian finally tracks him down, Monty refuses to return home. The only thing he can convince Monty of is to accompany him across the ocean as an act of tribute to their mother, hoping that during the voyage he can persuade Monty into taking the weight of inheriting the estate off his shoulders.

When they reach their destination, Adrian and Monty find something hidden in their mother’s belongings—a clue pointing to a valuable artifact that could potentially save the Montague siblings from a curse that threatens their lives. But to retrieve it, they must chase an infamous myth through the wild sugar fields of Barbados to the haunting streets of New Orleans to mysterious uncharted islands off the edge of the map.
I love the first two books in this series and am thrilled that the youngest Montague sibling is going to get his own story.

These books are so fun to read and this one sounds like no exception. I especially cannot wait to see what an adult Monty is like!

This one doesn't come out until summer of 2020, but that just gives you plenty of time to read the first two books if you haven't already.

Expected release date - August 18, 2020

Friday, November 15, 2019

Raincoast Books Winter/Spring 2020 Blogger Preview




This post is a little late, but I wanted to share some of the amazing books that Raincoast Books recently highlighted at their annual book blogger preview. These events are always a fun, informative way to find out about their upcoming books. I always finish these events wanting to read so many of the books spotlighted and eager to discuss them with my fellow bloggers.

I am not going to discuss all of the titles that were shared, but instead figured I would do my own top ten list of the books I most want to read from the ones presented at the preview. There are so many amazing sound reads that this was hard and it is by no means an exhaustive list. Plenty of my fellow Canadian bloggers had recaps up before mine and they probably have a different mix of books that you can check out for a fuller picture of what Raincoast has to offer for the winter and spring seasons of 2020.

These books are in no particular order (because that would be even more difficult) and all of them link to Goodreads for easy addition to your to-be-read piles.

1. The Map From Here To There by Emery Lord

I love Emery Lord books and am especially excited to continue Paige and Max's story. Emery Lord's novels are always filled with a lot of heart and this one seems to be no exception.

2. Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

Inspired by You've Got Mail, Tweet Cute seems to be offering up a fun, cute rom-com in book format.

3. Anna K by Jenny Lee

A modern take on Anna Karenina that is set in New York. It seems to be filled with first love, first heartbreak, and some memorable characters.

4. Crave by Tracy Wolff

I love paranormal romance so it should be no surprise that this book being compared to Twilight intrigued me. Not too much is revealed in the synopsis but that only makes me more curious to read it.

5. Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles

Moulin Rouge meets Phantom of the Opera is all I need to know in order to be obsessed with this book. It sounds lush, romantic, and decadent.

6. A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer

I loved the first book in this Beauty and the Beast retelling. I was blown away by this take on a well retold tale. I cannot wait to see what comes next for these characters and for the romance between Harper and Rhen to, hopefully, continue.

7. House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas

Sarah J Maas' first adult novel has plenty of buzz already but it sounds amazing. It seems to fit a more paranormal vibe and I think there may be a form of vampires within it. I already love the fallen angel 'detective' and cannot wait to learn more about the world of Crescent City.

8. Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth

Veronica Roth is another author branching out from young adult to adult. Her book looks at what happens after the Chosen one (or ones) have saved the day. It seems like it will dive into the emotional elements to being the chisen one and how it could impact the rest of your life, even after fulfilling your destiny.

9. Reverie by Ryan La Sala

The Magicians meets Inception is how I was sold on this one. It also, from what I understand, features a gay main character and other characters who are part of the LGBTQ community. I think the world building in this is going to be amazing.

10. Foul Is Fair by Hannah Capin

I have heard so much about this but all I really needed was to know it is inspired by Macbeth (and in particular the witches). It is also a very timely book for the #metoo movement from what I have been told.

A huge thank you to Rauncoast Books for the invite and for such a great afternoon.

What book from the above list are you most excited to read? Let me know in the comments.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

American Horror Story: 1984 - Rest In Pieces


Welcome to Camp Crystal Lake Redwood. This season of American Horror Story takes a page from classic 80's slasher films and goes to summer camp.

Here is your official spoiler warning before we dive into the events of episode eight - Rest In Pieces.

This is super late going up because Blogger never posted it when I had scheduled it to. The finale recap will be up early next week.

We open with Brooke and Donna talking about the future over what looks like lunch. Brooke muses that she can go anywhere once this is over. She might want to go to Australia. She'll figure out her future once Margaret is dead. Donna suggests heading back to the hotel and waiting until dark to sneak into the camp (which is a solid plan). She also recommends that Brooke gets her strength up by eating. She deduces that Margaret has to have adrenaline level strength and Brooke will need to match that if she is going to be the final girl. Brooke is adorably confused by the entire notion of a final girl (thanks, prison) and Donna has to explain that most horror movies (especially from the 80s) have a final girl who survives.


Brooke questions why it couldn't be Donna to which Donna quips that they kill off people with her complexion first. This is entirely true, but I do sort of hope there is more than one final girl for this show.

Their nice meal is interrupted by a woman, named Stacey, who thinks Brooke looks exactly like ... Brooke. The Brooke that is supposed to be dead. Brooke brushes it off but Stacey is with the press (and probably smarter than Brooke thinks she is). She has written books on a bunch of different serial killers. She is, unsurprisingly, writing about Jingles and Camp Redwood next. She also seems to think that the 80s is going to be what ruins the world so there is that. Brooke is eager to get away and makes an excuse and a quick exit. She is, obviously, concerned that Stacey recognized her.

We next see Jonas walking along the road back to Camp Redwood and Bruce pulls up in a bright pink car to offer assistance. Pretty sure nothing good has happened to the owner of this car. He urges Jonas to get into the car and continues to drive up to the camp. Jonas questions what happened to his hands and Bruce makes up some bullshit about chicks being crazy. It isn't long before banging and screaming comes from the trunk of the car. I think we know how Bruce got his new wheels.

We're treated to a flashback of the lady who owns the pink car coming to Bruce's aid after Donna and Brooke left him tied up on the side of the road. She does the nice thing and unties him. He repays this kindness by being an asshole and strangling her with the rope he was tied up with. He throws her into the trunk and drives off.

Back in current day, Bruce pulls over and yells at the woman to shut up because they are trying to listen to music. She begs him to let her go. She promises she won't say anything. Bruce is unimpressed. He thinks her acting skills are lacking. She tries again but he's uninterested and just stabs her.

Meanwhile, back at Kajagoogoo's tour bus, Margaret is not happy that Courtney did not tell her about the band's death sooner. She wants him to clean up all of the bodies (even if he has to cut them into tiny pieces to do it). She wants a full clean up job. Courtney is not enthused by this plan and voices his concerns. Margret tells him that it is okay because everyone is still coming and nobody is going to miss Kajagoogoo anyway. Harsh, Margaret. Poor Courtney starts to clean up and is loading body parts into the back of a van when he hears the unmistakable chords to "Too Shy" coming from behind the bus. He goes to investigate and it is the entire band, as ghosts now, practicing. Limahl is pumped because they have never sounded better.

Richard is creeping on the stage set up and notices a roadie from Billy Idol's crew. He has a fanboy moment when the guy shows him Billy's rings. He asks Richard who he is with and Richard replies 'Satan'. Richard is in his element and decides to play air guitar and sing Rebel Yell while dancing around in the woods. If he wasn't Richard Ramirez the whole thing would be cute.


His performance is interrupted by Jingles who tackles him. Billy chuckles and says that he is glad Jingles got his invitation. He feels that Jingles should be thanking him for reminding him who he is. Jingles basically tells Richard that he is going to kill him and the two start fighting. It's a drag out fight with each getting the upper hand at times. They end up on the road leading up to the camp and Bruce comes along in the pink car and hits Jingles. He's fine and actually ends up being able to run away which pisses off Richard. Bruce gets out of the car and does some fanboying of his own when he recognizes Richard. Richard is still pissed but more than a little flattered when Bruce tells him what an inspiration he is. He fills Richard in on his own serial killer exploits. He shows off the body in the trunk (which is number six in his body count). Richard is pretty impressed, says it is pretty 'metal' with a smirk. Bruce wants to help out. Richard is, at first, hesitant. This isn't just some girl he is hunting. He's hunting big game - Jingles. Bruce still wants to help but unsure of how they will find him in the woods. Richard pulls out his knife and does a blood ritual and says that Satan will help them.

Brooke and Donna are just trying to relax in their room when Stacey shows up again. She knows exactly who both of them are and wants them to come to her room so she can fill them in on how she knows everything. Pretty sure going with some random stranger to a second location is NEVER a good idea. Brooke and Donna go though. Stacey paid the warden to get footage of the execution. She has also done a ton of research on the camp massacres (because there is more than one at this camp) and knows everything about Donna ... including that her father was a serial killer. She just doesn't know why Donna helped Brooke though. Brooke helpfully fills her in on everything in exchange for her help getting them back into the camp. She also includes the stipulation of Stacey not naming Donna or revealing that Brooke is alive (at least until after the book is written).  They fill Stacey in on the fact that Margaret was the one who killed everyone, not Jingles. Stacey agrees to these terms.

Jingles wakes up. I guess this means that being hit with the car 'killed' him and he regenerated as ghosts do. Jonas is there to explain that coming back gets easier each time. They share stories of coming back and how it is painful and that pieces of you go missing each time it happens. Jingles is desperate for this not to happen. He needs to remember. He puts a knife to poor Jonas' throat. All of this just renews Jingles desire to kill Ramirez. He pushes Jonas out of the way and stalks off to find Richard. 

Montana and Trevor are having a nice moment curled up in bed together. She is filling him in on ghost life. She says that they can feel pain, pleasure, etc but the only feeling that lasts is a constant longing. The ghosts long to be alive, dead, or anything except stuck in this inbetween. Montana reveals that they plan to kill everyone who comes to the concert so that they can get attention and hopefully someone will come and free them. Worst case scenario is that there are more people to have sex with, talk to, and get distracted by. Trevor offers to stay at the camp with her. He can be that distraction. Montana reminds him that he will get older, and that he is also married. Trevor doesn't care. He hates Margaret. All he wants is to be with Montana. He loves her and he loves the camp. It feels like home for him. He muses that there is nothing outside the camp for him anyway. The 80s are ending. He sweetly tells Montana that she is the 80s to him.


They are actually really freaking cute. She, obviously, melts and they share a cute kiss. They leave the cabin and Margaret is sneakily glaring at them from the woods.

Richard and Bruce are still hunting down Jingles. Bruce wants to know what the big deal is about this Jingles guy. He figures he can't be that big of a threat if a car takes him down. Richard doesn't want to underestimate Jingles. He explains that Jingles is his worst enemy and he needs him to die at this camp. Bruce wants to know why exactly happened between them to cause this hatred. Richard is still butthurt about being betrayed and that is really what it comes down to. Xavier pops up and express that he is also on the Jingles sucks train. He wants to help them and leads them to where Jingles actual body is buried. Apparently disturbing it will make Jingles come out. Xavier isn't sure why they go back to where their bodies are buried, but he suspects it is them holding on to when they were alive. Xavier is bitching about how Jingles burned him alive when Jingles appears behind him and stabs him through the chest. Bruce is just catching onto the fact that something weird is going on and begins to question how Jingles can both be dead and not dead. Jingles, having no time for this nonsense, simply tells Bruce that if he stays he's dead. Bruce takes off (but just hides out of sight). Richard is pissed that Jingles is dead though and demands to know who killed him. Jingles tells him that he committed suicide. This makes Richard laugh. He respects the balls it took to do that and that it was done to level the playing field so to speak, but now Jingles is stuck at the camp forever. Richard can just go to Alaska and kill his son and there is nothing Jingles can do about it. Jingles has other plans though. He is going to kill Richard and spend the rest of eternity torturing him basically. Margaret shows up on the scene and shoots Jingles. She first wants to shoot Bruce too until Richard tells her that he is with him. Bruce, who is so confused about everything, which is fair, wants to know how they know each other. Margaret explains that her and Richard have a mutual admiration and sexual attraction. She has a plan and she wants their help with something.

Brooke and Donna are filling Stacey in on the events that happened at the camp. They tell her about Richard being there as well. It sounds ridiculous but Stacey believes them. She points out that it is Brooke's story so whatever she says is the truth. This makes Donna defend Brooke and she reiterates that everything Stacey has been told is the truth. 

While Stacey is distracted taking photos Donna expresses her concerns that Stacey is going to screw them over. Brooke has another plan. She wants to get Stacey to the cabin where she was attacked and kill her. Donna, rightly, thinks that this is a bad plan. She doesn't think Brooke is a murderer because the only person she killed was in self defense. Brooke says that the old her died in prison and she leads Stacey towards the cabin. 

Montana and the gang have Jingles strung up with chains. He wants them to let him go so he can protect his son, but the group is not having it. Xavier is still pissed that Jingles killed him and quips that he may be dead but he is still traumatized. He is also mad that Jingles put him in an oven because he was going to be an actor (and not just a stage actor, but an actor on TV). They all want revenge for what Jingles did to them. He tries to make a deal with them - he will let them kill him but he wants to kill Richard first. Chet is like 'No way. That guy is a dick' and Xavier agrees that the do not want Richard around forever. Jingles tries to plead with them again and points out that his son is innocent and that Richard will kill him just to get back at Jingles. Xavier has no sympathy though.


Montana doesn't believe him anyways. She confidently states that Richard doesn't kill kids. Jingles basically laughs in her face and tells her that she doesn't know who Richard has become. He also shares that Richard told him all about her and how she seduced him and brought him up to the camp to kill for her. She helped create him. Xavier and Ray are quick to judge Montana for hooking up with the Night Stalker. Jingles explains that the fire she lit in Richard basically turned into an inferno when he left the camp. He again begs for his son's life.

Stacey and Brooke reach the cabin. Brooke starts to fill in more details and tells Stacey that the only way to know what she went through is to 'walk in her shoes' so to speak. She gets Stacey to close her eyes and picture it as she describes it. Brooke, while spinning her tale, sneaks up on Stacey with a knife. Donna comes rushing in and pushes Brooke away from Stacey. She tells her to run and tries to talk some sense into Brooke. She refocuses Brooke on their true purpose - revenge. She wants Brooke to focus on that one act of revenge and then they can move on. Nobody else needs to get hurt. Brooke seems into it and states they can be final girls to which Donna agrees.

Stacey is full tilt running through the camp grounds and literally runs into Richard. He chuckles when she is all "OMG! You're the Night Stalker" and Margaret quickly joins him. This prompts Stacey to realize that everything Brooke told her was the truth.  Margaret realizes that Stacey knows too much. Bruce grabs Stacey from behind and snarks that she needs to pick her friends more wisely. She explains that she is not their friend. She was using them to get a story. Richard doesn't like writers and so he kills her. Bruce asks if the plan Margret has is just to kill everyone they come across because he is entirely on board with that. This is not her plan. Margaret's actual plan? To kill off all of the musical acts coming to the festival. She figures that if all of the musical acts die at the camp it'll become the hottest tourist attraction. She uses Graceland and the place where John Lennon was shot as proof. 

Richard is not fully on board with her plan though. It seems we have the answer to whether or not he'd kill Billy Idol if Satan asked him to and the answer is a definitive no. He's real quick to put an exception on the performers that they kill. 


He is not here for Billy Idol being murdered. Bruce backs him up on this. Margaret is fine with this. She just wants all of the other performers dead because she wants to create a place that people flock to so that she can make a fortune.

Montana is upset by what Jingles and everyone said to her about Richard. She is off by herself when Trevor comes to her with a plan of his own. He feels that he has reached his peak. He is only going to decline both mentally and physically so he wants to die at the camp and join her. He tells her that he loves her and wants to be with her. Montana, who is feeling a lot of self pity right now, tells him that he doesn't even know her and that she is a monster. He questions her and she reveals that Richard is her ex. Trevor expresses confusion and concern and Montana jumps to the conclusion that he sees her differently now. She is over being judged and blamed for a man's actions.





Preach, Montana. Preach. I love everything about this speech. She, rightly, states that she didn't make Richard evil. He was already there. She says that if they want to make her the villain that it is fine now because she's earned it. She shares that she has killed a lot of people since she died. She says she is irredeemable. Trevor is super understanding though. He tells her that her past doesn't matter to him. She can change. She feels she doesn't deserve happiness. He says that she does because she made him realize that happiness is. She literally and figuratively pushes him away and tells him that she doesn't want him. She needs someone as fucked up as she is. She screams at him to go. I am fairly certain this is her way of protecting him. It's also the spiral she is going through but I think she does care about Trevor and doesn't want him throwing his life away for her. I am still hoping for them to spend eternity together.

Xavier and the gang have taken Jingles to the dock. Jingles pleads again and reminds him that they are helping Richard kill a baby. Xavier says he is fine with that since it is his baby. They stab him a bunch of times and put him on a boat and push it away from the dock. They basically plan to let him slowly die in the middle of the lake. However, in another wink to Friday the 13th, something reaches up and drags Jingles into the water.


It is very reminiscent of Jason pulling the counselor into the water at the end of the first Friday the 13th. This is supposed to be Bobby. We cut to this beautiful, dream like sequence where Jingles is reunited with his mom and brother. They are having a picnic. His mother is nice to him for once. It's a peaceful, almost blissful happy ending. Jingles claims he doesn't deserve this because he failed his son. His mother tells him that he did his best and that there is so much violence and evil in the camp that nobody could overcome it. He breaks down sobbing that he lost his Bobby. She tenderly cups his face and tells him ' but we found ours'. She actually express gratitude that he brought Bobby back to her. Jingles wonders how he can rest now and she tells him to let go of the past instead of letting it haunt him. This is probably the closest thing to a happy ending that we'll get for Jingles. Bobby asks him to play and even I got a little teary as the episode closes out.

The finale is next week. I cannot believe our time at Camp Redwood has almost come to an end. I have no doubt that the writers have another surprise in store that wrecks Jingles' happy ending. I also have a feeling that we might get to see Billy Idol. We'll also find out who the final girl is and get to see Finn Wittrock join the cast (which I am very excited about).

My theories at this point? Finn is playing the grown up son of Jingles who goes to Camp Redwood in the future to find out what happened to his father. I am basing this off nothing other than the promo that seems to tease his character wearing more modern clothing. I am also expecting that Richard will get away some how (he does, after all, have to die of leukemia and end up at Hotel Cortez at some point). 

Until next week ... maybe don't follow a stranger to their hotel room.

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