Horror Aficionados discussion

Hey all! A few of us will be doing a buddy read for The Furies, book #20 of the Charlie Parker series starting in the beginning of March.

Please join and use spoilers while discussing. Happy reading and excited to get back to this series!

aww man I haven't read that series since college and I'm rereading it now. I'm only up.to book 4 though

Looking very forward to it!!

Cujo wrote: "aww man I haven't read that series since college and I'm rereading it now. I'm only up.to book 4 though"

I plan to do a reread one day Cujo! I hope you’re loving it as much as the first time.

Terry wrote: "Looking very forward to it!!"

Me too!!

I’m excited to be able to join in on this one! Glad I finally caught up!

Kristen wrote: "I’m excited to be able to join in on this one! Glad I finally caught up!"

I'm excited that you can finally join too!!

Yay! I’m here!

Latasha wrote: "Yay! I’m here!"

Woohoo!! 🙌

I don't get any notifications from Goodreads any more (even when I check that I want them)! Anybody else have problems?

Terry wrote: "I don't get any notifications from Goodreads any more (even when I check that I want them)! Anybody else have problems?"

It's been an issue for awhile. I think when they took away the email notifications they screwed up site ones as well.

Yeah, I don’t get notifications as well. With the group conversations that I’m in, I make sure the “notify me when people comment” is checked. If it’s not, I’m not getting a thing! 😢

Alan wrote: "It's been an issue for awhile. I think when they took away th..."

I wish they would leave this site alone. I miss seeing friends reading challenges and what books they have read so far. Why did they change this?! It’s so frustrating.

Ginger wrote: "Alan wrote: "It's been an issue for awhile. I think when they took away th..."

I wish they would leave this site alone. I miss seeing friends reading challenges and what books they have read so fa..."

It is some beta thing they are testing but it is a pain in the butt. More stuff they think us readers do not need.

Yeah, even when I have the boxes checked, I get nothing. I had to come look at this thread to know you all had commented. Ridiculous they can’t get this simple stuff to continue working after all these years.

That’s so strange. I am getting the notifications for this thread. It definitely seems like there have been some bugs recently and I agree Ginger, why take away viewing others’ reading challenges? It does seem like they’re messing with a lot that doesn’t need to be messed with.

Kristen wrote: "That’s so strange. I am getting the notifications for this thread. It definitely seems like there have been some bugs recently and I agree Ginger, why take away viewing others’ reading challenges? ..."

The problem is they tied it into the Amazon Kindle challenge, thus changing the parameters, and probably why there's no more access for others. If you're just interested in seeing what books someone completed, you can go to their profile, click their 2024 year in books in the upper right corner, then in the address bar change 2024 to 2025 and you'll see the books.

Alan wrote: "If you're just interested in seeing what books someone completed, you can go to their profile, click their 2024 year in books in the upper right corner, then in the address bar change 2024 to 2025 and you'll see the books...."

Thanks Alan! I tried that and it seemed to work.
I see you've read 26 books so far. ;) hahaha I still wish it was the older way but at least there's a way to still do it.

My reading challenge says I’ve read 5 books and they are all from my kids! Both of their kindles are hooked up to my account and they think it’s hilarious to use it to rate their books 🤦🏻‍♀️

Kristen wrote: "My reading challenge says I’ve read 5 books and they are all from my kids! Both of their kindles are hooked up to my account and they think it’s hilarious to use it to rate their books 🤦🏻‍♀️"

Well, I guess your kids are helping with your reading challenge!! :D hahaha

Kristen wrote: "My reading challenge says I’ve read 5 books and they are all from my kids! Both of their kindles are hooked up to my account and they think it’s hilarious to use it to rate their books 🤦🏻‍♀️"

You’ll be done in no time at that rate!

Does anybody mind if I start early on this, like today? I was coaxed (hounded or harassed really 😂) by some friends into doing a team sci-if/fantasy readathon next month and need to read 5 SFF books between 3/1 and 3/31 for team points. I still plan on reading this, but want to get as much into it as I can by 3/1.

Terry wrote: "Does anybody mind if I start early on this, like today? I was coaxed (hounded or harassed really 😂) by some friends into doing a team sci-if/fantasy readathon next month and need to read 5 SFF book..."

Go for it!! Don't wait on us and once I finish one of my current reads, I'll start on this one too.
Look at you and the readathons!! Good luck next month and get those team points. :D

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Does anybody mind if I start early on this, like today? I was coaxed (hounded or harassed really 😂) by some friends into doing a team sci-if/fantasy readathon next month and need to r..."

It’s the first readathon I’ve done. Hoping I can get through that many books (fingers crossed for no work deadlines!)

Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Does anybody mind if I start early on this, like today? I was coaxed (hounded or harassed really 😂) by some friends into doing a team sci-if/fantasy readathon next mont..."

Fingers crossed! I'm curious to hear how the readathon goes. I've never done one myself.

I just had a hold come through from the library so I figure I’ll get started on that, but I may get a jump start on this one at some point this week as well so I can keep up!

I’ll probably get started sometime in the next week so I’m not that far behind. Excited to get back to CP!

I’m only really getting started this evening

I've made it up to ch15 (chapters are so short!). I'm sure I say this each time we start one of his books, but I forget how much I truly enjoy John Connolly's writing. It is so easy to read, but conveys so much dark emotion, it's amazing.

Terry wrote: "I've made it up to ch15 (chapters are so short!). I'm sure I say this each time we start one of his books, but I forget how much I truly enjoy John Connolly's writing. It is so easy to read, but co..."

I'm glad to hear that you're already enjoying it! Yes, I am always excited to get back to a John Connolly book. His writing is so great.

i guess i didn't have the box checked because i did not get any notifications from this. so i'm checking it now and going to my library website and reserving it or seeing where i can pick it up at.

ok, says it's in at the library closest to me so i'm going to go by after work.

Latasha wrote: "ok, says it's in at the library closest to me so i'm going to go by after work."

yay! Glad you can get it so soon. :)

Ginger wrote: "Latasha wrote: "ok, says it's in at the library closest to me so i'm going to go by after work."

yay! Glad you can get it so soon. :)"

me too :)

I’m up to chapter 11. The chapters are very short and I’m always a fan of that. So far, so good.

I agree Terry. I love it. I chuckle here & there and then get a terrible sense of foreboding. I am so sad we are almost caught up.

Latasha wrote: "I agree Terry. I love it. I chuckle here & there and then get a terrible sense of foreboding. I am so sad we are almost caught up."

Yes! The chuckles here and there may be the best part, too! And you are not kidding about the short chapters. I just passed the midpoint of the book, and it is ch75!

Did anyone else know that this book is actually two novellas combined into one book?? I didn’t read anything about this one beforehand, but I see now that some of the reviews say that. I just finished the first one. It was good. (view spoiler)[ although I will say that it did feel short and not as much detail as we usually get. It’s still the same good stuff. I do wish there was more Angel and Louis though. (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Did anyone else know that this book is actually two novellas combined into one book?? I didn’t read anything about this one beforehand, but I see now that some of the reviews say that. I just finis..."

I had no idea! But after seeing your comment, I noticed that there are two stories in the table of contents, The Sisters Strange & The Furies. Very cool.

Latasha wrote: "I agree Terry. I love it. I chuckle here & there and then get a terrible sense of foreboding. I am so sad we are almost caught up."

That's the truth. I have already laughed a few times, and I also have a sense of dread while I read this. WTF. hahaha

I got up to chapter XLI (41) last night. I am loving the short chapters as well. I kind of forgot how great this world is and it's easy to fall back into.
I'm also sad that we are almost caught up. Looks like he has a new CP book "The Children of Eve" coming out soon. Woohoo!

Ginger wrote: "I got up to chapter XLI (41) last night. I am loving the short chapters as well. I kind of forgot how great this world is and it's easy to fall back into.
I'm also sad that we are almost caught up...."

My copy of Instruments of Darkness is supposed to be here next week, so we’ll have to get to that one soon (after March at least). And then we’ll be stuck waiting… Hopefully he just keeps on writing them.

Terry wrote: "My copy of Instruments of Darkness is supposed to be here next week, so we’ll have to get to that one soon (after March at least). And then we’ll be stuck waiting… Hopefully he just keeps on writing them...."

Awesome! I'm down for the next and we should schedule it sometime after March. My March is going to be busy too with two book club picks that I've got to read.
I hope to heck he keeps writing them as well!!

I am a bit behind, always the slow reader. I’m only on chapter 27 but I should have a bit of reading time tomorrow. I love the short chapters as well and this one is definitely keeping my interest.

Kindle was having a sale so I got Instruments of Darkness for like $1.99! I am definitely up for reading that one whenever.

I saw it was 2 books when I reserved it at the library but that’s all I knew about it.

How is everyone doing on this one? I did end up finishing it over the weekend. My only complaint was that I wanted more of them! Especially (view spoiler)[ more of Louis and Angel (of course). I do think I liked the first story better than the second, but only slightly.

Oh, and Mr. Connolly is just wrong (as I’ve had to say before…). It is pronounced Lewis, not Loowee!! I can’t change 20 books into the series, haha (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "How is everyone doing on this one? I did end up finishing it over the weekend. My only complaint was that I wanted more of them! Especially more of Louis and Angel (of course). I do think I liked ..."

I was typing something last night and then got distracted by something else, story of my life! I finished the first story on Sunday. I really liked it! I haven't had much time to get too far on the second story yet. (view spoiler)[ I feel like it's been a while since we've seen a character as repulsive as Kepler. I also liked that it was written from Charlie's point of view. If I am remembering correctly, it hasn't been since the one where he almost died.

I have always read it as Lewis as well! Does the audiobook use the other pronunciation? I agree, I cannot possibly read it differently at this point!
(hide spoiler)]

I ended up finishing the first story a day or two ago. I haven't made much progress with the second one though.

Kepler (view spoiler)[is an interesting and gross character. The way Connolly described his smell and body starting to decompose was super impressive! I could see it in my mind especially with how he dressed in all shades of tan. LOL!
It was almost like he was there but not there by wearing those colors?!

Do you think that Raum Buker changed back to be "somewhat" normal again after the Strange sisters burned the coin? I put that in quotes because he will never be normal.
I'm actually glad that Will fell in love with someone else. Dolors was too devious for him. He's too innocent!

I also wanted more Angel and Louis in the story too. I always do though! haha (hide spoiler)]

Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "How is everyone doing on this one? I did end up finishing it over the weekend. My only complaint was that I wanted more ..."

Excellent, and I agree (view spoiler)[ about Kepler. He’s a nasty one. Interesting about the first person too. I really never pay any attention to that, but I did notice this time that it was shifting between first and third person, which I found that I was liking.

So far, you’re the only other person on team Lewis. Everyone else seems to like Loowee, including the author, 😂. I’m not sure on the audiobook, but he must get that question a bunch to include it specifically in one of the books like this. (hide spoiler)]

Ginger wrote: "I ended up finishing the first story a day or two ago. I haven't made much progress with the second..."

JC is so good (view spoiler)[ at making us really feel how gross and disgusting his characters are. I like that about his writing.

That is a good question about Buker. I had kinda assumed he was a lost cause and nothing would save him, but maybe the coin burning did. I wonder why JC didn’t give us a look into that. Seems like he usually doesn’t leave us wondering about a character like that.

I was definitely relieved for Will too. He was a good sympathetic character in this one. (hide spoiler)]