The One Where I Go Against Branding and Review Erotic Horror
This thing has TWO PAGES OF CWs/TWs! TWO!
Normally when I send an update, it is because I goofed up somehow. So this is new.
As of this afternoon, N. Cáceres has taken down the pre-order for The Salt Road and the ebook for Obsidian Feathers. Her official statement can be found on Instagram. It appears the author has undergone quite a bit of trauma, which unfortunately is not unheard of in the indie author community. I do not understand much more than what the author has publically shared this afternoon. However, I do know my heart breaks for her and her readership, of which I was honored to be included.
For help understanding the star and spice rating system of this newsletter, please refer to the About Me page on Substack.
Yes, I know this is a ROMANCE book review blog. I wouldn’t do this for just any author of just any series though. If I plan to keep reading N. Cáceres ‘s Fire on the Horizon series, I knew I needed to read this book.
Reviews From This Past Week
The Salt Road by N. Cáceres
Release Date: September 12, 2023
Content Notes
NOT A ROMANCE
Erotic Horror
Indigenous American Mythology
Afterlife Journey
Betrayed Lover
Body Horror
Creepy Kids
Domestic Abuse
Dark Magic
Children Physically Harmed
Morally Twisted Deities
N. Cáceres did not create The Salt Road as a beach read. This is a grab-your-brain-and-read-until-sunrise read. The one thing that keeps me from giving a “perfect” rating is that it is a demanding book that might not be best read as a sequel but bridge to a future book. Those who can take that though will be treated to some very deep world-building and visceral written art.
So what’s up with that statement? Well, what may make this book harder for some readers than others (with NO judgment to either) is that this is what I would call an artistic book. In most books from Western Literature, we’re not used to a significant amount of passive voice and a non-linear timeline like what this story wields. Cáceres used them with a clear purpose though so I was down for it. I’m a nerd for story crafting like that.
Also, I don’t know if I would call this a proper sequel to Obsidian Feathers! This feels more like a prequel to a future book or a bridge between the first book and said future book. At first, I thought the POS mother was the story’s protagonist, and perhaps, but really I thought it was The Borrower. They were going through the most development. They were actually doing stuff rather than just having stuff done to them. I felt the call to pay attention to this story because it feels like this will come up later in this series.
Also, I NEED reading recs for indigenous Central and South American mythology and folklore. The best part of this book was that and I need more of it. Throw all of that dark stuff at me. Let’s do this.
ARC provided and voluntarily reviewed.
To Be Read
I keep bouncing between Lyonne Riley and Tracy Lauren. I like to think of this as my prepping for Orc-tober!
Housekeeping
For more information about this newsletter’s spice and star system, check out this newsletter’s About Me page.