What It Does: Delivers volume and length, almost giving the illusion of false lashes.
Verdict: I’m on the fence with this mascara because it does deliver in the sense of lengthening your lashes, but I’m not really a fan of the formula. The formula is kinda gloopy and clumpy, and tar-like. I can see this working if you do one coat of the mascara and then use a clean mascara wand to fix up any clumping the mascara creates. Sadly, this is the issue with mascaras that have fibers, they do give you maximum length and volume, but there’s a learning curve on how to apply it without creating a total mess. It also flakes a little by the end of the day or if you nap. I don’t completely hate this, but there are so many other amazing mascaras out there for less price that I don’t necessarily recommend it either.
Price: $26
Where To Buy It: MAC, Ulta, and Sephora.
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I have suffered, but it is the suffering of a man who has created his own torture chamber.
PLOT SUMMARY:
All the world is a puzzle, and Mike Brink—a celebrated and ingenious puzzle constructor—understands its patterns like no one else. Once a promising Midwestern football star, Brink was transformed by a traumatic brain injury that caused a rare medical condition: acquired savant syndrome. The injury left him with a mental superpower—he can solve puzzles in ways ordinary people can’t. But it also left him deeply isolated, unable to fully connect with other people.
Everything changes after Brink meets Jess Price, a woman serving thirty years in prison for murder who hasn’t spoken a word since her arrest five years before. When Price draws a perplexing puzzle, her psychiatrist believes it will explain her crime and calls Brink to solve it. What begins as a desire to crack an alluring cipher quickly morphs into an obsession with Price herself. She soon reveals that there is something more urgent, and more dangerous, behind her silence, thrusting Brink into a hunt for the truth.
The quest takes Brink through a series of interlocking enigmas, but the heart of the mystery is the God Puzzle, a cryptic ancient prayer circle created by the thirteenth-century Jewish mystic Abraham Abulafia. As Brink navigates a maze of clues, and his emotional entanglement with Price becomes more intense, he realizes that there are powerful forces at work that he cannot escape.
Ranging from an upstate New York women’s prison to nineteenth-century Prague to the secret rooms of the Pierpont Morgan Library, The Puzzle Master is a tantalizing, addictive thriller in which humankind, technology, and the future of the universe itself are at stake.
GRADE: A-
REVIEW:
Having read Trussoni in the past, I was well aware that I would be in the hands of an expert author. Trussoni has a way with words and blending history with mystery, in a way that’s very gripping. The Puzzle Master is a thrilling novel that races against time. There’s much to love about this book, it’s action-packed and atmospheric, and the doll lover in me was thrilled that it also included creepy dolls.
After a traumatic brain injury, Mike acquired a rare condition known as savant syndrome. He uses this new skill to solve and create complex puzzles. Everything changes once he meets Jess Price, a woman convicted of murder who hasn’t spoken for five years. When Jess begins drawing strange puzzles with religious undertones, that’s when Mike gets involved and the enthralling journey begins.
For someone who loves multiple POV’s, this novel delivers in so many ways. It includes alternating timelines, letters, journal entries, and transcriptions. Trussoni expertly weaves so many genres into this novel, mystery, thriller, horror, and science fiction – so if you’re a fan of any of those genres, you will enjoy this novel. The Puzzle Master is a pulsating, addictive read that I highly suggest taking along with you when you go on holiday this year, you won’t regret it!
*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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If you’re an aspiring writer, and you’re working on building up your portfolio, you might be wondering how to make a name for yourself and succeed in your literary pursuits. You can find helpful guidance from The Inkblotters! Plus, here’s how to create a brand-new resume for your job hunt, design a portfolio website to host your work, and network with other writers.
Polish Your Resume
If you’re looking for jobs that involve writing, you’ll want to take some time to update your resume first. Whether you’re looking for an editorial role at a magazine or you’d like to land a job in content marketing, you’ll need to illustrate all of your relevant skills and experience on your resume.
Going with a PDF filler can help you conveniently write up a brand new resume with a clean format. Plus, if you use a PDF filler, you can edit the document afterwards if you happen to make any mistakes. You’ll just have to upload the file online, make any necessary changes, and then download it to share it on applications.
Create a Portfolio Website
Maybe you’ve had a few short stories, poems, or articles published, and you want to establish a central platform where you can share links to all of your work. Or perhaps you’d like to publish your own blog to flex your writing muscles. Every writer needs a website so that their audience can easily read their work! You can purchase a domain name, use a free design template, and add features like an author bio, a portfolio page, and a contact form.
Maintain a Submission Schedule
It can be tough to write consistently, submit your work regularly, and keep your chin up when facing rejection. But when you’re early in your career, it’s especially important to handle rejections with grace – don’t let it stop you from submitting your work to publications! Try to keep up with a daily writing schedule, and maintain a spreadsheet tracking your submissions.
Leverage Social Media
Social media can be a very powerful tool for writers. To get the word out about your work on social media, BookBub recommends focusing on building connections with other authors, agents, and readers first – focus on sharing pieces by others, responding to your followers, and dishing out compliments to writers you like!
Network With Other Writers
It’s also a good idea to check out local writing events and organizations so that you can meet other authors! You can learn a lot from befriending writers, especially if they’ve successfully published in your favorite genre. To make friends in your niche, Writing Blossoms recommends enrolling as a member in a professional writer’s association that hosts events and workshops in your area.
Read at Local Events
Reading your own work out loud for an audience can be nerve-wracking – but with practice, you’ll feel more confident standing in front of a crowd! Look for local open mics near you, and sign up to read at one each week. Make sure to brush up on the guidelines for performers in advance, and practice your reading in advance. For example, if you’re allowed to read for five minutes, go over your material at home to ensure that you’re not going over the time limit.
It’s easy to assume that writing is a solo activity – but as a writer, you’ll benefit greatly from a strong community who can support you in your endeavors. You don’t have to try to make it on your own! By fixing up your resume, sticking to a consistent writing and submission schedule, and making an effort to connect with other writers, you’ll go far in your career.
The Inkblotters shares everything that blogger Azzurra Nox has learned about skincare, cosmetics, and healthy living. Connect with Azzurra today!
Guest blog post by Stephanie Haywood, read her previous guest blog post HERE.
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Summer has so many new book releases, that I’m looking forward to these titles so very much. Many of these I’ve already read ARCs for, so I’ll be thrilled to pick up physical copies to add to my ever-growing library once they’re out into the world.
Here are a few of my fave Summer picks:
MISTER MAGIC BY KIERSTEN WHITE
Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast, known as the Circle of Friends, have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.
But with no surviving video of the show, no evidence of who directed or produced it, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former Circle of Friends has.
Then a twist of fate brings the castmates back together at the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Even though they haven’t seen each other for years, they understand one another better than anyone has since.
After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as the Circle of Friends reclaim parts of their past, they begin to wonder: Are they here by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?
Because magic never forgets the taste of your friendship. . . .
101 HORROR BOOKS TO READ BEFORE YOU’RE MURDERED BY SADIE HARTMANN
Curious readers and fans of monsters and the macabre, get ready to bulk up your TBR piles! Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann has curated the best selection of modern horror books, including plenty of deep cuts. Indulge your heart’s darkest desires to be terrified, unsettled, disgusted, and heartbroken with stories that span everything from paranormal hauntings and creepy death cults to small-town terrors and apocalyptic disasters. Each recommendation includes a full synopsis as well as a quick overview of the book’s themes, style, and tone so you can narrow down your next read at a glance. Featuring a foreword by New York Times bestselling author Josh Malerman and five brand-new essays from rising voices in the genre, this illustrated reader’s guide is perfect for anyone who dares to delve into the dark.
EVERYTHING THE DARKNESS EATS BY ERIC LAROCCA
An insidious darkness threatens to devastate a rural New England village when occult forces are conjured and when bigotry is left unrestrained.
After a recent string of disappearances in a small Connecticut town, a grieving widower with a grim secret is drawn into a dangerous ritual of dark magic by a powerful and mysterious older gentleman named Heart Crowley. Meanwhile, a member of local law enforcement tasked with uncovering the culprit responsible for the bizarre disappearances soon begins to learn of a current of unbridled hatred simmering beneath the guise of the town’s idyllic community—a hatred that will eventually burst and forever change the lives of those who once found peace in the quiet town of Henley’s Edge.
THE BEAST YOU ARE: STORIES BY PAUL TREMBLAY
A haunting collection of short fiction from the bestselling author of The Pallbearers Club,A Head Full of Ghosts, and The Cabin at the End of the World.
Paul Tremblay has won widespread acclaim for illuminating the dark horrors of the mind in novels and stories that push the boundaries of storytelling itself. The fifteen pieces in this brilliant collection, The Beast You Are, are all monsters of a kind, ready to loudly (and lovingly) smash through your head and into your heart.
In “The Dead Thing,” a middle-schooler struggles to deal with the aftermath of her parents’ substance addictions and split. One day, her little brother claims he found a shoebox with “the dead thing” inside. He won’t show it to her and he won’t let the box out of his sight. In “The Last Conversation,” a person wakes in a sterile, white room and begins to receive instructions via intercom from a woman named Anne. When they are finally allowed to leave the room to complete a task, what they find is as shocking as it is heartbreaking.
The title novella, “The Beast You Are,” is a mini epic in which the destinies and secrets of a village, a dog, and a cat are intertwined with a giant monster that returns to wreak havoc every thirty years.
A masterpiece of literary horror and psychological suspense, The Beast You Are is a fearlessly imagined collection from one of the most electrifying and innovative writers working today.
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What it does: Hydrates eyes and diminishes fine lines.
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen, and Apple Essence.
Verdict: First of all, these eye masks are incredibly cute. Who doesn’t love Hello Kitty, right? Secondly, these eye masks are made in Korea, and when it comes to skincare, Korea knows what’s up. These eye masks did what they promised to do, and that is it left my eye area feeling very hydrated and refreshed. I highly recommend this if you’re dealing with eye bags or need a pick me up. The only con about this eye mask is that I prefer gel ones and these are sheet masks.
Price: $4.99
Where To Buy It: Target, World Market, and Sephora
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The sharp sound of a high-pitched scream filled the air. A noise so unrecognizable, at first I didn’t register it had come from deep within me, traveling up my throat in stealth mode before bursting from my mouth.
The remnants of the yell reverberated around the car, forcing their way into my ears and penetrating my skull, urging me to do something. Survival instincts kicked in, and I fumbled with the seatbelt, my other hand grasping for the door handle. The need for the relative safety that solid, stationary ground would bring was so intense it made my stomach heave. A loud click of the central locking system meant my captor had outsmarted me again, obliterating my immediate plan to throw myself from the moving vehicle.
When I looked out the windshield, I knew there was no time to find an alternate escape. The end of the road—the edge of the cliff—announced by signs and broken red-and-white-striped wooden barricades, had been far enough away seconds ago but now gleamed in the car’s headlights, a looming warning yards ahead. I couldn’t comprehend what was about to happen, couldn’t do anything as the vehicle kept going, splintering planks and racing out the other side with nothing but air below. I let out another scream, far louder than my first, the absolute terror exploding from my lungs.
For the briefest of moments, we were suspended, as if this was a magic trick or an elaborate roller coaster. Perhaps, if I were really lucky, this was all a dream. Except I already knew there were no smoke and mirrors, no swirling track leading us through loop-the-loops and to safety. It wasn’t a nightmare I’d wake from with bedsheets wrapped around my sweaty body. This was happening. It was all terrifyingly real.
As the car continued its trajectory, it tipped forward. The only thing to stop our momentum was whatever we were rushing toward, obscured by the cloudy night skies. Pushing my heels into the floor, I tried to flatten my shoulders against the seat. My hands scrambled for the ceiling to brace myself, but I flopped like a rag doll, my loosened seatbelt tearing into my shoulder.
They say your life flashes before you when you’re close to death. That didn’t happen to me. Instead, it was all my regrets. Choices I’d made. Not made. Things I’d said and done. Not said. Not done. It was far too late to make amends. There would be no opportunity to beg anyone for forgiveness. No possibility of offering some.
As the finality of the situation hit me full on, I turned my head. The features of the driver next to me were illuminated in a blueish glint from the dashboard lights. His face had set in a stony grimace; his jaw clenched so tight he had to have shattered teeth. But what frightened me the most were his eyes, filled with what could only be described as maniacal delight.
He’d said we were both going to die. As the car hurtled to the bottom of the cliff, I closed my eyes and accepted he was right.
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What It Is: A brightening and depuffing eye cream.
What It Does: Brightens, depuffs, and hydrates the eye area.
Active Ingredients: Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Peptides, and green caffeine.
Verdict: First things first, I loved the consistency of this cream. It’s not too thick and not too thin either. But I also wouldn’t necessarily call it a gel, as it is more of a cream. Now, I have no delusions that this cream would solve my dark eye circles because mine are hereditary, but I do like that it kind of helped (or at least they weren’t as noticeable). Apart from this, the cream is very hydrating and you wake up feeling your eye area is nourished and refreshed. I’ve only been using it at night, so I don’t know how it holds up beneath makeup. Although, since it isn’t greasy, I’d venture that it would do well under concealer. I’ve been wanting to try out Glow Recipe products and was excited that Ipsy had this in their Glam Icon Box this month. I did like this eye cream but overall I wasn’t obsessed with it, but for the price point it is a good investment.
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Do I have to smash a glass over the head of every single man I come into contact with, just so I leave a fucking mark?
PLOT SUMMARY
Exiled from the art world and on sabbatical from her dead-end bar job, Irina obsessively takes explicit photographs of the average-looking men she persuades to model for her, scouted from the streets of Newcastle.
But her talent has not gone unnoticed, and Irina is invited to display her work at a fashionable London gallery. It is a chance to revive her career and escape from the rut of drugs, alcohol, and extreme cinema she’s fallen into. Yet the news instead triggers a self-destructive tailspin, centered around Irina’s consuming relationship with her best friend, and a shy young man from her local supermarket who has attracted her attention. . . .
GRADE: A
REVIEW
If Patrick Bateman were a hot girl living in Newcastle upon Tyne, he’d definitely be Irina Sturges. Despite being a narcissistic and deeply flawed individual, Irina is a trainwreck you simply can’t take your eyes off of. You’re compelled to continue reading what degrading things she has her so-called “models” do in the name of art, as she takes photos of them. I loved how every photograph she had saved unlocked new memories and we got to see what she had been up to in those years prior to us, readers, getting to know her. Clark’s writing is razor sharp, and although we can agree that Irina isn’t the best person and her relationships are all terrible (her mother is evil, her best friend is awful, and the men in her life are either simps or losers), you can’t help but feel some bit of empathy in the way that she’s the way she is because both society and her interactions with people have shaped her in this way (I don’t want to delve too much into her past because of *spoilers* ).
The horror isn’t smack dab in your face, but it’s there and it’s vicious when it comes to the surface. But overall, this is a crazy adventure of human depravity, looking for artistic approval, and trying to leave a mark in the world however fucked up that may be. I totally recommend this if you loved books such as American Psycho, Maeve Fly, and Into The Miso Soup.
*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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January was grey as I listened to my favorite song
And some days I still long
For those teenage mornings on the quad
Smoking Camels with the cheer squad
Goodbye, 1999
The planes are falling from the sky
We were ready for a party
Glitter dress and tinsel toes
The cops fucked up and took us home.
And from the backseat I sang,
“Goodbye, 1999….tonight’s gonna be
my final night….tonight’s gonna be….”
Fire and smoke, it was on the news
Didn’t you see those towers burn?
There’s no spark or fuse
Only lessons to be learned.
But I don’t know how to move on
I keep looking backwards – whiplash
It was the summer of hate and the autumn of dawn
Show me again how you monster mash
Goodbye, 1999
The planes are falling from the sky
We were ready for a party
Glitter dress and tinsel toes
The cops fucked up and took us home.
And from the backseat I sang,
“Goodbye, 1999….tonight’s gonna be
my final night, tonight’s gonna be…..”
We’re a generation stuck in the past
Not knowing that our youth isn’t gonna last
They robbed our dreams and killed our souls
And we forgot to rock and roll
Mary had a little lamb,
But now she doesn’t give a damn
Dead and bloody – the lamb is gone
And we’ve forgotten the holy song
Goodbye, 1999
The planes are falling from the sky
We were ready for a party
Glitter dress and tinsel toes
The cops fucked up and took us home.
And from the backseat I sang,
“Goodbye, 1999….tonight’s gonna be
my final night, tonight’s gonna be…..”
I met a boy with a sad smile
I asked him to stay with me for awhile
But his feelings are shook – misunderstood
One day he walked into his Science lab
And fired a gun – a girl fell, holding a hall tab
Nothing’s been the same since Columbine
Little hearts carved on the table, SG forever mine.
We didn’t need a Nixon, we had a Bush
We had endless wars and thousands dead
We’ve spent our youth in Swedish beds
And sleepless nights in H&M
Just so we could push and push
And I’m singing, “Goodbye, 1999.”
The planes are falling from the sky
I was promised a party
Glitter dress and tinsel toes
But the cops fucked up and took me home.
And from the backseat I’m still singing,
“Goodbye 1999….tonight’s gonna be
my final night, tonight’s gonna be the night….
The night I die.”
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Grieving mother Magos cuts out a piece of her deceased eleven-year-old son Santiago’s lung. Acting on fierce maternal instinct and the dubious logic of an old folktale, she nurtures the lung until it gains sentience, growing into the carnivorous little Monstrilio she keeps hidden within the walls of her family’s decaying Mexico City estate. Eventually, Monstrilio begins to resemble the Santiago he once was, but his innate impulses—though curbed by his biological and chosen family’s communal care—threaten to destroy this fragile second chance at life.
GRADE: A
REVIEW:
What’s there not to like about this book? It was a beautiful family drama with hints of Gothic horror almost. When two parents lose their only child at a young age, the mother, Magos, simply can’t grieve the same way her husband does, and decides to go back to Mexico City. Once there, her mother’s housekeeper tells her a tale of how someone was able to get back someone they lost, and Magos takes that to heart. This is when the story truly takes off, and we’ll go on a journey with this family over the years and over various cities such as Mexico City, New York City, and Berlin. I loved that the book was written from the POV of four different characters, and it wasn’t in alternated chapters, no, you spent several years with each character and you go to see how they grew and how they felt. This was a really moving story, and I love how the “monster” in question wasn’t shown to be evil but at the same time, he couldn’t shirk away from his true nature. This is a beautiful tale of unconditional love, grief, loss, and family. I absolutely recommend this to anyone who loves quirky, dark films but with heart, such as Edward Scissorhands.
*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Zando for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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The Inkblotters 