The Bitterest Pill

I thought Bitter Seeds was going to be a far different book than it was. When you tell me a book is about German superheroes fighting English magicians, certain expectations arise. Expectations flavoured by fond memories of the JSA that probably never was, for instance. But when author Ian Tregillis delivers what is essentially a searing horror novel, well, consider me caught flatfooted. Which isn't to say it isn't wonderful, because it is. But fuck! It's like picking up a book that says it's about fuzzy bunnies and their crazy misadventures, only to have them feeding each other into a wood chipper by page three. It's that kind of bitchslap. But then, this year has been like that. I've read the most horrifying books this year, most of them without realizing how bad things would get until I was too far in to throw the book out onto the lawn and go weep uncontrollably in a corner. I'm almost terrified to see what book I get caught flat footed with a drop in AC next.