rkragsdale's reviews
99 reviews

Little Heaven by Nick Cutter

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

i liked this book but i feel like it lacked the full character development I loved so much about the troop and the deep. shuge was a great character but minerva and ebenezer felt kind of cliche or over exaggerated. still loved the plot and the gore though (: 
Needful Things: The Last Castle Rock Story by Stephen King

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

i really enjoyed the concept of this book but I feel like there were some aspects that could have been fleshed out a bit more. it was a new favorite until LITERALLY
the last 15ish pages because the power of love and morality and children's magic saved polly and alan/others ? felt a bit cheap.
love u Mr king but this was as close to a miss as I've had with you. <3 caveat emptor etc. 
Edge by Kōji Suzuki

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

interesting concept and definitely not for everyone, I liked it for what it was but could get long winded and boring at times. the ending was good though (:
Your House Is on Fire, Your Children All Gone by Stefan Kiesbye

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

i feel like this book mirrors society as a whole in a smaller format, ie the birnam wood group and associates. wild ending, didn't expect it at all. 
Maeve Fly by CJ Leede

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

why did the ending make me so sad for maeve ? all she wanted was to fit in and be loved. and shes so sexy for that.
gory, fucked up and almost Shakespearean tragedy depiction of femininity. loved it. 
Letters to the Purple Satin Killer by Joshua Chaplinsky

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challenging dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

The concept of this book is super cool and was done incredibly well. I think for me it's just not my usual style to read. I prefer knowing the nastiness of serial killer crimes in horror novels tbh.
The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

i really liked this book, the concept and writing were stellar, but I think it could have functioned better as a series. the world building is so cool and complicated, and the characters are incredible. i want to know more about it and see how the relationship with the octopuses progresses. i wish there was a sequel.
Pet Sematary by Stephen King

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challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Dracula by Bram Stoker

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.5