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taelyr's reviews
548 reviews
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
I am starting to believe Cassandra Khaw books and their style is just not for me at all. So take with a grain of salt.
This book was a lot of words to say very little. Whole paragraphs to describe little to nothing. Words that felt very much just thrown in to sound good. Excessive to be honest.
Plot points also thrown out of left field, by the end there was a love confession I just did not see coming at all? It was quite confusing and felt like an afterthought.
This book was a lot of words to say very little. Whole paragraphs to describe little to nothing. Words that felt very much just thrown in to sound good. Excessive to be honest.
Plot points also thrown out of left field, by the end there was a love confession I just did not see coming at all? It was quite confusing and felt like an afterthought.
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Wow! A fantastically told folk horror set in puritan America's, steeped in lore and history. I am stunned at how good this was. I was enthralled from the first chapter.
The characters are complicated, flawed, mysterious, and just so relatable. Abitha is a whole vibe and I absolutely adore her. I hate Wallace with a passion. And I fell for old Slewfoot himself. When an author can make you feel so much for so many characters, it's a major accomplishment.
This was such a well rounded and well told story, from start to finish. I loved everything about it. It had rich history, deep lore, questions, answers, more questions, familiarity, and strangeness. Quite literally everything. It was so well written I truly felt like I was watching a widow in 1666.
If you like the movie The VVitch, you will love this book. If you like folk tales, legends, witchyness, and demons and devils; you will love this book.
The characters are complicated, flawed, mysterious, and just so relatable. Abitha is a whole vibe and I absolutely adore her. I hate Wallace with a passion. And I fell for old Slewfoot himself. When an author can make you feel so much for so many characters, it's a major accomplishment.
This was such a well rounded and well told story, from start to finish. I loved everything about it. It had rich history, deep lore, questions, answers, more questions, familiarity, and strangeness. Quite literally everything. It was so well written I truly felt like I was watching a widow in 1666.
If you like the movie The VVitch, you will love this book. If you like folk tales, legends, witchyness, and demons and devils; you will love this book.
Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Finally a Novella I actually loved! I feel like Novellas struggle in the story development and character development department, but this one did not at all.
The characters were all flawed with issues and it made them all interesting and relatable. I felt like they were actually real people that would all meet in a graveyard to have their nightly smoke. The plot was wild enough but easily believed with only 100 pages of plot and explanation.
The end!! I love how everyone wrapped up except Edie. I also loved the little cliffhanger with Hannah. I would have loved it longer, but it was really good as short as it is.
The characters were all flawed with issues and it made them all interesting and relatable. I felt like they were actually real people that would all meet in a graveyard to have their nightly smoke. The plot was wild enough but easily believed with only 100 pages of plot and explanation.
The end!! I love how everyone wrapped up except Edie. I also loved the little cliffhanger with Hannah. I would have loved it longer, but it was really good as short as it is.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Alcoholism
The God of High School Volume 3 by Yongje Park
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Another great volume of God of High School! This volume has some of the best scenes with the trio, including them fighting in the tournament! Lots of story development in this one. My only gripe is I wasn't a big fan of when this one picked up, I felt like I had to refresh but the ending left me on such a little cliffhanger. Great read!
The September House by Carissa Orlando
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.
I had a hard time with continuing this book. I do like touches of humor in my story, especially a funny character who loves their sarcasm. But this book just doesn't take itself seriously at all. The MC doesn't take anything seriously either, and with some of the happenings in this book it was just too much for me to handle.
Cult of the Lamb by Alex Paknadel, Troy Little
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
If you have played the game, you will love seeing the story come to life. Lamb has so much more personality in this story, as do many of the other characters. The writing is absolutely top notch, I feel like I'm reading fabled lore passed down by generations of storytellers. It's a vibe. The art is gorgeous, just as gorgeous as the game which is hard to do. Overall if you have played this game it's a MUST read, and if you read it you will be dying to play the game.
Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for the ARC
Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for the ARC
The Keeper of the Key by Nicole Willson
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I enjoyed this way more then I thought I would. Usually, anytime I see pop culture references it's an immediate DNF, but I decided to stick it out and boy am I glad I did.
This was a fast paced ya gothic horror that I finished in a single sitting. The pacing if phenomenal, there wasn't a single dull or wasted moment. Though predictable, it still gave me a few twists I didn't expect. The setting was creepy and the strange happenings were described perfectly. I enjoyed every moment!
I enjoyed this way more then I thought I would. Usually, anytime I see pop culture references it's an immediate DNF, but I decided to stick it out and boy am I glad I did.
This was a fast paced ya gothic horror that I finished in a single sitting. The pacing if phenomenal, there wasn't a single dull or wasted moment. Though predictable, it still gave me a few twists I didn't expect. The setting was creepy and the strange happenings were described perfectly. I enjoyed every moment!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death
Spoil Me Plzzz, Hinamori-San! 1 by Tsuke
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A girl has a crush on her senpai who is top of the class and loved by everyone. But when she sees her true self, she realizes her crush is more of a mess then she thought. A school girl romance with a top academic student desperate for praise and attention, and the fellow student who she's set her sights on. Honestly this is about what you would expect. Fun and funny chapters, though I do wish there was a little more story. It very much felt like one shots.
She followed the moon back to herself by Amanda Lovelace
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
4.25
I have been following Amanda Lovelace since they posted The Princess Saves Herself in This One, on Tumblr. I downloaded it on Kindle and was moved to tears. This collection feels like a culmination of all the growth this poet has gone through. You feel the growth, the change, the metamorphosis, and the hope. This is a great read, especially for her fans and lovers of her work.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Crave by María Llovet
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Crave is an app that can help you satisfy any craving you desire... anything. I really enjoyed this graphic novel and its art style. The premise is so interesting and I love the idea that an app can help satisfy your desires. People use it to hook up, fall in love, and even hurt others. This is an erotic graphic novel that shows just how far people will go and how out of control something like this can get. It was a super fun, sexy, and jarring. Highly recommend!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse and Suicidal thoughts