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voxvenati's reviews
172 reviews
Beneath by Kristi DeMeester
My next biggest gripes stem from two things, vaguely spoilers so hidden as such.”The Great Worm” is objectively such a funny title that I was taken directly out of it. Not scared at all of the worm 🪱 man. Second issue was with the fact that uhh…the book just ended. I legitimately feel like nothing happened. Not a single thing promised by the book summary was delivered upon.
TLDR; the summary felt misleading, it doesn’t really go anywhere, but the writing was sort of interesting and the priest was hot and pathetic, so it does get some points for trying.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Interesting premise, but ultimately fell flat.
I loved the summary. I loved the fucked up priest. I liked Cora enough. And it was an interesting experience reading it.
My main issue with the book is that the characters have no impact on the plot. Everything happens to them. I don’t think a single thing they did mattered. I felt like every other chapter was just a game of “let’s try doing the exact same thing again”.
To summarize my feelings with a quote from the book:
I loved the summary. I loved the fucked up priest. I liked Cora enough. And it was an interesting experience reading it.
My main issue with the book is that the characters have no impact on the plot. Everything happens to them. I don’t think a single thing they did mattered. I felt like every other chapter was just a game of “let’s try doing the exact same thing again”.
To summarize my feelings with a quote from the book:
They’d spent the night waiting and waiting and nothing had happened.
My next biggest gripes stem from two things, vaguely spoilers so hidden as such.
TLDR; the summary felt misleading, it doesn’t really go anywhere, but the writing was sort of interesting and the priest was hot and pathetic, so it does get some points for trying.
Pines by Blake Crouch
tense
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? Yes
1.5
This book was not great.
The audiobook narrator did not help things, I was bored, and the “reveal” wasn’t something that wowed me.
The main character, Ethan, was awful, the “smart” characters act so stupid, and nothing happens in the whole book.How the fuck did they not think to set up a fertility clinic and save eggs/sperm?? Why did they not save eggs/sperm from all their test subjects before introducing them to Wayward Pines??? Yet they froze cow embryos???? It makes zero sense. If this guy was so smart, why didn’t he think about this.
I don’t know that I even care enough to finish the trilogy. Maybe via Libby.
The audiobook narrator did not help things, I was bored, and the “reveal” wasn’t something that wowed me.
The main character, Ethan, was awful, the “smart” characters act so stupid, and nothing happens in the whole book.
I don’t know that I even care enough to finish the trilogy. Maybe via Libby.
Lone Women by Victor LaValle
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.75
Just very good overall.
Every character felt rounded, the prose was so easy to read, each character POV was clear and distinct, and the plot was a good driver for the pacing.
It was very close to a five star, but I only wish there had been a little more world building.The fact that there were two things like Elizabeth born leaves me with many questions. Also…I’m still unclear as to whether ghosts and hauntings/haunted towns are real? Though that’s fine to leave as ambiguous, it was just a shocker when they met “real” ghosts all of one time and we never really saw anything like that in the rest of the book.
Was it scary? Not exactly. The terror comes fromthe people as monsters, rather than monsters as monsters much like Guillermo del Toro’s body of work. I did enjoy that.
Very pleased with this book. My favorite book I’ve read so far by LaValle.
Every character felt rounded, the prose was so easy to read, each character POV was clear and distinct, and the plot was a good driver for the pacing.
It was very close to a five star, but I only wish there had been a little more world building.
Was it scary? Not exactly. The terror comes from
Very pleased with this book. My favorite book I’ve read so far by LaValle.
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The writing really made this book. Usually, I need strong plot to pull me through, but the character work, tension, and prose really captivated me.
It is so close to a five star, but didn’t deliver on a few things I really would have appreciated.I know it wasn’t really about the creature, or the Center, or the literal cause of the transformation, but I would have been sated by even one more crumb of answers here at the end.
I do think this is a good fit for anyone interested by the synopsis. You’ll get exactly what you signed up for.
It is so close to a five star, but didn’t deliver on a few things I really would have appreciated.
I do think this is a good fit for anyone interested by the synopsis. You’ll get exactly what you signed up for.
Everyone on the Moon is Essential Personnel by Julian K. Jarboe
I’m glad to have read it for the few 4 star stories.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Some of the stories were as low as a 1, others a high 4. It was varied.
Gender, transness, and queerness are at the center of every story. Some are quite literal. Others are beautiful and strange. I was definitely expecting more of a consistent scifi tone, but it fits more directly into pure “speculative”. Though some stories are loosely scifi.
Top three were:
Gender, transness, and queerness are at the center of every story. Some are quite literal. Others are beautiful and strange. I was definitely expecting more of a consistent scifi tone, but it fits more directly into pure “speculative”. Though some stories are loosely scifi.
Top three were:
- AS TENDER FEET OF CRETAN GIRLS DANCED ONCE AROUND AN ALTAR OF LOVE
- WE DID NOT KNOW WE WERE GIANTS
- ESTRANGED CHILDREN OF STORYBOOK HOUSES
I’m glad to have read it for the few 4 star stories.
The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
21% and 4 chapters in, nothing interesting is happening yet and the world building feels silly.
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
3.25
This was a good read, but didn’t scratch the exact itch I was hoping it would.
Tingle’s writing is funny and clear, the prose not overly flowery but still beautiful at times. The main character, Rose, is well rounded and likable. I also enjoyed the message of the story. It hits a lot of things deconstructing religious folks will recognize.
I was just hoping for more spooky time at the camp; it ended up not getting that much screen time for the book being named after it. I wanted more Camp Damascus!
Also, I was a little underwhelmed by the scariness. The early chapters were probably the best in terms of horror, but as things were revealed, it really did not deliver on the scary factor.
Last, I do wish we had gotten more with the secondary characters, and even a little bit more in the conclusion of the book.
I did not feel like I knew Willow by the end. I honestly felt like I knew Martina better in the few chapters we got with her. I barely knew Saul, even though we got quite a few chapters with him.
I also feel like things weren’t resolved with Rose’s parents. Not in a reconciliatory way, but in a conclusive way. The place we left her mother felt especially rushed since we never came back to her.
If you enjoy the themes listed in the summary, and you’re looking for a quick read, this is absolutely worth your time.
Tingle’s writing is funny and clear, the prose not overly flowery but still beautiful at times. The main character, Rose, is well rounded and likable. I also enjoyed the message of the story. It hits a lot of things deconstructing religious folks will recognize.
I was just hoping for more spooky time at the camp; it ended up not getting that much screen time for the book being named after it. I wanted more Camp Damascus!
Also, I was a little underwhelmed by the scariness. The early chapters were probably the best in terms of horror, but as things were revealed, it really did not deliver on the scary factor.
Last, I do wish we had gotten more with the secondary characters, and even a little bit more in the conclusion of the book.
I also feel like things weren’t resolved with Rose’s parents. Not in a reconciliatory way, but in a conclusive way. The place we left her mother felt especially rushed since we never came back to her.
If you enjoy the themes listed in the summary, and you’re looking for a quick read, this is absolutely worth your time.
How to Fix a Flubbed Summon by L.N. Clarke
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was a delightful, cozy read from start to finish.
Though things do escalate, the stakes feel low in a good way - hence, the cozy - throughout. In that way, along with the misfit found family vibes, it did remind me of Legends & Lattes.
Growina was a cutie, and I loved many of the other characters: Theo, Florian, Eddie. I only wish Growina and Florian had met up earlier in their quests. I would have liked to see their dynamic.
The first part of the book and the last ~40 pages, I devoured; I really loved the setup and the ending. However, I did find the pacing in the middle to be a bit rough, and some parts felt very “A happens, then B happens” with little foreshadowing of things to come down the line.
One of the quotes I thought was amusing:
"That isn't your real name, then?"
"Nope. We had to protect our families. You didn't think Slugbeard was a real name, did you? Slug beard?"
"I... I think it's fairly common to have a name that ends in beard," said Florian Honeybeard.
If you love a cozy fantasy, enjoy the wandering nature of a D&D campaign, and don’t mind light world building, I would definitely recommend this book.
All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Though things do escalate, the stakes feel low in a good way - hence, the cozy - throughout. In that way, along with the misfit found family vibes, it did remind me of Legends & Lattes.
Growina was a cutie, and I loved many of the other characters: Theo, Florian, Eddie. I only wish Growina and Florian had met up earlier in their quests. I would have liked to see their dynamic.
The first part of the book and the last ~40 pages, I devoured; I really loved the setup and the ending. However, I did find the pacing in the middle to be a bit rough, and some parts felt very “A happens, then B happens” with little foreshadowing of things to come down the line.
One of the quotes I thought was amusing:
"Nope. We had to protect our families. You didn't think Slugbeard was a real name, did you? Slug beard?"
"I... I think it's fairly common to have a name that ends in beard," said Florian Honeybeard.
If you love a cozy fantasy, enjoy the wandering nature of a D&D campaign, and don’t mind light world building, I would definitely recommend this book.
All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Narrative Design for Indies: Getting Started by Edwin McRae
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.25
Enjoyable and entertaining, this book gave me a better idea of things to add to a narrative portfolio. Some things were a little off base - I didn’t agree with every point made - but it was generally pretty well rounded. I will be referring back to it every now and then.
Ascension by Nicholas Binge
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I couldn’t get this book out of my head for the duration of my read through.
I really loved the epistolary format - it being primarily letters - and how naturally it jumped from past to present and so on. Sometimes, flashbacks in books can be jarring or just disruptive, but I didn’t find that to be the case here.
There were a couple things I didn’t like for one reason or another.
I thought the tentacle alien precursors were more silly than scary. I also do not think I liked the explanation for the mountain/the pull, with Neil being a “god”, etc. Yes, there were answers, but they weren’t all that satisfying.
For this book, it was a rare exception where my reading experience was better than I think the payoff/plot was. So, still giving it a pretty high rating, but with that major caveat.
I really loved the epistolary format - it being primarily letters - and how naturally it jumped from past to present and so on. Sometimes, flashbacks in books can be jarring or just disruptive, but I didn’t find that to be the case here.
There were a couple things I didn’t like for one reason or another.
For this book, it was a rare exception where my reading experience was better than I think the payoff/plot was. So, still giving it a pretty high rating, but with that major caveat.