lochnessvhs's reviews
844 reviews

Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.

I would rather step on a nail than continue to read this.

The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story by Pagan Kennedy

emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

Dream On, Romona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I did enjoy the story, and I ALWAYS love Ashley's writing, but I never was able to get over the fact that I did not like Dylan and I do not think she's a very good person. I do not think she redeems herself at the end and I believe she would need YEARS of therapy in order to be a good partner to Ramona. But who am I to say?

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Abandonment

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

3.75

Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Forced institutionalization

The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports by Michael Waters

informative inspiring reflective sad

3.25

The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent

Minor: Murder

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

This felt repetitive and dull to me. While I can see people chalking the writing style up to the translation from Japanese, I think it's actually just poorly written. I definitely will not be continuing the series.

Firestarter by Stephen King

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

While the second half really made up for the incredibly slow first half, there still wasn't enough here to get me connected to this story at all. Combine that with this being King's first official publishing of his extreme hatred of fat people (an MC literally decides for a time that his best use of his psychic abilities is to help "disgusting" fat women lose weight) and it adds up to this being one of my least favorite of King's books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence

Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson

tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Almost frustratingly predictable at every turn, but a very quick read.

All the pets live!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder