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shereadytoread's reviews
674 reviews
Dead Girls Walking by Sami Ellis
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
If you want a slasher story, it definitely gives you those pieces and they are strong throughout. One of the biggest issues was the story not deciding if it wanted to be a slasher or something else until it was too late imo. I wanted to love this book more than I did. It is a strong debut, but could have used some polishing for me. I think this would be a divisive read. I think if it lands for you, you will LOVE it. Our main character is not a likeable girl at all. Understandably so when your dad is a serial killer and it has ruined your life. This book follows an entirely queer, black cast as they navigate a horror fun weekend gone terrible wrong. The individual girls have their own issues with one another on top of the main plot of Temple trying to figure out the mystery of her mother's death at her father's hands.
Pros:
- very strong slasher elements
- the gore and imagery is great
- Strong character depth
- Lots of queer rep
- excellent slasher body count
Cons:
- overcomplicates itself with multiple reveals
- the supernatural elements felt a little far off
- the cast was too big (great for a body count but hard to keep track of)
- some very convenient additions
Disclaimer: I received a gifted ARC of this book from the publisher. A review was not required and all thoughts are my own.
Pros:
- very strong slasher elements
- the gore and imagery is great
- Strong character depth
- Lots of queer rep
- excellent slasher body count
Cons:
- overcomplicates itself with multiple reveals
- the supernatural elements felt a little far off
- the cast was too big (great for a body count but hard to keep track of)
- some very convenient additions
Disclaimer: I received a gifted ARC of this book from the publisher. A review was not required and all thoughts are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping and Death of parent
King's Proposition by Iesha Bree
4.0
I really enjoyed this entry, but not as much as the first one. Sarai is a great character and the relationship (and spice) between her and Khyri was great. While I did enjoy each character's separate story, I did think the complex backstory that Khyri was given was brushed over to wrap everything up.
I am excited for the next book in the series!
I am excited for the next book in the series!
Witches, Witch-Hunting, and Women by Silvia Federici
informative
4.0
This was a good, short, informative read. My main issue with the book lies in its attempt to organize into separate essays but there was a lot of overlap which caused some repetition as well as some entries providing context for another.
I did like that it included a lot of information regarding witch hunts in Africa and South Asia which are often neglected in both historical documents and media, with more focus on European and North American history of witch hunting.
The bibliography is very impressive and I think this is an excellent place to start and seek out longer works or additional information sources.
I did like that it included a lot of information regarding witch hunts in Africa and South Asia which are often neglected in both historical documents and media, with more focus on European and North American history of witch hunting.
The bibliography is very impressive and I think this is an excellent place to start and seek out longer works or additional information sources.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, and War
Moderate: Sexual violence
The Boyfriend Goal by Lauren Blakely
4.5
I really enjoyed this read. The chemistry between the two main characters was great and they both had fully rounded individual POVs. I really liked the discussion of the importance of libraries, their multiple uses, and difficulties and barriers that librarians face. The male MC also has dyslexia and that is discussed respectfully throughout the book. The book also included a lot of learning resources at the end of the book.
I enjoyed the family involvement on both ends and as a hockey fan, that piece was well done too. Overall a great read.
Disclaimer: I received a free eARC of this book. No review was required and all thoughts are my own.
I enjoyed the family involvement on both ends and as a hockey fan, that piece was well done too. Overall a great read.
Disclaimer: I received a free eARC of this book. No review was required and all thoughts are my own.
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is going to be one of my favorite horrors of the year, and probably my favorite general books of the year. The main character's spiraling obsession is so well done! It has a lot of commentary about fetishization of asian women and how that can show up in romantic relationships. It also looks a lot of the grief associated with family separation/divorce, and the relationships within a fractured family. I cannot wait to see what the author has next.
It does have a bit of gore as the actual deaths start, but it is not overly gory and would be a great intro to horror or a great pick for those who already love horror. It is a psychological horror that is really well grounded in reality and the character's fracturing mind and increasing erratic decisions are really engaging.
It does have a bit of gore as the actual deaths start, but it is not overly gory and would be a great intro to horror or a great pick for those who already love horror. It is a psychological horror that is really well grounded in reality and the character's fracturing mind and increasing erratic decisions are really engaging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
These Toxic Things by Rachel Howzell Hall
mysterious
medium-paced
2.75
I enjoyed this book overall. I thought the main character's journey through the multiple plot lines was well done. I think some pieces were a bit overcomplicated to give another "twist" but didn't really have the same impact. I did like the reveals of the story through the objects. The intertwining of the different plot lines made some parts of the book a little confusing, but I still found the overall mystery interesting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Cursebreakers by Madeleine Nakamura
adventurous
medium-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
4.0
This was a really unique fantasy. It follows a disgraced ex-physician and magic professor, Adrien, as he is pulled into a magical conspiracy unfolding during a time where two powerful factions are vying for power in the city.
The mental health rep in this book was very well done. It was couched within the magic but a clear representation of bipolar disorder. Adrien is queer along with a couple side characters, although the book is not a romance. I enjoyed the unfolding of the conspiracy and the power struggles both on the large scale and within the main character's personal interactions.
I loved that it was on the shorter side and still delivers a great fantasy story with adequate world-building. If you enjoy fantasy but you don't want to commit to a typical 500+ pages, this would be an excellent pick for you. I loved that I had a complete understanding of the world and the different factions without a ton of filler.
Disclaimer: I received a gifted copy from the publisher. No review was required and honest review is my own.
The mental health rep in this book was very well done. It was couched within the magic but a clear representation of bipolar disorder. Adrien is queer along with a couple side characters, although the book is not a romance. I enjoyed the unfolding of the conspiracy and the power struggles both on the large scale and within the main character's personal interactions.
I loved that it was on the shorter side and still delivers a great fantasy story with adequate world-building. If you enjoy fantasy but you don't want to commit to a typical 500+ pages, this would be an excellent pick for you. I loved that I had a complete understanding of the world and the different factions without a ton of filler.
Disclaimer: I received a gifted copy from the publisher. No review was required and honest review is my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Medical content
Linghun by Ai Jiang
4.5
It is a literary horror that focuses on the haunting of grief and what people will give up to try to hold on to a piece of their loved one. The story examines multiple people in multiple stages of grief. It is a rather bleak but striking tale.
The story is told from three POVs: our MC Wenqi; another child of grieving parents forced here by his parents, Liam; and another neighbor dealing with her grief alone.
Our main character has been forced to move by her parents as they are chasing the memory of their older deceased son. We get to see the complicated family dynamics that arise due to her parents neglect interfering with her being able to grieve herself. We see a lot of iterations of grief and loss, followed with many horrors of what being frozen in grief can cause.
The story is told from three POVs: our MC Wenqi; another child of grieving parents forced here by his parents, Liam; and another neighbor dealing with her grief alone.
Our main character has been forced to move by her parents as they are chasing the memory of their older deceased son. We get to see the complicated family dynamics that arise due to her parents neglect interfering with her being able to grieve herself. We see a lot of iterations of grief and loss, followed with many horrors of what being frozen in grief can cause.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death and Violence
Witches, Midwives, & Nurses (Second Edition) by Deirdre English, Barbara Ehrenreich
informative
4.0
Overall, I really enjoyed this booklet. The updated introduction addresses some of the information that was not available at the time of writing and corrects some previously misstated info as a result. It is quick but covers a good spread of history from early witch hunts to more modern medical schools.