Scan barcode
claire_reardon's reviews
122 reviews
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
2.0
Very very stupid book. Very very happy I won this in a giveaway and didn’t spend my money on it. The foundation is there for a good book but I just don’t think the execution was done well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Kidnapping, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fun YA dystopian vibes, made me feel like I was in middle school reading The Hunger Games.
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
3.75
I need to process the ending of this book for the next 4 business days.
I also need to know wtf happened to Broccoli the kitten.
I also need to know wtf happened to Broccoli the kitten.
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
funny
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? Yes
4.0
I came for the cozy vibes and once again this magical world delivered. Would die for Satchel any day. 10/10 epilogue. Already counting down the days to the next book.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Funny Story by Emily Henry
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If Emily Henry has no fans, I’m dead. I will read everything this woman writes for the rest of my life.
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.5
What a book to start the year with. 😭 I already loved it after reading the last chapter, but the author’s note and acknowledgements made my appreciation even stronger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
3.0
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Meh, not my favorite Riley Sager. If you already read Verity, you can skip this one.