Scan barcode
eri_cat93's reviews
260 reviews
The Pale House Devil by Richard Kadrey
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-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? No
3.75
Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Angels & demons & lesbians - oh my!
3.5 stars for this lovely little fantasy-paranormal-noir-sapphic short story.
Paced and written well, this is the story of Edith (an exiled warlock turned supernatural PI) and her last case before the devil cashes in on their deal for her soul. She’s given a chance to win back her soul and stay with her very serious but semi secret (because it’s the 1940s) girlfriend. The story is engaging & you get just the right amount of world building, plus the choice to acknowledge the real life challenges of lgbtq+ communities in this time period was well done. but many of the characters weren’t fleshed out enough & I think the resolution to every problem came a bit too easily.
3.5 stars for this lovely little fantasy-paranormal-noir-sapphic short story.
Paced and written well, this is the story of Edith (an exiled warlock turned supernatural PI) and her last case before the devil cashes in on their deal for her soul. She’s given a chance to win back her soul and stay with her very serious but semi secret (because it’s the 1940s) girlfriend. The story is engaging & you get just the right amount of world building, plus the choice to acknowledge the real life challenges of lgbtq+ communities in this time period was well done. but many of the characters weren’t fleshed out enough & I think the resolution to every problem came a bit too easily.
Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A spooky read for spooky season!
Sleep tight is the story of Tess, a cop (& daughter of a cop) whose past catches up to her when her daughter is kidnapped and all signs point to it being related to a serial killer case her father solved decades ago.
A true crime drama with a sprinkling of paranormal flair, this one kept me turning pages but also left a lot of unresolved questions by the end. The twists are surprising and twisty, the element of learning the past through Tess uncovering repressed memories was exciting. I do think we had too many named characters & one or two of the sub/auxiliary plots could have been left off.
Overall I super enjoyed this & recommend to horror & thriller lovers!
Sleep tight is the story of Tess, a cop (& daughter of a cop) whose past catches up to her when her daughter is kidnapped and all signs point to it being related to a serial killer case her father solved decades ago.
A true crime drama with a sprinkling of paranormal flair, this one kept me turning pages but also left a lot of unresolved questions by the end. The twists are surprising and twisty, the element of learning the past through Tess uncovering repressed memories was exciting. I do think we had too many named characters & one or two of the sub/auxiliary plots could have been left off.
Overall I super enjoyed this & recommend to horror & thriller lovers!
Godshot by Chelsea Bieker
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
An emotional, disturbing, & tense read, Godshot is 14yo Lacey May’s story as she lives through a drought in Peaches, CA. When her mother gets banned from their special church & leaves her behind, Lacey’s life begins to unravel and the rose colored glasses come off.
From cult life to assault to mother/daughter relations to sex work, I can only call this book a depressing, yet fascinating read.
From cult life to assault to mother/daughter relations to sex work, I can only call this book a depressing, yet fascinating read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, and Abandonment
Minor: Rape
The Great Partition: The Making of India and Pakistan by Yasmin Cordery Khan
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
An interesting, informative, and heartbreaking read. It does read a little wordy and a lot of sections are probably longer than they need they be, but ultimately I feel so much more informed about this major event after having read this one.
The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
2.5
This was an OK read with characters I didn’t overly care about out and a story that never quite grabbed me fully. A man deals with the sudden death of his wife Maya (his 3rd wife actually) and through looking into her death, comes to terms with how his choices have effected his children and first two wives.
Basically, the main character is not likable, but he’s not entirely unlikable either. The wives are fine, the kids are fine, but there wasn’t a character I fell in love with. The story is interesting until it’s not, ultimately very much a book that was good to read but would have been fine left on the shelf too.
Basically, the main character is not likable, but he’s not entirely unlikable either. The wives are fine, the kids are fine, but there wasn’t a character I fell in love with. The story is interesting until it’s not, ultimately very much a book that was good to read but would have been fine left on the shelf too.
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Who knew I could love Kelly Bishop more?
This memoir is snappy, honest, deeply interesting, and overall a joy to read. Kelly is so much more than the “third Gilmore Girl” (even though she will always be Emily in my heart) and learning about her career and life was great. Certainly adding her to my list of role models after this read.
This memoir is snappy, honest, deeply interesting, and overall a joy to read. Kelly is so much more than the “third Gilmore Girl” (even though she will always be Emily in my heart) and learning about her career and life was great. Certainly adding her to my list of role models after this read.
Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.75
Just Like Home is a gripping, eerie book that kept me wondering what the hell was happening straight through the end.
After a traumatic childhood (putting it mildly) that left her estranged from her mother, now adult Vera is summoned home to get the house in order during her mother's final days. The story starts off slow and creepy, revealing bits and pieces of Vera's dark childhood and happenings she still doesn't quite understand as an adult. Between confronting her memories of this home and dealing with the artist her mother allowed in to "gain inspiration" from the terrors of this house, girl has a lot going on. She has to confront the house, her unloving mother, and the fact that she might be more like her long gone, loving father than she'd like to admit.
The back half of this book is scary and unexpected and gross and messed up all in the best ways. I will admit though, I'm torn between the ending being surprising & sufficiently creepy, or just a little cheesy with some spooky sprinkled on top.
After a traumatic childhood (putting it mildly) that left her estranged from her mother, now adult Vera is summoned home to get the house in order during her mother's final days. The story starts off slow and creepy, revealing bits and pieces of Vera's dark childhood and happenings she still doesn't quite understand as an adult. Between confronting her memories of this home and dealing with the artist her mother allowed in to "gain inspiration" from the terrors of this house, girl has a lot going on. She has to confront the house, her unloving mother, and the fact that she might be more like her long gone, loving father than she'd like to admit.
The back half of this book is scary and unexpected and gross and messed up all in the best ways. I will admit though, I'm torn between the ending being surprising & sufficiently creepy, or just a little cheesy with some spooky sprinkled on top.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse
Marked by Kristin Cast, P.C. Cast
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Alright, well I read this one because I remembered reading it in high school & being OBSESSED but couldn’t actually remember much about it - and turns out that I get why high school Erica was into it, but now it leaves a lot to be desired even for a YA book.
Zoey is suddenly marked as a future vampire so it’s off to vampire school for her! Of course in typical YA style, she’s *special* and somehow this book manages to be the diary of a *not like other girls* girl, incredibly sexist & homophobic, and just plain dull. The book reads like the intro 5 chapters of a book except it takes 300 pages and then it ends without any real plot.
Zoey is suddenly marked as a future vampire so it’s off to vampire school for her! Of course in typical YA style, she’s *special* and somehow this book manages to be the diary of a *not like other girls* girl, incredibly sexist & homophobic, and just plain dull. The book reads like the intro 5 chapters of a book except it takes 300 pages and then it ends without any real plot.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and Sexism
Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5ish. This book is exactly what you think a mystery/thriller/who-dun-it will be.
Cleo is a young college student who has made questionable life choices in the name of rebelling against her cares-too-much-and-cant-express-affection-well mother, Kat. When Kat goes missing, Cleo infuriatingly ignores everything the police are telling her and decides to investigate on her own.
As she tries to track her down, Cleo learns there is more to her mother than meets the eye.
The story is fast paced and exciting, but a bit cluttered at times and the ending was very lackluster and a bit of a BOOM, here's the plot twist ok now everything is resolved, ok The End.
Cleo is a young college student who has made questionable life choices in the name of rebelling against her cares-too-much-and-cant-express-affection-well mother, Kat. When Kat goes missing, Cleo infuriatingly ignores everything the police are telling her and decides to investigate on her own.
As she tries to track her down, Cleo learns there is more to her mother than meets the eye.
The story is fast paced and exciting, but a bit cluttered at times and the ending was very lackluster and a bit of a BOOM, here's the plot twist ok now everything is resolved, ok The End.