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findingthefantasticstory's reviews
528 reviews
Cursebound by Saara El-Arifi
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This is the best sequel I have read in while!
This was fast paced, there was action as well as plot movement and that twistObeh being humans! What!! .
Oh an I love that there was a recap if what happened at the beginning. I think every book need one if those. It made getting back into the story much better.
I can't wait for the next book!
This was fast paced, there was action as well as plot movement and that twist
Oh an I love that there was a recap if what happened at the beginning. I think every book need one if those. It made getting back into the story much better.
I can't wait for the next book!
The Crash by Freida McFadden
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This is my second McFadden book and most likely my last. I did not enjoy this at all.
A lot like The Housemaid I guessed a lot of the book.
i also hated how the two female characterswere just assuming everythging about each other. Polly was the worst. I kept eye rolling so hard that i would get headaches!
When the real twist happened i just didnt care to be shocked.
A lot like The Housemaid I guessed a lot of the book.
When the real twist happened i just didnt care to be shocked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I would say the 3rd part was quite boring compared to to part 1 and 2 but I understood it was needed to show how Snow came to be who we know.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
dark
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? It's complicated
4.75
I really enjoyed this. Much more than I thought I would. I was really put off which how big this was but I still managed to read it in 3 days. I've only ever read 2 books by Grady Hendrix and both of them have been so fast paced.
I think part of the reason why I loved this so much is that I really felt for the characters. You know it 'takes two to tango' but it always seems to be the woman who is shamed and has to be sent away. And that fact that this was only in the 1970s shocked me. It all just seemed so prehistoric.
I obviously liked the witchy part (I love almost anything to do with witches) and that it was all about the girls using magic to make people feel how they felt.
I think part of the reason why I loved this so much is that I really felt for the characters. You know it 'takes two to tango' but it always seems to be the woman who is shamed and has to be sent away. And that fact that this was only in the 1970s shocked me. It all just seemed so prehistoric.
I obviously liked the witchy part (I love almost anything to do with witches) and that it was all about the girls using magic to make people feel how they felt.
Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The issure with cosy fantasy/horror is that they can sometime be so slow and boring. Unfortunately I found Someone You Can Build A Nest In to be very slow and boring.
I don't think it helped that I found it hard to picture the main character from the descriptions. I also figured out the twist about halfway through so that spoilt things.
Maybe I just wasn't in the mood to read something cosy after reading mainly fast paced thrillers all month.
I don't think it helped that I found it hard to picture the main character from the descriptions. I also figured out the twist about halfway through so that spoilt things.
Maybe I just wasn't in the mood to read something cosy after reading mainly fast paced thrillers all month.
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really don't get the hype around this book.
I guessed the husband was the abuser very early, in books like this it's always the nice husband who is the bad guy.
I hated the wife from the start and even though its revealed the wife was abused I couldn't forgive her for being an arse to the maid and basically using her as a way to get away.
All the thrill was lost as I basically guessed what would happen. How it happened was interesting though and that's the only thing that saved this.
I guessed the husband was the abuser very early, in books like this it's always the nice husband who is the bad guy.
I hated the wife from the start and even though its revealed the wife was abused I couldn't forgive her for being an arse to the maid and basically using her as a way to get away.
All the thrill was lost as I basically guessed what would happen. How it happened was interesting though and that's the only thing that saved this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Its been almost a qeek since i finished The Only One Left and I'm still struggling to review this.
Even though I did enjoy the plot and characters, I did find it a bit lacking in some areas. Especially with the twist. I guessed part what had happened so it wasn't much of a surprise. The other part I thought there was need for it (I can't really explain as it will spoil the book for future readers).
This has put me off reading the rest of Sager's books. I have previously read Final Girls and Last Time I Lied and loved them. But which book should I read next?
Even though I did enjoy the plot and characters, I did find it a bit lacking in some areas. Especially with the twist. I guessed part what had happened so it wasn't much of a surprise. The other part I thought there was need for it (I can't really explain as it will spoil the book for future readers).
This has put me off reading the rest of Sager's books. I have previously read Final Girls and Last Time I Lied and loved them. But which book should I read next?
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I wasn't sure what to think when I picked this up. From the blurb it made me think of Gone Girl. Even though it does have Gone Girl vibes it really stands on its own.
This is a very atmospheri thriller which pulls you in and just keeps you guessing. I thought I had everything figured out and then throughout the last 100 pages I was like WTF?!??!
Also that ending!!! I was not expecting that.
I can't really say anything more without the spiulingg the plot. I would say this is a good book to go into blind.
This has major Hot Fuzz/Gone Girl vibes so if you're into those films/books then I really recommend this.
This is a very atmospheri thriller which pulls you in and just keeps you guessing. I thought I had everything figured out and then throughout the last 100 pages I was like WTF?!??!
Also that ending!!! I was not expecting that.
I can't really say anything more without the spiulingg the plot. I would say this is a good book to go into blind.
This has major Hot Fuzz/Gone Girl vibes so if you're into those films/books then I really recommend this.
Falling by T.J. Newman
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was another 5* read from Newman. I wasn't expecting this to be as good as Drowning but I was wrong.
I have no idea how she does it but she really makes you care about the characters and want them to survive. She also makes you care about them so quickly.
The book also hooks you straight in and doesn't let you go. To prove this I read Falling in less than 24 hours, that never happens with me!
I just really recommend these books. I understand some people may not like flying but if you dont mind reading about bad situations on planes then I really recommend these.
I have no idea how she does it but she really makes you care about the characters and want them to survive. She also makes you care about them so quickly.
The book also hooks you straight in and doesn't let you go. To prove this I read Falling in less than 24 hours, that never happens with me!
I just really recommend these books. I understand some people may not like flying but if you dont mind reading about bad situations on planes then I really recommend these.
Want: Sexual Fantasies by Anonymous by Gillian Anderson
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I wasn't sure what to expect with Want. This was something I wanted to read as soon as it was announced. I believe it's a once in a generation kind of book and extremely important.
Sex for women is always seen as taboo. Women shouldn't think or talk about sex. But times have, thankfully, changed.
I did enjoy Want but I did find that I started to skip the long letters. I think he later that were more than a page long were just waffling.
I was surprised to find that I was more interested in the key at the end if each letter. Even though the letters were anonymous there was a key with certain information such as nationality, religion, pay, sexuality etc. It was just interesting to see what kind of women were submitting these letters.
Sex for women is always seen as taboo. Women shouldn't think or talk about sex. But times have, thankfully, changed.
I did enjoy Want but I did find that I started to skip the long letters. I think he later that were more than a page long were just waffling.
I was surprised to find that I was more interested in the key at the end if each letter. Even though the letters were anonymous there was a key with certain information such as nationality, religion, pay, sexuality etc. It was just interesting to see what kind of women were submitting these letters.