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findingthefantasticstory's reviews
528 reviews
The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Festive Nights by Catriona Ward, Natasha Pulley, Laura Purcell, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Bridget Collins, Jess Kidd, Andrew Michael Hurley, Stuart Turton, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Elizabeth Macneal, Susan Stokes-Chapman, Laura Shepherd-Robinson
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I quite enjoyed this collection of short stories. It was interesting to read different stories based on the spooky side of the Christmas period. I've never heard of this tradition before.
A lot of the stories were very dark and some of them did spook me a bit when I was walking home in the dark.
This is a nice little read if you want to read something that has Christmas undertones but still has that spooky Halloween feel.
A lot of the stories were very dark and some of them did spook me a bit when I was walking home in the dark.
This is a nice little read if you want to read something that has Christmas undertones but still has that spooky Halloween feel.
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.75
The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
I was really looking forward to this. Mische was my favourite character from The Nightborn Duet so I was so happy when I found out she was getting her own spin off.
What really drew me into this was seeing Mische's background as a priestess of the light and seeing how that contrasted with vampires, being of the darkness. I found it so interesting.
I also found the hells very interesting
It seemed to be based on the Seven layers of hell but given a unquiet twist. I loved it so much.
Also the ending!!! I really want to see what happens next with both characters. I'm guessing will be getting two POVs.
What really drew me into this was seeing Mische's background as a priestess of the light and seeing how that contrasted with vampires, being of the darkness. I found it so interesting.
I also found the hells very interesting
It seemed to be based on the Seven layers of hell but given a unquiet twist. I loved it so much.
Also the ending!!! I really want to see what happens next with both characters. I'm guessing will be getting two POVs.
A History of Britain in Ten Enemies by Terry Deary
challenging
funny
slow-paced
3.0
I went into this expecting an adult version of Horrible Histories but I didn't get that.
Yes there was a bit of Deary's humor but I expected it to show up more than it did.
Yes there was a bit of Deary's humor but I expected it to show up more than it did.
Odyssey by Stephen Fry
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I did not like this. I thought Odyssey was about Odysseus and his journey but he only really got into that part halfway through the book.
The first half was about all the other people involved in the war, who I didn't really care about.
The first half was about all the other people involved in the war, who I didn't really care about.
Unbirthday by Liz Braswell
adventurous
challenging
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
I usually love the Twisted Tales series. Unbirthday did not live up to the rest of the series.
I think the main issue is that Alice returning to Wonderland as an adult has been overdone. It's boring now. And this was no different to any other Alice sequel.
But I did enjoy the bits in the real world. I liked seeing the Wonderland doubles. It was also very interesting to see this book mirror what is going on in real life and issues with immigration. It was something I didn't expect to see in a Twisted Tales book.
I think the main issue is that Alice returning to Wonderland as an adult has been overdone. It's boring now. And this was no different to any other Alice sequel.
But I did enjoy the bits in the real world. I liked seeing the Wonderland doubles. It was also very interesting to see this book mirror what is going on in real life and issues with immigration. It was something I didn't expect to see in a Twisted Tales book.
Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
This really lived up to What The River Knows, I was really worried it wouldn't. My only drawback is that I found one of the twists to be really obvious.
What A Way To Go by Bella Mackie
funny
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
I really enjoyed this. It's one of those books where youvhate the characters but you keep reading as you want to see their downfall.
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
I love Ancient Egypt and have wanted to read something related to this for a while. I just don't know why there aren' many stories based on Egyptian Mythology.
I didn't know much going into this and I think that was for the best. Hence why I won't say much about the plot in this review.
I loved the characters and the mystery, even though it was a bit predictable near the end. Some bits had me teary as I really came to care for the characters.
I'm so glad the sequel is released soon, I actually this it might be today. I'll be picking it up as soon as I can!
Finally, I'm so glad I managed to get the Fairyloot edition of this book in their Fairy Trove sale. It's so pretty.
I didn't know much going into this and I think that was for the best. Hence why I won't say much about the plot in this review.
I loved the characters and the mystery, even though it was a bit predictable near the end. Some bits had me teary as I really came to care for the characters.
I'm so glad the sequel is released soon, I actually this it might be today. I'll be picking it up as soon as I can!
Finally, I'm so glad I managed to get the Fairyloot edition of this book in their Fairy Trove sale. It's so pretty.
The Axeman's Jazz by Ray Celestin
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.5
I wasn't too keen on this. It had so much promise but I feel like the author tried to fit too much into the plot.
My main issue is that I felt like there were too my POVs and they were all going different directions. I just got so confused. It took me until half way to remember who was who and what they were doing.
When I got over the confusion he book did get interesting. But the characters never came together as I expected them to and I really did not like the ending. I doubt I will read the other books in the series.
My main issue is that I felt like there were too my POVs and they were all going different directions. I just got so confused. It took me until half way to remember who was who and what they were doing.
When I got over the confusion he book did get interesting. But the characters never came together as I expected them to and I really did not like the ending. I doubt I will read the other books in the series.