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goblingirlreads's reviews
818 reviews
Sandcastle by Pierre Oscar Lévy, Frederik Peeters
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The graphic novel that inspired the movie Old and much like I expected (and was told) Shyamalan has missed the point (despite much of the story beats from the movie being taken directly from the book) The heart of the book is very different and much more beautiful because it's not about figuring out the beach and more about how the characters face aging and death.
Read at Your Own Risk by Remy Lai
dark
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
4.5
THIS is like Diary of a Wimpy Kid but for spooky kids who want to read about curses and untimely ends. The story, about some kids who sneak into a haunted attic during a school assembly to play "Spirit of the Coin", and the artwork are legitimately creepy as hell. I enjoyed it immensely as an adult and I think if any of you have creepy kids in your life that are reading middle grade books, you should definitely get your hands on this one!
I received an advance reader copy e-book thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group - the book comes out on August 13th.
I received an advance reader copy e-book thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group - the book comes out on August 13th.
The Hunger by Alma Katsu
dark
emotional
slow-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
5.0
Give me more Alma Katsu RIGHT NOW. this fictionalized Donner party retelling with a supernatural twist is everything I want in a horror novel. It's a slooow burn. You get to know the characters REALLY WELL before the worst things happen to them which make grisly moments feel so much more impactful. I loved that this historical fiction had a lot of true historic facts to make it feel very real (clearly a LOT of research went into this) but that the author was able to make artistic changes to really make the story pack the biggest emotional punch. Def recommended to my horror lit girlies.
Voyage of the Damned by Frances White
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a popcorn book. I thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading even though there's not much substance here. Tonally, a little all over the place and some parts were so corny and cliche that my eyes rolled to the back of my head. But also I must admit that it was fun and I did want to stay in it until the end.
The West Passage by Jared Pechaček
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? No
3.5
I think people are either going to be absolutely GAGA in love with this read or they are going to be very confused. It's intricate. It's strange. It uses its own logic. I've seen other readers compare it to Alice in Wonderland for the strange otherworldly logic here and I think it's an apt comparison but only for that aspect of the book. This is a weird and wild medieval fantasy with beasts, giant Eldritch ladies, and a quest that will introduce you to many wacky characters. This book also goes very dark places and I was sometimes shocked at how violence and whimsy live side by side in this strange world. I'm really excited for other readers to get their hands on this one and hear what they think. There's so much going on in this book that is difficult to describe in a quick review/synopsis. If you're looking for something weird, whimsical, dark, and intricate - this is a good pick for you!
For me, I gave it a 3.5 because I was impressed and enjoyed the epic world-building and the layers of logic. At some points on the quest, I got confused and the stakes diminished for me as a result. At a certain point I had a hard time continuing. However, I pushed through that and it picked back up and I ended up really enjoying the end.
For me, I gave it a 3.5 because I was impressed and enjoyed the epic world-building and the layers of logic. At some points on the quest, I got confused and the stakes diminished for me as a result. At a certain point I had a hard time continuing. However, I pushed through that and it picked back up and I ended up really enjoying the end.
The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
I'm really not connecting with any of the characters. Because I'm a character reader, that makes me feel very disconnected from the story. I feel like a lot of world-building has happened in a short time but very little plot and almost no character building. I prefer all three to happen at the same time otherwise it's easy to check out. For people that like complex fantasy worlds, I think there's a lot to recommend here. Even though it wasn't for me, I hope the right audience finds and loves this book!
Big thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for my e-copy!
Big thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for my e-copy!
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A strange, fantastical, whimsical story that really defies explanation. I was captivated by it and am still not really sure I understand all of it's layers and yet I can confidently say that I found it to be really beautiful.
In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and TorDotCom for this novella!
A quick and engaging novella that can be read in one sitting! Even though it's short it accomplished a lot in its world-building, and I really loved the main character. Since it's so short and has an open ending, it feels more like an introduction or a prequel, but no it's the first installment of a series. I wanted it to slow down a little more and luxuriate in the details but I still really enjoyed this and would recommend it. Maybe we'll get that in the next installment. An exciting voice in fantasy for sure!
A quick and engaging novella that can be read in one sitting! Even though it's short it accomplished a lot in its world-building, and I really loved the main character. Since it's so short and has an open ending, it feels more like an introduction or a prequel, but no it's the first installment of a series. I wanted it to slow down a little more and luxuriate in the details but I still really enjoyed this and would recommend it. Maybe we'll get that in the next installment. An exciting voice in fantasy for sure!
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Even though I LOVE Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing style, this one was not a favorite. The backdrop of Yaxatun was deliciously described and I really enjoyed the environment of the book. Unfortunately, the plot leaves a lot to be desired and while I liked the characters, I didn't love them enough to forgive the lackluster plot. Despite all this, I enjoyed it mostly because I'm very fond of the writing itself. I'd recommend that you only pick it up if you have a special interest in the original Hg Wells story or this time in Mexican history as I think that's the crowd that will get the most out of this one.
She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and DAW for this e-arc! All opinions are my own.
I'll admit that it was a little weird to request this novella, knowing that it is a prequel to a book I have not read. That said, I've read a few of Okorafor's other books so I was looking forward to her unique brand of science fiction. I definitely got that here. While this book definitely feels like a small piece of something much bigger and leaves a lot of gaps for that other piece to fill, it was nonetheless a captivating read for me. Everything was so clear and vivid in my mind while reading. I loved every aspect of the world-building including the culture of the village, the way that technology worked, the description of the salt lake & salt market, our main character's growth into her powers - everything was just so rich! Okorafor is definitely a voice that I want to continue reading forever.
I'll admit that it was a little weird to request this novella, knowing that it is a prequel to a book I have not read. That said, I've read a few of Okorafor's other books so I was looking forward to her unique brand of science fiction. I definitely got that here. While this book definitely feels like a small piece of something much bigger and leaves a lot of gaps for that other piece to fill, it was nonetheless a captivating read for me. Everything was so clear and vivid in my mind while reading. I loved every aspect of the world-building including the culture of the village, the way that technology worked, the description of the salt lake & salt market, our main character's growth into her powers - everything was just so rich! Okorafor is definitely a voice that I want to continue reading forever.