hforsythe26's reviews
186 reviews

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

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dark sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This was a Wild! Ride! The entire story takes place over the course of just a few days as FBI "Special Agent in Charge Victor Hanoverian" interviews one of the survivors of a kidnapping situation. Inara/Maya tells her story, slowly peeling back the layers and revealing the absolute horror endured by The Gardener's "Butterflies" - young women kidnapped and forced to live in his indoor garden to be used and abused by him and others. There is some sick stuff in this book but it doesn't feel gratuitous, it feels raw and real and painful. But it's not all pain and horror, we also get to see the women's quiet strength that knows no bound. Forced into an unimaginable situation beyond their control, they are forced to choose each other as their support system and family, forming bonds that cannot be broken not matter how intense the pressure. I flew (no pun intended) through The Butterfly Garden and it's a top rate thriller but be warned, there are some very dark situations throughout.
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Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

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dark reflective 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

3.5

I enjoyed reading Agnes' story but the pace was quite slow for the first two thirds of the book. It wasn't until the last third that I really felt gripped and was excited to pick it up and find out how her story would end. This book was atmospheric and I enjoyed the portrayal of rural Iceland and seeing a glimpse of how people lived in that time and place. Definitely not a book with a happy ending but still an emotionally intense story and a fascinating look at a time period not often shown in historical fiction.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

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funny hopeful lighthearted 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

Cute. Sweet. Wholesome. Darling. All of those are words that describe this book. What a precious cozy story of magic and family and conquering one's fear. This is not my normal type of read, there were no high stakes or edge of your seat cliffhangers, but there was heart. Getting to know Mika Moon and the three young witches that she watches over was such a fun treat. I can't recommend this enough for when you might need a cheerful fresh breath of air. This is the kind of story that warms you from the inside like a hot cup of tea. I did knock it a quarter star because I felt that some of the language and sexual references detracted from the overall tone a bit but overall I'm so happy I picked this one up. A cinnamon roll of a book!
Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski

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adventurous lighthearted medium-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

4.0

This is the third book in the Witcher series, taking place after the first two collections of short stories. This is the first book that occurs linearly and I greatly enjoyed it. We see more of Geralt and Ciri as well as Yennefer and Ciri which was a fun dynamic. The tone is light and airy but the plot is thick with insinuations of things to come. If the short stories were the introduction, Blood of Elves is an intriguing start to Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri's journey. 
Defending Jacob by William Landay

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dark emotional reflective tense fast-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

This. Book. This book packs an emotional wallop! I won't say much beyond the fact that the character work is absolutely phenomenal. I could feel the emotions of every character. I hurt with them, celebrated with them, and struggled right alongside them as they grappled with the events told in the story. As a (step) parent of teen boys, I'll be thinking about this story for a long long time. 
The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.
I tried so hard to get through this one! I loved The Golden Cage by the same author but I just couldn't connect with this main character. She was flat and bland, which might have been bearable if the plot was gripping but it just.... wasn't. By 137 pages I really didn't care who the murderer was and I had no desire to keep following the MC. In fact, I cant even remember her name to include in this review. I will say, while this isn't going to be the series for me, I'm not done with Lackberg just yet. I definitely want to read the sequel to The Golden Cage.
Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is the second installment in The Witcher series and, like the first, is made up of short stories following Geralt as he journeys through the land. The timeline of Sword of Destiny is linear which made it much easier to follow and it felt more like a novel than the first volume did. I liked seeing a bit more of Dandelion, Yennefer, and Ciri who all were lovable in their own ways. I expected mostly trite adventure stories but some surprisingly emotional moments snuck up on me and I finished the book feeling as if I had been journeying right along with these characters. Masterful work on the part of the author. I can't wait to start on the first Witcher novel and follow along with Geralt and the rest as they traverse the paths of destiny... 
Unmissing by Minka Kent

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dark mysterious tense fast-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

3.0

This was a decent thriller but I made the mistake of setting myself up for disappointment because I overhyped this one. I had heard this described as such an amazing psychological thriller with the BEST twist and crazy suspense but it just didn't live up to my expectations. The big reveal was halfway through and not a surprise at all. The second twist towards the end was a bit unbelievable... the actions of the characters just didn't fit with the behaviors they had already exhibited in the story which left it feeling a little too convenient and set up.
Luca and Lydia were alone together before he was revealed to be the Monster and neither one of them mentioned the nine years of rape and torture?? Really? Talk about an elephant in the room. And Merritt really never broke character or questioned Luca until they were at the farmhouse? Again, really? It felt too unrealistic and took me out of the story.
 
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

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adventurous dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really enjoyed diving into the world of The Witcher. This first volume is a collection of short stories but they really flow together and give the impression of one cohesive story. It took a couple stories for me to get used to the dual timelines and orient myself in the world but once I was settled in it was a fun experience. There's a sassy sense of humor throughout the book which I didn't expect but it added some much needed levity and another layer to the character of Geralt. The imagination of the author is astounding and brilliantly displayed through the descriptions of the world and all the different monsters that Geralt encounters. I can already see the foundation of some deep themes that will be explored in this series and I love when an author poses moral questions and explores what it means to be a human and what it means to be a monster. I'm really looking forward to continuing with The Witcher series!
Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld

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adventurous tense fast-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

3.75

Classic Scott Westerfeld - a little creepy, a little mysterious, a little sci-fi, and plucky teens changing their world. Excellent!