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kait_sixcrowsbooks's reviews
227 reviews
Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.5
A great book that explores grief, obsession, and how our own views of someone changes who they become after death. I loved the full cast of narrators, too.
Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams
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? No
1.5
Is it bad to say that I hoped this ended with Lena being killed, too ? ‘Cause yikes, this book was a big ol’ mess. The characters weren’t all that interesting, the dialogue was cringe-worthy, and the choppy transitions between Lena’s blog and present day made everything feel disjointed.
What’s frustrating for me, though, is that I could see what the author was trying to accomplish. The themes surrounding grief, the memories of our deceased loved ones, and how we choose to remember them were just barely there, but they still were. And god do I wish they were fleshed out more. That’s where the .5 star comes in — I could see what the author was attempting. But that and everything else in the book fell flat like a cake without baking powder.
What’s frustrating for me, though, is that I could see what the author was trying to accomplish. The themes surrounding grief, the memories of our deceased loved ones, and how we choose to remember them were just barely there, but they still were. And god do I wish they were fleshed out more. That’s where the .5 star comes in — I could see what the author was attempting. But that and everything else in the book fell flat like a cake without baking powder.
A Crooked Tree by Una Mannion
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
What a damn book. It follows Libby and her siblings during the summer of ‘81, after her younger sister Ellen was forced by their mom to walk home from the side of the road after mom kicks her out of the car. It focuses on grief, trauma, community, growing up, and the idea around trying to keep things together as it all comes apart around you. I thought this was so so well done, and I loved the audio as well.
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
adventurous
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
God, what a book. I first read Game of Thrones back in 2016, and all I can say is that I’ve enjoyed it immensely more this time around. The characters, the intersecting plots, the politics: all absolutely wonderful. I can’t wait to see where this series will take me.
Five Little Indians by Michelle Good
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-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
A needed book on the horrors of the residential schools in Canada, Five Little Indians follows five indigenous kids from when they get away from such a school to the years beyond as they try to cope with the traumas they’ve endured. It was a heartfelt book, one I could feel the emotions through at certain points in the story.
The writing style itself, however, left a bit to be desired. It was choppy, repetitive, and seemed like it would be that much better if there was just one last look over with an editor. Overall, though, I’m glad I read this.
The writing style itself, however, left a bit to be desired. It was choppy, repetitive, and seemed like it would be that much better if there was just one last look over with an editor. Overall, though, I’m glad I read this.
Redwood and Wildfire by Andrea Hairston
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.5
I thought the beginning was a bit slow for my taste, but I tried it again once I re-checked it out on Libby later in the year and sped right through it. I really enjoyed everything about this — the story, the characters, the writing. There was pain and sorrow, but there was also joy and whimsy. Hairston has such a way with words, it’s truly beautiful. I loved the historical aspects, too, which is interesting because I’m usually not one for historical fiction. I can’t wait to look into the author’s other works.
Encyclopedia of Counseling: Master Review and Tutorial for the National Counselor Examination, State Counseling Exams, and the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination: Volume 1 by Howard Rosenthal
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
This was great for studying for my NCE! I didn’t get all the way through it, but it was great for reviewing areas I needed to.
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
What a wonderful, gruesomely queer book! I really enjoyed the exploration of religious trauma and queer identity. The body horror was also *chef’s kiss*. All in all, an awesome read. Can’t wait to read more from this author!
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
An intriguing read that delves into personhood and how we define it, motherhood, abuse, trauma, and more. While the last quarter of the book seemed stilted and choppy relative to the rest of the novel, it was still interesting and thought-provoking.
Where Freedom Starts: Sex, Power, Violence, #MeToo by Verso
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
A fascinating collection of essays re: the #MeToo movement. I originally obtained this from Verso when they were giving it away for free, back in 2021, and many of these essays were written during the height of the movement. It’s interesting to read this collection now, when it seems that #MeToo has died down considerably…and what do we have to show for it? I held a bit of cynicism while reading it because there seemed to be so much hope for the future within these essays, and I can’t confidently say that anything has significantly changed. Perhaps it has, and I’m being nihilistic. But either way, while some of these essays weren’t necessarily ones that I preferred, the collection as a whole was incredibly strong, and I appreciated the diverse set of voices and topics.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment