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keelreads's reviews
249 reviews
Still, Dark Places by Christina Graves
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don’t know if I can accurately express how much I enjoyed this book!
Still, Dark Places has easily become one of my favorite books and if I could give it a 6/5 stars, I absolutely would! It was hooked at the first chapter, unable to put it down as I tore through it to get to the ending. Told in three POV’s, one of which is an unreliable narrator, I could not get enough.
This book centers around the small town of Still Water, infamous for the Seven Sisters, seven girls would mysteriously went missing, one of them including the sister of one of our main characters, Nora. Nora, now a true crime podcast co-host who has a history with cracking cold cases, hesitantly returns to Still Water at the request of a local mother whose daughter went missing a year ago. As Nora and her co-host, Rhys, dive into the case, they also seem to find themselves a little closer to trouble than they expected.
I could go on and on for hours about this book, though I did have some suspicious that turned out correct, I was still surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the read.
Still, Dark Places has easily become one of my favorite books and if I could give it a 6/5 stars, I absolutely would! It was hooked at the first chapter, unable to put it down as I tore through it to get to the ending. Told in three POV’s, one of which is an unreliable narrator, I could not get enough.
This book centers around the small town of Still Water, infamous for the Seven Sisters, seven girls would mysteriously went missing, one of them including the sister of one of our main characters, Nora. Nora, now a true crime podcast co-host who has a history with cracking cold cases, hesitantly returns to Still Water at the request of a local mother whose daughter went missing a year ago. As Nora and her co-host, Rhys, dive into the case, they also seem to find themselves a little closer to trouble than they expected.
I could go on and on for hours about this book, though I did have some suspicious that turned out correct, I was still surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder
The Civilization by K.M. McKenzie
The Civilization is a great Africa-based YA Fantasy that I will happily recommend to all my friends, family, and the random person walking by on the sidewalk. I enjoyed that there was a little bit of romance in the book, but that wasn’t what was driving the book or even what the characters were even worried about until everything was said and done. The character development was great and I found myself rooting for our main characters and deeply despising the enemy.
If I were to give any criticism, I would say that I wished we had more tension and action between the opposing forces, especially in the big fight scenes.
This is a story about a young girl, traveling Africa with her grandfather in search of what her grandfather claims is their magical homeland. Tired of the nomadic lifestyle and yearning for a normal life, she runs away in search of who she really is. her search is cut short when her grandpa is kidnapped and she sets off to find him, but finds herself is a different realm, the same world her grandpa told her about. Now, she has to not only find her grandpa, but break the curse on this foreign world
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.5
The Civilization is a great Africa-based YA Fantasy that I will happily recommend to all my friends, family, and the random person walking by on the sidewalk. I enjoyed that there was a little bit of romance in the book, but that wasn’t what was driving the book or even what the characters were even worried about until everything was said and done. The character development was great and I found myself rooting for our main characters and deeply despising the enemy.
If I were to give any criticism, I would say that I wished we had more tension and action between the opposing forces, especially in the big fight scenes.
This is a story about a young girl, traveling Africa with her grandfather in search of what her grandfather claims is their magical homeland. Tired of the nomadic lifestyle and yearning for a normal life, she runs away in search of who she really is. her search is cut short when her grandpa is kidnapped and she sets off to find him, but finds herself is a different realm, the same world her grandpa told her about. Now, she has to not only find her grandpa, but break the curse on this foreign world
Killer House Party by Lily Anderson
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Think, Monster House meets The Amityville Horror and throw in some characters of color and queer representation. It’s a fun and quick read that definitely makes me glad I never threw (or attended a house party) because with my luck, it would have turned out just like this one.
For the most part, I enjoyed reading this book. I found the beginning to be a bit slow and some parts to be predictable, but it’s a YA haunted house horror, so we are bound to get a bit of predictability. here were quite a few instances that I was surprised and anxious to see what would happen next and if our main characters would indeed make it out alive… If you want to know the answer to that, you’ll have to read to find out.
*Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, NetGalley, and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
For the most part, I enjoyed reading this book. I found the beginning to be a bit slow and some parts to be predictable, but it’s a YA haunted house horror, so we are bound to get a bit of predictability. here were quite a few instances that I was surprised and anxious to see what would happen next and if our main characters would indeed make it out alive… If you want to know the answer to that, you’ll have to read to find out.
*Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, NetGalley, and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch by Codie Crowley
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
5.0
Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch is a darkly comical young adult mystery/horror novel for the ages. Akin to if I Spit on Your Grave meets King’s Pet Sematary with an unlikable main character who is bent on avenging her own death by tracking down the person(s) who are directly responsible for her ending up dead in the mountains rumored to resurrect the dead.
Watch out because Annie Lane is on a war path and you don’t want to get in her way.
*Thank you to Hyperion and Codie Crowley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Watch out because Annie Lane is on a war path and you don’t want to get in her way.
*Thank you to Hyperion and Codie Crowley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
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
4.75
Wilderness therapy gone very, VERY wrong.
What the Woods Took is literally my nightmare wrapped up in a book. I stayed up all night reading and had to sleep with a light on, there were many moments in the book that made my skin crawl and moments I was downright terrified. Though I had some theories on where this book would go and what would happen, I was so excited going into this book, but… I didn’t exactly get what I anticipated. What I read was SO MUCH BETTER! If I could have oven this book 6/5 stars, I would!
Word of warning: If something feels off about the woods… it probably is.
What the Woods Took is literally my nightmare wrapped up in a book. I stayed up all night reading and had to sleep with a light on, there were many moments in the book that made my skin crawl and moments I was downright terrified. Though I had some theories on where this book would go and what would happen, I was so excited going into this book, but… I didn’t exactly get what I anticipated. What I read was SO MUCH BETTER! If I could have oven this book 6/5 stars, I would!
Word of warning: If something feels off about the woods… it probably is.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
I knew by chapter three that Funny Story would be my favorite Emily Henry book. Now as I finish the final chapter I can agree that out of all the Emily Henry books that I have read — don’t come at me, this only makes two currently — this is absolutely my favorite. Now I may just have to go and finish reading her backlist!
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The God of the Woods has easily become one of my favorite reads this year, a thrilling camp drama set in the Adirondacks in the Adirondack’s in the ‘70s takes us on a twisting, face-paced, and addictive journey through a summer camp in which Barbara goes missing fourteen years after her brother at the same camp their family owns. I had so many theories and in some minor instances I was somewhat correct, but did not expect the blow I would take when all is revealed. This novel was so easy to follow despite the different points of view and timeline shifts. It was so beautifully written, I felt almost as if I were right there at camp with them trying to help unravel the mystery that is not only the disappearance of both children, but the mystery that is the land, camp, and family. Brava, Liz Moore!
Reckless by Lauren Roberts
adventurous
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
4.0
I’m sorry… WHAT?!?
I loved Powerless and was excited to finally get the time to read Reckless and though I felt like everything kind of dragged on a bit and they spent a lot of time in the desert, the banter did not disappoint. Paedyn and Kai’s chemistry and the tension between the both of them knowing that they cannot resist each other but desperately trying to hate each other… I ATE THAT UP. But what I was not expecting was the ending… WHATTTTTT!!!! I was not expecting that and I cannot wait to see how this plays out in the next book!
I loved Powerless and was excited to finally get the time to read Reckless and though I felt like everything kind of dragged on a bit and they spent a lot of time in the desert, the banter did not disappoint. Paedyn and Kai’s chemistry and the tension between the both of them knowing that they cannot resist each other but desperately trying to hate each other… I ATE THAT UP. But what I was not expecting was the ending… WHATTTTTT!!!! I was not expecting that and I cannot wait to see how this plays out in the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Kidnapping
The Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Heads Will Roll is a pretty entertaining adult, summer camp slasher set at Camp Castaway, also known as Camp Cancelled as all campers, for one reason or another, are attending to take a much needed step away from social media. This book shows the ugly of social media and the toxic situations one may encounter when enthralled by the constant pull of electronics.
Though this was a quick and easy read with a twist I was not expecting, I didn’t really feel the tension and really didn’t care much for the characters. I did enjoy it enough to quickly finish and would recommend for a fun weekend read.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the e-ARC.
Though this was a quick and easy read with a twist I was not expecting, I didn’t really feel the tension and really didn’t care much for the characters. I did enjoy it enough to quickly finish and would recommend for a fun weekend read.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the e-ARC.