literaryk's reviews
464 reviews

These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant

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emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This would be a good first step into mystery/thriller genre for an adult. I felt the plot was a little predictable, with a mildly preachy ending, but entertaining nevertheless
The Shadow Speaker by Nnedi Okorafor

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adventurous 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? Yes

4.75

I'm a huge fan of Okorafor's storytelling. Her world building is lively and fantastical, which complements the conflicts and character development. 
I would LOVE to see this as a graphic novel. 
House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

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

3.5

Just like the first book, I questioned this corner of the SJM universe until the last 300 pages. The beginning felt like it dragged with its many plot points. Once the twists began to pop up, it was easier to read. I will commend Maas for bridging an "ancient" Fae world to a more modern one. Honestly though, I wish the next part of the journey was told through ACOTAR and NOT CC
The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe

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dark 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

2.5

I couldn't get over everyone attempting to do the different voices! Plot itself was pretty basic; spice wasn't bad but somehow there wasn't enough of it. I would say this book is a good "toe in the water" for dark romance
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

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3.5

Disclaimer: This was my first audio book, and the only thing I knew about it was the movie trailer.
This was a very detail oriented and informative read on a piece of history that reveals the dark chapter of American history of the grotesque mistreatment and murder of the indigenous people. While it bogged the central story down at times, I did appreciate the background knowledge. It also helped as the story came to its climax
Penpal by Dathan Auerbach

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Creepy and suspenseful story. It took me a while to adjust to the memoir style of writing, but I felt invested in the mystery. This was realistic stalker horror done well.
Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson

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adventurous 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? No

3.75

I will say that this was a good young adult, realistic, near-dystopian novel. One thing I usually  notice about dystopian books based in our current time is that they can be very heavy handed in bringing in rhetoric about the injustices, bigotry, and racism found in America in today to the point where it pulls away from the plot. It feels less like a story and more like a lesson overview. Which isn't bad, but pick a lane. However, I feel that Jackson did a fairly decent job keeping it balanced. 
Characters were interesting, although some were a little flat. The protagonist's romance was cute, and didn't take away from the main point of 'we're in a Dome and we're taking it down.' Ending was a little too formulaic, but leaves room for a sequel where we may see this author grow and thrive.
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

My sister suggested this in place of "The Body Keeps the Score" and I'm so happy that she did. Reading from a memoir standpoint really helped me better understand the complexities of trauma and resulting disorders. Foo did extensive research, but made it easier for me to understand. It was like getting an enjoyable Sparknotes of all the common self help and trauma books. I still got a little bogged down by some sections, and her story is quite heart-wrenching. The last quarter of the book was my favorite though--seeing her find her ways to improve her life and handle her diagnosis of C-PTSD gave me a lot of hope and inspiration. 
The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

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

4.0

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

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mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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

4.0

Crescent City gave me ACOTAR vibes in the sense that I was only mildly invested until the last third of book when it yanked me in completely. The first 2/3 of the book read like a blend of an action heavy mystery and an EXTREMELY SLOW BURN romance. Characters were decently and developed as expected--same could be said for the protagonist's romance. The last third of the book is where SJM shone--I just spent the entire morning and afternoon finishing the book. Thankfully the ending didn't have any severely pressing cliffhangers, so I can take a short breather before grabbing the second and third installment.