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nicekweenreads's reviews
193 reviews
The Rust Maidens by Gwendolyn Kiste
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Crypt of the Moon Spider by Nathan Ballingrud
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Swarm by Jennifer D. Lyle
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved it until the ending.
This book was absolutely gripping and managed to turn a usually harmless creature, butterflies, into something horrendous. I really enjoyed that the main character has clinical anxiety. It added a unique, although sometimes frustrating narration. As someone who also has been diagnosed with anxiety I really relate to Shur's struggles with her disorder especially during the apocalypse. The book does an excellent job at reminding you that these are teenagers, thrust into a caretaker role that they are unprepared for.
My biggest complaint is the ending. This book continues to build suspense and momentum with each page, making the short ending jar the reader with a sudden stop.
I also wish it spent more time explaining how Jenny survived rathef than the romance that felt shoehorned.
This book was absolutely gripping and managed to turn a usually harmless creature, butterflies, into something horrendous. I really enjoyed that the main character has clinical anxiety. It added a unique, although sometimes frustrating narration. As someone who also has been diagnosed with anxiety I really relate to Shur's struggles with her disorder especially during the apocalypse. The book does an excellent job at reminding you that these are teenagers, thrust into a caretaker role that they are unprepared for.
My biggest complaint is the ending. This book continues to build suspense and momentum with each page, making the short ending jar the reader with a sudden stop.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
challenging
dark
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
2.5
The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed The Sacrifice.
There is legend of a mysterious island in the Philippines where locals turn away at the mere mention of it. So of course, a ghost-hunter like show is set to ruin the native floral and fauna for views. Tensions starts to flare as members of the crew start to see people from their past. People who shouldn't be alive, yet are. One by one, the crew starts to get picked off as secrets are unraveled. Any more and it'd spoil the twists!
I do think most characters besides Chase were a little undeveloped and would have loved to get to know some of the other main character's a little bit more. I do feel like the romance was shoe horned in, as with any YA novels, but can appreciate the attempt to reprint a gay couple in a culture where it isn't as accepting.
Overall, I'd recomend!
There is legend of a mysterious island in the Philippines where locals turn away at the mere mention of it. So of course, a ghost-hunter like show is set to ruin the native floral and fauna for views. Tensions starts to flare as members of the crew start to see people from their past. People who shouldn't be alive, yet are. One by one, the crew starts to get picked off as secrets are unraveled. Any more and it'd spoil the twists!
I do think most characters besides Chase were a little undeveloped and would have loved to get to know some of the other main character's a little bit more. I do feel like the romance was shoe horned in, as with any YA novels, but can appreciate the attempt to reprint a gay couple in a culture where it isn't as accepting.
Overall, I'd recomend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Animal death
The Six by Anni Taylor
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Six Rooms by Gemma Amor
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- 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
2.0
I personally struggled to enjoy this book for a few reasons.
First was due to the point of view. It couldn't seem to device if it was a 3rd person omniscient or 3rd person limited point of view. In tje same chapter we would go front bouncing from everyone's thoughts to just being limited to one person's perspective. It was odd and didn't flow well.
Because of this, it really struggled to create a main character. As soon as we started to learn more besides the main issue driving the character, we would be ejected into someone else. Any previously development would be forgotten as they'd only react to their surroundings.
I also struggled with the foreshadowing being a little too on the nose and just removing any tension you may feel by outright telling you what will happen.
I did enjoy the setting of The chateau, especially with its need to "feed" and sentience. I wish we had more information as to why it was like this instead of focusing on the many different ghosts that haunted it.
Overall, I just really struggled with the writing style.
First was due to the point of view. It couldn't seem to device if it was a 3rd person omniscient or 3rd person limited point of view. In tje same chapter we would go front bouncing from everyone's thoughts to just being limited to one person's perspective. It was odd and didn't flow well.
Because of this, it really struggled to create a main character. As soon as we started to learn more besides the main issue driving the character, we would be ejected into someone else. Any previously development would be forgotten as they'd only react to their surroundings.
I also struggled with the foreshadowing being a little too on the nose and just removing any tension you may feel by outright telling you what will happen.
I did enjoy the setting of The chateau, especially with its need to "feed" and sentience. I wish we had more information as to why it was like this instead of focusing on the many different ghosts that haunted it.
Overall, I just really struggled with the writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Rape
Toxxic by Jane Hennigan
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
The Black Farm by Elias Witherow
dark
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? Yes
2.0
I enjoyed the setting of The Black Farm being some kind of purgatory domain (though if this is purgatory, I'd hate to see what hell would look like in this world). The island in a black ocean guarded by ancient titans and glowing hieroglyphics was a very cool idea. It's a shame we didn't get to learn more about them.
I feel like that last sentence sums up my thoughts about this in. Everything went by so quickly that we barely had time to learn about the island and it's inhabitants.
The majority of the characters felt 1 dimensional. Almost all can be reduced to being friendly to the protagonist only to be shortly killed off. It's hard to really feel much of anything after this happens the 3rd time.
I also found the violence to be flatly written as well. It can be reduced to the character is stabbed, it hurts, and then never brought up again. The pain and injury doesn't seem to affect the characters at all.
I'll admit I am not typically a fan of extreme horror or splatter punk because this seems go be a trend. I'd love to see the level of world building with more fleshed out side characters from this author as they had some solid ideas.
I feel like that last sentence sums up my thoughts about this in. Everything went by so quickly that we barely had time to learn about the island and it's inhabitants.
The majority of the characters felt 1 dimensional. Almost all can be reduced to being friendly to the protagonist only to be shortly killed off. It's hard to really feel much of anything after this happens the 3rd time.
I also found the violence to be flatly written as well. It can be reduced to the character is stabbed, it hurts, and then never brought up again. The pain and injury doesn't seem to affect the characters at all.
I'll admit I am not typically a fan of extreme horror or splatter punk because this seems go be a trend. I'd love to see the level of world building with more fleshed out side characters from this author as they had some solid ideas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Rape
Vox by Christina Dalcher
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"Evil wins when good mean do nothing".
This book is very intense, especially given the current political climate. The first few chapters do a wonderful job at creating this Dystopian world that isn't too far from our own. The book really shines with its world building, including the misogynistic government leaders who subdue women in the name of righteousness. I hate read this first third of this book, which to me, is a sign of powerful righting.
I really liked how to scope of the Dystopian world was told through an individual's perspective. The reader isn't keen to governmental plans, only the slight change in policies that push ever so slightly to a new world. The main character's regrets and shame over her own inaction before the world turned is very haunting.
I feel like the ending was too quick and the ending didn't quite match the tonal horror set earlier in the book. I would still recommend if you are interested in a modern day The Handmaid's tale.
This book is very intense, especially given the current political climate. The first few chapters do a wonderful job at creating this Dystopian world that isn't too far from our own. The book really shines with its world building, including the misogynistic government leaders who subdue women in the name of righteousness. I hate read this first third of this book, which to me, is a sign of powerful righting.
I really liked how to scope of the Dystopian world was told through an individual's perspective. The reader isn't keen to governmental plans, only the slight change in policies that push ever so slightly to a new world. The main character's regrets and shame over her own inaction before the world turned is very haunting.
I feel like the ending was too quick and the ending didn't quite match the tonal horror set earlier in the book. I would still recommend if you are interested in a modern day The Handmaid's tale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse