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rmnedder's reviews
88 reviews
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.0
This read was an interesting mix of ominous and tedious. A reimagining of Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, this novella had a very interesting premise, but ultimately fell short in execution. While some of the horror elements were both intriguing and legitimately very unsettling, I felt like the actual horror story took a backseat to some of the lore and exposition. While the author has crafted a very interesting world, the story gets bogged down in expository "lore dumps" and interjections every now and then - which, in a 160 page book, take up a lot of prime storytelling real estate. While set in 1890, some of the narrative flare felt distinctively modern, almost like it was trying to sound old-timey, despite maintaining modern quips and phrasing. When it's not narratively dragging its own heels, it moves at a breakneck pace, allowing us to get swept up in the truly disquieting whirlwind of the Ushers and their dreary mansion.
Ultimately, I can really see and appreciate what T. Kingfisher was going for here, even if it was a swing and a miss at times. That being said, I probably won't be going for the sequel.
Ultimately, I can really see and appreciate what T. Kingfisher was going for here, even if it was a swing and a miss at times. That being said, I probably won't be going for the sequel.
Angels & Man by rafael nicolás
challenging
dark
sad
tense
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
Even better, darker, and more heart-wrenching than the first book. Rafael Nicolás knows exactly what he's doing. His prose is, as always, devastating in its scope and lyricism. Not only is the re-telling of The Watcher's Flood fantastic, the way the rest of the canon is fleshed out and flipped on its head is so rich and compelling. Azazel and Samyaza are wonderful narrative foils, and the continued development of our favorites from Angels Before Man is so nuanced.
This is a difficult read, but so worthwhile. I cannot wait to see how this trilogy concludes. As always, read the content warnings, I beg.
This is a difficult read, but so worthwhile. I cannot wait to see how this trilogy concludes. As always, read the content warnings, I beg.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use and Vomit
Bitter Orange Tree by Jokha Alharthi
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A beautiful, profound book. Alharthi's writing (and Booth's translation) is so moving - there is life breathed into the tiniest of details and simplest of words, which makes their significance so much more powerful. It really is the minutiae of this book that hits me deeply. I really enjoyed the fragmented/non-linear narrative style; it intertwined Zuhour and Bint Amir's lives (along with everyone else's) in a very engaging way. I'm not typically the biggest fan of "character study" novels; there were moments where I found myself wishing for something more, but that's an issue of personal taste, not of quality.
This book makes me think of all my aunties like Bint Amir. Alharthi truly knows how to capture the nuances of longing, of grief, of the human condition.
This book makes me think of all my aunties like Bint Amir. Alharthi truly knows how to capture the nuances of longing, of grief, of the human condition.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Classism
Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt
challenging
dark
tense
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 will be thinking about this book for a long, long time to come.
Compelling and deeply disturbing, this book is a fascinating examination of the intersection of marginalization, trauma, and fascism. The prose is slippery and sharp and whip-smart, Alice and Ila are both deeply flawed and interesting characters, and the author has made some very smart storytelling choices. The multi-perspective narration adds (in a good way) to the somewhat disorienting nature of the truth of this story. The message feels a little on the nose at times, especially considering who the target audience of this book is, but it's still a very impactful read. I don't want to say I enjoyed it, because that feels like the wrong thing to say about this book, but it's sticking with me and I'm so glad I read it.
READ THE CONTENT WARNINGS, I BEG YOU. This is a rough read.
Compelling and deeply disturbing, this book is a fascinating examination of the intersection of marginalization, trauma, and fascism. The prose is slippery and sharp and whip-smart, Alice and Ila are both deeply flawed and interesting characters, and the author has made some very smart storytelling choices. The multi-perspective narration adds (in a good way) to the somewhat disorienting nature of the truth of this story. The message feels a little on the nose at times, especially considering who the target audience of this book is, but it's still a very impactful read. I don't want to say I enjoyed it, because that feels like the wrong thing to say about this book, but it's sticking with me and I'm so glad I read it.
READ THE CONTENT WARNINGS, I BEG YOU. This is a rough read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Pedophilia, Self harm, Torture, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death and Vomit
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a fine introduction to Sarah Waters! The Paying Guests is tense and incredibly atmospheric. The historical attention to detail is astounding - even in the mundanity of daily life, this book paints such a vivid picture. I also love the way that Waters writes women; it's clear she writes sapphic romance from a place of tenderness and care, and it's refreshing (even if some of the particulars of this story are painful). The nuances and peculiarities of Frances and Lilian's relationship were so varied and multi-dimensional; it swung from fraught to fanciful and everywhere in between, and I really enjoyed seeing its evolution.
My only issue was really with the pacing. With the sheer amount of detail this book has, it moves incredibly slowly at times. It's not necessarily all bad! It built some fantastic suspense, but it also made the ending drag out a bit longer than may have been warranted. All in all, this was a great read, especially if you like historical sapphics <3
My only issue was really with the pacing. With the sheer amount of detail this book has, it moves incredibly slowly at times. It's not necessarily all bad! It built some fantastic suspense, but it also made the ending drag out a bit longer than may have been warranted. All in all, this was a great read, especially if you like historical sapphics <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Blood, Abortion, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Brilliant, thought-provoking, and painfully relevant. Octavia Butler, what a gift you had.
Angels Before Man by rafael nicolás
dark
emotional
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
As a recovering ex-catholic queer... this book was absolutely beautiful. Such a wonderful take on the fall of Lucifer. It's tragic, it's introspective, and it needles you with pointed questions about authority and autonomy. The prose is really imaginative and atmospheric; it literally feels biblical in its nature and scope. Despite the intensity of some of the content, I feel like everything was handled with a lot of grace and care. Lucifer is one of the most interesting, complex characters I've encountered this year; his relationship with the other angels, specifically with Michael, are so tender and impactful.
My only complaint is that it took me a minute to get truly invested; it started out a little slower than I would have liked, but after the first ~25% it really picked up. Other than that, this was such a fantastic read. Sometimes it's nice to be reminded that queerness exists in all corners of mythology.
My only complaint is that it took me a minute to get truly invested; it started out a little slower than I would have liked, but after the first ~25% it really picked up. Other than that, this was such a fantastic read. Sometimes it's nice to be reminded that queerness exists in all corners of mythology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Death and Alcohol
Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews
adventurous
dark
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
Thank you to NetGalley and Fiewel & Friends for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
This is one of the best books I've read all year! A mix of disturbing fairy tale, creature feature, and psych horror, this was such a well-crafted story that kept me engaged and on edge the whole time! It was spooky, visceral, heart-wrenching - everything I could have asked for. C. G. Drews's macabre prose is exquisite, equal parts precise and imaginative, and it helps anchor us in the world of the story brilliantly. The twists were really well-plotted, and the world is so immersive.
Andrew and Thomas are disastrous in the best way, and the way their relationship is crafted is beautiful. Andrew is also some fantastic a-spec representation, and seeing how well he was written and handled was refreshing!!
I'm so incredibly excited for this book to come out. It will haunt me for some time to come, and I will absolutely be getting a copy!!
This is one of the best books I've read all year! A mix of disturbing fairy tale, creature feature, and psych horror, this was such a well-crafted story that kept me engaged and on edge the whole time! It was spooky, visceral, heart-wrenching - everything I could have asked for. C. G. Drews's macabre prose is exquisite, equal parts precise and imaginative, and it helps anchor us in the world of the story brilliantly. The twists were really well-plotted, and the world is so immersive.
Andrew and Thomas are disastrous in the best way, and the way their relationship is crafted is beautiful. Andrew is also some fantastic a-spec representation, and seeing how well he was written and handled was refreshing!!
I'm so incredibly excited for this book to come out. It will haunt me for some time to come, and I will absolutely be getting a copy!!
The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was really intriguing. It had such a strong start, a really interesting premise, and some fantastic ideas. The motif of cycles and the way the author deals with generational trauma as an aspect of horror is particularly interesting, as is the entire character of Oliver.
Unfortunately, this book ultimately felt way too busy. There is so much going on at all times, there are so many plot threads to follow, there are so many tertiary characters - it feels stuffed to the point of bursting and it ultimately left me feeling overwhelmed. There were so many fantastic concepts and ideas in here that could have been compelling as their own story, but since they were woven in and out of this story I felt like they were less impactful than they could have been. Honestly, this book could have been about 20% shorter without all the fluff and filler in the plot and dialogue, and it would have been better for it.
Also, all the random semi-irrelevant political tangents in here were weird. I'm a firm believer that a lot of good horror is inherently political, but this didn't feel inherent - it felt like the author was Attempting to insert politics into this book in a way that was both inelegant and ineffectual, since like 95% of it was not relevant to any plot or true character development.
Overall, not a bad book! It's got some good bones and some brilliant moments, but it kinda manages to get in its own way sometimes.
Unfortunately, this book ultimately felt way too busy. There is so much going on at all times, there are so many plot threads to follow, there are so many tertiary characters - it feels stuffed to the point of bursting and it ultimately left me feeling overwhelmed. There were so many fantastic concepts and ideas in here that could have been compelling as their own story, but since they were woven in and out of this story I felt like they were less impactful than they could have been. Honestly, this book could have been about 20% shorter without all the fluff and filler in the plot and dialogue, and it would have been better for it.
Also, all the random semi-irrelevant political tangents in here were weird. I'm a firm believer that a lot of good horror is inherently political, but this didn't feel inherent - it felt like the author was Attempting to insert politics into this book in a way that was both inelegant and ineffectual, since like 95% of it was not relevant to any plot or true character development.
Overall, not a bad book! It's got some good bones and some brilliant moments, but it kinda manages to get in its own way sometimes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Blood
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Alcohol
Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.25
Disclaimer: thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
I'm not usually one for real-world crime thrillers, but I was very pleasantly surprised by this book! The mystery itself is very intriguing, with lots of complexity and a well-handled reveal. Marie Tierney is really good at breadcrumbing us through the case; I was able to guess the person responsible, but not the actual twist itself! The pacing is tight, and while the really short chapters can sometimes be disorienting, I felt like it helped keep things moving.
I was a huge fan of Ava, the protagonist. I'm not sure if this was the author's intent, but as an autistic reader, I saw so much of my younger self in Ava, and it was a really rewarding experience. She's a wonderful narrative anchor, and it helped make the frequent character perspective changes a little less jarring.
I did feel like there were moments where the writing felt a little sloppy. There was missing or unnecessary punctuation, or very rushed description of location changes, and I had to go back and reread a sentence or two a few times. I also do, unfortunately, feel like this novel fell victim to the common ableist/sanist trope of "the killer is mentally/psychologically unwell, and it's made them evil" that's very common in crime thrillers. It wasn't egregious, but it was noticed.
Overall, this is a compelling, macabre, and thrilling crime novel that kept me engaged from cover to cover. This is an impressive debut!
I'm not usually one for real-world crime thrillers, but I was very pleasantly surprised by this book! The mystery itself is very intriguing, with lots of complexity and a well-handled reveal. Marie Tierney is really good at breadcrumbing us through the case; I was able to guess the person responsible, but not the actual twist itself! The pacing is tight, and while the really short chapters can sometimes be disorienting, I felt like it helped keep things moving.
I was a huge fan of Ava, the protagonist. I'm not sure if this was the author's intent, but as an autistic reader, I saw so much of my younger self in Ava, and it was a really rewarding experience. She's a wonderful narrative anchor, and it helped make the frequent character perspective changes a little less jarring.
I did feel like there were moments where the writing felt a little sloppy. There was missing or unnecessary punctuation, or very rushed description of location changes, and I had to go back and reread a sentence or two a few times. I also do, unfortunately, feel like this novel fell victim to the common ableist/sanist trope of "the killer is mentally/psychologically unwell, and it's made them evil" that's very common in crime thrillers. It wasn't egregious, but it was noticed.
Overall, this is a compelling, macabre, and thrilling crime novel that kept me engaged from cover to cover. This is an impressive debut!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment