Take a photo of a barcode or cover
warped_star's reviews
6 reviews
The Willows by Algernon Blackwood
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
At first this book was a bit slow to start, but then it picked up rather quickly actually and I couldn’t put it down. It’s an extremely short read, theoretically someone could probably read it in a day. Took me a few days with life happening.
The eventual build up of tension was executed so successfully that I felt I was reading faster and faster as the plot kept creeping into frame. The self reflection coupled with the naivety added to the sense of madness and the apparent need to hold onto one’s mental fortitude amidst the mysterious pressing of the other world. A testament to man’s ignorant and failed attempt at understanding the magic of the universe. These two character are fully enveloped in the clutches of the willows, and they can only cling to each other for survival and sanity.
The lack of names of the characters as well gives the reader room to really put themselves into the story and allows the setting to take form of a character itself, becoming the antagonist.
Also ngl it was a lil gay 😏 teehee
The footnotes were extremely unnecessary because it never even informed me of anything of significance. It simply highlighted the usage of racist terminology that we as a society no longer seem appropriate. This book was literally written in 1907 by a British man of course there’s gonna be racist terminology. At the very least the footnotes could have been more informative.
The eventual build up of tension was executed so successfully that I felt I was reading faster and faster as the plot kept creeping into frame. The self reflection coupled with the naivety added to the sense of madness and the apparent need to hold onto one’s mental fortitude amidst the mysterious pressing of the other world. A testament to man’s ignorant and failed attempt at understanding the magic of the universe. These two character are fully enveloped in the clutches of the willows, and they can only cling to each other for survival and sanity.
The lack of names of the characters as well gives the reader room to really put themselves into the story and allows the setting to take form of a character itself, becoming the antagonist.
Also ngl it was a lil gay 😏 teehee
The footnotes were extremely unnecessary because it never even informed me of anything of significance. It simply highlighted the usage of racist terminology that we as a society no longer seem appropriate. This book was literally written in 1907 by a British man of course there’s gonna be racist terminology. At the very least the footnotes could have been more informative.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Colonisation
Minor: Death
The Cipher by Kathe Koja
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed the ride of this book, the tension that rose all around the Funhole and its quirks was… well fun! Everyone was equally unlikable in many ways, but I did feel bad for the main character Nicholas. His girlfriend was super annoying, great writing on that part, she was truly insufferable and horrible. Same with all the art gallery goons, I was happy about what happened to that one mask douche at the end.
Even though the video was indicative as to what was most likely going to happen post book, I still was sort of left dissatisfied when he never jumped in. I get the appeal of leaving an open ending of sorts, like “will he or won’t he? We all know he did” but yeah idk just wish it was slightly longer?
pretty bad ass about the girlfriends feet getting ripped off tho lmaoooo
Even though the video was indicative as to what was most likely going to happen post book, I still was sort of left dissatisfied when he never jumped in. I get the appeal of leaving an open ending of sorts, like “will he or won’t he? We all know he did” but yeah idk just wish it was slightly longer?
pretty bad ass about the girlfriends feet getting ripped off tho lmaoooo
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Death
A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick
challenging
dark
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Probably one of my favorite books. It was incredibly entertaining and even funny at times, but also dove into true mania behind addiction.
The split personas in the story are really interesting and add that sci-fi flare we love PKD for, but the setting wasn’t too heavy on the tech. The story allowed the tech to just be subtle enough to allow the reader a very relatable near future environment. I also felt he did an excellent job at describing the desolate, hot, and dusty amber look of Los Angeles.
The book is incredibly sad though. Although it is fiction, it is loosely based off of real experiences. Anyone who has suffered drug addiction would relate to this story deeply. Everything from the mania, to the feinding, to the mobbing, to the depressing over usage in one single persons apartment every time. It is so realistic, but adds a level of mystery as well.
It’s a fucked up, drug-driven, cat and mouse game of who-done-it… but instead of murder it’s trying to figure out who smeared shit on ur car engine? Who destroyed your weird visual comtraption? Who was I yesterday? And who am I today?
Last thing I’ll say, I cried heavily at the end and remembered all my loved ones lost to abuse. There’s a list of all his loved ones at the end, and I added my own. Very cathartic, but incredibly depressing.
The split personas in the story are really interesting and add that sci-fi flare we love PKD for, but the setting wasn’t too heavy on the tech. The story allowed the tech to just be subtle enough to allow the reader a very relatable near future environment. I also felt he did an excellent job at describing the desolate, hot, and dusty amber look of Los Angeles.
The book is incredibly sad though. Although it is fiction, it is loosely based off of real experiences. Anyone who has suffered drug addiction would relate to this story deeply. Everything from the mania, to the feinding, to the mobbing, to the depressing over usage in one single persons apartment every time. It is so realistic, but adds a level of mystery as well.
It’s a fucked up, drug-driven, cat and mouse game of who-done-it… but instead of murder it’s trying to figure out who smeared shit on ur car engine? Who destroyed your weird visual comtraption? Who was I yesterday? And who am I today?
Last thing I’ll say, I cried heavily at the end and remembered all my loved ones lost to abuse. There’s a list of all his loved ones at the end, and I added my own. Very cathartic, but incredibly depressing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
adventurous
reflective
medium-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
4.75
Loves this book so much. I think it’s a clever moral dilemma to pose, to create something meant for slavery, and then to have those things ask for autonomy, and for the human response to eradicate the over powered creations.
I also enjoyed the various perspectives in the story and the world building is fantastic.
I have to reread the book to say more.
I also enjoyed the various perspectives in the story and the world building is fantastic.
I have to reread the book to say more.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
Push by Sapphire
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
Really tragic and beautifully written story. I loved the way the writing style changes as the main character develops her literacy skills. It felt like a very four-dimensional, where the words on the page directly reflect the characters writing within the story.
Of course, it was incredibly difficult to go through some aspects of the story because it is so so dark. And the hardest part is that this story is a fictional depiction of very real experiences that involve race, class, and abuse. So potentially, this could be a real story which makes the story even more sad.
I have never seen the movie, personally the book was enough.
Of course, it was incredibly difficult to go through some aspects of the story because it is so so dark. And the hardest part is that this story is a fictional depiction of very real experiences that involve race, class, and abuse. So potentially, this could be a real story which makes the story even more sad.
I have never seen the movie, personally the book was enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Classism
Negative Space by B.R. Yeager
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Shit was nuts. I’d say the writer did an amazing job of really capturing how different each narrator was. I loved how each character interacted with each other through the writing. Definitely descriptive of the corpses, made me squirm in disgust.
I think the pacing fell off for me in the second half of the book. After a while the only character I was interested in knowing about was Lu, who I felt in the end did get a good ending and I was happy about that. She was really the only reason I wanted to get to the end. Also speaking on Lu, I do love that her queerness is not hugely dug into, they just allow her to be queer without needing to point it out. It’s merely through the writing style that the reader knows she is queer at all. I wish more queer characters were written in this way, and I see it becoming a trend in the near future.
The other characters became repetitive and I began to lose interest over them, but over all I did enjoy the ride. I liked the weird billowy way that Tyler’s dream body was described, like a plastic bag in the wind. Very weird.
I think the pacing fell off for me in the second half of the book. After a while the only character I was interested in knowing about was Lu, who I felt in the end did get a good ending and I was happy about that. She was really the only reason I wanted to get to the end. Also speaking on Lu, I do love that her queerness is not hugely dug into, they just allow her to be queer without needing to point it out. It’s merely through the writing style that the reader knows she is queer at all. I wish more queer characters were written in this way, and I see it becoming a trend in the near future.
The other characters became repetitive and I began to lose interest over them, but over all I did enjoy the ride. I liked the weird billowy way that Tyler’s dream body was described, like a plastic bag in the wind. Very weird.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Excrement, Medical content, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail