Scan barcode
akira_outofthegravity's reviews
173 reviews
House of Secrets by Chris Columbus
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
World building is nice! Characters are reminiscent of the Spiderwick Chronicles. Three children, who are sent into the books written by the previous inhabitants of the house they moved into, have to rescue their parents who’ve been kidnapped by a witch, with the help of a lost WW1 pilot, a rebel girl, a giant, and some pirates.
However it’s clear that the authors have never written a well-rounded woman in their life. Penelope is there for Cordelia to get jealous of and die three chapters later. Cordelia goes from being level headed to making stupid decisions in seconds. Not to mention, her relationship with Will is played like an enemies-to-lovers but they can’t create meaningful drama between the two characters. Instead they make Will a misogynist - which comes out of nowhere!
However it’s clear that the authors have never written a well-rounded woman in their life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Short stories which build on the feeling of tension, and manage to unnerve the reader, ending with the Lottery. One of the most disturbing stories of our time. An excellent read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
The Wize Wize Beasts of the Wizarding Wizdoms by Nagabe
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A series of comic drabbles about anthropomorphic animals in love in a magical boarding school. The art is lovely but the cute is overshadowed by the bad.
The bad:
- semi assault (character is kissed while unconscious) also features a love potion
- relationship between student and teacher
This book is very sweet, but those are unnecessary plot points that could have been left out for a much more enjoyable read
The bad:
- semi assault (character is kissed while unconscious) also features a love potion
- relationship between student and teacher
This book is very sweet, but those are unnecessary plot points that could have been left out for a much more enjoyable read
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.75
Short, sweet, incredibly good!!
Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-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? Yes
4.0
A very fluffy book! Don’t go into it looking for plot though. This is an enemies to lovers slowburn-ish set in the highlands between American Millie and Scottish princess Flora.
I have a few nitpicks;
1. Despite being wlw the word “lesbian” is never mentioned in the book- despite Flora identifying as such. Just say the word lesbian. It’s not bad.
2. I don’t think the author has ever been to Scotland. As someone who is Scottish, it was a very weird look at the culture. Edinburgh was weirdly and vaguely described, not to mention when they go to a pub it’s filled with jokes about inaccurate stereotypes (sheep-shagging is an offensive Welsh stereotype).
3. No mention of Scots, leaving me feeling as though this is the most English book set in Scotland ever.
I have a few nitpicks;
1. Despite being wlw the word “lesbian” is never mentioned in the book- despite Flora identifying as such. Just say the word lesbian. It’s not bad.
2. I don’t think the author has ever been to Scotland. As someone who is Scottish, it was a very weird look at the culture. Edinburgh was weirdly and vaguely described, not to mention when they go to a pub it’s filled with jokes about inaccurate stereotypes (sheep-shagging is an offensive Welsh stereotype).
3. No mention of Scots, leaving me feeling as though this is the most English book set in Scotland ever.
The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-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
Perfect for fans of Columbo! This is a howdunnit of the highest calibre. After murdering her abusive husband with the help of her daughter, Yasuko fears for her and her daughters lives. Unbeknownst to her, the crime was witnessed by her next door neighbour Ishigami, a genius maths teacher who happens to be in love with Yasuko, who offers to cover up the crime and help her escape the police.
This is a great thriller mystery. Yasuko’s paranoia is palpable, and her relationship with Ishigami becoming more strained, yet more intimate, really sells the fear and dread. Ishigami and detective Galileo are old friends, and have similar personalities. There were certain aspects that left me really sad, and the ending was so tragic. It’s a game of cat and mouse that had me hooked!
This is a great thriller mystery. Yasuko’s paranoia is palpable, and her relationship with Ishigami becoming more strained, yet more intimate, really sells the fear and dread. Ishigami and detective Galileo are old friends, and have similar personalities. There were certain aspects that left me really sad, and the ending was so tragic. It’s a game of cat and mouse that had me hooked!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Murder
The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
This is not a whodunnit, despite the subject matter. This is the tale of three children who witness the aftermath of the mass murder of a prestigious and rich family via a case of poisoned fizzy juice- the sole survivor being the inhabitants blind daughter. No one ever confessed, and the case went cold.
This book dives into the aftermath for all who were affected, the three siblings who stumbled upon the scene and who had been there last, the daughter who was left alive, the newspapers, journalists, and public. It’s never explicitly stated who committed the murders (though it’s heavily implied) but it goes to show that a tragedy affects not only the people closest, but a whole community. This is a very sad novel, but one that I enjoyed reading.
This book dives into the aftermath for all who were affected, the three siblings who stumbled upon the scene and who had been there last, the daughter who was left alive, the newspapers, journalists, and public. It’s never explicitly stated who committed the murders (though it’s heavily implied) but it goes to show that a tragedy affects not only the people closest, but a whole community. This is a very sad novel, but one that I enjoyed reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicide, and Murder
A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It’s very detailed. I could clearly see every scene written, but our protagonist suffers from Murakami Protagonist Syndrome in that they’re fake deep, kind of bland yet they get super hot girlfriends, and there’s a weird vaguely misogynistic tone. This isn’t a spoiler: in the first few pages we hear about our protagonist’s FWB relationship with an unnamed woman, who he later comments has died. This is never explained, never brought up again, nor is the relevancy of this scene ever explained.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Nod by Adrian Barnes
1.0
Amazing premise, very promising but weirdly misogynistic. Reads like Adrian Barnes wanted to write himself into the book so he gave his character no likeable, or recognisable, qualities but made his girlfriend beautiful and smart.
Filled with ableism and misogyny, a very dull, and quite frankly unnecessary read. The only good part of the book is the ending- seriously. The last two paragraphs are haunting and i wish that energy could have been kept throughout the book.
Filled with ableism and misogyny, a very dull, and quite frankly unnecessary read. The only good part of the book is the ending- seriously. The last two paragraphs are haunting and i wish that energy could have been kept throughout the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Murder
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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
How this is someone’s debut novel I will never understand. This is such an intricate book, filled with detail and intrigue.
Aiden finds himself stumbling to a hunting lodge in someone else’s body, with no idea how he got there. Aiden is in a time loop, destined to live the same few days over and over again. The young Evelyn Hardcastle will die later that night, Aiden’s task? Save her, and as a reward he will be freed from the loop. But every time he sleeps he wakes up as a new person, and he only has 8 chances left…
Not only that, but there are two others like him, but only one can leave. A mysterious plague doctor watching his every move, and a fellow “body snatcher” trying to kill him off. Can Aiden solve who kills Evelyn?
This is so detailed and I love it with my entire heart.
Aiden finds himself stumbling to a hunting lodge in someone else’s body, with no idea how he got there. Aiden is in a time loop, destined to live the same few days over and over again. The young Evelyn Hardcastle will die later that night, Aiden’s task? Save her, and as a reward he will be freed from the loop. But every time he sleeps he wakes up as a new person, and he only has 8 chances left…
Not only that, but there are two others like him, but only one can leave. A mysterious plague doctor watching his every move, and a fellow “body snatcher” trying to kill him off. Can Aiden solve who kills Evelyn?
This is so detailed and I love it with my entire heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder