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allyareads's reviews
348 reviews
The Succubus's Prize by Katee Robert
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.75
I truly reach for these like cold medicine when I’m not feeling 100% and never regret it. I’m too invested in this series. I adore the cover art and the predicable formula but varying flavours of wholesome pairings.
Keep ‘em coming.
Keep ‘em coming.
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Dark, moody and atmospheric. This was a slow build into a violent crescendo. The unhurried pace really helped cement the menacing dread that was growing and the steady undoing of the character's mental state. My anxiety was manifesting physically and I was too aware of my heart beating and muscles tensing. The pacing alone might not be for everyone but I really appreciated it.
I'd also love to mention the character art in the book! Stunning and creepy. Love, love, love it.
I'm gonna need more books to provide their own art.
File under: "Good for her (them)" + "I support women's rights AND women's wrongs".
Imagine a mix of Robert Egger's The Witch and a less sapphic Fear Street 1666.
Moral of the story; the Puritans were really fucking scary and nothing is more haunting than the rightousness of a group of people who envoke God to deliver punishment.
I'd also love to mention the character art in the book! Stunning and creepy. Love, love, love it.
I'm gonna need more books to provide their own art.
File under: "Good for her (them)" + "I support women's rights AND women's wrongs".
Imagine a mix of Robert Egger's The Witch and a less sapphic Fear Street 1666.
Moral of the story; the Puritans were really fucking scary and nothing is more haunting than the rightousness of a group of people who envoke God to deliver punishment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Body horror, Gore, Gaslighting, Torture, and Hate crime
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Animal death, and Death of parent
Three Kings by Freydís Moon
I've removed my rating and review after recent information has come out about the author and their problematic behavior. Super disapointing.
Please go support trans and non binary latinx authors.
Please go support trans and non binary latinx authors.
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Currently reading Kingfisher's entire backlist and am yet to be disappointed.
This is an example of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
We all know the story of the creepy, delapatated family house where the flora and fauna are unsettling and suspious. Most of us know the slow building fright and plot twists (T. Kingfisher even address this in the afterword). This is more a character study and Alex Easton has my whole heart.
I loved how Easton's CPTSD manifested and even when they were terrified and reeling they were still trying and always brave.
There's something about T.K's writing that feels tailored to all my likes and I'm going to keep these good times going.
More please.
This is an example of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
We all know the story of the creepy, delapatated family house where the flora and fauna are unsettling and suspious. Most of us know the slow building fright and plot twists (T. Kingfisher even address this in the afterword). This is more a character study and Alex Easton has my whole heart.
I loved how Easton's CPTSD manifested and even when they were terrified and reeling they were still trying and always brave.
There's something about T.K's writing that feels tailored to all my likes and I'm going to keep these good times going.
More please.
The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? N/A
4.0
Day 2 of the Trans Rights Readathon: Full disclosure I had this book sitting on my TBR pile for almost a year before deciding to read it for the readathon. What a shame I could have read this sooner! It was so sweet with a beautiful story and gorgeous art. A great middle grade read.
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.75
I'm currently on a horror kick and this book has me obsessed. I haven't stopped thinking about it and already desperately want to reread it. I feel like it may be a story you get something different with each read.
Please I implore you, take your time when reading this. The atmosphere, characters and actually all of the writing is handled with so much deliberate care. Even the most violent or gory scenes (i.e. most of the book) are written so beautifully and delicately. No doubt heavy on the purple prose, but I found once I was in I was in (I also read an Ebook version and we love a quick hold-down thesaurus check).
I’ve always hated the story of the Little Mermaid and this does a fantastic job of exploring the dark suspicions, the various myths and the cyclical nature of storytelling. Getting to hear the story from the monster/victim in their own truth was perfect.
I’m livid it was so short, even with the original short story attached. It may be controversial but I think I might have enjoyed reading the short story before.
But as someone who works as a bookseller, I know it will be divisive. I can tell some people will love this wholeheartedly and others are going to fucking hate it. So I can't recommend this to everyone.
If you don’t like books heavy on vibes, body horror and with big pretentious words, this ain’t your book.
Recommend to fans of tv series Hannibal, the dark elves from the Magicians, dark fairy tale retellings and the people who cheer on the monsters.
If anyone has any simliar books,GIMME! I would love some suggestions please.
Please I implore you, take your time when reading this. The atmosphere, characters and actually all of the writing is handled with so much deliberate care. Even the most violent or gory scenes (i.e. most of the book) are written so beautifully and delicately. No doubt heavy on the purple prose, but I found once I was in I was in (I also read an Ebook version and we love a quick hold-down thesaurus check).
I’ve always hated the story of the Little Mermaid and this does a fantastic job of exploring the dark suspicions, the various myths and the cyclical nature of storytelling. Getting to hear the story from the monster/victim in their own truth was perfect.
I’m livid it was so short, even with the original short story attached. It may be controversial but I think I might have enjoyed reading the short story before.
But as someone who works as a bookseller, I know it will be divisive. I can tell some people will love this wholeheartedly and others are going to fucking hate it. So I can't recommend this to everyone.
If you don’t like books heavy on vibes, body horror and with big pretentious words, this ain’t your book.
Recommend to fans of tv series Hannibal, the dark elves from the Magicians, dark fairy tale retellings and the people who cheer on the monsters.
If anyone has any simliar books,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Gore, Body horror, Medical content, Murder, Cannibalism, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Torture, Toxic relationship, Confinement, and Pregnancy
Minor: Rape
Covenant, Vol. 1 by explodikid, LySandra Vuong
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Thank you Oni Press and Netgalley for the digital copy. Are you also a fan of the 2005 masterpiece Constantine? Did watching demon fighting, while also appreciating the beautiful faces of Keanu, Rachel Weiss and Tilda Swinton feel like the best time?
Then you’ll like this comic. I loved every character and am genuinely excited to see where the story goes.
Then you’ll like this comic. I loved every character and am genuinely excited to see where the story goes.
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Confinement, Torture, Antisemitism, Blood, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Funny Story by Emily Henry
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The beginning had my blood pressure so elevated (and contemplating murder) and then effortlessly moves into a really rom-com. This read like a love letter to libraries and the incredible staff who help communities everywhere (I fucking love the library) and the awkward growing pains of making friends as an adult. As always I want to know all of these people, visit these places and eat every single food that was mentioned. What can I say, Miss Henry doesn't miss. This is the most ‘Rom-com’ of her books and I needed that.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship