apparatinglibrarian's reviews
2021 reviews

The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenje

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

At the Edge of the Woods by Victoria Houston, Victoria Houston

funny mysterious fast-paced

3.0

Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror by Jordan Peele, John Joseph Adams

dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-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

5.0

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-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

3.0

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
Did not finish book. Stopped at 55%.

 I dnf this book. I made it half-way, for what it's worth, but I couldn't get into it.

For the most part, this isn't a cozy mystery. It says it is, but it isn't. I also don't know if the book is wanting to be a cozy fantasy or high-fantasy. It's both--and I think that's okay--but the writing isn't clear enough that you know it's both. The only "cozy" thing in the story is the romance and the bookstore/tea store. So...take that for what it's worth.

I also felt a lot of influences from Legends & Lattes, but not as great. 

Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I can’t put my finger on it, but it was just meh. 

It was a fast paced book, interesting idea for a book, and there were moments that I loved (the flashbacks and whodunit theme).

I got more of a murder mystery than thriller, and I was never unsettled. I felt like I was led to feel unsettled, but…I just didn’t. I felt sorry and sad. Also, I didn’t like any of the characters—all of them were annoying. Nicole was tolerable lol. 

It was meh. 

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Stranger Danger by Maren Stoffels

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano

dark mysterious 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

5.0