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arcticdryas's reviews
24 reviews
Head Like a Hole by Andrew Van Wey
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Stay Awake by Megan Goldin
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
3.0
Messy start. Got better around 100 pages in. Really repetitive, and a lot of issues were glossed over. Not that realistic but kind of fun for a one time thriller read with a different take. One POV is first person present. The other (detectives) is third person Omni present. Multiple timelines it goes back and forth on. Awkwardly placed info-dumps for basic concepts while more complex things are skimmed over. Very on-the-nose almost meta references in some areas.
3.0 immediately after finishing but feel like it might be one that drops as I think about it more.
3.0 immediately after finishing but feel like it might be one that drops as I think about it more.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.
DNF because the tone changed drastically after first third. The book club was barely a thing. The vampire was at times extremely capable and at others, woefully incompetent?
Patricia, oblivious and incompetent. One scene you’re beat over the head with all the signs of how they should be wary of the newcomer in front of him and no one even glances nervously or acknowledges it.
Kid is randomly obsessed with nazis for no apparent reason and it’s… persistent.
Lots of showing how sexism and classism and racism in the south in this era could have been, but it did feel more like 50’s or 60’s than 90’s - and again, kind of beat over the head with it (mc experiences something and then on-the-nose ruminates but doesn’t reallyyyy change).
If you’re looking for a book to open up discussion about those topics, along with sexual predation (especially of children, potentially grooming), then this could be good for that. There is explicit rape and graphic deaths, but it was sooo slow paced after the first 30ish % that it felt less and less like a horror and more like a slow thriller based around a woman’s dismantling of her beliefs - that she doesn’t act on very much (as far as I read).
Patricia, oblivious and incompetent. One scene you’re beat over the head with all the signs of how they should be wary of the newcomer in front of him and no one even glances nervously or acknowledges it.
Kid is randomly obsessed with nazis for no apparent reason and it’s… persistent.
Lots of showing how sexism and classism and racism in the south in this era could have been, but it did feel more like 50’s or 60’s than 90’s - and again, kind of beat over the head with it (mc experiences something and then on-the-nose ruminates but doesn’t reallyyyy change).
If you’re looking for a book to open up discussion about those topics, along with sexual predation (especially of children, potentially grooming), then this could be good for that. There is explicit rape and graphic deaths, but it was sooo slow paced after the first 30ish % that it felt less and less like a horror and more like a slow thriller based around a woman’s dismantling of her beliefs - that she doesn’t act on very much (as far as I read).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
Blood Sugar by Daniel Kraus
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
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
4.75
Definitely listen to the audiobook - the narrator brings this to life in a way I don’t think would happen with just reading.
A dark story of two young teens, a child, and a man who share the same story: they’ve been severely let down by the others in their life. And the ending… that last 15% was gut punch after gut punch.
Warning: mentions of rape, animal death, drug use, drug use by children, child neglect, domestic abuse
A dark story of two young teens, a child, and a man who share the same story: they’ve been severely let down by the others in their life. And the ending… that last 15% was gut punch after gut punch.
Warning: mentions of rape, animal death, drug use, drug use by children, child neglect, domestic abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, and Violence
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
I loved the writing and the characters. I was ready for the villagers to be killed within the first 20 pages - don’t usually get that strong of feelings that quickly. Absolutely loved, would read again and recommend. Samson and Forest, my loves ♥️ Abitha, relatable and wonderful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Misogyny
The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle
dark
funny
reflective
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
3.75
Time Squared by Lesley Krueger
Did not finish book. Stopped at 41%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 41%.
Very slow paced, was expecting more timeline things but that dropped off. Had good characters, rich setting and descriptions, bit on the nose feminist messaging (which is fine, just some felt a little anachronistic).
The Shining by Stephen King
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Lazy writing, bad characters, rambling, over sexualization and general grossness with women and bad writing of kids