arieslofi's reviews
102 reviews

The Vessel by Adam L.G. Nevill

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

a slog to get through, the ending gives you enough of a catharsis that the book itself is almost forgiveable. almost because it's not, it relies too much on flowery prose and descriptions that are mostly empty. the author understands what "show, don't tell" means and still manages to do the opposite while using this literally; the amount of times he "shows" us tony was/is abusive is excruciating, like he doesn't trust his readers with this information.
overall very dull and full of itself, with a meaningless core, it never truly delivers on its scares. the ending was good enough to get itself more than 1 star, though, if that moves you to read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Dementia, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Suicide, and Stalking

Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata

dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Sexual content

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Incest and Pregnancy

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

dark emotional sad tense medium-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? No

3.5

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Violence, Vomit, and Death of parent

Minor: Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and War

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

adventurous dark funny tense 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gore and War

Minor: Vomit

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha

emotional informative reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Tony and Susan by Austin Wright

challenging dark slow-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Misogyny, Torture, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Rape

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

adventurous dark 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

4.0

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

adventurous emotional tense 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? It's complicated

3.5

too dumb for a 4 and it kinda dragged. rly liked seeing the cullens and the wolf pack teaming up tho + rly liked the backstories 

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

dark medium-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Racial slurs, Self harm, Xenophobia, and Blood

Minor: Homophobia and Sexual content