arrrgh_schooling's reviews
1352 reviews

Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland by Christopher R. Browning

challenging informative sad tense medium-paced

4.5

We Must Not Think of Ourselves by Lauren Grodstein

challenging emotional sad 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? No

5.0

Represent: The Unfinished Fight for the Vote by Marc Favreau, Michael Eric Dyson

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.5

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito

dark lighthearted mysterious tense fast-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

3.75

Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King

dark emotional 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

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

The Darkest Night by Lindy Ryan

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.75

The Queen's Spade by Sarah Raughley

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative 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? No

4.25

This was such an interesting read. I had only vaguely heard of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, so I was curious to read a book about her. This story is about royalty, court intrigue, and the lengths a girl will go to seek vengeance.

I could tell that the author put a lot of research into telling this story. I loved how she gave Sally a voice, creating this tale of revenge against the crown around what we know about Victoria and her ideas of abolition and empire. This reimagines history, but with so much historical detail, it feels like it could easily be a true story.

Ina, or Sally, as she is known in Great Britain, is a fierce protagonist. We learn about her history with the crown and why she would throw everything away to seek revenge against the people who tore her away from her home. There is a lot of racism, both outright and subtle, in this story. You will feel Sally's fury as she must live amongst people who treat her as a pet but always other.

I had some issues with the pacing around the middle of the book and the repetitiveness of certain lines, but overall, I liked this book. It would be a great tie-in to studying the Victorian period. 

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

American Cannibal by Rebecca Rowland, Maenad Press

dark mysterious tense 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? N/A

3.75