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art_books_chemistry's reviews
538 reviews
A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
The Conception of Terror: Tales Inspired by M.R. James, Volume 1 by M.R. James
dark
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? It's complicated
4.0
Each short story in this collection, though modernly set, has an original Twilight Zone feel to it. And just like Twilight Zone, not every short is a great hit. I'd say 2 out of 4 were great. The first, Casting the Runes, is wonderfully psychological with the sweetest revenge at the end and my favorite out of these. Lost Hearts was not quite as good; it would have been creepier with more real life clues and the twist was easy to see coming.
The third, The Treasure of Abbot Thomas, left me too confused to be creeped out. It tried too hard to be creepy real life and creepy supernatural simultaneously, then basically not having an ending, which just felt weird. Lastly, A View from a Hill, was very well done by being solidly realistic in feel for anyone that actually believes in ghosts. This relied on the concept of a local haunting location that everyone avoids and don't we all know of at least one of those?
The third, The Treasure of Abbot Thomas, left me too confused to be creeped out. It tried too hard to be creepy real life and creepy supernatural simultaneously, then basically not having an ending, which just felt weird. Lastly, A View from a Hill, was very well done by being solidly realistic in feel for anyone that actually believes in ghosts. This relied on the concept of a local haunting location that everyone avoids and don't we all know of at least one of those?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Pedophilia and Alcohol
Orisha, Volume 1: With Great Power by Huzayfa Umar
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It's been a while since I read a manga and this art style was definitely a bit different for me. I did end up liking it though I need to get a tablet or e-reader that can do apps so I can read NetGalley directly instead of needing to use my phone. It's hard to see all the detail when I need to zoom in just to read the words. NetGalley's format of making two pages into one page doesn't help.
The fight scenes were a little visually confusing sometimes with a lot of lines all over the place but I was still able to follow blow by blow reasonably well. The plot is pretty well set already for a first book of a series, thought I actually think it could have been extended and split into two with the last couple chapters of this book being a climax of Vol. 2 and a longer journey to the location be the rest of Vol. 1. It felt a little rushed and the character development of Oya was lost because of it. 100+ years old and she trusts this new young kid without second thoughts? Whether she should or not was beside the point, it just seemed unrealistic the way it happened.
I found the character's faces to be wonderfully expressive and thankfully wildly different enough to be able to tell them all apart. I'm hoping, later in the series some of their facial markings, etc are explained. I'm guessing they are relevant to the Orisha mythology of Nigeria so maybe other people don't need them explained but I'd love to learn more.
Overall, I think it was a solid first book from a debut author and I'm excited for more!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for my honest review.
The fight scenes were a little visually confusing sometimes with a lot of lines all over the place but I was still able to follow blow by blow reasonably well. The plot is pretty well set already for a first book of a series, thought I actually think it could have been extended and split into two with the last couple chapters of this book being a climax of Vol. 2 and a longer journey to the location be the rest of Vol. 1. It felt a little rushed and the character development of Oya was lost because of it. 100+ years old and she trusts this new young kid without second thoughts? Whether she should or not was beside the point, it just seemed unrealistic the way it happened.
I found the character's faces to be wonderfully expressive and thankfully wildly different enough to be able to tell them all apart. I'm hoping, later in the series some of their facial markings, etc are explained. I'm guessing they are relevant to the Orisha mythology of Nigeria so maybe other people don't need them explained but I'd love to learn more.
Overall, I think it was a solid first book from a debut author and I'm excited for more!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-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 am struggling with my rating on this. I like the concept of the story a lot and enjoyed learning about a pantheon of gods/goddesses that I, for the most part, have never heard of. What I struggled with was the integration of the real history of Russia surrounding Tsar Ivan the Terrible with that mythos. I found the different parts weren't properly intertwined and just hard stopped sometimes between the real life and magical sections. The interludes were also a little confusing on audio at first because I didn't realize when the POV switched. The interludes also time jump without saying so, whereas the chapters are named with dates when they time jump.
I did guess who the mysterious goddess was a decent amount of time before they revealed it, though my first guess was wrong so good job to the author there, appropriate amount of suspense. I also appreciated the 'balance of the universe' aspect since that's very prevalent in old world or pagan belief systems. But other than that, there seemed to be a lot of filler side action since we rarely have actual battles described and for me, there was a decent amount that I felt could have been cut out without losing the main story or any character development. And while I'm on the latter, there was plenty however there were so many side characters that I think some of the main character development got lost.
I did guess who the mysterious goddess was a decent amount of time before they revealed it, though my first guess was wrong so good job to the author there, appropriate amount of suspense. I also appreciated the 'balance of the universe' aspect since that's very prevalent in old world or pagan belief systems. But other than that, there seemed to be a lot of filler side action since we rarely have actual battles described and for me, there was a decent amount that I felt could have been cut out without losing the main story or any character development. And while I'm on the latter, there was plenty however there were so many side characters that I think some of the main character development got lost.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child death and Vomit
Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Firstly, this is no great literary masterpiece and it's good because I didn't expect it to be so. I've seen very mixed reviews of this book before I bought it but I like Ice Planet Barbarians and this book is just sooo pretty. I am pretty sure at least a percentage of the people that bought this for the pretty cover and sprayed edges did not bother to read the synopsis or try the author's other work first. A primary plot of this book is the special minotaur holiday that makes them insatiable with lust which should tell you what at least half the book is about.
As for the non-spicy part of the book, the plot is thin but reasonably believable. The "Five" are all different but special in their own ways which natural allows the secondary plot to move forward to it's climax. Thought for me I found part of the ending to be disappointing for some of the side characters. I did guess some of what eventually happened to the FMC in the end but like I said, the plot isn't trying that hard, it was pretty clear what would ultimately happen in some cases from the very beginning. There was less than subtle foreshadowing on some pieces from very early on.
Overall, a decent fantasy romance that was entertaining though it could have moved a little faster in pace for what it was.
As for the non-spicy part of the book, the plot is thin but reasonably believable. The "Five" are all different but special in their own ways which natural allows the secondary plot to move forward to it's climax. Thought for me I found part of the ending to be disappointing for some of the side characters. I did guess some of what eventually happened to the FMC in the end but like I said, the plot isn't trying that hard, it was pretty clear what would ultimately happen in some cases from the very beginning. There was less than subtle foreshadowing on some pieces from very early on.
Overall, a decent fantasy romance that was entertaining though it could have moved a little faster in pace for what it was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Sexual content, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I have no idea how the author made such a gory, bloody, shocking history into such a slow and boring book. Seriously, I don't understand why this book dragged but I struggled to want to finish it and it just felt like it kept going. Maybe it was the length of time that this book covered since it started with Clytemnestra in her teens and ended when she was in her 40s. There were time jumps, which definitely helped but also seemed to skip major character development which left my opinion of Clytemnestra confused and overall negative.
I absolutely don't believe she deserved any of what was handed to her by fate, however, she was such an unlikable character that my empathy is with her situation and children rather than herself. This story is definitely not for the squeamish or easily upset; there is a lot of violence, death of children, and infidelity. This is basically the story of everything that happened outside of The Illiad, though it does reference various people and events to orient the reader to the more well-known "history".
Overall, not my favorite but it did scratch the itch I had for all these Greek myth stories that have been coming out lately.
I absolutely don't believe she deserved any of what was handed to her by fate, however, she was such an unlikable character that my empathy is with her situation and children rather than herself. This story is definitely not for the squeamish or easily upset; there is a lot of violence, death of children, and infidelity. This is basically the story of everything that happened outside of The Illiad, though it does reference various people and events to orient the reader to the more well-known "history".
Overall, not my favorite but it did scratch the itch I had for all these Greek myth stories that have been coming out lately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Classism
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Controversial opinion, this didn't grab me as thoroughly as it could have off the rip. Butcher&Blackbird, for example, had me in the first 5 minutes but it took a little longer for me to warm up to Lights Out. I don't go for the mask thing, maybe that's why. The anticipation and build up to Josh removing the mask in front of Aly was on point though! No spoilers on when that happened but it turned out to be kind of funny too.
I actually thought this book balanced the spice with the plot extremely well, it may be partly due to the fact that the spice was part of the original plot but the secondary plot with Aly's job and her family was great. I'm pretty impressed with the depth of the character development with both Aly and Josh's back stories being both ridiculous and plausible for creating two compassionate yet damaged individuals that are perfect for each other.
I actually thought this book balanced the spice with the plot extremely well, it may be partly due to the fact that the spice was part of the original plot but the secondary plot with Aly's job and her family was great. I'm pretty impressed with the depth of the character development with both Aly and Josh's back stories being both ridiculous and plausible for creating two compassionate yet damaged individuals that are perfect for each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit and Grief
Minor: Gun violence, Rape, and Alcohol
Gagged by the Gherkin by Biblio Barbie
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was absolutely hilarious and ridiculous. Not for the average person, only eccentric monsterf*ckers will appreciate the dill-licious puns Danelle (Biblio Barbie) is able to toss together into the perfect pickle salad. Not gonna lie, I could totally have gone for another chapter of this insanity. xD I was cracking up way to much the entire time. What can I say, I too love pickles and ranch. >.>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship
Curse of Shadows and Thorns by LJ Andrews
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
3.0
In the Market for Murder by T.E. Kinsey
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25