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assesgrass's reviews
142 reviews
Ghostland by Duncan Ralston
2.0
Listened to this on Spotify, narrated by Joe Hempel.
Very interesting concept, I probably would have enjoyed it more if I read it instead of listened. I enjoyed Joe's narration however. To me the story suffered from a lack of gripping horror. There was the building of tension at some parts but overall too many action sequences strung together, it was a tad confusing listening and I noticed getting distracted often or lack of keeping up.
Duncan is a good author and I may not have enjoyed this book as much as some of his others I can say his writing is very cool and unique.
Very interesting concept, I probably would have enjoyed it more if I read it instead of listened. I enjoyed Joe's narration however. To me the story suffered from a lack of gripping horror. There was the building of tension at some parts but overall too many action sequences strung together, it was a tad confusing listening and I noticed getting distracted often or lack of keeping up.
Duncan is a good author and I may not have enjoyed this book as much as some of his others I can say his writing is very cool and unique.
Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night by Joanna Lee
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
5.0
Dave's sensitive eyes watched her as she spilled her guts.
He could hear it coming, the thing that was driving her, coming straight out of the heart.
"And you know what?" Angela
asked him.
"Your clean houses here may be
flled with plastic flowers and the streets may be lined with palm trees, but it is no different.
The anger and the hate and the frustration are here,
and the kids are the victims, just like always.”
She pointed out through the closet wall in the direction of the pediatrics wards. "I want to stay angry, so that as long as I'm alive, no kid I meet will ever think dying might be nicer than living ... the way I did."
Dave was nodding his head. Her little history lesson had affected him. It seemed their attitudes were not very different. "Okay, tiger, I'll do a follow-up. Okay?"
Dr. Buccieri's muscles relaxed, and she gave Dave a grateful look. "Okay." She opened the door for him. "How do you stay so calm all the time?"
"Never had much to get mad at in my life."
He knew the reason. "I was one of the lucky ones. My parents liked me."
One of those books that are kept in the back of a closet collecting dust, open it and read it. This is real, stuff like this happens now, it always does and probably always will.
One of those books that are kept in the back of a closet collecting dust, open it and read it. This is real, stuff like this happens now, it always does and probably always will.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Death, Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Classism, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Rape, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I've had this book on my tbr for quite sometime, I was actually pretty unaware of what it was as I added it to my TBR based on some tiktok video I seen a while back.
This gave me chills, I was extremely creeped out to the point where I skipped reading it and opted to listening to it on an audio book so I could less likely imagine everything in my head. It helped, but if I were to rate this from 1-5 out of creepiness it would be a 5.
I absolutely loved the Native representation, and reading this as a Native person I think the author captivated it very well.
The eerie vibes from the animals to the children in the woods, I was kept on my toes from beginning to end. Whoever decided to train parrots to talk... I need to have a word...
This gave me chills, I was extremely creeped out to the point where I skipped reading it and opted to listening to it on an audio book so I could less likely imagine everything in my head. It helped, but if I were to rate this from 1-5 out of creepiness it would be a 5.
I absolutely loved the Native representation, and reading this as a Native person I think the author captivated it very well.
The eerie vibes from the animals to the children in the woods, I was kept on my toes from beginning to end. Whoever decided to train parrots to talk... I need to have a word...
The Groomer by Jon Athan
5.0
The Groomer by Jon Athan. 5/5 ⭐️
Woahhhh, this one is definitely not something I could ever see myself recommending to a friend. This story is of a father whose daughter goes missing and he to put it simply, does anything to track her down.
In the author note in the back Jon Athan states that this idea came to him after reading about MAPs online and seeing how pedophiles will consider themselves apart of the LGBTQIA+ community. These stories are loosely based on real events he’s read about.
Contains disturbing and extreme details about pedophilia, child abuse, child death, body horror, gore, murder, and so much more.
That saying, I actually really enjoyed reading this. Those topics do make me uncomfortable however, if i’m uncomfortable and the book is intended for that I’m more likely to rate it higher. The torture factor quite interested me (not of the kids) I was keen to read so many different ways someone could hurt another individual that hasn’t been done already.
Try the New Candy by Aron Beauregard
5.0
Woooow, I’m impressed.
Aron’s books are usually all really good reads for me, this one especially. I enjoyed seeing characters that I’ve read before from books i’ve read before, i believe i read a book and there was 2 chapters about characters in that book (scary bastard).
I enjoyed every little chapter, even some of them made me sad, like Five o’clock shadow, that one was sweet & heartbreaking.
I am truly never disappointed when I read Aron’s writing.
Aron’s books are usually all really good reads for me, this one especially. I enjoyed seeing characters that I’ve read before from books i’ve read before, i believe i read a book and there was 2 chapters about characters in that book (scary bastard).
I enjoyed every little chapter, even some of them made me sad, like Five o’clock shadow, that one was sweet & heartbreaking.
I am truly never disappointed when I read Aron’s writing.