beardedbarista's reviews
737 reviews

I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones

dark 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

5.0

Loved this book! (Might be some slight spoilers in my review) thanks to SagaPress for the #promo book! What a great and for me really original horror twist!! Dug the campy horror movie thrills and from the killers perspective no less? Tolly is a character who even though totally a killer, you kind of want him to be successful?! Definitely puts you in a weird headspace rooting for the villain.

Can't Shake the Dust by C. H. HOOKS

challenging emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

First!
"If you ain't first, you're last" -Ricky Bobby
Can't Shake The Dust is about the most appropriate name this book could be called! You immediately are put under a spell from the first chapter and you find yourself immersed in this kind of timeless southern place. Wild was a racing legend before his home town career was ended in a gone legging, car crash. His son Little is tasked with taking on the family gauntlet. You also get the perspective of Nanny, Littles mom. With some throw backs to one of Hooks former book Alligator Zoo Park Magic, this story grabs you and locks you into a rollercoaster of ups and downs as you decide who is the trusted narrator and just when if ever they will shake the dust. I am lucky enough to have got an advance copy and this one is definitely a book you should Pre-order now and prepare for this October!

Wayward by Blake Crouch

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

This was an amazing a much more action packed addition to the Pines series! It gets right into it! This series reminds me so much of The Silo Trilogy and I think I like this better! What a cliffhanger ending. I have heard mixed reviews about the 3rd book so fingers crossed its good!?

The Shrouded College: Hell to Pay by Charles Soule

adventurous dark 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

5.0

Fantastic comic and I love how The Shrouded College is taking so many different forms as the collection of stories continues!

The Book of Elsewhere by China Miéville, Keanu Reeves

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-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

5.0

I loved the BRZRKR comics so this was an easy book to pick up. I loved the idea of a warrior thousands of years old. I never finished the comic series so I don't know how much different this was but I love the addition of the pig and their relationship. This is going to make a great movie or tv show eventually and I do hope Keanu plays B

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

dark emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

This is not my typical type of book. Seems like something you would find written 20 years ago. I guess that makes it kind of timeless. That's what I liked the most about the book. I have book club tonight so Ill get some other perspectives on it and that will be nice. I have a feeling it will be generally liked. It's that kind of book. This would be a solid book to equip your airb&b library with.

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman

challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was my first book by Shusterman and I am so glad I started with this one. A beautiful story that reads so fast you almost want to start it over again when you finish. This book reminded me of It's Kind of a Funny Story. It is often times a fun read but also sad and heartfelt. 

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book had me hooked from the second I laid eyes on it! I really enjoyed the character building and the adventure that Freya and Bjorn are set on! The magical powers they possess and the fact that Freya is just learning to wield hers make me excited for the next book in the series! The world building was ok. I felt like I was watching a play on a stage for the majority of the book. But I kind of dug that. oh and did I mention the SPicE!! wow!

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

 I think this might be one of my favorite books of the year! I had no idea what to expect but I know that no that I have had the Tingle ... I need more! This story starts off with a realistic plot and awesomely turns into a sci fi horror and definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat. I love the call backs to X files and really felt the genuine suspense as each new horrific bend to this story unfolded!
 Thanks so much to Tor Nightfire for this advance copy!

James by Percival Everett

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

WOW! Thank you so much PRHaudio for this complimentary audiobook! I loved this story and since I just finished Erasure by Everett this felt like a comfortable read. I love how visual Everett makes his stories and this one felt like you were escaping ride alongside James. This is a book that everyone should read and I am really happy this book was chosen for this months book club book. I like that Huck was a feature in this book but its been so long since I have read his adventures that I need a definite refresher. I think that this book was written in such a way also that you wouldn't know if it was written this year or 100 years ago and I loved that timelessness(what a word!)