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bookishvicky's reviews
128 reviews
The Deal by Elle Kennedy
2.25
The plot was kind of all over the place, I HATE Hannah with a passion (she’s not like other girls 🥺) and there was barely any hockey. When I read a sports romance I want sports!
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
5.0
PLEASE READ THE TW !! There’s so many. This book was a gorey mess.
It’s witty, it’s funny, it’s cute, it’s poorly paced, and it’s not for everyone. At face value, it’s a 3 star read— the characters had depth, but the side characters and pacing was certainly lacking. The language was vivid, though, and the humor wasn’t millennial cringey— Rowan calling himself a “feckin eejit” when he messes up is ADORABLE
5/5 guilty read
It’s witty, it’s funny, it’s cute, it’s poorly paced, and it’s not for everyone. At face value, it’s a 3 star read— the characters had depth, but the side characters and pacing was certainly lacking. The language was vivid, though, and the humor wasn’t millennial cringey— Rowan calling himself a “feckin eejit” when he messes up is ADORABLE
5/5 guilty read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Cannibalism, Torture, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Death, Cursing, Vomit, Gore, Sexual content, and Stalking
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Medical content
Supernatural Shakespeare: Magic and Ritual in Merry Old England by J. Snodgrass
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Thank you to City of Light Publishing for a digital copy of this book for a fair and honest review!
Supernatural Shakespeare is a detailed exploration on the supernatural properties and references in Shakespeare’s work, both references a modern reader would understand, like witches, and ones J. Snodgrass gives us context for, such as Lupercalia. Shakespeare’s use of magical creatures and references to old rites has always interested me, and this was a fun albeit slow read.
Like with Shakespeare’s Goddess, I admired how Snodgrass gave plenty of context and background to readers who may know next to nothing of the historical and political influences on Shakespeare’s work, which helped me appreciate the supernatural analysis all the more.
However, I feel like this text is much more dry than Goddess, and doesn’t have any witty asides or breaks from heavy analysis or history lessons. If you’re interested in the otherworldly elements of Shakespeare or want to learn more about his work in a lens outside of scholarly analysis, I do think it’s worth the read; maybe to take it section by section as you’re interested in.
Thirsty by M.T. Anderson
4.5
WHAT A WEIRD BOOK. I LOVED IT.
Okay, so it’s hard to get into, the voice is weird to adjust to, and the main character sucks (pun intended), but OH MY GOD what a vampire book!
It’s full of despair, a slow transformation that you can’t do anything about— hopeless, lonely, melancholy, THIRSTY— lords that last page? The last sentence? YES. Like I wanna rip it out and tape it on my wall.
This definitely reads like a 90s YA book. Edgy, clipped prose, useless side characters and forgotten b plots. Pacing was weird, too, and I wish we knew more about Chris but then again the not knowing and watching this hormonal teen turn into a desperate monster— holy shit. Like.
This is some good vampire fiction. I’m so happy I picked this up at a thrift store.
Okay, so it’s hard to get into, the voice is weird to adjust to, and the main character sucks (pun intended), but OH MY GOD what a vampire book!
It’s full of despair, a slow transformation that you can’t do anything about— hopeless, lonely, melancholy, THIRSTY— lords that last page? The last sentence? YES. Like I wanna rip it out and tape it on my wall.
This definitely reads like a 90s YA book. Edgy, clipped prose, useless side characters and forgotten b plots. Pacing was weird, too, and I wish we knew more about Chris but then again the not knowing and watching this hormonal teen turn into a desperate monster— holy shit. Like.
This is some good vampire fiction. I’m so happy I picked this up at a thrift store.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Death, and Cannibalism
Minor: Ableism and Child abuse
Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan
3.5
Very cute read! Also such an important one. I think this goes along with THE LONG RUN by Acker for “books I want to hand to queer/ questioning teens so they can find who they are and read a charming book while doing it”.
The double POVs in this book was done well, and the dialogue felt natural. I also love the distinct voices of each FMC; plus, the cover is adorable.
I did think a lot of subplots got lost in the grand narrative, and some characters could have been either more fleshed out or cut entirely, but it didn’t take away from the main plot; just sort of added a lot of unnecessary conflict that got resolved kinda fast or forgotten about.
Solid read.
The double POVs in this book was done well, and the dialogue felt natural. I also love the distinct voices of each FMC; plus, the cover is adorable.
I did think a lot of subplots got lost in the grand narrative, and some characters could have been either more fleshed out or cut entirely, but it didn’t take away from the main plot; just sort of added a lot of unnecessary conflict that got resolved kinda fast or forgotten about.
Solid read.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
emotional
funny
relaxing
sad
slow-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
4.75
Sobbing. Sobbing. Sobbing. This book was just everything. Endearing characters, witty humor, a fun world, adorable dialogue, beautifully written spice, a beautiful cover— just loved it.
It did however take me a while to actually get into the book, since it’s a slow start (a good slow burn romance, but the plot dragged in the first quarter of the book). I also think some conflicts got tied up too nicely/ quickly, which sort of felt rushed, but I love a happily ever after. Sweet-Hart Ralston has my heart forever.
It did however take me a while to actually get into the book, since it’s a slow start (a good slow burn romance, but the plot dragged in the first quarter of the book). I also think some conflicts got tied up too nicely/ quickly, which sort of felt rushed, but I love a happily ever after. Sweet-Hart Ralston has my heart forever.
Shakespeare's Goddess: The Divine Feminine on the English Stage by John Snodgrass, J. Snodgrass
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Thank you to City of Light Publishing for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for review!
J. Snodgrass does what I think any Shakespeare scholar or student should do well: make Shakespeare accessible. His style makes the text enjoyable and humorous, rather than some dull assigned reading you’d find in a 400-level college course.
I’ve never read All’s Well That Ends Well, but not only did his summary make the analysis easy to follow, it also better connected with a modern reader:
“[In All’s Well That Ends Well,] Helena has set her sights on Bertram, a frivolous frat boy who can be best described with the modern half-word ‘bro.’ Flipflops and tank-tops hadn't been invented yet, but that's who this guy is. What Helena sees in this fop is a mystery for the ages.”
While a majority of the book had an incredible flow from one topic to the next, I feel like the theme of the divine feminine occasionally got lost within textual analysis. But then I’d reach another stunning visual in the book and be content again.
And because I wouldn’t be a true Buffalonian if I didn’t mention it, I loved that Snodgrass included insight and quotes from players in Delaware Street’s Shakespeare in the Park. Snodgrass giving the stage (pun intended) to Buffalo, NY, lovers of Shakespeare warmed my heart.
I’d like to once again thank City of Light Publishing for this ARC in exchange for a review; this was an incredibly fun book, even for someone who doesn’t typically reach for nonfiction titles.
J. Snodgrass does what I think any Shakespeare scholar or student should do well: make Shakespeare accessible. His style makes the text enjoyable and humorous, rather than some dull assigned reading you’d find in a 400-level college course.
I’ve never read All’s Well That Ends Well, but not only did his summary make the analysis easy to follow, it also better connected with a modern reader:
“[In All’s Well That Ends Well,] Helena has set her sights on Bertram, a frivolous frat boy who can be best described with the modern half-word ‘bro.’ Flipflops and tank-tops hadn't been invented yet, but that's who this guy is. What Helena sees in this fop is a mystery for the ages.”
While a majority of the book had an incredible flow from one topic to the next, I feel like the theme of the divine feminine occasionally got lost within textual analysis. But then I’d reach another stunning visual in the book and be content again.
And because I wouldn’t be a true Buffalonian if I didn’t mention it, I loved that Snodgrass included insight and quotes from players in Delaware Street’s Shakespeare in the Park. Snodgrass giving the stage (pun intended) to Buffalo, NY, lovers of Shakespeare warmed my heart.
I’d like to once again thank City of Light Publishing for this ARC in exchange for a review; this was an incredibly fun book, even for someone who doesn’t typically reach for nonfiction titles.
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
5.0
Beautiful, cried, divine feminine, women, dragons, oh my goodness.
Go Hunt Me by Kelly deVos
3.0
It was a fine “final girl slasher film” in fic form, but I thought that twist ending wasn’t earned. We’re given no hints of it, and a reliable narrator isn’t just “actually this wasn’t real xoxo”. If the twist had been a thing since the start and we got to see them acting out and covering their tracks while playing victim, it may have been more interesting. But it felt like a rushed ending and then an after note. Solid horror/ thriller if you get past that though