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booklore_forevemore's reviews
304 reviews
Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Lucy Undying by Kiersten White
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Homophobia
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
The Silverblood Promise by James Logan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 46%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 46%.
Full review/explanation soon
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
I was going to finish my reread, but now Stephanie Garber has put an icky taste in my mouth for blocking fans for calling her out.
A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
I'm going to keep this quick because I want to forget this book exists and move on with my life, but this book gave me the ick from the very beginning. The plot centers around Aubrey, a white European girl/woman who is cursed to have to constantly change locations so she doesn't painfully suffer and die. She lives a certain exciting life and adventures to a lot of "exotic" places.
A letter to the reader at the beginning of the book states that the author wanted to write "a page-turning adventure story I...]for adults" featuring a "woman Indiana Jones." I was expecting a more modern take, but instead it more accurately resembles adventure movies and shows from the mid-20th century, including the casual racism, exoticism, and misogyny. I think it's possible to take something nostalgic and make it new and interesting, but if that was the goal, it was poorly executed. The target audience for this book is retirees who want to read something that reminds them of the "good ole days."
Honestly this could have been a fun story but, in addition to the problematic elements listed above, the plot was relatively boring and there didn't seem to be any underlying themes or messages. Also, despite the fact that she's fluent in multiple languages and has traveled the world, Aubrey is somehow still written as ditzy and naive.
No One Dies Yet by Kobby Ben Ben
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Slavery, and Violence
Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This is the first book I’ve read by Darcie Little Badger and I absolutely loved it! It’s also the prequel to Elatsoe, which I can’t wait to read now.
Quick synopsis: It’s the 1970s and Shane, a Lipan Apache high school senior, has been assisting her mother on missions to rescue missing children. When her mother mysteriously vanishes on a mission, Shane is determined to find her and the missing kids…with the help of friends, family, and a semi-invisible ghost dog.
The plot:
I was hooked from chapter one and honestly never wanted to set this book down! The pacing was consistent and the mystery slowly unfolded until the very end. The various mythology and paranormal elements also made this a fun read!
The characters:
I was immediately drawn to the MC, Shane; she’s strong-willed, but also kind, empathetic, and loyal. There isn’t a central romance, so there was an emphasis on family (including found family), which I really loved. Often, characters in YA novels will make a lot of cringey/infuriating decisions, but that wasn’t the case here! The relationships, though sometimes imperfect, were smooth and there was no unnecessary drama. We love women supporting women!
The feels:
Although there is a mystery, this is primarily a book about family, friendships, and what happens when you lose the people you care about most. It’s mostly a light book, but there are a few heavier, more emotional moments that really made this book shine. I loved the ending and I teared up a bit during the last paragraph of the epilogue.
Quick synopsis: It’s the 1970s and Shane, a Lipan Apache high school senior, has been assisting her mother on missions to rescue missing children. When her mother mysteriously vanishes on a mission, Shane is determined to find her and the missing kids…with the help of friends, family, and a semi-invisible ghost dog.
The plot:
I was hooked from chapter one and honestly never wanted to set this book down! The pacing was consistent and the mystery slowly unfolded until the very end. The various mythology and paranormal elements also made this a fun read!
The characters:
I was immediately drawn to the MC, Shane; she’s strong-willed, but also kind, empathetic, and loyal. There isn’t a central romance, so there was an emphasis on family (including found family), which I really loved. Often, characters in YA novels will make a lot of cringey/infuriating decisions, but that wasn’t the case here! The relationships, though sometimes imperfect, were smooth and there was no unnecessary drama. We love women supporting women!
The feels:
Although there is a mystery, this is primarily a book about family, friendships, and what happens when you lose the people you care about most. It’s mostly a light book, but there are a few heavier, more emotional moments that really made this book shine. I loved the ending and I teared up a bit during the last paragraph of the epilogue.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Honestly just not feeling this one right now. I had such high hopes because I’d heard it compared to Howl’s Moving Castle, but it seems almost too similar/not unique. Hoping to pick it up again though and maybe I’ll enjoy it more!
Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
2.75
Well…this one was certainly a wild ride.
Quick summary:
Sunny Behre’s mother just died and all she left for her was a note: “Take care of Dom.” Dom, Sunny’s younger brother, was recently accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend and no one knows if he really did it. When someone else mysteriously dies, Sunny begins digging and uncovers secrets about her family’s past that she may regret ever finding out.
Pros:
I SPED through this one. Partially because I needed to get this review in lol, but also because I was really hooked on the story. Sambury excels at creating a creepy atmosphere and I loved her invention of a small-town local legend/paranormal force(?): The Milk Man. I felt completely transported while reading this and I contribute a lot of that to my connection with the MC, Sunny. Sunny certainly isn’t perfect, but I understood her fears, insecurities, and dedication to her brother, and I was holding my breath for a few scenes that had me on edge. Having a strong main POV is really make-or-break for me and I think it’s another reason I love Sambury’s writing.
Cons:
There were definitely a few scenes where things seemed way too convenient/unrealistic, but they obviously had to happen for the plot to advance. I really wish everything had tied together more smoothly instead because this could have been an amazing read.
Overall:
I had a lot of fun with this one, but I was a bit let down by some issues with the plot. That being said, if you like weird, kinda campy horror books with mysterious, murderous villains and dysfunctional families, you might want to pick this one up!