bookswithlydscl's reviews
591 reviews

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

5* for that final quarter alone. 
So many questions, no answers and yet I come away completely satisfied. 

The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.25

this is a series that gets stronger and stronger and this is a great installment - 4 25*

A Room With a View by E.M. Forster

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

3.75* - felt much more satisfying than other classics of this style

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

enjoyed this one more than book 1 - think i need to revisit it!

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito

challenging dark funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

 Just finished 'Victorian Psycho' and what a ride that was. Stomach churningly violent with genuinely laugh out loud sections this book was filled with female rage, intrusive thoughts that win out and bloody outcomes.

Jane Eyre meets American Psycho is such an apt comparator and I think fans of Du Maurier's gothic style and dark and disturbing characters with no real moral compass like Marta from Kate Griffin's Fyneshade will likely enjoy this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, Murder

The Lost Passenger: A Novel by Frances Quinn
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.

I just found it intensely frustrating and annoying.

How To Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

3.75* - full review to follow

a really solid follow up to last year's fa tastoc debut 'How To Solve Your Own Murder'

The story this time didn't flow quite as well for me but I found the mystery to be properly intriguing and again the split timelines with the live action of now and the diary entries of the past worked well. Did feel a little padded at times but the final quarter was extremely satisfying and closed out the story well.

I'm not sure how another story in this format can work but I would welcome another visit to this world, especially as Crane is a potential love interest that I would like to see develop.

The Penthouse by Catherine Cooper

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-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

3.25

3.25* - rtf 

Notes- really enjoyed until the end - really didnt stick the landing and felt like it just ended - sudden and no real sense of satisfaction

One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.5* - ticks all the boxes for what I want and expect from a vacation thriller.

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman

challenging dark emotional informative reflective 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? Yes

3.5

3.5* love the premise and is reflective of history and echoes the current world  an important story but didn't love it as much as I hoped.