bookswithlydscl's reviews
594 reviews

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver

informative lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

A talking cat, a book about books, cosy translated fiction - checks all the way.

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense 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

3.5

3.5* rounded up

The premise for this book had me hooked instantly - a group of crime writers being picked off one by one at an isolated retreat hosted by a mysterious and reclusive author. It had vibes of Christie, and Cluedo and and I had high hopes going in. Overall I wasn't disappointed but I didn't quite love this as much as hoped. The game elements, the books within books and the slow burn unfolding of what a disastrous situation the writers found themselves in worked really well for me but the group of characters themselves didn't click and I found the number of perspectives at the start to be a little confusing. Once the group reduced down I definitely found myself swept up on the ride especially as the pace picked up around the same time (around the 50% mark).

An ambitious debut with some classic crime hallmarks this wasn't quite the full blown hit I'd hoped for but I enjoyed it, I loved the style and the writing worked really well overall for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for this digital review copy of "You Are Fatally Invited" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

3.5*

Overall really enjoyed - inhaled the audiobook and will continue the series when book 2 comes out but didn't quite get up to loved it.

Hungerstone by Kat Dunn

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Devouring Tomorrow: Fiction from the Future of Food by A.G. Pasquella, J.J. Dupuis

adventurous challenging dark funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This was a really strong collection of 16 short stories all focused around the theme of food that worked well as a collection but I found with a number of them that they felt a little too short - I wanted more story!

Overall really enjoyed the speculative / scifi / dystopian nature of the collection and is one that I would come back to in future to dip in and out of

Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn Press | Rare Machines for a digital review copy of "Devouring Tomorrow" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

Really enjoyed this and definitely shows I'm a fan of Butler's writing.
Didn't get as emotionally invested in this one as I did Kindred but still really liked it.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This was fine. I wonder if I made a mistake listening to it instead if reading it and may try it again in future because I'd heard such great things about it and was really looking forward to reading it.

What didn't help was the number of characters and number if time skips. I didn't connect to anyone aside of Judy and the timeskips made it a messy experience.

The Private Island by Ali Lowe

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

One of my guiltiest reading pleasures is the ritzy, glitzy vacation thriller genre. I love seeing the twisted, corrupt and ever so glamourous lives of the characters who, after arriving in isolated, paradise settings end up getting their comeuppance in a series of fun and inventive ways. 

The Private Island by Ali Lowe ticks every one of those boxes and was a really fun read (highly reminiscent of elements of one of my favourite films of all time - the 1982 Peter Ustinov adaptation of Evil Under The Sun). There is no subtlety on offer, the key characters you hope will end up victims do and they do feel like exaggerations of the worst tropes found in this style of books but it does make the victim reveals all that much sweeter when it happens!

Pick this up ready for your poolside holiday read and I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this digital review copy of "The Private Island" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

Gorgeous writing and illustrations but it remained the barebones of a story - needed to be longer