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braveprincess11's reviews
141 reviews
Straight by Chuck Tingle
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? It's complicated
4.0
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-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
4.0
The Double Life of Benson Yu by Kevin Chong
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Though I’m not sure I fully understood it, I had a great time reading this & I’m blown away by Kevin Chong’s ability to balance so many layers of metafiction
As always, check content warnings before reading 💛
As always, check content warnings before reading 💛
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Body horror and Bullying
Things that I’d consider content warnings that aren’t available as tags:
Graphic child neglect
Without spoilers: The moderate kidnapping tag is for a situation entered by the child’s own will, in which he is technically free to leave at any time, but chooses not to for fear of the unknown. Though he chooses to enter the situation, and not to leave, this situation would legally be considered kidnapping.
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the Peoples Temple by Deborah Layton
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
I just wasn’t in the right headspace to continue this read after I finished the essay I picked it up for.
You Shouldn't Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Quick question: what the fuck was that?
I thought I had a sense of where the book was going, but I definitely didn’t. It tries too hard to be thrilling and romantic, and ultimately fails at both. The first… 80% or so feels like a bad romance novel where the love interest is probably a stalker. And then it takes a turn in an… interesting, unexpected direction.
I’ve heard Jeneva Rose referred to as “the queen of unexpected twists,” and I suppose that’s technically true. Though, usually, twist endings make sense when you look back over the book — you can usually find clues that looked innocuous at first glance, but are actually foreshadowing the twist. That wasn’t my experience.
I feel like the last 15% of the book was written entirely for shock value, and had no real connection to the plot. I mean… Grace turning out to be a serial killer using an alias? It would’ve been an interesting reveal had it actually felt connected to the rest of the book, but I just sat there, saying “wait… what’s going on?” for the last 5 or 6 chapters of the book. My advice: Skip it. Certainly won’t be reading from her again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death and Car accident