Scan barcode
cat_rector's reviews
76 reviews
Survive the Night by Danielle Vega
4.0
The ratings for this were so polarizing that I find it entertaining XD
I enjoyed this book! If I'm trying to describe it accurately, reading it as a 30-something-year-old woman, I'd say it's a young adult B horror movie. And that's not a bad thing! I LOVE watching horror movies that read like this. I'm a bit desensitized so it didn't bother me much, but it was an inventive idea that I didn't expect.
The thing that I found most valuable here was the relationship between Casey and Shana. It's definitely what drew me in the most. It's a darker YA book not just because of the horror aspects, but because it deals with drug addiction, criminal behaviour, and grief. It spoke to me as a very real way that someone ends up down a path they shouldn't be walking, by being drawn in by the lights and colours, but also by someone who shows you kindness and understanding where it might otherwise be lacking.
Overall, I had fun with this book. The writing style is about quick pace, isn't bogged down in details, and could easily be read in one extended sitting. Now I'm intrigued in the author's other work!
I enjoyed this book! If I'm trying to describe it accurately, reading it as a 30-something-year-old woman, I'd say it's a young adult B horror movie. And that's not a bad thing! I LOVE watching horror movies that read like this. I'm a bit desensitized so it didn't bother me much, but it was an inventive idea that I didn't expect.
The thing that I found most valuable here was the relationship between Casey and Shana. It's definitely what drew me in the most. It's a darker YA book not just because of the horror aspects, but because it deals with drug addiction, criminal behaviour, and grief. It spoke to me as a very real way that someone ends up down a path they shouldn't be walking, by being drawn in by the lights and colours, but also by someone who shows you kindness and understanding where it might otherwise be lacking.
Overall, I had fun with this book. The writing style is about quick pace, isn't bogged down in details, and could easily be read in one extended sitting. Now I'm intrigued in the author's other work!
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
5.0
I don't even know what to say. It's too brutal for many people, but for the people who can stomach it, it holds a very interesting mirror up to the way we live, and I think this one will stick with me for a long time yet.
Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
4.0
I loved the atmosphere and the world-building of this book! The vampire lore is fresh and interesting as compared to white European vampire lore. I'm absolutely ready to see more vampire legends that come out of other cultures, especially if we're going to see Atl type vampires. Domingo was also a breath of fresh air, as I haven't read a lot of representation of homelessness, especially not in a fair, compassionate light.
I've rated it 4 stars instead of 5 because unfortunately, I learned with this book that noir isn't my genre. Objectively it's a fantastic book! I just wasn't as engaged as I wanted to be with a few of the plot points, but that's not the book's fault.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves diverse stories, exploration of lore, non-traditional vampires, and a small detective side plot.
I've rated it 4 stars instead of 5 because unfortunately, I learned with this book that noir isn't my genre. Objectively it's a fantastic book! I just wasn't as engaged as I wanted to be with a few of the plot points, but that's not the book's fault.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves diverse stories, exploration of lore, non-traditional vampires, and a small detective side plot.
Everything Isn't Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down by Kathleen Smith
5.0
I'll be listening to this again. While I'm sure it's not rocket science for many people, it delivers things in a clear, concise, and empathetic way. It's going to help reshape a lot of my relationships and the way I approach people and things in this world. I'm pretty fucking excited.
It's also a 5.5 hour audiobook, which is absolutely easy to fit into almost anyone's schedule.
It's also a 5.5 hour audiobook, which is absolutely easy to fit into almost anyone's schedule.
The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart
4.0
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed my experience with the book.
I do have a small internal bias problem where I was a bit spaced out at the start of this listen, so I'm sure that if I had been in a more focused headspace it would probably be a 5/5 for me. The world was really interesting, the character arcs were deep and beautiful, and the magic system was unique as far as what I've personally read in the past. I loved that it was an openly queer world, and the way the plots tied together had every excited. I immediately grabbed the next audiobook and I'll be listening to it ASAP
I do have a small internal bias problem where I was a bit spaced out at the start of this listen, so I'm sure that if I had been in a more focused headspace it would probably be a 5/5 for me. The world was really interesting, the character arcs were deep and beautiful, and the magic system was unique as far as what I've personally read in the past. I loved that it was an openly queer world, and the way the plots tied together had every excited. I immediately grabbed the next audiobook and I'll be listening to it ASAP
The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart
This book went further toward political intrigue than I would have liked. I was already a little on the fence about book one but still interested, but I don't think this book captured me. As other reviews say, it could have been 100 pages shorter. I find that author's style is a bit repetitive at times and that the inner monologues were too frequent for my tastes. Some people are going to love this book, but it wasn't the right fit for me, unfortunately.
The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters
4.0
This is atmospheric, gothic, and intriguing. It kept me guessing until the end about who was responsible for everything. It's an interesting sort of excitement that I had for the book, because I was never squealing or over the top, but it inspired this steady, constant wondering about what would come next.
I loved the relationships between characters and the deep exploration of hardship. The author makes it clear that intersectional feminism is important to her, and there's an undercurrent of other important topics such as racism, gender, sexuality, and toxic masculinity. It's a book that feels born of rage and injustice, distilled into something that young women will gravitate to.
Overall, I found it to be compelling and dark, and I sometimes forgot that I was listening to a YA book. It's full of Triggers, so check your content warnings, but I think anyone who enjoys exploring the dark will stand to like this book.
I loved the relationships between characters and the deep exploration of hardship. The author makes it clear that intersectional feminism is important to her, and there's an undercurrent of other important topics such as racism, gender, sexuality, and toxic masculinity. It's a book that feels born of rage and injustice, distilled into something that young women will gravitate to.
Overall, I found it to be compelling and dark, and I sometimes forgot that I was listening to a YA book. It's full of Triggers, so check your content warnings, but I think anyone who enjoys exploring the dark will stand to like this book.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
5.0
I need more books like this.
The sheer understanding that this brought to my life is invaluable. I barely know what to say. The author is a brilliant storyteller, and I saw bits of myself in so many of the characters in this book. It's one of the best non-fiction listens I've ever had the pleasure of taking in.
The sheer understanding that this brought to my life is invaluable. I barely know what to say. The author is a brilliant storyteller, and I saw bits of myself in so many of the characters in this book. It's one of the best non-fiction listens I've ever had the pleasure of taking in.
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
This book was not for me.
I was drawn in by the movie, but make no mistake, very little of the movie is present here. That's not the book's fault.
This book is for people who are fine with very little dialogue, lots of inner monologue/worldbuilding, and tons and tons of unanswered weirdness. The book reads like a sci-fi fever dream, which isn't a bad thing, and I think it'll have a lingering effect on me, but I'm also not tempted to read the rest of the series.
I was drawn in by the movie, but make no mistake, very little of the movie is present here. That's not the book's fault.
This book is for people who are fine with very little dialogue, lots of inner monologue/worldbuilding, and tons and tons of unanswered weirdness. The book reads like a sci-fi fever dream, which isn't a bad thing, and I think it'll have a lingering effect on me, but I'm also not tempted to read the rest of the series.
The Goddess of Nothing At All by Cat Rector
5.0
Obligatory Five Star Rating from the author because I put in 5 stars worth of effort, love, sweat, and tears.
It should be said from the start that this is a dark fantasy book that *does not* fall under the category of YA. A full list of trigger warnings are available on the website www.catrector.com/post/triggerwarningsgonna. But suffice it to say that this book tackles dark subjects in deeply nuanced ways and is not for everyone.
This book is the result of exploration. Exploration of the world, of the Norse myths, of society and culture, right and wrong, and of my own inner workings. It’s at times light and dark, but more than anything, it’s grey and grey and grey. Perhaps the thing that’s most important to me is that this book is catharsis. Not for everyone, surely, but for me and for some of the readers who helped bring this book to life. Sometimes it was cathartic in ways I didn’t expect.
My hope for this book depends on the reader. I hope some will simply enjoy it and have a delicious time with it. I hope others will see themselves and feel seen in turn. I hope that some will feel all there is to feel and come out cursing me on the other end. I’m told that art makes you feel something, so that is the greatest hope that I have.
And as always, thank you from the bottom of my heart to my critique partner Erin, to the alpha and beta readers, and to the cheerleaders who have made this book what it is today. I love you all and I’ll never forget that you helped me achieve a dream that I never believed was for someone like me.
Thank you.
It should be said from the start that this is a dark fantasy book that *does not* fall under the category of YA. A full list of trigger warnings are available on the website www.catrector.com/post/triggerwarningsgonna. But suffice it to say that this book tackles dark subjects in deeply nuanced ways and is not for everyone.
This book is the result of exploration. Exploration of the world, of the Norse myths, of society and culture, right and wrong, and of my own inner workings. It’s at times light and dark, but more than anything, it’s grey and grey and grey. Perhaps the thing that’s most important to me is that this book is catharsis. Not for everyone, surely, but for me and for some of the readers who helped bring this book to life. Sometimes it was cathartic in ways I didn’t expect.
My hope for this book depends on the reader. I hope some will simply enjoy it and have a delicious time with it. I hope others will see themselves and feel seen in turn. I hope that some will feel all there is to feel and come out cursing me on the other end. I’m told that art makes you feel something, so that is the greatest hope that I have.
And as always, thank you from the bottom of my heart to my critique partner Erin, to the alpha and beta readers, and to the cheerleaders who have made this book what it is today. I love you all and I’ll never forget that you helped me achieve a dream that I never believed was for someone like me.
Thank you.