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chantaal's reviews
2291 reviews
Landline by Kelly Robson
3.0
Very good at creating a creeping dread that lasts throughout the story, not bad. However, the ending was...huh??
Where the Axe Is Buried: A Novel by Ray Nayler
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.
DNF at 44% because I cannot go down the route of doing another hate read, and that is where this is leading.
I can't even try to come up with a brief description of this because its left such a bad taste in my mouth. Thin plot, obvious and unoriginal world building, and not a single character that I cared for. 44%, nearly half of this book, and not only was I still trying to keep characters straight (many of them are so similar that you could exchange one for another and nothing would change in their plots) but I JUST DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANYONE OR ANYTHING.
Not for me. Sooo not for me.
I can't even try to come up with a brief description of this because its left such a bad taste in my mouth. Thin plot, obvious and unoriginal world building, and not a single character that I cared for. 44%, nearly half of this book, and not only was I still trying to keep characters straight (many of them are so similar that you could exchange one for another and nothing would change in their plots) but I JUST DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANYONE OR ANYTHING.
Not for me. Sooo not for me.
Rose/House by Arkady Martine
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Well, this was quite a disappointment. I didn't go into this expecting something pedestrian, but I also didn't except to be mostly confused and adrift, and not in a good way.
The writing was the strength of this story, and in a way also the worst part of it for me. My brain really did not gel well with the stylistic choices made here. It seemed like Martine purposefully wrote in a way to keep the story itself and the reader feeling unmoored, as strange and off-kilter as being in the Rose House would feel for the characters. Unfortunately, purposeful as it may be, I bounced off those writing choices.
I left this story feeling like there wasn't really a point.
The writing was the strength of this story, and in a way also the worst part of it for me. My brain really did not gel well with the stylistic choices made here. It seemed like Martine purposefully wrote in a way to keep the story itself and the reader feeling unmoored, as strange and off-kilter as being in the Rose House would feel for the characters. Unfortunately, purposeful as it may be, I bounced off those writing choices.
I left this story feeling like there wasn't really a point.
Off-Time Jive by A. Z. Louise
3.0
A noir detective story with a speculative backdrop, Off-Time Jive is a pleasant surprise. It's based in an alternate Harlem Renaissance where black joy can create magic, and follows investigator Bessie Knox who has had enough heartbreak in her past that conjuring up feelings of joy is difficult at the best of times. When a murder occurs, Bessie begins to investigate and cracks open a connection to her past.
There's some interesting magic here, and a decent mystery. The writing was the strongest part, giving Bessie a pretty good voice and anchoring it firmly in this alternate Harlem Renaissance. I think the mystery itself kind of fell apart toward the end, not really making any sense to me a reader - Bessie comes up with ideas and clues that never felt like they were concretely tied too what I was reading on the page at the time. The ending felt a little confusing as well, but also left things tied off with a great deal of hope.
It's still a lovely and unique novella, well worth giving it a good try.
There's some interesting magic here, and a decent mystery. The writing was the strongest part, giving Bessie a pretty good voice and anchoring it firmly in this alternate Harlem Renaissance. I think the mystery itself kind of fell apart toward the end, not really making any sense to me a reader - Bessie comes up with ideas and clues that never felt like they were concretely tied too what I was reading on the page at the time. The ending felt a little confusing as well, but also left things tied off with a great deal of hope.
It's still a lovely and unique novella, well worth giving it a good try.
Rabbit Test by Samantha Mills
2.0
Rating solely for Rabbit Test by Samantha Mills. https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/rabbit-test/
I got the themes - hard NOT to - but I haaaaated the stylistic writing choices.
I got the themes - hard NOT to - but I haaaaated the stylistic writing choices.
A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
I’ve lost interest in this world, and Zinnia’s meta and self aware voice is incredibly grating.
Walking Practice by Dolki Min
Squid Game?? I am begging people to expand their minds and find other South Korean media to compare books to. The only similarity this book has to Squid Game is that they're both South Korean. That's it.
This was a weird fucking book, but it used its weirdness to great effect. We follow the life of a shapeshifting alien stranded on Earth, who must shift into a man or woman to meet up with humans for sex before eating them. The alien reflects on gender roles and expectations, on being separate from humans because it can't always meet those gender roles (and also, it's an alien), and on social and cultural expectations people place on each other. All of this, of course, from a South Korean lens - but you can extrapolate it to any culture.
The book also uses the physical form of the text, sometimes using extra spacing in words for emphasis and disorientation. I liked how the author played with the text in that way.
Overall this wasn't quite as satisfying a read for me, but it did what it set out to do really well. If you like weird literary fiction and want to branch into translated fiction, this is a pretty good book to check out.
Content warnings for gore and explicit sexual activity.
4.0
Squid Game meets The Left Hand of Darkness meets Under the Skin
Squid Game?? I am begging people to expand their minds and find other South Korean media to compare books to. The only similarity this book has to Squid Game is that they're both South Korean. That's it.
This was a weird fucking book, but it used its weirdness to great effect. We follow the life of a shapeshifting alien stranded on Earth, who must shift into a man or woman to meet up with humans for sex before eating them. The alien reflects on gender roles and expectations, on being separate from humans because it can't always meet those gender roles (and also, it's an alien), and on social and cultural expectations people place on each other. All of this, of course, from a South Korean lens - but you can extrapolate it to any culture.
The book also uses the physical form of the text, sometimes using extra spacing in words for emphasis and disorientation. I liked how the author played with the text in that way.
Overall this wasn't quite as satisfying a read for me, but it did what it set out to do really well. If you like weird literary fiction and want to branch into translated fiction, this is a pretty good book to check out.
Content warnings for gore and explicit sexual activity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content
This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong
Did not finish book. Stopped at 52%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 52%.
ohhhh bitch it's been a while since i rage DNF'd a book. and in the middle of a serious series binge? incredible. 52% of the audio. just finished chapter 32.
i had to sit through MULTIPLE chapters of absolutely dumb shit with the dog and casey chasing it without thinking and them getting lost and then more dog bullshit and now casey is in a precarious life threatening position (AGAIN mere CHAPTERS later) and FOR WHAT? FOR FUCKING WHAAAAAAT???? TO FIND A BODY? i was screaming in my car about how STUPID she is and i don't care that she calls herself out for it (thank you, casey's inner dalton voice) because i've have to sit here listening to her be FUCKING STUPID and TAKE ALL THE BLAME and fucking GUILT TRIP HERSELF every other moment and now it's too late and she's reaping what she fucking sowed.
LIKE, THE COUGAR WASN'T ENOUGH???????
this feels incredibly petty and i'm almost certainly going to skim the rest of the ebook to see how this ends but my god i am too aggravated by casey and this whole series of events right now to want to continue.
FUCK EVERYTHING THAT JUST HAPPENED
FUCK ALL THE WAY OFF
LIKE, THE COUGAR WASN'T ENOUGH???????
this feels incredibly petty and i'm almost certainly going to skim the rest of the ebook to see how this ends but my god i am too aggravated by casey and this whole series of events right now to want to continue.
FUCK EVERYTHING THAT JUST HAPPENED
FUCK ALL THE WAY OFF
City of the Lost by Kelley Armstrong
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0