chemicalpink's reviews
587 reviews

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

adventurous dark tense fast-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

4.25

Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Just Kids by Patti Smith

emotional funny hopeful informative sad fast-paced

4.0

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

adventurous emotional funny relaxing 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? Yes

5.0

The Handyman Method by Andrew F. Sullivan, Nick Cutter

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

House of Rot by Danger Slater

dark mysterious 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

4.25

Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

The September House by Carissa Orlando

challenging dark funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

Fish Gather to Listen: A Horror Anthology by H.V. Patterson, Victoria Moore, Jes McCutchen

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Honestly, there’s not a bad story in the bunch. They range from a little creepy to nightmare-inducing. (You can find editor Jes McCutchen’s scale of scariness here: https://jesmccutchenwrites.com/2023/09/09/jess-completely-subjective-horror-scale-for-fish-gather-to-listen/ ) 

Itself, Starfish, Cirrata, and Fish-Eaten Grin are my favorites , I think, but if you like horror even a little, there’s something for you here.