coca_reads's reviews
452 reviews

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

This was sad little read. 

Keiko doesn't really fit in with anyone, a d her family is always trying to cure her of her "illness". 

In reality, Keiko is likely on the spectrum and has problems with social interactions. 

She has found purpose an  meaning in her work as a convenience store clerk. There are set rules for engaging with people, and patterns to the ebb and flow of when customers come through. 

She likes this order and just wants to do her job as a cog in the machine. 

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This was better than Dresden book 1. 

The characters felt a little more fleshed out and more nuanced. They were all around just more likable. 

The plot was fun, quick, and had a satisfying conclusion. 

I'll definitely continue the series. 

Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Fun little mystery.

This starts about a year after the events of book 1, where Earnest Cunningham is now a (traditionally) published author after writing a book detailing the events of the family reunion. 

This time he's on a writer's event that's taking place on a touring train, where he and several other authors will be holding panels and discussions about their books and the genres they write in. Things are already off to a rough start before people start to die, and Earnest feeling like he has to be of use, starts his own investigation. Again. 

These are great stories, told in first person from the point of view of the in-story author. So you're not reading "Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson", you're reading "Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Earnest Cunningham". 

They're amusing and mostly lighthearted. The banter is fun and the people feel like real people instead of stereotypical archetypes. 

The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Picking up not long after, where book 1 left off, Essun is trying to feel out her role in the community she finds herself in as the new Season is starting to settle in and ash is steadily covering their world. 

She's torn between needing to learn from her old friend and mentor, Alabaster, and still needing to track down her daughter. 

Many book trilogies can feel like they have a "book 2 syndrome" where book 1 sets the world and character building, book 3 is the story climax, and book 2 is kind of just filler. This doesn't feel like that. 

The ideas and world are expanded so deeply and done in a way that's not tedious, that this book just feels like it's the logical next step, rather than a means to get from beginning to climax. 

Sorry if I cant make that clearer, I'm not exactly brilliant at explaining my thoughts. 

I have book 3, just waiting for the right time to start it.

Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This was devastatingly sad, and beautifully written. 

The horror that always hits hardest with me, is horror where they author knows how to build tension. This author does it masterfully. 

The main character suffers from anxiety and panic attacks throughout this book, and the author increases the tension bit by bit through the story so as the story unfolds its like we're experiencing that oncoming panic attack ourselves. 

The connection between the characters is intense in a way that only young love can be. It's complete, obsessive. and all consuming.

Can't wait to read more from this author.

Verses for the Dead by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-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? No

4.0

Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This was very different than the other Rin Chupeco book I've read. 

The Bone Witch was more Young Adult focused and this was absolutely not that kind of story.
This is a rich world of court politics and intrigue and Vampires and Vampire hunters. 

Also sex. There was 1 chapter (and these are long chapters) that was at least 50% sex. It was way too much and a lot more graphic than I expected it to be. 

The characters were troubled and lovable. The plot was slow in places and moved too fast in others but overall this is a book that relies heavily on the politics of the world inside of it. It was an excellent book. I will probably continue the series.

Hard Time: A V. I. Warshawski Novel by Sara Paretsky

mysterious 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

Just a pallet cleanse P.I. novel. 

Mildly entertaining. 

Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Modern retelling of Antigone.

It's not bad, but I haven't read the original and don't really have any information for a fair comparison.

Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller by Oliver Darkshire

funny informative medium-paced

4.0

This is the memoir of Oliver Darkshire. He was a rare bookseller and now he's an author. 

This recounts how he became a bookseller and some of the interesting things he learned about the business, and the people in it. 

It was short and clever, full of silly insights and wonderfully strange people.