crafty_goblin's reviews
73 reviews

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

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dark funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

It’s 70’s vintage Desperate Housewives welcoming (kind of) southern way the new True-Blood-like people in the neighborhood. I stumbled on this one without knowing the author or being in a mood for horror few years ago but I didn't regret one second of this book. It's funny, witty and ... yeah not really scary but spooky in a Grady Hendrix kind of way. i like this kind of witty, dark humor, kind of old school stereotype horror. You never know what you´l find in the book and you always have fun at the end. I know pretty well Grady Hendrix's  work now and most of their books are in the same vibes, witty, kind of horror in a dark humor, a bit gory way, and well written. A must read without hesitation.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

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

3.75

a very light read. I wasn't impressed but I didn't have high expecation as it is not exactly my kind of stuff. I liked the diversity in the characters, though, and the main character, the witch (I forgot her name) was kind of interesting at first until they start this romance stuff they always need in those kind of books. 
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.
another hyped one that I shouldn´t have start at all. 
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

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

0.25

ugh ! is my review. I honestly read it just to see where the hype was after it was recommended to me for the hundred time when I looked for fantasy recommandations. Now, as a fantasy lover, I'm feeling insulted that this author is called fantasy writer. It's romantasy at the very max and not the best one at all. It's so badly written that some sentences made no sense. Full of plot holes, worse than a french emmental. Totally biases and representing the most toxic type of relationship and behaviour I ever see in those kind of books. cringe like the 13 years old writing fanfiction kind of cringe. It's actually not nice for the people writing fanfiction, I actually in my youth read fanfictions better written and developped than this book. I honestly DNF it at 50% and reaching this was painful. But I needed to put a review to be sure those books won't pop up in my suggestions algorythm. 
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

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

3.0

I like Sarah Waters works, mostly. But this one is lost for me. I kind of fast read it halfway throught it. Too slow for my taste and too focus on the relationships, no real world building or plot development. 
The Forgotten Witch by Jessica Dodge

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lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Not a bad book but definitely not the best i read this year. Let's say a light cozy read but without big expectations or else you'd be desappointed. Not a lot of character development and a bit shaky in terms of world building and plot. The second half was lsot for me, it's when it start getting obvious, full of plot holes and kind of rushed. 
The September House by Carissa Orlando

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
i really need to stop reading trendy books. This one was part of my spooky season TBR and probably the one I dnf the fastest 
The Help by Kathryn Stockett

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emotional inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

The Help is one of my reread every year. I remember reading it when I was younger and loved the character development. This book is a button-pushing story. I though, at my first read years ago, that this book was based on a true story. It's not. But the way the characters are painted (not perfect, flawed, lovable all together, brave) and the way the story is written can be linked to any and every events and life stories of racism, white saviourism and privileges we heard from History.