crafty_goblin's reviews
73 reviews

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

One of my favourite book of all times 

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.

halfway throught the book and I was still looking for the plot, the spooky vibes or at least an explanation for the hype around this book. a massive fail for me. 

The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne

adventurous funny 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

4.25

Probably one of my best read this year, though, I wasn't too hooked by the nordic fantasy style here but the plot and the characters definitely did the trick for me 

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin
Did not finish book.

As much as I love ULG, this one wasn't my cup of tea at all. 

Goblin Mode: How to Get Cozy, Embrace Imperfection, and Thrive in the Muck by McKayla Coyle

funny

2.5

A good start with some interesting and funny stuff but then it went all social media and trend stuff totally biased and no sense. 

A Lonely Broadcast: Book One by Kel Byron

dark emotional funny 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

5.0

This book is probably one of my favorite read of the end of 2024. it’s gruesome, gore, full of wit and the main character is so unhinge but easy to root for that I was hooked from the very first few sentences. The friendship between the two main characters is excellent. I mean, hell literally get loose on them from day one and they still ask for it. No way they leave the other one behind and try to understand what’s happening. The atmosphere is pretty good. I’d say, It’s scary but not that scary technically. But definitely gore. It’s just the way Kel wrote it and the way the thick atmosphere and horror parts blend perfectly with the character development. This book, for me, was like looking a 80’s horror movie when you don’t know if you want to laugh or be scared and you ended in a weird state in between, during the whole movie. That’s how I like horror, and that’s how I binged read this book in one go, in a few hours. I can’t wait for the tome #2. 

From Below by Darcy Coates

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

One of my favorite reads of the end of 2024. The eerie underwater atmosphere is so deep and thick ! As a diver myself, I felt it even stronger. My paranoid imagination working pretty great, I'm pretty sure after this read, my next dive will be a bit more anxious than usual. The character aren't super developed but enough for the story. it's definitely more plot driver than character driven but it still worked for me. The description and feeling during the dive established pretty easily an eerie, stressful vibes which helps the reader (even if you are not a diver as it is not too technical) feels what the characters might feel tool. It's difficult to write more about the setting and the story without spoilers so I keep it like this. But if you like the claustrophobic thick horror ambiance with suspense, go for it. It is a pretty easy read and it's definitely a page turner. I coupled it with the audiobook for some parts and it's a pretty good combo. 

A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

dark slow-paced

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

2.75

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

dark funny 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? N/A

4.75

I discovered T. Kingfisher's work with this book. I have so much fun reading this during my spooky season last october. It's an easy fast read but still with a good plot and a great character development. Something that I love with T. Kingfisher, whatever books I read from them it's the characters (at least for their horror books, I didn't read her YA fantasy and kid books). Especially in this one. Mouse is my favorite of their character, she's witty, easy going, the weirdo introvert bookish type (yeah I can relate here that's why i rooted for her easily), curious and funny. Really lovable. I loved pretty much all the characters in this books especially. I'm not easily freaked out, that's why I like horror read so much, it's a challenge to find reads that can make me scare jump and it there is those witty characters typical from horror book, even better. Here you got it. I made the stupid mistake to read that alone in the dark when I was chilling for a weekend in an Airbnb pretty remote in the wood in Bulgaria and, damn, I jumped at every noise. not the most scary book I read, but the kind which built your paranoia and the atmosphere to make you jump even when it wasn't attended and then makes you laugh at yourself (but with unease). One of my favorite books so far in the genre. 

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0