crum_93's reviews
231 reviews

The Storm of Echoes by Christelle Dabos

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I am mostly just incredibly confused. 

The Memory of Babel by Christelle Dabos

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

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

4.0

I really appreciate how much the author cares about doing service to the history of this type of community. These stories are enjoyable, and I am happy with how it ended. I think the author’s notes are some of my favorite parts!

Blessed Water by Margot Douaihy

dark funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.75

Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.25

This was good! I really did not like the narrator much; it felt kind of like he was reading to a child. That said, I DID enjoy the story a lot. This was excellent historical fantasy with a tiny sprinkle of very G-rated romance (my favorite dose and type of romance). I really would be interested in finding out what happens next, though I  am pretty sure this is a standalone. 

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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? No

5.0

I think I will read anything that Travis Baldree writes. I just love this world so much and cannot identify a single thing to make this book better. 

Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I am mostly confused and sad. The writing was lovely but I just have so many questions. 

Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae by Steven Pressfield

adventurous challenging dark sad tense slow-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? Yes

4.0

Have been asked for years by my spouse to read this. It’s excellent.  Not my cup of tea, but so good. I am mostly angry after reading this. 

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This started incredibly slow for me. I was frustrated by the cadence and the repetitive nature of the writing. I realize this was written to be a first person account by the main character, but yeesh, I felt like as the reader I was expected to be a dummy. ANYWAY, I loved the story once I got into it, and ended up really enjoying the back 2/3.

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.

This is a beautiful book. It’s (maybe obviously) dark, and I’m just not in an emotional space at the moment where I want to experience that in my reads.