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cursed_sapphire's reviews
159 reviews
Friendly Face by Andrea Waggener, Scott Cawthon
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is the worst Fazbear Frights book by a lot. I also hold a personal grudge against it and am tempted to personally set my copy on fire.
I seriously recommend skipping this one and just looking up synopsis videos on YouTube.
For actual reasons the stories were bad, here's a summery:
The stories all had bloated beginnings with a lot of stuff that doesn’t end up mattering. The characters are as flat as they can get, and many are especially annoying. The prose is sloppy and amateurish with dialogue that sounds straight from a high-school drama book from 2006 made for tweens. The first story spends its first half as a sweet suburban story before refrigerating two characters (one of which is a cat) and then mostly just being unbearably sad, with the horror not coming until the story is almost done. The second story had the best integration of horror, but had a dumb premise and was dragged out too long. The third story was 90% annoying teen drama until the final 10% was gruesome body horror.
All of these stories were bloated and way too long. And the cheesy writing didn't help. The only things I can praise are the protagonists, which were each at least semi-interesting, and the body horror.
I will say the Stichwraith Stinger at the end was really good. But that couldn't save this book.
2 stars for the Stichwraith and the body horror.
I seriously recommend skipping this one and just looking up synopsis videos on YouTube.
For actual reasons the stories were bad, here's a summery:
The stories all had bloated beginnings with a lot of stuff that doesn’t end up mattering. The characters are as flat as they can get, and many are especially annoying. The prose is sloppy and amateurish with dialogue that sounds straight from a high-school drama book from 2006 made for tweens. The first story spends its first half as a sweet suburban story before refrigerating two characters (one of which is a cat) and then mostly just being unbearably sad, with the horror not coming until the story is almost done. The second story had the best integration of horror, but had a dumb premise and was dragged out too long. The third story was 90% annoying teen drama until the final 10% was gruesome body horror.
All of these stories were bloated and way too long. And the cheesy writing didn't help. The only things I can praise are the protagonists, which were each at least semi-interesting, and the body horror.
I will say the Stichwraith Stinger at the end was really good. But that couldn't save this book.
2 stars for the Stichwraith and the body horror.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, and Body horror
Minor: Body shaming and Bullying
The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This book was a ton of fun. The main two characters especially were absolutely delightful. It's rare to find a married couple as the protagonists of a book, especially a married couple that have been together for years and have such a healthy, loving relationship.
The world-building was also top notch, with a more unique fantasy setting that was detailed and interesting. This book has a Victorian/industrial revolution vibe, with new techniques and innovations coming up, and a few wealthy people rising to the top at the expense of the poor. There was a lot of social commentary about class and wealth in this, and I think it was handled well, with many varied perspectives and interesting takes. It wasn’t super in-depth, but for the story being told, was just enough.
The language and situations were both humerous, creative, and tense. The prose was descriptive and full of personality, making this book a joy to read. And the odd objects, characters, and scenes all felt ridiculous yet grounded in the world, making them very fun. The book also got tense when it needed to- there were multiple times I feared for the lives of the main characters, unsure how they could escape a situation. There were strong stakes and consequences as well. Everything felt intentional and connected, making the narrative enjoyably intricate.
However, the book isn't perfect. The pacing is often very off. I often forgot exactly why our characters were doing what they were doing, and sometimes struggled to see how their actions furthered their goals. I think that comes from the almost duel mystery at play in the story, where the main characters are tasked to find the answer to one question before almost immediately finding a second, connected question that they start investigating more for curiosity. And then a third connected mystery pops up that is clearly related but is focused on for too long so that I forgot the relevance of the other questions. It was not perfectly laid out, even if by the end all the pieces did fit into place.
I will also say the narrative felt incomplete. The mystery came to a satisfying conclusion, but the characters and the bigger world questions felt lacking. I think this book suffers from being the first in a series- it doesn't feel like it entirely stands on it's own as a novel, instead feeling like the first act in a much longer story. There was so much time speant setting things up, and only the mystery ended up with any sort of conclusion.
However, despite the shortcomings, I highly recommend this book. I hope once the rest of the series comes out, the narrative will fit together more tightly and give the closure I didn’t find here. While this doesn't serve as a perfectly complete story, and the pacing is a bit all over the place, there is still so much to enjoy in this story. The main characters especially are worth giving this a shot, and I cannot wait to reunite with them when the next book comes out.
The world-building was also top notch, with a more unique fantasy setting that was detailed and interesting. This book has a Victorian/industrial revolution vibe, with new techniques and innovations coming up, and a few wealthy people rising to the top at the expense of the poor. There was a lot of social commentary about class and wealth in this, and I think it was handled well, with many varied perspectives and interesting takes. It wasn’t super in-depth, but for the story being told, was just enough.
The language and situations were both humerous, creative, and tense. The prose was descriptive and full of personality, making this book a joy to read. And the odd objects, characters, and scenes all felt ridiculous yet grounded in the world, making them very fun. The book also got tense when it needed to- there were multiple times I feared for the lives of the main characters, unsure how they could escape a situation. There were strong stakes and consequences as well. Everything felt intentional and connected, making the narrative enjoyably intricate.
However, the book isn't perfect. The pacing is often very off. I often forgot exactly why our characters were doing what they were doing, and sometimes struggled to see how their actions furthered their goals. I think that comes from the almost duel mystery at play in the story, where the main characters are tasked to find the answer to one question before almost immediately finding a second, connected question that they start investigating more for curiosity. And then a third connected mystery pops up that is clearly related but is focused on for too long so that I forgot the relevance of the other questions. It was not perfectly laid out, even if by the end all the pieces did fit into place.
I will also say the narrative felt incomplete. The mystery came to a satisfying conclusion, but the characters and the bigger world questions felt lacking. I think this book suffers from being the first in a series- it doesn't feel like it entirely stands on it's own as a novel, instead feeling like the first act in a much longer story. There was so much time speant setting things up, and only the mystery ended up with any sort of conclusion.
However, despite the shortcomings, I highly recommend this book. I hope once the rest of the series comes out, the narrative will fit together more tightly and give the closure I didn’t find here. While this doesn't serve as a perfectly complete story, and the pacing is a bit all over the place, there is still so much to enjoy in this story. The main characters especially are worth giving this a shot, and I cannot wait to reunite with them when the next book comes out.
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
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
4.75
This was a surprise hit for me. I had heard some people loved this book and some hated it, but I didn't even know what it was about when I decided to pick it up.
This, much to my shock, is basically a fantasy WW1 romance novel. While not depicting the actual WW1, it was very clearly inspired by WW1- the tactics, the responses of the public, propaganda, etc. And it was something I never knew I needed.
A bit of a warning- the first half of the book is more of the romance, much less of the fantasy, and is slower paced. The second half of the book is much faster, and while the romance is still a focus, the fantasy war becomes much more prevalent. Just something to be aware of.
The characters were very well-defined, and their chemistry leaped off the page. If you're a fan of mutual pining, secret identities, love letters, or he-falls-first-and-harder relationship dynamics, you'll probably like the romance. The side characters were also engaging, diverse, and relevant to the plot.
Overall this was a fun read with some surprisingly strong characters and interesting depictions of war and its various impacts. It's also the first good luck I've had with recent "romantasy" books. I look forward to the sequel, although I fear where it will go after the cliffhanger this book leaves on. However, I trust that even if the sequel doesn't stick the landing, this book alone will enjoy a long stay on my favorite's list, just below The Cruel Prince and Six of Crows as far as YA fantasy.
This, much to my shock, is basically a fantasy WW1 romance novel. While not depicting the actual WW1, it was very clearly inspired by WW1- the tactics, the responses of the public, propaganda, etc. And it was something I never knew I needed.
A bit of a warning- the first half of the book is more of the romance, much less of the fantasy, and is slower paced. The second half of the book is much faster, and while the romance is still a focus, the fantasy war becomes much more prevalent. Just something to be aware of.
The characters were very well-defined, and their chemistry leaped off the page. If you're a fan of mutual pining, secret identities, love letters, or he-falls-first-and-harder relationship dynamics, you'll probably like the romance. The side characters were also engaging, diverse, and relevant to the plot.
Overall this was a fun read with some surprisingly strong characters and interesting depictions of war and its various impacts. It's also the first good luck I've had with recent "romantasy" books. I look forward to the sequel, although I fear where it will go after the cliffhanger this book leaves on. However, I trust that even if the sequel doesn't stick the landing, this book alone will enjoy a long stay on my favorite's list, just below The Cruel Prince and Six of Crows as far as YA fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Vomit, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Xenophobia, Torture, Gore, Genocide, Classism, and Blood
Minor: Medical content
All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
3.75
This is the first thriller I've read in a while where I've come out remembering I still like thrillers.
I won't say this is the most groundbreaking thriller with the most unique plot, most amazing characters, or the most fascinating twists. But I will say this book is thriller done right.
It probably helped that the main character's sleep deprivation and clearly-defined childhood traumas helped explain away some of the conclusion-jumping and bad decisions that I've come to learn are synonymous with modern thrillers. Where in most books I find that kind of thing infuriating and poorly-handled, here it made perfect sense for our protagonist, who hasn't had a full night's rest in a year.
This book also handled it's themes better than most thrillers I've read. While all the characters are hiding secrets, I didn't leave the novel despising everyone like I have with some other thrillers. This book also refreshingly had a well-written, non-horrible male character who kept his secret because he wanted to seek justice for his sister's murder. There was no plot twist where it turned out he was leading the main character on or was secretly evil in his past or was complicit in the kidnapping of the protagonist's child, which I have found so exhausting from other thrillers . The exploration of motherhood, trauma, masculine vs. feminine gender roles, and sleep deprivation were all well handled and complex without being confusing, a tight-rope hard to balance.
So if you're looking for a solid thriller read, even if you're as tired as mediocre ones as I am, I still say give this one a try. It's not a perfect novel-the middle drags a bit and there are some characters that aren't as well defined as others, among a few other nitpicks- but it's overall a compelling, entertaining time.
I won't say this is the most groundbreaking thriller with the most unique plot, most amazing characters, or the most fascinating twists. But I will say this book is thriller done right.
It probably helped that the main character's sleep deprivation and clearly-defined childhood traumas helped explain away some of the conclusion-jumping and bad decisions that I've come to learn are synonymous with modern thrillers. Where in most books I find that kind of thing infuriating and poorly-handled, here it made perfect sense for our protagonist, who hasn't had a full night's rest in a year.
This book also handled it's themes better than most thrillers I've read. While all the characters are hiding secrets, I didn't leave the novel despising everyone like I have with some other thrillers. This book also refreshingly had a well-written, non-horrible male character
So if you're looking for a solid thriller read, even if you're as tired as mediocre ones as I am, I still say give this one a try. It's not a perfect novel-the middle drags a bit and there are some characters that aren't as well defined as others, among a few other nitpicks- but it's overall a compelling, entertaining time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Violence, Murder, Child death, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Pregnancy
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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? No
4.25
This book was tense and had me on the edge of my seat constantly. The beginning was a bit dry, but beyond that I was hooked. This is a true sci-fi horror novel- the constant fear for survival, wondering if there will ever be a moment of peace... And there was just enough substance behind it to elevate it higher than typical fun, pulpy sci-fi.
The characters are all a bit simple, but serve the narrative and themes well. I can't say I was extremely attached to any of them, but I can say they served their purposes well, serving more as vehicles for the reader to experience the tense situation through.
Overall I have to say this is one of the classics I'm delighted to find is a classic for a reason. I look forward to future forays into the works of H.G. Wells, and can easily reccomend this book to anyone looking for a tense book about a doomsday scenario that is somehow as fun as it is hopeless.
The characters are all a bit simple, but serve the narrative and themes well. I can't say I was extremely attached to any of them, but I can say they served their purposes well, serving more as vehicles for the reader to experience the tense situation through.
Overall I have to say this is one of the classics I'm delighted to find is a classic for a reason. I look forward to future forays into the works of H.G. Wells, and can easily reccomend this book to anyone looking for a tense book about a doomsday scenario that is somehow as fun as it is hopeless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Animal death and War
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
If you like a book with pretty prose, good message, but no plot this is for you.
This is a story of a young girl growing up going through a cycle of abuse through a fantasy-like lens that seems more like a delusional hellscape. It's basically the same event happening over and over as the girl slowly begins to realize that the relationship she has with her best friend is toxic. Also there's a groom looking for answers in the present day. The ending was predictable, and this read more like a contemporary novel than a fantasy.
This is a book for readers of contemporary explorations of mental health, female relationships, and growing up who love pretty prose and strong vibes. I would not recommend this to fantasy readers, despite the fact it was marketed as a fantasy.
This is a book for readers of contemporary explorations of mental health, female relationships, and growing up who love pretty prose and strong vibes. I would not recommend this to fantasy readers, despite the fact it was marketed as a fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Murder
Daindreth's Assassin by Elisabeth Wheatley
adventurous
funny
relaxing
fast-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
3.75
This was a very easy, fast read. I promise I mean this as a compliment, but it read like au fanfiction-it never lingered anywhere too long, had simple but engaging prose, and it was very satisfying. The author clearly knew her audience and what they wanted, and made sure to give them what they came for.
However, I will say this fanfiction-like quality did leave some things lacking. For example, outside of our heroine, I felt that the other characters weren't well defined. In fanfiction, you already know the characters, and authors often rely on that, meaning they don't spend much time showing you who the characters are or establishing their dynamics. This felt very similar-the characters felt like they just fell into dynamics with each other without any build-up, and the heroine would often have intense feelings of love or hatred towards someone when the book hadn’t really earned it. The characters in the book are pretty easy to understand, so it wasn't distracting, but it did feel somewhat underwhelming. I especially found this true of the male lead and the villainess- both characters clearly had depth and intrigue but the setup was lacking.
Finally, I will give my compliments to the world-building. It wasn’t anything too crazy or different, but the world felt thought-through amd grounded. The author was also very good at integrating details into the story without long exposition dumps. It was very natural and, by the end, left me with a good understanding of the politics and magic system.
This book was marketed as a slow-burn romance, but for my taste, it's not that slow.The two protagonists are firmly in love by the end of the book, just not together because of the male lead's curse. If he wasn't cursed, they would have already be together and likely would have already slept together. If you, like me, like romances that build very slowly, possibly even over several books, this might be a bit disappointing. I know their bond will deepen in the rest of the series, but to me the characters seemed too attached too quickly, especially since the protagonist had issues with trust.
This was a solid book that I was able to read very quickly. If you like romantic fanfiction I can 100% recommend this, and even for a fantady-lover who wants a quick, easy read with a stress on romance, this is a good time. If you're looking for quick spice, this isn't it. And if you're looking for characters slowly developing feelings of trust and companionship before finally realizing they also have romantic feelings, this isn't it. It's a book where characters het over distrust perhaps a bit too quickly and, if there weren't firm obstacles in the way, would have gotten together. It just so happened that said obstacles are fantastical.
However, I will say this fanfiction-like quality did leave some things lacking. For example, outside of our heroine, I felt that the other characters weren't well defined. In fanfiction, you already know the characters, and authors often rely on that, meaning they don't spend much time showing you who the characters are or establishing their dynamics. This felt very similar-the characters felt like they just fell into dynamics with each other without any build-up, and the heroine would often have intense feelings of love or hatred towards someone when the book hadn’t really earned it. The characters in the book are pretty easy to understand, so it wasn't distracting, but it did feel somewhat underwhelming. I especially found this true of the male lead and the villainess- both characters clearly had depth and intrigue but the setup was lacking.
Finally, I will give my compliments to the world-building. It wasn’t anything too crazy or different, but the world felt thought-through amd grounded. The author was also very good at integrating details into the story without long exposition dumps. It was very natural and, by the end, left me with a good understanding of the politics and magic system.
This book was marketed as a slow-burn romance, but for my taste, it's not that slow.
This was a solid book that I was able to read very quickly. If you like romantic fanfiction I can 100% recommend this, and even for a fantady-lover who wants a quick, easy read with a stress on romance, this is a good time. If you're looking for quick spice, this isn't it. And if you're looking for characters slowly developing feelings of trust and companionship before finally realizing they also have romantic feelings, this isn't it. It's a book where characters het over distrust perhaps a bit too quickly and, if there weren't firm obstacles in the way, would have gotten together. It just so happened that said obstacles are fantastical.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Slavery, and Violence
Minor: Trafficking