dakotach7's reviews
263 reviews

Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown

fast-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

4.75

Really, this book was fun, and I really enjoyed Molly Bolt as a character. I'm someone who always finds it difficult to NOT care about what people think, so to see a character like Molly, who is someone in her mid-twenties by the end just trying to work towards what she can, while also still having to trudge through the difficulties of her life, was really admirable and relatable, imo at least. 

Brother by Ania Ahlborn

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Don't really know what to say. This was a lot lol, and some of what happened toward the end I was kind of expecting, but other twists I did not. The climax of the story was not happy, yet was nonetheless kind of what I was hoping for. 

I had accidentally spoiled for myself that Alice was his biological sister beforehand, but I however, did not seem coming that Rebel had planned it so that Michael had to kill his own mother and then... eat... her. Somehow, despite Rebel's atrocities, I think I still felt a small amount of sympathy for him; maybe because as Michael and Rebel so heartfully discussed, they - the Morrows - were all kind of screwed over from the start, family-wise. 

Additionally, I did really feel for Michael, despite what he himself has done. I understood his mindset and feeling like he was trapped + essentially an object for Rebel to use. It was, however, very satisfying when he went and killed Wade + Claudine, then afterward was able to get Rebel as well, and then him and Alice just kind of die afterward.

This was messed up, and I loved it. I was not expecting to actually have any sort of emotional connection to Michael (or anyone else), and yet, I did. Would recommend. 

Snowblind by Anna Velfman
Did not finish book. Stopped at 54%.

No fault to the author, but just not something I'm really feeling at the moment! May return to it later though, as it did have its intriguing points, and seems like a great world to get sucked into. 

A Good House for Children by Kate Collins

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This was exactly the sort of story I love. I think the author had such a lovely writing style, and I feel like the characters either really served their thematic purpose or were very sympathetic (or both). I would recommend if you love seeing people lose themselves in isolative settings. 

Also, I think Orla's story really was just so depressing, and it was easy to sympathize with her, despite her flaws. Kind of like a Shirley Jackson protag lol (all who I love). I looved The Reeve/house as a character, and despite Sara's more overt personality flaws, I felt for all of them + Lydia too. 

Additionally, I thought it was interesting how all the children seemed a little more sensitive/were different in some way than what might be typically expected. Overall though, Orla's unraveling I believe was the most memorable/best/saddest part of this book.

A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.25

Honestly, not really sure how I feel about this... I think my current obsession over evil/aware houses kind of stemmed from the og Hill House book, so that definitely made me more biased towards enjoying this lol. With that in mind, I'll start off with things that bothered me. 

-Holly, in my opinion, could be quite boring to follow, and therefore, the beginning of the book was not as engaging. 
-The maybe witch subplot was kind of just meh to me. I like that it was still somewhat unconfirmed in the end if Evadne/Ainsley/Melissa were witches or whatever, but ever sense I read Watership Down, bunnies/hares and the like are just not scary to me lol (not that they were scary to me before, personally).
-Honestly it's just kind of a personal preference, but I did not love the extremely modern references... like everyone posting online, talking about having to stay inside because of the pandemic, everyone and  their damn vape pens 😭 

Anyways, things I DO like!; 

I feel like this take on Hill House was actually pretty clever and well done! Hill House was just as hateful and insanity inducing as before, and really brought out the worst in everyone - but Stevie and Nisa especially.

Honestly, I was really expecting Stevie to have been the one to lose himself to Hill House. Kind of seems like it would've been more fitting to what he was going through, imo?

I think as well, how the House really seemed alive towards the end was great - reminds me of a game I played that was also inspired by the original Hill House book, named Anatomy. (Like blood coming out of the walls, things being described like teeth or organs while Stevie, Amanda, and Holly were trying to escape was fun.)

TLDR; I would recommend if you're kind of obsessed with hungry, sentient houses and think mean, petty characters can be fun.

Petals on the Wind by V.C. Andrews

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book had a lot going on, similarly to the first book. The writing was also as beautiful as the first book. Also, I think Cathy could have alternatively gone to live in a nunnery and half of her problems would have gone away - seriously, every man in this book is predatory and terrible basically. Although the end of this book was VERY satisfying after the first book.

Essentially, Bart and Julian were the worst of the men in this book, abusive in every manner. Not really sad honestly that they both died lol? And Paul was... less offensive, but still, erm, very weird, for going after Cathy at the age she was. Chris had his unsettling moments as well. 

Although, towards the end, Cathy confronting her mother made it all worth it honestly. It was sooo satisfying watching her tear her mother down in front of everyone, especially when Corrine insisted on victimising herself.

Ultimately, I don't know how I feel about this. Did I enjoy reading this? Not always necessarily. Will I continue on to the next book? Probably. Call it morbid curiosity lol.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Child abuse

Beloved by Toni Morrison

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This was a beautiful experience. This was not the first Toni Morrison book that I've read, but it's likely my favorite so far.

I loved the many parallels as well - such as Sethe's 'water breaking' upon encountering Beloved for the first time in the flesh, and Beloved herself seemingly becoming pregnant at the end. That, in the end, Beloved is someone unremembered and not to be passed on, like a dark stain in all of their lives, with no name to call her own. Such a haunting ending.

Ultimately, this was also timely, as this sort of horror I've fallen absolutely in love with over the past couple of years. 

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

A child weaned on poison considers harm a comfort.

^ One of my fave quotes I've randomly come across that I did not realize came from this book. I loved the writing and the setting, and how they murder mystery was interwoven with this deep undercurrent of family madness.

I'm sort of obsessed with how the whole Preaker family (except maybe Marian) are all violent - it just depends who it's towards. The self in Camille's case sadly, or towards others in Adora and Amma's case. Very interesting imo. 

Additionally, how intimacy = violence or vice versa, and Adora's nurturing instinct has 'gone awry' and the book ends with Camille wondering if she's similar in any way too... haunting. And very sad.

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I finished this book a few weeks ago, and it has definitely been in my mind ever since! The longer I go having read it, the more I'm like, damn, that was an excellent and smart book. Really feels like a book especially made for fans of horror.

I looove how the first third of the book really does remind me of Blatty's The Exorcist, another fave of mine, and then there's a distinct tonal shift - and it really starts to feel like a Shirley Jackson novel - specifically 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' (and not just because there's a younger sister named Merry, who... does questionable things to her family). It does feel very claustrophic, and vague, and it leaves one wondering wtf was up with the dad as well? And Marjorie herself.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 14 by Hiromu Arakawa

adventurous hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

Excellent volume! It's fun seeing all the pieces come together, building towards an amazing final arc. It was great seeing Lan Fan at the end too!