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dani_readz_bookz's Reviews (198)
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I went into this one so blindly with no expectations, and it did not disappoint. At the beginning of the book, I thought the writing was so well paced, not too heavy, just in-depth enough to keep you on the edge and wondering where this is going. The way the book escalated and got more into the thriller side of things, I could feel the paranoia and anxiety of the main character through the narrator's voice. I was so on edge and felt the thrill and fear while reading this for the first time in a while. Huge kudos the the immersive writing style. The level of gore and mystery was almost spot on. I would have loved a bit more gore/chase, especially towards the end. Where the author took the plot and the killer's motive was very unique and interesting, I sort of kept that as a possibility, but was uncertain till the reveal. Overall, a very thrilling, fear-inducing read, once you start listening, it's really difficult not to fly through it.
I decided to DNF this one at around 10% through.
The reason for this is that the writing was so repetitive and surface-level, crass and just not my cup of tea. I've heard speculations that the author uses AI frequently as a tool, but I'm hesitant to support it due to its controversy. If I were to continue reading, I think this would have been a 2-star read just because it's not my type of read and type of plotline I would enjoy. You can also really tell that the female character was written by a man, but it felt a bit weirdly written.
The reason for this is that the writing was so repetitive and surface-level, crass and just not my cup of tea. I've heard speculations that the author uses AI frequently as a tool, but I'm hesitant to support it due to its controversy. If I were to continue reading, I think this would have been a 2-star read just because it's not my type of read and type of plotline I would enjoy. You can also really tell that the female character was written by a man, but it felt a bit weirdly written.
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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:
Complicated
When I picked this one up, I thought it would be a cute children's book that would give me a fun time and something to enjoy. On the contrary, it really has me sitting here reflecting on how moments of stillness aren't a lack of something happening but rather us as beings being present, grounded and really sitting with our thoughts, feelings and surroundings. Even when you're not doing something monumental, you're still here, still sitting in quiet, observant. Always filled with an emotion, a thought, love, content, or anxiety. George shows you the importance of stillness. How reflective, healing and precious it can be. The illustrations are the cutest I've ever seen, so soft and cosy, it felt like a warm hug that surprisingly made me reflect on a lot of things while also going "aaawwww" at George and the illustrations. Enjoy the little things in life, those small moments that remind you that you are human, that you are loved and that there are so many things in life that you enjoy.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A big thank you to Netgalley for providing access to this ARC. It was quite a rollercoaster ride.
This read is exactly what I think of when a psychological mystery thriller comes to mind. If you're looking for something that reads like a true crime documentary with sprinkles of folklore and a lot of mystery and twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. I have to say that at some point, I was a little confused as to what was going on, and all the characters that were involved made me listen more intently to be sure to keep up with the plot. I eventually caught on again. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook as the multiple narrators do such a good job in conveying emotion, and at some point, had me so invested by just the way the story was being told. Perfect casting. Some of the characters weren't as involved and present as I expected them to be, which was just something that is holding me back from giving it a higher rating. Simply personal opinion.
The fact that this read leaves the reader to wonder about the overlap in psychological disorders and folklore was something I liked, as someone studying psychology and disorders. There are some really fun discussions to be had, and this could be such a fun book club read.
This read is exactly what I think of when a psychological mystery thriller comes to mind. If you're looking for something that reads like a true crime documentary with sprinkles of folklore and a lot of mystery and twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. I have to say that at some point, I was a little confused as to what was going on, and all the characters that were involved made me listen more intently to be sure to keep up with the plot. I eventually caught on again. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook as the multiple narrators do such a good job in conveying emotion, and at some point, had me so invested by just the way the story was being told. Perfect casting. Some of the characters weren't as involved and present as I expected them to be, which was just something that is holding me back from giving it a higher rating. Simply personal opinion.
The fact that this read leaves the reader to wonder about the overlap in psychological disorders and folklore was something I liked, as someone studying psychology and disorders. There are some really fun discussions to be had, and this could be such a fun book club read.
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
This story follows 37-year-old Elloise as she navigates starting her life anew at an almost magical French Castle Garden. A beautiful, in-depth look at a woman trying to heal herself from all of the trauma she has gone through, trying to rediscover her body. There is so much self-discovery, and the found family trope is so heartwarming. The prose is so lyrical, whimsical, fantastical and down to earth. The writing makes you feel so connected to the environment set in the book, with really good descriptive metaphoric language use. I appreciate that the author put a focus on our side characters just as much as our main character. Getting the reader to understand that every single person has their reason for being where they are, that this mysterious place brought them all together and helped them in their unique way. There aren't enough words to describe how complex and layered the characters and the plot are. The depth helps connect and sympathise with the characters. Overall, this read brought so much insight into the complications and complexities of wanting to be a parent and the impact that personal experience has on a person's view, mindset and the world around us. The narrator did a perfect job with the accents, the French and the pacing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
I always find it so hard to rate nonfictions and memoirs because this is the author's lived experience. Genuinely this is such an informative, almost cute read that's incredibly heartwarming. The author did an amazing job in dealing with such heavy and potentially triggering topics that made it all so much lighter and inspiring. The art style is so fun and I learned a bit more about Japanese culture surrounding transness and transitioning as well as so much of Thailand's medical world and I feel so much more informed and educatedwithout feeling like all the information given was too much. Reading this was like a positive light that made me smile today. I know this one will be a light of hope for others too.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
This was such a fun, lighthearted yet deep and touching read. The author realistically portrays the grieving process, and I praise her for having the strength to write about her own experience through this character. The bicker, the can't stand each other, to I can't see a world without you is so well written. The amount of strength and resilience that we see in Bex is truly admirable, and I can see a lot of her character in myself. Being there for yourself while still prioritising the world around you is a remarkable quality, one that involves trying to keep yourself and all the events and stressors in balance. There could have been a lot more clarity surrounding how and why these two became attracted to one another, seeing things play out from Nico's perspective would provide such deep insight into his character and his inner workings and desires. Overall, this was a fun and meaningful read with a perfect balance of spice, bickering and lightheartedness. The narrator did such a good job with pacing, and she sounds exactly how I imagined the character to sound in the book; her emotions and thoughts were conveyed well through the voice of the narrator.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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:
No
I was excited to get into this, I love a good BL romance. The art style is so cute!!! The switch-ups from cute to the normal style are what stood out to me most, along with the whole premise of the story, very Given meets Battle of the Bands. It did feel a little surface-level in terms of character depth and backstory. I think what could have made the characters more relatable and deep was if it were a bit longer; the chemistry and build-up between characters was a bit slower, and the interactions were a little deeper. Overall, the spicy scenes, plot and characters themselves were super fun to read about and see interact. I think this would benefit from having a bit more length, as it could make room for more character fluff or smut interactions, but what we've been provided with is a very cute window into the lives of these two lovers.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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:
No
This is the most existential 10-year-old I've ever met. In all seriousness, it was so interesting to see this small village in the forest and all of its creatures and happenings through the eyes of Gilly. Having the book be her diary entries and what goes through her head when writing was really fun to read, if not a little messy and all over the place, which is to be expected when a 10-year-old is your main character. The narrator's voice was such a good fit for the character that I created in my head, and the pacing and tone were perfect. I enjoyed the adventurous aspect of the book and can see how this can be a favourite for some kiddies out there. A very interesting perspective and representation of some mental health aspects of some of the characters. Overall this was a fun, whimsical and cute read.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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:
No
I want to start off by saying that the narrator did such a good job making the voices of the characters distinct and match the characters' personalities. The voice effects that were done for animal noises were very cute and immersive. Listening to it at 1x speed or 2x speed is both fitting, the pronunciation, pacing and flow of sentences is fun to listen to.
Now for the story itself: A perfect combination of whimsical, fantastical, heartwarming and adventurous. The pacing isn't too quick nor too slow yet it feels like the pacing was perfectly realistic and matching the events that are taking place. I can see children reading this and absolutely finding a furry friend or a normal character to relate to. The family dynamic and having a character with autism was very well written and represented. The names of characters and the plot of the book itself is so fun, creative and outside the box that this will for sure be a memorable book to anyone who reads it. So many morals, lessons and laughts can be taken from this read.
Now for the story itself: A perfect combination of whimsical, fantastical, heartwarming and adventurous. The pacing isn't too quick nor too slow yet it feels like the pacing was perfectly realistic and matching the events that are taking place. I can see children reading this and absolutely finding a furry friend or a normal character to relate to. The family dynamic and having a character with autism was very well written and represented. The names of characters and the plot of the book itself is so fun, creative and outside the box that this will for sure be a memorable book to anyone who reads it. So many morals, lessons and laughts can be taken from this read.