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darquedreamer's reviews
652 reviews
The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
5.0
"Among the whispering and the stars."
I absolutely loved this one! I loved all of the characters. I loved the emotions and life lessons woven within. I loved that Josephine found a purpose to mark the beginning of one journey and the end to one of her life chapters, and I absolutely loved the ending!
It was comforting like a Hallmark movie, but more magical. It was beautiful and hopeful. Dreamy and captivating. Emotional and funny. It was like a hug accompanied by a warm latte and soothing jazz band music.
"Once you say phonus balonus to what society demands you can or cannot do, you'll see it doesn't matter what others think."
Jennifer truly showed the beauty in the journey of finding oneself. Josephine's story, as well as Alma's, showed that there won't always be pain in loss. Both of these women portrayed different sides to an important lesson in female empowerment about not losing yourself to, or changing yourself for, any man.
This was an enchanting, entertaining story of grief, change, love, family, and life. It was about life being shaken up, sparking self discovery and hope for a different outcome. It was about embracing truth, fear, and the question of "where do I go from here?" And, with the "time traveling" and roaring 20's story line, it was lighthearted, fun, and memorable.
"Why not live louder and bolder?"
Thank you to the author and Harper Muse Books for providing me with an ARC as part of the influencer tour.
Quotes are from the book, written by the author, and may change in the finished copy.
I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea
dark
emotional
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Possible spoilers ahead, as this is book 2 in a duology...
"I alone was the Wicked Dark. I became a monster by choice and wouldn't let the world erase me now."
In this chaotic world, all we truly know is ourselves, and do we really? What happens if we lose ourselves? Our fight? Our power?
Where do you go after you've burned bridges and lost who you used to be. What do you fight for? Where is the light when you've embraced all of your darkness in your villain era?
If book one was about rage and desire, then this one was about loss and grief, and the aftermath of picking up the pieces and trying to put everything back together, including one's self.
I Am The Dark That Answers When You Call was a powerful "ending" to Laure's story. Laure had gotten everything she asked for in I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me, but it cost her so much, including herself. She lost friends, her home, her place in the ballet, and her passion for life and dance.
This end to a spectacularly gritty duology was a visceral metaphor for learning to navigate the "what comes next?" question. It was beautiful, tragic, gory, and damn powerful! It was Laure's "rebirth" story, and it burned bright through the darkness.
"That's my girl. Now get the fuck out of this grave and make yourself a menace."
Quotes are from the book, written by the author.
Thank you Macmillan/Henry Holt BYR and Fierce Reads for the early, finished copy, and the opportunity to join the release tour.
"I alone was the Wicked Dark. I became a monster by choice and wouldn't let the world erase me now."
In this chaotic world, all we truly know is ourselves, and do we really? What happens if we lose ourselves? Our fight? Our power?
Where do you go after you've burned bridges and lost who you used to be. What do you fight for? Where is the light when you've embraced all of your darkness in your villain era?
If book one was about rage and desire, then this one was about loss and grief, and the aftermath of picking up the pieces and trying to put everything back together, including one's self.
I Am The Dark That Answers When You Call was a powerful "ending" to Laure's story. Laure had gotten everything she asked for in I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me, but it cost her so much, including herself. She lost friends, her home, her place in the ballet, and her passion for life and dance.
This end to a spectacularly gritty duology was a visceral metaphor for learning to navigate the "what comes next?" question. It was beautiful, tragic, gory, and damn powerful! It was Laure's "rebirth" story, and it burned bright through the darkness.
"That's my girl. Now get the fuck out of this grave and make yourself a menace."
Quotes are from the book, written by the author.
Thank you Macmillan/Henry Holt BYR and Fierce Reads for the early, finished copy, and the opportunity to join the release tour.
Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda
dark
emotional
tense
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
4.0
Heir by Sabaa Tahir
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
I am sorry to say that after two tries, I only made it about a quarter of the way through this one. I wanted to love it, but I felt so lost, and, honestly, bored and disconnected. I had no idea that I had to have read Sabaa's other series before reading this one. I wish that had been marketed somewhere. I was under the impression that this was a NEW duology, as stated in the description. With that being said, I felt lost in the world and terminology and spent the majority of the time trying to figure things out instead of enjoying the plot. I also did not connect with the characters or the story, as there was just too much going on and too much to keep up with.
Thanks Penguin Teen for the e-ARC.
Thanks Penguin Teen for the e-ARC.
Playing the Witch Card by K.J. Dell'Antonia
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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? Yes
5.0
The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
3.25
So, I was really wanting to love this one. I flew through the first 41% of it, even though the entire time I was thinking that it just felt like it was trying too hard to fit itself in the cozy, witchy, Practical Magicy genre. The writing was a little awkward, too.
Then, I took a break from it for a few days and found that I just didn't have the urge to pick it back up. I also couldn't remember what had happened in the first 41% of it either. But, I made myself get back into it thinking that it could have just been my mood at the time. I flew through the last 59% of it and initially felt like it had gotten better and that maybe it even deserved a reread later when my mood was different.
Unfortunately, after thinking about it, I still had those awkward feelings about not really enjoying it. I even decided to lower my rating. Sure, there were some interesting secrets, lies and drama that happened in the plot. But, the story just didn't hit. The main character and the love interest didn't have me fully invested, and I definitely did not like the main character's former best friend, Jess. There were also a couple plot holes that left me scratching my head.
So, for now, I'm rating it 3.25 stars. It was just captivating enough to be a fast read, and, initially, it was mildly satisfying at the finish, but thinking about it after the fact left me not so satisfied after all. I still might go back and reread it in the future, but it did not give me the ultimate cozy, witchy feel that I wanted.
Thanks Netgalley for the e-arc.
Then, I took a break from it for a few days and found that I just didn't have the urge to pick it back up. I also couldn't remember what had happened in the first 41% of it either. But, I made myself get back into it thinking that it could have just been my mood at the time. I flew through the last 59% of it and initially felt like it had gotten better and that maybe it even deserved a reread later when my mood was different.
Unfortunately, after thinking about it, I still had those awkward feelings about not really enjoying it. I even decided to lower my rating. Sure, there were some interesting secrets, lies and drama that happened in the plot. But, the story just didn't hit. The main character and the love interest didn't have me fully invested, and I definitely did not like the main character's former best friend, Jess. There were also a couple plot holes that left me scratching my head.
So, for now, I'm rating it 3.25 stars. It was just captivating enough to be a fast read, and, initially, it was mildly satisfying at the finish, but thinking about it after the fact left me not so satisfied after all. I still might go back and reread it in the future, but it did not give me the ultimate cozy, witchy feel that I wanted.
Thanks Netgalley for the e-arc.
So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
Just like Rachel's other books, So Thirsty is a horror comedy/cheeky feminist story that's meant to be taken lightly, while also taking away the important bits that speak only to you. It's a reflection of real life, real friendship, but also a reflection of inner monlogues, day dreams, fantasies, nightmares, and feelings of inadequacy, unhappiness, adventure seeking, deep desires, fears, and things you just won't let yourself have or enjoy. It's poignant, messy, hilarious, infuriating at times, and introspective.
It gives John Carpenter's Vampires, Fright Night and Thirteen vibes. It has both shallow and realistic characters. Characters that are fun and eye roll deserving. A swoonworthy character. And, then there are Sloane and Naomi. Both are authentic, flawed, unique, loveable, selfish, selfless, and cringe worthy at the same and different times.
So Thirsty is a journey of self rediscovery, a recementing of an old, complacent friendship, and a powerful life lesson about learning to live for you and what you want, and knowing that you are worthy of everything you want. It's a fun, comical, powerfully feminine read sprinkled with bits of monstrousness.
It gives John Carpenter's Vampires, Fright Night and Thirteen vibes. It has both shallow and realistic characters. Characters that are fun and eye roll deserving. A swoonworthy character. And, then there are Sloane and Naomi. Both are authentic, flawed, unique, loveable, selfish, selfless, and cringe worthy at the same and different times.
So Thirsty is a journey of self rediscovery, a recementing of an old, complacent friendship, and a powerful life lesson about learning to live for you and what you want, and knowing that you are worthy of everything you want. It's a fun, comical, powerfully feminine read sprinkled with bits of monstrousness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, and Blood
Lies on the Serpent's Tongue by Kate Pearsall
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Eerie. Magical. Breathtaking.
I absolutely loved Bittersweet in the Hollow, but I loved this one so much more! It had even more family dynamic. More emotion. More folklore. More mystery. More spookiness. More secrets. More excitement!
I loved that Bittersweet was sprinkled in to this one with healthy reminders of what happened, and feelings of familiarity, but it also felt different like it could be read without feeling like anything was missing from the first book (though, I will always recommend reading Bittersweet in the Hollow). Lies on the Serpent's Tongue had a lot of the same flavors I fell in love with from Bittersweet in the Hollow, but it was like a new recipe.
I loved the return of our favorite James women. As this was set shortly after Bittersweet concluded. But, what I really loved was seeing all these characters through Rowan's eyes vs Linden's. And, I related to Rowan so much. She was a firecracker!
And, Hadrian, swoon! Like I said before, all the best things carried over from Bittersweet, but they changed and grew because Lies was a completely different perspective, personality, and magic of its own. It was beyond a 5 star read for me, and not only am I ready to reread it, but I am dying for news about a third book, because that ending was 😱! And, there was just so much from both books that could be expanded on. I would read an entire series about these strong, brave women!
Thank you Penguin Teen for the ARC!!
I absolutely loved Bittersweet in the Hollow, but I loved this one so much more! It had even more family dynamic. More emotion. More folklore. More mystery. More spookiness. More secrets. More excitement!
I loved that Bittersweet was sprinkled in to this one with healthy reminders of what happened, and feelings of familiarity, but it also felt different like it could be read without feeling like anything was missing from the first book (though, I will always recommend reading Bittersweet in the Hollow). Lies on the Serpent's Tongue had a lot of the same flavors I fell in love with from Bittersweet in the Hollow, but it was like a new recipe.
I loved the return of our favorite James women. As this was set shortly after Bittersweet concluded. But, what I really loved was seeing all these characters through Rowan's eyes vs Linden's. And, I related to Rowan so much. She was a firecracker!
And, Hadrian, swoon! Like I said before, all the best things carried over from Bittersweet, but they changed and grew because Lies was a completely different perspective, personality, and magic of its own. It was beyond a 5 star read for me, and not only am I ready to reread it, but I am dying for news about a third book, because that ending was 😱! And, there was just so much from both books that could be expanded on. I would read an entire series about these strong, brave women!
Thank you Penguin Teen for the ARC!!
Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
This one was Peter Pan meets Swamp Thing and Buffy (the entire show and its vibes). It had a little bit of Dead Boy Detectives vibes sprinkled in as well. It was glorious horromance with chilling eldritch horror.
I couldn't put it down. The characters were 🤌🏼. The horror was horroring, like that feeling you are being watched or followed in the dark. It made me feel all the feels and gave me goosebumps!
It was sad and beautiful. It was about facing fears, change, and the reality of growing up. It was about the realization that not everything is what it seems, even childhood memories. It was about how monstrous men seeking power can truly be.
It was about friendship and found family and the desperation to survive and protect those you love. It was dark and atmospheric. It was everything I hoped it would be. I can't wait to read it again!
I couldn't put it down. The characters were 🤌🏼. The horror was horroring, like that feeling you are being watched or followed in the dark. It made me feel all the feels and gave me goosebumps!
It was sad and beautiful. It was about facing fears, change, and the reality of growing up. It was about the realization that not everything is what it seems, even childhood memories. It was about how monstrous men seeking power can truly be.
It was about friendship and found family and the desperation to survive and protect those you love. It was dark and atmospheric. It was everything I hoped it would be. I can't wait to read it again!