dr_dr_olshakes's reviews
106 reviews

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

Totally fine. Predictable, but that's fine too. I wish we had spent a lot less time in Vesper's head and more time with her interacting with other characters. An overwhelming amount of telling instead of showing. I really was hoping that we would delve deeper into Vesper's relationship with her mom because the end really enhanced its complexity. None of the characters besides Vesper seemed to have much interiority and were there to serve a narrative purpose. All in all, not actually bad but Vesper is one of the most navel-gazing protagonists I've read in a long time. 

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

What an egregious example of telling, not showing. Every characters' motivations are simply told to us by Titus' presumably omniscient and always correct estimation. We are simply informed by Titus about everyone's interiority and he is always correct. No matter who it is, Titus knows it all. And, not only is he always correct, but he always knows better. He can quote the Bible better, knows literature better, knows the law better, threats better, punches better, preaches better, acts better. It's exhausting being in his head, especially when he both says he hates men who flaunt their position in the law and then turns around and does it himself. Though, of course, when he does it, it's for better reasons. It's fitting he ends up

becoming a professor because he sure can lecture.

The mystery was good but I didn't find the hunt particularly compelling. It feels like if Titus hadn't

randomly stumbled by that woman on her porch

that he couldn't have solved it. A lot of happenstance led to a killer that, of course, Titus could easily inform of us all of their motivation and traumas perfectly. Whatever. 

Cookie Dough or Die by Virginia Lowell

lighthearted mysterious relaxing slow-paced

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

3.5

Totally and completely charming. What else needs to be said.

Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope

challenging dark 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? Yes

3.75

This is probably actually 4 stars, but I'm a hard sell on fantasy. Wonderful and compelling premise, solid follow through, but I struggled with Jane's inner monologs and the sort of "paint by fantasy numbers" character arc of becoming more confident. I know it's the theme, but forgiveness was granted so easily. Very sweet romance and some moments of genuine tension.  Lore dumps were rough. 

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

dark mysterious reflective fast-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

4.0

Finished in one day, mostly because I was engaged in a marathon crafting session. Very solid book to modge podge to!

I liked the pace for rhe most part, though the middle dragged a bit. I also really enjoyed the twist! I probably should have seen it coming but, well, I was deep in the craft zone and was just along for the ride. I don't know if it's actually a 4 Stat book, but it sure was a good ride. 

Audition by Ryū Murakami

dark 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

2.5

Bored in a way that is frankly shocking. I know it's supposed to more of a "horror lurking just beneath the surface" but it didn't work for me. Unfortunately, not to be that person, but I was really rooting for a "good for her" ending. There was never really a reckoning or revelation for Aoyama. In fact he literally says at the end that he doesn't know what this was about. I found him a frustrating protagonist and I was highly anticipating his end. Overall, boring and unsatisfactory. 

Dracula by Bram Stoker

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.75

Reread this in anticipation of the new Nosferatu film coming out. It is, as always, a terrific read, though a little slow. My heart breaks for some many of these characters, in particular Lucy's story and death. I also got teary-eyed about Quincy. I too love Madam Mina. These characters have so much heart, and you learn to care about them all so much. They each have a surprising complexity that keeps the momentum going through some of the more boring stretches. 

All the usual caveats hold true. It's racist, it's sexist, it's xenophobic, etc. But, it's a darn good yarn.

The Laughing Corpse: An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Novel by Laurell K. Hamilton

dark funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

I'm still not really sure why I want to keep reading these, but I do. I do like how surprisingly gory they are, and honestly the lack of romance goes a long way with me. Luckily, the nice buffer between Libby rentals will keep me from over indulging and getting sick of them right away. I'll keep borrowing them until I'm over it. 

The Cherry Robbers by Sarai Walker

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I chose this book on a whim because it was immediately ready to borrow on Libby. I absolutely LOVED it. The prose really wraps you up and holds you tight as you read about tragedy and grief and violence. This book is a stunning (wedding cake) mixture of We Have Always Lived in the Castle/The Winchester House/Pride and Prejudice/The Virgin Suicides/The Haunting of Hill House. It's the perfect atmospheric Gothic novel.

That all said, I was disappointed that the "curse" really seemed to just be "men bad" and not the consequences of war profiteering and genocide. I feel like the metaphors it was laying out (the sisters choosing gun and oil magnates) really spoke to legacies of violence in a way that got undermined by the "saving grace" of lesbianism. And don't get me wrong- I loved how queer this book was! The ending was also a bit of a screeching halt after so much tension.

I'm going to carry this book, and the Chapel sisters, in my mind and heart for a while. Truly masterful, with few qualms.