dr_dr_olshakes's reviews
110 reviews

Jackal by Erin E. Adams

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dark emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It's pretty rare for me to say this but I think the supernatural elements could have been left out. Outside of character development, that whole element could be removed and it wouldn't change anything that happened. And even with the character development, it didn't feel necessary because Liz didn't even realize she was changing into something supernatural until the final confrontation. It was a last minute realization and so didn't really influence her actions throughout the novel.

I appreciated the moment where Liz got to commune with the missing black girls, but not so much that I think it warranted the inclusion of the supernatural. Otherwise, it's a solid thriller with compelling characters and the stakes felt real.
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Loved it. Front to cover. What a stunning exploration of grief and monstrosity. I loved that we got Monstrillo's POV at the end, and how informed it was by each proceeding POV. I loved the passage of time, and the reflective nature of the novel. Loved it all. 
The Deep by Rivers Solomon

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

3.75

I'm glad it wasn't stretched to the length of a novel, but I also feel like the story didn't quite finish. The resolution felt rushed and the stakes almost immediately negated. Great concept and execution. 
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 72%.
I was coming up against the return date, didn't feel like upping the speed past 1.75, and didn't care enough about the ending to force it.

I gotta start making sure books aren't YA. No real shade to the genre, just not my bag.
VenCo by Cherie Dimaline

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 51%.
The stakes felt artificial, the characters unrealized, and mostly it was just boring.
A Touch of Jen by Beth Morgan

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dark funny 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

I really didn't know how this was going to land for me, especially when we get to the final act and we get all the
monsters
but I loved what the
monster
ended up being and representing. 

This feels almost like a millennial and absurdist
Pet Semetary
. The uncanny experience of reading people whose thoughts and actions and words are so self aware, the strangeness of every interaction, the somehow intense domesticity mingled with extreme distachment. Then, of course, the sudden and horrible unexpected death that is, in hindsight, fated.

As someone who has lived through the life-altering sudden, violent death of a loved one, I really, really liked how it was handled, and everything that came after. Remy's inability to even comprehendlet alone accept was so familiar. The scene in the hospital was visceral. And that sense of just waiting for everything to fall back in place, for her to show up, for the world to right itself again, was also so familiar. A favorite moment of mine is when Alicia finally appears fully to him and he says "where have you been??" Damn. That's exactly how I felt. Like at any moment she'd be back. And like...if I found out it was possible to somehow really, truly get her back...well, it's a good thing I'm not a character in a horror movie.


And that all lines up so well with
Pet Semetary.
I think I really loved this. 
The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
The author just didn't sell me on this guy becoming a cold killer. 

I may go back, given my interest in Latinx horror, and representations of cartels. But also, I'm don't with the dissertation and degree so there's not really a need to slog my way through mediocre horror 🤷🏽‍♀️
Fraternity by Andy Mientus

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dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

I liked this a lot more than expected. It's also a great airplane book. Emotional, good pace, a plot with stakes, and character development. And not as YA as it could have been. I honestly really liked all of the main three characters, and even side characters. 

I particularly liked Zooey's arc. His conflict was explored genuinely. That said, his discussio with
the demon
seemed like a non starter. 
A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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

4.0

I'm rating this off the experience of listening to it, which was incredibly pleasant. If I scratch at it even a little, the rating starts going down much faster. However, it really reminded me of Spellbound by SuperNovaDragonCat and I love SNDC so I'm sticking with a 4.
Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder

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

3.75

It got so gross at the end and I loved that. Otherwise pretty good!
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