dr_dr_olshakes's reviews
120 reviews

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.25

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

I'm almost always a "stay in my lane" horror girlie, but every once in a while a friend persuades me to step outside my genre. I was immediately sold by the queer relationships, the decolonial themes and revision of history, and the humor. 

While the mystery basically ran its course exactly as I thought it would, I was kept engaged by the interpersonal relationships and the thoughtful exploration of race, class politics, feminism, and, of course, sexy sexy tatted up horned djinns and a woman in a suit and bowler. 

Over all, I enjoyed straying from my lane!

Goddess of Filth by V. Castro

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? Yes

3.5

As a chicana feminist, I loved this. As a person who doesn't get much from most y/a, I did not love this. As a fan of subversiv possession/exorcism stories, I loved this. This would be great for an undergrad chicano/latino studies course, or GWSS, or even genre fiction.

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara

4.0

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.75

The Girl from Rawblood by Catriona Ward

3.0

My Dearest Darkest by Kayla Cottingham

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Three out of ten spookies. I liked our characters a lot, and their dynamics. The imagery was solid and the body horror, especially at the end, was noteworthy. 

The pacing was all over the place and at times felt a bit slow. It also seemed like Finch just sort of forgot about her parents for most of the book. I did enjoy the complexity of Serena's and Kira's relationships but it was a lot of telling and not showing. Overall, the plot was just a little too focused on the main characters' growing relationship (which for the record I liked). We get told a lot of people are close friends and then just never really see it.

The end does finally deliver on the cosmic horror promise!

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

5.0

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

5.0

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

5.0