drakaina16's reviews
1934 reviews

Jones 1963 by Devin Cabrera
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.

The book isn't written very well. There are some very awkward sentences that I had to read several times. There's also a scene where someone sneaks into a car through an open window while someone is outside pushing it. That is absolutely ridiculous. 

Through the Eyes of Desperation: The Red Version by Aron Beauregard

dark tense 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

So, I probably would not have picked this book up if it wasn't a contender in the Books of Horror Indie Author Brawl. Just like Playground last year, I skipped over parts quite often. At least Aron Beauregard has good stories wrapped in a disgusting package. I didn't love this one, but it kept me interested enough to finish. 3 stars

When I Look At The Sky, All I See Are Stars by Steve Stred

challenging dark mysterious 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? No

5.0

Thank you to NetGalley and DarkLit Press for providing a review copy.

For years now, my favorite Steve Stred book has been Mastodon. I sing it's praises everywhere and man, how could would a Mastodon movie be? I never thought I would say this, but Mastodon's number one spot has been overtaken. When I Look at the Sky, All I See Are Stars absolutely rocked my world. I read it in two sittings and had to force myself to go to bed and put it down. Hands-down, this book is one of the best possession stories I've ever read (and it's one of my favorite sub-genres, so I read a LOT of them). Strong 5 stars

Nights Vol. 1 by Luigi Formisano, Wyatt Kennedy

dark funny mysterious tense 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

4.0

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy. 

I really enjoyed Nights! It's funny and sweet and pretty brutal, actually. The artwork is fantastic and I liked all of the characters. It did end on a cliffhanger, though, so I'll be forced to hunt down the second volume. 4 stars

You Invited It In by Sarah Jules

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? No

4.5

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

You Invited It In is one of the most creepy, disturbing books I've read this year. I had a hard time putting it down and devoured the book in two sittings. I had previously read Don't Lie by the same author and had a great time with it. This book sees Sarah Jules' writing really solidify and flourish. 4.5 stars

The Scientist, the Spaceman, and the Stars Between Them by A.L. Davidson

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Thank you to BookSirens for providing a review copy. 

This book absolutely blew me away. It's bleak, cold, and beautiful. I want to write so much about it, but I think it's important to let the story and the revelations unfold organically and surprise you. It's also wonderfully queer. This is one of the best books I've read all year. Strong 5 stars

Bitterly by Stephen Barnard

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.5

Normally, in a short story collection, I would rate each story individually. I decided not to do that this time, since all the stories were supposed to be related and take place in the same small town. I thought maybe I'd made a mistake at first, but the epilogue brought everything together nicely. I enjoyed the whole collection. 3.5 stars

Village of the Mermaids by Carlton Mellick III

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

While this is not my favorite Carlton Mellick III book, I did enjoy it quite a bit. He always writes bizarro with real heart, and this book is no exception. Village of the Mermaids also deftly handles some satire, which I appreciated. These mermaids are some of the most disturbing that I've read about. 4 stars

Kosa by John Durgin

dark mysterious sad tense 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? No

4.25

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

The line between horror stories and fairy tales is oh so thin, and John Durgin does a great job with this modern take on Rapunzel. While it's not my favorite Durgin (I'm looking at you, The Cursed Among Us), I enjoyed it quite a bit. Marta is extremely creepy, and I felt so badly for Kosa. 4.25 stars

Usher's Passing by Robert R. McCammon

dark mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

Believe it or not, this is my first Robert McCammon book. I'm not sure why it took me so long to pick up one of his books, but I'm very glad I did. I could easily have spent another 400 pages learning about the Ushers and their backstory. The book was fascinating, with great characters that felt real. 4.25 stars