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drakaina16's reviews
2180 reviews
Waste Ground by Marc Ruvolo
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
There is a LOT going on in this short novella. The story opens with a bang, and rarely slows down as it rockets to the conclusion. We aren't given a lot of backstory on the cult, but I'm actually okay with that. As in movies, sometimes we just have to accept that crazy shit is happening and go with it. Ruvolo crafts incredible characters in a very short space, managing to make them both flawed and sympathetic. I kind of hope that this isn't the last that we hear of them. 5 stars
There is a LOT going on in this short novella. The story opens with a bang, and rarely slows down as it rockets to the conclusion. We aren't given a lot of backstory on the cult, but I'm actually okay with that. As in movies, sometimes we just have to accept that crazy shit is happening and go with it. Ruvolo crafts incredible characters in a very short space, managing to make them both flawed and sympathetic. I kind of hope that this isn't the last that we hear of them. 5 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Monstress, Vol. 3: Haven by Marjorie Liu
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
It Came From the Woods by Matthew Mercer, Matthew Mercer
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
I picked this up not knowing it was book 2 in a series, but they appear to be standalone (with one crossover character, from what I gathered). So I don't feel it's necessary to read It Came From Above before this book. This was a super fun cross between a survivor interview and found footage. Some of the dialogue came across a bit stilted at times, but it added to the whole B movie vibe of the book. I could definitely see it making a really fun found footage movie. I plan on checking out the rest of the series. 3.5 stars
Quarantine by Aaron Lebold
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Quarantine is one of those books which can be likened to watching a train wreck in slow motion. You know this can't lead anywhere good, and yet you can't look away. James is one of those guys who can't get out of his own way, made even worse by the pressures of COVID quarantine. Buckle up for a wild ride through James' brain. 4 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol
My Father's Name Is War: Collected Transmissions by Bauder
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
This is a very hard-hitting collection of stories (and one poem), all centered around the military. Make no mistake - these are horror stories, although they frequently veer into sci-fi territory as well. The vignettes between the stories hit me just as hard as the stories. 5 stars
My Father's Name is Forgotten ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
And Hades Followed Him ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Chasing the Dragon ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Omertá ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Non-Combat Related Incident ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Waidmannsdank ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
That It Was Good ⭐⭐⭐.25
Private Passenger ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
My Father's Name is War ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
This is a very hard-hitting collection of stories (and one poem), all centered around the military. Make no mistake - these are horror stories, although they frequently veer into sci-fi territory as well. The vignettes between the stories hit me just as hard as the stories. 5 stars
My Father's Name is Forgotten ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
And Hades Followed Him ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Chasing the Dragon ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Omertá ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Non-Combat Related Incident ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Waidmannsdank ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
That It Was Good ⭐⭐⭐.25
Private Passenger ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
My Father's Name is War ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers by Jonathan Janz
adventurous
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
5.0
Thank you to Cemetery Dance for providing a review copy.
The Night Flyers picks up 13 months after the events in Children of the Dark. This is definitely not a standalone; the first book is essential reading. I really enjoyed Children of the Dark, but I think this is my favorite of the two. Janz does a great job getting you to care about the characters, and managed to crush me a time or two. The book starts off fast paced, but gains speed like a rocket until the end. The action sequences are very tense and had me on the edge of my seat at times. The ending seems like it could be hinting at a third book, and I sincerely hope that's true. 5 stars
The Night Flyers picks up 13 months after the events in Children of the Dark. This is definitely not a standalone; the first book is essential reading. I really enjoyed Children of the Dark, but I think this is my favorite of the two. Janz does a great job getting you to care about the characters, and managed to crush me a time or two. The book starts off fast paced, but gains speed like a rocket until the end. The action sequences are very tense and had me on the edge of my seat at times. The ending seems like it could be hinting at a third book, and I sincerely hope that's true. 5 stars
You're Not Supposed To Be Here by Mike Salt
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Thank you to Mike Salt for providing a review copy.
This is a very different book in Mike Salt's catalog, but it is a worthy entry. The entire premise of the book is wrong and unsettling. I hesitate to say too much here, because I feel like you should really let the book surprise you. I didn't find Gabe to be a very sympathetic character, but that didn't make the story less enjoyable for me. Gabe is a trainwreck you can't look away from. 4.25 stars
This is a very different book in Mike Salt's catalog, but it is a worthy entry. The entire premise of the book is wrong and unsettling. I hesitate to say too much here, because I feel like you should really let the book surprise you. I didn't find Gabe to be a very sympathetic character, but that didn't make the story less enjoyable for me. Gabe is a trainwreck you can't look away from. 4.25 stars
The Home by Judith Sonnet
adventurous
dark
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? No
4.25
I want to start off by saying how refreshing it is to read about protagonists who are elderly. There is quite a bit of time-hopping, yes, but much of the narrative takes place in modern day. It was interesting to see the characters take on the supernatural when they are weak and feeble, as opposed to young and able bodied.
Mr. Friendlyman is a truly distressing villain, and there is some imagery in The Home that will stick with me. I didn't realize how cosmic the story would get, and I was pretty delighted with that. The only thing that knocked my rating down was the ending. So much information is revealed that I wish had been expanded upon, and I felt it ended super abruptly, almost confusingly so. I still absolutely recommend the book and rate it 4.25 stars.
Mr. Friendlyman is a truly distressing villain, and there is some imagery in The Home that will stick with me. I didn't realize how cosmic the story would get, and I was pretty delighted with that. The only thing that knocked my rating down was the ending. So much information is revealed that I wish had been expanded upon, and I felt it ended super abruptly, almost confusingly so. I still absolutely recommend the book and rate it 4.25 stars.
House of Windows by John Langan
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I'm going to start with saying that I rate this book at 2. In my world, that means I finished the book, but I really kind of wish I hadn't. I was really engrossed by the book for quite some time, but around 4/5ths of the way through, I should have just given up. I love character studies and slow burns, but damn what a slog the last bit of the book was! In my opinion, the payoff wasn't worth it at all. My quibble isn't with the quality of the writing at all - that is excellent. I was let down by the end of the book.
Hunting Snipe: and Other Notes on the East Texas Cattle Mutilations by Paul Avery Tindol
dark
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
4.25
This book is so well done. The found footage format, interspersed with the narrative, worked very well. The book is creepy from the jump, with some genuinely unsettling moments sprinkled throughout. It should be obvious from the title, but massive trigger warning for animal harm. 4.25 stars