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drakaina16's reviews
2180 reviews
The Women Without Eyes by Micah Castle
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-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
4.0
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
The Women Without Eyes is the third book I've read now by Micah Castle. While not my favorite, it is a worthy entry into his catalog. I'm a big fan of crime stories crossed with horror, and this book starts out as a fairly standard crime novel, then things start to take a supernatural bent. I was a bit confused in the last chapter leading up to the end, but ultimately, I enjoyed the ending. 4 stars
The Women Without Eyes is the third book I've read now by Micah Castle. While not my favorite, it is a worthy entry into his catalog. I'm a big fan of crime stories crossed with horror, and this book starts out as a fairly standard crime novel, then things start to take a supernatural bent. I was a bit confused in the last chapter leading up to the end, but ultimately, I enjoyed the ending. 4 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
To Coventry: A Hummingbird Murder Mystery by T.C. Parker, T.C. Parker
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
4.25
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
I absolutely loved Hummingbird when I read it last year, so I jumped at the chance to read the followup. To Coventry is a fun love letter to the detective novels of yore. Nevermind that the protagonist is a shapeshifting demon. Sunny is a great character and I hope we'll be seeing more of her in the future. 4.25 stars
I absolutely loved Hummingbird when I read it last year, so I jumped at the chance to read the followup. To Coventry is a fun love letter to the detective novels of yore. Nevermind that the protagonist is a shapeshifting demon. Sunny is a great character and I hope we'll be seeing more of her in the future. 4.25 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Merfolk by Jeremy Bates
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? No
4.0
I love a well-researched, scientifically plausible creature features and Merfolk delivers. The story is a bit of a slow burn as we get to know the characters and learn about the main character's theories about the possibility of merfolk being real. I found all the theory fascinating. Things really begin to pop off in the last 20% or so of the book, and I felt it was worth the wait. Merfolk was my first Jeremy Bates book and I'll definitely be reading more of his work. 4 stars
Osgood As Gone by Cooper S. Beckett
adventurous
challenging
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? Yes
5.0
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
A beautiful cover, with a queer, polyamorous protagonist with chronic pain? Be still my heart. Luckily the book is just as good as the cover and the premise. What starts off as a simple mystery quickly evolves into some cosmic, occult-y goodness. The pacing is perfect, and I found myself staying up reading long past my bedtime. I can't wait to start book 2. 5 stars
A beautiful cover, with a queer, polyamorous protagonist with chronic pain? Be still my heart. Luckily the book is just as good as the cover and the premise. What starts off as a simple mystery quickly evolves into some cosmic, occult-y goodness. The pacing is perfect, and I found myself staying up reading long past my bedtime. I can't wait to start book 2. 5 stars
Creatures of Appetite by Todd Travis
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
I stopped reading police procedurals because they tend to be so formulaic. Disgruntled, misogynistic officer of the law, paired with an eager-to-prove themself rookie. And honestly, this book is not much different. It is compulsively readable, however. I had it all figured out in the end, but the very last chapter actually surprised me quite a bit. I had already planned on reading the next book in the series, but that last chapter definitely hooked me. 4 stars
Harvested: An Anthology of Reaping What You Sow by RJ Roles
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
I do enjoy a good bit of schadenfreude every now and again, and this anthology has it in spades. Even better, all of these people deserve what they get. I had a great time with the anthology. 4 stars
Rocks by Jason Nickey ⭐⭐⭐
Sinkhole by Sidney Shiv ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Rise and Fall of the Corn Kings of Appalachia by Jae Maezer ⭐⭐
The Weird Sisters of 313 Inverness Ave. by Thomas R Clark ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Drown by Stephanie Scissom ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sacred Silence by RJ Roles ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.5
Publisher's Delight by Angelique Jordanna ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Shadow on the Hill by M. Betterelli ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Brown Sugar by Megan Stockton ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Second Date (Movie Night) by M Ennenbach ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Femmina Accabadora by Lisa Vasquez ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Buried by Colt Skinner ⭐⭐⭐.25
Ugly by Rayne Havok ⭐⭐
Go Deep, Henry by Lance Dale ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Reckoning by Eric Butler ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Rocks by Jason Nickey ⭐⭐⭐
Sinkhole by Sidney Shiv ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Rise and Fall of the Corn Kings of Appalachia by Jae Maezer ⭐⭐
The Weird Sisters of 313 Inverness Ave. by Thomas R Clark ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Drown by Stephanie Scissom ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sacred Silence by RJ Roles ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.5
Publisher's Delight by Angelique Jordanna ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Shadow on the Hill by M. Betterelli ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Brown Sugar by Megan Stockton ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Second Date (Movie Night) by M Ennenbach ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Femmina Accabadora by Lisa Vasquez ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Buried by Colt Skinner ⭐⭐⭐.25
Ugly by Rayne Havok ⭐⭐
Go Deep, Henry by Lance Dale ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Reckoning by Eric Butler ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Vixens of Horror: Vintage Edition by Megan Stockton
challenging
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
3.75
Thank you to the editor for providing a review copy.
Anything with a whiff of feminine rage, and I'm all the way in. This is a "good for her" anthology, with all of the stories taking place in the 1950s. Like with any anthology, there are some real stand out stories, and a couple I didn't care for. Overall, solid collection. 3.75 stars
White Wine and Bunco, Whiskey and Poker by Jae Maezer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lucy Deserves the Finer Things by Angelique Fawns ⭐⭐⭐.25
Bait by Miracle Austin ⭐⭐⭐.5
Blueberry Buckle by Caitlin Marceau ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
No Place For a Man by Megan Stockton ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Family Traits by Chantell Renee ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Wishbone by Candace Nola ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
How Things are Done in Harmony Heights by Christine Morgan ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Twisted Angel by Cassandra Jones ⭐⭐
A Woman's World by Rebecca Evanesky ⭐⭐
Anything with a whiff of feminine rage, and I'm all the way in. This is a "good for her" anthology, with all of the stories taking place in the 1950s. Like with any anthology, there are some real stand out stories, and a couple I didn't care for. Overall, solid collection. 3.75 stars
White Wine and Bunco, Whiskey and Poker by Jae Maezer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lucy Deserves the Finer Things by Angelique Fawns ⭐⭐⭐.25
Bait by Miracle Austin ⭐⭐⭐.5
Blueberry Buckle by Caitlin Marceau ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
No Place For a Man by Megan Stockton ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Family Traits by Chantell Renee ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Wishbone by Candace Nola ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
How Things are Done in Harmony Heights by Christine Morgan ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Twisted Angel by Cassandra Jones ⭐⭐
A Woman's World by Rebecca Evanesky ⭐⭐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape
Beneath by Kristi DeMeester
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
I'm going to be very honest - I finished this book last night, and I still have no idea how I feel about it. The first two-thirds of the book, I was absolutely ready to give it 5 stars. Beneath is beautifully written. The prose sings, and the story of a small town snake preacher enthralled with a 16 year old girl felt like something I shouldn't be reading. It was creepy and lovely.
Somewhere around the last third of the book, the narrative bogs down hard, the focus shifts, and it lost me a bit. The ending of the story was good, but I just didn't love it anymore. So I guess I'm going to give it 4 stars, because it's just so insidious and creepy and quite good for a first novel. I definitely plan on reading more by the author.
Somewhere around the last third of the book, the narrative bogs down hard, the focus shifts, and it lost me a bit. The ending of the story was good, but I just didn't love it anymore. So I guess I'm going to give it 4 stars, because it's just so insidious and creepy and quite good for a first novel. I definitely plan on reading more by the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Colours by CS Jones
dark
mysterious
fast-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
At the end of this short novelette, I found I didn't have really strong feelings about it. The monster is creepy, the writing is decent. Other than that, I find myself without a lot to say about it. 3 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Screams From the Ocean Floor: A Horror Anthology by Gage Greenwood, Patrick McNulty, Leigh Kenny, Heather Ann Larson, LM Kaplin, Ollie Gill, Angel Van Atta, Charlie Walls, Chad West, Rhonda Bobbit, Derek Heath, Megan Stockton, Joshua Macmillan, RJ Roles, D W Hitz
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
The ocean has always simultaneously repelled and fascinated me. It's an objectively terrifying place. The stories in Screams From the Ocean Floor all center around water and the ocean, from creature features to psychopaths. I had a great time with the anthology. 4 stars
Dark Waters by Wil Forbis ⭐⭐.75
And Then They Eat Your Eyes by Leigh Kenny ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sand by Derek Heath ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Oceanlust by RJ Roles ⭐⭐⭐.25
Screams From the Ocean Floor by Heather Ann Larson ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Inexsub by Megan Stockton ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Dead Man's Cove by Patrick McNulty ⭐⭐⭐.75
The Island of Final Resting Places by Gage Greenwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hearing Things by Chad West ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Beneath the Waves by Ollie Gill ⭐⭐⭐.75
Into the Water by D.W. Hitz ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Fool's Gold by LM Kaplin ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Only the Ship by Charlie Walls ⭐⭐⭐
What the Tide Rolled In by Joshua MacMillan ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Wavlings by Rhonda Bobbitt ⭐⭐⭐.5
She and the Sea by Angel Van Atta ⭐⭐⭐.5
Dark Waters by Wil Forbis ⭐⭐.75
And Then They Eat Your Eyes by Leigh Kenny ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sand by Derek Heath ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Oceanlust by RJ Roles ⭐⭐⭐.25
Screams From the Ocean Floor by Heather Ann Larson ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Inexsub by Megan Stockton ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Dead Man's Cove by Patrick McNulty ⭐⭐⭐.75
The Island of Final Resting Places by Gage Greenwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hearing Things by Chad West ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Beneath the Waves by Ollie Gill ⭐⭐⭐.75
Into the Water by D.W. Hitz ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Fool's Gold by LM Kaplin ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Only the Ship by Charlie Walls ⭐⭐⭐
What the Tide Rolled In by Joshua MacMillan ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Wavlings by Rhonda Bobbitt ⭐⭐⭐.5
She and the Sea by Angel Van Atta ⭐⭐⭐.5