ellecactus's reviews
269 reviews

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.

I didn’t feel connected to the characters; it felt like I was slogging through page by page, while rolling my eyes at the narrator. I could see the twist coming 23% into the story, so I felt like there was no reason to continue forcing it. I prefer a thriller, where the narrator is believable and relatable, coupled with a faster pace plot that pulls me in immediately. 

The Chosen by Chaim Potok

emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

My Ántonia by Willa Cather

emotional reflective slow-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

The Cabin in the Woods by Sarah Alderson

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I was sucked in immediately and the story kept me guessing until the end. 

Children of Dune by Frank Herbert

adventurous challenging dark slow-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

4.75

Every time I finish a book in the Dune series it feels like an academic achievement. Each one has been challenging and forces me to slow down my reading pace to ensure I understand what just happened. Children of Dune was no exception, however was probably the most enjoyable one yet. The story sucked me in instantly and kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. 

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous dark emotional 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

The hype was high and it did not disappoint.

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

adventurous emotional sad 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

3.0

Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass by Lana Del Rey

emotional reflective fast-paced

4.5

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

adventurous dark emotional fast-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

5.0

Where I End by Sophie White

dark tense fast-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

4.0

I had to force myself through this one, but at the same time, I also couldn’t look away. It was very creepy and disturbing story, and I’ll probably never be able to read it again. The story was well written which encouraged me to keep going through the gruesome moments. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture

Minor: Rape