epmacleod's reviews
4 reviews

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

5.0

The end will leave you questioning everything. It’s bittersweet, wanting, and yet everything it is supposed to be. It is as complex as the plot that precedes it and that is what makes it beautiful.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Not going to lie: I generally prefer fantasy over sci-fi and this book was part of a list I had to read for class. That being said, I'm glad this book came across my path. Even though it was written in the 90s, the issues it tackles still rings a frightful warning to us in the 2020s. Butler tackles issues of race, religion, climate change, and more in such a way that forces reflection upon the modern world. My copy is literally full of annotations. If you want to think and reflect on the world, read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

So, I started putting content warnings but realized that I would be there all day. Butler's writing is very blunt and that is part of the appeal. You cannot mis-read any of the commentaries she is trying to make. This is definitely a heavy book -- focusing on the faults of humanity and, while there is hope, those faults can feel overwhelming at times.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

While I found the pace a little slow at first, it's definitely worth the read. The catches in Addie's deal make her "gift" feel realistic. It will definitely make you question your own life, the relationships you have, and what the meaning of it all is.

I legitimately cannot decide whether the ending is sad or bitter-sweet. Not in a bad way, but in a thought-provoking, "what is life" kind of way.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment

There is a scene where the protagonist finds herself selling her body and sex to survive. Very briefly gone over and not too in-depth (if I am recalling correctly). Definitely made me stop in my tracks for a moment, step away, and then come back.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

5.0

I very much enjoyed this story and the fact that it is told from the perspective of death. You were hooked on every line to see how the character explored the world around them and forced you to acknowledge the complexity of the holocaust and the lives of those who lived through it.

You will cry at the end and, when you finally calm down, you get hit in the gut and cry a second time. Read this book in high-school and it forced me to face my own mortality.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Death