eudaemonics's reviews
36 reviews

The Three Taps: A Detective Story Without a Moral by Ronald Knox

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

5.0

A Fine and Private Place by Peter S. Beagle

Go to review page

dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A really really beautiful read. I think it was a little rough around the edges in some ways, so you could tell it was Beagle's first novel, but it really painted a vivid picture of New York from within the confines of a cemetery. 

The romance in both aspects was deeply compelling for me, and I like the way Beagle depicts death in this world: a time after living where you try to hold onto life and all of its memories as tightly as you can before it disappears like a mist.

I also like that it wasn't but about death, but not being afraid to live- I felt a lot of myself in Rebeck's character. I, too, have thought of abandoning everything and running off to hide in some abandoned place for years. The way he develops from a living ghost to finding reasons to be comfortable in the real world really spoke to my heart.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

Go to review page

challenging dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

The Way Home: Two Novellas from the World of The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Babel by R.F. Kuang

Go to review page

adventurous dark inspiring sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Kyou wa Mada Futsuu ni Narenai by U-temo

Go to review page

funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The Mill House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Yukito Ayatsuji has crafted another gripping mystery novel and like the first of the "Mansion Murder" series, he plays with two different settings. While in The Decagon House Murders it was switching between the island and the mainland, we play with the element of the present and the past in The Mill House Murders. I was expecting this book to be stronger in the character-writing department and although it was in some respects, it still fell flat.

Despite the shortcomings of the character writing, the mystery itself was well-laid out and I hate to admit that Ayatsuji outsmarted me here. It was very fairplay, so I can't be completely mad about it. I give this book a 4/5 only because I think there was a bit too much delving into supernatural elements and my issues with the character writing. I gave The Decagon House Murders a 5/5 because the characters were really means to an end, while in this book they were set up as something more than that...only to end up being quite flat and boring.

Spoilers regarding a certain character arc below:

My gripes are specifically with Yurie's character development. Much of her arc seemed to revolve around her agency, or lack thereof. I expected her to grow out of the "sad, ghostlike girl that walks around the mansion" from the beginning, but there's really no proper resolution for her, when she's been clearly groomed and manipulated.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

Go to review page

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

3.75