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frostyreads's reviews
34 reviews
The Stranger in Our House by Sarah A. Denzil
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
5.0
Thank you to @sarahadenzil and @netgalley for me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Told through a series of diary entries, transcripts and newspaper articles, The Stranger in our House is a terrific addition to the unique take on psychological and domestic thrillers.
Tired of city life, Aaron and Meera relocate to the idyllic village of Little Crake along with their two children, Noah and Uma. They believe it’s a perfect fresh start, until fifteen-year-old Noah wanders alone into the Dark Valley Forest and is found three days later tucked into the hollow of a tree.
Once a studious and gentle boy, Noah becomes a troublemaker, both at home and at school. He sleep walks at night, and draws eerie sketches of the Dark Valley Forest. Aaron tells himself that Noah just needs time to readjust, but Meera believes otherwise - that the boy who came back from the woods is not her son.
The novel was easy to follow and gripping - seriously addictive, as all Sarah’s novels are. It was well-paced, and built up tension through layers of mistrust, paranoia and genuine fear.
In regard to characters, Uma was an easy favourite. She’s level headed and mature for her age, presenting a love for reading and book blogging that I’m sure we can all relate to.
Overall, The Stranger in our House is a must-read; it’s a frightening, yet compelling novel, which not only warps the reality of the characters, but questions just how far they’re willing to go to protect the people they love. I’d highly recommend it!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Told through a series of diary entries, transcripts and newspaper articles, The Stranger in our House is a terrific addition to the unique take on psychological and domestic thrillers.
Tired of city life, Aaron and Meera relocate to the idyllic village of Little Crake along with their two children, Noah and Uma. They believe it’s a perfect fresh start, until fifteen-year-old Noah wanders alone into the Dark Valley Forest and is found three days later tucked into the hollow of a tree.
Once a studious and gentle boy, Noah becomes a troublemaker, both at home and at school. He sleep walks at night, and draws eerie sketches of the Dark Valley Forest. Aaron tells himself that Noah just needs time to readjust, but Meera believes otherwise - that the boy who came back from the woods is not her son.
The novel was easy to follow and gripping - seriously addictive, as all Sarah’s novels are. It was well-paced, and built up tension through layers of mistrust, paranoia and genuine fear.
In regard to characters, Uma was an easy favourite. She’s level headed and mature for her age, presenting a love for reading and book blogging that I’m sure we can all relate to.
Overall, The Stranger in our House is a must-read; it’s a frightening, yet compelling novel, which not only warps the reality of the characters, but questions just how far they’re willing to go to protect the people they love. I’d highly recommend it!
The Ex Boyfriend Yard Sale by Haley McGee
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Loving someone is like handing them your heart on a plate along with a butcher's knife and then hoping they don't hack it up."
Haley McGee is in debt, and the solution seems simple - a yard sale of gifts from her ex-boyfriends - but how do you determine the price of love? Enlisting the help of a mathematician, Haley attempts to quantify an abundance of relationship variables to design an ultimate formula for the all too human conundrum: is love really worth it?
I'm not typically a lover of memoirs (or non-fiction in general), but I was fully invested in Haley's life experiences. The quantification of a typically subjective topic, balanced with equally hilarious and heartbreaking anecdotes made for a perfect debut novel.
"Your parents don't like me. I can't poo. And I'm sick of classical music."
Due to the warm and chatty nature of this novel, it felt as though Haley took me along on this personal journey, and trusted me to delve deep into her laid-bare intimacies and vulnerabilities. I felt more like her friend than her reader. The hand-drawn diagrams also allowed the mathematics to be presented in an easy-to-grasp and artistic manner, which my brain was thankful for!
Haley McGee, you're a bloody genius and a force to be reckoned with. Thank you so much for sending me a copy of your debut novel and allowing me an insight into your life. I can't wait to see what you bring to the table next.
Haley McGee is in debt, and the solution seems simple - a yard sale of gifts from her ex-boyfriends - but how do you determine the price of love? Enlisting the help of a mathematician, Haley attempts to quantify an abundance of relationship variables to design an ultimate formula for the all too human conundrum: is love really worth it?
I'm not typically a lover of memoirs (or non-fiction in general), but I was fully invested in Haley's life experiences. The quantification of a typically subjective topic, balanced with equally hilarious and heartbreaking anecdotes made for a perfect debut novel.
"Your parents don't like me. I can't poo. And I'm sick of classical music."
Due to the warm and chatty nature of this novel, it felt as though Haley took me along on this personal journey, and trusted me to delve deep into her laid-bare intimacies and vulnerabilities. I felt more like her friend than her reader. The hand-drawn diagrams also allowed the mathematics to be presented in an easy-to-grasp and artistic manner, which my brain was thankful for!
Haley McGee, you're a bloody genius and a force to be reckoned with. Thank you so much for sending me a copy of your debut novel and allowing me an insight into your life. I can't wait to see what you bring to the table next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Miscarriage and Animal death
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
adventurous
funny
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
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
to kill a kingdom was a thoroughly enjoyable read. the premise was unique, interesting and so cleverly constructed that i found it hard to put down.
lira, the princes’ bane, is a siren infamous for stealing royal hearts (quite literally), whereas elian is a prince in denial; he chooses to spend his time hunting sirens aboard his ship rather than preparing to take his father’s throne. but when lira is transformed into a human as punishment by the sea queen, the unlikely pair are thrown together and the result is absolutely impeccable. i adored the way that they interacted, and their sarcasm-laced bickering made me laugh out loud throughout! 🥺
the only issue i pin-pointed is that the sub-plot was occasionally a little difficult to follow, and it was only until the later stages of the novel that i fully grasped the extent of it. nonetheless, this didn’t take away from my overall experience.
i went into to kill a kingdom expecting a beautifully vicious heroine and a dark, magical atmosphere, and this book absolutely delivers these aspects.
to kill a kingdom was a thoroughly enjoyable read. the premise was unique, interesting and so cleverly constructed that i found it hard to put down.
lira, the princes’ bane, is a siren infamous for stealing royal hearts (quite literally), whereas elian is a prince in denial; he chooses to spend his time hunting sirens aboard his ship rather than preparing to take his father’s throne. but when lira is transformed into a human as punishment by the sea queen, the unlikely pair are thrown together and the result is absolutely impeccable. i adored the way that they interacted, and their sarcasm-laced bickering made me laugh out loud throughout! 🥺
the only issue i pin-pointed is that the sub-plot was occasionally a little difficult to follow, and it was only until the later stages of the novel that i fully grasped the extent of it. nonetheless, this didn’t take away from my overall experience.
i went into to kill a kingdom expecting a beautifully vicious heroine and a dark, magical atmosphere, and this book absolutely delivers these aspects.
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
adventurous
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? No
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“we are born of the salt, we live by the salt, and to the salt we return.” 🌊
it’s hard to put into words just how much of a genius erin a. craig (@penchant4words) is. not only is this book based on my favourite barbie movie as a child (twelve dancing princesses!) but it’s one of my favourite reads of the year so far.
the house of salt and sorrows is the perfect balance of horror and fantasy, with a tint of romance. the descriptions of the differing island and the lavish ballrooms were unbelievably atmospheric and picturesque that i yearned to reach through the pages to experience them for myself (well, almost all of them) 👀
without saying too much, the element that stood out for me is that neither the reader nor the characters knew which events were real and which were delusion. it bought about so many twists and kept me rapidly forming theories until the very end! the epilogue was phenomenally written and left me in awe. if you pick up one book this year, make sure it’s this one.
“we are born of the salt, we live by the salt, and to the salt we return.” 🌊
it’s hard to put into words just how much of a genius erin a. craig (@penchant4words) is. not only is this book based on my favourite barbie movie as a child (twelve dancing princesses!) but it’s one of my favourite reads of the year so far.
the house of salt and sorrows is the perfect balance of horror and fantasy, with a tint of romance. the descriptions of the differing island and the lavish ballrooms were unbelievably atmospheric and picturesque that i yearned to reach through the pages to experience them for myself (well, almost all of them) 👀
without saying too much, the element that stood out for me is that neither the reader nor the characters knew which events were real and which were delusion. it bought about so many twists and kept me rapidly forming theories until the very end! the epilogue was phenomenally written and left me in awe. if you pick up one book this year, make sure it’s this one.
Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare
dark
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? No
4.5
🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 . 5
clown in a cornfield follows the new girl, quinn maybrook, as she navigates her way through kettle springs - a sleepy, rural town with a harrowing mascot and a fatal sense of old vs. new.
it was a slow starter, but the eerie atmosphere and action-packed cascade of events prevailed. i adored cesare’s modern take on a classical slasher novel, and along side other novels i’ve read this month, it’s sparked an immense love for horror that i didn’t know existed!
the main issue that i found was the emergence of a particular relationship at the end of the novel. i’d have shipped if it didn’t feel like an unprovoked, abrupt after-thought to provide some last-minute representation. as a result, i couldn’t rate it 5 stars.
in despite of this, i would recommend (and even re-read!) clown in a cornfield, as it’s a captivating and twisty read with equal levels of picturesque descriptions and nauseating gore.
clown in a cornfield follows the new girl, quinn maybrook, as she navigates her way through kettle springs - a sleepy, rural town with a harrowing mascot and a fatal sense of old vs. new.
it was a slow starter, but the eerie atmosphere and action-packed cascade of events prevailed. i adored cesare’s modern take on a classical slasher novel, and along side other novels i’ve read this month, it’s sparked an immense love for horror that i didn’t know existed!
the main issue that i found was the emergence of a particular relationship at the end of the novel. i’d have shipped if it didn’t feel like an unprovoked, abrupt after-thought to provide some last-minute representation. as a result, i couldn’t rate it 5 stars.
in despite of this, i would recommend (and even re-read!) clown in a cornfield, as it’s a captivating and twisty read with equal levels of picturesque descriptions and nauseating gore.
Dissect My Fragile Brain: Poems of Loss, Love and Life by Kim Yudelowitz
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
firstly, i want to thank the lovely @poetrybykim for reaching out to me and sending me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review. 🌸
this book was so wonderful that it’s hard to write a review that captures its essence; it’s the perfect encapsulation of grief, loss and love in the form of many short poems. despite their length, the poems were hugely impactful, picturesque and brimming with raw emotion. i’ll hold them in my heart forever, as they delivered the take-home message to hug my parents just a little tighter. it’s definitely a must-read for everyone at some point in their lives.
firstly, i want to thank the lovely @poetrybykim for reaching out to me and sending me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review. 🌸
this book was so wonderful that it’s hard to write a review that captures its essence; it’s the perfect encapsulation of grief, loss and love in the form of many short poems. despite their length, the poems were hugely impactful, picturesque and brimming with raw emotion. i’ll hold them in my heart forever, as they delivered the take-home message to hug my parents just a little tighter. it’s definitely a must-read for everyone at some point in their lives.
Carrie by Stephen King
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
‘carrie’ was my first stephen king novel, so i wasn’t sure of what to expect, but on reflection i found it generally enjoyable, and carrie’s characterisation was brilliantly written.
i wasn’t a fan of the lack of chapter markers, but the arrangement of differing formats (interviews, journal articles and narration) transformed the simple plot into something unique and interesting, especially for a parapsychology enthusiast like myself.
king raised awareness of bullying, toxic relationships, miscarriage and menstruation, which was admirable and informative, yet extremely uncomfortable. there were times when i almost had to put the book down.
in summary, i’d give ‘carrie’ 3.75 stars (if that’s possible!) as although my engagement in this novel outweighed my discomfort, it was definitely a challenging read in more ways than one.
‘carrie’ was my first stephen king novel, so i wasn’t sure of what to expect, but on reflection i found it generally enjoyable, and carrie’s characterisation was brilliantly written.
i wasn’t a fan of the lack of chapter markers, but the arrangement of differing formats (interviews, journal articles and narration) transformed the simple plot into something unique and interesting, especially for a parapsychology enthusiast like myself.
king raised awareness of bullying, toxic relationships, miscarriage and menstruation, which was admirable and informative, yet extremely uncomfortable. there were times when i almost had to put the book down.
in summary, i’d give ‘carrie’ 3.75 stars (if that’s possible!) as although my engagement in this novel outweighed my discomfort, it was definitely a challenging read in more ways than one.
The Taking of Annie Thorne by C.J. Tudor
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
if this book came with a warning label, it would definitely be “don’t read this whilst eating your breakfast.”
the taking of annie thorne throws you straight into the gory action, and keeps the pace throughout. between the un-trustworthiness of every character and persistent twists, i could never quite tell which direction the plot would take!
for me personally, however, i found it quite hard to wrap my head around the concept of the pit. i wanted an origin story full with gritty detail, but sadly it never came. i can understand why the author left the pit shrouded in ambiguity, but for me that’s where the novel fell short. perhaps a companion novel, like alex bell did with “frozen charlotte”, would have brought the concept to the 5 stars i’d otherwise agree that it deserves.
despite this, i was captivated by c. j. tudor’s quirky writing style, and i’ll definitely be picking up more of her books!
if this book came with a warning label, it would definitely be “don’t read this whilst eating your breakfast.”
the taking of annie thorne throws you straight into the gory action, and keeps the pace throughout. between the un-trustworthiness of every character and persistent twists, i could never quite tell which direction the plot would take!
for me personally, however, i found it quite hard to wrap my head around the concept of the pit. i wanted an origin story full with gritty detail, but sadly it never came. i can understand why the author left the pit shrouded in ambiguity, but for me that’s where the novel fell short. perhaps a companion novel, like alex bell did with “frozen charlotte”, would have brought the concept to the 5 stars i’d otherwise agree that it deserves.
despite this, i was captivated by c. j. tudor’s quirky writing style, and i’ll definitely be picking up more of her books!
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
overall, i’d give this duology ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5.
although i love this duology, i find that bardugo’s writing is often... confusing? don’t get me wrong, i adore kaz brekker and his constant scheming, but the unravelling intricacies of the crow’s plans are sometimes hard to follow, and i find myself having to re-read pages to fully wrap my head around them.
despite this, i thoroughly enjoyed crooked kingdom. in fact, you only need to ask my boyfriend (@coryy19) how much i adored it, as it’s probably the only thing i’ve spoken to him about in the past few weeks! it definitely matched up to six of crows, and stepped it up a level, with the introduction of new characters, budding relationships and shocking discoveries. and without saying too much, the ending is so bitter-sweet that i’ve been processing it ever since.
it’s evidently a chunky book, but it’s so entertaining and rewarding that i’d recommend not even thinking twice before you pick it up.
although i love this duology, i find that bardugo’s writing is often... confusing? don’t get me wrong, i adore kaz brekker and his constant scheming, but the unravelling intricacies of the crow’s plans are sometimes hard to follow, and i find myself having to re-read pages to fully wrap my head around them.
despite this, i thoroughly enjoyed crooked kingdom. in fact, you only need to ask my boyfriend (@coryy19) how much i adored it, as it’s probably the only thing i’ve spoken to him about in the past few weeks! it definitely matched up to six of crows, and stepped it up a level, with the introduction of new characters, budding relationships and shocking discoveries. and without saying too much, the ending is so bitter-sweet that i’ve been processing it ever since.
it’s evidently a chunky book, but it’s so entertaining and rewarding that i’d recommend not even thinking twice before you pick it up.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
six of crows took me forever to read. for me normally, this would make for a bad book, but six of crows was so incredible that i delayed the ending for as long as possible, and savoured every sentence along the way. it was the perfect length, with a nice balance of world-building, character interactions and amazing action sequences.
the characters are so uniquely brilliant and in-depth that you automatically feel part of the crow club. the main character, kaz brekker, is a born genius, with an abundance of twists up his signature black gloves that left me in awe and wonder until the very last page. i immediately picked up crooked kingdom on completion, as i’m desperate to find out how the duology comes to an end.
six of crows took me forever to read. for me normally, this would make for a bad book, but six of crows was so incredible that i delayed the ending for as long as possible, and savoured every sentence along the way. it was the perfect length, with a nice balance of world-building, character interactions and amazing action sequences.
the characters are so uniquely brilliant and in-depth that you automatically feel part of the crow club. the main character, kaz brekker, is a born genius, with an abundance of twists up his signature black gloves that left me in awe and wonder until the very last page. i immediately picked up crooked kingdom on completion, as i’m desperate to find out how the duology comes to an end.