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ghoststories's reviews
198 reviews
You Must Not Miss by Katrina Leno
2.0
I expected a lot more from this based on the reviews. Interesting premise but didn’t pay off the way I expected. Also wasn’t as weird as I expected either.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
4.0
This was absolutely a lot of fun! I'm excited to move on to the next three books.
I saw a lot of complaints about it being too predictable and I think that stands true, especially if you read a lot of YA to begin with... Cinder ends up hitting almost every notable beat within the genre.
However, that aside! I think it was engaging and nowadays that's what I look for more and more in media. Something doesn't always have to be super unique and genre defying to be a fun ride.
I hope to see the characters, world, and lore build more within the next books. My only major complaint was that Kai felt a bit too eager to risk everything solely because he was the prince and for a large portion of the book that seemed, to me, to be his most defining trait other than hating Queen Levana.
Also, if Iko doesn't come back I will RIOT.
I saw a lot of complaints about it being too predictable and I think that stands true, especially if you read a lot of YA to begin with... Cinder ends up hitting almost every notable beat within the genre.
However, that aside! I think it was engaging and nowadays that's what I look for more and more in media. Something doesn't always have to be super unique and genre defying to be a fun ride.
I hope to see the characters, world, and lore build more within the next books. My only major complaint was that Kai felt a bit too eager to risk everything solely because he was the prince and for a large portion of the book that seemed, to me, to be his most defining trait other than hating Queen Levana.
Also, if Iko doesn't come back I will RIOT.
The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur 허주은
2.0
The Forest of Stolen Girls is a book that comes highly recommended online, so when I was able to check out the audiobook from my library, I jumped on it.
Sometimes I wonder if I actually read, processed, and understood a book the same way others did when I go into the reviews...
I went in not knowing much about it at all other than it was a mystery story and was set in Korea. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out this is actually a period piece, but the book doesn't do much in the way to remind you of that. There are historical terms and events used here and there, what I assume (and please correct me if I'm wrong) is Korean words that are time period sensitive, and the sisters mainly travel by horse or boat. But, when things are unraveling in the story you tend to forget all of that, unfortunately. I would have loved to have seen way more world building, especially with such a unique setting!
Speaking of the story... the mystery was a bit of a let down. It seemed like nothing else really happened in the story other than the mystery being propelled forward. Maybe that does work in other books/shows/movies/etc, but to me it unfortunately fell flat here. If that explanation makes any sense at all! The scene that stood out most to me was the reveal of what happened to their father.
But, I would 100% read a series of mystery books set in this time period with Hwani becoming a female detective. I will eventually get around to Hur's other book as it also sounds to have an interesting premise.
Sometimes I wonder if I actually read, processed, and understood a book the same way others did when I go into the reviews...
I went in not knowing much about it at all other than it was a mystery story and was set in Korea. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out this is actually a period piece, but the book doesn't do much in the way to remind you of that. There are historical terms and events used here and there, what I assume (and please correct me if I'm wrong) is Korean words that are time period sensitive, and the sisters mainly travel by horse or boat. But, when things are unraveling in the story you tend to forget all of that, unfortunately. I would have loved to have seen way more world building, especially with such a unique setting!
Speaking of the story... the mystery was a bit of a let down. It seemed like nothing else really happened in the story other than the mystery being propelled forward. Maybe that does work in other books/shows/movies/etc, but to me it unfortunately fell flat here. If that explanation makes any sense at all! The scene that stood out most to me was the reveal of what happened to their father.
But, I would 100% read a series of mystery books set in this time period with Hwani becoming a female detective. I will eventually get around to Hur's other book as it also sounds to have an interesting premise.
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
4.0
I'm too tired to keep writing coherent reviews about what I finished this week but if you LOVE horror movies, especially slasher films give this a go! The concept of horror movie final girls meeting for therapy is so great to me... and honestly they all need it!
Also trying to guess which girl is the inspiration for what famous slasher franchise was a lot of fun.
Hendrix also manages to pull the rug out from under you with a few twists, I'm still trying to process how I feel about those.
Also trying to guess which girl is the inspiration for what famous slasher franchise was a lot of fun.
Hendrix also manages to pull the rug out from under you with a few twists, I'm still trying to process how I feel about those.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
3.0
Hmmmm.... why did it take me 3 months to finish this???
I do like the dynamic between Dani and Zaf a lot more than Chloe and Red... so it's going to be super interesting to see how the relationship in the third book goes.
That said, I truly have come to terms with the fact that these rom-com romance books are just NOT for me... and that's ok! Talia Hibbert's cheeky writing style makes it so fun to read regardless. Her way of effortlessly blending in such a diverse range of characters, while making them feel like real, relatable (as much as something like this CAN be relatable...) people is just wonderful. I really found myself able to understand where Dani was coming from based on her past experiences in relationships and, even though I was frustrated at her sometimes, found myself rooting for her to overcome those feelings and get to know a healthy type of love for herself and someone else.
Enemies to lovers? Great! Fake dating? Hilarious! But, the one unforgivable thing is the huge argument based on a small misunderstanding that leads to some way too dramatic words, a quick yet dramatic exiting of the room, and not speaking for weeks. Does real life actually work like that....? Talk it out like adults! Sheesh!
Despite my mind screaming no... I will absolutely be on the lookout for anything new Talia Hibbert publishes.
(P.S. Please write a book about the crazy shit their grandmother gets up to... would 100% read that and love every moment of it.)
I do like the dynamic between Dani and Zaf a lot more than Chloe and Red... so it's going to be super interesting to see how the relationship in the third book goes.
That said, I truly have come to terms with the fact that these rom-com romance books are just NOT for me... and that's ok! Talia Hibbert's cheeky writing style makes it so fun to read regardless. Her way of effortlessly blending in such a diverse range of characters, while making them feel like real, relatable (as much as something like this CAN be relatable...) people is just wonderful. I really found myself able to understand where Dani was coming from based on her past experiences in relationships and, even though I was frustrated at her sometimes, found myself rooting for her to overcome those feelings and get to know a healthy type of love for herself and someone else.
Enemies to lovers? Great! Fake dating? Hilarious! But, the one unforgivable thing is the huge argument based on a small misunderstanding that leads to some way too dramatic words, a quick yet dramatic exiting of the room, and not speaking for weeks. Does real life actually work like that....? Talk it out like adults! Sheesh!
Despite my mind screaming no... I will absolutely be on the lookout for anything new Talia Hibbert publishes.
(P.S. Please write a book about the crazy shit their grandmother gets up to... would 100% read that and love every moment of it.)
The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins
1.0
Honestly, if I wasn't trying to cram in 10 more books before the year ends I would have ABSOLUTELY DNF'ed this and I never DNF /anything/ because I am spiteful.
The two main characters were insufferable and had they just matured a bit and talked about their feelings, things might have gone a lot differently. But, then again they are teenagers, soo. By the time the bad shit started happening to them I had no emotional attachment to them to actually care or want them to make it out alive. I'm not sure if the author's intention was to show readers how toxic friendships aren't healthy, but I don't believe that's what's being portrayed here.
The antagonists having no other motive than being "crazy, perverted, abused as children, Appalachian hillbillies." and that's so yawn inducingly boring. Maybe I'm just sensitive as a Southerner, but it's a tired and played out trope in horror.
Also the injuries that one of the characters sustains literally should have killed her! How is she crawling out of extremely deep holes and firing shotguns with even a semblance of accuracy!
I want to give her other horror book a chance since it seems to be pretty well liked... maybe I did myself a favor by reading this one first?
The weirdly high reviews on this make me feel like I'm being gaslit. Did we read the same book?
The two main characters were insufferable and had they just matured a bit and talked about their feelings, things might have gone a lot differently. But, then again they are teenagers, soo. By the time the bad shit started happening to them I had no emotional attachment to them to actually care or want them to make it out alive. I'm not sure if the author's intention was to show readers how toxic friendships aren't healthy, but I don't believe that's what's being portrayed here.
The antagonists having no other motive than being "crazy, perverted, abused as children, Appalachian hillbillies." and that's so yawn inducingly boring. Maybe I'm just sensitive as a Southerner, but it's a tired and played out trope in horror.
Also the injuries that one of the characters sustains literally should have killed her! How is she crawling out of extremely deep holes and firing shotguns with even a semblance of accuracy!
I want to give her other horror book a chance since it seems to be pretty well liked... maybe I did myself a favor by reading this one first?
The weirdly high reviews on this make me feel like I'm being gaslit. Did we read the same book?