gia0203's reviews
140 reviews

Never Lie by Freida McFadden

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

3.25

I wasn’t enjoying the writing style at first, but then the book gripped me and wouldn’t let me go. I devoured it! Personally, I think the plot twist is very silly and over the top, but the book was still enjoyable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Kidnapping

Tastes Like Candy by Ivy Tholen
Did not finish book. Stopped at 55%.

I couldn’t bear to finish this. I just couldn’t engage with this writing style at all. I wanted to continue because the deaths were actually interesting, but I just couldn’t. 

Penance by Eliza Clark

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

So engaging, so well-structured. At times I felt intimately connected to these characters. This has a lot to say about true crime as a genre - both as an exploitative, profit-led form of entertainment, but also as a source of comfort for young people. I found the narrator to be genuinely unsettling. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Minor: Addiction, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Vomit

Hide by Kiersten White

dark reflective 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

4.0

I understand the criticisms of this book, I do, but I couldn’t help but connect with it. An interesting, blood-pumping reflection on trauma and on privilege. I’m not really familiar with monster horror, but the monster being a metaphor is a motif that I love. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Suicide

Moderate: Medical trauma

Minor: War

Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

as stunning as the first book, left me in tears - bring on the rest of the series! 

Parallel Hells by Leon Craig

dark inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

a lot of engaging, fascinating queer stories here. sometimes though it was difficult to grasp their purpose

The Laws of the Skies by Grégoire Courtois

dark sad

2.5

definitely horrifying… but that was it. there was no substance beyond that. the narration was just too unrealistic for a child. it was pretty nonsensical at points. kudos for the atmosphere and horror 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

emotional

5.0

Dear Laura by Gemma Amor

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.0

simple but effective little horror book. I read it quickly and enjoyed it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia

The Warrior Retreat by John Lynch

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

harsh, brutal, but not lacking humanity. this book rips open the lives of veterans after they return from war. not an ordinary slasher 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Vomit, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Suicide, Alcohol

Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, Excrement