goblingirlreads's reviews
813 reviews

Affinity by Sarah Waters
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.

I REALLY WANT to like Sarah Waters. But I'm a third of the way through and I just am not connecting with any of the characters or the prose so I'm calling it here.

Little Eve by Catriona Ward

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

On a remote Scottish isle in 1920, an entire family is discovered ritualistically murdered in their secluded castle. Only one survivor remains. She whispers "Little Eve did it". We jump back in time to learn about Little Eve's childhood, growing up in a family that is more like a cult than a loving family as we see the chain of events that lead to this tragic ending.

There's something about this story. While I can't say that I loved it or am leaping to recommend it to others I can say it grabbed and held my attention for the whole book. I was enraptured by it. The gothic vibes were just right. Catriona Ward is a huge talent and this gave me Shirley Jackson vibes for sure, particularly reminding me of "We Have Always Lived in the Castle". Even though this book was character driven, I would've liked even more exploration of character. I really wanted it to go deeper than it did but I still really appreciated the characterization I did get. Sometimes the plot meandered in ways that didn't always serve the story, and there were some confusing elements that could have been clarified, but ultimately this was very good.

Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV

mysterious sad 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? No

3.75

The City in Glass by Nghi Vo

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

I don't know, Nghi Vo! Big thanks to TorDotCom for my copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Here's the deal: I love how Nghi Vo writes. I find it atmospheric, emotional, and captivating. That said, this one is not particularly a favorite of mine. The plot is thin and it's more about the demon Vitrine and the fall and rise and fall of a city under her watch. There are parts that were absolutely stunning to read and parts that were a slog. I enjoyed myself but I'm not running to recommend it to friends.

Goth Parenting: The Dark Joys of Raising Baby Bats by Casey Gilly

funny informative fast-paced

4.0

Our neighbor gifted this to us because we have a little one due in April. It was nice to read a parenting book that is short, sweet, silly, and inclusive 💕

Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang

adventurous hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

I've never really read Superman stories. The "perfect hero" thing just never really clicked with me but Gene Lien Yang made me really get it. This is a wonderful comic about belonging and embracing our similarities and differences. It's also about Superman punching the Klan and I can get behind that 100%. Fantastic character development, well-told story, I can see young and old loving this one.

The Fervor by Alma Katsu
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.

Loved the Hunger but just can't get into this one. The characters don't feel fully flushed out or interesting and not much is happening.

Babel by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I find it much harder to explain why I love something perfectly and wholly than to describe a fault that made me cut a star. This book is a masterpiece. It is one of the most researched books I've ever read. It's stunningly beautifully written. I was in a multi month reading slump and this broke me out of it. I devoured it from beginning to end. It is not an easy read. It is about colonialism and violence, neither of which are easy. But it approaches these subjects with the gravity they deserve and through the eyes of characters who you see change as they learn more about the world they're in. This is a character driven novel for sure and that is my favorite kind. It's an amazing feat of writing, world-building, character development, and storytelling. I'm going to need some time to process it and then I'm going to shove it in everyone's face.

But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

2.0

Thank you to tordotcompub for my copy of this book. Billed as a mix of Mexican Gothic and The Shape of Water but sapphic, picking up this book was a no brainer for me and my tastes. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the advertising hype for me. Not enough environmental eerieness as Mexican Gothic, or monster loving as Shape of Water, and the central sapphic relationship felt empty. What I did like was learning about the creature and the mystery behind her, but it unfortunately wasn't enough for me to recommend this book to others. Nevertheless, I hope it finds its audience!

Through the Woods by E.M. Carroll

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Absolutely brilliant collection of short stories. The illustrations elevate everything and every story is chilling and memorable.