graywild's reviews
655 reviews

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.0

Story revolves around a summer camp in NY where a camper disappears and the police are brought in to try and find her.  There is a back story of another camper that disappeared 15 years earlier and those 2 timelines are intertwined.  The book did keep my attention but not mysteries are not really a genre I like alot.  I would recommend as a vacation read. 

The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

I have never read Pride and Prejudice so I am not familiar with the characters.  This book is a story of witches, their familiars and dealing with a being that wants to consume them.  Overall the story was a vacation read for me.  

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

challenging dark informative mysterious fast-paced

2.0

The Osage Murders are a part of history I knew nothing about. While the overall crime that was occurring in Oklahoma was interesting I found the story telling to be very fact based.  It just didn't grab me beyond here is what happened and a small part of the trial.  I know there are high ratings for this book but it is a not recommend from me. 

Model Home by Rivers Solomon

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

1.0

In the end this book does not really meet my definition of horror.  More of a psychological thriller. It jumped around and at times was difficult for me to follow along.  Not a recommend from me.

Being Henry by Henry Winkler

emotional funny informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

Excellent memoir covering 50 years of acting/directing/producing.  Henry covers his struggle with dyslexia and his (sometimes) lack of confidence.  Lots of good stories from his shows.  I like how  in his not so great stories he doesn't mention any names.  No reason to shame out people to relate a story.  Overall recommend.

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Retelling of the story of Achilles but through the eyes of Brieis.  She has become Achilles slave after her city fell to the Greeks.  The story covers her capture up to the defeat of Troy.  Camp life is described as hard and Achilles is a selfish manchild.  Good retelling of the classic tale.

Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.0

I received this as an ARC.  It is set up as a sci-fi but the reality is that it could be set anywhere. Edie has just been released from prison and is contacted by Angel for a job.  Angel is planning a big heist and is gathering a small group of people to complete the job.  The story moves kinda slow for me.  Even the big heist at the end is just ok.  Maybe I am not really into this type of story?  Not recommended for me. 

The Future by Naomi Alderman

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

1.0

The story was jumping around a little too much for me.  There is reference to this cult religion that is obsessed with the story of Lot and Sodom.  This is referenced a bunch of times, including a complete writing out of the story (I thought this was completely unnecessary.  3 billionaires have set up bunkers to escape any apocalypse that might occur. Just unsatisfying overall.  Not recommended.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

adventurous challenging dark sad tense fast-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

4.0

Retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story but from the viewpoint of the magical creature that put her to sleep. This is a short book/novella.  Overall I like the twist in the story but the ending was a bit quick for me and slightly anticlimactic. Recommend for a short read.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

3.0

Lauren is a teenager growing up in a walled community in California during harsh economic and climate times.  She decides to educate herself on survival skills just in case she is forced from her community.  These communities are under constant attack from roving gangs high on drugs or very poor and desperate. Eventually she is forced to travel North and her skills come into play but she is also very untrustworthy of anyone.  Underlying to this is she has developed her own religion, Earthseed to cope.  Overall the dystopian side is well written and difficult from a subject to read.  My issue comes with the long journey that ends at a possible new place to live and then the novel ends.  Just ok for me as it went on.  Doubt I will continue the series.