graywild's reviews
682 reviews

The Endless Vessel by Charles Soule

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

1.0

I'm not even sure what I just read.  The story starts out with the burning of the Louvre and goes into Lily losing her job and taking a weird object from her former place of work.  Later in the book it goes to the 1700s and a widow who wants to bring her dead husband back to life.  Finishing off with an alternative universe and maybe the end of the world.  At least 3 stories not really well put together.  I finished it but don't recommend.

First Light by Liz Kerin

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

2.0

2nd book in the series so go read the Night's Edge or you will be confused.  This book takes place about 1 year after the 1st book ends.  This story was hard for me to get into this time.  Just felt like nothing was really happening.  Not a recommend for me.

Night's Edge by Liz Kerin

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

Mia is a young preteen whose Mom has become sick with Saratov illness.  Basically she has become a vampire.  Mia has to grow up quickly to help her mom survive without hunting/infecting others.  Interesting twist on the classic vampire story.  It becomes bogged down in the middle but the ending is good.  Recommend if you like this genre. 

On Earth as It Is on Television by Emily Jane

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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? No

4.0

I will try not to give any spoilers.  Several different characters are presented throughout the book but easy to keep track of the storylines.  Story centers on a visit from alien ships throughout the world.  General panic sets in but then the ships just leave.  People definitely have different reactions to what has happened.  Cats for some reason were drawn to specific areas and then returned home.  Some people are worried that the ships will return.  Homeland Security thinks that aliens are living among us.  Story is generally lighthearted and is a quick engaging read.  Recommend.

The Beast You Are by Paul Tremblay

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

I am a fan of short stories and horror genre so overall I enjoyed this book.  Quick read and most of the stories I found engaging. The last story was a bit longer and I was not a fan of that one but would recommend based on the others. 

The Women of Troy by Pat Barker

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

Continuing story of the Trojan War from the eyes of Trojan slave Briseis.  Start of the book is the fall of Troy and centers on the time the Greeks are basically trapped on shore by strong winds and cannot go home until the wind changes.  Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles, is central to this story as well.  He wants to be heroic like his dad but falls short over and over.  Subset story around his refusal to bury Priam.  Recommend for a vacation read and those who like the Iliad. 

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

Maggie returns to a house that she lived in with her parents for 20 days when she was five.  The house is now famous because her father wrote a best seller that describes a haunting that took place in the house that forced them to leave quickly.  Maggie wants to sell the house for a profit and leave that part of her life behind. No spoilers but the book is a combination of her father's book and Maggie returning to the house.  I read it in one day and did enjoy the pace.  Ending not completely what I expected but still recommend.

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.