hardbackhoarder's reviews
757 reviews

Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.5

As much as I wanted to love this book, the characters, who are unfortunately the main focus of the book, read flat. I did love the parts on the submarine and those kept me the most interested. I found just a bit annoyed with Miri's point of view as it just seemed to drag and never end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Terminal illness

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.0

The pacing was a bit off - there was a slow build up for the good first 3/4 of the book with a rush of events at the end that felt jumbled in execution.

Was not expecting furry/beastiality? smut which really isn't my thing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Murder, Homophobia, Hate crime, Gore, Emotional abuse, Death, Deadnaming, Cursing, Cannibalism, Blood, Biphobia, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Abortion, Rape, and Dysphoria

Minor: Confinement and Panic attacks/disorders

Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner

adventurous emotional funny tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

i would offer anything - ANYTHING - to a god to get my hands on the next book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, War, Violence, Medical trauma, and Grief

Moderate: Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Abandonment, Racism, Death, and Colonisation

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Self harm, and Alcohol

Damned by Chuck Palahniuk

challenging dark funny slow-paced

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

4.0

I would not recommend this book to anyone but myself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Body shaming, Racial slurs, Violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Murder, Death, Child death, Cursing, and Blood

Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexual content, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Classism, and Confinement

Minor: Sexism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Self harm

Over My Dead Body by Sweeney Boo

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, and Toxic friendship

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Gaslighting

Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Alcohol

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire

adventurous funny hopeful fast-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

3.0

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.5

The side characters absolutely outshine the main character - this makes it hard to be invested early on. If you can get past the annoying naivety of the main character, the rest is worth the oversight.