helliecreed's reviews
521 reviews

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

dark emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

2.5

Nana by Brandon Massey

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The Spite House by Johnny Compton

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child death

Hyacinth by Elle Porter

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

Before Wallis: Edward VIII's Other Women by Rachel Trethewey

informative reflective

3.75

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

slow-paced

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

4.0

Dead Famous: An Unexpected History of Celebrity from Bronze Age to Silver Screen by Greg Jenner

4.0

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Malice by Heather Walter

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Seem to have a strange relationship with these types of novels lately. First 48%-52% of the book I was becoming increasingly frustrated with its pacing and lack of plot or motive. The world itself kept me interested to continue and splashes of character moments, however its' prose is very simplistic. Nothing wrong with basic prose but it in my case when the slow start is half the book I began to skip paragraphs.

There are chunks in this novel when I would forget these characters weren't high school age. They read sometimes younger than they are. This gets better as it progresses thankfully, but maybe I have forgotten how derpy we are in our early twenties (cries in older millennial)lol

The plot is nothing new. Everything you think will happen will happen or if you feel suspicious of anyone, don't worry, you are correct in your assumption! The characters take a while to develop especially any form of relationship with one another. In retrospect, I like how we see their nuances and even what that means for Alyce. The moment I hit the midway point I read it all in a single sitting. Became hooked. There were stakes and emotional attachments for me to care. The world and characters fleshed out. All this was set up during the first half but finally stakes were raised and the concept of gilded cages bloomed. I was so scared this was quickly going to be another 3 star read for me. I just started the year y'all! lol. The moment I was feelingduring the second half I was here. I surprised myself and man was I happy I allowed to enjoy the story.