Scan barcode
iam's reviews
1544 reviews
Vessel by Lisa A. Nichols
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Interesting SciFi thriller about an astronaut who, after years of being presumed lost/dead in space, returns to earth - without the rest or her crew, or any memories about what happened to them, or herself, really.
The reactions of her and the people around her, both NASA, her colleagues, and her family, were reasonable and realistic, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
The mixed in flashbacks gave great context, though I found the break between what she did and what present-prptagonist didn't remember a bit unclear.
The final reveal of what happened wasn't entirely what I expected, but at the same time, also very obvious (given the book's name, I mean, duh.)
The ending was very satisfying and left me itching for more - I wouldn't mind reading a sequel.
The one thing I found a bit clumsily executed was the romance. It felt half hearted and like the author didn't really want to write about it, just slapping it on because it should be there, kinda.
The reactions of her and the people around her, both NASA, her colleagues, and her family, were reasonable and realistic, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
The mixed in flashbacks gave great context, though I found the break between what she did and what present-prptagonist didn't remember a bit unclear.
The final reveal of what happened wasn't entirely what I expected, but at the same time, also very obvious (given the book's name, I mean, duh.)
The ending was very satisfying and left me itching for more - I wouldn't mind reading a sequel.
The one thing I found a bit clumsily executed was the romance. It felt half hearted and like the author didn't really want to write about it, just slapping it on because it should be there, kinda.
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
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
4.0
Solid witchy YA about three teen girls, all with their own connections to witchcraft, who get drawn into a series of murders of women who also have magical involvements.
I enjoyed the characters, especially Jude, but I have to say that the cover doesn't fit their vibes at all. Both Jude and Emer are, haircolour aside, described completely different than the artist is portraying them, which is a bit disappointing. I also wouldn't say that Jude is the central character at all.
While I enjoyed Jude the most, I think Emer was the most central to the story. It's her around which everything develops, she is at the enter of everything, though of course all three girls are involved. If anything, Zara felt a bit like the odd one out, both in motive and due to the dynamic that develops between the others.
I wish the book had had a bit more lore about the magic and witches, about how it ties in with history, as well as the culture and exact definitions of all the terms. Despite me using the term "witch" a lot, it's not used super much in the book, if when it is, it never is quite clear what it really describes. The titual invocations are deals with demons that leave marks on the skin, and the women with those marks seem to be witches - even though they themselves have no "magic" per see outside of the deal they have made. And they didn't even make the invocation themselves, needing a third party to make it for them.
I did have a good time reading this, but it doesn't take long to find plotholes or inconsistencies when thinking about this book. Not necessaily a bad thing, I really liked how things fit together in the end, but it wasn't the most neatly packaged up plot.
I enjoyed the characters, especially Jude, but I have to say that the cover doesn't fit their vibes at all. Both Jude and Emer are, haircolour aside, described completely different than the artist is portraying them, which is a bit disappointing. I also wouldn't say that Jude is the central character at all.
While I enjoyed Jude the most, I think Emer was the most central to the story. It's her around which everything develops, she is at the enter of everything, though of course all three girls are involved. If anything, Zara felt a bit like the odd one out, both in motive and due to the dynamic that develops between the others.
I wish the book had had a bit more lore about the magic and witches, about how it ties in with history, as well as the culture and exact definitions of all the terms. Despite me using the term "witch" a lot, it's not used super much in the book, if when it is, it never is quite clear what it really describes. The titual invocations are deals with demons that leave marks on the skin, and the women with those marks seem to be witches - even though they themselves have no "magic" per see outside of the deal they have made. And they didn't even make the invocation themselves, needing a third party to make it for them.
I did have a good time reading this, but it doesn't take long to find plotholes or inconsistencies when thinking about this book. Not necessaily a bad thing, I really liked how things fit together in the end, but it wasn't the most neatly packaged up plot.
Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I adore SciFi horror, and already loved Dead Silence by SA Barnes as well, so I was thrilled for Ghost Station - and it did not disappoint.
With an estranged psychologist who's just had a patient commit suicide right after a session with her and set in a corporate ruled world, this already had the perfect setup. Add said psychologist to a crew that also just lost a member, sent to recover an abandoned station on a planet with an extinct alien civilisation, and you have an even better start for your plot. Add in the claustrophobic feel of the abandoned station, a big mystery around why its abandoned, and a healthy dose of mistrust between the limited cast of characters, and you have a perfect SciFi horror.
Ghost Station shines with its atmosphere and feelings of paranoia and oppression. Phe, the main character, could never feel safe, could never rely on anyone to help her, and couldn't even trust herself due to her own secrets.
I loved the various mysteries and secrets that help appearing. Some had mundane answers, others horrifying ones, and yet others... well, I guess that's my biggest gripe with the book. Some of the mysteries, the whys and hows and what even really is happening, aren't explained.
While the ending felt nice, there was no sense of satisfaction because some really important questions were unanswered. That was a bit of a bummer, but I still really enjoyed the book, and I'm happy for all additions to the subgenre.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
With an estranged psychologist who's just had a patient commit suicide right after a session with her and set in a corporate ruled world, this already had the perfect setup. Add said psychologist to a crew that also just lost a member, sent to recover an abandoned station on a planet with an extinct alien civilisation, and you have an even better start for your plot. Add in the claustrophobic feel of the abandoned station, a big mystery around why its abandoned, and a healthy dose of mistrust between the limited cast of characters, and you have a perfect SciFi horror.
Ghost Station shines with its atmosphere and feelings of paranoia and oppression. Phe, the main character, could never feel safe, could never rely on anyone to help her, and couldn't even trust herself due to her own secrets.
I loved the various mysteries and secrets that help appearing. Some had mundane answers, others horrifying ones, and yet others... well, I guess that's my biggest gripe with the book. Some of the mysteries, the whys and hows and what even really is happening, aren't explained.
While the ending felt nice, there was no sense of satisfaction because some really important questions were unanswered. That was a bit of a bummer, but I still really enjoyed the book, and I'm happy for all additions to the subgenre.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Walking to Aldebaran by Adrian Tchaikovsky
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
This started out fun and ordinary and then turned absolutely fascinating. I don't want to give away too much, but the twist is really cool, and I haven't seen it done super much in SciFi fiction yet! I wish it had been a biiit more excplicit towards the end, but totally get why it wasn't.
Protagonist turning into the horrifying crypt monster, not realizing, but steaddily dropping hints that you as the reader only notice when the full picture comes up? Absolutely chefs kiss!
Apparently it's a reimagining/inspiration taken from of Grendel from Beowulf, as the protagonist literally is called Gary (G.) Rendel, plus some Danish influences, and he looses his arm.
Apparently it's a reimagining/inspiration taken from of Grendel from Beowulf, as the protagonist literally is called Gary (G.) Rendel, plus some Danish influences, and he looses his arm.
Molters by C. a. Gleason
2.0
So much casual misogyny. Weird story directions and choices? Idk just kinda underwhelming.
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
dark
sad
tense
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
2.25
To be completely fair to the book, I was fully aware that this wouldn't be entirely up to my speed. But I am committed to finding more SciFi/deep sea horror books, so I gave it a chance.
The SciFi part felt misleading to me. I guess it is a much broader term than I like to think, but for me it implied a futuristic setting, or speculating about sciences, but this was... none of that. Maybe some people count the "getting swallowed by a whale" scenario as speculative and scientific, but.... nah, not to me in this case. If it had been more focussed on the horror or science of it, maybe, but that's not what this way.
I cannot entirely speak to the realism and scientific accurary of the book, about sperm whale and other oceanic animal behaviour and anatomy.
That said, the main focus of the book was not the science or horror of getting swallowed by a whale. Instead it's about family relationships, maybe the dysfunctional dynamic between the protagonist, teenager Jay, and his father. I expected that, so I was ready for the constant and numerous flashbacks. I found them a bit disjointed, but they frequently fed perfectly into the happenings of the current "present tense" timeline, which I appreciated.
What I didn't entirely appreciate or expect was the almost spiritual elements. While inside the whale, Jay hears and talks to a voice, which is seemingly his father and the whale in one being. It was bizarre, though I sort of compmarentalized it as that phenomenon when someone in a life or death situation hears an outside voice telling them how to act. In a way that makes sense to me, too, as that is exactly what happens, with Jay remembering past conversations and experiences with his family that help him deal with the situations he's in.
However, some of the things just seemed a bit too convenient, or bizarre. Like the whale just HAPPENING to have swallowed exactly the things that Jay needs to survive. Or Jay being able to tell the whale to call for help when it gets attacked by Orcas, and there being a whole massive showdown between a pod of orcas and a bunch of sperm whales??? I may be completely wrong, but idk, that just broke my suspension of disbelief.
To keep it short: overall I this was a rounded story with a quite satisfying ending. However, I wasn't a fan of the execution or themes, but I knew that going in. It could have been a solid three star read for me, but the part towards the end that tries to absolve the abusive father of any guilt and says it's actually also the son's fault that he was abused, knocked that down for me.
The SciFi part felt misleading to me. I guess it is a much broader term than I like to think, but for me it implied a futuristic setting, or speculating about sciences, but this was... none of that. Maybe some people count the "getting swallowed by a whale" scenario as speculative and scientific, but.... nah, not to me in this case. If it had been more focussed on the horror or science of it, maybe, but that's not what this way.
I cannot entirely speak to the realism and scientific accurary of the book, about sperm whale and other oceanic animal behaviour and anatomy.
That said, the main focus of the book was not the science or horror of getting swallowed by a whale. Instead it's about family relationships, maybe the dysfunctional dynamic between the protagonist, teenager Jay, and his father. I expected that, so I was ready for the constant and numerous flashbacks. I found them a bit disjointed, but they frequently fed perfectly into the happenings of the current "present tense" timeline, which I appreciated.
What I didn't entirely appreciate or expect was the almost spiritual elements. While inside the whale, Jay hears and talks to a voice, which is seemingly his father and the whale in one being. It was bizarre, though I sort of compmarentalized it as that phenomenon when someone in a life or death situation hears an outside voice telling them how to act. In a way that makes sense to me, too, as that is exactly what happens, with Jay remembering past conversations and experiences with his family that help him deal with the situations he's in.
However, some of the things just seemed a bit too convenient, or bizarre. Like the whale just HAPPENING to have swallowed exactly the things that Jay needs to survive. Or Jay being able to tell the whale to call for help when it gets attacked by Orcas, and there being a whole massive showdown between a pod of orcas and a bunch of sperm whales??? I may be completely wrong, but idk, that just broke my suspension of disbelief.
To keep it short: overall I this was a rounded story with a quite satisfying ending. However, I wasn't a fan of the execution or themes, but I knew that going in. It could have been a solid three star read for me, but the part towards the end that tries to absolve the abusive father of any guilt and says it's actually also the son's fault that he was abused, knocked that down for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Vomit, Body horror, Grief, and Cancer
Moderate: Alcohol, Self harm, and Suicide
Ironclads by Adrian Tchaikovsky
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
4.0
Interesting dystopian war/SciFi novella. Short and fast-paced, set in a corporate ruled earth in the not so far future. I enjoyed the characters and worldbuilding, nothing super new per se, but I found this take to be realitsic and entertaining to read.
The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Fun, spine chilling SciFi horror, set on a claustophobic and ill-equipped space station that isn't doing so well even if they didn't have strange phenomnenon happen on board...
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
dark
funny
fast-paced
4.0
I love Alex Easton as a narrator, so I greatly enjoying this too. Ka's way of telling a story is so compelling to me, even though ka addresses the reader sometimes, which I dislike as a storytelling device.
The story itself is fun, too! No mushrooms this time, though through Mrs. Potters presence they is talk about them. More folklore-y than What Moves the Dead, still super fun, and with a new fun side characters in addition to the repeated loveable familiar faces.
The story itself is fun, too! No mushrooms this time, though through Mrs. Potters presence they is talk about them. More folklore-y than What Moves the Dead, still super fun, and with a new fun side characters in addition to the repeated loveable familiar faces.
Can't Hide from Me by Cordelia Kingsbridge
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Reread March 2024: Something about Cordelia Kingsbridges's writing just makes me go absolutely feral for it. I'm so so in love with her books, and I will forever hope she will eventually return to writing (and that she is doing okay despite her disappearance from online spaces).
No clue what I didn't enjoy about this book first and second time I read it, because I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it this reread. This was my first time reading Kingsbridge's work in audio, and it holds up just as well. And I even learned some things, because I had no idea how to pronounce a lot of the names properly when reading visually haha.
Overall a wonderful and exciting thriller/mystery, with strong elements of romance. Maybe a bit shallow of the psychological consequences on deep cover operations and stalking, but at least while reading I did not mind that one bit.
No clue what I didn't enjoy about this book first and second time I read it, because I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it this reread. This was my first time reading Kingsbridge's work in audio, and it holds up just as well. And I even learned some things, because I had no idea how to pronounce a lot of the names properly when reading visually haha.
Overall a wonderful and exciting thriller/mystery, with strong elements of romance. Maybe a bit shallow of the psychological consequences on deep cover operations and stalking, but at least while reading I did not mind that one bit.