impasta_syndrome's reviews
435 reviews

The Talisman by Peter Straub, Stephen King

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

1.0

I read this after Fairytale, hoping for another interesting portal fantasy. Throughout the book, I felt it was overall repetitive and filled with characters I didn't connect with. I felt the side characters were more burdens to Jack. They weren't fleshed out, it felt more like they were inserted to stall Jack on his journey than show real connection and character growth. Some of the dark themes seemed... unnecessarily masochistic? TW: child molestation. We get it, the roads are dangerous, but why did we have to encounter so many people that wanted to abuse Jack? Throughout the book, Jack was looking fondly back on The Territories, but for what? It was just as terrible of place as the horrors of the real world. This is one of the first portal fantasies I have read where the portal universe wasn't enjoyable. There was no end to misery.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Pedophilia

Minor: Chronic illness and Death of parent

Cry of the Wolf by Rachel Roberts

3.0

Misrule by Heather Walter

dark emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.25

Circles in the Stream by Rachel Roberts

adventurous lighthearted

• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

Bunny by Mona Awad

dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

Locklands by Robert Jackson Bennett

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-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

4.5

Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

adventurous dark hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0