ishymuu's reviews
3 reviews

The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller

adventurous dark funny 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? Yes

4.0

 When I first started this book, I didn’t think I was going to like it, but I am glad I stuck with it. The book is your zombie horror romp from the 2000s but make it involve queer community and pride. If you like that genre, you will enjoy this book. I like the slight changes made for the zombies all while keeping them pretty classic and loved the character and all their flaws. They are all messes, but in a way that is real for lots of folks. I wouldn’t say it is a life changing story, but it was definitely a fun zombie thriller! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Gore

Moderate: Mental illness, Car accident, Hate crime, and Homophobia

Minor: Vomit and Fatphobia

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

 This is overall a solid horror novel! The pacing is steady with an incline to the climax of the story! The elements are genuinely creepy that linger with you are it paints disturbing imagery of each terrifying scene. It feels so much like a classic Victorian gothic horror (probably because it is a reimagining of “The House of Usher”) while also bringing in gender diverse representation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to other horror lovers, especially if you like works of Edgar Allan Poe and other gothic horror stories! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Murder

Moderate: Terminal illness

Minor: War, Transphobia, and Suicide

The Unfinished Land by Greg Bear
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.

It seems like a good story enough, but unfortunately it was one of those stories where it is not meant for me. I couldn't keep interest long enough and the best way I can describe it is that it felt like a "grungy" read. I also expected a very different kind of story when reading the description, but the book reads fairly slow in my opinion. Not slow in the sense of there isn't anything going on, but more of slow as in there are a lot of puzzle pieces that you are given but slow to peice together what they are and how they tie into the story, which gives a feeling of constant hook but no relief. I do want to emphasize that the book has potential and probably would be best suited for someone who really likes puzzling stories with slow intrigue, it is just not something compatible with my own reading interests.