Take a photo of a barcode or cover
ivi_reads_books's reviews
345 reviews
Night Theater by Vikram Paralkar
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
Night Theater is a surreal blend of body horror and philosophical dilemmas. A disgraced surgeon is given an impossible task—operate on the dead so they may live again. With morally gray characters, eerie tension, and a haunting look at life, death, and redemption, this book is as unsettling as it is unforgettable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Natural Beauty takes you on a chilling journey where you know things won’t end well—but you can’t look away. With themes of beauty, sustainability, music, friendship, and the immigrant experience, it follows a pro musician turned beauty salesperson as she’s pulled into a world that’s as alluring as it is disturbing. Huang’s sharp, unsettling storytelling lingers long after the final page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Blood
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Racism, Vomit, Medical content
Ice: 50th Anniversary Edition by Anna Kavan
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The book is set in a frozen dystopia where reality constantly shifts, and nothing is quite what it seems.
Set in a world consumed by encroaching ice—possibly due to nuclear war—the novel follows an unnamed narrator obsessively searching for an elusive woman. Whether he’s her protector or predator remains deliberately unclear, blurring the lines between love, control, and destruction.
Set in a world consumed by encroaching ice—possibly due to nuclear war—the novel follows an unnamed narrator obsessively searching for an elusive woman. Whether he’s her protector or predator remains deliberately unclear, blurring the lines between love, control, and destruction.
Kavan’s prose is hypnotic, slipping between surreal beauty and creeping dread, much like the fractured mind of its protagonist.
If you’re looking for a straightforward plot, this isn’t it; Ice is an experience, not a story in the traditional sense.
If you’re looking for a straightforward plot, this isn’t it; Ice is an experience, not a story in the traditional sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, War
Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli
adventurous
emotional
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
If The Hunger Games and A Court of Thorns and Roses had a love child, it would be Trial of the Sun Queen. This gripping fantasy throws readers into a brutal competition where survival means outwitting both ruthless rivals and the whims of a powerful court.
The protagonist is instantly compelling—a survivor plucked from prison and forced into a deadly game she never signed up for. She’s smart, resilient, and just self-aware enough to know she’s being used as a pawn, but she refuses to go down without a fight. The court’s extravagance and the stark class divide add to the tension, making every moment feel high-stakes.
With a touch of steam, a dash of queer romance/lust, and an ending that leaves you desperate for book two, Trial of the Sun Queen is a thrilling ride from start to finish. If you love high-stakes trials, cunning heroines, and dangerously alluring Fae, this one’s for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood
Moderate: Confinement, War, Injury/Injury detail
A House for Miss Pauline: 'One of the Caribbean's finest writers' Monique Roffey by Diana McCaulay
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
I struggled to follow the story due to the heavy use of Patwa, which made it difficult for me to stay engaged. There were also many side characters introduced, but I wasn’t sure how they contributed to the narrative. However, I appreciated that the book is loosely based on the author’s life and ancestors—if I understood Patwa better, I might have continued reading.
I Can Be the One by Ellie Blackbourne
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
I Can Be the One by Ellie Blackbourne is the perfect blend of swoon-worthy romance, chronic illness representation, and a devoted, protective MMC!
Alexis, a reserved FMC with fibromyalgia, finds solace and passion in Blake, a hockey player who not only understands her struggles but wholeheartedly supports her. With no third-act breakup (thank goodness!) and a steamy, empowering romance, this fast-paced read is both heartfelt and refreshing.
If you loved Dukes & Dekes and are craving a hockey romance with a reformed playboy who falls hard, this one’s for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Stalking, Alcohol
Minor: Sexual violence
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Love the Murderbot stories! I’ve lost track of its end goal while traveling through the galaxy, but honestly, I’m just here for the ride.
Bunny by Mona Awad
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
What did I just read?
Maya & Natasha by Elyse Durham
Thank you to Mariner Books for the advance reader copy!
emotional
sad
slow-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? Yes
3.5
Told in third-person narration, this novel still allows readers to deeply connect with orphaned twin sisters Maya and Natasha. Raised in their late mother’s dance company by her best friend, the girls spend their teenage years immersed in the rigorous world of Soviet ballet, competing for the same coveted spot in a prestigious company.
Themes of first love, discipline, indoctrination, rebellion, and sacrifice shape their journey. One sister is independent and rebellious, seen as more beautiful and capable, while the other is more reserved. When Russia enforces a rule preventing two family members from leaving the country at the same time—to deter defection—the sisters must face an impossible choice.
This is a story of sisterly love, independence, and the weight of decisions that impact more than just oneself. I’m always struck by how artists and athletes endure immense pain for their craft, and this book highlights that devotion—how these girls love ballet so much they willingly accept lifelong injuries for it.
While the novel was a bit dense and longer than I prefer, I appreciated its quiet, steady pacing and character-driven storytelling. Also, the cover? Absolutely stunning.
Thank you to Mariner Books for the advance reader copy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Minor: Chronic illness