Scan barcode
jamieleepilk's reviews
622 reviews
Lost in the Garden by Adam S. Leslie
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Lost in the Garden is a surreal gem of a book. A folkhorror that quickly worms its way under your skin and unsettles you. It will keep you guessing and hooked as you follow three girls on a journey into a village they've been told since childhood not to go to.
Dead Ink Books NEVER MISSES!!!!!
Perfect for fans of films like the Wicker Man and Midsommar.
Dead Ink Books NEVER MISSES!!!!!
Perfect for fans of films like the Wicker Man and Midsommar.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Woodworm by Layla MartÃnez
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"I've told you before, nobody ever leaves this house. We're trapped here, us and the shadows. That's what my mother used to tell me. We're trapped here till they come and take us, she'd say. Until who comes and takes us? Whoever might come knocking at the door and frighten the dead so hard they go off with the saints."
Oh man this was incredible.
Woodworm follows a Grandmother & Granddaughter who live in a cursed house. They live on the outskirts of their village and keep to themselves until a young boy goes missing.
Layla's writing is so poetic, yet blunt and scathingly beautiful. I'm obsessed with the format of this book, with each woman taking turns taking turns telling their stories. I read this in one sitting because I couldn't stop, I couldn't pull myself away. A cursed house, a cursed family? Yes please. Dealing with issues of race, sexism in such a interesting & visceral way.
Layla is now a autobuy author for sure.
Oh man this was incredible.
Woodworm follows a Grandmother & Granddaughter who live in a cursed house. They live on the outskirts of their village and keep to themselves until a young boy goes missing.
Layla's writing is so poetic, yet blunt and scathingly beautiful. I'm obsessed with the format of this book, with each woman taking turns taking turns telling their stories. I read this in one sitting because I couldn't stop, I couldn't pull myself away. A cursed house, a cursed family? Yes please. Dealing with issues of race, sexism in such a interesting & visceral way.
Layla is now a autobuy author for sure.
Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Private Rites by Julia Armfield
end of the world
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
'Private Rites' follows the story of three sisters after the death of their father. The world is now covered in water & won't stop raining, the novel follows the sister's fractured relationship as they each navigate their grief, their love lives (or lack of) while also dealing with what feels like might be the end of the world. The story is told through a present day narrative that at times gives us flashbacks into the past of each of the siblings as they start to believe that their parents may have kept a sinister secret.
.
Nobody writes like Julia Armfield. Nobody. Her way of writing is so beautiful that it sticks with you and leaves you breathless. She has this way of creating characters that you instantly connect with and this you know personally. The way she writes about queer relationships is phenomenal. While reading this you consistently get that really sinister feeling that something is going to happen, it fills you with dread as you start to piece things together! I adored how she writes about the sisters relationship and I think any one with siblings can identify with regardless of circumstance.
I thoroughly loved this book, as I knew I would! Julia is an insanely talented writer.
.
Nobody writes like Julia Armfield. Nobody. Her way of writing is so beautiful that it sticks with you and leaves you breathless. She has this way of creating characters that you instantly connect with and this you know personally. The way she writes about queer relationships is phenomenal. While reading this you consistently get that really sinister feeling that something is going to happen, it fills you with dread as you start to piece things together! I adored how she writes about the sisters relationship and I think any one with siblings can identify with regardless of circumstance.
I thoroughly loved this book, as I knew I would! Julia is an insanely talented writer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Suicide
Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Car accident
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.
I was a bit on the fence with the romance from the start and also it felt slightly inappropriate? While I enjoyed the writing style and the hinting at something sinister to come. I didn't find myself bothered about finding out what happened.
Then I saw the comments about it being plagiarized from a Spanish TV show.
Then I saw the comments about it being plagiarized from a Spanish TV show.
Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
Fragile Animals by Genevieve Jagger
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood