jericasbooktravels's reviews
12 reviews

The Enigma of Arrival: A Novel in Five Sections by

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown

inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Broken Ground by Val McDermid

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

A mystery, well written, light and easy to read. Learned a lot about the Scottish highlands and a lot of new words (said the American, lol). A good easy read to the pass the time. 

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

Gripping, from beginning to the end. The horror starts immediately. I enjoyed the point of view of the main character, and seeing their coping techniques and knowledge. A wonderfully dark book that dives into the bigger picture of church and its desire of control and power.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Marquez weaves a tale of a murder from various stories. In his unique style, each storyteller is given their own personality with just a few sentences, giving depth and a life to characters even briefly mentioned. A short read and easy to follow compared to his longer works, this was a nice dip into Marquez’s writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder

The Last Mona Lisa by Jonathan Santlofer

adventurous mysterious 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

0.0

The story is based on a true story, the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa. I found the characters lacked depth and played into typical stereotypes. It was predictable and flat. Issues the characters struggled with were meant to be deep but felt inauthentic. I wasn’t a fan of the only time a character’s skin color was mentioned, nor the use of the struggle of alcoholism and addiction; again, an apparent lack of authenticity and awareness shines through. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Murder, Alcohol

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Told is a straightforward, honest, and clear terms, Mandela’s life struggle for South African equality is equally inspiring, heart wrenching, and beautiful. A must read.

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

dark mysterious slow-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

2.5

A modern gothic horror. Not the most engaging, but perhaps that is the genre.

Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.75

For white western readers, this book is a culture shock. The description of a dark, hallucinatory Africa is apt. The characters, introduction to African culture as only dark high fantasy can do, and magical setting is the perfect start to a brilliant trilogy. Western Readers should be prepared for a dive into an entirely new and different culture, story, and rules. 

Angela Davis: An Autobiography by Angela Y. Davis

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

4.5

Angela Y Davis is inspiring and her story, and edition introductions, continue this. If anybody ever doubts the importance or impact of a grassroots movement or an individual, read her autobiography. She reminds us we are all important in the fight for justice.