kalventure's reviews
522 reviews

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

 

"It's all fun and games until you're dead."

THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING AND OH MY GOD my jaw lives on the floor now! If you were worried about Bayron's foray into horror from fantasy, please know those concerns are unfounded and you need to read this book immediately! and then scream at me about it.

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight is an ode and love letter to slasher flicks and a must-read for horror fans. Fast-paced and impossible to put down, I devoured this book in one sitting. I don't know that I will ever be calm hearing a splash in an empty lake ever again, so thanks for that new unlocked fear.

One of my favorite things about the horror genre is that it's a vehicle for social commentary as well as entertainment, and this book embodies that "horror spirit". I don't want to talk too much about this aspect because I think it is best to go in blind, but I would be remiss to not mention how much my mind is reeling since finishing. 

I'm the Girl by Courtney Summers

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

4.0

 Audiobook narration: 100000 gold stars! I read along with the audiobook and Lori Prince did an incredible job bringing this story to life with her narration.

"[I]t's more important to know who you are than who you think you're meant to be."

Holy heck, this book was powerful and heartbreaking and I want to punch things. This is a beautifully written uncomfortable read, please read the content warnings before picking this one up.

"Are you the girl? he asked. There could only be one answer. More powerful than disappearing was being found. More powerful was being found was being seen."

Beautifully written and effortlessly engaging, I'm The Girl is like a car accident that you can't look away from. Courtney Summers nails the teen voice and writes in a way that feels authentic. There's a raw vulnerability to this story of Georgia, a teenaged girl who desperately wants to grow up and make something of herself. Who never felt support from those around her. Who sees her beauty as a way out of poverty and a path to a better life. Whose desire and naivete draw Bad People to her and she doesn't realize that she's a victim. Georgia infuriates me and I wish that I could hold her close and tell her that she doesn't need to seek validation and that she's worthy of respect. But I remember all too well wanting to grow up, to be Seen by older men and thinking that made me special. The anger and frustration that I feel is as much for my younger self, and for all young girls who have been taken advantage of.

I can't exactly say that I enjoyed reading this book, but it is powerful, timely, and beautifully written. Courtney Summers handles the topic with care and with I'm The Girl she continues her focus on the young victims of society without sensationalizing.

Content Warnings: blackmail, child sex abuse, grooming, kidnapping, pedophilia, statutory rape
Representation: sapphic main character, poverty rep

eARC & ALC provided by the publisher via NetGalley and LibroFM for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subject to change upon final publication. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, and Kidnapping

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey

medium-paced

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

4.5

These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

The Buried and the Bound by Rochelle Hassan

3.0

Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen

4.0

I loved Mike Chen's Here and Now and Then and this book did NOT disappoint! A love letter to the punk rock scene, VAMPIRE WEEKEND is about family and connections, but also living a life worth living. 

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

3.0

This would have been a 2 star read but the twists and reveals were so well done that it made the back third of the book incredibly enjoyable to read.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

4.5

The Sleepless by Victor Manibo
Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.

 

DNF @ 48&

It pains me to say that writing style The Sleepless did not work for me. I loved the concept and underlying messages on capitalism but found the narrative dragging and circuitous. It took what felt like 48 hours to read 48% (it was really 4.5), and I knew that I'd be back in a slump if I kept reading. Many thanks to my pal Amanda for cheering me on and for ultimately telling me what happens.

"'It's the choice between more or less time, and the answer is pretty obvious.'"

Thank you Kate for the recommendation, I'm so sad this one didn't work for me! This is a smart book with an important message, and I hope you give it a try if it sounds interesting to you!

eARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subject to change upon final publication. 

The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones

dark medium-paced

5.0

 I adored The Bones Houses and the short story included in His Hideous Heart, so the excitement I felt for The Drowned Woods cannot be overstated. I preordered a copy of the book before finishing the prologue, and by the time I finished the book, Emily Lloyd-Jones was added to my autobuy author list! I hope I can write somewhat of a cohesive review to do this amazing book justice.

"Magic was not a human trait. It was other; it was something to be feared and wondered at."

Part heist novel and part dark fairytale, The Drowned Woods is a lush and captivating tale that draws you in on the first page. It feels like nestling into bed for the night for storytime and the story unfolds easily around you with atmospheric writing.

"[T]here was no light. None at all. The darkness was all-consuming -- the kind that seemed to close around a person, to fill their every breath."

Expertly plotted and fast-paced, there is not a word that doesn't serve to expand the reader's understanding of the world or the events driving the plot forward. Lloyd-Jones expertly unveils not only the history of magic but also Mer's backstory and quickly instills a sense of danger for the road ahead in a manner of pages. As a lover of immersive and vast worldbuilding, this book is a beautiful delight.

"Sometimes it felt as though she were more storm than person, bringing chaos and pain everywhere she went."

Worldbuilding and atmosphere are met with characters you can't help but root for... and then curse. The diviner, the ironfetch, and the thief (and the corgi spy?) have found one another on an unlikely adventure, and I loved each of them. Especially Trefor the delightful and loyal doggo companion with an affection for boots who sneezes near magic and might be a spy for the Otherfolk. (Side Note: I found myself emotionally attached to another animal companion from Lloyd-Jones! Let us not forget the delightful zombie goat from The Bone Houses!)

I love stories with an unlikely band of characters with a common goal, and the ragtag crew that Renfrew pulled together for the heist to topple a cruel ruler . The banter! The barbs! The quiet moments of concern. Each character breaths life into the story and have their own complex set of motivations. There's tension and action, and there are real stakes.

"She had learned how to be a deadly shadow, but Fane had the power to walk where he liked without fear. She didn't understand why he sounded so haunted."

🌊 The Diviner Mer has power over water and was stolen from her family as a child, bound in service to a cruel king who used her powers against his enemies. She's quick to temper when seeing injustice and is haunted by the results of her actions at the behest of others.
👊 The ironfetch Fane bargained with the fey who has a pure moral compass and has experienced more heartbreak than I'd like. He's also haunted, but I won't say more about that. He has an adorable corgi named Trefor and I will die for him.
💰 The Thief Ifanna is a former paramour who brings sarcastic comedic relief and is also haunted by her former choices.

"Death lurked in the shadowy spaces between his fingers."

At its heart, The Drowned Woods is a dark fairy tale exploring power, and choice - and the consequences of our choices. The lengths one will go to in order to ensure a better world. Mer has been a pawn and weapon all her life but does that absolve her from the consequences of her actions? Where does the blame lie? Will she be able to live with herself if she keeps running?

"A person with a knife was one thing. A person with a knife and a cause could topple kingdoms."

There's so much I could say about this book. It made me cry. It's beautiful and painful and powerful. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and need more people to read it so I can scream with them about [redacted] and [redacted], so please be sure to scream at me when you read it, ok?

I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley for my honest review. This has not affected my opinions or the contents of my review. I have since purchased a finished copy.

Content warnings: character death (both on-page and off-page), grief & survivor's guilt, violence, war (off-page)