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kamrynkoble's reviews
436 reviews
Tampa by Alissa Nutting
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I can’t make myself rate this book. It’s probably the most disturbing thing I’ve ever read, and it would make me physically nauseous often. My bedside Tums were my BFF for this one.
Twenty-six-year-old teacher. Fourteen-year-old boys. Very, very, very graphic.
I will say that this is well-written and I liked the author’s style. I feel like I need a lava bath after reading this, so I’m not sure how the author feels after living in Celeste’s head for this long. An ambitious project, but a disturbing read.
Twenty-six-year-old teacher. Fourteen-year-old boys. Very, very, very graphic.
I will say that this is well-written and I liked the author’s style. I feel like I need a lava bath after reading this, so I’m not sure how the author feels after living in Celeste’s head for this long. An ambitious project, but a disturbing read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Sexual content
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
I…am in complete shock here. I don’t even know why I’m trying to write this review now when it’s so raw.
I’m a budding fantasy reader and I really wasn’t sure about dragons. But I heard a review that was so amazing that I actually preordered this ebook. I finally got to read it and…wow.
I love, love, love this one. It’s reminiscent of the super popular YA novels of the 2010s like Divergent, but more grown up.
I’ve already bought a print copy and preordered the second ebook and hardcover—that will tell you how crazy I am about this.
As my first real fantasy read after ACOTAR, this was fabulous. Can’t wait for the second. I’m dead. The tears haven’t dried on my face yet.
I’m a budding fantasy reader and I really wasn’t sure about dragons. But I heard a review that was so amazing that I actually preordered this ebook. I finally got to read it and…wow.
I love, love, love this one. It’s reminiscent of the super popular YA novels of the 2010s like Divergent, but more grown up.
I’ve already bought a print copy and preordered the second ebook and hardcover—that will tell you how crazy I am about this.
As my first real fantasy read after ACOTAR, this was fabulous. Can’t wait for the second. I’m dead. The tears haven’t dried on my face yet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Cursing, and Animal death
Moderate: War
Minor: Death of parent
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very solid thriller! I blasted through this audiobook. Dual timeline, a haunted boarding school, and murder—what more do you need?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Murder
Wanted by Sara Shepard
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It’s honestly funny to me—the acknowledgment for this book (#8) talked about how it was sad to write the last PLL book. But the series has SIXTEEN?! Okay, Sara.
This one actually through me for loops with all the twists, so that was fun.
As always, here’s my favorite quote:
He reminded Spencer of an emo version of a Super Mario Brother.
I’ll be back for #9!
This one actually through me for loops with all the twists, so that was fun.
As always, here’s my favorite quote:
He reminded Spencer of an emo version of a Super Mario Brother.
I’ll be back for #9!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’ve never read anything like this before! It’s epistolary, so it reads like second person. The writing is gorgeous and lush. I realized I didn’t know all too much about Dracula, but still found this super interesting. All in all a very solid novel.
This definitely has queer and polyamorous parts/themes, and every other content warning you’d expect with a gothic vampire novel.
This definitely has queer and polyamorous parts/themes, and every other content warning you’d expect with a gothic vampire novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WOW. I’m amazed. This book was well worth the long library hold and keeping my kindle on airplane mode.
The prose was gorgeous. I ADORE this author’s writing style. I highlighted several passages just for being beautiful. She has a unique way of describing the commonplace in a way that truly elevates it to something important.
Lucrezia is so, fiercely endearing to me. I LOVE her. I was aching for her quite literally the entire book.
I don’t want to spoil anything about the ending but it was simultaneously so sad and so satisfying. Perfectly handled.
I also really appreciated the author’s note on why she made certain changes. I’m a huge fan of books about real people, but they’re so hard to do right. This was handled perfectly. The author was brave enough to make narrative choices and breathe life into a real person, making for a captivating read. Although, it was super hard for me not to turn to Wikipedia over and over again, LOL.
If you love the story of Anastasia Romanov, I think you would like this one. Gorgeous, beautiful, perfection.
The prose was gorgeous. I ADORE this author’s writing style. I highlighted several passages just for being beautiful. She has a unique way of describing the commonplace in a way that truly elevates it to something important.
Lucrezia is so, fiercely endearing to me. I LOVE her. I was aching for her quite literally the entire book.
I don’t want to spoil anything about the ending but it was simultaneously so sad and so satisfying. Perfectly handled.
I also really appreciated the author’s note on why she made certain changes. I’m a huge fan of books about real people, but they’re so hard to do right. This was handled perfectly. The author was brave enough to make narrative choices and breathe life into a real person, making for a captivating read. Although, it was super hard for me not to turn to Wikipedia over and over again, LOL.
If you love the story of Anastasia Romanov, I think you would like this one. Gorgeous, beautiful, perfection.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual content and Animal death
Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 stars! I really enjoyed this one. It’s my first novel set in Ancient Rome, and I loved the setting. I’ve been to Rome and the coliseum which only made it more special.
I found myself rooting for these characters, and truly hoping they would get what they wanted. I feel attached to them, especially Thea, after watching her endure so much over the span of many years. I love a book that can make me do that.
I also enjoyed the multiple POVS. All of the different characters took me a second to understand, but I was impressed by how the author managed to weave them all in. This is such a high-stakes setting that I was on the edge of my seat often.
The ending was particularly good. One “twist” made me turn my head away and cover my mouth in shock. The rest was so tightly plotted from there, and I liked that this had such a good resolution chapter.
I’ll definitely read more from this author!
I found myself rooting for these characters, and truly hoping they would get what they wanted. I feel attached to them, especially Thea, after watching her endure so much over the span of many years. I love a book that can make me do that.
I also enjoyed the multiple POVS. All of the different characters took me a second to understand, but I was impressed by how the author managed to weave them all in. This is such a high-stakes setting that I was on the edge of my seat often.
The ending was particularly good. One “twist” made me turn my head away and cover my mouth in shock. The rest was so tightly plotted from there, and I liked that this had such a good resolution chapter.
I’ll definitely read more from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Child abuse, and Slavery
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Antisemitism, Violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Pregnancy
The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World by Shelley Puhak
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I’ve been battling library holds with this one for weeks, and finally finished it with my kindle on airplane mode!
I haven’t read anything about this time period, honestly. What an interesting and tragic story. I appreciate the way the author told it, as she had to jump through quite a few hoops to connect the bits and pieces we had about these two queens.
I had a hard time following all of the players—I wish I would have printed out the “character” list in the front. It was just plain difficult to follow sometimes, but it’s really not a fault of the author.
If you’re interested in medieval history surrounding women, definitely check this one out!
I haven’t read anything about this time period, honestly. What an interesting and tragic story. I appreciate the way the author told it, as she had to jump through quite a few hoops to connect the bits and pieces we had about these two queens.
I had a hard time following all of the players—I wish I would have printed out the “character” list in the front. It was just plain difficult to follow sometimes, but it’s really not a fault of the author.
If you’re interested in medieval history surrounding women, definitely check this one out!
Refuse to Be Done by Matt Bell
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
I loved this! It’s been a minute since I read any writing craft books and I did a lot of highlighting and notetaking.
I’ve often found myself stuck between being a pantser and a plotter, and never finding a writing/revising routine that actually worked for me. This book was quite illuminating in this regard, and so different from other books I’ve read like K.M. Weiland’s. If you’re feeling stuck with your draft flow, give this a try.
The author is obviously a professor. I often felt like I was back in college, which is a good thing.
The first section was the strongest to me. The second section was also well-defined, but didn’t have as much meat. The third section felt like a lot of random advice that didn’t fit anywhere else. It’s good, but I almost wish there was one section for each draft, and then a fourth section of miscellaneous advice. I’m not sure how easy it will be to reference this again.
All in all a solid book, and I’d definitely recommend it!
I’ve often found myself stuck between being a pantser and a plotter, and never finding a writing/revising routine that actually worked for me. This book was quite illuminating in this regard, and so different from other books I’ve read like K.M. Weiland’s. If you’re feeling stuck with your draft flow, give this a try.
The author is obviously a professor. I often felt like I was back in college, which is a good thing.
The first section was the strongest to me. The second section was also well-defined, but didn’t have as much meat. The third section felt like a lot of random advice that didn’t fit anywhere else. It’s good, but I almost wish there was one section for each draft, and then a fourth section of miscellaneous advice. I’m not sure how easy it will be to reference this again.
All in all a solid book, and I’d definitely recommend it!
The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m FINALLY starting The Throne of Glass series! I did this as a buddy read with Danielle which was a blast. Also, thanks to my mom who bought me the whole ebook set! :)
I’ve avoided TOG spoilers with all my might. So I had very little context going into this, but I’m glad that I read it first and I’m excited to continue with the series.
I really liked the last three novellas. The first two were slower but they set up the rest well.
The last one almost made me cry—my whole face was burning. I can’t wait for more!
I’ve avoided TOG spoilers with all my might. So I had very little context going into this, but I’m glad that I read it first and I’m excited to continue with the series.
I really liked the last three novellas. The first two were slower but they set up the rest well.
The last one almost made me cry—my whole face was burning. I can’t wait for more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Torture