Take a photo of a barcode or cover
karessa_proctor's reviews
133 reviews
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
-This book reads like a puzzle that you only get the pieces in parts which makes it exciting and thrilling to read.
- I was so ready to give this 4.5/5 stars until I got to 70% of the way through. It's like the author just didn't try as hard anymore. It became so rushed, so unrelastic, and dull at times. I'm sad because I really really liked the first half.
- The writing was really descriptive in unnecessary places and then not enough at key elements.
- There’s so much that went wrong with the plot that turned it from a great book to just okay. Elements were just not flushed all the way out. I’m a social worker and let me tell you, they would never let that little girl just go home with the dad.
- Some things were red herrings and others were just not pertinent to the story.
- I was so ready to give this 4.5/5 stars until I got to 70% of the way through. It's like the author just didn't try as hard anymore. It became so rushed, so unrelastic, and dull at times. I'm sad because I really really liked the first half.
- The writing was really descriptive in unnecessary places and then not enough at key elements.
- There’s so much that went wrong with the plot that turned it from a great book to just okay. Elements were just not flushed all the way out. I’m a social worker and let me tell you, they would never let that little girl just go home with the dad.
- Some things were red herrings and others were just not pertinent to the story.
Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler
4.25
Reading this December 2024 was really scary and I don’t know why I set myself up like that… I am convinced that Octavia E. Butler was a time traveler trying to warn us.
That being said, I liked this book slightly less than the first but I thought it was amazing. I get that the daughter was brainwashed but it was hard to feel for her as much as I did Lauren. I also HATE her low down dirty dog of a brother.
That being said, I liked this book slightly less than the first but I thought it was amazing. I get that the daughter was brainwashed but it was hard to feel for her as much as I did Lauren. I also HATE her low down dirty dog of a brother.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
2.75
Don’t fight me because I know how you girls like to tussle…. I would like to start off by saying that I was entertained by this book and that is why I read so it served its purpose. Nevertheless…. this was not good.
The good:
- Entertaining
- Mostly like-able and some love-able characters.
- Good foreshadowing. It ties in earlier concepts well.
- The action chapters toward the end of the book are suspenseful. I could not put it down at this point.
The bad:
- 2020-2023 dialog in a fantasy novel is an ick. I mean she called him “toxic” twice
- FMC literally is a pick me… she asked him to basically pick her and I hated that
- The world building is awful. I had no real mental picture of the school, the dragons (besides the colors), or even some people. I could not even explain to you how the school truly works/operates. I mean… how does one graduate? It seems like there are some physical and mental tests being conducted but there is certainly not a lesson plan past “Don’t die. Get dragon. Know history”
- For the smartest person in the class, our FMC is so so naive. She did not know her bestie was taking her memories? How??? Then she’s mad people don’t tell her stuff? She also didn’t realize that history was clearly changed of benefit them after there were pretty obvious clues such as it being directly spelled out for her?
- I started getting creeped out by all the “I’m so dainty and small and breakable and weak talk”… I mean take a shot every time that is mentioned and you will die. She constantly talks about how she is too physically weak for some things and then she is angry when people think she is too physically weak for things. Yes they were mostly rude about it but even when it was out of actual concern she was mad.
- Why was she actually always arguing with the dragon? It’s a dragon…
- The enemies always had sexual tension. I was not buying the enemies to lovers thing.
The good:
- Entertaining
- Mostly like-able and some love-able characters.
- Good foreshadowing. It ties in earlier concepts well.
- The action chapters toward the end of the book are suspenseful. I could not put it down at this point.
The bad:
- 2020-2023 dialog in a fantasy novel is an ick. I mean she called him “toxic” twice
- FMC literally is a pick me… she asked him to basically pick her and I hated that
- The world building is awful. I had no real mental picture of the school, the dragons (besides the colors), or even some people. I could not even explain to you how the school truly works/operates. I mean… how does one graduate? It seems like there are some physical and mental tests being conducted but there is certainly not a lesson plan past “Don’t die. Get dragon. Know history”
- For the smartest person in the class, our FMC is so so naive. She did not know her bestie was taking her memories? How??? Then she’s mad people don’t tell her stuff? She also didn’t realize that history was clearly changed of benefit them after there were pretty obvious clues such as it being directly spelled out for her?
- I started getting creeped out by all the “I’m so dainty and small and breakable and weak talk”… I mean take a shot every time that is mentioned and you will die. She constantly talks about how she is too physically weak for some things and then she is angry when people think she is too physically weak for things. Yes they were mostly rude about it but even when it was out of actual concern she was mad.
- Why was she actually always arguing with the dragon? It’s a dragon…
- The enemies always had sexual tension. I was not buying the enemies to lovers thing.
Ward D by Freida McFadden
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
As someone with a bachelors and masters degree in social work, the mental illness representation here is garbage. Yes, some people suffering from a mental illness can be dangerous and even violent but our FMC’s judgement of every person in the psych ward was really getting to me. I get why she had them because of what she was going through but I thought that she would come in with judgement and then leave with a better outlook but not really. This book’s dedication was “for my patients” …. how?
Anyways, the storyline was entertaining. I saw the mystery aspect coming but it was very thrilling nevertheless. The last 4-7 chapters are very entertaining.
The epilogue was a miss for me but you’d think that she would know by now that she should get some help.
Anyways, the storyline was entertaining. I saw the mystery aspect coming but it was very thrilling nevertheless. The last 4-7 chapters are very entertaining.
The epilogue was a miss for me but you’d think that she would know by now that she should get some help.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
fast-paced
4.5
Loved it so much more in this style
The Housemaid's Wedding: A Short Story by Freida McFadden
3.25
Not very "thrilling" but it was enjoyable. I liked getting another piece of their story. Enzo is everything.
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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
4.75
Well I am heartbroken…. this trilogy gave me everything I needed and more. Even though I saw the foreshadowing laid out between all 3 books it still felt like a punch to the gut when things would actually happen.
This ending made me feel sick but it was fitting. I mean how many times did they say “it’s death or the Chuluu Korikh”…. it still did not sink in.
"Ideological purity is a battle cry, it's not the stable foundation for a unified country." AHHHHHH
This ending made me feel sick but it was fitting. I mean how many times did they say “it’s death or the Chuluu Korikh”…. it still did not sink in.
"Ideological purity is a battle cry, it's not the stable foundation for a unified country." AHHHHHH
The Drowning Faith by R.F. Kuang
Lady’s take this as a lesson! A man might love you but he will also quite literally stab you in the back for personal gain.
"She's the only divine thing he's ever believed in. The only creature in this vast, cruel land who could kill him. And sometimes, in his loveliest dreams, he imagines she does."
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
Lady’s take this as a lesson! A man might love you but he will also quite literally stab you in the back for personal gain.
"She's the only divine thing he's ever believed in. The only creature in this vast, cruel land who could kill him. And sometimes, in his loveliest dreams, he imagines she does."
Stranded by Chris Bruno
5.0
Content Warnings
Didn’t know I needed this incredible actress combo until it was here. This was really funny but also so real while being virtually impossible.
The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
PAIN!! I cannot. I physically cannot.
I am an official Fang Runin apologist. Everyone who betrayed her… ya MOTHER!!!! I love that she is less bratty in this book, it shows that she has aged. Kitay you are everything to me. Once again this world does not deserve you.
- Hot Take: I might have liked this book even better than the first.
- The real villain was the friends we made a long the way (lykyk).
- This book has it all, backstabbing, trust, love, tension, twists, crutelty, and "democracy".
- Rin kills one white rapist (and obviously many more) and she’s the bad guy?? I think not.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
PAIN!! I cannot. I physically cannot.
I am an official Fang Runin apologist. Everyone who betrayed her… ya MOTHER!!!! I love that she is less bratty in this book, it shows that she has aged. Kitay you are everything to me. Once again this world does not deserve you.
- Hot Take: I might have liked this book even better than the first.
- The real villain was the friends we made a long the way (lykyk).
- This book has it all, backstabbing, trust, love, tension, twists, crutelty, and "democracy".
- Rin kills one white rapist (and obviously many more) and she’s the bad guy?? I think not.