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katherineshawwrites's reviews
75 reviews
Artifice & Access: A Disability in Fantasy Anthology by Ella T. Holmes
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
It is difficult to pull together a collection of stories and have every single one stick the landing, but Artifice and Access pulls it off! Each author interprets the theme in a very different way, but each story packs a punch, delivering terrific fantasy narratives alongside insight into a variety of disabilities.
Maybe it’s because I’m disabled myself, but I found myself highlighting poignant lines in almost every story. There is so much said around the disabled experience within the book, it’s really quite incredible.
This book is perfect for any fans of fantasy, but if you have experience of disability you will also find it relatable, empowering and heartwarming in equal measure.
Maybe it’s because I’m disabled myself, but I found myself highlighting poignant lines in almost every story. There is so much said around the disabled experience within the book, it’s really quite incredible.
This book is perfect for any fans of fantasy, but if you have experience of disability you will also find it relatable, empowering and heartwarming in equal measure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Medical content and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Cancer and Death
The Crows by C.M. Rosens
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It’s weird, it’s dark, it’s gross… and I loved it.
I’m a fan of weird, gothic horror and this book delivered! I’m hesitant to give too much away, because the mystery is most of the fun, but with The Crows, C M Rosens has taken some classic elements of a paranormal small town story and created something fresh, interesting and utterly addictive.
How they managed to make me fall in love with a grimy, eldritch weirdo like Ricky Porter is beyond me, but I absolutely loved the friendship that built up between him and Carrie as the story went on, and I really enjoyed how everything wrapped up at the end.
I will definitely continue reading this series!
I’m a fan of weird, gothic horror and this book delivered! I’m hesitant to give too much away, because the mystery is most of the fun, but with The Crows, C M Rosens has taken some classic elements of a paranormal small town story and created something fresh, interesting and utterly addictive.
How they managed to make me fall in love with a grimy, eldritch weirdo like Ricky Porter is beyond me, but I absolutely loved the friendship that built up between him and Carrie as the story went on, and I really enjoyed how everything wrapped up at the end.
I will definitely continue reading this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest and Fire/Fire injury
A Promise of Return by Rebecca Crunden
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
I’m so glad to have finally dipped back into this series!
It was truly fascinating to finally see Thom’s story and dip into his POV, and god was it heartbreaking. I loved his whole adventure, the new characters we met and the tension that ramped up with each chapter.
Watching Thom change as a result of what happens to him was both interesting and heart-wrenching to read, and it all felt very real and genuine. I found myself talking to people about what we might do in his situation, which I always think is a sign of a good plot point.
I think the way the book interwove with the previous one but in a different POV wasn’t as impactful as it could’ve been for me because I’d left it too long between books and had forgotten some details - but that’s entirely on me!
I will say that the most gripping part of the story is the middle, and the ending feels a little bit flat in comparison, but I’m still in love with these characters and this series, and so I’ll definitely be continuing the series.
It was truly fascinating to finally see Thom’s story and dip into his POV, and god was it heartbreaking. I loved his whole adventure, the new characters we met and the tension that ramped up with each chapter.
Watching Thom change as a result of what happens to him was both interesting and heart-wrenching to read, and it all felt very real and genuine. I found myself talking to people about what we might do in his situation, which I always think is a sign of a good plot point.
I think the way the book interwove with the previous one but in a different POV wasn’t as impactful as it could’ve been for me because I’d left it too long between books and had forgotten some details - but that’s entirely on me!
I will say that the most gripping part of the story is the middle, and the ending feels a little bit flat in comparison, but I’m still in love with these characters and this series, and so I’ll definitely be continuing the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
Minor: Rape and Pregnancy
Babel by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I wasn't sure if Babel would live up to the hype it received when it first hit the reading community, but my goodness, it does.
If you're going into Babel expecting a high fantasy dark academia story, you're going to be disappointed, but if you go in with an open mind, you'll get a fascinating, powerful and tragic take on the magic of languages, alongside the horror and injustice of colonialism and racism.
With this story, R F Kuang delivers a gripping and moving narrative that's steeped in history, and her academic experience in language really shines through not only within the plot itself, but in all the wonderfully crafted notes that accompany the text. It gives the book an academic rigour you rarely see in fiction whilst never losing sight of the story.
Some of the hard-hitting commentary around the British Empire (and similar colonial nations) and its amoral actions can be tough to swallow, but isn't that the point? R F Kuang pulls no punches, and I love her for that. The characters show us through their own lenses, backgrounds and personal storylines what atrocities have been committed in the name of imperialism, economic growth and capitalistic greed, and right now I think we all need to be reminded of that.
Despite its academic nature, the book is full of twists and turns, a great deal of tension, and rising stakes right until the very end, and I was flying through the final pages to see how it would all end for Robin. R F Kuang's writing is superb throughout, and I would highly recommend this to anyone unafraid of some hard truths and powerful storytelling.
If you're going into Babel expecting a high fantasy dark academia story, you're going to be disappointed, but if you go in with an open mind, you'll get a fascinating, powerful and tragic take on the magic of languages, alongside the horror and injustice of colonialism and racism.
With this story, R F Kuang delivers a gripping and moving narrative that's steeped in history, and her academic experience in language really shines through not only within the plot itself, but in all the wonderfully crafted notes that accompany the text. It gives the book an academic rigour you rarely see in fiction whilst never losing sight of the story.
Some of the hard-hitting commentary around the British Empire (and similar colonial nations) and its amoral actions can be tough to swallow, but isn't that the point? R F Kuang pulls no punches, and I love her for that. The characters show us through their own lenses, backgrounds and personal storylines what atrocities have been committed in the name of imperialism, economic growth and capitalistic greed, and right now I think we all need to be reminded of that.
Despite its academic nature, the book is full of twists and turns, a great deal of tension, and rising stakes right until the very end, and I was flying through the final pages to see how it would all end for Robin. R F Kuang's writing is superb throughout, and I would highly recommend this to anyone unafraid of some hard truths and powerful storytelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Yours and Mine by A.E. Bennett
emotional
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? No
4.5
Another excellent book by A.E Bennett! It was a joy to spend more time with Octavia and Gerald - two of my favourite characters from the main Serrulata Saga series - and get more of a glimpse into their early relationship. I can never get enough of Gerald Verte. A kind, considerate gentleman who rails against society’s expectations despite being an outcast himself, who treats his partner like a goddess, and who’s a dynamo in bed - what could be better?
I love the world that Bennett has created with these books, and being back in The Realm felt like slipping on a favourite pair of shoes again. I could read a hundred stories in this setting.
My only criticism is that I wish the time skip towards the end was shorter so I could see more of what happened during that time, as it felt a bit too quick for me, but that might just be me being greedy for more Gerald and Octavia!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Alcohol
There Ought to be Shadows by Krissie Williams
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
This is an interesting southern gothic novella, and I personally found it to be a bit of a mixed bag. I loved the lore that was woven throughout, and really enjoyed getting to learn a mythology that was new to me. The other-worldly characters came to life on the page, and I especially liked Great-Grandmother. She was spicy but caring, and the bond between her and Marilyn was portrayed very well.
There were some really interesting familial relationships described throughout which felt very authentic, and I enjoyed exploring Marilyn’s connection to each character we met as the story progressed. I thought the shifting POVs worked very well, with the “villain”a scenes feeling particularly foreboding, which built up a good amount of tension as the story went on.
While I liked the story, I found the pacing to be a little jarring. It began at a slower pace, giving the reader time to feel the emotion at play and get invested in Marilyn and her story, but as the book went on it got faster and faster and started to feel rushed for me. Some big revelations take place that didn’t make the impact I thought they deserved, which is a shame. I wanted to feel Marilyn’s reactions and understand her motivations for her next actions better.
I assume this is going to be a series, as the book ends at what feels like the start of a new plot line. I would be interested to keep reading, so I could spend more time in Moonstone and delve deeper into the mythology of this world and its characters.
There were some really interesting familial relationships described throughout which felt very authentic, and I enjoyed exploring Marilyn’s connection to each character we met as the story progressed. I thought the shifting POVs worked very well, with the “villain”a scenes feeling particularly foreboding, which built up a good amount of tension as the story went on.
While I liked the story, I found the pacing to be a little jarring. It began at a slower pace, giving the reader time to feel the emotion at play and get invested in Marilyn and her story, but as the book went on it got faster and faster and started to feel rushed for me. Some big revelations take place that didn’t make the impact I thought they deserved, which is a shame. I wanted to feel Marilyn’s reactions and understand her motivations for her next actions better.
I assume this is going to be a series, as the book ends at what feels like the start of a new plot line. I would be interested to keep reading, so I could spend more time in Moonstone and delve deeper into the mythology of this world and its characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
Attack of the Killer Tumbleweeds by Antonia Rachel Ward
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
We were promised killer tumbleweeds and we got killer tumbleweeds! The main story is this book has a retro sci-fi B-movie vibe with an array of classic characters - the naive newlyweds, the Las Vegas gangster, the jaded showgirl, etc. which makes for a fun, fast-paced adventure. I enjoyed the story, and the different POVs were used well to build suspense and add depth to each of the characters.
The book is filled out with two added short stories of quite different horror genres - one a Wild West zombie tale and one a modern-day slasher. While these are enjoyable stories in their own right, I’m not sure how well the book works as a collection of stories of different horror sub-genres and lengths.
The book is filled out with two added short stories of quite different horror genres - one a Wild West zombie tale and one a modern-day slasher. While these are enjoyable stories in their own right, I’m not sure how well the book works as a collection of stories of different horror sub-genres and lengths.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Abortion
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Wing and a Miss by B. Perkins, Aimee Vance
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
Once again, the Deadlights Cove series did not disappoint!
I was excited to read Ryker’s romance, and it was great to finally get in the mind of the stand-offish dragon we’ve only had glimpses of so far.
The romance itself was great. There were lots of ‘just kiss!’ moments (in a good way), and I loved watching Ryker and Selene finally admit their feelings for each other. The spicy scenes were excellent, and I found myself developing my own little crush on our burly dragon shifter.
While I preferred this romance to the previous book, the plot was a bit up and down for me, and I had to suspend my disbelief a few times. I do think it came together really well in the end, with the stakes ticking up a little bit more versus the earlier books. I’ll definitely be keen to check out the next instalment to see what shenanigans are in store.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief and Death of parent
The Heartbreak Hex: A Halloween Romance Novella by Jordyn Alexander, Jordyn Alexander
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a sweet little holiday romance, perfect for Halloween time.
I loved the sprinkling of world-building throughout, and the Holiday Village seems like a wonderful setting for a string of seasonal romances. I feel like the author gave us just enough insight into how the world works and what other holiday towns are around, so we know what to expect in future romances.
Vlad was by far my favourite character. The author manages to make him very swoon-worthy using very few words, and the way he called Gertrude 'sweetheart' was just *mwah*.
I really liked the circumstances they characters find themselves in, with the potion tying them together - it made for a fun romance arc, and who doesn't love the just one bed trope?
I only have a couple of criticisms of the book. While I understand it's a novella, and so there's limited space to explore things, the romance is very rapid. Both POVs reveal to the reader that they want each other right at the start, which dissolves most of the tension. It's still fun to see when they'll finally reveal it to each other, but I'd have liked a tiny bit more build up. Similarly, once they've both declared their feelings it moves VERY fast, a bit unrealistically so. This took the edge off a little for me, though the ending was very cute.
All in all, this is a sweet and fun little romance which I'd highly recommend for a lighter Halloween read. I'd gladly read more in the holiday village series.
I loved the sprinkling of world-building throughout, and the Holiday Village seems like a wonderful setting for a string of seasonal romances. I feel like the author gave us just enough insight into how the world works and what other holiday towns are around, so we know what to expect in future romances.
Vlad was by far my favourite character. The author manages to make him very swoon-worthy using very few words, and the way he called Gertrude 'sweetheart' was just *mwah*.
I really liked the circumstances they characters find themselves in, with the potion tying them together - it made for a fun romance arc, and who doesn't love the just one bed trope?
I only have a couple of criticisms of the book. While I understand it's a novella, and so there's limited space to explore things, the romance is very rapid. Both POVs reveal to the reader that they want each other right at the start, which dissolves most of the tension. It's still fun to see when they'll finally reveal it to each other, but I'd have liked a tiny bit more build up. Similarly, once they've both declared their feelings it moves VERY fast, a bit unrealistically so. This took the edge off a little for me, though the ending was very cute.
All in all, this is a sweet and fun little romance which I'd highly recommend for a lighter Halloween read. I'd gladly read more in the holiday village series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying
Bound to the Fate of Kings by Jamie Jackson
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Okay, I would like to read more Shakespeare retellings please!
I’ve been a fan of Jamie Jackson’s writing for some time, and she always manages to surprise me with her take on a new genre. I’m a big Shakespeare fan - although it’s many years since I read Macbeth - and this retelling manages to feel both familiar and new at the same time. There are obvious links to the original story, but bringing the three witches to the forefront was a fascinating new angle, and it worked well.
I really enjoyed the uneasy romance building between the two main characters, and the murky morals throughout were interesting to watch play out. I loved seeing our reincarnation of Macduff brought to life a lot more in this telling, whereas - despite being the ‘hero’ in the end - he feels like a side character in the original text.
This was a great read for spooky season, and I would definitely recommend it to any Shakespeare fan interested in fresh versions of the bard’s work
I’ve been a fan of Jamie Jackson’s writing for some time, and she always manages to surprise me with her take on a new genre. I’m a big Shakespeare fan - although it’s many years since I read Macbeth - and this retelling manages to feel both familiar and new at the same time. There are obvious links to the original story, but bringing the three witches to the forefront was a fascinating new angle, and it worked well.
I really enjoyed the uneasy romance building between the two main characters, and the murky morals throughout were interesting to watch play out. I loved seeing our reincarnation of Macduff brought to life a lot more in this telling, whereas - despite being the ‘hero’ in the end - he feels like a side character in the original text.
This was a great read for spooky season, and I would definitely recommend it to any Shakespeare fan interested in fresh versions of the bard’s work
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, and War
Moderate: Murder