kaylamoran's reviews
398 reviews

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Not the 5 star reading I was hoping for, but I loved it and will definitely be reading book 2

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

funny lighthearted fast-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

3.75

8 Souls by Rachel Rust

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.0

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.

Not sure why I thought a regency romance would be for me.

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

adventurous 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

3.25

I'd hoped for a lot more out of this book.  I'm surprised it was a book of the month pick, it was only okay.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I didn't find this nearly as anxiety inducing or scary as Ace of Spades, but I don't think it was meant to be.  Overall I enjoyed this, although at times it was very hard to listen to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Sexual assault, Rape, Suicide, Death, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders

A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.

I don't know why, I just could not get into this at all.  I'm halfway through and I still don't care about the story.  Life is too short to keep reading a book I'm not into.

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

This is such a hard book to rate, as there were things I loved and things I hated. 

I hated the way the story centered on a fake rape accusation.  I really don't think that's a helpful narrative, and it wasn't necessary for the story.  Tsukuru could have been shunned for any number of reasons.  I also found it a bit frustrating how seemingly cheating wasn't a red flag?  Why would Kuro tell Tsukuru to fight for a woman with another boyfriend?

  Ultimately I related to Tsukuru in many ways, and I was really rooting for him.  Usually slow paced books with a ton of descriptors bore me, but that didn't happen here.  I do wish Murakami spent a bit less energy describing women's breasts though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment

Moderate: Murder and Eating disorder

Minor: Miscarriage

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.

I just have no idea what's going on.  I can't focus on the audiobook enough.  I think I'll have to read this one as a physical copy.