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309 reviews
Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
2.0
I really loved the premise of this book after it was vaguely described to me by a book buddy.
A bird called Shit Turd (ST for short) living through a zombie apocolypse and the book takes place from HIS PoV? Sign me up!
While I did find myself enjoying some of the execution, especially it being first person and with the aspects surrounding ST's internal struggles of having to let go of his domesticated life. But, overall, the story felt a little bit aimless for a lot of the run time. We spend a lot of the book traveling between places, or often even AWAY from places we're told the character needs to go. This leaves us sort of waiting for certain events we know will happen but can't until the character turns around, ends with me being pretty frustrated and (often) pretty bored. There were also multiple characters who kept feeling like they would be important later, only to have either no story-arc or a pretty pointless one. I really wanted to enjoy this and, as I've said, in some ways I do. Just overall I'm pretty disappointed.
One bonus I will admit is the ending did feel like a perfect way to end the story for our main character, ST. I really liked the premise and do hope the later books continue to build on the great ending. I just don't think I'll be reading them. :(
A bird called Shit Turd (ST for short) living through a zombie apocolypse and the book takes place from HIS PoV? Sign me up!
While I did find myself enjoying some of the execution, especially it being first person and with the aspects surrounding ST's internal struggles of having to let go of his domesticated life. But, overall, the story felt a little bit aimless for a lot of the run time. We spend a lot of the book traveling between places, or often even AWAY from places we're told the character needs to go. This leaves us sort of waiting for certain events we know will happen but can't until the character turns around, ends with me being pretty frustrated and (often) pretty bored. There were also multiple characters who kept feeling like they would be important later, only to have either no story-arc or a pretty pointless one. I really wanted to enjoy this and, as I've said, in some ways I do. Just overall I'm pretty disappointed.
One bonus I will admit is the ending did feel like a perfect way to end the story for our main character, ST. I really liked the premise and do hope the later books continue to build on the great ending. I just don't think I'll be reading them. :(
The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
5.0
This book is FANTASTIC!
I had the lady in the bookshop commend me on my good choice of book when buying this so if that wasn't a good sign, what is?!
The story follows our main character of Melanie and mainly takes place from her point of view. I thought it was a great use of PoV and while Melanie is clearly a child, she isn't wilfully ignorant. We get to watch her constantly having to reassess her view of the world with every new tid bit of information. It was both a joy and saddening to see her view on the world and those around her.
The other cast character were equally fantastic. I love that we get a little insight into each character as we get further into the book, as this helps us better sympathise and understand character motivations. Even when I cannot agree with a characters choices, I can understand how and why they came to these and I think it shows just how great of an author Carey is.
MILD SPOILERS
But I did not know this book was a zombie book going in. The blurb is sufficently vague to make this a very earlyon reveal but Carey does a impressive job at making this story feel unique. The zombies themselves, while similar to ones we've seen previously, also have an extra layer of mystery surrounding them that is used to great effect throughout. I never felt this book retrod any ground I've seen other zombie media do and I appreciated the hell out of it. Also, it's set in my home city of London! Who doesn't love seeing landmarks and going ''wow! That zombie infested area is an area I visit!!!''
All round a 5/5 read and I'd highly reccommend you get around to reading it, too :D
I had the lady in the bookshop commend me on my good choice of book when buying this so if that wasn't a good sign, what is?!
The story follows our main character of Melanie and mainly takes place from her point of view. I thought it was a great use of PoV and while Melanie is clearly a child, she isn't wilfully ignorant. We get to watch her constantly having to reassess her view of the world with every new tid bit of information. It was both a joy and saddening to see her view on the world and those around her.
The other cast character were equally fantastic. I love that we get a little insight into each character as we get further into the book, as this helps us better sympathise and understand character motivations. Even when I cannot agree with a characters choices, I can understand how and why they came to these and I think it shows just how great of an author Carey is.
MILD SPOILERS
But I did not know this book was a zombie book going in. The blurb is sufficently vague to make this a very earlyon reveal but Carey does a impressive job at making this story feel unique. The zombies themselves, while similar to ones we've seen previously, also have an extra layer of mystery surrounding them that is used to great effect throughout. I never felt this book retrod any ground I've seen other zombie media do and I appreciated the hell out of it. Also, it's set in my home city of London! Who doesn't love seeing landmarks and going ''wow! That zombie infested area is an area I visit!!!''
All round a 5/5 read and I'd highly reccommend you get around to reading it, too :D
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical content, Gore, Murder, and Gun violence
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
1.0
This book just wasn't it for me.
While the premise was interesting and potentially spooky, the exact kind of read I wanted for the month of October, the actual execution of the book is clunky at best.
The book follows our main character of Lynnette, a final girl who survived her ordeal twenty-two years ago. We are continually told how this character has spent the time since her almost-death training, securing, and putting inpace many escape routes for her safety and yet spends the entire book being beaten at every turn. Which pretty much sums up my experience with the book. Many interesting or potentially interesting elements are introduced, only to immediately be sidelined or done away with with no real benefit to the story.
An overall disappointing and, frankly, boring read. I probably should have DNF'd.
While the premise was interesting and potentially spooky, the exact kind of read I wanted for the month of October, the actual execution of the book is clunky at best.
The book follows our main character of Lynnette, a final girl who survived her ordeal twenty-two years ago. We are continually told how this character has spent the time since her almost-death training, securing, and putting inpace many escape routes for her safety and yet spends the entire book being beaten at every turn. Which pretty much sums up my experience with the book. Many interesting or potentially interesting elements are introduced, only to immediately be sidelined or done away with with no real benefit to the story.
An overall disappointing and, frankly, boring read. I probably should have DNF'd.
Pine by Francine Toon
dark
mysterious
2.0
What a disappointing read.
I picked this book up purely based on the cover. It's gorgeous and when I saw it was a mystery thriller I thought it would be perfect for my October TBR!
Francine Toon does, to her credit, create a foreboding atmosphere throughout. I found myself gripped by the first few chapters and curious to the mysteries surrounding this small town. Each subsequent scene creates a subtle build up of apprehension while we watch our young MC, Lauren, navigating her daily life. Toon does a great job of making her feel naturally young, without patronising or making her character insufferable. I found I liked her as an MC.
My issues start as we near the half-way point up until the conclusion. The buildup of suspicious and often supernatural-feeling events seem to never reach a climax. We feel no closer to the end of these events compared to when we started. Nothing has meaning, and nothing seems to end up having an impact in the end. The final 3rd of the book shift tone considerably and never quite manage to capture the same sense of foreboding I enjoyed so much at the start.
The book ends more with a whimper than a bang and has me wondering as a reader: ''what the hell was the point?''
So yea, don't bother. My rating isn't a 1 star only because of the aforementioned success at creating the atmosphere I was looking for in this book.
I picked this book up purely based on the cover. It's gorgeous and when I saw it was a mystery thriller I thought it would be perfect for my October TBR!
Francine Toon does, to her credit, create a foreboding atmosphere throughout. I found myself gripped by the first few chapters and curious to the mysteries surrounding this small town. Each subsequent scene creates a subtle build up of apprehension while we watch our young MC, Lauren, navigating her daily life. Toon does a great job of making her feel naturally young, without patronising or making her character insufferable. I found I liked her as an MC.
My issues start as we near the half-way point up until the conclusion. The buildup of suspicious and often supernatural-feeling events seem to never reach a climax. We feel no closer to the end of these events compared to when we started. Nothing has meaning, and nothing seems to end up having an impact in the end. The final 3rd of the book shift tone considerably and never quite manage to capture the same sense of foreboding I enjoyed so much at the start.
The book ends more with a whimper than a bang and has me wondering as a reader: ''what the hell was the point?''
So yea, don't bother. My rating isn't a 1 star only because of the aforementioned success at creating the atmosphere I was looking for in this book.
The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
I went in completely blind with this book as I trusted my book clubs October pick for this month!
I've read T. Kingfisher's work before so I was looking forward to trying out another of hers, but this time a slightly different genre. This is hopefully my first book of many of my October Spookie Reads!
MILD SPOILERS
(they are mentioned in the book bio)
I found it fantastic. I loved how creepy and mysterious the other world managed to be. We jump into the story as blind as the characters and every small reveal adds to the horror of their situation. T.Kingfisher does a great job of giving us tid-bits of information about this other world, while keeping enough of it shrouded in mystery so it continue to be a threat throughout.
I also LOVED that this book was set in modern-day. I'm not sure if it was due to my lack of reading modern lit (usually I read fantasy or sci-fi), but I loved the authors use of modern technology. Having the characters have reasonable and rational reactions to the events throughout made it all the more creepier. I continued to appreciate the little nods to other media and horror existing in this world. I hate when horror movies/books pretend no ones ever heard of (for example) vampires before because the movie has vampires (this book does not have vampires!). This book did a great job referencing other media but never feeling derivative.
All round this was a satisfyingly creepy book with some great heart at the centre of it.
Both Carrot & Simon were great characters to follow along and had some great platonic chemistry. The dream team!
I've read T. Kingfisher's work before so I was looking forward to trying out another of hers, but this time a slightly different genre. This is hopefully my first book of many of my October Spookie Reads!
MILD SPOILERS
(they are mentioned in the book bio)
I found it fantastic. I loved how creepy and mysterious the other world managed to be. We jump into the story as blind as the characters and every small reveal adds to the horror of their situation. T.Kingfisher does a great job of giving us tid-bits of information about this other world, while keeping enough of it shrouded in mystery so it continue to be a threat throughout.
I also LOVED that this book was set in modern-day. I'm not sure if it was due to my lack of reading modern lit (usually I read fantasy or sci-fi), but I loved the authors use of modern technology. Having the characters have reasonable and rational reactions to the events throughout made it all the more creepier. I continued to appreciate the little nods to other media and horror existing in this world. I hate when horror movies/books pretend no ones ever heard of (for example) vampires before because the movie has vampires (this book does not have vampires!). This book did a great job referencing other media but never feeling derivative.
All round this was a satisfyingly creepy book with some great heart at the centre of it.
Both Carrot & Simon were great characters to follow along and had some great platonic chemistry. The dream team!
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
challenging
2.5
Lolita is a perfect example of an author setting out the task of getting an idea, a character, on paper and doing it most effectively.
Nabokov's purpose of writing the book, to capture a pedophiles point of view, was expertly done. Humbert in all ways encapsulates a being able to cause untold damage to an innocent. Humbert is undeniably a horrible, calous, and unrepentant villain. Reading the mental gymnastics this character went through to justify his actions was infuriating and it feels almost so over the top to be comedic. How can a character be so reflective and yet so blind to the irony of his own judgement.
I often found, especially in the 2nd half, the inner dialogue of Humbert very difficult to follow. I'm not sure if this was intentional, to show his mental decline, but I found myself unable to understand what a lot of sentences were saying. The ones I did, were very well written, almost poetic so it feels more intentional by the author than otherwise.
I'm also not sure whether to say I "liked" the book but I do think it achieved what I sought out of the book. Read at your own peril!
Nabokov's purpose of writing the book, to capture a pedophiles point of view, was expertly done. Humbert in all ways encapsulates a being able to cause untold damage to an innocent. Humbert is undeniably a horrible, calous, and unrepentant villain. Reading the mental gymnastics this character went through to justify his actions was infuriating and it feels almost so over the top to be comedic. How can a character be so reflective and yet so blind to the irony of his own judgement.
I often found, especially in the 2nd half, the inner dialogue of Humbert very difficult to follow. I'm not sure if this was intentional, to show his mental decline, but I found myself unable to understand what a lot of sentences were saying. The ones I did, were very well written, almost poetic so it feels more intentional by the author than otherwise.
I'm also not sure whether to say I "liked" the book but I do think it achieved what I sought out of the book. Read at your own peril!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.5
I'VE FINALLY GIVEN INTO INSTA HYPE AND STARTED THE EXPANSE SERIES!
And it was... okay.
I love some elements and despised others. Overall, I found it an enjoyable reading experience and do think I'll continue with the series.
If you don't already know, Leviathan Wakes follows a captain and his crew after a shocking discovery ends in tragedy, as well as an old cop who can't let a case go.
The characters had a surprising amount of depth to them. When this series was sold as "an action packed adventure" I presumed this would mean the characters would take a backseat. I was more than happy to find myself proven wrong, especially in the case of Miller, our resident old cop, who is now my favourite character of the series. I hope we get to see more of him. His character arc was one of the shinning features to this novel, I loved watching him navigate through the story and mysteries surrounding it.
My main gripes were the misleading blurb, which I can't really get into without spoilers but let's say what it says happens doesn't really happen either at all or until more than half way through. As well as the character of Holden slowly becoming more insufferable as the book goes on. I'm slightly worried to hear he's a reoccurring character but I hope he's able to have some sort of character arc, as he lacked one in this book.
All in all, I'm very intrigued to see where the story goes and I'm VERY excited to see it's a finished series.
And it was... okay.
I love some elements and despised others. Overall, I found it an enjoyable reading experience and do think I'll continue with the series.
If you don't already know, Leviathan Wakes follows a captain and his crew after a shocking discovery ends in tragedy, as well as an old cop who can't let a case go.
The characters had a surprising amount of depth to them. When this series was sold as "an action packed adventure" I presumed this would mean the characters would take a backseat. I was more than happy to find myself proven wrong, especially in the case of Miller, our resident old cop, who is now my favourite character of the series. I hope we get to see more of him. His character arc was one of the shinning features to this novel, I loved watching him navigate through the story and mysteries surrounding it.
My main gripes were the misleading blurb, which I can't really get into without spoilers but let's say what it says happens doesn't really happen either at all or until more than half way through. As well as the character of Holden slowly becoming more insufferable as the book goes on. I'm slightly worried to hear he's a reoccurring character but I hope he's able to have some sort of character arc, as he lacked one in this book.
All in all, I'm very intrigued to see where the story goes and I'm VERY excited to see it's a finished series.
Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
4.5
Abercrombie does such a fantastic job of giving us terrible characters who do horrible things but still manage to have us empathise with them. It was a lot of fun to find myself rooting for the genocidal war hero going on a revenge bender while recognising the hypocrisy of it all as she murders her way to the top.
VERY MILD SPOILERS:
I loved meeting Benna & Monza at their height of their power(at the beginning of the book), instantly being inthralled and invested in their future. Having the rug pulled from under us was immediate and lasting. (Not much of a spoiler as it's the first few pages)
I had a lot of fun with how Abercrombie chose to reveal Benna and Monza's history for us. The first few flashbacks give us a glimpse of them truly starting from nothing, up to them becoming accomplished war heros. Then, eventually, the slow reveal of maybe there's more to this duo than the "war hero worth praising" angle that we initially thought.
My favourite duo was definitely Friendly (a number of obessed convict) and Cosca (a drunken & presumed dead general). All the characters had their own little moments to shine, and I loved switching PoVs to see how each character saw the others. Overall, it gave you a great sense of how unreliable most are and how they all just generally suck.
Overall, I breezed through this and can't wait to see more of Abercrombie's world & characters.
VERY MILD SPOILERS:
I loved meeting Benna & Monza at their height of their power(at the beginning of the book), instantly being inthralled and invested in their future. Having the rug pulled from under us was immediate and lasting. (Not much of a spoiler as it's the first few pages)
I had a lot of fun with how Abercrombie chose to reveal Benna and Monza's history for us. The first few flashbacks give us a glimpse of them truly starting from nothing, up to them becoming accomplished war heros. Then, eventually, the slow reveal of maybe there's more to this duo than the "war hero worth praising" angle that we initially thought.
My favourite duo was definitely Friendly (a number of obessed convict) and Cosca (a drunken & presumed dead general). All the characters had their own little moments to shine, and I loved switching PoVs to see how each character saw the others. Overall, it gave you a great sense of how unreliable most are and how they all just generally suck.
Overall, I breezed through this and can't wait to see more of Abercrombie's world & characters.
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
dark
emotional
hopeful
4.0
Fantastic!
SPOILER FREE:
Both Shelly Parker-Chan's writing and Natalie Naudus's voice work bought this book to life. Parker-Chan has such an eloquent and poetic way of describing characters' deep desires and pain in a manner that makes them feel so real.
Parker-Chan takes the character from book 1 and sets them out on all new paths, often in conflict with one another. Their fantastic character work managed to keep me indecisive on who I even wanted to come out ontop in every new conflict. Every new PoV finding a new way of articulating a characters motivations in a way where I'm out here justifying mass murdering character because of how much I'm able to empathise with them.
While I didn't always find the story or plot compelling, Shelly Parker-Chan's ability to keep me invested regardless of this is a testament to their artistry.
SPOILER FREE:
Both Shelly Parker-Chan's writing and Natalie Naudus's voice work bought this book to life. Parker-Chan has such an eloquent and poetic way of describing characters' deep desires and pain in a manner that makes them feel so real.
Parker-Chan takes the character from book 1 and sets them out on all new paths, often in conflict with one another. Their fantastic character work managed to keep me indecisive on who I even wanted to come out ontop in every new conflict. Every new PoV finding a new way of articulating a characters motivations in a way where I'm out here justifying mass murdering character because of how much I'm able to empathise with them.
While I didn't always find the story or plot compelling, Shelly Parker-Chan's ability to keep me invested regardless of this is a testament to their artistry.
Within the Sanctuary of Wings by Marie Brennan
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This book completes the Lady Trent series and is both the culmination of the mysteries throughout the other 4 books, but is also such a fantastic completion of our characters adventure.
I will NOT shut up about how good this series is. If following the memoirs of an inspiring dragon naturalist (someone who studies dragons as an animal) and her struggles with being taken seriously as both a woman and a scientist thrown together in a Victorian-inspired world EVEN REMOTELY sounds interesting, then you'll love it!
I cannot comment on any story-specific elements I liked, as I want this review to remain as spoiler-free as possible, but Marie Brennan continues to capture the pure joy our main character takes in her work. Isabella is such a smart, capable, and curious character to follow. Her fascination with all things dragons are infectious both within the story and outside and her adventures throughout the previous books continue to build upon one another until coming to a climax in this final instalment. I couldn't have asked for a better holiday read, or a better final book.
10/10 would recommend!
I will NOT shut up about how good this series is. If following the memoirs of an inspiring dragon naturalist (someone who studies dragons as an animal) and her struggles with being taken seriously as both a woman and a scientist thrown together in a Victorian-inspired world EVEN REMOTELY sounds interesting, then you'll love it!
I cannot comment on any story-specific elements I liked, as I want this review to remain as spoiler-free as possible, but Marie Brennan continues to capture the pure joy our main character takes in her work. Isabella is such a smart, capable, and curious character to follow. Her fascination with all things dragons are infectious both within the story and outside and her adventures throughout the previous books continue to build upon one another until coming to a climax in this final instalment. I couldn't have asked for a better holiday read, or a better final book.
10/10 would recommend!