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killerpancake's reviews
623 reviews
The Cloisters by Katy Hays
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really like WKK’s books and this one was good but not my favorite. There’s no big dramatic reason either, it just didn’t grab me as much as the last one I read. The mystery was probably the least interesting part of the book and the focus on the town and characters was lovingly done. It also addresses some dark topics that are portrayed with care.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, Racism, Incest, and Child abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Rape
Minor: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Suicide attempt
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Definitely way better on a second read. It was still dense in parts (the science can be a lot for me). But I connected way more with the different characters across the timeline. Especially Ye Wenjie who is the true tragic character. Wang Miao is an audience stand in who isn’t super interesting but sees interesting things. Da Shi is more fun to read this time around. He gives me Decker from Blade Runner vibes if Decker had a sense of humor.
The end really hit hard even though I know what happens.
The end really hit hard even though I know what happens.
Shanghai Immortal by A.Y. Chao
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
The story isn’t particularly gripping. I can’t really tell at almost 20% in what the thrust of the novel is.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was a blast! Eveen is a cold blooded assassin known for dismembering her prey with surgical instruments or slicing them up with knives. She’s hired for a contract that turns out to be a version of herself and upon seeing her Eveen has memories she isn’t suppressed to be able to have.
This sets off a desperate search and epic chase across an interesting fantasy landscape that I wish I could see more of. Eveen has a biting sense of humor that covers up an inner sweetness that is slowly revealed throughout a fast-paced one night only adventure.
This book was Nalo Hopkinson meets Victor LaValle and I enjoyed the ride immensely. I hope I get to see more…
This sets off a desperate search and epic chase across an interesting fantasy landscape that I wish I could see more of. Eveen has a biting sense of humor that covers up an inner sweetness that is slowly revealed throughout a fast-paced one night only adventure.
This book was Nalo Hopkinson meets Victor LaValle and I enjoyed the ride immensely. I hope I get to see more…
Wayward by Chuck Wendig
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
GUMBALL FOREVER!!!
Ok now seriously… I struggled at the beginning of this one. I loved Wanderers and think I jumped back into the world too quickly. So after about 6ish months I was ready to go back, picking up where I’d left off at 20%. So incredibly worth it.
This book starts slow but once I understood why I was back I was all in. Wendig brings people back without it seeming weird, introduces new people that I was fascinated by and took me on a journey I couldn’t have expected.
Damn… I have this on my list of books to annotate one day. Now that I know how it concludes I want to see how the journey weaves itself together.
Ok now seriously… I struggled at the beginning of this one. I loved Wanderers and think I jumped back into the world too quickly. So after about 6ish months I was ready to go back, picking up where I’d left off at 20%. So incredibly worth it.
This book starts slow but once I understood why I was back I was all in. Wendig brings people back without it seeming weird, introduces new people that I was fascinated by and took me on a journey I couldn’t have expected.
Damn… I have this on my list of books to annotate one day. Now that I know how it concludes I want to see how the journey weaves itself together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Torture, Xenophobia, Murder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Gore, Violence, Medical trauma, Cursing, Blood, Death, Racism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gun violence, Grief, and Excrement
Please Report Your Bug Here by Josh Riedel
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I loved the SF descriptions and tech critique in the build up but the plot gets really convoluted and navel-gazy by the middle. The end was not conclusive or at least it didn’t feel like it mattered. The story hits a peak in the middle and then right at the Japan trip, things feel so weirdly detached, then fragmented. There are parts of this book that really are interesting and amusing and I wish it would have taken a different direction where the main character could have evolved instead of walking into a proverbial fog.
I was hoping this had Netherland vibes, a book I love of detachment and trauma but it ultimately missed the mark for me.
I was hoping this had Netherland vibes, a book I love of detachment and trauma but it ultimately missed the mark for me.
The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
HUGE warning for people, if you’re not into some real brutality on the page then swerve. But if you are curious I cannot recommend this book enough. I will be thinking about the drug trade and its impact on individuals for a long time.
Well researched, incredibly well told, gripping, beyond brutal… this book is an achievement.
Well researched, incredibly well told, gripping, beyond brutal… this book is an achievement.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Violence, War, Torture, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Xenophobia, Mass/school shootings, Kidnapping, Excrement, Sexual content, Cursing, Child death, Blood, Child abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Death, Toxic relationship, and Drug use
Chapter 8 Pilar’s death was so intense…
The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was charged with so much fear and anxiety it was hard to read and hard to not read. Mathis is so incredible with characters and it made it so hard to watch people you were rooting for make terrible decisions over and over again.
I could write forever about Ava and her lack of self-preservation. Her story is so hard to wrap my head around and yet it’s also unique and well executed.
The ending went where I thought it might but felt really abrupt. The closure didn’t really explain everything that I was curious about. It just felt rushed I guess.
This is very different from her first book but I’m really glad I stuck with this to its tragic and conflicting end.
I could write forever about Ava and her lack of self-preservation. Her story is so hard to wrap my head around and yet it’s also unique and well executed.
The ending went where I thought it might but felt really abrupt. The closure didn’t really explain everything that I was curious about. It just felt rushed I guess.
This is very different from her first book but I’m really glad I stuck with this to its tragic and conflicting end.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
adventurous
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
4.5
This one got a lot of hype so I tried to temper expectations. These are so short but definitely really fun!