kt2e56's reviews
115 reviews

Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

I wanted to enjoy this but unfortunately it was a disappointment. It felt a lot like fan service to me and there’s quite a bit that just didn’t add up to what we already know about these characters and the history of this world. And like okay sure there’s the whole “oh! But this is about propaganda!” angle and…I guess? But like the characters that already exist would have still remembered these things and that they’ve met before? And were close?

Anyway, some other issues I had were the focus on Haymitch instead of another unknown winner. I also am kinda sick of the Covey? I feel like other characters feel like real human beings while the Covey always come off as folksy caricatures. The whole Lenore Dove and “The Raven” thing became so irritating by the end as well. 

Maisylee I think would have been a much more fascinating POV character. Or maybe a career realizing that they’ve been training their whole lives for this horror and having to deal with that. 

Like there were interesting ideas and themes here but they just don’t work with Haymitch as the focal point for me.

Dust by Hugh Howey

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

A huge disappointment compared to the first two books in the trilogy. Considering how long it is it just felt very rushed (especially at the end) and I think Howey tried cramming in way too many after thoughts that he never explored earlier so they took away from the story instead of adding to it (like the sudden inclusion of a religious cult that disappears from the plot and loses all purpose almost as soon as it’s introduced). I really liked Wool and Shift a lot so I was excited to read this but I mostly feel let down and left with lots of unanswered questions.

The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer by Jennifer Lynch

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

The worst kind of fever dream and a very unsettling glimpse into the mind of a deeply unwell girl who can’t quite process that it’s the adults in her life that have abused her that made her like this and not the other way around.

Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman

dark tense 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? Yes

2.0

A disappointment. Reminded me a lot of Garth Eniss’s “Crossed” (derogatory). Unfortunately everything about this was just so fucking OBVIOUS. Really not a lot of wit or creativity for a satire and such an overwhelming amount of gore and depravity that it became numbing and lost all impact. Honestly this book just felt like someone in a “I’M WITH HER” t-shirt kept hitting me over the head going “Do you get it? Do you get it yet? Do you get it? YOU GET IT?” I have a few more books from this author on my list that hopefully are better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Islamophobia, Cannibalism

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito

dark funny tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Jesus fucking Christ what a nightmare (complimentary). Biggest complaint would be the title which I get is a play on American Psycho but this book feels too unique to be lumped in with that and deserves its own title.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Torture, Excrement, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Incest, Pedophilia, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Classism

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering

dark emotional 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? Yes

2.5

Had promise but Cassie and Billie both just suck so much as POV characters. And like for some reason, Cassie feels more fleshed out at least? Her snobbiness makes sense. Her inner thoughts about NEEDING her followers for validation are pretty chilling. But Billie is just pathetic?

And like it’s insane to me that she does something as psychotic as kidnap an infant for five hours, her love interest who is a NYPD cop is mad about it for like five minutes then forgives her for it!? So does her boss who she almost got in trouble with the law!? What!? Like for all her annoyance with Cassie’s selfishness and shitty husband and shitty WASP social circle…..Billie. Girl. You’re dating country music loving cop. That man is probably so wildly racist. The call is coming from inside the house, girl!

Anyway not biting or nasty or satirical enough despite its interesting premise. 

The Spite House by Johnny Compton
Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.

Just couldn’t get into it

Night Shift by Stephen King

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Jerusalem’s Lot: 4 out of 5 stars

Graveyard Shift: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Night Surf: 1 out of 5 stars 

I am the Doorway: 2 out of 5 stars 

The Mangler: 3.5 out of 5 stars 

The Boogeyman: 3 out of 5 stars 

Gray Matter: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Battleground: 4 out of 5 stars

Trucks: 3 out of 5 stars

Sometimes They Come Back: 5 out of 5 stars

Strawberry Spring: 5 out of 5 stars

The Ledge: 4 out of 5 stars 

The Lawnmower Man: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Quitters Inc. : 3 out of 5 stars 

I Know What You Need: 5 out of 5 stars

Children of the Corn: 5 out of 5 stars

The Last Rung on the Ladder: 5 out of 5 stars

The Man Who Loved Flowers: 5 out of 5 stars

One for the Road: 5 out of 5 stars 

The Woman in the Room: 4 out of 5 stars 

Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

5.0

One of the best books I’ve read in years. Deeply gripping and affective. Perfectly threads the needle between genuine horror and a beautiful family drama. Found myself really invested in M’s struggles and never wanting this story to end. Can’t wait to read more from this author. If this was debut then he can only get better and better from here.

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.5

Took way too long to get to the good stuff then didn’t linger long enough once it got there. I also really didn’t care for the schmaltzy ending. When this book was scary though, it was good! I just wish it was like that more often because honestly, Claire is a boring protagonist to be our main POV. Everything she says and does is repetitive and everything outside of the Aurora was just not all that interesting.