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librarianlex's reviews
232 reviews
Trouble Girls by Julia Lynn Rubin
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Didn't live up to the hype.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Violence, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Moderate: Dementia and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
She's Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard
dark
mysterious
tense
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
3.0
She's Too Pretty To Burn by Wendy Heard
I want to start this review off talking about Audiobooks. I listened to STPTB and found the alternating POVs harder to keep up with. I wish I would have physical read this one because I think it would have made it more enjoyable. I am a firm believer that Audiobooks are just as much reading as reading can be. Obviously, if you don't like the narrator, or the set up does not lend well for narration, it can take away from the story.
This novel had all the right ingredients to create something I would love - wlw, thriller, desert, photography, art, and chaos. Overall, it was captivating, and I had to know the outcome. As I read, I had to keep in mind the Dorian Gray inspiration, it made it easier to connect to what was driving each character. Without the knowledge of it being inspired by Dorian Gray, I think the motivations for the characters would be lost on the audience. They are morally gray, at times unlikeable, and their own motivations are never fully explained. Starting en media res, there is a hint of what is about to unfold and each chapter twists and turns and it keeps you guessing and wanting to get to the end just to know how it all happens.
A quick, fun read, this thriller certainly kept me guessing until the end.
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, and Death
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual assault
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The May Queen Murders has been on my TBR list for over a year now. I don't remember exactly where I saw the title mentioned, but it struck me as something I would enjoy. "Dark, dangerous, and drippingly gothic," has been used to describe the book. Lately I have been reading dark-fantasy, mysteries, or something with an element of horror. Sarah Jude's novel, The May Queen Murders did not disappoint.
Like most books on my TBR list, I see the cover, see a quote or quick description, and decide it sounds like something I want to read. More often than not I don't read reviews, summaries, or anything else about the book. I just go with my gut. I was pleasantly surprised by this title. I knew there were sapphic and horror elements, but not much more than that. Similar to the Village, Rowan's Glen is commune like and a self-sufficient town, set apart from the modern world, a town full of old-fashioned superstitions, traditions, and secrets. "Stay on the roads. Don’t enter the woods. Never go out at night."
The best part of The May Queen Murders's for me was the overall vibe, it's a Southern Gothic horror mystery that really delivers on both the horror and the mystery aspects. I was so intrigued and drawn in by Rowan's Glen and its residents, traditions, and murders. From the title to the prologue, the entire experience felt ominous. At times there are silvers of hope and falling in love, the backdrop of spring creating a false sense of security when the realty of the story is sinister. Written in first person, the secrets unfolded as if you are experiencing them yourself. I was constantly anticipating the next bad thing that would happen. There were a few too many twists making things hard to keep up with. It was a very atmospheric and eerie read that managed to be quite gripping at times and the end payoffs are worth it. If you're looking for an unexpected, spooky read, I suggest adding this to your TBR stacks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Drug use
The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
As a fan of Harry Potter and a middle-grade librarian, it's hard to find new titles that encompass the world-building and empathy of the Potter series. The Crowns of Croswald is a fast-paced, refreshing, middle-grade alternative. It is safe to call Harry Potter a classic, but given the recent opinions of the author, I think many people are looking for alternatives to share with their children. It was also refreshing to read something written by a woman of color and have the protagonist be a girl. Middle-grade fantasy holds a special place in my heart and I will absolutely be buying this series for my library.
Everything about the imagery of this first in a series was so vivid and easy to put yourself there. Like most fantasy, there was new world-building to learn, but D.E. Night makes it accessible and easy to digest. It's exciting and new and left me wanting more.
Everything about the imagery of this first in a series was so vivid and easy to put yourself there. Like most fantasy, there was new world-building to learn, but D.E. Night makes it accessible and easy to digest. It's exciting and new and left me wanting more.
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Sexual content
The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
The Dead and The Dark by Courtney Gould (Release date August 2021)
Courtney Gould has an authentic way of writing. It's true and honest, interesting, and at times, poetry on the page.
"Now that he knew what it felt like to be loved, he could never go back," is a true encapsulation of the theme. We are all looking for love and acceptance, a place to fit in, where we find our people. While this is a paranormal thriller, at the heart, it's about human relationships and the human condition of needing love and acceptance.
The Dead and the Dark is a young adult thriller like none I've ever read. It's unpredictable, intriguing, and kept me wanting more. On my quest for LGBT horror/thriller, most use the representation as a footnote. It's refreshing to have LGBT authors writing stories where the characters simply exist as part of the community. It's not forced, it's not to push the plot. These characters are simply existing in their world and experiencing things - in this case, an otherworldly entity set on destroying happiness.
Courtney Gould has an authentic way of writing. It's true and honest, interesting, and at times, poetry on the page.
"Now that he knew what it felt like to be loved, he could never go back," is a true encapsulation of the theme. We are all looking for love and acceptance, a place to fit in, where we find our people. While this is a paranormal thriller, at the heart, it's about human relationships and the human condition of needing love and acceptance.
The Dead and the Dark is a young adult thriller like none I've ever read. It's unpredictable, intriguing, and kept me wanting more. On my quest for LGBT horror/thriller, most use the representation as a footnote. It's refreshing to have LGBT authors writing stories where the characters simply exist as part of the community. It's not forced, it's not to push the plot. These characters are simply existing in their world and experiencing things - in this case, an otherworldly entity set on destroying happiness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Child death
From the author:
homophobia (verbal, non-physical)
child death
murder
claustrophobia (buried alive)
drowning
slurs