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literarygoblin's reviews
147 reviews
The Kraken's Sacrifice by Katee Robert
3.5
• I really enjoyed Catalina, she's a fun character that I easily connected with
• there was a lot of promise in Catalina and Thane's dynamic - there were some fun, engaging moments, but overall their relationship development fell short and could've been better executed
• the sex scenes were enjoyable, but narrative they failed because they felt pretty unearned
• a lot more could've and should've been explored with this relationship; I wanted to like it so bad, but narratively it just wasn't as well done as it could've been
• there was a lot of promise in Catalina and Thane's dynamic - there were some fun, engaging moments, but overall their relationship development fell short and could've been better executed
• the sex scenes were enjoyable, but narrative they failed because they felt pretty unearned
• a lot more could've and should've been explored with this relationship; I wanted to like it so bad, but narratively it just wasn't as well done as it could've been
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
3.5
• the premise of this novel is very interesting to me as a writer, so I was excited to see where it would go, and I found it engaging overall
• I think the biggest problems for me come from the characters and the looseness of the plot - there were many instances where the characters felt preachy and/or lacking depth, so I do wish that they'd been better developed and written; as for the plot, I think there were ideas happening that just didn't quite blend as well as they could've
• the conclusion, too, was a little lackluster for my liking, however, I do think that this story was interesting and it kept me invested the entire time; this author shows a lot of promise, I just think this book needed more work
• I think the biggest problems for me come from the characters and the looseness of the plot - there were many instances where the characters felt preachy and/or lacking depth, so I do wish that they'd been better developed and written; as for the plot, I think there were ideas happening that just didn't quite blend as well as they could've
• the conclusion, too, was a little lackluster for my liking, however, I do think that this story was interesting and it kept me invested the entire time; this author shows a lot of promise, I just think this book needed more work
Batman: The Court of Owls Saga by Scott Snyder
4.0
• this story started a little rocky, especially considering that this was the New 52 refresh for the characters and book, but after the first 2-3 issues it found it's footing and became a very interesting and engaging detective story
• I personally don't love some of the characters in Capullo's art style here, but otherwise the art and page layouts were lovely, dynamic, and detailed
• the twist of the story is predictable, but that doesn't take away from the overall quality and enjoyment of this arc
• overall, this story is not quite as good as I was led to believe, however, it is still incredibly enjoyable and fits nicely into the Batman lore
• I personally don't love some of the characters in Capullo's art style here, but otherwise the art and page layouts were lovely, dynamic, and detailed
• the twist of the story is predictable, but that doesn't take away from the overall quality and enjoyment of this arc
• overall, this story is not quite as good as I was led to believe, however, it is still incredibly enjoyable and fits nicely into the Batman lore
The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson
3.5
Whether this account is true or not (as many speculate these events to be false), I found this book to be pretty engaging. I was lucky to go in with little knowledge of this story, so it was fun to see the events unfold - as a horror fan, I guess I'm lacking by having not seen any film adaptations of this story.
Although not particularly spooky to modern readers, I can see how this would have been considered particularly frightening in the pate 70s, especially when you look at the horror media of the time. I think the horror was effectively portrayed, as I was always eager to see what was going to happen to the Lutz family next. The narrative was just eerie enough to create a sense of atmosphere when I read, and it was very easy for me to conjure up scary visuals in my head. It's not the most frightening story by any means, but nonetheless, it is an interesting read that has left me with a lot of questions and curiosity surrounding this haunting.
Although not particularly spooky to modern readers, I can see how this would have been considered particularly frightening in the pate 70s, especially when you look at the horror media of the time. I think the horror was effectively portrayed, as I was always eager to see what was going to happen to the Lutz family next. The narrative was just eerie enough to create a sense of atmosphere when I read, and it was very easy for me to conjure up scary visuals in my head. It's not the most frightening story by any means, but nonetheless, it is an interesting read that has left me with a lot of questions and curiosity surrounding this haunting.
The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro
Did not finish book. Stopped at 74%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 74%.
This book felt like such a waste of my time. It was advertised as something totally different from what it actually is, no one in this book has any characterization, the horror was nonexistent, and there were all these half-baked ideas that became jumbled together. Castro has a repetitive narrative style that's very boring, and quite unsuited to horror. This book is more of a contemporary with dashes of mild horror elements, but even then it doesn't do contemporary very well either. Really turned off from even giving this author another go after trying to read this.
Witch Hat Atelier, Volume 3 by Kamome Shirahama
4.0
• this series is so damn cozy, I love the atmosphere created by the art and the story pacing
• I appreciate that this story is slow, that it gives us time to become familiar with these characters and this world rather than throwing us straight into heavy plot points
• I appreciate that this story is slow, that it gives us time to become familiar with these characters and this world rather than throwing us straight into heavy plot points
You Should Have Left by Daniel Kehlmann
4.0
• I've been in such a reading slump recently, so this was a really enjoyable little story
• the writing style is a total delight; it was confusing in the best way possible, and as it became less abstract in style the story became more abstract in ideas
• I understand everything and yet nothing, and I love that
• the writing style is a total delight; it was confusing in the best way possible, and as it became less abstract in style the story became more abstract in ideas
• I understand everything and yet nothing, and I love that