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ljvalentine's reviews
107 reviews
The Passage by Justin Cronin
3.0
This is my second time attempting to read this book. This time I powered through to the end.
*MINOR SPOILER*
The time jump is the part that lost me, I wanted to spend more time in the early days of this world. I feel the premise is interesting enough but nothing about this book kept me hooked at all.
*MINOR SPOILER*
The time jump is the part that lost me, I wanted to spend more time in the early days of this world. I feel the premise is interesting enough but nothing about this book kept me hooked at all.
Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo
5.0
If someone told me I would end up loving a book that contained elements of street racing, I would have laughed straight in their face.
I just couldn’t put this book down. A masterclass in character-driven queer horror that surprised me upon learning that this is a debut novel!
Mandelo has a true gift and I eagerly await more of their work.
I just couldn’t put this book down. A masterclass in character-driven queer horror that surprised me upon learning that this is a debut novel!
Mandelo has a true gift and I eagerly await more of their work.
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
3.0
An incredible premise but with an underwhelming pay off. I really feel that I have literary blue balls after reading this.
That being said, Tremblay shines in creating fully realised characters and inducing a sense of complete terror.
That being said, Tremblay shines in creating fully realised characters and inducing a sense of complete terror.
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
3.0
Stunning cover
Short/quick read
Still sitting here trying to process it
Short/quick read
Still sitting here trying to process it
Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare
5.0
Sometimes it pays to judge a book by its cover.
I picked this up due to the gorgeous cover art and I’m so glad that I did. With a big body count, a strong cast of characters & some fantastic moments of tension, Clown In A Cornfield has been a pleasure to read!
I picked this up due to the gorgeous cover art and I’m so glad that I did. With a big body count, a strong cast of characters & some fantastic moments of tension, Clown In A Cornfield has been a pleasure to read!
This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno
5.0
Stunning. Brilliant. Beautiful. I could go on for days about this.
A visceral journey into grief and suffering that rips out your heart in both fear and loss. An incredible debut by an author who manages to capture raw emotion perfectly.
A visceral journey into grief and suffering that rips out your heart in both fear and loss. An incredible debut by an author who manages to capture raw emotion perfectly.
Goddess of Filth by V. Castro
4.0
A short, fun tale of female empowerment, justice, friendship and the importance of identity.
If you enjoy your social commentary sandwiched between horror and feminist discourse then this is the book for you. I really wish this book was double the length!
If you enjoy your social commentary sandwiched between horror and feminist discourse then this is the book for you. I really wish this book was double the length!
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
3.0
I’ll begin by admitting that extreme horror like this isn’t my thing but I went in with an open mind.
I feel like the book didn’t scrutinise the themes that it was trying so hard to address enough to do it justice. That ending really came out of nowhere for me and left me disappointed more than anything.
I feel like the book didn’t scrutinise the themes that it was trying so hard to address enough to do it justice. That ending really came out of nowhere for me and left me disappointed more than anything.
Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente
4.0
A short, compelling novella that really had me like OHHH! Once I realised what was going on.
The foreboding sense of “something isn’t right here” spurred me onwards as I was made to feel uncomfortable, angry and heartbroken in such a short space of time.
The foreboding sense of “something isn’t right here” spurred me onwards as I was made to feel uncomfortable, angry and heartbroken in such a short space of time.
Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
3.0
I really had to read this in small chunks as it became quite the chore to get through but the third act finally caught my attention properly.
Scooby Doo meets Cthulu in a book that struggled to get going until the final act. It was quite the shock to see the use of the word “hermaphrodite” which is an outdated term and left a very sour taste in mouth.
All-in-all this was a fun read, although the consistent switch between prose and script made it difficult to read.
Scooby Doo meets Cthulu in a book that struggled to get going until the final act. It was quite the shock to see the use of the word “hermaphrodite” which is an outdated term and left a very sour taste in mouth.
All-in-all this was a fun read, although the consistent switch between prose and script made it difficult to read.