madamelacy's reviews
140 reviews

The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

I had not appreciated that this was going to be a zombie apocalypse book! I didn’t love it… I found it slow and bleak. I didn’t think Miss Justineau’s character was that well developed. 
This was my first zombie book, so I have nothing to compare it to. It was interesting, especially in light of COVID 19, but I’m fine if this is the only zombie book I ever read. 

The Hike by Lucy Clarke

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Vomit

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Gun violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and War

Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent

Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connor

challenging emotional informative sad 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? Yes

3.25

The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

Really confusing book at times. I think it was about identities, but I’m honestly not sure 😂. I really enjoyed the journey, and was very moved by aspects of it, but I’m not entirely sure where the journey took me. I need someone clever to explain it to me! Lol! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abortion

Remember, Mr Sharma: A BBC2 Between the Covers Book Club Pick by A.P. Firdaus

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Murder

Weyward by Emilia Hart

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Abortion

Minor: Confinement, Deadnaming, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder

The Weather Woman by Sally Gardner

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

4.5