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mariah_readssometimes's reviews
360 reviews
Evil Eye by Etaf Rum
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
5.0
I truly believe that this book won't be for everyone. It can be difficult to read, but Etaf Rum has such a way with words and her stories really show how strong women can be, even at their worst.
This book is a journey. A journey of Yara's self-discovery. She learns how to love and forgive herself, and it's not a pretty journey. There are a lot of arguments between her and her husband. A lot of it stems from trauma, but also she stared her mental health journey and her husband thought it was her trying to challenge him. It lead to a lot of disarray in her life.
Women go through a lot, and feel a lot of guilt for wanting more than just a family and home. This traditional value is common amongst many cultures. I know the pressure is less for me, but I felt her pain every time she was challenged and told she should just be a good mother and a good wife. I highlighted A LOT of quotes on how she felt and things that were said to her directly that resonated with me/I felt her pain.
This book is a journey. A journey of Yara's self-discovery. She learns how to love and forgive herself, and it's not a pretty journey. There are a lot of arguments between her and her husband. A lot of it stems from trauma, but also she stared her mental health journey and her husband thought it was her trying to challenge him. It lead to a lot of disarray in her life.
Women go through a lot, and feel a lot of guilt for wanting more than just a family and home. This traditional value is common amongst many cultures. I know the pressure is less for me, but I felt her pain every time she was challenged and told she should just be a good mother and a good wife. I highlighted A LOT of quotes on how she felt and things that were said to her directly that resonated with me/I felt her pain.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
lighthearted
mysterious
3.5
My true crime enjoying self enjoyed this. I did not guess the whodunit. But there were definitely parts that I wanted to skim through and just get back to the crime solving.
The characters are hard to relate to other than their love for true crime, but that doesn't mean I didn't love some of the characters.
I enjoyed the way that the senors were the sleuths. Most of the time, it's the chronically online people you hear about being the cold case solvers. But the way that the characters use their families and their connections they've made over the years, *chefs kiss*. They really made a great crime solving squad.
The characters are hard to relate to other than their love for true crime, but that doesn't mean I didn't love some of the characters.
I enjoyed the way that the senors were the sleuths. Most of the time, it's the chronically online people you hear about being the cold case solvers. But the way that the characters use their families and their connections they've made over the years, *chefs kiss*. They really made a great crime solving squad.
Crown of Slumber by R.L. Perez
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
5.0
Something really neat and unique about this book is that it is a sleeping beauty retelling, so you know the major plot points. BUT even though you know what's coming, you don't really know the magnitude of what's coming. That's good writing.
Think Disney meets Game of Thrones. You get dragons, you get magic and witches, you get court politics, you get unseelie creatures, you get the sleeping beauty curse, you get a love story.
Honestly, it felt like a really good mashup of everything, and I wanted to keep reading more every time I picked it up.
I love love LOVED that the FMC was very strong and independent. We need more of that in our lives.
I really enjoyed that there was some dabbles of spice. It wasn't the plot, but it was tastefully sprinkled in and written in a way that didn't make me roll my eyes, lol.
Some of the tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Fake engagement
One room/one bed
Think Disney meets Game of Thrones. You get dragons, you get magic and witches, you get court politics, you get unseelie creatures, you get the sleeping beauty curse, you get a love story.
Honestly, it felt like a really good mashup of everything, and I wanted to keep reading more every time I picked it up.
I love love LOVED that the FMC was very strong and independent. We need more of that in our lives.
I really enjoyed that there was some dabbles of spice. It wasn't the plot, but it was tastefully sprinkled in and written in a way that didn't make me roll my eyes, lol.
Some of the tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Fake engagement
One room/one bed
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
4.0
These stories range from horror folklore to psychological thrill to humanitarian issues. I liked the range, but sometimes going from a spooky story to one that enraged me was not
the route I wanted to take.
Each story is written well, but depending on the subject matter I liked some more than others and wished their stories were longer.
A handful of my favorite stories:
Kushtuka
Quantum
Hunger
Snakes are Born in the Dark
Collections
Limbs
Something that I like to do while reading is listen to music or other sounds. This book read well with a fire sounds playlist playing in the
background.
As a dark fiction collection, be in a good headspace before reading. There are themes of:
Murder
Gore
Abuse (physical and sexual, both for adults and children)
Misogyny and sexism
Racism
Kidnapping
Miscarriage
Drug use and foul language
This is just the surface. Please be in a good headspace or look up individual story's warnings. No need to upset yourself ❤️
the route I wanted to take.
Each story is written well, but depending on the subject matter I liked some more than others and wished their stories were longer.
A handful of my favorite stories:
Kushtuka
Quantum
Hunger
Snakes are Born in the Dark
Collections
Limbs
Something that I like to do while reading is listen to music or other sounds. This book read well with a fire sounds playlist playing in the
background.
As a dark fiction collection, be in a good headspace before reading. There are themes of:
Murder
Gore
Abuse (physical and sexual, both for adults and children)
Misogyny and sexism
Racism
Kidnapping
Miscarriage
Drug use and foul language
This is just the surface. Please be in a good headspace or look up individual story's warnings. No need to upset yourself ❤️
If Only I Had Told Her by Laura Nowlin
3.0
I liked this book more than I liked the "first" or "original" or whatever you want to call it.
There felt to be more development of the characters. Seeing the aftermath and emotion of how those closest to Finn really added a realness to the story. The growth each character has bring a young adult. How people react to grief.
There are a lot of really good, really profound things said that I think could truly help a lot of people get through (or at least get comfortable with) their own grief.
I still think that I'm a little mature for the story. If I read it 10-15 years ago I'd probably have liked it much more.
There felt to be more development of the characters. Seeing the aftermath and emotion of how those closest to Finn really added a realness to the story. The growth each character has bring a young adult. How people react to grief.
There are a lot of really good, really profound things said that I think could truly help a lot of people get through (or at least get comfortable with) their own grief.
I still think that I'm a little mature for the story. If I read it 10-15 years ago I'd probably have liked it much more.
Zodiac Academy: Origins of an Academy Bully by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
4.0
This novella is not imperative to read for new information in the series. But it is a good read for further insight into Darius' & Orion's guardian bond.
The best time (imo) to read this is after book #2, when you have been given the background of the events that are covered in this novella.
I hate that I want to like Darius. But I guess I kinda like Darius, lol.
The best time (imo) to read this is after book #2, when you have been given the background of the events that are covered in this novella.
I hate that I want to like Darius. But I guess I kinda like Darius, lol.
Dark Fae by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
3.0
The cheesiness I love is still there.
I don't feel as connected to these characters as I did ZA. I am reading in the order suggested, so this is #4 for me. And I just miss my twins and my heirs (oddly?)
I'm sorry, but the boys need to go to horny jail. I was so annoyed reading their povs because all of them wanted to bone Elise. She's awesome, I get it. But let's take a step back lol.
I still really like the magic, I really like the magic school atmosphere. The plot is decent.
I don't feel as connected to these characters as I did ZA. I am reading in the order suggested, so this is #4 for me. And I just miss my twins and my heirs (oddly?)
I'm sorry, but the boys need to go to horny jail. I was so annoyed reading their povs because all of them wanted to bone Elise. She's awesome, I get it. But let's take a step back lol.
I still really like the magic, I really like the magic school atmosphere. The plot is decent.
The Reckoning by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
3.5
The reckoning happens in this book. And I have been patiently awaiting it.
We get a lot of answers, but now I have more questions. They sure know how to keep my interest.
The romance is getting messy. Keeping politics and relationships separate is pricing too be very hard.
The smut is appearing. Which, meh. I personally don't care for it but it doesn't take away from the story.
Daddy Acrux can s my d.
Orders? I'm still thinking elysian mates. I need answers!
We get a lot of answers, but now I have more questions. They sure know how to keep my interest.
The romance is getting messy. Keeping politics and relationships separate is pricing too be very hard.
The smut is appearing. Which, meh. I personally don't care for it but it doesn't take away from the story.
Daddy Acrux can s my d.
Orders? I'm still thinking elysian mates. I need answers!