misscassylee's reviews
85 reviews

The Only One Left by Riley Sager

dark mysterious sad tense fast-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

2.0

The main character was an idiot — I’m sorry she was. And this book was too much - too many words, too many characters, too many weird plot lines, and too much nonsense. The pacing was off and for how long this book was way too many things were crammed into days that would have been weeks or months. The reader should be able to suspend disbelief, but I couldn’t believe Kit or this story at all. I finished because I was curious in the end, but it the most circumstantial evidence/story ever. 

Also, a suicide note written on a typewriter taken for factual evidence? Not to mention it survived 2 weeks in the ocean on a decomposing body. Ok. 

And in what world is Ricky short for Patrick? Don’t worry, I’ll wait 😂 I doubt I’ll read another book by this author cuz I’m annoyed.

Dirty Laundry: Why adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help by Richard Pink, Roxanne Emery

funny informative fast-paced

3.5

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Hell hath no fury like a women scorned. This book was wild and weird and I loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Gore, and Religious bigotry

A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight

dark mysterious sad medium-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

2.75

The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I liked this. The writing was very good. The story was sad and set in an interesting future world. Drones, social workers wearing glasses with recording functions… but also sheep, shearing of wool, and practical farm girls. But also the overarching questions of domesticity, family, loyalty, and the nature of art. Also the connection between a woman and her daughter really resonated at the end for me. The imagery is as stark as the content. 

A woman is a bird, a bird is a woman, a woman is a crane with stunning white feathers and an inky black eye. A woman is a bird is a woman is a bird and so on and so forth until what is even real…

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence

The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-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? No

4.75

I really want to give this 5 stars, but man I had to WORK for this book. This was my third solid try to get through it. The first 40% I would say is a slog. It’s complicated, there’s a lot of time dedicated to background (for each of the characters) and it’s flashbacks that can feel abrupt and nearly pull you off of the story, and I had to do some backtracking a few times to figure out who it was again. I wasn’t as invested in all the characters so there were moments I was annoyed when the book shifted POV. I was thankful when a character was killed off simply because it was one less to keep track of. 

I also feel compelled to say that Tess was by far my favorite character and it was her storyline that kept me moving forward. Her little owl was simply delightful. I would have dnf’d a 3rd time if not for Tess. I think a standalone novel of just her character would be perfect. I also think she’s a delightful feminist interpretation of Tinkerbell. Very much a sprite and a protector. 

I didn’t love Lila, although the interactions with Varys showed there was depth and breadth to the character, when I think the writing sometimes failed in showing a complicated woman whose cruelty belies a person capable of  deep love and loyalty. 

I liked the time dedicated to fully shaping out minor characters who were major plot devices. She took the time and it shows up in  excellent plot devices. 

Overall, this book was a big stretch for me. I normally do not read fantasy like this, but I’m wanting to push myself into some new genres and explore longer titles with big universes. I had to work for it, but man in the end it was worth it. I don’t think that I will go and read the other trilogy, because I just don’t have that much interest in Lila…  But Maris, Tess, and Kosica (sp) are definitely draws for me to continue reading this series.

Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

I really loved this book, but the middle drug for me a bit. I love the truth of an apocalypse from an indigenous perspective. They simply go back to their ancestral ways, versus what we have come to expect from an apocalyptic society- militias, hoarding of resources, stealing from others… which way should we ought to become? Who is living in a good way? Who is living in a good way now?

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.25

A Fine Dark Line by Joe R. Lansdale

adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? No

5.0

I really love Lansdale’s books. He’s funny and his use of simile is fantastic— I wish more authors used them as a much as he does. Also, I think like Stephen King, Lansdale hasn’t forgotten what’s it’s like to be a kid. It’s a window into a boys world, and as I’m raising a boy of my own I really love his stories that are centered around young boys. 

Every character in this book was so well written and nuanced and the even the secondary characters had depth and breadth. This is just a damn good story, it’s dark at times and violent and grapples with race and classism, but also laugh out loud funny.

Girl in a Band: A Memoir by

informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

3.5 this was pretty good. Gordon definitely wrote this too close to her divorce and so she was definitely processing some trauma and feelings about that — understandably so. You can’t be married to someone for 30 years and not feel some type of way about an affair that ate up 6 years or whatever it was. It definitely colors my opinion of Thurston and the “other woman.” I think it also speaks to some of her bitterness that other folks called anti feminist. I disagree on that point, I think Gordon is feminist af and has the receipts to show for that. I enjoyed learning about the 80s art scene and NYC living and the odd intersections of musicians and art. I also liked her discussion of motherhood, marriage, and just getting older. 

I also feel compelled to mention that for some reason I thought she was much younger and a Gen Xer. I was tangentially aware of Sonic Youth as a young person, but it I never fully engaged with it back then. I’ve got a tidy list of music to check out which is cool. Her new album, The Collective and the NYT article prompted my dive in to Gordon. I’m enjoying this fun little rabbit hole I found myself in.