misscassylee's reviews
111 reviews

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.75

4.75

The narration on this audiobook was outstanding. The writing was superb and poignant. The only thing that bothered me was how Micky never really came around to being seen by her sister, and how her addiction forced Micky’s hand. Also, Simon — wtf! What a gross dirt bag of a man. I wish there had been more time spent on Micky coming around to the realization that she had been groomed and that Simon was a predator.

I loved how generational trauma was depicted and how even though Micky wasn’t an addict she too was passing down unhealthy family values, and the recognition of that fact.

The twists were somewhat predictable, and I saw the bulk of them coming which was okay, but I think with a less meandering plot line the twists would have been more of a surprise. With such a long book, the plot unwinds at such a slow pace that it makes it fairly easy for the reader to deduce in my opinion. I think we could have also done without the Truman sideshow towards the end. It didn’t feel necessary and the relationship had already come to an end without needing an additional plot twist.

Content Warnings

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

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challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

4.5 because the whole book was excellent, but that ending was incredibly dissatisfying. Really, why that ending, why just a sudden stop — weird weird choice! Chapter of chapter of insight into the minds of Alice, Leslie, etc. and we get a nice wrap up for Tracy, but the most important characters are not given a voice at the end… once the culprit of the first death is exposed — Alice really needed another chapter or two and the ending for Barbara what a waste! Did Alice end up in a mental hospital completely disconnected from reality? Did she begin anew? Did Barbara ever reconcile with her mother? Did she know about Bear’s death — the truth? What were the Peters reaction upon being exposed for their deception? Maaan thus could have been another 100 pages seriously. The author spent too long in the middle and rushed the ending and the book is poorer for it.

I hung in there for a lot of damn pages for an incredibly rushed ending when everything else took a long time for set up and execution.

Content Warnings