mxpringle's reviews
259 reviews

We Can Never Leave This Place by Eric LaRocca

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Mental illness, Grief, Vomit, Violence, Torture, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Incest, Child death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Murder, Body horror, and Death

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

fast-paced

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

1.0

The writing in this book was absolutely horrible. Concepts that were really central to the plot like mental health, suicide, and many worlds theory were so poorly researched that often things were shared about them that were blatantly false and uneducated. The characterization of all of the characters was incredibly poor, and each character was so shallow in their emotions and dialogue that it was painful to read. This was one of those books where it was simply so bad that it was funny, and laughing at how poorly it was written was the only reason I even finished it. Unfortunately, I don't understand the hype that this book has had the last few years. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

Watership Down by Richard Adams
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.

I might not the right audience for this but I found this book unbelievably monotonous and boring 

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

adventurous challenging fast-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

Before reading this I was already familiar with the story of Medusa, so I expected to find it just okay, but this book was incredible. Something about the writing was just enrapturing and it is the first book in what feels like forever that I simply wanted to never stop reading 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, and Murder

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous challenging lighthearted tense slow-paced

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

5.0

A literal masterpiece. Sam and Frodo are gay for each other

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This was absolutely incredible. So well-written and the concepts were unlike any other horror I've ever read which was so refreshing 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Blood, Car accident, and Death

Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Drug use, Racism, and Stalking

Minor: Antisemitism, War, and Kidnapping

Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor

tense medium-paced

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

2.5

I really wanted to love this book, and I had really high expectations, but it just fell a little flat for me. I felt like the first third of the book really gripped me, but after a certain point it just felt like the same sequence of events were being taking place, just with different audiences each time. However, I do really appreciate the political and social commentary that this book added that made it much more complex than simply an alien invasion story in Lagos.  

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, and Rape

Maeve Fly by C.J. Leede

dark medium-paced

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

4.25

This is probably one of the most depraved and bizarre books I've ever read, which is definitely saying something. I feel like I could've used more background as to how the events that happened in Maeve's life or thoughts she had led her to doing certain actions in the book, because a lot of the actions she did just seemed so off the rails that I couldn't see any human reasoning behind it anymore. It kind of felt like the things she did were just like trying to get a reaction out of the reader rather than being authentic character development. However, this was still overall a really interesting/enjoyable read (though very dark and depraved). 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Mental illness, Rape, Medical content, Blood, Gore, Murder, Torture, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

Moderate: Drug use, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Alcohol

Minor: Toxic relationship and Pregnancy

Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour

emotional lighthearted medium-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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Grief

Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Child abuse

Rage by Stephen King, Richard Bachman

challenging dark 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Gun violence