night_shift's reviews
78 reviews

The Half-Freaks by Nicole Cushing, Harry O. Morris, Jon Padgett

dark 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

2.5

Charming, in a way, but didn't really jive with me. 🤷‍♀️

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

challenging dark tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

I was worried at 50% where the heck they were going to go and then that happened and I was like wtf! Did not expect that! Breakneck pacing through the final 20% or so and a very nice conclusion, thankfully with all the truly awful bullshit this book put it's characters through. The conspiracy here was so juicy and yeah, I suppose parts were disturbing but seeing this one on 'most disturbing' lists is strange. It's not any more disturbing than like.. some police procedural type things I've read. Unfortunately, you read any kinda crime/ true crime, this won't be super disturbing 🤷‍♀️ Put me on a great author though, so thanks! Wanna check out that series now.

The Pain Eater by Kyle Muntz

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.0

I really wanted to like this more because the concept of the creature was cool, but it dwelled more in the listlessness that sometimes is being a young adult, the grief that manifests strangely sometimes, and some truly toxic and hard to read family and friend relationships. And like, all of that is fine to do but nothing felt fully explored and especially the one part I found most interesting. The ending was depressing  and I was pretty grossed out by the thing with the minor that was just glazed over (and wasn't even necessary for the plot at all). This desperately needed a proofreader or something because it was excruciating to read at times. 

Mouth by Joshua Hull

funny hopeful fast-paced

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

4.0

Very cute, loved Mouth. But Rusty and Abigail were an interesting pair, just some weirdo outcasts finding some solace with each other and a subterranean worm thing. The ceaseless movie talk from Abigail was a lot of fun!

Lumberjack by Anthony Engebretson

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Racism

Monsters We Have Made by Lindsay Starck

challenging reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

The First Time I Saw Her by Jae Mazer

challenging dark mysterious sad fast-paced

4.5

In this intense, bloody, and sometimes nauseating coming-of-age tale, we follow Anna and her mother who arrive in a secluded, forested commune fleeing a dark event and running directly into another.
I was really drawn in by the mystery here, the strange characters that revolve around Anna, the witchy vibes, and most importantly, the bad-assness of Anna's mother and their strong relationship (which was super refreshing). That climax was so distressing and is absolutely not for the faint of heart. 
Anna was an interesting character to follow and I'm really interested in seeing where she goes in the next two of this trilogy.
Also, thanks to HellBound Books for the free copy!

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

dark funny tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

Exploring family bonds and secrets and generational trauma manifest, this follows Louise who's home to bury her parents and to settle affairs with her brother, Mark. One such affair is selling their parent's house, which they find particularly difficult due to the walking, talking, violent puppets.
Enjoyed this one a lot, loved seeing Louise and Mark repair their sibling bond and absolutely some of the creepiest puppets I've ever read about haha Another bangers from Hendrix! Can't wait to get to Witchcraft for Wayward Girls!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

A Lonely Broadcast: Book One by Kel Byron

adventurous dark reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

Dug this concept a lot. The forest was a nightmare, loved it. Wish we got more of the why, but enjoyed watching the characters grow.

The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington

adventurous dark 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

3.5

Pretty entertaining YA horror with a fun cast of characters (I especially dug Gael, being a horror movie buff myself) that were really diverse and I loved seeing how they interconnected and developed. This would be a cool one to see on screen! I'll say, I'd guessed the demon itself was one of two people although I couldn't figure how by the in book logic, but then the ending reveal had me reeling because I didn't fully buy that? It was hilarious, but still.