night_shift's reviews
78 reviews

Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt

challenging dark medium-paced

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

3.5

It took me forever to read this because some parts are just so disgusting (or just difficult to read when it's pages and pages of run-on blocks of texts that literally gave me anxiety reading lol). But I loved the jab at certain TERFs and what a bonkers ending 😵‍💫

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, and Transphobia

Cranberry Cove by Hailey Piper

dark tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

Definitely very dreadful, in a good way. Pretty bummed about my dude, what a way to go.

The Only Safe Place Left Is the Dark by Warren Wagner

dark emotional 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? Yes

3.5

I really liked the zombies here because woof would that be terrible and terrifying, but felt this could've been fleshed out more. It didn't give you enough time with the characters and things just seem to happen, in consequence. I fully cringed at a lot of the survival things that went on here. You're not gunna want to dig out shotgun pellets with plyers, that's only going to make it worse. Please don't use gun powder to try and cauterize a wound that's a very good way to go septic and die.
I did like the bit with them at the 'cult' but that definately felt the most rushed of everything.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Loop by Kōji Suzuki

adventurous informative mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

So weird. I haven't watched all the Ring movies, but I highly doubt they go in this direction. Genuinely surprised as to how this story played out! It definately morphed from horror into scifi though, which isn't super my jam..

Notice by Alan Garganus, Heather Lewis
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

I dunno man. Personally, couldn't push through. Just not in the right head state, I'll give. 

The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller

dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.0

This was a lot of fun and it's weird how such an implausible situation had me thinking 'yeah, that tracks'.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Blood, and Alcohol

Spiral by Kōji Suzuki

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

Hm. It's interesting how these books about like genetics and science-y stuff turned into the dozens of spooky ghost movies. This one wasn't scary at all. Like, not even any creepy moments like in the first one. Just a lot of research, which I liked, but really this felt more like a very slow thriller. Which, I didn't hate, but wasn't what I came in for, you know?
I have the 3rd, maybe it'll be creepier. Fingers crossed!

Boys Weekend by Mattie Lubchansky

emotional funny fast-paced

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

3.0

Not my fave line work, but was cute and had a weird little cult plotline! Some funny points (I especially liked all the weird shit in the background), but the blatant misgendering was really annoying and I was just like, girl leave.. these people suck lol

Fluids by May Leitz

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Took me a little bit to get into, but when Dahlia's POV came in, I couldn't put it down. Disgusting and fantastic with a weirdly upbeat ending!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Incest, Excrement, Death of parent, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Pandemic/Epidemic

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

dark mysterious 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? No

4.0

The mystery kept me interested  and I liked Carly and Viv, but there seemed to be a lot of circumstances that kinda dropped into their laps just to propel the plot forward. Things happening to them rather than because of them. But while I did guess part of the ending and who was who early on, still a solid ending. Interested in checking out more from St. James.