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nocturnalbookworm's reviews
72 reviews
Bloodchild by Andrew Neiderman
Plot 3/5
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I’ve been wanting to read books about creepy children so I was excited to pick this up. I was a little disappointed that the horror elements were more divided among a few different characters. The other antagonists were more creepy to me personally.
Out of the cast of characters there were only two that I liked, Colleen and Audra. I was surprised to like Audra as much as I did, especially near the end.
The book kept a creepy, almost claustrophobic at times, atmosphere, which I felt did well at holding the tension. As far as enjoyment it varied, the first half I really enjoyed, the third quarter was hard to get through to the point of considering DNFing the book. And the last quarter made me glad I stuck with it to the end.
Out of the cast of characters there were only two that I liked, Colleen and Audra. I was surprised to like Audra as much as I did, especially near the end.
The book kept a creepy, almost claustrophobic at times, atmosphere, which I felt did well at holding the tension. As far as enjoyment it varied, the first half I really enjoyed, the third quarter was hard to get through to the point of considering DNFing the book. And the last quarter made me glad I stuck with it to the end.
Plot 3/5
Characters 2/5
Writing Style 4/5
Enjoyment 2.5/5
Overall Rating 2.88/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Blood, Gaslighting, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Rape
Minor: Alcohol and Animal death
Meg by Steve Alten
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I found that all the characters fell under the category of actively dislike to just ok. While I can definitely appreciate stories about unlikeable characters (and I do think the unlikable ones in this were meant to be), the heroes of our story weren’t just flawed they felt on dimension and very stereotypical action move stock characters.
No real grammatical errors or situations where the wording didn’t make sense. This one definitely took a very fast paced action story style, that worked for the story. The transitions in perspective were done nicely.
I had wondered upon starting this if it would be a similar situation to Jaws with the shark being only a minor backdrop in a mostly human based conflict story. I was happy to find this not the case with Meg. It was just the thing to break me of a reading slump, fun and action packed brain candy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Animal death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol and Vomit
Justice Calling by Annie Bellet
A little cringe at times and the instalove is always a pet peeve of mine but I still enjoyed it and plan to read the rest of the series.
2.75
A little cringe at times and the instalove is always a pet peeve of mine but I still enjoyed it and plan to read the rest of the series.
Jaws by Peter Benchley
emotional
tense
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
2.75
Very different than the movie and I feel like one of the rare times where the movie was better than the book. That said I did like the book, it wasn't amazing but I still enjoyed my read of it. Don't go in expecting the shark to be as big of a part as it is in the movie. It's more of a background force of nature bringing to light the very human problems amity is facing.
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Wow what a wild ride.
Also
HOLY MOTHER OF ALL CLIFFHANGERS!!!!
Where to begin with the book? Hyperion really takes the multiple character perspective chapters to build a world/story thing to a crazy and awesome level. What impressed me most was that each of the main characters stories has a distinct style so it's like you get several mini stories of various tones and almost various genres that all weave together so beautifully. Hyperion tells the tale of a group of pilgrims off to meet this crazy time bending death dealing diety of sorts right as super space war is about to break out on the very planet they are traveling on. I've seen in other reviews that this and it's sequel flow right into each other and I can't wait to read the next one because this one ends with a major cliffhanger!!!
Also
HOLY MOTHER OF ALL CLIFFHANGERS!!!!
Where to begin with the book? Hyperion really takes the multiple character perspective chapters to build a world/story thing to a crazy and awesome level. What impressed me most was that each of the main characters stories has a distinct style so it's like you get several mini stories of various tones and almost various genres that all weave together so beautifully. Hyperion tells the tale of a group of pilgrims off to meet this crazy time bending death dealing diety of sorts right as super space war is about to break out on the very planet they are traveling on. I've seen in other reviews that this and it's sequel flow right into each other and I can't wait to read the next one because this one ends with a major cliffhanger!!!
The Hecatomb by J. Edward Neill
Old Man of Tesser 5/5
Let the Bodies 5/5
Skeleton Sculptor 5/5
The Circle Macabre 3/5
dark
4.5
Old Man of Tesser 5/5
Let the Bodies 5/5
Skeleton Sculptor 5/5
The Circle Macabre 3/5
Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
adventurous
mysterious
3.75
Glad I finally got around to reading this!
I've been recommended this book and series by many people over the years, and after finishing I really wish I had gotten to it sooner!! This book is a mix of mystery, horror, and just a bit of romance. I really like the main character Anita, she is a no-nonsense badass and it was nice to see a character in this type of novel that doesn't just inexplicably and seemingly out of character fall for some charming and domineering embodiment of everything she hates.
I've been recommended this book and series by many people over the years, and after finishing I really wish I had gotten to it sooner!! This book is a mix of mystery, horror, and just a bit of romance. I really like the main character Anita, she is a no-nonsense badass and it was nice to see a character in this type of novel that doesn't just inexplicably and seemingly out of character fall for some charming and domineering embodiment of everything she hates.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
So many feels from this book..
SO MANY FEELS!!
A wonderful story that although I started later in the month than I meant (I read this for a recommendation challenge) Once I picked it up I simply got lost in it. This book is one of those that not only can adults like myself enjoy but can also be enjoyed by children as well. Nobody's story is strange and beautiful and sad. The ending made me want to cry
SO MANY FEELS!!
A wonderful story that although I started later in the month than I meant (I read this for a recommendation challenge) Once I picked it up I simply got lost in it. This book is one of those that not only can adults like myself enjoy but can also be enjoyed by children as well. Nobody's story is strange and beautiful and sad. The ending made me want to cry
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder
Feyness by E.S. Carter
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
it was AMAZING! Definitely all the trigger warnings for this one but if you can handle very dark subject matter this one has a complex plot that comes together so well in addition to all the hotness.
I personally loved the way things in Faye, Cole, and Luke's pasts are revealed and relate to each other. I felt like this book did a good job of keeping the tension throughout. I had a couple of moments of like "oh no oh no oh shit oh fuck!"
I personally loved the way things in Faye, Cole, and Luke's pasts are revealed and relate to each other. I felt like this book did a good job of keeping the tension throughout. I had a couple of moments of like "oh no oh no oh shit oh fuck!"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse