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novellearts's reviews
1667 reviews
The Deep by Alma Katsu
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
3.0
This was a 3.5/5 stars for me. Rounding down to stay consistent with other platforms though.
I appreciated the writing, which seems to be my common thought when reading this author. I also really appreciated the clear dedication to accurate research that Alma did. There was a lot of knowledge within this book.
What I struggled with? The horror aspect. I wasn't impressed with the supernatural component of this book, it just didn't really work for me like I hoped it would. I also am rarely a fan of dual timelines combined with multiple POVs and this book had both. I think it muddles the clarity of the story and honestly I wish that authors wouldn't overdo it with this.
This book was a slow-burn, so at times, I felt a bit less interested. Especially because of the continual switch between perspectives and timelines.
This felt more like historical fiction to me and honestly I think the story would've benefited without the supernatural aspect. But that being said, I still did enjoy this and it spurred on another deep-dive for research on the Titanic while I was reading.
I appreciated the writing, which seems to be my common thought when reading this author. I also really appreciated the clear dedication to accurate research that Alma did. There was a lot of knowledge within this book.
What I struggled with? The horror aspect. I wasn't impressed with the supernatural component of this book, it just didn't really work for me like I hoped it would. I also am rarely a fan of dual timelines combined with multiple POVs and this book had both. I think it muddles the clarity of the story and honestly I wish that authors wouldn't overdo it with this.
This book was a slow-burn, so at times, I felt a bit less interested. Especially because of the continual switch between perspectives and timelines.
This felt more like historical fiction to me and honestly I think the story would've benefited without the supernatural aspect. But that being said, I still did enjoy this and it spurred on another deep-dive for research on the Titanic while I was reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Classism
The Weekend Guests: A Novel by Liza North, Liza North
2.0
This just wasn’t my cup of tea and I don’t really have much reason of why.
The story was fine but I wasn’t engaged. I didn’t find myself caring for the characters or really the outcome at all. Maybe it felt too similar to other books that I’ve read that I couldn’t immerse myself in the story? I’m not quite sure.
I think a lot of people would enjoy this but honestly I just wasn’t feeling this one.
The story was fine but I wasn’t engaged. I didn’t find myself caring for the characters or really the outcome at all. Maybe it felt too similar to other books that I’ve read that I couldn’t immerse myself in the story? I’m not quite sure.
I think a lot of people would enjoy this but honestly I just wasn’t feeling this one.
Bloodguard by Cecy Robson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
tense
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? No
4.0
I'm a bit conflicted on how to rate this one. I think I'm going to rate this based off of feels which lands me on 4 stars because ultimately I did really enjoy this and thought it was a fun read. I enjoyed the setting and story but I'm conflicted because this story was reminiscent of a mixture of other stories that I've previously read. It wasn't the most unique story but I think that the author was still able to put a bit of her own spin on this. I loved the magical creatures that Cecy Robson wove into this story. The estrellas had me absolutely lovestruck.
Fight to the death gladiator arena, princess offering a deal with formidable gladiator, falling in love with said gladiator and overcoming an evil opponent trying to forcibly take the princess's hand in marriage to gain power. Not a groundbreaking storyline and neither was the romance, but again, if you're a fan of similar books then you should love this one. The gladiator arena had me reminiscing to Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff which was personally my first book that I read with this kind of concept.
I think if you can take this book at face value, you'll enjoy this more. I do really love books with a fight to the death arena so I don't mind that this story didn't feel quite as unique as some others.
I'm also primarily a horror/thriller reader, so whenever I read a book like this, I'm mostly just in it for a good time and am more lenient.
Fight to the death gladiator arena, princess offering a deal with formidable gladiator, falling in love with said gladiator and overcoming an evil opponent trying to forcibly take the princess's hand in marriage to gain power. Not a groundbreaking storyline and neither was the romance, but again, if you're a fan of similar books then you should love this one. The gladiator arena had me reminiscing to Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff which was personally my first book that I read with this kind of concept.
I think if you can take this book at face value, you'll enjoy this more. I do really love books with a fight to the death arena so I don't mind that this story didn't feel quite as unique as some others.
I'm also primarily a horror/thriller reader, so whenever I read a book like this, I'm mostly just in it for a good time and am more lenient.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
8114 by Joshua Hull
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
4.25/5 stars. (rounding down to 4 to stay consistent across platforms)
Podcaster Paul returns home after catching wind of his friend having committed suicide in the wreckage of his old home. Paul begins interviewing to find out the truth about his friend's suicide and to hopefully have some podcast worthy content. Paul soon starts a downward descent into uncovering forgotten memories and realizations.
This was a fast-paced atmospheric supernatural horror. Dark, sinister, and mysterious, I was eating this book up. When I read the description, I was immediately locked in. I knew I had to read this and I'm so glad that this didn't disappoint me. I think I would like to reread this once it's published and I'm able to hold the physical copy in my hands. I think this would be amazing as an audiobook too, so maybe I'll need to do a physical copy and audiobook combo once this story is published.
Highly entertaining, incredibly gripping from start to finish, and quick. There really wasn't much to complain about.
I'm not sure why but I've been really into books about horror podcasts recently which is ironic because I don't like to listen to podcasts. I would definitely listen to this podcast though!
Podcaster Paul returns home after catching wind of his friend having committed suicide in the wreckage of his old home. Paul begins interviewing to find out the truth about his friend's suicide and to hopefully have some podcast worthy content. Paul soon starts a downward descent into uncovering forgotten memories and realizations.
This was a fast-paced atmospheric supernatural horror. Dark, sinister, and mysterious, I was eating this book up. When I read the description, I was immediately locked in. I knew I had to read this and I'm so glad that this didn't disappoint me. I think I would like to reread this once it's published and I'm able to hold the physical copy in my hands. I think this would be amazing as an audiobook too, so maybe I'll need to do a physical copy and audiobook combo once this story is published.
Highly entertaining, incredibly gripping from start to finish, and quick. There really wasn't much to complain about.
I'm not sure why but I've been really into books about horror podcasts recently which is ironic because I don't like to listen to podcasts. I would definitely listen to this podcast though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Murder
The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Who doesn't need a medieval horror LGBTQ book? This story follows three female main characters, Voyne, Phosyne, and Treila who are in the midst of a 6-month siege leading to starvation, death, and sickness.
This book was filled with depravity and debauchery. I don't want to spoil anything that isn't in the book description but trust that there are some intriguing and strange concepts within this book.
The characters were complex and strongly written. So much so that I was conflicted on whether or not I actually liked them. The readers get to see the all sides of these characters, not just the good or the bad alone. The writing was easy to read but also didn't feel juvenile to me which I really appreciated. I thought the writing did justice to the time period while still being easily consumable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc. All thoughts are my own.
This book was filled with depravity and debauchery. I don't want to spoil anything that isn't in the book description but trust that there are some intriguing and strange concepts within this book.
The characters were complex and strongly written. So much so that I was conflicted on whether or not I actually liked them. The readers get to see the all sides of these characters, not just the good or the bad alone. The writing was easy to read but also didn't feel juvenile to me which I really appreciated. I thought the writing did justice to the time period while still being easily consumable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc. All thoughts are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
The Last Women in the Forest by Diane Les Becquets
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
4.25 stars.
The author’s note had my jaw on the floor and made me appreciate this story even more.
This was a suspense filled thriller that kept me interested from start to finish. I loved the setting, the characters, and the plot.
This story follows the FMC Marian whose life goal is to rescue dogs and help preserve other endangered wildlife. She automatically had my heart from this alone. She soon falls for her mentor, Tate, who helps her learn how to handle her dogs. After his tragic death, she becomes dedicated to finding out the circumstances surrounding his demise with the help of a retired forensic profiler. Several things start to concern Marian the more that she investigates Tate and she starts to question everything.
I didn't really have any problems with this story. It really contained everything that I enjoy in a thriller, again from the setting to the plot to the characters. There is sexual assault in this book, but I don't think it was too graphic to read. Some books place a lot of emphasis on describing those scenes but this one more-so referenced it. There weren't strong descriptions into the actual attacks and descriptions on the details of it. Even so, take that with a grain of salt as what I find tolerable might not be tolerable for you.
I think the author's personal experience with the content of this story also helped solidify this book for me.
The author’s note had my jaw on the floor and made me appreciate this story even more.
This was a suspense filled thriller that kept me interested from start to finish. I loved the setting, the characters, and the plot.
This story follows the FMC Marian whose life goal is to rescue dogs and help preserve other endangered wildlife. She automatically had my heart from this alone. She soon falls for her mentor, Tate, who helps her learn how to handle her dogs. After his tragic death, she becomes dedicated to finding out the circumstances surrounding his demise with the help of a retired forensic profiler. Several things start to concern Marian the more that she investigates Tate and she starts to question everything.
I didn't really have any problems with this story. It really contained everything that I enjoy in a thriller, again from the setting to the plot to the characters. There is sexual assault in this book, but I don't think it was too graphic to read. Some books place a lot of emphasis on describing those scenes but this one more-so referenced it. There weren't strong descriptions into the actual attacks and descriptions on the details of it. Even so, take that with a grain of salt as what I find tolerable might not be tolerable for you.
I think the author's personal experience with the content of this story also helped solidify this book for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Ghostly Awakening by E.M. Leya
dark
mysterious
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? No
2.0
2.5/5 stars rounded down.
The writing felt juvenile, as did the characters. I didn’t care for how the conversations went in this book. It wasn’t the worst thing I read but it was a good distraction. This book helped me through a long night of anxiety and insomnia so I have to give it some kudos for keeping me company.
The writing felt juvenile, as did the characters. I didn’t care for how the conversations went in this book. It wasn’t the worst thing I read but it was a good distraction. This book helped me through a long night of anxiety and insomnia so I have to give it some kudos for keeping me company.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Dead Money: A Novel by Jakob Kerr
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
3.75 rounded up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances by Eric LaRocca
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
3.75 rounded up to 4 stars.
If you've read Eric LaRocca before, I think you probably already know what you're getting yourself into. Though I will say, this one felt more reserved than some of the other ones I've read but it's still a gory, disturbing read. I think I was most interested in the first of the three stories, but this was overall a pretty good read. Entertaining, intriguing, and dark.
If you've read Eric LaRocca before, I think you probably already know what you're getting yourself into. Though I will say, this one felt more reserved than some of the other ones I've read but it's still a gory, disturbing read. I think I was most interested in the first of the three stories, but this was overall a pretty good read. Entertaining, intriguing, and dark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Follow Me to Ground by Sue Rainsford
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
3.0
The story wasn’t bad but as someone who doesn’t enjoy reading about pregnancies, this contained too much revolving around it. I wish I had known that prior to reading.
This concept was pretty cool. It felt different from other books I’ve read. I could’ve done without the incest and pedophilia though.
This concept was pretty cool. It felt different from other books I’ve read. I could’ve done without the incest and pedophilia though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail