octagon's reviews
46 reviews

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

dark funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicide, Medical content, Medical trauma

Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Colonisation

Minor: Drug use, Rape, Alcohol

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Slavery

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Murder

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Murder

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Homophobia

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Gore

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Homophobia

The Story of the Late Mr. Elvesham by H.G. Wells

mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

The Stranger by Albert Camus

dark reflective 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gun violence

Minor: Racism

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, War

Moderate: Body horror, Torture, Murder

Taken by the Dragon King by Amelia Shaw

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

Great casual escapism
Lucy isn't held captive by Stavrok. I didn't expect the effort to make the King so morally good. Lucy repeatedly stands up to Stavrok and is quite fun when pointing out how ridiculous this whole situation is. Overall, this novella exceeded my expectations.

There are only 2 sex scenes, but they are pretty good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence, Kidnapping