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ofclumsywords's reviews
410 reviews
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I always feel like I'm a harsh critic when it comes to thriller books as my number one rule is that I shouldn't be able to predict who the murderer is. There are only a few thrillers that have truly surprised me, and unfortunately this one wasn't one of them. But I wonder if that also isn't the point of a thriller? That you know who the killer is, but the suspense that builds and keeps you on the edge of your seat is the part that makes people love this genre so much. If so, this book wins the award for the suspense alone.
One of the things that drew me to this book was the fact that it takes place in a small town in Wisconsin; and upon reading the acknowledgments you find out that Allen's Grove is a real unincorporated town and that the author grew up there. The author also used her childhood home as the setting for the whole book. It was so interesting to find that out after finishing such an atmospheric book where you can easily picture the town, the house, and the woods behind the house so well that you feel like you are there with the Thomas siblings.
But the murders and the murderer themself was where it began to lose points for me.It is a tale as old as time, a child commits a terrible act and the parents cover it up. The book is narrated by the three Thomas children upon their mothers death. Beth and Nicole (the oldest and middle child respectively) narrate most of the book; while Michael (the youngest, and the murderer) had chapters only sporadically throughout. That right there was the first red flag to me. That and the fact that Michael barely had any emotion during his chapters, other than feeding the flames between Beth and Nicole and making it abundantly clear that he wanted out of town as soon as their mothers funeral was over. Then as the story unravels, you find out that Michael killed little Emma and his father, Brian, covered it up in order to protect his son. And as repayment for Brian's protection years later, Michael kills his father and it is also covered up by the mother. Then, seven years after her husband's 'disappearance' the mother's dying words are a cryptic message to her eldest daughter, Beth, and thus begins the whole plot to find out what really happened the night Emma went missing. I just wish there was a little bit more mystery to who the murderer was and why he decided to kill Emma. Her death is chalked up to Michael's parents stating that they will never really know why he did it, just that they need to protect him at all costs. I just feel like the whole parent protecting their child plot is a little overused and I am eager for a new idea to appear in the thriller genre.
At the end of the day, it was an interesting idea; one that appeals to the 90's kids and the nostalgia that goes with the VHS tapes and home movies. Which is what made me interested in this book in the first place. All 90's kids (and older) remember those home videos and seeing their parents carry around the hulking camera to record seemingly random moments of their childhood. No one expects to pop in one of those old movies and instead find one of their parents covered in blood, pleading to the other parent to come and help them hide a body. It is a unique idea, one that plays on the fact that a child sometimes can see their parents through rose-colored glasses. Which means to say, this story had a strong beginning, one that hooks the reader immediately; but then as the plot unravels, so does the mystery of the murderer.
One of the things that drew me to this book was the fact that it takes place in a small town in Wisconsin; and upon reading the acknowledgments you find out that Allen's Grove is a real unincorporated town and that the author grew up there. The author also used her childhood home as the setting for the whole book. It was so interesting to find that out after finishing such an atmospheric book where you can easily picture the town, the house, and the woods behind the house so well that you feel like you are there with the Thomas siblings.
But the murders and the murderer themself was where it began to lose points for me.
At the end of the day, it was an interesting idea; one that appeals to the 90's kids and the nostalgia that goes with the VHS tapes and home movies. Which is what made me interested in this book in the first place. All 90's kids (and older) remember those home videos and seeing their parents carry around the hulking camera to record seemingly random moments of their childhood. No one expects to pop in one of those old movies and instead find one of their parents covered in blood, pleading to the other parent to come and help them hide a body. It is a unique idea, one that plays on the fact that a child sometimes can see their parents through rose-colored glasses. Which means to say, this story had a strong beginning, one that hooks the reader immediately; but then as the plot unravels, so does the mystery of the murderer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Murder, Blood, Addiction, Death, Grief, Child death, Dementia, Alcohol, and Cursing
Spy x Family, Vol. 9 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
funny
fast-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
5.0
Spy x Family, Vol. 8 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The cruise storyline continues! And all the while Yor has to remember why she became an assassin and decide if she wants to continue in that line of work. It was a great turning point for her, where she remembers why she joined the Forgers as a pretend wife and where her future goes now that she has an acceptable cover. But then, just as she is battling bad guys, she remembers that she originally became an assassin to support her little brother when he was little and to make a safer world for him to live in. Which gives her the motivation to get up and finish the fight and is the moment the volume concludes. So it looks like the cruise ship storyline continues for another volume where we get to see how the fight ends and if Yor is successful in her mission.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
5.0
“I’d rather die on an adventure than live standing still.”
Grey, for the magic-less city.
Red, for the healthy empire.
White, for the starving world.
Black, for the lost city.
Or, as Lila so elegantly puts it:
Dull London,
Kell London,
Creepy London,
and Dead London.
This has been on my TBR for years and I’ve heard so many amazing things about this series. And let me tell you, it lived up to all my expectations. The idea of four different Londons, all existing in different worlds and a man who could visit all of them is exactly what drew me to this book. Kell was such a fun character, who acts as if he doesn’t care about anything and yet has such deep loyalty to not only his adoptive family but for his Red London as well. Meanwhile, Lila was such a badass even from the very first chapter where she kills a man who tries to have his way with her. The reader can instantly understand her need to go on an adventure, to escape the harsh reality that comes for an orphaned girl in 1800’s Grey London. Of course the moment Lila meets Kell and discovers he can use magic and comes from a entirely different London she is hooked, demanding to be taken along on a grand adventure. And naturally these two don’t meet by chance and have to stop an evil power that has escaped from Black London and is threatening all the other London’s.
When a reader choses a fantasy book, they do so to escape reality. And the author not only appeals to that idea but also makes Lila feel the same way the fantasy reader does. By including our world in this book as one of the realities, the author makes the book feel more alive as we get to discover the other London’s along with Lila, who has the same longing all readers have: adventure.
Spy x Family, Vol. 7 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A lot of filler, but the last chapter sets up the next volume for the Forger family to go on a cruise trip.
Spy x Family, Vol. 6 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The reader gets to meet more new characters from the agency Twilight works at. Fiona Frost—aka Nightfall—is a woman who Twilight trained and now they have to team up to steal a painting believed to have hidden codes hidden inside it. During this mission we find that Nightfall is secretly in love with Twilight and has plans to convince Twilight to trade his wife Yor for herself. The whole drama was ok as I feel like romance isn’t the point of this series. But it was cute to see Yor and Loid go out and discuss their arrangement and that Loid wants Yor to stay as his pretend wife.
The last section of this volume was by far the most impactful on the overall plot. Loid finally comes into contact with his mark Donovon Desmond, who he needs to get state secrets from to stop the war between East and West. It was great to see that the main plot isn’t going to be overlooked when there seemed to be a lot of side missions happening while Loids fake daughter Anya tries to befriend Desmond’s son. I am eager to start the next volume as the first meeting with Desmond was the cliffhanger. But overall, no matter how long it has taken to get to this point, this series is so fun that you enjoy all the filler missions.
The last section of this volume was by far the most impactful on the overall plot. Loid finally comes into contact with his mark Donovon Desmond, who he needs to get state secrets from to stop the war between East and West. It was great to see that the main plot isn’t going to be overlooked when there seemed to be a lot of side missions happening while Loids fake daughter Anya tries to befriend Desmond’s son. I am eager to start the next volume as the first meeting with Desmond was the cliffhanger. But overall, no matter how long it has taken to get to this point, this series is so fun that you enjoy all the filler missions.
Spy x Family, Vol. 5 by Tatsuya Endo
emotional
funny
fast-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
5.0
We get an introduction to two new characters; Daybreak, a rival spy from the opposing agency, and Nightfall, a spy who is in love with Twilight (aka Loid Forger). It was great to see more of the spy part of the plot along with Anya’s continued schooling. I want to bash Loid and Yor’s heads together at how ridiculous they are second guessing themselves about the fake family situation they are in. But if they knew then there would be no plot.
This series continues to be amazing and I am going to be so sad when I catch up on all the volumes and then have to wait for the next volume to come out. Thankfully, I have a while to go before that happens and can continue to enjoy the Forger family hijinks.
This series continues to be amazing and I am going to be so sad when I catch up on all the volumes and then have to wait for the next volume to come out. Thankfully, I have a while to go before that happens and can continue to enjoy the Forger family hijinks.
Spy x Family, Vol. 4 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
5.0
The Forger family got a dog!!! One who just so happens to be a government experiment that can see into the future. Naturally Anya (who can read people’s and animal’s minds) instantly falls in love with the dog and works with him to take down the terrorist cell that wants to assassinate a political leader. This was one of the more action packed volumes, and the entire book has Anya and the dog taking down the terrorist cell after Anya sees through the dogs prediction that Loid Forger will die while trying to take down the same cell.
The dog was by far my favorite part! He is just so cute and it was so heartwarming to see him get adopted by the Forgers after the bad guys are taken down. He already fits in well with the Forger family and I’m so glad that he got adopted in the end.
The dog was by far my favorite part! He is just so cute and it was so heartwarming to see him get adopted by the Forgers after the bad guys are taken down. He already fits in well with the Forger family and I’m so glad that he got adopted in the end.
Spy x Family, Vol. 3 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Just when the stakes couldn’t be higher with Anya getting into Eden the author introduces a new character who could ruin everything. Finding out Yor’s brother Yuri is a secret agent for the opposing government that Twilight (aka Loid Forger) is trying to take down. Yuri is an intense character, who will do anything to get information from the bad guys for a safe and secure country for his sister to live in. The reader finds out pretty early on that Yor brought up Yuri on her own after their parents died so even before meeting Yuri, the reader knows their bond is strong. It will be very interesting to see how the story unfolds now that Yuri is in the picture and he wants to single handedly take down Twilight. Funny Yuri has no clue that his new brother in law is the same man.