overhillunderhill's reviews
1135 reviews

After the Forest by Kell Woods

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

Fun and interesting take tying Hansel and Gretel together with Snow White and Rose Red with just enough of both to keep the DNA of the originals. 

Warning: you will be craving gingerbread before this book is done. Buy or make some to eat while you read.  

Tidal Creatures by Seanan McGuire

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

I loved Middlegame and was disappointed with Seasonal Fears. I was worried going into this one thinking that maybe the series was all down hill from book one. Thankfully, I was wrong. Exceptionally and Brilliantly wrong! This was such a fun weird book where you can never see the next turn coming.  

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense

5.0

This story is dark and off-putting. The writing style makes it hard to just settle into the tale with unexpected changes in perspective. For these reasons, you are completely at the will of Jimenez as he leads you through a deep and complex world full of deeply flawed characters and a rich complex world. 

In short, it was brilliant. 

The Name-Bearer by Natalia Hernandez

adventurous emotional fast-paced

3.5

I enjoyed this. I wish I enjoyed it more. There were some pacing issues. I found the lead character a little whiny. Plus we had that issue where far too many people fell in love with the lead. Also, I felt like it was foreshadowing so much as sticking giant neon post-it notes on characters that say remember this, it's clearly going to be important! 

A Curse of Krakens by Kevin Hearne

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.5

I enjoyed this final chapter in the Seven Kennings series.

However, this series suffered from a common issue in high fantasy epics, the end dragged on a bit. By the time we got to this 3rd book there were so many characters that it was hard to have attachments to all of them and really care what happened.

My other complaint, which is semi-minor, for a book about a major war, the story as a whole ended with all the good guys being better off than when we started and the world being a shinier happier place in general. I know this is a fantasy but up to this end it felt like one of those gritty fantasy that actually understands the world and holds the mirror up. When everything ended happily ever after for literally everyone, it cheapened the story. 

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth

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5.0

This book was perfect! I fell deeply into the story when it was just starting. I adored it. The mysteries and reveals were sprinkled with precise timing and I never felt as though I was being strung along. I was very resentful of work, but then after work I couldn't put it down until I'd finished. I was enthralled. 

The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

Juno Dawson is MEAN!! That's where the book ends!!  I listened to the audiobook and the last 10 minutes nearly killed me!! (please note the five star rating and realize I'm being hyperbolic). 

I think the best part of this book for me is the self-fulfilling prophecy trope. "One's a good twin and one's evil!" I couldn't stop thinking about me and my sister. She's way the nicer one now and would be much more likely to help with anything. However, if this prophecy was thrown at us as babies, she definitely would have been "evil" because she was louder and more demanding and independent. I was a much easier baby who actually liked napping. The point is just that you don't know when a screamer will grow up to be a boss or a crime boss. 

Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales by Soman Chainani

fast-paced

2.0

It felt like the author thought he was brilliant and invented social justice. The stories were nothing new, I've seen many people do anti-racist, feminist and queer versions of these sorts of stories and do them better. 

Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

 Thistlefoot was a new and interesting take on a tale that is already very engaging. I deeply enjoyed the story being told in a way that felt like getting to know people. You don't get everything all at once in real life. There is no 2 chapter exposition dump when making a new friend. People keep secrets and have trust issues and Thistlefoot takes its time opening up and showing us the whole story.

If you enjoy a good retold fairytale or anything related to Baba Yaga, you should read this. 

The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2023 by John Joseph Adams, R.F. Kuang

slow-paced

3.0

As usual, a book of short stories has hits and misses