oxfordcomma2904's reviews
16 reviews

A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

funny lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

A well written,  humorous story with southern charm. Good cast of characters. As a Yankee who lived in the deep south, there were several funny moments I could relate to. Interesting and unique premise. But...it took so long for anything to happen. 2/10 spookies.  Excellent prose, poor pacing. 

Smolder by Laurell K. Hamilton

slow-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

1.5

Ugh. Another waste of what used to be a good series and compelling characters. At least this one didn't have 6 pages talking about a cow. Half baked,  zero tension,  zero passion. Yawn.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

The September House by Carissa Orlando

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

2.0

I get what the author was going for, and I applaud their originality but it just wasn't what I was looking for. More comedic than frightening.  If I read "language!" one more time, I was going to scream.  And the ending was unhinged.

Lets brutally murder three people but then just shrug it off because *checks notes* ghosts.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Red Flags by Lisa Black

adventurous dark informative tense medium-paced

4.0

A great procedural written by an authentic forensics expert.  The pacing slowed in a couple of places (the multiple pov being to blame, imo) but the ramping up of tension helped keep things moving along. A good mystery with plenty of twists. 

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.5

Super scary, and when the plot twist twisted...I was floored. This book is an emotional roller coaster. Compelling characters.

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Content Warnings

I was bummed there was no resolution in the end, that the bad guys didn't get their comeuppance. But I think that was the point, that marginalized communities are often left without justice, without resolution.