pascalispapi's reviews
45 reviews

It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror by Joe Vallese

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Biphobia, Body horror, Bullying, Deadnaming, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Lesbophobia, Dysphoria

Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.

Slowwwww and introspective. Not the current mood. Good though.

Daddy by Victor LaValle

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Violence, Alcohol

LatinoLand: A Portrait of America's Largest and Least Understood Minority by Marie Arana

dark informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, Colonisation

Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Colonisation, War, Classism, Deportation

The Strain by Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic

They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

A great  twist on Lovecraftian horror. Tense and thought provoking, flipping Lovecraft’s racism on its head. I just wish it were a bit longer.. Some moments felt a bit rushed. Still  great for horror fans who like their scares with substance.

The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood

dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The bad Muslim Discount is that rare book that makes you laugh out loud one minute and clutch your heart the next. Anvar’s sarcastic charm and Azza’s tough yet fragile resilience are perfection. They feel so real, you’ll forget they’re fictional. And the side characters are absolute gems, they pop off the page with depth and warmth.

The dialogue is chef's kiss. Each character has a unique, clear personality. A few plot points could’ve used more room to breathe, but who cares when the characters are this vibrant? Equal parts sharp satire and tender humanity, this book is a celebration of messy, beautiful lives. Loved it. 

The Ash-Born Boy by V.E. Schwab

adventurous dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Self harm

The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.75

 As a first-time V.E. Schwab reader, I was excited to dive into this especially with all the hype around her books. Unfortunately, this one didn’t win me over. 

The concept was intriguing, but the story felt too short and unfinished—like it needed more room to breathe. The main character had potential, but I didn’t get enough depth to really care. I was ultimately too distracted by the "friend-zoned man" behavior and giving in to it to enjoy the story. Not a fan of the message in this part of the storyline. 

Maybe her full-length novels are better, but this didn’t leave me eager to read more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment