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petalpineink's reviews
117 reviews
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
challenging
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Curses and Other Buried Things by Caroline George
dark
reflective
3.5
This book didn’t resonate with me as much as I wish it had. I got a bit busy after initially finishing the book last week, and now that I’m getting around to reviewing it ai find myself struggling to remember much about it.
What I do remember that I liked was the dual timeline and the ending reveal. I am a sucker for a dual or multiple timeline, especially when it’s generational women. I find that flipping back and forth from one timeline to another can be such a powerful way to add depth and explore the effects of one’s actions on someone else’s down the road. And this went so well with this book since it focused on family curses and sins carried over the years.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
As for the ending - while I was expecting some powerful, dark, and potentially monstrous reveal at the end based on the amount of vague curse talk throughout the book, I did feel that the end reveal of the curse turning out to be the power that the family put behind their previous sins was quite powerful. It really outlined how our willingness to put power behind perceived negative outcomes can hinder our ability to move on from them and force a repeating cycle onto others out of secrecy and fear.
I am still torn when this book was marketed well though. I was left feeling like I didn’t get what I expected. But then again, expecting a real monstrous curse did set me up for the surprise ending.
Thanks NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of this audiobook.
What I do remember that I liked was the dual timeline and the ending reveal. I am a sucker for a dual or multiple timeline, especially when it’s generational women. I find that flipping back and forth from one timeline to another can be such a powerful way to add depth and explore the effects of one’s actions on someone else’s down the road. And this went so well with this book since it focused on family curses and sins carried over the years.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
As for the ending - while I was expecting some powerful, dark, and potentially monstrous reveal at the end based on the amount of vague curse talk throughout the book, I did feel that the end reveal of the curse turning out to be the power that the family put behind their previous sins was quite powerful. It really outlined how our willingness to put power behind perceived negative outcomes can hinder our ability to move on from them and force a repeating cycle onto others out of secrecy and fear.
I am still torn when this book was marketed well though. I was left feeling like I didn’t get what I expected. But then again, expecting a real monstrous curse did set me up for the surprise ending.
Thanks NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of this audiobook.
The Insatiable Volt Sisters by Rachel Eve Moulton
dark
mysterious
2.75
A hauntingly mysterious flashback, flash forward tale of two sisters entangled by an island with a dark essence all its own.
I really wanted to like this book, but I’m stuck deciding between 2.75/3⭐️ for this read. It had several things I typically love in a read - multiple timelines, mercurial sisters, dark community histories, the hint of (or not so hinted) monsters or something more sinister - but it just didn’t come together for me as strongly as I hoped.
I found that the first half of this book was quite the slow burn, allowing you to get to know the different characters from their own POVs. But then the last bit of the story happened so quickly. Now don’t get me wrong - I love a story with a slow start with an action packed finish, but for me, there wasn’t enough buildup between the two ends of the spectrum so it felt disjointed.
At the end of this read I was really left wanting more of the mysterious house and POVs from the original Volt sisters to help tie in the history of the island and what was occurring on it more strongly. Though, overall I enjoyed myself while listening to this read.
Thanks NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux from the ARC of this book.
I really wanted to like this book, but I’m stuck deciding between 2.75/3⭐️ for this read. It had several things I typically love in a read - multiple timelines, mercurial sisters, dark community histories, the hint of (or not so hinted) monsters or something more sinister - but it just didn’t come together for me as strongly as I hoped.
I found that the first half of this book was quite the slow burn, allowing you to get to know the different characters from their own POVs. But then the last bit of the story happened so quickly. Now don’t get me wrong - I love a story with a slow start with an action packed finish, but for me, there wasn’t enough buildup between the two ends of the spectrum so it felt disjointed.
At the end of this read I was really left wanting more of the mysterious house and POVs from the original Volt sisters to help tie in the history of the island and what was occurring on it more strongly. Though, overall I enjoyed myself while listening to this read.
Thanks NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux from the ARC of this book.
Before the Devil Knows You're Here by Autumn Krause
dark
3.75
*Light spoilers ahead?*
I must have picked up this book because of the cover or title or I must have simply forgotten the plot before I got around to reading it, because when I caught on that it was a Johnny Appleseed/Paul Bunyan retelling the excitement that burst out of me… A folk horror story about deals with the devil and folk American figures I grew up with? Yes. And as a upstate New Yorker, the constant apple talk stole my heart.
This story was the perfect blend of prose and folk horror that I typically look for in a book. It could have been a bit darker for my taste, but it certainly had a spooky vibe throughout. I just loved the fakes on each characters personality and backstory - Paul Bunyan a chivalrous defender, Johnny Appleseed a regretful man blinded by ambition, and the Devil an trickster banker.
Things I could have had more of include more relationship development scenes between Catalina and Paul, more Johnny flashbacks (but I’m just a sucker for a story told though flashbacks), and more drawn out obstacles - especially the ending. I felt that while the story is told over several decades, it would have made more sense for more timeline distance between Catalina’s and Johnny’s stories. I also felt like many of the obstacles in the book felt took quickly solved, especially the ending - this book could have been a much longer epic of a story if it wanted to be. And lastly, for a book that claims to be about a poet main character, there was decided little poetry involved.
Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC of this book.
I must have picked up this book because of the cover or title or I must have simply forgotten the plot before I got around to reading it, because when I caught on that it was a Johnny Appleseed/Paul Bunyan retelling the excitement that burst out of me… A folk horror story about deals with the devil and folk American figures I grew up with? Yes. And as a upstate New Yorker, the constant apple talk stole my heart.
This story was the perfect blend of prose and folk horror that I typically look for in a book. It could have been a bit darker for my taste, but it certainly had a spooky vibe throughout. I just loved the fakes on each characters personality and backstory - Paul Bunyan a chivalrous defender, Johnny Appleseed a regretful man blinded by ambition, and the Devil an trickster banker.
Things I could have had more of include more relationship development scenes between Catalina and Paul, more Johnny flashbacks (but I’m just a sucker for a story told though flashbacks), and more drawn out obstacles - especially the ending. I felt that while the story is told over several decades, it would have made more sense for more timeline distance between Catalina’s and Johnny’s stories. I also felt like many of the obstacles in the book felt took quickly solved, especially the ending - this book could have been a much longer epic of a story if it wanted to be. And lastly, for a book that claims to be about a poet main character, there was decided little poetry involved.
Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC of this book.
The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
dark
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
4.5
What a dark little tale that will leave you with a wicked grin.
This is me sticking my toe into the water that is the works of Silvia Moreno-Garcia (I know - I’ve been sleeping on this author and I get it now) AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR MORE!
For such a short story, this tale pulled me in quickly and left me feeling like I deeply knew these characters. The author real knows how to get into the inner workings and root aspects of a person that let you see them so clearly. And there’s just something about the chosen dialogue in this story that not only had me giggling mischievously, but let me picture the characters personalities and physical quirks so clearly.
If you’re looking for something short and wicked that will leave you feeling deliciously smug at the end, The Lover is your book.
Thanks NetGalley and Amazon Original Stores for and ARC of this read.
This is me sticking my toe into the water that is the works of Silvia Moreno-Garcia (I know - I’ve been sleeping on this author and I get it now) AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR MORE!
For such a short story, this tale pulled me in quickly and left me feeling like I deeply knew these characters. The author real knows how to get into the inner workings and root aspects of a person that let you see them so clearly. And there’s just something about the chosen dialogue in this story that not only had me giggling mischievously, but let me picture the characters personalities and physical quirks so clearly.
If you’re looking for something short and wicked that will leave you feeling deliciously smug at the end, The Lover is your book.
Thanks NetGalley and Amazon Original Stores for and ARC of this read.
Unfamiliar, Volume 2 by Haley Newsome
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Winston, always the voice of reason, always stealing my heart with is tiny cuteness.
I loved this second volume of Unfamiliar. The story picked up right where the first volume left off. In this volume we follow more personal struggle and growth story, but mainly focusing on Sun and Babs this time. I loved to see the little unexpected twist ending I was not expecting too!
I highly enjoyed this read and will be keeping my eye out for future works from this artist.
Thanks NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an ARC of this volume.
I loved this second volume of Unfamiliar. The story picked up right where the first volume left off. In this volume we follow more personal struggle and growth story, but mainly focusing on Sun and Babs this time. I loved to see the little unexpected twist ending I was not expecting too!
I highly enjoyed this read and will be keeping my eye out for future works from this artist.
Thanks NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an ARC of this volume.