poisoned_icecream's reviews
2023 reviews

MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & Mysterious by MrBallen

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adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious reflective
I've only started listening to MrBallen's podcast this year and have been enjoying it, so I knew I had to read this book. There are some disturbing and strange stories in the comic. For instance one is about a giant, and another is about a woman who had a nightmare about thorns piercing her head. The story about a beast and a soft-hearted, "cowardly" child who stood up to it is the only I didn't care for, as it seems too much of an urban legend. All of these are supposed to be true, and while I'm not sure I believe them, I don't dismiss them either. They're all intriguing and captivating, and the illustrations are absolutely exquisite.
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The Pale House Devil by Richard Kadrey

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adventurous dark 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? Yes
Ford is a living hitman, and his partner Neuland is undead. When they fail to complete a job, they flee to California. When they reach California, they meet Tilda, who tells them that her great-grandfather wants them to kill a devil that lives in their old house. This was fun and often funny despite some typos and some cringe dialogue. There were also times when I got frustrated at Tilda. I am still looking forward to the sequel and reading more of Ford and Neuland's adventures.
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Thunderbird: Book Two by Sonia Nimr

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-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
After Noor got the feather at the end of the first book, she gets sent to 1177 in Jerusalem during the Crusades. She makes new friends, one of whom is Zainab, a girl who can make herself invisible. She helps them save some books from being burned before finding the next bird. Sonia Nimr is a good writer and Lynx Qualey does an excellent job at translating this story. I'm really enjoying this series and can't wait to read more of Noor's adventures.
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Human Sacrifices by María Fernanda Ampuero

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
None of these stories were easy to read. There is a lot of brutality and cruelty, but they also have much empathy for the flawed and often insufferable characters. Some are terrifying and others are heartbreaking. They are all going to stick with me for the rest of my life. I am definitely going to read more from this author.
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The Green-Eyed Monster: A Chilling Tale of Terror by Mike Robinson

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challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Interesting and weird book about Martin Smith and John Becker. They are both writers whose stories are eerily similar to each other. It starts with John Becker dead in Martin Smith's home, and then goes into the story of their birth and childhood. Strange and unfortunate things happen to everyone who encounters Becker and Smith.There are multiple povs which got confusing at times. Overall I liked this book and will someday read the next book.
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A Lonely Broadcast: Book One by Kel Byron

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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
This is such a wonderful book. I had a great time reading it and didn't want it to end. It is about Evelyn, who thinks she's just a radio host for an isolated radio station, until she learns its true purpose is to serve as a watchtower for the creatures in the woods. Fortunately she is joined by Daniel, with whom she becomes close friends. The banter between Evelyn and Daniel was adorable and their friendship was so endearing. They both suffer physical injuries and trauma as a result of their job, but they stick together to focus on their responsibility. I adore this book and am so excited to read the sequel.
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Strange Pictures by Uketsu

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challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
I regret listening to the hype for this book. The premise is intriguing but it was not enough for me to like it. I'm glad I at least I borrowed a digital copy from the library, because I have no interest in reading this again and I won't be seeking out more this author.
The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The Haddesley family believes they are meant to care for the cranberry bog. The bog is also supposed to provide a wife for the oldest son and then carry on the family name. When their father dies, the five Haddesley siblings, who are all adults, are left with just each other after the bog fails to produce a wife for the oldest son.

This is such a beautiful, compelling, and dreamy book. The descriptions of the bog were so vivid. None of the characters are likable but they're interesting and well-written.
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A Horse at Night: On Writing by Amina Cain

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informative reflective
This book was such a joy to read. The essays are so thoughtful and interesting. Anyone who enjoys reading books may appreciate this.
We Are Here to Hurt Each Other by Paula D. Ashe

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense
These stories are so gross and disturbing, and yet they're written with so much empathy and compassion for the flawed and traumatized characters. Paula D. Ashe is a talented writer and I'm always eager to read anything by her.
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