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queer_bookwyrm's reviews
499 reviews
Bravely (Disney) by Maggie Stiefvater
adventurous
hopeful
medium-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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: Death mentions
Bravely by Maggie Steifvater is a historical fantasy based on the Disney movie Brave, following Merida. This was a fun, light read, which was a perfect palette cleanser for all the horror I've been reading.
We follow Merida after her travels around Scotland a few years after the events of the movie. She is alerted by a knocking that makes her catch someone in the courtyard about to remove their gloves. She gives chase into the woods and discovers he is the god Feradoch, the god of ruin. DunBroch has become stagnant, and stagnation requires change and destruction, so something new may take its place. When the goddess Cailleach appears, an ancient entity of creation, Merida makes a bargain with the two of them. Get DunBroch to sufficiently change within the year, and spare them ruin. It's up to Merida to get her parents and siblings to change enough to shift the balance.
This was a great human versus nature story. Here we are that ruin isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes it is necessary in order to let other things grow or to spur someone to do a thing they wouldn't otherwise have done. Feradoch makes it clear that change happens from within, not just superficially. I loved the push and pull between Merida and Feradoch. Merida is still fiery and impossible and unable to sit still. We get to learn so much more about her mother and the triplets. They each get their own distinct personalities and arcs.
I love the concept of a god of ruin and a god of creation working in tandem to keep the necessary balance, no matter how difficult it is to bring about ruin. I loved Feradoch 's character. He was both mysterious and sympathetic. We get kind of a bittersweet ending that makes me wish for a second book.
If you enjoyed the movie Brave and enjoy Celtic fairy tales, this is a great story for you. Plus we get Maggie Stiefvater's classic writing style.
Bravely by Maggie Steifvater is a historical fantasy based on the Disney movie Brave, following Merida. This was a fun, light read, which was a perfect palette cleanser for all the horror I've been reading.
We follow Merida after her travels around Scotland a few years after the events of the movie. She is alerted by a knocking that makes her catch someone in the courtyard about to remove their gloves. She gives chase into the woods and discovers he is the god Feradoch, the god of ruin. DunBroch has become stagnant, and stagnation requires change and destruction, so something new may take its place. When the goddess Cailleach appears, an ancient entity of creation, Merida makes a bargain with the two of them. Get DunBroch to sufficiently change within the year, and spare them ruin. It's up to Merida to get her parents and siblings to change enough to shift the balance.
This was a great human versus nature story. Here we are that ruin isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes it is necessary in order to let other things grow or to spur someone to do a thing they wouldn't otherwise have done. Feradoch makes it clear that change happens from within, not just superficially. I loved the push and pull between Merida and Feradoch. Merida is still fiery and impossible and unable to sit still. We get to learn so much more about her mother and the triplets. They each get their own distinct personalities and arcs.
I love the concept of a god of ruin and a god of creation working in tandem to keep the necessary balance, no matter how difficult it is to bring about ruin. I loved Feradoch 's character. He was both mysterious and sympathetic. We get kind of a bittersweet ending that makes me wish for a second book.
If you enjoyed the movie Brave and enjoy Celtic fairy tales, this is a great story for you. Plus we get Maggie Stiefvater's classic writing style.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
Memoriam by Jeremy Ray
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
2.5 ⭐ CW: (provided by the author) alcohol and drug use, animal harm, blood, gore, body horror, bullying, cannibalism, child abuse, clowns, death, death of a child, death of a parent, domestic violence, forced pregnancy, gun violence, homophobia, infanticide, kidnapping, miscarriage, misogyny, parricide, pregnancy, racism, self-harm, sexual assault, slut shaming, snakes, strong language, theft, underage drinking, vandalism, violence
Memoriam by Jeremy Ray is a horror set in the 1950s. I received a free e-book copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I've been really into horror lately, but this wasn't it for me.
We follow Johnny, a 19 year old, vain greaser who fancies himself a rebel. Every full moon he and his friends go up to Flattop Mountain to drink stolen booze, but this particular night, things get weird. Johnny is also plagued by nightmares and visions that seem to get worse as the night goes on. Before they only ended with his death, now his visions show his friends' deaths. When they get to Flattop Mountain, they discover a circus they have never heard of is happening. Things are lurking in the woods, what's in the tent isn't what they expect. It's more than just creepy clowns.
This book was just way too long. Honestly, it should been 200 pages shorter. It just felt like the author kept adding things and gave it a "and then this happened and this happened--oh and another thing!" Vibe. The story lacked direction and purpose. I like my horror to have some sort of allegory, but this just seemed to be some wild, gorey shit. The pacing was really off in the middle as well. It got really slow and had more tell than show elements. So many of the chapters were just dialogue.
There was an attempt at some interesting world-building aspects with the trolls and their creation story, but I just felt like it didn't pay off for the story. If that hadn't been there at all it wouldn't have affected the story. The author did say at the beginning of the book that the story was born out of a dream he had, and that he wanted to keep all the elements from it in there, but he probably should have edited it down a bit more.
It was a bit disappointing considering I absolutely loved his story The Houseplant. If you're looking for a very weird and gorey read with lots of clown imagery, I guess this might work for you. This book is out now, but only until December 31st.
Memoriam by Jeremy Ray is a horror set in the 1950s. I received a free e-book copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I've been really into horror lately, but this wasn't it for me.
We follow Johnny, a 19 year old, vain greaser who fancies himself a rebel. Every full moon he and his friends go up to Flattop Mountain to drink stolen booze, but this particular night, things get weird. Johnny is also plagued by nightmares and visions that seem to get worse as the night goes on. Before they only ended with his death, now his visions show his friends' deaths. When they get to Flattop Mountain, they discover a circus they have never heard of is happening. Things are lurking in the woods, what's in the tent isn't what they expect. It's more than just creepy clowns.
This book was just way too long. Honestly, it should been 200 pages shorter. It just felt like the author kept adding things and gave it a "and then this happened and this happened--oh and another thing!" Vibe. The story lacked direction and purpose. I like my horror to have some sort of allegory, but this just seemed to be some wild, gorey shit. The pacing was really off in the middle as well. It got really slow and had more tell than show elements. So many of the chapters were just dialogue.
There was an attempt at some interesting world-building aspects with the trolls and their creation story, but I just felt like it didn't pay off for the story. If that hadn't been there at all it wouldn't have affected the story. The author did say at the beginning of the book that the story was born out of a dream he had, and that he wanted to keep all the elements from it in there, but he probably should have edited it down a bit more.
It was a bit disappointing considering I absolutely loved his story The Houseplant. If you're looking for a very weird and gorey read with lots of clown imagery, I guess this might work for you. This book is out now, but only until December 31st.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Self harm, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson is a standalone fantasy that is a sweeping romance between a mortal and a Fair One (faerie). This is the third book by this author I've read, although enjoyable, it wasn't my favorite of her work. This one was heavier on the romance side of things.
We follow Isobel, a master in the Craft of painting portraits for Fair Folk in the village of Whimsy, a town permanently experiencing summer. In this world, only mortals have the ability to create things (art, writing, clothing, food, etc.). If a human is good enough at their Craft, sometimes the Fair Folk will offer immortality to them by inviting them to drink from the Green Well. Isobel is so good at her Craft that Fair Ones seek her out to do their portraits. When the Autumn Prince, Rook, is referred to her by one of her most loyal patrons, she is struck by him right away. When he finally sees the portrait of himself, he is infuriated, and snatches her away in the hopes of putting her on trial at his court in order to regain his reputation. Things do not go as planned.
This was a beautiful, sweeping story, full of opulent descriptions of nature and the seasons. With Isobel 's perspective as a painter we get some wonderful ways of seeing emotion and color described. Isobel's Craft seems to have a profound and unexpected effect on the Fair Folk that could turn out to be a blessing or a curse. Rook and Isobel are forced to rely on each other for survival, and they develop a bond that could potentially break the Good Law.
I really enjoyed the magic of the Fair Folk with their glamours and illusions. They are terrifyingly beautiful. I also loved the juxtaposition of all the verdant imagery with the putrid and rotting imagery. Both are essential parts of nature. I absolutely loved March and May, Isobel's twin sisters. I wish we had gotten to see more of them. Lark was also a wonderful side character. To be honest, I wasn't 100% sold on the romance between Rook and Isobel, it just felt like it was there to be convenient to the plot.
You should read this if you love lush descriptions, fairies, and doomed romances.
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson is a standalone fantasy that is a sweeping romance between a mortal and a Fair One (faerie). This is the third book by this author I've read, although enjoyable, it wasn't my favorite of her work. This one was heavier on the romance side of things.
We follow Isobel, a master in the Craft of painting portraits for Fair Folk in the village of Whimsy, a town permanently experiencing summer. In this world, only mortals have the ability to create things (art, writing, clothing, food, etc.). If a human is good enough at their Craft, sometimes the Fair Folk will offer immortality to them by inviting them to drink from the Green Well. Isobel is so good at her Craft that Fair Ones seek her out to do their portraits. When the Autumn Prince, Rook, is referred to her by one of her most loyal patrons, she is struck by him right away. When he finally sees the portrait of himself, he is infuriated, and snatches her away in the hopes of putting her on trial at his court in order to regain his reputation. Things do not go as planned.
This was a beautiful, sweeping story, full of opulent descriptions of nature and the seasons. With Isobel 's perspective as a painter we get some wonderful ways of seeing emotion and color described. Isobel's Craft seems to have a profound and unexpected effect on the Fair Folk that could turn out to be a blessing or a curse. Rook and Isobel are forced to rely on each other for survival, and they develop a bond that could potentially break the Good Law.
I really enjoyed the magic of the Fair Folk with their glamours and illusions. They are terrifyingly beautiful. I also loved the juxtaposition of all the verdant imagery with the putrid and rotting imagery. Both are essential parts of nature. I absolutely loved March and May, Isobel's twin sisters. I wish we had gotten to see more of them. Lark was also a wonderful side character. To be honest, I wasn't 100% sold on the romance between Rook and Isobel, it just felt like it was there to be convenient to the plot.
You should read this if you love lush descriptions, fairies, and doomed romances.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 ⭐
Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw is the sequel to Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas. This was a fun, light read, perfect for Halloween. I love that Sally has gotten her own story!
We follow Sally after the events of the movie when she has married Jack Skellington, and becomes the Pumpkin Queen. Sally wanted nothing but her freedom when she was confined by Dr. Finkelstein, and is elated that she now gets to spend her life with her one true love. However, being married to Jack isn't as easy as she thought it would be. The demands of being a queen are a heavy burden to bear, with expectations that chafe at her free will.
We get to learn more about the other holiday realms from the movie. Sally and Jack visit Valentine's Town for their honeymoon. I'm glad we got more worldbuilding, even though it was a pretty brief foray into each realm. We finally get to learn more about Sally's backstory! When Sally escapes to the grove with the holiday trees to escape the pressures of being the Pumpkin Queen, she and Zero stumble upon another tree, forgotten and blocked with weeds. She accidentally leaves it open unleashing a monster into Halloween Town that puts everyone (including Jack) into a death like sleep they cannot wake from. Sally must find a way to wake everyone up and come to terms with her role as Queen.
Honestly, I didn't think this was terribly deep, but we get to revisit a beloved world and characters, and get the holiday realms expanded upon. Sally's lesson in the story is about creating your own expectations and rules for being in her role as Queen. She doesn't need to be like other queens or be what everyone in Halloween Town expects. She discovers her own strengths and belonging. Definitely a good read if you ever wanted to learn more about Sally in a story that gives her more agency.
Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw is the sequel to Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas. This was a fun, light read, perfect for Halloween. I love that Sally has gotten her own story!
We follow Sally after the events of the movie when she has married Jack Skellington, and becomes the Pumpkin Queen. Sally wanted nothing but her freedom when she was confined by Dr. Finkelstein, and is elated that she now gets to spend her life with her one true love. However, being married to Jack isn't as easy as she thought it would be. The demands of being a queen are a heavy burden to bear, with expectations that chafe at her free will.
We get to learn more about the other holiday realms from the movie. Sally and Jack visit Valentine's Town for their honeymoon. I'm glad we got more worldbuilding, even though it was a pretty brief foray into each realm. We finally get to learn more about Sally's backstory! When Sally escapes to the grove with the holiday trees to escape the pressures of being the Pumpkin Queen, she and Zero stumble upon another tree, forgotten and blocked with weeds. She accidentally leaves it open unleashing a monster into Halloween Town that puts everyone (including Jack) into a death like sleep they cannot wake from. Sally must find a way to wake everyone up and come to terms with her role as Queen.
Honestly, I didn't think this was terribly deep, but we get to revisit a beloved world and characters, and get the holiday realms expanded upon. Sally's lesson in the story is about creating your own expectations and rules for being in her role as Queen. She doesn't need to be like other queens or be what everyone in Halloween Town expects. She discovers her own strengths and belonging. Definitely a good read if you ever wanted to learn more about Sally in a story that gives her more agency.
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 ⭐ CW: death, death of an animal, underage drinking, minor sexual content
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee is a YA thriller about a girl's boarding school with a history of witchcraft and gruesome murders. This was a good book, but a slow read for a thriller.
We follow Felicity Morrow at Dalloway School upon her return from her leave of absence the previous year. Felicity had been admitted to a mental healthcare facility after the death of her ex-girlfriend. She had become obsessed with the Dalloway Five, a group of students from the 1700s that were accused of witchcraft and all died in gruesome, inexplicable ways. Felicity's fixation of witchcraft and ghosts, makes her a bit of an unreliable narrator. She is drawn back into old patterns when writing prodigy Ellis Haley shows up asking Felicity to help her research the Dalloway Five.
This was a great atmospheric read for fall. It's perfect dark academia down to the aesthetics of tweed, elbow patches, and wealthy girls with a disdain for technology who think themselves superior for reading classic works for fiction. Felicity's thesis project is pretty meta in this story. She is doing on how the depictions of mental illness are used to build suspense and a sense of mistrust, and conflation of magic and madness in female characteristics. That's definitely what is going on in this book. You constantly question Felicity's stability, and whether magic is real or if she is just losing it.
There are a lot of themes about mental illness and how women in fiction are depicted with it. Ellis Haley makes for a compelling character as well. I do wish it had moved along a little quicker with less focus on Felicity's apparent haunting, but it was clearly meant to make the reader question things. All in all, it was pretty messed up what happened.
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee is a YA thriller about a girl's boarding school with a history of witchcraft and gruesome murders. This was a good book, but a slow read for a thriller.
We follow Felicity Morrow at Dalloway School upon her return from her leave of absence the previous year. Felicity had been admitted to a mental healthcare facility after the death of her ex-girlfriend. She had become obsessed with the Dalloway Five, a group of students from the 1700s that were accused of witchcraft and all died in gruesome, inexplicable ways. Felicity's fixation of witchcraft and ghosts, makes her a bit of an unreliable narrator. She is drawn back into old patterns when writing prodigy Ellis Haley shows up asking Felicity to help her research the Dalloway Five.
This was a great atmospheric read for fall. It's perfect dark academia down to the aesthetics of tweed, elbow patches, and wealthy girls with a disdain for technology who think themselves superior for reading classic works for fiction. Felicity's thesis project is pretty meta in this story. She is doing on how the depictions of mental illness are used to build suspense and a sense of mistrust, and conflation of magic and madness in female characteristics. That's definitely what is going on in this book. You constantly question Felicity's stability, and whether magic is real or if she is just losing it.
There are a lot of themes about mental illness and how women in fiction are depicted with it. Ellis Haley makes for a compelling character as well. I do wish it had moved along a little quicker with less focus on Felicity's apparent haunting, but it was clearly meant to make the reader question things. All in all, it was pretty messed up what happened.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Big Bad by Lily Anderson
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
medium-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
3.0
3 ⭐ CW: Violence, blood, death
Big Bad by Lily Anderson is a novel from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe. This was not an incredibly deep or thoughtful read, but it certainly was fun. This is great for fans of BtVS.
We follow Jonathan, part of the Trio of Losers in Demondale, in a dimension where the mayor has blocked out the Sun and Sunnydale has been turned into a full on Hell colony with demons and vamps able to walk around at all times of day. Warren is accidentally killed during his attempt at demon ascension by Buffy when she is transported to this dimension that isn't her own. While there, she manages to steal some magical relics that allow her to erase any Hell on Earth dimension. Jonathan and Andrew become part of an unlikely group to stop the slayer and protect their dimension.
It was pretty fun to see a topsy-turvy version of Sunnydale where the demons rule, and the slayer is essentially the "bad guy." We get to see some old favorites from Anya, Angel, Spike, Drusilla, and Willow, along with some cameos from some of our favorite villains. The only real message from the story was about Jonathan and Andrew learning that Warren was a jerk, and that they shouldn't be such pitiful cowards all the time. Like I said, not terribly deep, but a fun romp all the same.
Big Bad by Lily Anderson is a novel from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe. This was not an incredibly deep or thoughtful read, but it certainly was fun. This is great for fans of BtVS.
We follow Jonathan, part of the Trio of Losers in Demondale, in a dimension where the mayor has blocked out the Sun and Sunnydale has been turned into a full on Hell colony with demons and vamps able to walk around at all times of day. Warren is accidentally killed during his attempt at demon ascension by Buffy when she is transported to this dimension that isn't her own. While there, she manages to steal some magical relics that allow her to erase any Hell on Earth dimension. Jonathan and Andrew become part of an unlikely group to stop the slayer and protect their dimension.
It was pretty fun to see a topsy-turvy version of Sunnydale where the demons rule, and the slayer is essentially the "bad guy." We get to see some old favorites from Anya, Angel, Spike, Drusilla, and Willow, along with some cameos from some of our favorite villains. The only real message from the story was about Jonathan and Andrew learning that Warren was a jerk, and that they shouldn't be such pitiful cowards all the time. Like I said, not terribly deep, but a fun romp all the same.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
5.0
5 ⭐ CW: (provided by the author) childhood sexual assault (off page, some details discussed), childhood physical abuse (corporal punishment, off page, described), childhood physical abuse (confinement punishment), childhood neglect, gaslighting, grooming, suicide (off page, mention), death of an animal (off page, described), discussions of fatphobia, body horror/gore, violence, death
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury is a standalone YA horror that was absolutely excellent. This book has me in a vice grip the entire time. I think this is the first horror book I've ever given five stars to. This is what I want from the horror genre.
We follow two perspectives: Daisy, a troubled girl who can see ghosts and whose mother inherits a huge mansion in northern Ontario. Daisy is looking forward to being out of Toronto to escape the thoughts of being dumped by her boyfriend, but she quickly finds out that there is something up with the house, and her mom is keeping some major secrets. And Brittany ten years later, who helps run a popular web series called Haunted. She is desperate to get out from under her own mother's thumb and the fame her mother has garnered with her book, "Miracle Mansion." She gets wrapped up in her pursuit of what really happened in that mansion with Daisy and to expose the monsters that hide in plain sight.
There is so much I loved about this book. The feeling of dread and suspense was executed perfectly, and made me want to keep reading past my bed time. The complicated mother-daughter relationships. We see two very different (but in some ways similar) relationship dynamics between Daisy and her mom and Brittany and her mom. I love that Brittany's focus for the web series was Forgotten Black Girls. It really makes it clear that the public doesn't like seeing our faces on the news. How many true crime documentaries are there about white women and girls, and how many are about Black women and girls? The answer is almost none.
We also get a heartbreaking story about abuse, and the people who let it happen and turn a blind eye. There were a few reveals I guessed pretty early on, but there were plenty of other twists I didn't see coming until the two timelines converged. The back and forth of Daisy's story and Brittany's was a great way to do that. We also get some really great plant imagery (where my plant people at?!) and creepy birds. The house itself was its own sinister character that would have had me running.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Liselle Sambury is amazing. I already love her Blood Like Magic duology, but now I will actively be looking for her other books.
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury is a standalone YA horror that was absolutely excellent. This book has me in a vice grip the entire time. I think this is the first horror book I've ever given five stars to. This is what I want from the horror genre.
We follow two perspectives: Daisy, a troubled girl who can see ghosts and whose mother inherits a huge mansion in northern Ontario. Daisy is looking forward to being out of Toronto to escape the thoughts of being dumped by her boyfriend, but she quickly finds out that there is something up with the house, and her mom is keeping some major secrets. And Brittany ten years later, who helps run a popular web series called Haunted. She is desperate to get out from under her own mother's thumb and the fame her mother has garnered with her book, "Miracle Mansion." She gets wrapped up in her pursuit of what really happened in that mansion with Daisy and to expose the monsters that hide in plain sight.
There is so much I loved about this book. The feeling of dread and suspense was executed perfectly, and made me want to keep reading past my bed time. The complicated mother-daughter relationships. We see two very different (but in some ways similar) relationship dynamics between Daisy and her mom and Brittany and her mom. I love that Brittany's focus for the web series was Forgotten Black Girls. It really makes it clear that the public doesn't like seeing our faces on the news. How many true crime documentaries are there about white women and girls, and how many are about Black women and girls? The answer is almost none.
We also get a heartbreaking story about abuse, and the people who let it happen and turn a blind eye. There were a few reveals I guessed pretty early on, but there were plenty of other twists I didn't see coming until the two timelines converged. The back and forth of Daisy's story and Brittany's was a great way to do that. We also get some really great plant imagery (where my plant people at?!) and creepy birds. The house itself was its own sinister character that would have had me running.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Liselle Sambury is amazing. I already love her Blood Like Magic duology, but now I will actively be looking for her other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault
Minor: Death, Fatphobia, and Suicide
The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
2.5 ⭐ CW: foster care, child abuse and neglect mentions, death of a child, grief
The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers is YA mystery I got in a box of random books a cousin gave me. I did not enjoy this book. To be honest it probably would have gotten three stars, but the ending really ruined it for me. Spoilers ahead.
We follow Jocelyn, a teen in foster care whose twin brother Jack has died. When she gets a letter from Jason December, Jack's childhood code name, she goes back to the first foster home they were in together, Seale House, to find more clues he left for her. Convinced Jack is still alive, she meets up with Noah, a boy they were friends with at Seale House to help figure out the clues, riddles, and ciphers, along with their budding romance.
This story just did not grab me. The foster care background story should have made me feel something, but it didn't. The mystery itself just wasn't it for me either. If you're looking for a good mystery with clues, puzzles and riddles, read The Inheritance Games instead. Like I said before, this was going to get three stars, because although I wasn't loving it, it was terrible enough to dnf. That ending though really put the nail in the coffin.
To end the story with the reveal that Jack had been dead the whole time, and for five years at that, and then to give Jocelyn multiple personalities or dissociative identity disorder where she essentially was Jack was stupid. Even more stupid was that she also had telekinetic abilities? It all seemed way too convenient. Those things really just undermined the theme of letting go of your past and moving through trauma. It also didn't make any of the logistics of the clues and their placements make any sense.
I have another book by this author, but I think I'm all set.
The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers is YA mystery I got in a box of random books a cousin gave me. I did not enjoy this book. To be honest it probably would have gotten three stars, but the ending really ruined it for me. Spoilers ahead.
We follow Jocelyn, a teen in foster care whose twin brother Jack has died. When she gets a letter from Jason December, Jack's childhood code name, she goes back to the first foster home they were in together, Seale House, to find more clues he left for her. Convinced Jack is still alive, she meets up with Noah, a boy they were friends with at Seale House to help figure out the clues, riddles, and ciphers, along with their budding romance.
This story just did not grab me. The foster care background story should have made me feel something, but it didn't. The mystery itself just wasn't it for me either. If you're looking for a good mystery with clues, puzzles and riddles, read The Inheritance Games instead. Like I said before, this was going to get three stars, because although I wasn't loving it, it was terrible enough to dnf. That ending though really put the nail in the coffin.
I have another book by this author, but I think I'm all set.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Grief
Minor: Child abuse
The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, child death mentions, child sexual abuse mentions, death, death of a parent, self-harm
The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco is book one in the Girl from the Well duology. This was a YA horror book based on the Japanese ghost story of Okiku, the same story that The Ring is based on. This was incredibly creepy and the perfect spooky season read. If it were a movie, I'd be too much of a wimp to watch it lol.
We follow the ghost of Okiku, a vengeful spirit who preys on men who have harmed and killed children. The spirits of the children they killed are chained to their backs until the ghost frees them. This is her only goal until she encounters Tark, a 15 year old boy with seals tattooed on his skin and is haunted by another much more evil spirit. Tark and his cousin Callie travel to Japan to fulfill his mother's wish of returning to a temple to hopefully rid him of the evil spirit.
I really liked learning about some ancient Japanese rituals and ghost stories. Okiku is a compelling character with a sad backstory, and has a noble cause. Though the deaths she inflicts are gruesome, it is saved for those who have inflicted worse on other children. The entire point of view is from the ghost's perspective, which made for an interesting storytelling device.
Read this if you like The Ring, vengeful spirits, exorcisms, and creepy kids.
The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco is book one in the Girl from the Well duology. This was a YA horror book based on the Japanese ghost story of Okiku, the same story that The Ring is based on. This was incredibly creepy and the perfect spooky season read. If it were a movie, I'd be too much of a wimp to watch it lol.
We follow the ghost of Okiku, a vengeful spirit who preys on men who have harmed and killed children. The spirits of the children they killed are chained to their backs until the ghost frees them. This is her only goal until she encounters Tark, a 15 year old boy with seals tattooed on his skin and is haunted by another much more evil spirit. Tark and his cousin Callie travel to Japan to fulfill his mother's wish of returning to a temple to hopefully rid him of the evil spirit.
I really liked learning about some ancient Japanese rituals and ghost stories. Okiku is a compelling character with a sad backstory, and has a noble cause. Though the deaths she inflicts are gruesome, it is saved for those who have inflicted worse on other children. The entire point of view is from the ghost's perspective, which made for an interesting storytelling device.
Read this if you like The Ring, vengeful spirits, exorcisms, and creepy kids.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death of parent
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child death and Sexual violence
The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn
adventurous
dark
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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, child abuse mention, cursing
The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn is a standalone fantasy MLM romance set 300 years in the future after a cataclysmic event known as the 'Incident.' I was gifted this e-Arc by the author in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would. I love the character centered nature of the story and the unexpected setting.
We follow Orpheus, royal mage to Queen Lore, who considers himself a villain. He's your typical grump that really only wants to be loved. Orpheus has cursed himself by casting a spell and creating spell driven machines so powerful it must have had some blow back. He is banished from the palace as a result. To his chagrin, he is accompanied by Lore's General, the handsome and cheerful Fenrir Rawkner. We have a real grumpy/sunshine situation.
As Orpheus leaves the palace for the first time in his life and witnesses the damage his magic has caused in the hands of Lore, he begins to feel guilt and shame for his part in it. He feels like the villain more than ever. What he doesn't expect is his growing relationship with Fenrir, who constantly teases him and makes him feel wanted. Orpheus finally figures out what the crack at the heart of everything is, and resolves to fix it, even if it means his death.
I really liked the banter in this between Orpheus and Fenrir. Orpheus just really needs a hug and to be treated like a human being. He's like a dark little cinnamon roll. I was a little confused at first about where the story takes place. I assumed it was a fantasy world, but there are references to Greek mythology and modern technology. It was almost fantasy steampunk. I like the blending of modern technology with magic, but the whole crack to Hell and hell beasts felt a little weird. I also thought that some of the interludes that focused on Orpheus past would have been better served as a prologue to set us up. The same goes for the epilogue. It just didn't fit there. I also wish we had gotten a bit more about Life's motivation to rule the world/bring Hell to earth.
If you're looking for a cute slow burn MLM romance in a fantasy setting that doesn't have a ton of worldbuilding, I recommend this. The relationship made up for some of the holes in the setting. The characters are very good.
The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn is a standalone fantasy MLM romance set 300 years in the future after a cataclysmic event known as the 'Incident.' I was gifted this e-Arc by the author in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would. I love the character centered nature of the story and the unexpected setting.
We follow Orpheus, royal mage to Queen Lore, who considers himself a villain. He's your typical grump that really only wants to be loved. Orpheus has cursed himself by casting a spell and creating spell driven machines so powerful it must have had some blow back. He is banished from the palace as a result. To his chagrin, he is accompanied by Lore's General, the handsome and cheerful Fenrir Rawkner. We have a real grumpy/sunshine situation.
As Orpheus leaves the palace for the first time in his life and witnesses the damage his magic has caused in the hands of Lore, he begins to feel guilt and shame for his part in it. He feels like the villain more than ever. What he doesn't expect is his growing relationship with Fenrir, who constantly teases him and makes him feel wanted. Orpheus finally figures out what the crack at the heart of everything is, and resolves to fix it, even if it means his death.
I really liked the banter in this between Orpheus and Fenrir. Orpheus just really needs a hug and to be treated like a human being. He's like a dark little cinnamon roll. I was a little confused at first about where the story takes place. I assumed it was a fantasy world, but there are references to Greek mythology and modern technology. It was almost fantasy steampunk. I like the blending of modern technology with magic, but the whole crack to Hell and hell beasts felt a little weird. I also thought that some of the interludes that focused on Orpheus past would have been better served as a prologue to set us up. The same goes for the epilogue. It just didn't fit there. I also wish we had gotten a bit more about Life's motivation to rule the world/bring Hell to earth.
If you're looking for a cute slow burn MLM romance in a fantasy setting that doesn't have a ton of worldbuilding, I recommend this. The relationship made up for some of the holes in the setting. The characters are very good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death
Moderate: Cursing and Violence
Minor: Child abuse