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readundancies's reviews
1665 reviews
The Love Contract by Steph Vizard
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Smothermoss by Alisa Alering
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book befuddles me.
As in, I was totally and completely engrossed by the hauntingly beautiful writing of the setting and characters and the thoughts they had, but I'm also 150% positive that I have no clue what really happened plot-wise.
I am unsure of what this book is and was trying to be. I am unsure as to if both Sheila and Angie were manifestations of the madwomen trope or if they were just wildly unreliable narrators. I am unsure of where the magical realism began and ended, where the speculation lies between the veins of gothic fantasy and mad reality. I am unsure of the imagery and metaphor behind the rope that constantly chafed Sheila's neck and the tarot-like cards that spoke to Angie. I am unsure as to whether Sheila and Angie even like one another, how they coexist as sisters and strangers.
I have so many unanswered questions but I also feel sated? It feels like I experienced a fever dream that just kept hold of me until the story was finished being told to me. And I don't really know what any of it means, but I feel humbled by the experience.
Even though it's touted as a horror novel, I'm not convinced that it is. And while it has a mystery within its pages, it's very much not the focus and merely a sub-plot of the story to allow the girls' characters to be further explored. It feels literary and Gothic and speculative and it's unashamed in it's difficulty to categorize. The pace is inconsistent; slow at times, fast at others, and it all leans in very well with the ominous atmosphere that surrounds the tale - it isn't outwardly malicious but still secretive and suspicious. And it's tangible within the world-building; the imagery of how the mountains and the lands of Appalachia are alive and under constant change, pruning that which is tainted and wrong, and tending that which is healing and growing.
I don't know who this is written for, I don't know who to recommend it to, I just don't know what this novel is or even what it supposed to be. I just know that it has evoked a strong emotional response from me, and I don't regret picking it up.
As in, I was totally and completely engrossed by the hauntingly beautiful writing of the setting and characters and the thoughts they had, but I'm also 150% positive that I have no clue what really happened plot-wise.
I am unsure of what this book is and was trying to be. I am unsure as to if both Sheila and Angie were manifestations of the madwomen trope or if they were just wildly unreliable narrators. I am unsure of where the magical realism began and ended, where the speculation lies between the veins of gothic fantasy and mad reality. I am unsure of the imagery and metaphor behind the rope that constantly chafed Sheila's neck and the tarot-like cards that spoke to Angie. I am unsure as to whether Sheila and Angie even like one another, how they coexist as sisters and strangers.
I have so many unanswered questions but I also feel sated? It feels like I experienced a fever dream that just kept hold of me until the story was finished being told to me. And I don't really know what any of it means, but I feel humbled by the experience.
Even though it's touted as a horror novel, I'm not convinced that it is. And while it has a mystery within its pages, it's very much not the focus and merely a sub-plot of the story to allow the girls' characters to be further explored. It feels literary and Gothic and speculative and it's unashamed in it's difficulty to categorize. The pace is inconsistent; slow at times, fast at others, and it all leans in very well with the ominous atmosphere that surrounds the tale - it isn't outwardly malicious but still secretive and suspicious. And it's tangible within the world-building; the imagery of how the mountains and the lands of Appalachia are alive and under constant change, pruning that which is tainted and wrong, and tending that which is healing and growing.
I don't know who this is written for, I don't know who to recommend it to, I just don't know what this novel is or even what it supposed to be. I just know that it has evoked a strong emotional response from me, and I don't regret picking it up.
A True Account: Hannah Masury's Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself by Katherine Howe
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I'm not entirely sure how to string a set of cohesive thoughts to explain how I feel about this novel. It took me almost a full 8 months to get from beginning to end, but I always knew that I was drawn to it and would see it through to the end but it was gonna take a hot minute.
I definitely started the novel preferring one timeline over the other (see Hannah >>> Marian), which is pretty on brand for me and dual timeline perspectives. I mean, it's pirate over professor for me every time in terms of intrigue and interest. But as I came closer and closer to the end of the tale, I found myself appreciating Marian's perspective more than I thought I would. Because while she was an infuriating character to follow at times with her self-centred attitude and the choices she made to be passive in situations as opposed to reactive or reckless, she really did have heart when it came to Hannah's story. And it was her passion for the truth which made me come to respect her as a character by the end of the story. She never really comes into her own in terms of justice and I never really truly came to like her, but she finds justice for Hannah, and it's more impactful that way to the overall narrative.
Juggling the main themes of sexuality, coming of age, betrayal, and justice, Katherine Howe definitely held my attention with her writing, and I think she did a great job conveying the messages that she sought to discuss. And as much as I despised how certain plot-lines and characters ended up by the end (here's looking at you Kay), I think it all culminates in an ending that while not satisfying per se, is still valid and worthy of the tale overall.
This is a historical literary fiction tale that I finished a couple weeks ago and am still thinking about in spite of its qualms, so if you're at all intrigued, I think you should pick it up. I think I'm going to need a physical copy to add to my shelves because I listened to this almost entirely as an audiobook, which is not a bad way to consume this story.
I definitely started the novel preferring one timeline over the other (see Hannah >>> Marian), which is pretty on brand for me and dual timeline perspectives. I mean, it's pirate over professor for me every time in terms of intrigue and interest. But as I came closer and closer to the end of the tale, I found myself appreciating Marian's perspective more than I thought I would. Because while she was an infuriating character to follow at times with her self-centred attitude and the choices she made to be passive in situations as opposed to reactive or reckless, she really did have heart when it came to Hannah's story. And it was her passion for the truth which made me come to respect her as a character by the end of the story. She never really comes into her own in terms of justice and I never really truly came to like her, but she finds justice for Hannah, and it's more impactful that way to the overall narrative.
Juggling the main themes of sexuality, coming of age, betrayal, and justice, Katherine Howe definitely held my attention with her writing, and I think she did a great job conveying the messages that she sought to discuss. And as much as I despised how certain plot-lines and characters ended up by the end (here's looking at you Kay), I think it all culminates in an ending that while not satisfying per se, is still valid and worthy of the tale overall.
This is a historical literary fiction tale that I finished a couple weeks ago and am still thinking about in spite of its qualms, so if you're at all intrigued, I think you should pick it up. I think I'm going to need a physical copy to add to my shelves because I listened to this almost entirely as an audiobook, which is not a bad way to consume this story.
A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I liked this cute little cozy romance read enough, but it didn’t particularly wow me or knock me off my socks. It also didn’t help that I got to about the halfway mark only to come to the realization that I wasn’t exactly in the mood for a cozy low stakes romance moment. I think if you’ve read and enjoyed Talia Hibbert before, especially her The Brown Sisters series, you’ll probably really enjoy this story and I presume the series in general.
I liked the characters enough, thought the romance was fine if not a bit boring, but I found the stakes were too low for me to give much of a care about. And I think it has to do with the actual writing in conjunction with the plot and how the decision of the author to have the flashback moments down memory lane made it seem all the more erratic and jumpy when I was expecting more of a smoother and fluid pace. It just didn’t feel as cohesive as I wanted it to and I found myself struggling to press on with the story at times such that it felt like I was reading just to be done with the story, and not for the enjoyment of it all.
But I don’t regret the read. I just can’t see myself ever picking it up for a re-read or waxing poetic and pushing it onto everyone I know to pick it up themselves.
I liked the characters enough, thought the romance was fine if not a bit boring, but I found the stakes were too low for me to give much of a care about. And I think it has to do with the actual writing in conjunction with the plot and how the decision of the author to have the flashback moments down memory lane made it seem all the more erratic and jumpy when I was expecting more of a smoother and fluid pace. It just didn’t feel as cohesive as I wanted it to and I found myself struggling to press on with the story at times such that it felt like I was reading just to be done with the story, and not for the enjoyment of it all.
But I don’t regret the read. I just can’t see myself ever picking it up for a re-read or waxing poetic and pushing it onto everyone I know to pick it up themselves.
All Bets Are Off: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Alix James
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I wanted to like this more than I actually did. And it’s mainly because I didn’t love the execution in terms of how things are concluded between D&E, and I also quite disliked this rendition of Charlotte Lucas.
The premise had promise and the writing was quite good itself but the plot just did not fulfill my expectations I guess.
The premise had promise and the writing was quite good itself but the plot just did not fulfill my expectations I guess.
Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Much Ado About Margaret: A Novel by Madeleine Roux
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
4.0
Tell me the cover and the vibes does not scream Reylo in the way that The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood does not even try to hide. And the fact that the cover quote IS an Ali Hazelwood one? It’s undeniable.