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riley_rogers's reviews
192 reviews
Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
sad
tense
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
Fable for the End of the World is a sapphic dystopian novel set in a ravaged post-war society, reminiscent of The Hunger Games, but with a darker edge. Those in the dregs of society are suffocated by crushing debt, to the point where families can willingly choose to send their relatives to the Gauntlet to be slaughtered against the ethereal assassins – known as Angels. All for the purpose of entertaining the masses, of course.
Inesa is 17 and works at her families taxidermy shop, barely scraping by with the help of her brother, Luka. Their mother, mentally ill and addicted to buying things she doesn’t need, is consumed by debt and spends well beyond their means. As a result, her mother offers her up as a Lamb for the Gauntlet – sent to the slaughter and broadcast to millions.
“Don’t you try and make me feel guilty.” Mom’s pitch rises, and color comes into her cheeks. “It’s my right, as your mother. Neither of you would be here without me.”
Melinoë on the other hand is a man-made weapon, made to kill Lambs for the enjoyment of all those watching the livestream. She’s cold, calculating, and has never failed to kill a mark. Together, they’re pitted against one another in a stunning, brutal gauntlet – and as the timer ticks down, so does their fleeting time with each other.
However, the corporation backdrop in this is an eerie reminder of the current state of the world. Caerus controls all in this riveting dystopia – all the products you buy, what you search, what you talk about – all to sell you more products, to keep you subservient and in debt. Furthermore, the corporation backdrop was also laced with subtle feminist sentiments. Melinoë struggles with her marks, but also has the drive to continue due to the “decommissioning” process all Angels eventually go through.
“Once I realized it was a fight for survival. Every Lamb I kill is more distance between Visser and me, more distance between a final Wipe that will turn me into an empty, mindless doll, opening my legs numbly for a husband three times my age who I barely know and could never love.”
It was heartbreaking to see both sides of the story, from both perspectives. One turned more machine than human, and the other scrambling for survival in a world that spits on their lives, the only value being their death for entertainment purposes.
What I truly enjoyed about this was not only the budding romance and watching Melinoë and Inesa fall for each other against all odds; but the courageous fight they put up for each other and against Caerus. Their love for one another was sweet yet defiant, a ray of sunshine peeking through on a cloudy day.
“It’s a privilege, really, to desire, to imagine, to believe.”
The ending was left quite open, and left space for another book – potentially a series? Overall, I really enjoyed this book!
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review. *
Inesa is 17 and works at her families taxidermy shop, barely scraping by with the help of her brother, Luka. Their mother, mentally ill and addicted to buying things she doesn’t need, is consumed by debt and spends well beyond their means. As a result, her mother offers her up as a Lamb for the Gauntlet – sent to the slaughter and broadcast to millions.
“Don’t you try and make me feel guilty.” Mom’s pitch rises, and color comes into her cheeks. “It’s my right, as your mother. Neither of you would be here without me.”
Melinoë on the other hand is a man-made weapon, made to kill Lambs for the enjoyment of all those watching the livestream. She’s cold, calculating, and has never failed to kill a mark. Together, they’re pitted against one another in a stunning, brutal gauntlet – and as the timer ticks down, so does their fleeting time with each other.
However, the corporation backdrop in this is an eerie reminder of the current state of the world. Caerus controls all in this riveting dystopia – all the products you buy, what you search, what you talk about – all to sell you more products, to keep you subservient and in debt. Furthermore, the corporation backdrop was also laced with subtle feminist sentiments. Melinoë struggles with her marks, but also has the drive to continue due to the “decommissioning” process all Angels eventually go through.
“Once I realized it was a fight for survival. Every Lamb I kill is more distance between Visser and me, more distance between a final Wipe that will turn me into an empty, mindless doll, opening my legs numbly for a husband three times my age who I barely know and could never love.”
It was heartbreaking to see both sides of the story, from both perspectives. One turned more machine than human, and the other scrambling for survival in a world that spits on their lives, the only value being their death for entertainment purposes.
What I truly enjoyed about this was not only the budding romance and watching Melinoë and Inesa fall for each other against all odds; but the courageous fight they put up for each other and against Caerus. Their love for one another was sweet yet defiant, a ray of sunshine peeking through on a cloudy day.
“It’s a privilege, really, to desire, to imagine, to believe.”
The ending was left quite open, and left space for another book – potentially a series? Overall, I really enjoyed this book!
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review. *
Vacationing with the Vampire in Hallow's Cove by Lyonne Riley
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Vacationing with the Vampire is Hallow’s Cove is a Lyonne Riley classic – comfy, romantic and heartwarming with just the right amount of spice. Riley writes some of the best fictional couples I’ve had the opportunity to read – with beautiful descriptions, hearty banter, and minimal misunderstandings.
Maisie is a video game coder – it’s her life. She never takes vacations – but when a critical launch error happens, her boss forces her to take a vacation, convinced she’s overworking herself. On a whim, she books a hotel in Hallow’s Cove – a monster town with ample tourists.
Barnaby is a cranky, grumpy and honestly rude (in the beginning) vampire. Saddled with his dark past and fear of the monster lurking within, he aspires to ward Maisie off with his cold personality. Of course, Maisie is the opposite – vouching to kill him with kindness. With just the right amount of tension, the classic of the grumpy x sunshine trope is leg-kicking cute!
After requiring some apartment furnishings (because Barnaby didn’t provide a bed, or a television or COOKWARE?) their talks get deeper, and so does Barnaby’s craving for her aromatic blood. Their connection deepens – but their timeline together only grows shorter as Maisie’s vacation dwindles to an end.
Barnaby eventually warms up and leaves his icy shell, becoming the man who wants to love her, to provide for her every whim and protect her at all costs. Hello, book boyfriend!
“I know what it’s like to want to see your woman smile.”
The only thing that knocked off a star rating for me was the ending and epilogue. It felt very rushed and very short. I also didn’t care for how Maisie made a life-changing decision based solely on a man who she was with for a little over a year. I know this would have a “happy ever-after” but it was hard for me to suspend my reality on that point. However, I recognize that this is something harder to do with a novella.
Overall, a really short, cute and spicy read! I heavily recommend it!
Maisie is a video game coder – it’s her life. She never takes vacations – but when a critical launch error happens, her boss forces her to take a vacation, convinced she’s overworking herself. On a whim, she books a hotel in Hallow’s Cove – a monster town with ample tourists.
Barnaby is a cranky, grumpy and honestly rude (in the beginning) vampire. Saddled with his dark past and fear of the monster lurking within, he aspires to ward Maisie off with his cold personality. Of course, Maisie is the opposite – vouching to kill him with kindness. With just the right amount of tension, the classic of the grumpy x sunshine trope is leg-kicking cute!
After requiring some apartment furnishings (because Barnaby didn’t provide a bed, or a television or COOKWARE?) their talks get deeper, and so does Barnaby’s craving for her aromatic blood. Their connection deepens – but their timeline together only grows shorter as Maisie’s vacation dwindles to an end.
Barnaby eventually warms up and leaves his icy shell, becoming the man who wants to love her, to provide for her every whim and protect her at all costs. Hello, book boyfriend!
“I know what it’s like to want to see your woman smile.”
The only thing that knocked off a star rating for me was the ending and epilogue. It felt very rushed and very short. I also didn’t care for how Maisie made a life-changing decision based solely on a man who she was with for a little over a year. I know this would have a “happy ever-after” but it was hard for me to suspend my reality on that point. However, I recognize that this is something harder to do with a novella.
Overall, a really short, cute and spicy read! I heavily recommend it!
The Lake Escape by Jamie Day
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
The Lake Escape is a killer thriller and mystery novel, but unfortunately falls short due to uninteresting characters, an obvious motive and killer that’s far too easy to figure out.
Childhood friends return to Lake Timmeny for their annual retreat, but when Fiona, David’s new girlfriend goes missing, their hopes at a easy going escape disappear and instead turn into chaos.
The set up was for the first ~100 or so pages, or roughly ~30% of the book. I wasn’t attached to any of the characters. Nothing grabbed my attention, or truly made me want to keep reading. Julie, who feels entitled to a lake view, and is suspicious of her husband’s financials. Izzy, the sophomore college student who lied about her nanny credentials. David, who came into new money and has his girlfriend, Fiona mysteriously disappear the night after an argument. Erika and her husband were forgettable. Even more suspiciously so, the night before – Fiona and Lucas (Erika’s 18 year old son) were found kissing. Fiona is also in her 30’s! Ew. It felt unnecessary to include that, especially as it did nothing to push the plot forward.
Christian especially irked me from the beginning. While Julie herself was no saint either, he had an affair previously, blew all of their money, and she can somehow STILL forgive him? Girl, please. I’m big on the “if he wanted to, he would.” He’s definitely not giving that vibe. Case in point:
“I changed all the passwords as a precaution. It’s not big deal. Please, just get some sleep, or at least let me sleep. You’re worrying too much.”
Honestly, Izzy’s involvement was predictable. Julie mostly served as a narrator for her growing suspicions of those around her. There were some minor “plot points” that were quickly forgotten and shoved to the side as well.
I’m typically a sucker for thrillers, but I don’t care for stilted, awkward conversations. Plus, to make it worse – Day kept trying to stack up the “oohs” and “ahhs” with incredulous reveal after reveal that made NO sense, nor was it even briefly mentioned previously, but was instead brought up out of nowhere.
When the big mystery of who the killer was is revealed, I wasn’t surprised. They weren’t given much dialogue or any actions until the way end of the book. My suggestion for future books would be to include the suspicious characters more often. The less you talk about them, the more (I, as a reader!) am thinking that they’re the killer.
Then, the last ~10% or so was absolutely ridiculous. The MOB?? Come on. That’s just an easy out at that point, a last-ditch effort to make things more “thrilling.” I didn’t care for this at all and I’m quite surprised at all the positive reviews surrounding it.
Overall, not something that I’d be happy to recommend to anyone.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. *
Childhood friends return to Lake Timmeny for their annual retreat, but when Fiona, David’s new girlfriend goes missing, their hopes at a easy going escape disappear and instead turn into chaos.
The set up was for the first ~100 or so pages, or roughly ~30% of the book. I wasn’t attached to any of the characters. Nothing grabbed my attention, or truly made me want to keep reading. Julie, who feels entitled to a lake view, and is suspicious of her husband’s financials. Izzy, the sophomore college student who lied about her nanny credentials. David, who came into new money and has his girlfriend, Fiona mysteriously disappear the night after an argument. Erika and her husband were forgettable. Even more suspiciously so, the night before – Fiona and Lucas (Erika’s 18 year old son) were found kissing. Fiona is also in her 30’s! Ew. It felt unnecessary to include that, especially as it did nothing to push the plot forward.
Christian especially irked me from the beginning. While Julie herself was no saint either, he had an affair previously, blew all of their money, and she can somehow STILL forgive him? Girl, please. I’m big on the “if he wanted to, he would.” He’s definitely not giving that vibe. Case in point:
“I changed all the passwords as a precaution. It’s not big deal. Please, just get some sleep, or at least let me sleep. You’re worrying too much.”
Honestly, Izzy’s involvement was predictable. Julie mostly served as a narrator for her growing suspicions of those around her. There were some minor “plot points” that were quickly forgotten and shoved to the side as well.
I’m typically a sucker for thrillers, but I don’t care for stilted, awkward conversations. Plus, to make it worse – Day kept trying to stack up the “oohs” and “ahhs” with incredulous reveal after reveal that made NO sense, nor was it even briefly mentioned previously, but was instead brought up out of nowhere.
When the big mystery of who the killer was is revealed, I wasn’t surprised. They weren’t given much dialogue or any actions until the way end of the book. My suggestion for future books would be to include the suspicious characters more often. The less you talk about them, the more (I, as a reader!) am thinking that they’re the killer.
Then, the last ~10% or so was absolutely ridiculous. The MOB?? Come on. That’s just an easy out at that point, a last-ditch effort to make things more “thrilling.” I didn’t care for this at all and I’m quite surprised at all the positive reviews surrounding it.
Overall, not something that I’d be happy to recommend to anyone.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. *
The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Third Rule of Time Travel is a stunning, mind-bending work of science fiction.
Our main character is Beth – a fiery woman who, with the help of her now-dead husband Colson, have successfully made a time travel machine. (Although, I’d be more apt to nickname it the “memory machine” instead.) It allows a user to send their consciousness to travel through time, to a specific point. However, with three unbreakable rules.
1) Travel can occur only at destination points during the previous lifetime of the traveler.
2) It can only last for 90 seconds.
3) They can’t interact with the world.
However, as she sends herself into her past to observe – small things happen, much akin to the butterfly effect.
Combined with a suspicious CEO, as well as her natural desire for more – humanities desire for more – to harness something not meant to be utilized.
Fracassi did exceptionally well at making such subtle nuances recognizable as it all was revealed. This is a slow burn, a slow reveal, but is oh so worth the mind-blowing wait.
“Marie Elena tuts, shakes her head. “There’s always time, Beth,” she says. “It’s what you do with it that matters.””
I’m an absolute sucker for anything time-travel esque – books like “Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St. John Mandel, “This Time Tomorrow” by Emma Straub, as well as “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi are all excellent examples of time travel done well.
I’m extremely happy to say I have found another amazing time travel book to add to my recommendations list. This was an excellent book, and I’m extremely happy I was given the opportunity to read it.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.*
Our main character is Beth – a fiery woman who, with the help of her now-dead husband Colson, have successfully made a time travel machine. (Although, I’d be more apt to nickname it the “memory machine” instead.) It allows a user to send their consciousness to travel through time, to a specific point. However, with three unbreakable rules.
1) Travel can occur only at destination points during the previous lifetime of the traveler.
2) It can only last for 90 seconds.
3) They can’t interact with the world.
However, as she sends herself into her past to observe – small things happen, much akin to the butterfly effect.
Combined with a suspicious CEO, as well as her natural desire for more – humanities desire for more – to harness something not meant to be utilized.
Fracassi did exceptionally well at making such subtle nuances recognizable as it all was revealed. This is a slow burn, a slow reveal, but is oh so worth the mind-blowing wait.
“Marie Elena tuts, shakes her head. “There’s always time, Beth,” she says. “It’s what you do with it that matters.””
I’m an absolute sucker for anything time-travel esque – books like “Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St. John Mandel, “This Time Tomorrow” by Emma Straub, as well as “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi are all excellent examples of time travel done well.
I’m extremely happy to say I have found another amazing time travel book to add to my recommendations list. This was an excellent book, and I’m extremely happy I was given the opportunity to read it.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.*
Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Dominion: A Novel by Addie E. Citchens
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
[TW: Animal death, Rape, Sexual Assault, Violence, Death, Drug Abuse]
Dominion is a stunning debut novel that weaves together drama, brutality, humor, and a profound exploration of the human condition, all while detailing the fall from grace of the Winfrey family. Dominion is told through three distinct perspectives – through Priscilla, “Wonderboy’s” mother, through Diamond – Wonderboy’s lover, and an intentionally ambiguous viewpoint.
At the heart of the narrative is Wonderboy, the perfect picture of a pastors son – handsome, intelligent, sporty, friendly, and always respectful of the women around him. His family, his friends, and both Priscilla and Diamond believe he is the definition of perfect. The majority of the school would willingly throw themselves at Wonderboy, Diamond included. However, as revealed early in the prologue, they both like each other, sneaking wistful glances at each other during the Sunday sermon.
“I had heard so many things about what that child did with them lips. Merciful father, say it aint that one. Manny was special, my baby –I couldn’t bear to have him turned out by some wordly hussy.”
Of course, Priscilla wasn’t fond of Diamond, both due to her “stripper” name and her poor upbringing. Diamond didn’t grow up with the comfort of a stable home, had to scrounge for food, and faced childhood abandonment by both parents, a sharp contrast to the affluent Winfrey family. Naturally, Diamond is drawn to him regardless.
What then is detailed is the heart wrenching drama of a woman who loses herself, her sense of identity, and her passions all to a man who may not be as flawless as he seems.
“They weren’t much younger than me, but I felt ages older, maybe light-years. Old enough that a future I wasn’t ready for was staring me in the face.”
Priscilla’s inner turmoil runs parallel to Diamond, her struggles within marriage and the actions of her husband. Watching the slow reveal and descent into both knowledge and acceptance only made the conversations she had all the more raw, touching, and uncomfortable.
“On the evening of February 14, 1976, my husband explained to me that because Eve ate the apple, I would have to eat the snake. I knew in the scheme of things, this probably wasn’t so bad a thing to do, especially since this was my husband, but try as I could, I could not get comfortable with it.”
Each women directly faced different challenges from their families and their lovers. They also watched the patriarchy play – with haunting quotes such as these, marking how subservience has dominated not only society, but religion as well.
“To woman he gave a womb, and to man he gave dominion-that’s what I teach my boys because that’s what the living Word say.”
Dominion is an unforgettable read, although something I wouldn’t typically pick up off a shelf. Citchens has a stunning debut novel that masters southern diction, where dialogue flows effortlessly. Not only is it an enjoyable read, it does excellent work analyzing the human condition and the consequences of the patriarchy.
Dominion is a stunning debut novel that weaves together drama, brutality, humor, and a profound exploration of the human condition, all while detailing the fall from grace of the Winfrey family. Dominion is told through three distinct perspectives – through Priscilla, “Wonderboy’s” mother, through Diamond – Wonderboy’s lover, and an intentionally ambiguous viewpoint.
At the heart of the narrative is Wonderboy, the perfect picture of a pastors son – handsome, intelligent, sporty, friendly, and always respectful of the women around him. His family, his friends, and both Priscilla and Diamond believe he is the definition of perfect. The majority of the school would willingly throw themselves at Wonderboy, Diamond included. However, as revealed early in the prologue, they both like each other, sneaking wistful glances at each other during the Sunday sermon.
“I had heard so many things about what that child did with them lips. Merciful father, say it aint that one. Manny was special, my baby –I couldn’t bear to have him turned out by some wordly hussy.”
Of course, Priscilla wasn’t fond of Diamond, both due to her “stripper” name and her poor upbringing. Diamond didn’t grow up with the comfort of a stable home, had to scrounge for food, and faced childhood abandonment by both parents, a sharp contrast to the affluent Winfrey family. Naturally, Diamond is drawn to him regardless.
What then is detailed is the heart wrenching drama of a woman who loses herself, her sense of identity, and her passions all to a man who may not be as flawless as he seems.
“They weren’t much younger than me, but I felt ages older, maybe light-years. Old enough that a future I wasn’t ready for was staring me in the face.”
Priscilla’s inner turmoil runs parallel to Diamond, her struggles within marriage and the actions of her husband. Watching the slow reveal and descent into both knowledge and acceptance only made the conversations she had all the more raw, touching, and uncomfortable.
“On the evening of February 14, 1976, my husband explained to me that because Eve ate the apple, I would have to eat the snake. I knew in the scheme of things, this probably wasn’t so bad a thing to do, especially since this was my husband, but try as I could, I could not get comfortable with it.”
Each women directly faced different challenges from their families and their lovers. They also watched the patriarchy play – with haunting quotes such as these, marking how subservience has dominated not only society, but religion as well.
“To woman he gave a womb, and to man he gave dominion-that’s what I teach my boys because that’s what the living Word say.”
Dominion is an unforgettable read, although something I wouldn’t typically pick up off a shelf. Citchens has a stunning debut novel that masters southern diction, where dialogue flows effortlessly. Not only is it an enjoyable read, it does excellent work analyzing the human condition and the consequences of the patriarchy.
Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
1.0
Literally awful. Feel like reading 300 pages of religion bashing, misogynistic comments such as these:
"Everything about a woman is a riddle, and everything about a woman has a single solution: that is, pregnancy."
Of course! Any issue woman face is solely because they're not pregnant. A baby is *totally* the solution.
"Woman is still not capable of friendship: women are still cats, and birds too. Or in the best case, cows."
Of course! Women are compared to cows in regards to breeding. Just livestock.. smh.
I had to read this for class. It was the most religion bashing and sexist book I've read in a while. The majority of the book is a rant of how bad religion is and how bad believers are for "loving their neighbor" since it only "grows vengeance." Everyone is free to practice their religion, and Zarathustra going on a bible-like escapade to push his own ideals (hmmm.. sounds familiar?) That God is dead and we killed him. Not my cup of tea and something I will never read again.
"Everything about a woman is a riddle, and everything about a woman has a single solution: that is, pregnancy."
Of course! Any issue woman face is solely because they're not pregnant. A baby is *totally* the solution.
"Woman is still not capable of friendship: women are still cats, and birds too. Or in the best case, cows."
Of course! Women are compared to cows in regards to breeding. Just livestock.. smh.
I had to read this for class. It was the most religion bashing and sexist book I've read in a while. The majority of the book is a rant of how bad religion is and how bad believers are for "loving their neighbor" since it only "grows vengeance." Everyone is free to practice their religion, and Zarathustra going on a bible-like escapade to push his own ideals (hmmm.. sounds familiar?) That God is dead and we killed him. Not my cup of tea and something I will never read again.