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rjsetserauthor's reviews
866 reviews
Riven by Mindee Arnett
adventurous
slow-paced
3.5
"Be careful, little princess. I'm a far more experienced player in this game than you."
This book has so many things that I love: a male point of view, fake dating, an intricate fantasy world, political intrigue, forbidden magic, and noble characters pushing against the toxic norm...I mean, this book should've been my top read of 2023. But for some reason, I had to push myself all the way to the end.
I'm settling on 3.5 / 4 stars on the final rating because I really can't find a fault in the story other than I repeatedly lost interest. I'm a mood reader so there's a high possibility that I just wasn't in the mood for the story, but it took me about 7 months to get through this. I loved Mars and how the book was told exclusively from his point of view (which is sort of rare to have only a male POV these days). It was very fun to spend so much time with him and learn his emotions, motivations, and drive; while also getting to know Fura exclusively from his perspective. He's such a dynamic character, I really wish I had enjoyed the book as a whole more than I did.
"And what do [my facial expressions] tell you, Mr. Karlsvane?" "That you'd rather be doused in honey and chained naked to a hungry bear than dance with the likes of me."
Content: This book is appropriate for a YA audience but the characters are older. There is some mild cursing sprinkled throughout the book and a few mentions of nakedness (primarily male because it's his POV) but not in a s3xual way. A few kisses sprinkled without much detail.
I received this book from the author via Edelweiss. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
This book has so many things that I love: a male point of view, fake dating, an intricate fantasy world, political intrigue, forbidden magic, and noble characters pushing against the toxic norm...I mean, this book should've been my top read of 2023. But for some reason, I had to push myself all the way to the end.
I'm settling on 3.5 / 4 stars on the final rating because I really can't find a fault in the story other than I repeatedly lost interest. I'm a mood reader so there's a high possibility that I just wasn't in the mood for the story, but it took me about 7 months to get through this. I loved Mars and how the book was told exclusively from his point of view (which is sort of rare to have only a male POV these days). It was very fun to spend so much time with him and learn his emotions, motivations, and drive; while also getting to know Fura exclusively from his perspective. He's such a dynamic character, I really wish I had enjoyed the book as a whole more than I did.
"And what do [my facial expressions] tell you, Mr. Karlsvane?" "That you'd rather be doused in honey and chained naked to a hungry bear than dance with the likes of me."
Content: This book is appropriate for a YA audience but the characters are older. There is some mild cursing sprinkled throughout the book and a few mentions of nakedness (primarily male because it's his POV) but not in a s3xual way. A few kisses sprinkled without much detail.
I received this book from the author via Edelweiss. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
The Case of the Mythical Monkeys by Erle Stanley Gardner
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
I've never read Perry Mason before but I ended up with a few copies after a library sale and so started this one. I was immediately drawn into the case (and there was a Sherlock Holmes reference that made me laugh out loud)!
I was surprised at how dialogue-driven the writing is, and even more surprised that I actually liked it! I'm typically drawn to more descriptive styles of writing *ahem Hemingway*, but this was very entertaining! We are given only the pertinent details necessary to the current plot, and very little more, relying entirely on conversations to fill in the blanks for us. Now, that may be because I picked up book #59 as my starting point, but I found it super easy to follow. Frankly, this book was altogether enjoyable to read.
I've said before that I've related to female characters in fiction, but it's always just little pieces here and there, like personality traits or internal struggles. However, Della Street is quite possibly my favorite female character of all time now because, as a woman working with only men on a daily basis, I related to her SO MUCH (in this book, this is my first Perry Mason novel). Her constant reminders of "now boys, we need to eat" and her responses to them trying to leave her behind for "safety"... She just pushes them out of the way and walks through the mud in her heels and climbs through the window...pure gold. When she told Mason, "I'd like to remain on speaking terms with my stomach", I lost it. Girl knows her way around the language of "snark" and can handle herself in a room full of men! I was also pretty impressed by how present she was in the story, considering that this series is from the 50s. Hopefully, the whole series includes Della as much as this one did, because she was truly the icing on the cake in this book.
Overall, I have three more Perry Mason novels in my library and I will most likely dive into another one this evening!
Content notice: This book is definitely in line with the "cozy mystery" style, however, the topic does focus on a woman who frequently uses her body to persuade men to her will, and therefore there are some risque comments made throughout the novel (Perry Mason's responses had me laughing so hard, y'all). However, there is no spice or on-page romance of any kind. A few mild curse words dropped, but nothing above PG-13.
I was surprised at how dialogue-driven the writing is, and even more surprised that I actually liked it! I'm typically drawn to more descriptive styles of writing *ahem Hemingway*, but this was very entertaining! We are given only the pertinent details necessary to the current plot, and very little more, relying entirely on conversations to fill in the blanks for us. Now, that may be because I picked up book #59 as my starting point, but I found it super easy to follow. Frankly, this book was altogether enjoyable to read.
I've said before that I've related to female characters in fiction, but it's always just little pieces here and there, like personality traits or internal struggles. However, Della Street is quite possibly my favorite female character of all time now because, as a woman working with only men on a daily basis, I related to her SO MUCH (in this book, this is my first Perry Mason novel). Her constant reminders of "now boys, we need to eat" and her responses to them trying to leave her behind for "safety"... She just pushes them out of the way and walks through the mud in her heels and climbs through the window...pure gold. When she told Mason, "I'd like to remain on speaking terms with my stomach", I lost it. Girl knows her way around the language of "snark" and can handle herself in a room full of men! I was also pretty impressed by how present she was in the story, considering that this series is from the 50s. Hopefully, the whole series includes Della as much as this one did, because she was truly the icing on the cake in this book.
Overall, I have three more Perry Mason novels in my library and I will most likely dive into another one this evening!
Content notice: This book is definitely in line with the "cozy mystery" style, however, the topic does focus on a woman who frequently uses her body to persuade men to her will, and therefore there are some risque comments made throughout the novel (Perry Mason's responses had me laughing so hard, y'all). However, there is no spice or on-page romance of any kind. A few mild curse words dropped, but nothing above PG-13.
Nori: The Seahorse with a Unicorn Horn (Ocean Tales Children's Books) by Carmen Ellis, Sarah Cullen
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
I need this so that I can read it aloud to my nieces!
Nori is a very special seahorse, gifted with a unicorn horn! But she struggles with accepting herself and getting frustrated because the horn always gets in her way. She's surrounded by supportive friends who tell her that she's enough and eventually, she finds a task that builds her confidence.
This book is super fun to read and the bright colors make it visually appealing. It's so cute and encouraging. You could use it as an example of good friends, who don't make fun, but encourage you when you don't really like something about yourself. It's a good illustration of emotions, and that it's okay to be sad and frustrated when you have a bad day. Or, it's just a really cute story that's fun to read!
Regardless, I need a physical copy and I would like all of the books in this series.
Nori is a very special seahorse, gifted with a unicorn horn! But she struggles with accepting herself and getting frustrated because the horn always gets in her way. She's surrounded by supportive friends who tell her that she's enough and eventually, she finds a task that builds her confidence.
This book is super fun to read and the bright colors make it visually appealing. It's so cute and encouraging. You could use it as an example of good friends, who don't make fun, but encourage you when you don't really like something about yourself. It's a good illustration of emotions, and that it's okay to be sad and frustrated when you have a bad day. Or, it's just a really cute story that's fun to read!
Regardless, I need a physical copy and I would like all of the books in this series.
Cats Don't Like That!: A Hilarious Children's Book For Kids Ages 3-7 by Nahum Ziersch, Andy Wortlock
funny
medium-paced
5.0
I read this book at work and it made me giggle *right* when someone walked into my office...
Anyways, this book is absolute fun! It's definitely one that you want to read aloud and really get into it, because it is great for giggles. It's an easy read and the reading flow is rhythmic, which are some of my favorites because of the predictability of the next lines.
The illustrations are super cute and fun, and there's even a challenge to try to find the mouse and the yarn in every picture. And of course, anyone who's owned a cat knows how accurate the book is because he's right...Cats Don't Like That!
Very fun book, I shall have to add to my kids' library!
Anyways, this book is absolute fun! It's definitely one that you want to read aloud and really get into it, because it is great for giggles. It's an easy read and the reading flow is rhythmic, which are some of my favorites because of the predictability of the next lines.
The illustrations are super cute and fun, and there's even a challenge to try to find the mouse and the yarn in every picture. And of course, anyone who's owned a cat knows how accurate the book is because he's right...Cats Don't Like That!
Very fun book, I shall have to add to my kids' library!
Marky the Magnificent Fairy by Cynthia Kern OBrien, Cynthia Kern OBrien
adventurous
medium-paced
4.0
Very charming little book!
I think it's so important to teach kids about other kids with disabilities and this book is an excellent resource for that! Marky is charming, sweet, and supportive of her friends. The illustrations are very cute and it would be a great read-aloud story.
I think the only thing that I'm not thrilled about is that the book sort of downplays bullying. Marky gives a speech about her "hopes and dreams" despite her one wing that's too small and the other kids immediately apologize and ask if they can be her friend. I like this, don't get me wrong, it's super sweet. I just see kids trying to do this if they get bullied and expect that outcome for themselves, which, unfortunately, may not be the case. I think this is a really good book to read to kids who may not have any disabilities so that they can learn about kids who do, because of the emphasis on "we're really not that different" and "they still have hopes and dreams" message. It's a great place to start with them in an effort to PREVENT them from bullying kids who are different and encourages them to try to be their friend. However, I would be a little hesitant to read it to a child with disabilities (depending on age & maturity) just because of the unrealistic way Marky handled the bullying situation. But, ultimately, that is going to be a parent/guardian decision.
Overall, I really liked Marky the Magnificent Fairy and would like to add it to my library!
I think it's so important to teach kids about other kids with disabilities and this book is an excellent resource for that! Marky is charming, sweet, and supportive of her friends. The illustrations are very cute and it would be a great read-aloud story.
I think the only thing that I'm not thrilled about is that the book sort of downplays bullying. Marky gives a speech about her "hopes and dreams" despite her one wing that's too small and the other kids immediately apologize and ask if they can be her friend. I like this, don't get me wrong, it's super sweet. I just see kids trying to do this if they get bullied and expect that outcome for themselves, which, unfortunately, may not be the case. I think this is a really good book to read to kids who may not have any disabilities so that they can learn about kids who do, because of the emphasis on "we're really not that different" and "they still have hopes and dreams" message. It's a great place to start with them in an effort to PREVENT them from bullying kids who are different and encourages them to try to be their friend. However, I would be a little hesitant to read it to a child with disabilities (depending on age & maturity) just because of the unrealistic way Marky handled the bullying situation. But, ultimately, that is going to be a parent/guardian decision.
Overall, I really liked Marky the Magnificent Fairy and would like to add it to my library!
Girl With a Broken String by Therese Villarante
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I received a review request for this book not even two weeks ago, and when I read: "It's a one-of-a-kind multimedia novel and e-book musical that incorporates story, song (yes, songs!), illustration, and animation for a truly immersive reading experience. (I co-wrote the songs featured in the book as well.)"
I just said, "YES". Didn't even need to know the storyline.
Music and books are the reasons that I breathe, so to have them combined in such an intentional and thoughtful way... gah! I just had to experience Girl With a Broken String. And I wasn't disappointed.
"[Poetry] is a language for things we don't actually have enough words for. I feel that way a lot about music."
The writing is lyrical, poetic, and just altogether beautiful. I highlighted so many lines because of how relatable and emotional they were. The book is epistolary, which I'm quickly finding has a very special place in my heart, as it's a collection of blog posts written by Sam. Her blog begins as an outcry of pain and confusion as she attempts to process the lack of closure from a recent breakup; but as time, and her posts, progress, she learns to love herself. On its own, the writing is spectacular and the book is definitely worth reading. But, it's not its own; it has music and songs that literally raise the story out of the world of fiction and stand it on very vivid feet in reality.
I forgot that I was reading fiction. The format of the book feels like a blog, there are even photos included that look like comments on her posts. At the end of some of her posts, you can click links to the songs that she's written and it takes you to YouTube where you can LISTEN TO HER SONGS.
I spent about 2 hours reading this book and listening to the music in order and I'm just so wonderfully satisfied with this unique project. The illustrations make the book feel cozy, the music is beautiful and fits the story so well, and Sam is such a relatable character. There was one passage where I felt completely called out:
"There is a severe temptation to wear an oversized shirt and cotton pajama pants. To buy a half-gallon of rocky road ice cream, and watch 500 Days of Summer. Maybe go for a drive with my best friends (because I can't drive) and belt out Taylor Swift songs."
-Everything except the driving part (I can and love to drive) is inarguably ME.
It's clean; no cursing, no spicy stuff, no gore, just a really wholesome, warm-fuzzy book that speaks directly to the heart--even if it has all of its strings intact. If I were to describe this book by a Taylor Swift song (which I'm 100% going to use TWO), it's Right Where You Left Me and You're On Your Own, Kid.
I received this book from the author. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
I just said, "YES". Didn't even need to know the storyline.
Music and books are the reasons that I breathe, so to have them combined in such an intentional and thoughtful way... gah! I just had to experience Girl With a Broken String. And I wasn't disappointed.
"[Poetry] is a language for things we don't actually have enough words for. I feel that way a lot about music."
The writing is lyrical, poetic, and just altogether beautiful. I highlighted so many lines because of how relatable and emotional they were. The book is epistolary, which I'm quickly finding has a very special place in my heart, as it's a collection of blog posts written by Sam. Her blog begins as an outcry of pain and confusion as she attempts to process the lack of closure from a recent breakup; but as time, and her posts, progress, she learns to love herself. On its own, the writing is spectacular and the book is definitely worth reading. But, it's not its own; it has music and songs that literally raise the story out of the world of fiction and stand it on very vivid feet in reality.
I forgot that I was reading fiction. The format of the book feels like a blog, there are even photos included that look like comments on her posts. At the end of some of her posts, you can click links to the songs that she's written and it takes you to YouTube where you can LISTEN TO HER SONGS.
I spent about 2 hours reading this book and listening to the music in order and I'm just so wonderfully satisfied with this unique project. The illustrations make the book feel cozy, the music is beautiful and fits the story so well, and Sam is such a relatable character. There was one passage where I felt completely called out:
"There is a severe temptation to wear an oversized shirt and cotton pajama pants. To buy a half-gallon of rocky road ice cream, and watch 500 Days of Summer. Maybe go for a drive with my best friends (because I can't drive) and belt out Taylor Swift songs."
-Everything except the driving part (I can and love to drive) is inarguably ME.
It's clean; no cursing, no spicy stuff, no gore, just a really wholesome, warm-fuzzy book that speaks directly to the heart--even if it has all of its strings intact. If I were to describe this book by a Taylor Swift song (which I'm 100% going to use TWO), it's Right Where You Left Me and You're On Your Own, Kid.
I received this book from the author. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
Spells For Forgetting by Adrienne Young
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I requested this book from my library in January of 2023, and waited until June 2023 for it to come in! That being said, the expectations were very high and I have mixed emotions after reading the ending.
Hubby and I binged almost the entire audiobook in two days (car trips for the win!) and both of us were deeply invested in the story. We were captivated by the writing and perplexed by the mystery; it seemed like the perfect combination. But the ending just fell flat in my opinion, and I feel a little disappointed. I don't want to give anything away so I'll not talk about details, but it felt very rushed and cut off without a real resolution. If it's a setup for a sequel, then I'll forgive it a little more, but to my knowledge, it's not part of a series. However, aside from the ending (literally, the last 5%), hubby and I both really enjoyed the audiobook during our vacation.
As I mentioned before, the writing was dramatic and pulled you into the story; and the plot was a complicated weave of emotions and twists that never let you feel confident about discovering the ending for yourself, but it was fun to pause the book and throw theories at each other (several of which were right!)! The best way that I know to describe this book is "Where the Crawdads Sing, but add witches". It's a brilliant mystery and a perfect Autumn read with its cozy spooks!
I do want to mention that Adrienne Young is a well-known YA author, however, this book is not YA (which I didn't read beforehand...oops). The characters do have flashbacks to their teen lives, however, all of the characters are in their thirties and there are a couple of mildly detailed spicy scenes (one of which is teen). Due to the spice and the open, casual talk of nighttime relations, I would not recommend this to readers under 18.
Hubby and I binged almost the entire audiobook in two days (car trips for the win!) and both of us were deeply invested in the story. We were captivated by the writing and perplexed by the mystery; it seemed like the perfect combination. But the ending just fell flat in my opinion, and I feel a little disappointed. I don't want to give anything away so I'll not talk about details, but it felt very rushed and cut off without a real resolution. If it's a setup for a sequel, then I'll forgive it a little more, but to my knowledge, it's not part of a series. However, aside from the ending (literally, the last 5%), hubby and I both really enjoyed the audiobook during our vacation.
As I mentioned before, the writing was dramatic and pulled you into the story; and the plot was a complicated weave of emotions and twists that never let you feel confident about discovering the ending for yourself, but it was fun to pause the book and throw theories at each other (several of which were right!)! The best way that I know to describe this book is "Where the Crawdads Sing, but add witches". It's a brilliant mystery and a perfect Autumn read with its cozy spooks!
I do want to mention that Adrienne Young is a well-known YA author, however, this book is not YA (which I didn't read beforehand...oops). The characters do have flashbacks to their teen lives, however, all of the characters are in their thirties and there are a couple of mildly detailed spicy scenes (one of which is teen). Due to the spice and the open, casual talk of nighttime relations, I would not recommend this to readers under 18.
Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
4.0
"She said 'monster' like being a monster was as special as being an elf."
I've wanted to read this book since I first saw the cover, but it took receiving a blacked-out edition from a book box to get me to start it! My relationship with this book is a bit weird and I'm not sure if I want to rate it 3 stars or 4 stars, so I just rounded up.
To begin, I couldn't put this book down. I devoured the first half of the book in about 3 days (and had a GREAT time), but then my interest stalled because I didn't understand some of the story points and there is a lot of time jumping (literally). It got a little hard to follow. I would update my husband on what was happening and he'd ask me a question and I'd just be like, "I don't know". It's just a very FAST paced book that jumps around a LOT.
But besides having difficulty following the plot, I liked the characters and I was pretty invested in Joan's life. I think the premise of the book was probably my favorite though, with heroes and monsters meaning different things in different people's stories. Where sometimes someone acting like a "hero" can be detrimental to someone else's story and someone who only feels like a "monster" can be the saving grace to someone else. It's just a real stereotype-breaker of a storyline, and I appreciated that.
“You're a hero and I'm a monster", she whispered. "There's only one way that story ever ends.”
Overall, I'm not crazy about this book, but I do think it was good and I definitely enjoyed my time reading it. I think the ending could've been a lot stronger, just because I didn't feel that emotional punch in the gut. I did use color tabs as I read, which look STUNNING against the black edges, so it will remain on my bookshelf!
Content disclaimers: Romance is limited to kissing and a few thoughts about touching, but nothing detailed or over the top; definitely YA-friendly. Gore can get descriptive at times and there is a LOT of action; again, YA-friendly, but I would say it's at the higher end of the age spectrum. Cursing is still within the PG-13 scale, however, there are a couple of uses of strong cursing as well a sprinkling of minor curse words. Additional content that readers may want to be aware of: there is a gay romance mentioned, but nothing is shown on-page.
I've wanted to read this book since I first saw the cover, but it took receiving a blacked-out edition from a book box to get me to start it! My relationship with this book is a bit weird and I'm not sure if I want to rate it 3 stars or 4 stars, so I just rounded up.
To begin, I couldn't put this book down. I devoured the first half of the book in about 3 days (and had a GREAT time), but then my interest stalled because I didn't understand some of the story points and there is a lot of time jumping (literally). It got a little hard to follow. I would update my husband on what was happening and he'd ask me a question and I'd just be like, "I don't know". It's just a very FAST paced book that jumps around a LOT.
But besides having difficulty following the plot, I liked the characters and I was pretty invested in Joan's life. I think the premise of the book was probably my favorite though, with heroes and monsters meaning different things in different people's stories. Where sometimes someone acting like a "hero" can be detrimental to someone else's story and someone who only feels like a "monster" can be the saving grace to someone else. It's just a real stereotype-breaker of a storyline, and I appreciated that.
“You're a hero and I'm a monster", she whispered. "There's only one way that story ever ends.”
Overall, I'm not crazy about this book, but I do think it was good and I definitely enjoyed my time reading it. I think the ending could've been a lot stronger, just because I didn't feel that emotional punch in the gut. I did use color tabs as I read, which look STUNNING against the black edges, so it will remain on my bookshelf!
Content disclaimers: Romance is limited to kissing and a few thoughts about touching, but nothing detailed or over the top; definitely YA-friendly. Gore can get descriptive at times and there is a LOT of action; again, YA-friendly, but I would say it's at the higher end of the age spectrum. Cursing is still within the PG-13 scale, however, there are a couple of uses of strong cursing as well a sprinkling of minor curse words. Additional content that readers may want to be aware of: there is a gay romance mentioned, but nothing is shown on-page.
Teddy Loses His Ears by Christine Milkovic Krauss
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Teddy Loses His Ears is a sweet and heartwarming story about a cat who loses his ears due to frostbite. This story has double intentions as it aims to inspire animal rescues and also to encourage children who may have very sudden and unexpected disabilities (such as amputations, hair loss, etc.).
I love that Teddy is portrayed to have done nothing wrong when he finds himself in the middle of the snowstorm and that the loss of his ears are by no fault of his own. I think this is a very important message to tell kids who may struggle with wondering "why me?" if they have to face this sudden trauma. On top of that, Teddy encounters other cats who are very curious about why he lost his ears, and the author expertly addresses how Teddy feels sad and awkward from this attention (which makes this a great educational resource for other children). However, she also makes a point to emphasize that Teddy shouldn't feel ashamed of his new look and that the other cats aren't being mean when they ask questions, they are just curious. I really feel that this book is a great conversation starter for talking about disabilities with children (there is even an illustration of Teddy with a group of children who have varying disabilities) and would be an incredible school resource. It's just such a sweet story with a powerful and inspirational message.
Overall, this book made me smile and I feel like it would be a great addition to any child's library.
I received this book from the author. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is completely voluntary.
I love that Teddy is portrayed to have done nothing wrong when he finds himself in the middle of the snowstorm and that the loss of his ears are by no fault of his own. I think this is a very important message to tell kids who may struggle with wondering "why me?" if they have to face this sudden trauma. On top of that, Teddy encounters other cats who are very curious about why he lost his ears, and the author expertly addresses how Teddy feels sad and awkward from this attention (which makes this a great educational resource for other children). However, she also makes a point to emphasize that Teddy shouldn't feel ashamed of his new look and that the other cats aren't being mean when they ask questions, they are just curious. I really feel that this book is a great conversation starter for talking about disabilities with children (there is even an illustration of Teddy with a group of children who have varying disabilities) and would be an incredible school resource. It's just such a sweet story with a powerful and inspirational message.
Overall, this book made me smile and I feel like it would be a great addition to any child's library.
I received this book from the author. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is completely voluntary.
Under Falling Skies by Kate MacLeod
dark
tense
fast-paced
3.0
I have never been more WRONG about my assumption of a book in my entire life.
Under Falling Skies was a "free for a day" book that popped up on my BookBub email, and after a quick read of the blurb and study of the cover, I expected this to be a "cute sci-fi adventure". *Laughs nervously*. Dude. This was a weird mesh of "Five Nights at Freddie's" and "Among Us" (yes, I compare books to video games....it's a problem). I'm still glancing over my shoulder and squealing when the lights go out.
I don't want to spoil the entire plot, so I'm not going to talk about my reactions at all, but suffice it to say, this was a nail-biting adventure that had my attention completely. The plot moves very fast, but I was thankful for that because I never found myself speed-reading to get to the next exciting bit, there was just always something going on. Scout was a likeable main character and I really liked her and her dogs!
The issue I had with this book is more in line with logistics rather than actual storytelling. I really don't know what audience it is originally intended for. All of the information I can find online say "teen", it looks like a "teen" book, and it's short like one would expect of a teen book (I, personally, guessed 13-14ish when I started it, maybe even mature 12s). But there is no way I would give this book to the younger spectrum of teen readers without a warning for horror elements and gore. Obviously, this is going to be widely dependent on individual readers (and parents/guardians), but I would say that this book fits better in the upper teen/YA category. But again, that is going to depend on individual readers. There is no cursing, however.
Overall, I liked the book--shock in all--but I'm having difficulty saying that I "loved" it. If you enjoy spooks and very mild horror elements, you may enjoy Under Falling Skies!
Content disclaimers: Horror & gore semi-detailed. D3aths are meant to horrify the reader and are described briefly but with detail. Two women are described as being "lovers", however, there is no on-page romance.
Under Falling Skies was a "free for a day" book that popped up on my BookBub email, and after a quick read of the blurb and study of the cover, I expected this to be a "cute sci-fi adventure". *Laughs nervously*. Dude. This was a weird mesh of "Five Nights at Freddie's" and "Among Us" (yes, I compare books to video games....it's a problem). I'm still glancing over my shoulder and squealing when the lights go out.
I don't want to spoil the entire plot, so I'm not going to talk about my reactions at all, but suffice it to say, this was a nail-biting adventure that had my attention completely. The plot moves very fast, but I was thankful for that because I never found myself speed-reading to get to the next exciting bit, there was just always something going on. Scout was a likeable main character and I really liked her and her dogs!
The issue I had with this book is more in line with logistics rather than actual storytelling. I really don't know what audience it is originally intended for. All of the information I can find online say "teen", it looks like a "teen" book, and it's short like one would expect of a teen book (I, personally, guessed 13-14ish when I started it, maybe even mature 12s). But there is no way I would give this book to the younger spectrum of teen readers without a warning for horror elements and gore. Obviously, this is going to be widely dependent on individual readers (and parents/guardians), but I would say that this book fits better in the upper teen/YA category. But again, that is going to depend on individual readers. There is no cursing, however.
Overall, I liked the book--shock in all--but I'm having difficulty saying that I "loved" it. If you enjoy spooks and very mild horror elements, you may enjoy Under Falling Skies!
Content disclaimers: Horror & gore semi-detailed. D3aths are meant to horrify the reader and are described briefly but with detail. Two women are described as being "lovers", however, there is no on-page romance.