robin_b's reviews
567 reviews

Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron

lighthearted slow-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

3.0

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

Life circumstance - Between the crying baby and postpartum brain, I couldn't keep track of all the characters. Will maybe try again later.

Candelaria by Melissa Lozada-Oliva

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I found this on a list of lesser-known horror books. I wouldn't really call it a horror. It is more of a family saga with magical realism.

The author is a poet and this is her first novel. It shows. She is a great writer sentence to sentence but overall the prose has this detached feel that makes it hard to follow. 

The plot was compelling, but it wasn't front and center of the book. I think I would have enjoyed the story if it was told with a more traditional narrative structure. I'm all for experimental writing, but this just didn't do it for me. 

Godshot by Chelsea Bieker

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Pregnancy

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

lighthearted reflective slow-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

To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose

adventurous hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl

2.0

The Only One Left by Riley Sager

adventurous dark 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? Yes

3.5

4 stars for the first 70% or so of the book. The ending fell flat. There were at least 5 big reveals, each one followed by a "oops no it was actually..." and a different reveal. <Spoiler>The paternity plot felt forced. I had a hard time beliving Patrick's actions. I am still confused by his character and his motivation. Plus, it was implied that he was deeply depressed after his wife died. I can't see a person in a deep depression taking all the required steps to break into the mansion and kill the maid. I did not believe that Virginia would have been able to fake paralysis, either. If her limbs worked, she would have had reflexes that cannot be masked. Also, if she could move, surely one of the caretakers would have noticed her moving in her sleep. Kit said she was always in the same position, but you can't control your body when you're sleeping.

That being said, most of the book was well paced and engaging. I wish the ending had been different, but I still enjoyed the book.

The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

adventurous medium-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? No

2.5

A Thousand Steps by T. Jefferson Parker, T. Jefferson Parker

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0