rollie's reviews
27 reviews

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

It’s like really out-there, and I so very much enjoy out-there. Is this the funniest book ever written?? Maybe. Probably not, though. but there was a run in the middle that had me rolling for about 100 pages. Humor is subjective, but this really got me. Everything is funnier at 3:00am, too.

It was surreal finishing this book as the sun rose.

It checked a lot of boxes for me. Oftentimes, a truly malicious antagonist doesn’t get their well-deserved end. Or if they do, it’s not described in sufficient detail. This book scratched that itch and a WHOLE LOT MORE. I am so grateful for this because WOW, was it deserved.

I also love when a scheme is hidden from the reader, when you’re left guessing at clues while the story unfolds. It’s a whole lot of fun (for me, anyway).

Divine vengeance, ethereal horror, wicked comedy—it all did it for me.

9/10

Zoey Is Too Drunk for This Dystopia by Jason Pargin

adventurous funny sad fast-paced

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

4.5

A rather unsavory man is hit in the face with a freshly detached phallus, moving with quite a bit of momentum. (Don’t ask me whose, I will never tell) 

Grace and Glory by Jennifer L. Armentrout

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.0

Roth didn’t make an appearance until page 318. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?

At least Cayman was around, and Lucifer really knows how to make an entrance. It’s also hilarious that 99% of the time Lucifer was topside, he was just bingeing Supernatural and Pop-Tarts. (When he wasn’t saving the world, ofc)

This was waaaaay too much romance, like chapters and chapters and chapters of the most intensely cringe dialog I've ever seen.

And it ended pretty anticlimactically. The twist was fine, but three books working up to this final showdown against the Harbinger, and it lasted like five pages. With the protagonist, THE LITERAL SWORD OF MICHAEL, getting her ass handed to her per usual. 😐

Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.0

Some books leave you on a cliffhanger, this one actuALLY THROWS YOU RIGHT OFF THE DAMN CLIFF WITH ZERO CONSIDERATION FOR YOUR FEELINGS. 

The dialog in this book between the love interests makes my skin crawl. 

Also, Roth is the star here. Everyone and everything else is just meh. 

Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout

emotional funny sad 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

Reading the back, I was expecting a classic fantasy setting in some far-off whimsical land with a map in the front of the book, turns out, it takes place (mostly) in modern-day Washington D.C I didn't particularly love that, but it's grown on me. The romance is of the dramatic variety, which is definitely the reason I enjoyed it, (if there's not drama, then I don't wanna) one thing that drove me up a freaking wall was one character would apologize, and the other would say "you don't need to apologize" LIKE A THOUSAND TIMES IN A ROW, BACK AND FORTH. UGH. made me cringe. However, the twist towards the end, I genuinely did not forsee unfolding in that particular way. A bitter sweet suprise.

DONT READ THE BACK OF BOOK TWO WITHOUT FINISHING THE FIRST ONE, TOTALLY SPOILS THE FACT THAT SOMETHING HAPPENS TO (redacted to avoid spoilers)

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

adventurous dark emotional sad slow-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

A masterclass of a mythological re-telling. Expanding on a character from the myth that has otherwise been ignored, and after reading, it's difficult to comprehend the story of Ragnorok without it.

Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick by David Wong

adventurous challenging funny tense fast-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

Another book from this series succeeds in keeping me entertained enough to read more or less the entire thing in one sitting. Dripping with social commentary, but it's so over-the-top and comical that you’re not even slightly annoyed. It ends more with a whimper than a bang. Still, though, the “suits’” over-engineered rescue mission involving a giant cat building, a rocket-propelled zipline, elaborate disguises (alluded to being apart of some sort of magic act), and a Bond villain-esque black zeppelin hovering over the city is a series of mental images I will cherish.

these books are a lot of fun.

Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits by David Wong

adventurous challenging funny informative 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? Yes

4.0

Every page of this book could be completely blank, barring the story about the goat chained to a refrigerator on page 99, and it would still be worth its weight in gold.

This story is essentially what would happen if John (from the “John Dies at the End” series) managed to switch dimensions and travel forward in time (not that far outside the realm of possibility for these books by this author), change his name, become a multi-billionaire, knock-up a stripper, then die in the most spectacular fashion, leaving everything, including his massive criminal empire and ALL the violent problems that came with it, to his only daughter and offspring of said stripper (whom he’s only spoken to once in his life) as a huge joke/redemption arc that only he is in on. It’s the most “John” thing I’ve ever heard and was absurdly hilarious to read. In fact, I read more or less the entire thing in a single 8-hour sitting.

Don’t judge me.

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious sad fast-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

5.0

If anyone needs me, I will be mourning the loss of this series. It physically HURT to finish the book. Nothing else seems appealing right now; I just want more of this. When Nightmare and Elsepth recited their lore together for the last time, it absolutely fkn GUTTED me.

It’s perfect.

“The girl, the king, and the monster they became.”

Then BAM—tears

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.5

Atmospherically, it’s AMAZING. It effortlessly thrusts you into the misty, gothic kingdom of Blunder. The specific secrets, lore, and dangers that accompany it are really what make it special. The fantasy aspects are very original, Some characters are fairly trope-y, but they’re tropes for a reason, and I love them regardless. Pacing felt at times very fast; not once did it make you trudge through unnecessary descriptions or world-building. This had the consequence of making the world feel smaller, but was perfect in this particular setting.

Also, I LOVED the “Nightmare” half of Elspeth’s mind, constantly speaking in riddles, brimming with power right below the surface and threatening to take over entirely with every use. This is exactly why the last 20% of this book was SO FREAKING GOOD. 

THIS is a gothic fantasy that is definitely worth your time