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226 reviews
None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
None Shall Sleep is a psychological thriller about two teens who (inexplicably, get over it now) end up recruited to the FBI, and end up on an incredibly high-profile case.
I'll start with the good. These characters are all believable. Many YA thrillers end up with "lead is flawed but not really flawed syndrome." These characters don't suffer. Emma, Travis, and every other character in this book felt like real human beings. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about them.
The story was also absolutely brilliant. I had literal chills most of the time, and I was amazed by the twists and turns this book took me on. It had real emotional depth, and could easily engross a reader.
I think what this book suffers with is the writing.
Marney plots a chilling psychological thriller brilliantly. Her dialogue is well-crafted, and you can tell she pours an incredible amount of effort and research into her work (despite some contrived circumstance that you have to get over to enjoy the book.)
And yet, it's moments like
"Even from the distance, Emma can hear perfectly because of the room's excellent acoustics"
(this is during a high-tension scene)
This book has a problem with narration. Maybe it's that the style is not for me, but expositional narration , descriptions, and narration are all stilted. It felt as if you had taken a "beginners introduction to writing course, used one lesson and then decided to write a whole book. Out-of place description, telling when this book has clearly shown that it can- and will not hesitate- to show. An awkward, stilted narrative voice style continually took me out of the story.
None Shall Sleep was an excellent thriller, but one setback for me took it from a 4.5 to a 3.5 easily.
3.5 ⭐️
I'll start with the good. These characters are all believable. Many YA thrillers end up with "lead is flawed but not really flawed syndrome." These characters don't suffer. Emma, Travis, and every other character in this book felt like real human beings. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about them.
The story was also absolutely brilliant. I had literal chills most of the time, and I was amazed by the twists and turns this book took me on. It had real emotional depth, and could easily engross a reader.
I think what this book suffers with is the writing.
Marney plots a chilling psychological thriller brilliantly. Her dialogue is well-crafted, and you can tell she pours an incredible amount of effort and research into her work (despite some contrived circumstance that you have to get over to enjoy the book.)
And yet, it's moments like
"Even from the distance, Emma can hear perfectly because of the room's excellent acoustics"
(this is during a high-tension scene)
This book has a problem with narration. Maybe it's that the style is not for me, but expositional narration , descriptions, and narration are all stilted. It felt as if you had taken a "beginners introduction to writing course, used one lesson and then decided to write a whole book. Out-of place description, telling when this book has clearly shown that it can- and will not hesitate- to show. An awkward, stilted narrative voice style continually took me out of the story.
None Shall Sleep was an excellent thriller, but one setback for me took it from a 4.5 to a 3.5 easily.
3.5 ⭐️
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the ending was the best part imo
You'd Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
No quite literally no words
The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Cheerleaders was a wonderful listen. Considering how engrossed I got in the story only 30 minutes in or so. This was a masterful story and I really enjoyed it.
Beyond the Filigree Wall by Melissa Wright
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
3.0
Quite honestly, I think this book was just ok.
I think, with most of the plot being a mystery (like how Etta isn't actually Etta for most of the book) and I didn't enjoy that aspect a whole lot. The dynamics of the story from the plot summary were kind of missing and now, to be quite frank, made the book a little less enjoyable
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I think, with most of the plot being a mystery (like how Etta isn't actually Etta for most of the book) and I didn't enjoy that aspect a whole lot. The dynamics of the story from the plot summary were kind of missing and now, to be quite frank, made the book a little less enjoyable
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
I don't even know what to say at this point
(rtc)
(rtc)
Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
For a book that was pitched to me as a 'lesbian beauty and the beast' Bitterthorn was so much more. Even for all of the romance appeal (and believe me I swooned) Bittterthorn was nothing short of a beautiful tale of loneliness and the price of love.
Despite that, I think the middle was a little bit of a slog and was very slice-of-life like, which bothered me due to the fantasy.
I love love love love this book.
4.5 ⭐️
Despite that, I think the middle was a little bit of a slog and was very slice-of-life like, which bothered me due to the fantasy.
I love love love love this book.
4.5 ⭐️
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is magical. Completely and utterly magical
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’m not entirely sure I got it