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sarasoleil's reviews
134 reviews
The Gravity of Existence by Christina Sng
fast-paced
3.5
Poetry is something I struggle to connect with, and this collection falls into that struggle. If there were underlying meanings for a lot of these, I couldn't find most of them. Still, I don't want to say these poems are bad because that's subjective, but most of them were not to my taste (as is most poetry).
There were poems that I enjoyed subject wise and them all being really short made it so nothing dragged. Can't say I've been converted to reading more poetry, though.
There were poems that I enjoyed subject wise and them all being really short made it so nothing dragged. Can't say I've been converted to reading more poetry, though.
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is one of the strangest books I've ever read and I love it so much.
I don't know how someone manages to write Child's Play on steroids while also writing a meaningful commentary on death, grief, and family, but Hendrix did and I am thoroughly impressed.
I am most impressed by the imagery of this book, honestly. As wild as the events were, the writing put the pictures in my head the whole time and I could picture it as if it were a movie playing in my head. I've had off and on opinions about Grady Hendrix's writing, but this one does not disappoint in the slightest. I will recommend this to everyone I possibly can because I just love it so much.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for giving me access to this.
I don't know how someone manages to write Child's Play on steroids while also writing a meaningful commentary on death, grief, and family, but Hendrix did and I am thoroughly impressed.
I am most impressed by the imagery of this book, honestly. As wild as the events were, the writing put the pictures in my head the whole time and I could picture it as if it were a movie playing in my head. I've had off and on opinions about Grady Hendrix's writing, but this one does not disappoint in the slightest. I will recommend this to everyone I possibly can because I just love it so much.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for giving me access to this.
Black Cranes: Tales of Unquiet Women by Geneve Flynn, Lee Murray
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
An excellent collection of short stories ranging from horror to sci-fi written by Asian women who have a story they need to tell, and they all do it so uniquely. Each of these stories has a message and they're told from a variety of lenses. Different POVs, different writing styles, different cultural takes, and while I wasn't fond of every single one, they all left me thinking and appreciating the writing.
It's hard to pick a favorite, so I won't. "Skin Dowdy" by Angela Yuriko Smith stuck out to me differently than anything else I've ever read. Its concepts are so real in how people try and change for others rather than themselves, and it often leads to negative consequences.
"The Ninth Tale" by Rena Mason was dark and fun, everything that it should have been.
"Frangipani Wishes" by Lee Murray tells a story about ghosts and how they haunt us, and the writing was so beautiful and unique. I absolutely love it.
An amazing read and one I will not hesitate to recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for giving me access to this!
It's hard to pick a favorite, so I won't. "Skin Dowdy" by Angela Yuriko Smith stuck out to me differently than anything else I've ever read. Its concepts are so real in how people try and change for others rather than themselves, and it often leads to negative consequences.
"The Ninth Tale" by Rena Mason was dark and fun, everything that it should have been.
"Frangipani Wishes" by Lee Murray tells a story about ghosts and how they haunt us, and the writing was so beautiful and unique. I absolutely love it.
An amazing read and one I will not hesitate to recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for giving me access to this!
The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells
3.5
This book was impressive in many ways with its descriptions and the concept itself, especially for the time it was written, however, I still was kind of bored.
The Great Big Demon Hunting Agency by Peter Oxley
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was a whole lot of fun and I enjoyed every moment of it!
Starting off, we're given these two characters, Spencer and Bart, who aren't good particularly good people by any means, but you end up rooting for them the entire time. They're messy, they're selfish, they're criminals, and yet I found myself waiting to see what they would do next, intrigued by their characters' developments.
I adore books that mix gothic and horror elements with humor to create a fast-paced, entertaining novel that never leaves you bored. Having these two crooks fight demons is such a fascinating concept, and the length of the story makes it well executed. Short and to the point.
The writing style is simple and easy to follow, though that is why I didn't give it 5 stars. I think there was room for more description, but it doesn't take anything away from the story being told.
I would definitely recommend this book to others, and the way this book ended makes me excited for more Spencer and Bart!
Thanks to NetGalley for access to this novel.
Starting off, we're given these two characters, Spencer and Bart, who aren't good particularly good people by any means, but you end up rooting for them the entire time. They're messy, they're selfish, they're criminals, and yet I found myself waiting to see what they would do next, intrigued by their characters' developments.
I adore books that mix gothic and horror elements with humor to create a fast-paced, entertaining novel that never leaves you bored. Having these two crooks fight demons is such a fascinating concept, and the length of the story makes it well executed. Short and to the point.
The writing style is simple and easy to follow, though that is why I didn't give it 5 stars. I think there was room for more description, but it doesn't take anything away from the story being told.
I would definitely recommend this book to others, and the way this book ended makes me excited for more Spencer and Bart!
Thanks to NetGalley for access to this novel.