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sargasso_c's Reviews (515)
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book provided everything I want from a horror novel - it made me curious, uneasy, disgusted, and horrified. Linda Jones, the narrator, gave one of the best narration performances I've ever heard, and I will be looking for more books narrated by her.
I'm almost halfway through the book and nothing has made me feel vaguely uneasy yet, let alone scared. The book has not been a horror nor a thriller and I don't particularly want to wait for it to become either. In addition, reading some reviews confirmed my suspicion that Grayson is gay and it seems that the way that the author is going to handle that is less than satisfactory.
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's a manner of storytelling that's been done time and again, but it was done well.
Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster
DID NOT FINISH: 90%
The book was actually quite interesting and informative, but it wasn't a tightly told story. If you don't have a special interest in the Chernobyl disaster, it'll probably be a bit of a slog. I renewed my library loan of the book twice between completing 88% and 90% of Midnight in Chernobyl, and eventually just had no interest in finishing.
The book was a bit plodding and often fell into the trap of "telling" and not "showing." While the premise is interesting, I feel the author relied too much on creating an air of eeriness and suspense that went on too long and devolved into repetitive scenes that seemed to serve no other purpose than elongating the time between the beginning of the book and its resolution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Infertility, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Abandonment
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
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:
Complicated
I wouldn't call this a horror, though there are horrific elements to the story. Ultimately, Monstrilio is a story of slow loss and perhaps the adjustment period all grief begs for but knows would never, ever be long enough.
It evokes Gabriela Garcia Marquez in the multiple POVs over many years, and its use of magical realism.
It evokes Gabriela Garcia Marquez in the multiple POVs over many years, and its use of magical realism.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The interview writing style was carried off expertly and the two voice actors fooled me into thinking there was an entire ensemble of voice actors for the book.
dark
emotional
reflective
relaxing
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:
Complicated
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was a good & entertaining read. The huge "twist" at the end wasn't a huge surprise. It was weird to hear the climax of the book be something I thought was implied very clearly in the beginning.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
A relatable tale for anyone who was once a wayward little girl.