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shereadytoread's Reviews (822)
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book gives those immediate 90s slasher vibes. It works in dual timelines which felt a little meh at some points. A lot of the past timeline was used to cast suspicion on the current timeline but wasn’t of too much interest on its own. I think it could have been accomplished with just the current timeline and some discussions of the past. The book isn't immediately fast-paced and the beginning of the story is slower, getting to know the characters and setting the context, but once it kicks off, it was a lot of fun.
It is based in film/hollywood so it uses script sections between the timelines. I didn’t think that piece was needed as it doesn’t tie into the script, and Is mostly a separate padded story. Also the script uses the actors names and not character names which felt weird to me.
My biggest issue was the “twist” about 80% in felt very juvenile. It’s just revealed and then we get a whole two chapters of exposition dump which felt more like YA writing. It just missed the mark on the climax.
Overall I think this is a pretty good debut but had some major pieces I would change. I think it's worth giving a try.
Disclosure: I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher.
It is based in film/hollywood so it uses script sections between the timelines. I didn’t think that piece was needed as it doesn’t tie into the script, and Is mostly a separate padded story. Also the script uses the actors names and not character names which felt weird to me.
My biggest issue was the “twist” about 80% in felt very juvenile. It’s just revealed and then we get a whole two chapters of exposition dump which felt more like YA writing. It just missed the mark on the climax.
Overall I think this is a pretty good debut but had some major pieces I would change. I think it's worth giving a try.
Disclosure: I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault
A short collection of a few interviews and written essays. All interesting to read but it felt a little disjointed.
I think it is a pretty great text, accessible language, and I even learned something new about my local area in addition to things elsewhere.
I think it is a pretty great text, accessible language, and I even learned something new about my local area in addition to things elsewhere.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality
Maybe one day I will finish an Ali Hazelwood romance. Today is not that day.
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
This was a really enjoyable read! The fantasy elements were woven into the story in a way that feels like a historical version of an urban fantasy. There are some darker elements that mirror horror, but it is not the primary focus of the story.
One big point down for me was to specifically set a historical story and create a black main character (one of the three) which heavily involves interracial dynamics and interactions, but using language and character choices that are completely antithetical with the reality of black Americans (especially in the rural south) at the time the story is set.
It felt like the author wanted the character to be black to support the plot of why certain relationships and actions cannot happen but then had them interact with white characters in a way that just didn’t ring realistic or match what was already established.
Plot wise, I had a great time with this book. I think the author using pretty modern language made it easier but also took me out of the historical aspect a bit.
Disclosure: I received a finished copy from the publisher.
One big point down for me was to specifically set a historical story and create a black main character (one of the three) which heavily involves interracial dynamics and interactions, but using language and character choices that are completely antithetical with the reality of black Americans (especially in the rural south) at the time the story is set.
It felt like the author wanted the character to be black to support the plot of why certain relationships and actions cannot happen but then had them interact with white characters in a way that just didn’t ring realistic or match what was already established.
Plot wise, I had a great time with this book. I think the author using pretty modern language made it easier but also took me out of the historical aspect a bit.
Disclosure: I received a finished copy from the publisher.
This is a good collection but I wish the title was more specific. What I thought I would be getting was essays about the impact of black panther in general but instead they are essays primarily about these people’s personal experiences with black panther.
It wasn’t bad but not really knowing much about most of the contributors it felt like reading a little memoir of a person I’ve never heard of and am not really interested in.
There was some interesting insights into the film like the costume designer discussing the real life inspirations for all the designs, or the brief history of afrofuturism and some film connections to real life events.
It wasn’t bad but not really knowing much about most of the contributors it felt like reading a little memoir of a person I’ve never heard of and am not really interested in.
There was some interesting insights into the film like the costume designer discussing the real life inspirations for all the designs, or the brief history of afrofuturism and some film connections to real life events.
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It is thrilling, suspenseful and has a really unique spin. This urban fantasy has a good amount of spookiness and mystery, while also being full of heart and emotion. I loved the internal and external conflicts that she is facing while trying to deal with trying to maintain a day job and supernatural experiences and trials. I think this book is so well done and I cannot wait to read what the author writes next. Their perspective and ideas seem to be very refreshing.
I thought the supernatural system was very interesting and I loved the cultural elements along with the magic system created for the book. Having the juxtaposition of our two main characters across multiple facets of their lives worked really well in how everything was eventually tied together.
Although this was an urban fantasy I found a lot of the writing more similar to some literary fiction, and not falling into some of the repetitive traps I see in urban fantasies.
I thought the supernatural system was very interesting and I loved the cultural elements along with the magic system created for the book. Having the juxtaposition of our two main characters across multiple facets of their lives worked really well in how everything was eventually tied together.
Although this was an urban fantasy I found a lot of the writing more similar to some literary fiction, and not falling into some of the repetitive traps I see in urban fantasies.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was an excellent start to a series, but it was about 100 pages too long. It lays the dread on heavy as we follow our cast through a number of dark and twisted encounters with AIs and space colonists.
I loved the variety in the encounters but I think if they were all shortened a bit, we could have wrapped this entry up around the 500-550 page mark. This books has a few extraneous plot lines and flashbacks (that maybe pay off in the following entries) that felt a little disconnected from the rest of the book.
I cannot wait to start the next entry!
I loved the variety in the encounters but I think if they were all shortened a bit, we could have wrapped this entry up around the 500-550 page mark. This books has a few extraneous plot lines and flashbacks (that maybe pay off in the following entries) that felt a little disconnected from the rest of the book.
I cannot wait to start the next entry!
adventurous
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Any book that I can read in a single sitting is a book that I enjoyed. It is along the lines of an adventure horror story that combines hidden treasure with an unknown entity.
What really stuck out to me is this book is dark from start to finish. The tone is set and continual, just dread of what’s next (in the best way). This isn’t something I’ve come across in a lot of YA, so I loved that piece.
This book centers on multiple fractured relationships. Some fractured by circumstance and others by choice, revealing the full story over a current timeline and a recent past timeline that converges with the present story.
I haven’t read anything by this author before but I will definitely be checking to see if they have a backlist after this!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the publisher.
What really stuck out to me is this book is dark from start to finish. The tone is set and continual, just dread of what’s next (in the best way). This isn’t something I’ve come across in a lot of YA, so I loved that piece.
This book centers on multiple fractured relationships. Some fractured by circumstance and others by choice, revealing the full story over a current timeline and a recent past timeline that converges with the present story.
I haven’t read anything by this author before but I will definitely be checking to see if they have a backlist after this!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the publisher.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
emotional
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
I loved this book from the start but the ending (including the epilogue) felt a bit too abrupt for the type of the build up that MA created.
Not just the romantic relationship but also the friend group and professional aspects were great. I also loved that our MMC had a speech impediment (stuttering) that was discussed throughout the story.
I definitely will be reading her first book after this one!
Disclosure: I received a gifted copy from the publisher.
Not just the romantic relationship but also the friend group and professional aspects were great. I also loved that our MMC had a speech impediment (stuttering) that was discussed throughout the story.
I definitely will be reading her first book after this one!
Disclosure: I received a gifted copy from the publisher.
dark
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a high spice series starter. It is essentially a mafia monster romance? I did like it but there was a big lack of world building around the magic system. It seemed very specific but wasn’t really explained outside of short instances in which we see it in action.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content