slascano's reviews
22 reviews

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Interesting twists 

I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself by Marisa Crane

dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

5.0

Definitely a parable for the tragedy of “otherness”. A lesson for so many people about isms. Very valuable narrative. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Drug use, and Abandonment

Explicit sexual scenes

On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Luster by Raven Leilani

dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

This book really surprised me. I thought it would be filled with sex because of the plot description. I was ready to stop reading it because I wasn’t looking for that but it was a very small part of it. Insight into a 20 something black woman who is searching for her identity and self worth. Really good book that leaves you valuing all the characters and their role in influencing the plot. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Medical content, and Abortion

The triggers are not explicit or graphic just present

The Book of M by Peng Shepherd

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

The Sunset Route: Freight Trains, Forgiveness, and Freedom on the Rails in the American West by Carrot Quinn

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Interesting alternative lifestyle and surviving poverty 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Excellent for people who love reading memoirs to experience other people’s life experiences

An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten

dark lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It’s dark and kinda cute. Makes you question stereotypes and explore possibilities not usually considered. 

Bewilderness by Karen Tucker

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Toxic friendship

The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, and Pregnancy

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0