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soobooksalot's reviews
986 reviews
Blood Ties by Jo Nesbø
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The actions of the characters in Blood Ties sit very much in the grey zone.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for my gifted copy of Jo Nesbo's newest for feature!
Blood Ties is the follow-up to The Kingdom, which I was happy to also receive a copy of so I could learn the backstory.
Brothers Roy and Carl Opgard have had traumatic upbringings, and are now businessmen in the town of Os. Roy is our protagonist, and Carl's sometime protector. He has more than a few murders on his hands in the name of justice, defense, and means to an end. This is a small-town story with undercurrents of darkness - sps and amusement parks do not a pleasant location make.
Blood Ties is quite a different feel than other Jo Nesbo books, for example the Harry Hole detective series or other Nordic Noir.
It could be read as a standalone, but I personally would recommend reading The Kingdom first to get a better feel for our main characters.
Recommended!!
Released on Feb. 11.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for my gifted copy of Jo Nesbo's newest for feature!
Blood Ties is the follow-up to The Kingdom, which I was happy to also receive a copy of so I could learn the backstory.
Brothers Roy and Carl Opgard have had traumatic upbringings, and are now businessmen in the town of Os. Roy is our protagonist, and Carl's sometime protector. He has more than a few murders on his hands in the name of justice, defense, and means to an end. This is a small-town story with undercurrents of darkness - sps and amusement parks do not a pleasant location make.
Blood Ties is quite a different feel than other Jo Nesbo books, for example the Harry Hole detective series or other Nordic Noir.
It could be read as a standalone, but I personally would recommend reading The Kingdom first to get a better feel for our main characters.
Recommended!!
Released on Feb. 11.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Murder
The actions of the characters in Blood Ties sit very much in the grey zone.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for my gifted copy of Jo Nesbo's newest for feature!
Blood Ties is the follow-up to The Kingdom, which I was happy to also receive a copy of so I could learn the backstory.
Brothers Roy and Carl Opgard have had traumatic upbringings, and are now businessmen in the town of Os. Roy is our protagonist, and Carl's sometime protector. He has more than a few murders on his hands in the name of justice, defense, and means to an end. This is a small-town story with undercurrents of darkness - sps and amusement parks do not a pleasant location make.
Blood Ties is quite a different feel than other Jo Nesbo books, for example the Harry Hole detective series or other Nordic Noir.
It could be read as a standalone, but I personally would recommend reading The Kingdom first to get a better feel for our main characters.
Recommended!!
Released on Feb. 11.
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Strange Case Of Jane O. is one that won't leave me anytime soon.
This is my first book by author Karen Thompson Walker and it's impact is huge.
Thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for my eARC for review!
The story is told in alternating voices, from Jane O. writing to her young son, to psychiatrist Dr. Byrd's narrative documentation.
Residents and fans of New York City will enjoy the setting, but the implications of the story is nearly as complex as the city where it takes place.
It's one where I felt compelled to go back and reread as soon as I finished, learning what I had by the end. There are no clear answers, with the events having a sci-fi angle doused in realism.
Recommended!
Released on Feb. 25.
This is my first book by author Karen Thompson Walker and it's impact is huge.
Thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for my eARC for review!
The story is told in alternating voices, from Jane O. writing to her young son, to psychiatrist Dr. Byrd's narrative documentation.
Residents and fans of New York City will enjoy the setting, but the implications of the story is nearly as complex as the city where it takes place.
It's one where I felt compelled to go back and reread as soon as I finished, learning what I had by the end. There are no clear answers, with the events having a sci-fi angle doused in realism.
Recommended!
Released on Feb. 25.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
TapTapTap
Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy of Something In The Walls for review!
First things first, this cover - perfection. I mindlessly tried to wipe away that bit of white thinking it was a smudge, before realizing it's an EYE.
Mina Ellis is a child psychologist, newly engaged to the bland Oscar. Mina has been summoned to the town of Banathel, as local youth Alice has had numerous terrifying incidents that cannot be easily explained.
This is a slow burn story, with some solidly creepy images that settle into your mind. And it definitely didn't go the direction I was expecting.
A great add to the suspense/horror genre - recommended!
GoodRiddanceGoodRiddanceGoodRiddance
Released on Feb. 25.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy of Something In The Walls for review!
First things first, this cover - perfection. I mindlessly tried to wipe away that bit of white thinking it was a smudge, before realizing it's an EYE.
Mina Ellis is a child psychologist, newly engaged to the bland Oscar. Mina has been summoned to the town of Banathel, as local youth Alice has had numerous terrifying incidents that cannot be easily explained.
This is a slow burn story, with some solidly creepy images that settle into your mind. And it definitely didn't go the direction I was expecting.
A great add to the suspense/horror genre - recommended!
GoodRiddanceGoodRiddanceGoodRiddance
Released on Feb. 25.
Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hello, Juliet by Samantha M Bailey
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Two evenings. I finished Hello, Juliet in two evenings, hardly coming up for air.
I've been a fan of Sam Bailey's books since her debut (Woman On The Edge), but Hello, Juliet shot up the ranks to my new favourite of hers.
Thank you to @thrillerbookreadsthepulse for my eARC for review!
Ivy Westcott, Lauren Malloy, Jesse Rafferty, and Caleb Hill are the new stars of the teen soapy drama series, Hello, Juliet.
Hand-picked by series creator Mack Foster, the sensational publicity of the cast begins before the show has even aired. Ivy, in particular as the title character, is panned by fans from the get-go.
Why did the show Hello, Juliet only last for one season, yet became a famed cult classic?
The story is told in dual-timelines, opening with a return to the LA studio for a cast reunion, to the heyday of the show itself.
Immediately I was drawn in by the 90210/The OC/One Tree Hill feel of it all. The twists and secrets are a tight weave indeed.
Recommended!
For release on April 29.
I've been a fan of Sam Bailey's books since her debut (Woman On The Edge), but Hello, Juliet shot up the ranks to my new favourite of hers.
Thank you to @thrillerbookreadsthepulse for my eARC for review!
Ivy Westcott, Lauren Malloy, Jesse Rafferty, and Caleb Hill are the new stars of the teen soapy drama series, Hello, Juliet.
Hand-picked by series creator Mack Foster, the sensational publicity of the cast begins before the show has even aired. Ivy, in particular as the title character, is panned by fans from the get-go.
Why did the show Hello, Juliet only last for one season, yet became a famed cult classic?
The story is told in dual-timelines, opening with a return to the LA studio for a cast reunion, to the heyday of the show itself.
Immediately I was drawn in by the 90210/The OC/One Tree Hill feel of it all. The twists and secrets are a tight weave indeed.
Recommended!
For release on April 29.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0