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soobooksalot's reviews
989 reviews
A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand
dark
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
3.0
Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.5
Deep Cuts is like hanging out in a record shop, listening to banter. I may not know exactly who is being referenced, but it feels hip and cool just to be around.
Deep Cuts is just this - a smart, contemporary love story of the relationship between Joe and Percy.
Boy meets girl in a bar, they bond over their love of music. Joe makes music, Percy does not - but knows what she likes and has a gift for how to make music better.
Relationships, not so much.
This is author Holly Brickley's first novel, and she's Canadian-born by way of B.C. If this is what she's done with her debut, I absolutely cannot wait to read whatever it is she writes next. Deep Cuts is that good.
There's also a Spotify playlist of every accompanying song you need to keep up with the references in the story!
Recommended!
Deep Cuts is just this - a smart, contemporary love story of the relationship between Joe and Percy.
Boy meets girl in a bar, they bond over their love of music. Joe makes music, Percy does not - but knows what she likes and has a gift for how to make music better.
Relationships, not so much.
This is author Holly Brickley's first novel, and she's Canadian-born by way of B.C. If this is what she's done with her debut, I absolutely cannot wait to read whatever it is she writes next. Deep Cuts is that good.
There's also a Spotify playlist of every accompanying song you need to keep up with the references in the story!
Recommended!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
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.