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stacyrenee's reviews
430 reviews
This Girl's A Killer by Emma C. Wells
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Adult
Thriller
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Cordelia Black is a pharmaceutical rep by day, killer of bad men by night, stalking and disposing of grapists, pedos, and more, but when her best friend finds her “Mr. Right,” Cordelia is determined to prove that he is anything but and makes a blunder that could cost her everything!
I really enjoyed this, especially compared to my latest ‘feminine rage’ read, ‘Animal’ by Lisa Taddeo, which wasn’t very ‘ragey’ at all. This book has the rage and the follow-through and while that does kind of take a backseat to the MCs day-time relationship drama, it is still a major plot point with lots of intrigue and thrills and even some twists!
Perfect for fans of Maeve Fly and Cackle!
Thriller
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Cordelia Black is a pharmaceutical rep by day, killer of bad men by night, stalking and disposing of grapists, pedos, and more, but when her best friend finds her “Mr. Right,” Cordelia is determined to prove that he is anything but and makes a blunder that could cost her everything!
I really enjoyed this, especially compared to my latest ‘feminine rage’ read, ‘Animal’ by Lisa Taddeo, which wasn’t very ‘ragey’ at all. This book has the rage and the follow-through and while that does kind of take a backseat to the MCs day-time relationship drama, it is still a major plot point with lots of intrigue and thrills and even some twists!
Perfect for fans of Maeve Fly and Cackle!
Spindle's End by Robin McKinley
adventurous
medium-paced
4.0
Young Adult
Fantasy
Fairytale Retelling
This is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a lot of added content perfect for anyone looking for longer retellings (my latest Sleeping Beauty retelling was Thornhedge by T Kingfisher but it’s super short!) that mostly sticks to the original content (unlike Thornhedge) while also adding in a new-to-me perspective on the fairy world & magic.
This was somewhat cozy for a fairytale and may be perfect for cottage-core fans!
Fantasy
Fairytale Retelling
This is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a lot of added content perfect for anyone looking for longer retellings (my latest Sleeping Beauty retelling was Thornhedge by T Kingfisher but it’s super short!) that mostly sticks to the original content (unlike Thornhedge) while also adding in a new-to-me perspective on the fairy world & magic.
This was somewhat cozy for a fairytale and may be perfect for cottage-core fans!
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Adult
Mystery thriller
James has always had a magical connection to her twin brother, Johnny, so she knows exactly when and where he dies and that she is now truly alone in the world.
Returning to her childhood town to settle her brother’s affairs after years away she is quickly caught up in old friendships and relationships while also trying to discover her brother’s murderer.
This was an enjoyable mystery with a touch of magical realism to it. I didn’t love it as much as The Unmaking of June Farrow but it is well written and kept me intrigued throughout. Also, apparently the author is a twin and I think that really reflects in the writing and the emotional connection that the MC has with her brother.
Twist ending!
I also loved the outdoorsy setting and plot! The cover really helps set the vibe!
Mystery thriller
James has always had a magical connection to her twin brother, Johnny, so she knows exactly when and where he dies and that she is now truly alone in the world.
Returning to her childhood town to settle her brother’s affairs after years away she is quickly caught up in old friendships and relationships while also trying to discover her brother’s murderer.
This was an enjoyable mystery with a touch of magical realism to it. I didn’t love it as much as The Unmaking of June Farrow but it is well written and kept me intrigued throughout. Also, apparently the author is a twin and I think that really reflects in the writing and the emotional connection that the MC has with her brother.
Twist ending!
I also loved the outdoorsy setting and plot! The cover really helps set the vibe!
Animal by Lisa Taddeo
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Adult
Contemporary Thriller
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This has been on a ton of ‘feminine rage’ lists lately and is about a mid-aged woman who has been through several traumatic events throughout her life and eventually finds the strength to ‘strike back’.
Unfortunately, this was not the revenge vibes tale I thought it would be and was underwhelmed by the overall story. The MC has a lot of childhood trauma to unpack but is also dealing with real-life fallout from the family of the married man she was involved with.
Content warnings include adultery, miscarriage, sexual assault, drug abuse, suicide, violence, murder
Contemporary Thriller
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This has been on a ton of ‘feminine rage’ lists lately and is about a mid-aged woman who has been through several traumatic events throughout her life and eventually finds the strength to ‘strike back’.
Unfortunately, this was not the revenge vibes tale I thought it would be and was underwhelmed by the overall story. The MC has a lot of childhood trauma to unpack but is also dealing with real-life fallout from the family of the married man she was involved with.
Content warnings include adultery, miscarriage, sexual assault, drug abuse, suicide, violence, murder
The Kid by Sapphire
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Adult
Contemporary
Sequel to Push
This was a tough read. It's about the son of Precious from Push and starts out when he is 9yo. His mother dies and he is put into foster homes and boarding schools, basically going under the radar at times and experiencing great trauma as well as causing trauma to others. It's a really dark, difficult read and was even more disturbing than Push.
Definitely check for content warnings on this one. I had to put it down so many times.
Contemporary
Sequel to Push
This was a tough read. It's about the son of Precious from Push and starts out when he is 9yo. His mother dies and he is put into foster homes and boarding schools, basically going under the radar at times and experiencing great trauma as well as causing trauma to others. It's a really dark, difficult read and was even more disturbing than Push.
Definitely check for content warnings on this one. I had to put it down so many times.
Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
4.0
MG
Historical fiction
2nd in the Seeds of America trilogy
In the first book, ‘Chains’, the MC is a slave girl named Isabel, but in ‘Forge’, the focus switches to Curzon, the slave boy who convinces Isabel to spy on her cruel Loyalist masters, and his plight at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War.
Historical fiction
2nd in the Seeds of America trilogy
In the first book, ‘Chains’, the MC is a slave girl named Isabel, but in ‘Forge’, the focus switches to Curzon, the slave boy who convinces Isabel to spy on her cruel Loyalist masters, and his plight at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War.
The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay by Mary Averling
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
MG
Fantasy Horror
Ghost story
Set in Canada
12yo Maudie is a ghost girl that haunts a rental cabin in the woods alongside her brother, Scratch, and friend, Kit, but when Scratch and Kit are taken by Longfingers, Maudie must convince the latest vacationers, specifically the youngest daughter, Gianna, for help.
Very enjoyable! I love ghost stories but almost never get the story from the ghosts’ point of view so this was quite refreshing!
I read The Curse of Eelgrass Bog last year and see similarities in storytelling between the two, including but not limited to the fantastic female friendships in both.
They also both have a hint of witchy fantasy or supernatural elements that I can’t help but love. I especially enjoy how the fantasy elements keeps this ghost story from being overly scary (although there are some very creepy moments!)
There’s balance… and a happy ending!
Fantasy Horror
Ghost story
Set in Canada
12yo Maudie is a ghost girl that haunts a rental cabin in the woods alongside her brother, Scratch, and friend, Kit, but when Scratch and Kit are taken by Longfingers, Maudie must convince the latest vacationers, specifically the youngest daughter, Gianna, for help.
Very enjoyable! I love ghost stories but almost never get the story from the ghosts’ point of view so this was quite refreshing!
I read The Curse of Eelgrass Bog last year and see similarities in storytelling between the two, including but not limited to the fantastic female friendships in both.
They also both have a hint of witchy fantasy or supernatural elements that I can’t help but love. I especially enjoy how the fantasy elements keeps this ghost story from being overly scary (although there are some very creepy moments!)
There’s balance… and a happy ending!
Midnight Rooms by Donyae Coles
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Adult
Gothic
Horror thriller
(🌶🌶 a lil bit spicy)
Set in Victorian England
Orabella is an orphan living with an aunt and uncle who marry Orabella off to the dark and handsome Elias Blakersby in exchange for settling her uncle’s gambling debts
but when she arrives at his grand old home, Kerrington, she is quickly caught up in continuous fever dream riddled with night terrors and hallucinations and it doesn’t help that her new husband seems to want her locked away in her room while also taking care of her every need and a dark and supernatural mystery unfolds the longer she is in the house.
This was so good!
I love a good fever dream, stream of consciousness narrative and this was written so well that I felt like I was right in the story. It is dark and mysterious and felt like one big gothic romance turned nightmare.
This was a lil bit spicy for my tastes and includes a lot of sexual content and language as well as some SA and other violence but was mostly all integral to the plot and didn’t detract from the story for me. I don’t read spicy books often though so I feel like my spice rating may vary greatly from others.
Gothic
Horror thriller
(🌶🌶 a lil bit spicy)
Set in Victorian England
Orabella is an orphan living with an aunt and uncle who marry Orabella off to the dark and handsome Elias Blakersby in exchange for settling her uncle’s gambling debts
but when she arrives at his grand old home, Kerrington, she is quickly caught up in continuous fever dream riddled with night terrors and hallucinations and it doesn’t help that her new husband seems to want her locked away in her room while also taking care of her every need and a dark and supernatural mystery unfolds the longer she is in the house.
This was so good!
I love a good fever dream, stream of consciousness narrative and this was written so well that I felt like I was right in the story. It is dark and mysterious and felt like one big gothic romance turned nightmare.
This was a lil bit spicy for my tastes and includes a lot of sexual content and language as well as some SA and other violence but was mostly all integral to the plot and didn’t detract from the story for me. I don’t read spicy books often though so I feel like my spice rating may vary greatly from others.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
It’s been too long since I last read THG series but this felt like reading it over again for the first time and getting a totally new story at the same time. 😜
Loved revisiting victors from the original trilogy and the connections between Snakes&Songbirds as well.
A tear jerker. I don’t cry often from books anymore but this one got to me several times. 😭
Loved revisiting victors from the original trilogy and the connections between Snakes&Songbirds as well.
A tear jerker. I don’t cry often from books anymore but this one got to me several times. 😭