supau's reviews
28 reviews

Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.

Just not into it. Didn't love the writing, story went some places that weren't what I expected and turned me off a bit.

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that changed America by Erik Larson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.

Recommended to me but didn't catch. The Holmes stuff was pretty interesting, but the architecture one did nothing for me.

The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín

dark tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

I really, really enjoyed this. Very dark for a YA novel though, no? Like it felt very YA at times, but with very graphic violence and body horror. I read it together with my 12 year-old daughter and there were quite a few times I asked her (and myself): "is this okay for you?"

I loved the tie-in to old Sidhe legend and any time something sounded like a reference to an actual part of the real life myth we looked it up to see how close it was. 

The Thief of Always by Clive Barker

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious tense medium-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? No

4.0

Read together with my 12 year old. Absolutely wonderful experience. The first half was great, but wow at the back 9.

Nice when you find a book that makes you want to search out more works by the author. Very comfortable writing.

Revival by Stephen King

dark mysterious 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

As I got closer and closer to the end of the book, I kept thinking "please stick the landing. This is great, and it's been building and building all to this; please stick the landing."

And he did! Great book!

Ritualistic Human Sacrifice by C.V. Hunt

dark fast-paced

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

3.0

Started so well and super compelling. A relatable situation with *something* coming, but not knowing exactly where it was going to go. 

Unfortunately, it fell apart for me on the second half. It was an oversexed Rosemary's Baby without the cool mod vibes and New York apartments. 

I tagged this with like 30 content warnings. I like a good Satanism book as much as the next guy but this was a little much.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Hammers on Bone by Cassandra Khaw

dark medium-paced

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

2.0

I didn't like the writing in this. It came across as very tropey and forced. If it wasn't as short as it is, I definitely wouldn't have finished it.

There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm

challenging funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

Lost me a bit by the end when it seemed to get a little too big, but lots of fun ideas to play with here. Quick read.