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the_broadway_slasher's reviews
57 reviews
the sharp county slasher by Andrew Alman
dark
funny
mysterious
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
3.0
THE SHARP COUNTY SLASHER is a story about a small town serial killer who may or may not be courting an earlier murderer in the same small town. It’s a quick and easy read that moves at breakneck speed, with little to no-filler. You’ll enjoy this novel if you’re a fan of Dexter and I personally advise you to go into it without reading the synopsis because there’s a fun plot-point that I think is better enjoyed if you go into this knowing as little as possible.
A few things to note, I did find some of the twists a little bit predictable and fully guessed the identity of the killer in the first few chapters. The author’s style is also a little simple for my taste and the conversational stylings between characters didn’t work for me.
That being said, what I enjoyed most about THE SHARP COUNTY SLASHER was how gruesome the killers’ crimes were. There are some insane visuals at play here that had me reeling and gagging (even as an avid and well-versed horror fan). The author has some really great ideas that weren’t executed as well as they deserved to be. Still, if you’re a fan of crime and serial killer procedurals and can look behind the simple prose, you’ll find some fun stuff to enjoy in THE SHARP COUNTY SLASHER, which promises to be the first in a new series!
A few things to note, I did find some of the twists a little bit predictable and fully guessed the identity of the killer in the first few chapters. The author’s style is also a little simple for my taste and the conversational stylings between characters didn’t work for me.
That being said, what I enjoyed most about THE SHARP COUNTY SLASHER was how gruesome the killers’ crimes were. There are some insane visuals at play here that had me reeling and gagging (even as an avid and well-versed horror fan). The author has some really great ideas that weren’t executed as well as they deserved to be. Still, if you’re a fan of crime and serial killer procedurals and can look behind the simple prose, you’ll find some fun stuff to enjoy in THE SHARP COUNTY SLASHER, which promises to be the first in a new series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder
The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
THE UNWORTHY is easily my favorite read of the year to date. TENDER IS THE FLESH has been on my list for a while now but I randomly came across THE UNWORTHY and decided to give it a go before its predecessor and I’m so happy I did. Agustina Bazterrica is a literary genius and I can’t wait to dive deep into her bibliography. This book is not for the faint of heart but paints a beautifully dark landscape of gothic, post-apocalyptic delights. I won’t go into plot details because this was a great book to go into knowing as little as possible. Just know that if you’re looking for a short horror read that quietly packs little gut punches woven between poetry and bone-chilling visuals, this is the book for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: War
Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
What to say about DON’T LET THE FOREST IN? I have a lot of thoughts but also I just don’t think I was the intended audience for this book, so my criticisms seem unfair. I really enjoyed the story at play but felt it was overwritten and a little too descriptive and lush. Lots of really stylized descriptions of mundane things that felt like unnecessary padding just to give the story a poetic edge. Ultimately, this novel is a dark, queer fairy tale and the writing makes sense but also feels overwrought. It’s melodramatic and whether or not it will work for you probably depends on how far a star-crossed lovers narrative will fill your tank. I was looking for a little bit more substance.
What worked for me were the horror elements, which include body horror, monsters, murder and gore. The novel really excelled when it leaned into its dark side. It mostly lost me with its whiny, clueless and moody characters who are all thinly written to serve the plot as necessary. I probably would have enjoyed this if I read it at 16 😅 But 35yr old me definitely did not.
What worked for me were the horror elements, which include body horror, monsters, murder and gore. The novel really excelled when it leaned into its dark side. It mostly lost me with its whiny, clueless and moody characters who are all thinly written to serve the plot as necessary. I probably would have enjoyed this if I read it at 16 😅 But 35yr old me definitely did not.
Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Wow. I was not prepared for Jonny Appleseed. I came across this novel looking for books written by 2Spirit people to expand my horizons during the #transrightsreadathon and I’m so glad I took a chance on it and on author, Joshua Whitehead.
Jonny Appleseed is an intimate portrayal of an indigenous 2S person as they come to terms with their identity. Whitehead weaves together a beautifully sad and relatable story that doesn’t shy away from the ugly bitterness of life. It’s poignant, reflective, joyful and will leave you feeling like someone carved a hole out of your soul and then held up a mirror for to you to look inside. I found myself deeply relating to the bond Jonny had with his kokum (grandmother) and learned so much about the unique struggles of indigenous queer youth. This novel took me back to my first few years out of the closet and unearthed some wounds I’d buried deep within that I’d forgotten. Few writers have the ability to dig deep inside me like this and I can’t wait to dig into more of Joshua Whitehead’s work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Death
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
Just finished BURY YOUR GAYS and I’m full of adrenaline, thoughts and emotions. I’m a little scared of saying too much because this is def the kind of novel one should go into knowing as little as possible for maximum surprise and enjoyment. I will say that it is an excellent little queer horror thriller with some really fun and exciting set-pieces. It’s not for the faint of heart and features some gruesome gore that had me squealing in horror-fan delight but it’s so much more than that. If you’re looking for a novel about queer resilience with some political and showbiz commentary, look no further! This is my first time reading Chuck Tingle and I’m really excited to read more! This novel really subverted all my expectations and would make for a great episode of Black Mirror.
Rough Pages by Lev AC Rosen
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rough Pages is the latest entry in Lev AC Rosen’s Evander Mills series and is a bit of a return to form after the uneven sequel to the first book. I’m glad to report that Rough Pages is as good as The Lavender House (if not better?) and does a splendid job of following the lives of all the characters we’ve come to know and love throughout the series, as well as introduces us to some memorable new additions. The mystery here is compelling, timely and addictive. Rosen paints another beautiful picture of 1950s San Francisco and immerses us in queer noir metropolis full of mystery and intrigue.
I truly can’t recommend this series enough, especially if you’re a love of murder mysteries who is looking for a little more diversity in their storytelling. The Evander Mills series has quickly catapulted to the top of my favorite current book series and I can’t wait for the 4th book, Mirage City, to drop in October. 🙌🏽
I truly can’t recommend this series enough, especially if you’re a love of murder mysteries who is looking for a little more diversity in their storytelling. The Evander Mills series has quickly catapulted to the top of my favorite current book series and I can’t wait for the 4th book, Mirage City, to drop in October. 🙌🏽
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
3.5
I really, really wanted to love THE CITY WE BECAME but the first few chapters are really repetitive in that each one introduces us to one character and their environment until we get through a large chunk of an ensemble cast of characters that still need to get together for the story to get moving. It’s very monotonous and hard to follow until you get a good sense of what’s going on. By the time the story gets into first gear, it may or may not have already lost your attention. For me, it was still mildly piqued, so I pushed through. Ultimately I am glad I did because once the story gets going, it’s really interesting and unique, if a little heavy handed. Still, original sci-fi is hard to come by these days and I really enjoyed the ideas at play and loved all the characters. My biggest problem here is that THE STORY WE BECAME is very clearly just half of a story and the last act feels rushed and anticlimactic. I know a sequel has been published recently but unfortunately I don’t think I enjoyed this enough to pursue
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? No
5.0
I wanted to love THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA so bad but it felt like it was really lacking conflict and stakes and I was hesitant going into SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE SEA expecting more of the same but I’m glad to say that this series has grown up, while fully maintaining the quirkiness, comfort and charm of its predecessor. WOW, this book was written for TODAY and its themes and messages are as timely as ever. I really enjoyed it and am very much looking forward to the next in the series. TJ Klune, I love you and I love that you’re out here writing the stories our kids deserve about hope, love and resilience.
Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.75
A near perfect book, Margo’s Got Money Troubles is going to stick with me. First of all, I have to admit that I initially got this in August as part of RuPaul’s book club, but the cover art and the premise on the jacket did not appeal to me at all. Fast forward to one of my friends telling me she was going to start it and I caved and decided we should do a buddy read. What’s the old adage… “don’t judge a book by its cover?” Ok yeah well… I know now! 😅 So glad I gave this novel a chance.
At first, the story was giving me Juno vibes and it wasn’t clicking with me, but something magical happens when we fast forward past the awkward romance and to “current day” Margo. The plot begins racing in directions you never imagined and the most lovable, 3-dimensional characters begin to hop on the train while the author sneakily injects her prose with thoughtful analysis about parenting, love and finding your passion in a world that is obsessed with telling us what’s right and wrong.
I enjoyed this read so much and basically devoured the book in two sittings. It’s funny, quirky, sad, and more than anything surprisingly relatable even though I’ve never been a pregnant 19yr old with an Only Fans. 😂 Margo spoke to my heart and I will be championing the hell out of this book however I can.
At first, the story was giving me Juno vibes and it wasn’t clicking with me, but something magical happens when we fast forward past the awkward romance and to “current day” Margo. The plot begins racing in directions you never imagined and the most lovable, 3-dimensional characters begin to hop on the train while the author sneakily injects her prose with thoughtful analysis about parenting, love and finding your passion in a world that is obsessed with telling us what’s right and wrong.
I enjoyed this read so much and basically devoured the book in two sittings. It’s funny, quirky, sad, and more than anything surprisingly relatable even though I’ve never been a pregnant 19yr old with an Only Fans. 😂 Margo spoke to my heart and I will be championing the hell out of this book however I can.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Abortion
Firestarter by Stephen King
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
Damn. I was pretty disinterested in reading Firestarter because I thought it might be too similar to Carrie but I was wrong. Yes, similar elements but completely different take on the material and beautifully layered, especially when it came to Andy and Charlie’s father/daughter relationship. I really enjoyed this King novel and am starting to think the 80s produced his best work. Shame we’ve yet to get a really good big-screen adaptation of this classic story.