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thecaffeinatedlibrary's Reviews (290)
challenging
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Small Things Like These is a hard hitting tale that speaks on the true power the Church can wield over people. It wastes nothing, filled with razor sharp prose that cuts deep. Claire has constructed a story that is simultaneously cosy, incredibly distressing, and heartbreaking.
We have some powerful commentary on gender, parental fear and the innocence of children. Bill is a delight to follow, multiple times I just wanted to give him a hug. He’s a wonderful person, and a wonderful dad, though he isn’t without his flaws. The backdrop of Christmas is so brilliantly written, it is a reminder to all that small things can make big impacts — even if that impact is on one single person. This was such a short novel, but somehow so perfectly paced without leaving anything wanting. This was magnificent.
I’m really looking forward to reading more of Claire Keegan’s work!
We have some powerful commentary on gender, parental fear and the innocence of children. Bill is a delight to follow, multiple times I just wanted to give him a hug. He’s a wonderful person, and a wonderful dad, though he isn’t without his flaws. The backdrop of Christmas is so brilliantly written, it is a reminder to all that small things can make big impacts — even if that impact is on one single person. This was such a short novel, but somehow so perfectly paced without leaving anything wanting. This was magnificent.
I’m really looking forward to reading more of Claire Keegan’s work!
mysterious
sad
dark
reflective
sad
tense
“…it’s irrelevant. You don’t fight for something just because it’s personal.”
Gunflower features some of the most breathtakingly, visual prose I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. It is raw, visceral and extremely thought provoking. An experience that can be summed up in one word: ‘breathtaking’.
Each story cuts deep, right where it needs to. Every story made me THINK, and think hard. Some of the standouts for me were: Those Last Days of Summer, Nine Days, Smoko, Gunflower & King (though I loved them all). Each story works on its own, but together? It is a mind-melding experience that creates empathy, challenges your thinking and gives voices to the most unlikely.
I can’t recommend this one enough. Thank you so much to Scribe for the early copy, it was a privilege.
Gunflower features some of the most breathtakingly, visual prose I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. It is raw, visceral and extremely thought provoking. An experience that can be summed up in one word: ‘breathtaking’.
Each story cuts deep, right where it needs to. Every story made me THINK, and think hard. Some of the standouts for me were: Those Last Days of Summer, Nine Days, Smoko, Gunflower & King (though I loved them all). Each story works on its own, but together? It is a mind-melding experience that creates empathy, challenges your thinking and gives voices to the most unlikely.
I can’t recommend this one enough. Thank you so much to Scribe for the early copy, it was a privilege.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Miscarriage, Abortion
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
This is book one in a new (interlinked) trilogy from C.C. Davie and I ate this UP!
The Pendragon Wytch is eloquent, full of dark, lyrical prose and incredible characters that make you love (or hate) them from their very first appearance. A dark take on the classic Arthurian legend that I love with my whole heart.
C.C. has an incredible talent for crafting characters that leap off the page, just begging to be seen. She will make you fall in love with a character instantaneously, and she knows how to crush your heart too. This new series is no different, everyone is real and raw and fully realised. The settings are so real, the world building flawless and the pacing perfect! I read this beautiful book in less than a day, I could not stop. We have two main protagonists — Morgana is complicated and full of love and heart. She and Gwen are just aching for each other, it made me genuinely kick my legs in joy. Merlin is also another incredibly complex character with a lot of rich history waiting to be explored, his interactions are some of my favourite.
Mark your calendars folks, this one will take your breath away!
Thank you again to the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review 😊
The Pendragon Wytch is eloquent, full of dark, lyrical prose and incredible characters that make you love (or hate) them from their very first appearance. A dark take on the classic Arthurian legend that I love with my whole heart.
C.C. has an incredible talent for crafting characters that leap off the page, just begging to be seen. She will make you fall in love with a character instantaneously, and she knows how to crush your heart too. This new series is no different, everyone is real and raw and fully realised. The settings are so real, the world building flawless and the pacing perfect! I read this beautiful book in less than a day, I could not stop. We have two main protagonists — Morgana is complicated and full of love and heart. She and Gwen are just aching for each other, it made me genuinely kick my legs in joy. Merlin is also another incredibly complex character with a lot of rich history waiting to be explored, his interactions are some of my favourite.
Mark your calendars folks, this one will take your breath away!
Thank you again to the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review 😊
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder
emotional
lighthearted
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
A raw, vulnerable and fiercely unapologetic memoir that forces the reader to challenge their world-view, and internal biases — no matter how dormant or suppressed they may be.
This book calls into question the reader’s feminism, or more importantly just how intersectional that feminism really is. I was simultaneously awed by Yen-Rong Wong’s powerful words and called out at the same time. This entire book felt revolutionary to me. It was angry and raw, and yet remained vulnerable throughout as the author bore her soul and the nuances that coincide with being a Chinese-Australian woman in Australia and Western society, and indeed the nuances of white privilege/supremacy in that society.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, please go buy a copy and do yourself — and your neighbours — a favour.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If “Labour” by Paris Paloma & “What Was I Made For?” By Billie Eilish had a love child, it would be this book. Admittedly with a few more gothic embellishments, for ambience.
This was a character study, it was slow and sumptuous while still being dark and twisty. Following Charm was a delight, and I thoroughly enjoyed the mind melting experience of watching this resilient woman’s journey throughout the book.
The prose in The Bone Orchard is sublime, making me shudder and smile in the same sentence. I was captivated by the politics Mueller has crafted, and the lush settings that we are privy to seeing. I just could not get enough of this mystery of a novel that I highly recommend.
This was a character study, it was slow and sumptuous while still being dark and twisty. Following Charm was a delight, and I thoroughly enjoyed the mind melting experience of watching this resilient woman’s journey throughout the book.
The prose in The Bone Orchard is sublime, making me shudder and smile in the same sentence. I was captivated by the politics Mueller has crafted, and the lush settings that we are privy to seeing. I just could not get enough of this mystery of a novel that I highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Suicide
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Medical content
Minor: Child death, Emotional abuse
dark
sad
tense
A gripping prequel that holds your heart and shatters it in the same breath.
In Heir of Vasilica we get Lyrik’s back story, which is alluded to in books 1&2 of the main series. We are given the opportunity to understand what motivates her character, and what she has been through in the past. It was also just so perfectly paced, it never lagged or jumped too far ahead and just made you FEEL for Lyrik, there’s no other way to put it.
Lyrik was very young in this, a teenager still, and my maternal instincts were at the forefront of my mind while reading. I just NEEDED to protect her, to wrap in my arms and just be there for her. I also felt like Lyrik and I were kindred spirits in a sense, which has just increased my affection tenfold.
If you have read the first two books, I highly recommend picking this one up. Phenomenal.
In Heir of Vasilica we get Lyrik’s back story, which is alluded to in books 1&2 of the main series. We are given the opportunity to understand what motivates her character, and what she has been through in the past. It was also just so perfectly paced, it never lagged or jumped too far ahead and just made you FEEL for Lyrik, there’s no other way to put it.
Lyrik was very young in this, a teenager still, and my maternal instincts were at the forefront of my mind while reading. I just NEEDED to protect her, to wrap in my arms and just be there for her. I also felt like Lyrik and I were kindred spirits in a sense, which has just increased my affection tenfold.
If you have read the first two books, I highly recommend picking this one up. Phenomenal.
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
A love letter to rural Australia, and a heartfelt story that gives you butterflies.
The settings in Clare’s debit paint such a vivid, real picture of country QLD that I felt like it was only right to crack open a stubby myself as I immersed myself in this story. It is romantic, and just oozes charm from every page. Stevie and Johnno dancing around their feelings for each other was exhilarating, and frustrating at once and I screamed for joy in the end! I have a soft spot for books that have a focus on relationships other than romantic ones, and Five Bush Weddings did not leave me wanting here. Stevie’s close friendship with Jen, and her relationship with her mum was just wonderful (and again, frustrating at times — I found myself yelling at Stevie a lot 😂).
The settings in Clare’s debit paint such a vivid, real picture of country QLD that I felt like it was only right to crack open a stubby myself as I immersed myself in this story. It is romantic, and just oozes charm from every page. Stevie and Johnno dancing around their feelings for each other was exhilarating, and frustrating at once and I screamed for joy in the end! I have a soft spot for books that have a focus on relationships other than romantic ones, and Five Bush Weddings did not leave me wanting here. Stevie’s close friendship with Jen, and her relationship with her mum was just wonderful (and again, frustrating at times — I found myself yelling at Stevie a lot 😂).
hopeful
reflective
A deeply inspiring, feminist memoir that makes you proud of what makes you, you.
This memoir had a lot to say on womanhood, motherhood and feminism in general. It also had a lot to say about Benedict Cumberbatch, but the author uses her “thing” with Benedict to relate to women everywhere, and their “thing”.
I don’t know about you, but my thing is mostly books and then a lot of sub-things (LoTR, Percy Jackson, Marvel, The Roots of Chaos world, sapphic books — just to name a few) and I have been told that books are “silly” or told that I would “grow out of it”, with the addition of being a mother and sharing a similar experience with the author, this book resonated with me. It was witty, and funny and asks a lot of questions.
I did feel that the pacing was a little off in some parts, and that we skirted around the point a little in others but overall this was a warm, witty and motivational memoir that I highly recommend!
This memoir had a lot to say on womanhood, motherhood and feminism in general. It also had a lot to say about Benedict Cumberbatch, but the author uses her “thing” with Benedict to relate to women everywhere, and their “thing”.
I don’t know about you, but my thing is mostly books and then a lot of sub-things (LoTR, Percy Jackson, Marvel, The Roots of Chaos world, sapphic books — just to name a few) and I have been told that books are “silly” or told that I would “grow out of it”, with the addition of being a mother and sharing a similar experience with the author, this book resonated with me. It was witty, and funny and asks a lot of questions.
I did feel that the pacing was a little off in some parts, and that we skirted around the point a little in others but overall this was a warm, witty and motivational memoir that I highly recommend!