theneverendingtbr's reviews
372 reviews

Tokyo Ghoul: re, Vol. 1 by Sui Ishida

dark lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

The plot to this one was interesting and involves a group of up-and-coming Ghoul investigators called the Quinx Squad, their leader Haise is a one eyed ghoul, who is more human than ghoul but has their ruthlessness track ghouls and deal with them.

Their first target in Vol. 1 is a serial killer with the codename Torso.....

That's all I'll say.

I'd like to point out that it's beautifully illustrated and I can't wait to see where it all leads, need to start Vol. 2 immediately. 

Yellow by Aron Beauregard

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

HOLY MOLY! He wasn't so "Yella" afterall.

This one is written so well and I couldn't stop turning the pages, it was tense AF!

I was always wanting to know what was going to happen next while Oliver (the main character) carried out his vengeance on the absolute animals that destroyed his life.

The ending to this one was perfect and I consider this book a masterpiece.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Confinement, Death, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Hate crime, Mental illness, Murder, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

The Court of the Mushroom King (Aeon of Chaos) by B.J. Swann

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

Princess Ziqqora takes magic mushrooms and slips into a surreal world filled with terror and wonder beyond her imagination.

This one is a very short, yet complex and superbly written - again I like the world building in this one, it's very dark, surreal, deliciously crafted and just sucks you right in as if you've gobbled up some of those 'shrooms yourself.

I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

The Unwithering Flower by B.J. Swann

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

This was a superbly written world-building novel set in a city called Hedonia, which is plague-ridden and there's a necromancer bringing beautiful young women back from the dead to serve unsuspecting men in brothels.

Cool storyline.
I liked the world-building.
I liked the characters.

It contains graphic sex, violence, and material you may find disturbing.

If you're not bothered by this then definitely go read it!

I'm reading another book by this author next because this was enjoyable.

The Smell Of Cedar by River Dixon

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This one was a character driven novella about the psychological downward spiral of a girl called Sarah, who is physically and mentally abused by her grandmother.

Very different to what I'd normally read but this one is written so well and kept me turning the pages and I recommend to anyone who likes psychological horror.

Necrosis by Rayne Havok

dark mysterious 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

5.0

Well the second story I've read by Rayne Havok was brilliant, I just loved it and dammit I think Tula has become one of my favourite monsters!!

Very well written and such a gripping story filled with sex, gore and well developed characters. 

I'd be happy to feed Tula.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to my next read by this author - I might even read another one next!

Go read it!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Slavery

The Ice Dragon by George R.R. Martin

adventurous mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

This ones is more of a children's tale set in the same universe as Game of Thrones, but it doesn't have the same characters and I think it's a different time period. 

It's wonderfully written, the illustrations are beautiful and perfect for capturing the overall feel of it.

It's pretty intense at parts and there's references to war but there's no blood or gore in the illustrations. 

There's descriptions of heads getting split open with axes, and the smell of bloated green dead bodies..

So maybe more for the older kids or adults who enjoy this type of fantasy and obviously the GoT fans!

I Travel by Night by Robert R. McCammon

adventurous dark 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

4.0

"The Colt on the right with the Rosewood gripis to defend myself against humans. It's usually loaded with regular lead slugs. But this Colt on my left with the grip of bone...is to defend myself against my own breed. It's loaded with bullets of pure silver, blessed with holy water by a priest friend of mine. The effect of this bullet, fired into a vampire's skull is to burn the creatures body and reduce to a fine ash...

This was a cool novella, written so well with excellent characters...as usual from McCammon.

It sort of ended rather abruptly though; but there's a second book so....I'll definitely get to it at some point!

I felt it had the same sort of vibe as Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin and the main character Lawson reminded me of Roland Deschain from The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. 

Lawson is employed to rescue the relative of a politician who has been taken hostage by a group known as the Dark Society.

That's all I'll say about it.

Go read it if you're a fan of vampire fiction!

Doom Cabaret by John McNee

dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

The author gave me this short horror stories book in exchange for an honest review.

His writing is impressive, this particular book is straightforward, easy to get into and I enjoyed it - he makes writing look easy and I'm wondering to myself "Maybe I can do this." :)

So, bonus points for being influential to me.

The stories themselves are mysterious, disturbing and there wasn't one that i disliked.

Welcome to the Doom Cabaret!

A+

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

challenging slow-paced

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

1.0

Had this book on my shelf for years and i finally decided to make a go at it.

I'm halfway through it and I'm just not into it, so I'm giving up because I can be reading something that I find likeable.

It's like I'm missing something with this book and it's not making sense to me, I guess it's not my style.

I'd also like to point out that there's way too many underdeveloped characters in this and that was another reason for DNF at halfway.

I've read a few Palahniuk books and Choke just happens to be the funniest book I've ever read, I consider him a very skillful author but Haunted isn't to my taste.