twistykris's reviews
130 reviews

Royally Not Ready by Meghan Quinn

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
I just can't get past Lilly's attempts at being quirky and cute that just came across as cringey to me. I'm sorry, but I literally cannot get past it, I don't care how spicy this gets 😭

Actual quote from this book that is clearly supposed to make me laugh. Keep in mind she met this man the night before:
"Blast the heat," I say as I shiver in the corner.
Keller joins me, takes a seat, and then turns toward me while I feel around the shared bench seat.
"What are you doing?" he asks, irritated.
"My nipples. I think they fell off. Do you see them?"
The Anxious Person's Guide to Non-Monogamy by Lola Phoenix

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informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

Just for the Cameras by Viano Oniomoh

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.75

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Feed by Aveda Vice

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adventurous dark lighthearted fast-paced

4.25

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Killers of the Flower Moon: Oil, Money, Murder and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

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dark informative mysterious sad medium-paced

4.5

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A Welcome Reunion: A Short Story by Lucinda Berry

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I read this immediately after reading The Perfect Child, as this is a sort of novella follow-up.

Some things answered, more things things left unanswered, only now 10 years in the future.

It's only 80 pages but I feel like this gave us nothing and could have given us SOMETHING more.
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The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry

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dark emotional mysterious tense 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? Yes

3.25

This is my first Dr. Lucinda Berry book and I am curious to read more, but if all of her books have a non-ending like this under the guise of a cliffhanger, then I don't know if they'll be a good fit for me.

A very disturbing book (PLEASE check the trigger warnings) filled with moments that made me recoil in horror and more that made me roll my eyes.
WHY ON EARTH would you get a cat for a seriously disturbed child who has PURPOSEFULLY injured her "friend", just because she's experiencing some jealousy over a new baby?? HUH???? And I'm sorry but,  y'all 


The ending left a lot to be desired. I can be content with a more open-ended, unconcluded ending; I am also okay with an unhappy ending. But give us ANY ending! This book genuinely feels like the last chapter was accidentally left out, or the author just gave up writing and published it.
What happened to Janie? Did the treatment facility help (I was fulling expecting for there to be some hint that she injured to killed the woman running it)? What happens to Piper and her job? Does Hannah ever find healing? Does she divorce Christopher because he is the WORST? (But seriously, HOW was this man so fucking oblivious and selfish and dismissive of Janie's problems???) What happens with Greg's lawsuit? There was some sort of hint about Piper's relationship with Christopher- was it she just had a crush on him or was there something more? That felt loose and not developed at all
There are just so many unanswered questions and the ending feels very unsatisfying and lazy.

There was zero character development and despite there being multiple POVs, there was no differentiation on who was speaking.. they were all written the same way. And the audiobook quality was just.. not good? The first narrator (the one for Piper) sounded too muffled and quiet, and the narrator for Christopher just annoyed me (only because of the character himself, not the narrator) and I just ended up reading the e-book for the majority.

Honestly, the more I think about Christopher, the more angry I get. 
I've dropped .5 more stars just writing this review.
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Scream For Us by Molly Doyle

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

3.75

99% smut, 1% plot.

I read it because I got it on KU and thought it'd be a fun way to pass the time and it was! The spice is indeed spicy, filled with masks and praise and begging and the "touch her and you die" trope.

I wasn't expecting a lot of character growth or sensical plot in an 80 page erotica novella, so I wasn't disappointed when there wasn't any. But this book is much too short to have a whole chapter dedicated to multiple murders, with a self-harm backstory that doesn't really add anything.

I might read more in the series, since the story becomes more developed, and I've heard the audiobook is the way to go so I might try that format.
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Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy

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

4.25

This is a horror novel I'll be haunted by for a while. This was hard to look away from- mesmerizing but grotesque. Cassidy's writing is engaging and the plot twists were unexpected for me. The last 15% of the book or so had me sitting on the couch covering my mouth in horror and disgust (and also a little glee?).

The audiobook narrator, Susan Bennett, does an absolutely INCREDIBLE job. The emotion in her voice when Mary feels angry or scared or meek is just perfectly executed.

I think some of the book was too drawn out though and it could have been trimmed down a little.
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Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom

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dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

"If it is a witch they want, then a witch they shall have."

This is a book that will stick with me for a long time. It had a bit of a slower start, but I ended up reading the entire last half in one sitting; putting it down proved difficult.

The atmosphere was just impeccable- dark, moody, mysterious. And the writing was just so beautiful and rich. I empathized with both Abitha and Samson, and the conversations between them were delightful and enlightening to read (especially Samson asking
why Christ God can't save a girl from a debilitating case of measles- "they need a better god."
). There IS strong character development from both, but if you're looking for good-natured character development (i.e. "they decided to stop being violent after realizing killing is wrong and won't make them feel better"), you won't get it here. This is a story of righteous anger and vengeance that I absolutely ate up.

If you're looking for a book that will make you sob and laugh and clap your hands under witnessing the power of violent, primal feminine rage- this is it. There are many dark, horrible moments that lead up to it, but the payback is indeed, a witch.

Honestly? Good for her.
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