venusreadshorror's reviews
101 reviews

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

• 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

3.75

The writing style of this book isn’t my favorite, not including the frantic style meant to indicate Juliette’s mental state. Conversations are rushed, choppy, and unrealistic. The book also ended in a really weird place, not enough of a cliffhanger to have me rushing into the next book. I think I’m going to continue this series at some point because I’ve heard good things and I enjoy the concept, but it’s not a super high priority because nothing about this first book made me want to really lock in.

Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin

lighthearted relaxing 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

4.25

This was amazing! I don’t know why I haven’t heard of this book before. I really enjoyed the concept and the character development throughout, and the moral questions it poses. This story exists in a vacuum, in a very insulated world, but that didn’t take away from it for me. This is the perfect kind of story to exist as a standalone, the world isn’t very big and the lore isn’t too detailed but it’s just enough to paint a romantic picture of where and how this story is taking place. I loved this so much!

Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt

dark sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This is my kind of Christmas story: dark, woodsy, and culty. I appreciated the exploration of religious abuse, but there was a little too much sermon here for me. However, it was made up for by a rag tag group of teenagers that were in way over their heads, I would have appreciated more time with the whole group together.

Clever Creatures of the Night by Samantha Mabry

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

This was okay. I liked it well enough, but it felt like a whole lot of building plot for a rather unsatisfying climax and ending. While I am keeping in mind that this is YA horror, it felt pretty lowkey even for YA. I liked the sub-plot/setting even more than the main plot, and I could read a story just about the explosion and the aftermath. Great potential, just fell a bit short for me.

The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang

adventurous mysterious medium-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

4.0

I really enjoyed the concept of this story and I loved the world building and getting to experience the same characters through different points in history. However, this is a love story, not a romance, so there is no HEA. The ending felt unsatisfying, not because there was no happily ever after but because I felt like it left River’s story very open-ended, and we never really know what happened in the Emperor’s timeline. Does the curse get broken? Where did the curse come from? Does it matter? I still very much enjoyed this book, but this doesn’t feel like the kind of story where I can happily not know how it ends.

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

There have been many books that made me cry from happiness or sadness, but this is the first book that made me cry from anger. I hate this story but I love this book. This one will stick with me for a long time.

The only drawback for this book for me personally is that I found the nonlinear timeline a bit confusing. Usually I love no linear timelines but I think listening to the audiobook made it more difficult to follow and understand where I was at in the story. It didn’t take away from the story but I kept having to go back and listen again to digest details that indicated where I was in the timeline.

Sweet Berries by C.M. Nascosta

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

I love the stories in this world, and I love knowing that I’m getting a cute HEA without too much drama. This story is written very non-linear, which can be slightly off putting, but the author gave a warning about that up front so I knew was I was in for. Overall, these books give me the warm fuzzies and I would jump into the world of Cambric Creek in a heartbeat.

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.

The writing isn’t great, the characters feel flat, and I can’t get around how unrealistic some of the processes are.

Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa

dark sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

A horrific story set in a beautiful land during a fraught period of time. This tale is a sad reminder that there is often little justice for women in a world that constantly seeks to diminish us.

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

hopeful reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is easily one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. I can imagine the thoughts and feelings that the author was exploring in this book, they’re some of my favorite and scariest thoughts to explore. This subject matter is both daunting and optimistic, and reminds me to enjoy my life.