volcanic_ash's reviews
434 reviews

The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue, Charlotte Strevens

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

This was so fun!! As a fan of Victorian sensation novels this one hit me for critical damage. What an enjoyable romp!

When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O'Neill

dark emotional funny reflective fast-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

5.0

This was incredible! Many things to love about this book, but one thing that I found particularly refreshing is that I had no idea what was going to happen at each turn. O’Neill really keeps her readers on their toes in this stunning dark comedy. 

The Party Upstairs by Lee Conell

dark emotional funny reflective 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

5.0

A masterfully rendered novel. Absolutely perfect. So funny, gripping, and tender. I’ll be recommending this one widely. 

Before the Ruins: A Novel by Victoria Gosling

2.75

This book tried to do too much and as a result didn’t do enough. 

Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved this collection. I was completely enthralled by each story. Highly recommend.

Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I’m a little disappointed given all the hype this got. I think it could easily have been twice as long to flesh out the characters and story more. I felt like it was under fleshed out. Still good though! 

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

dark emotional sad slow-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

2.5

Oof, for whatever reason this one didn’t do it for me. It had all of the things I should like but it just didn’t happen. I realize that the flaws of Lotto were the point but I just found him so disgusting that I couldn’t handle it. 

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.75

I really loved this! It had me in a vice grip right from the start. It also made me consider what life in the blitz was like in a way I never have before. 

You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington by Alexis Coe

informative medium-paced

5.0

It’s often hard for me to get into nonfiction, but Coe is such a skilled storyteller that I zipped right through this one. It’s also not normally a topic I’d be interested in, but I trusted the author, and was rewarded in that trust. 

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

2.0

The plotting and writing was weak and, for a book that allegedly takes history so seriously, it has an incredible amount of anachronisms. Not to mention inaccuracies about the academy and research.