whatellisreadnext's reviews
618 reviews

The Searcher by Tana French

hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

This was fine, and I'm glad I finally read it. It just came nowhere close to the Dublin murder books at all. It felt pretty basic and obvious. The characterisation was okay, but nothing like her usual vivid characters. I definitely need to just carry on with the Dublin murder series, I think I've two left. 

Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio

funny mysterious 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? No

2.0

I'm sorry, but this was barely a book. Graveyard Shift needed about 300 more pages of character establishment and plot. It was so short, you don't know who anybody is, or care. Some people have a knack from short fiction. They can bring you into a story immediately, without need for elaboration, M.L. Rio doesn't have that skill, unfortunately, which is fine, but this should have just been a novel instead. It wasn't scary, and the interesting parts felt very rushed. I'm over it, expect it to be on my vinted at the end of the month 🤣

Authority by Jeff VanderMeer

funny mysterious tense slow-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? Yes

5.0

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-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? Yes

3.0

This book was just what I needed, full of fall vibes and a slightly trashy but captivating narrative. The ending just didn't really do it for me. It felt really rushed and easily resolved after that massively moody build-up.  I would still recommend it though, especially if you're feeling slumpy.

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

5.0

Clear by Carys Davies

dark emotional hopeful reflective relaxing 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

You were all right. Clear is the perfect mix of cosy and strange and a great little book to squeeze onto your autumn reading list. It reminded me of books like The Wall, Small Things Like These, and The Old Haunts, not in subject matter, but in how it made me feel.  We follow John as he journeys north to evict Ivar, the sole resident of a Scottish island. He's not long there when something happens and things go awry.

The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

Hotel Iris by Yōko Ogawa

dark funny fast-paced

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

3.0

Yoko Ogawa is definitely one of my favourite authors, but this one is my least favourite so far. I loved how it was written, but the subject matter of a 17 year old in quite a graphic relationship with a 60+ year old, was not my idea of a good time 💁🏻‍♀️ I did forget how much I love Ogawa's matter of fact style, even when it comes to the very brutal and horrific. And being in her books is just so effortless.

Jawbone by Mónica Ojeda
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.

Just pretentious and overwritten, not for me unfortunately 

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-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? No

2.0

The audiobook was fabulous, T. Kingfisher's train of thought narrative styles always work so well in this format. Bu the magic system and world was a little basic, and the main character was very throw away, but the stately home vibes kept me intrigued. I hate to say it, but it was a 3 star up until the very rushed and not well thought out ending. This isn't the first time a T. Kingfisher book has let me down this way, so maybe I should just stop reading them...