withali's reviews
819 reviews

The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

5.0

The synapsis tells you the plot, but this is really about diving into racism, sexism, social classes, and many other hateful practices that our society is built on in the USA. The direct call outs on behaviors and stereotypes of men are great discussion pieces on their own and I think this would make a great book club pick. Though, it is not for the faint of heart.
(also FINALLY a revenge story that doesn't start with r*pe)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief

Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol

The gore bits, especially related to the eyes, are detailed.

They Were Here Before Us: A Novella in Pieces by Eric LaRocca

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Dementia, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder

Minor: Cursing, Mental illness, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

3.5

As much as I wanted to love this book, the characters, who are unfortunately the main focus of the book, read flat. I did love the parts on the submarine and those kept me the most interested. I found just a bit annoyed with Miri's point of view as it just seemed to drag and never end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Grief

Moderate: Terminal illness, Death of parent, Gaslighting

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.0

The pacing was a bit off - there was a slow build up for the good first 3/4 of the book with a rush of events at the end that felt jumbled in execution.

Was not expecting furry/beastiality? smut which really isn't my thing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria

Minor: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders

Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner

adventurous emotional funny tense 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

i would offer anything - ANYTHING - to a god to get my hands on the next book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War

Moderate: Ableism, Death, Racism, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation

Minor: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Alcohol

Damned by Chuck Palahniuk

challenging dark funny slow-paced

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

4.0

I would not recommend this book to anyone but myself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Classism

Minor: Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship

Over My Dead Body by Sweeney Boo

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Blood, Toxic friendship

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, War

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Alcohol

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire

adventurous funny hopeful 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

3.0