xwritingstoriesx's reviews
215 reviews

Silent Fright by Lex young

dark sad fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Protest!: A History of Social and Political Protest Graphics by Liz McQuiston

dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

dark reflective tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

The Convention: A psychological extreme horror by Matt Shaw

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pedophilia, and Murder

Killstreme by Rayne Havok

dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow

adventurous reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, and War

The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World by Antony Loewenstein

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

dark sad fast-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

4.5

I've never read anything quite like this. Written in free verse with the words meandering on the page, i really enjoyed the experimental use of format and poetic style. When format choices coincide with character arcs, story themes and tone, I tend to appreciate the overarching story much more. I really do cherish art that is divisive, intrusive and real.

While I didn't like the choice she made to keep her baby, I'm glad that this book chose to show the audience that quick fixes (such a band-aid baby) which refuse to address the underlying issue won't solve the problem. The realism of the final page was quite haunting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

adventurous mysterious medium-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore

dark informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, and Grief