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yeats_motel's reviews
65 reviews
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
Insufferably twee pablum. I hated this book from the "For everyone who could use a break" on the dedication page and only read it because it was for a book club.
A Lullaby for Witches by Hester Fox
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
The prose was only so-so and the presentation of witchcraft was the deadly dull "witches were just oppressed wise womyn in touch with nature" stuff you hear from 12yos who have just read their first Silver Ravenwolf book and I was hoping for something more nuanced and much darker.
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’d been meaning to read this short story collection for quite some time and honestly could kick myself for how long I took to get to it. Machado’s writing is gorgeous, disturbing and sexy by turns (and sometimes both at once). This collection definitely deserves the hype. My favorite stories in the collection were the final two, “The Resident” and “Difficult at Parties,” but there’s not a weak link in the collection.
The Drowning Girl by Caitlín R. Kiernan
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Picked this one up after a buddy in my writing group mentioned he thought my writing style was somewhat similar to Kiernan’s—an incredibly flattering comparison as it turns out. This book is really beautifully written.
This book is written as the memoir/“ghost story” of a schizophrenic woman who becomes obsessed with a strange woman (who might be a mermaid or a werewolf). I thought the treatment of mental illness was pretty sensitive—I didn’t see any hurtful stereotypes and I found the narrator to be compelling and likeable, even though it is clear that her perceptions are often distorted. I also liked that the story dealt with the treatment of mental illness in a way that wasn’t overly sensationalized—the narrator takes medication and sees a therapist and both of these things are presented as neutral-to-positive, which was nice since a lot of horror-tinged fiction likes to demonize both mental health issues and mental health treatments (which tbh is probably my biggest complaint with the genre as a whole). Highly recommend this beautiful, haunting book to anyone who likes books with unreliable narrators and a lot of intertextuality.
This book is written as the memoir/“ghost story” of a schizophrenic woman who becomes obsessed with a strange woman (who might be a mermaid or a werewolf). I thought the treatment of mental illness was pretty sensitive—I didn’t see any hurtful stereotypes and I found the narrator to be compelling and likeable, even though it is clear that her perceptions are often distorted. I also liked that the story dealt with the treatment of mental illness in a way that wasn’t overly sensationalized—the narrator takes medication and sees a therapist and both of these things are presented as neutral-to-positive, which was nice since a lot of horror-tinged fiction likes to demonize both mental health issues and mental health treatments (which tbh is probably my biggest complaint with the genre as a whole). Highly recommend this beautiful, haunting book to anyone who likes books with unreliable narrators and a lot of intertextuality.
Ego Homini Lupus by Gretchen Felker-Martin
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This that really got under my skin in the best way. I admit there were a few times where I found myself a little lost, but i think part of it was because I read on digital, which is more difficult for me than print, and because I plowed through it in one sitting. Regardless, the writing is so vivid and engrossing, I was content to get lost in it.
The writing is definitely one of the chief strengths of this book. Ms. Felker-Martin’s prose is super evocative, full of rich sensory detail and as beautiful as it is horrifying. Ego Homini Lupus touches on a lot of deeply disturbing subjects (trigger warning: literally everything) that I don’t think a writer with a lesser sensitivity to language could have pulled off in a way that didn’t seem puerile.
At the core, I think it’s the sensitivity that impressed me so much about the novel, not just for language, but for the characters too. It’s easy for a writer or reader to create empathy for a character who is good, or flawed but with a secret heart of gold, but the characters in this story are deeply wounded, capable of immense cruelty; that Ms. Felker-Martin manages to create a sense of empathy in the reader for these people most would be inclined to condemn outright is a feat. The book is extremely bleak, but the compassion and tenderness the characters were written with left me feeling strangely comforted.
The writing is definitely one of the chief strengths of this book. Ms. Felker-Martin’s prose is super evocative, full of rich sensory detail and as beautiful as it is horrifying. Ego Homini Lupus touches on a lot of deeply disturbing subjects (trigger warning: literally everything) that I don’t think a writer with a lesser sensitivity to language could have pulled off in a way that didn’t seem puerile.
At the core, I think it’s the sensitivity that impressed me so much about the novel, not just for language, but for the characters too. It’s easy for a writer or reader to create empathy for a character who is good, or flawed but with a secret heart of gold, but the characters in this story are deeply wounded, capable of immense cruelty; that Ms. Felker-Martin manages to create a sense of empathy in the reader for these people most would be inclined to condemn outright is a feat. The book is extremely bleak, but the compassion and tenderness the characters were written with left me feeling strangely comforted.
Goth by Otsuichi
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Grisly, grimy, and extremely entertaining. Otsuichi’s Goth is a perfect short story collection for j-horror fans and anyone who likes their horror shocking and gory. Definitely not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach! The stories center around two highschool students who are irresistibly drawn to investigating murders—not to catch the murderers and bring them justice, but to understand them and as a sort of tragedy tourism. The stories are fast-paced and twisty, often going in unexpected directions.
My personal favorite stories in the collection were “Dog” and “Grave” and the bonus story included in my edition, “Morino’s Souvenir Photo.” Apparently there’s a manga of this collection, which I would love to track down.
My personal favorite stories in the collection were “Dog” and “Grave” and the bonus story included in my edition, “Morino’s Souvenir Photo.” Apparently there’s a manga of this collection, which I would love to track down.
North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
I’d heard that Nathan Ballingrud’s short fiction was incredible and I’m pleased to report that this is true. His prose is dazzling, even when describing the gruesome or the grimy. The characterization is very strong; most of the characters in the story are failures and lowlifes, but Ballingrud writes a very moving humanity into them.
That said, these stories are pretty upsetting in quiet or not-so-quiet ways and my favorite of them—the final story, “The Good Husband”—is probably the most upsetting of all. I don’t recommend this collection to anyone in need of an escapist pick-me-up, but if getting down in the grime is cathartic or interesting to you, North American Lake Monsters is definitely worth your time.
That said, these stories are pretty upsetting in quiet or not-so-quiet ways and my favorite of them—the final story, “The Good Husband”—is probably the most upsetting of all. I don’t recommend this collection to anyone in need of an escapist pick-me-up, but if getting down in the grime is cathartic or interesting to you, North American Lake Monsters is definitely worth your time.
The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I ventured out of my comfort zone for this one in two ways: 1) it’s science fiction, which is a genre I almost never read and 2) it’s also a horror novel about cave exploration and I’m deathly afraid of caves. I was a little nervous about reading it since I was actually worried it might be too scary for me, but while it did have a dread-filled atmosphere, it was also very gripping; I read the whole thing in a day.
My favorite thing about this novel was the interplay between the two main characters, a caver and her handler on the surface. Both women have hidden motivations and the way their relationship develops was fun to read and more than a little unnerving.
Strongly recommend for fans of sci-fi that’s a little more on the grounded side of things as well as fans of psychological horror and survival horror.
My favorite thing about this novel was the interplay between the two main characters, a caver and her handler on the surface. Both women have hidden motivations and the way their relationship develops was fun to read and more than a little unnerving.
Strongly recommend for fans of sci-fi that’s a little more on the grounded side of things as well as fans of psychological horror and survival horror.
The Key In The Lock by Beth Underdown
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beth Underdown’s debut novel The Witchfinder’s Sister is one of my all time favorite books, so I was super excited to read her follow up—I even ordered direct from the UK since it’s not out yet in the US!
I’m glad I did, because this book was fantastic. It’s a mystery in dual timelines (1888 and 1918), which I thought was very well done, especially considering how tricky that kind of thing can be to pull off. I really loved the narrator, Ivy, who isn’t always sympathetic but is very complex and layered, which is something I personally value more than a conventionally cool or likable narrator. The story drips gothic atmosphere in the vein of a du Maurier novel.
Between this and Underdown’s previous novel, I did slightly prefer The Witchfinder’s Sister, but mostly because the Essex witch hunts which it’s centered on are a pet fascination of mine. Objectively, I think The Key in the Lock is maybe a little bit better written and structured. I whole-heartedly recommend both novels.
I’m glad I did, because this book was fantastic. It’s a mystery in dual timelines (1888 and 1918), which I thought was very well done, especially considering how tricky that kind of thing can be to pull off. I really loved the narrator, Ivy, who isn’t always sympathetic but is very complex and layered, which is something I personally value more than a conventionally cool or likable narrator. The story drips gothic atmosphere in the vein of a du Maurier novel.
Between this and Underdown’s previous novel, I did slightly prefer The Witchfinder’s Sister, but mostly because the Essex witch hunts which it’s centered on are a pet fascination of mine. Objectively, I think The Key in the Lock is maybe a little bit better written and structured. I whole-heartedly recommend both novels.