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batmayne_reads's reviews
183 reviews
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
Gory, mysterious modern queer horror!
Praise be our lord and savior of horror chuck tingle!
With multicast narration: the audiobook is such a fun listen with the MC narration and a separate narration for 3rd person POVs
MC Misha is an movie script writer and after years of dreaming of making it in Hollywood, he finally wins an Oscar award!
but when his studio executives running the popular streaming series suggest killing off his queer (specifically gay) characters on the premise of following the mainstream/algorithm of horror
Misha refuses and suddenly is becoming stalked by his own horror creations
Misha with help of his secret boyfriend and friends, he must over come the fears that inspired his horror and work through what is creating these stalking creatures
Praise be our lord and savior of horror chuck tingle!
With multicast narration: the audiobook is such a fun listen with the MC narration and a separate narration for 3rd person POVs
MC Misha is an movie script writer and after years of dreaming of making it in Hollywood, he finally wins an Oscar award!
but when his studio executives running the popular streaming series suggest killing off his queer (specifically gay) characters on the premise of following the mainstream/algorithm of horror
Misha refuses and suddenly is becoming stalked by his own horror creations
Misha with help of his secret boyfriend and friends, he must over come the fears that inspired his horror and work through what is creating these stalking creatures
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Murder
the smoking man! i had this night terror constantly as a child well into my teens! very comforting to know im not the only one to experience this!
Castle Swimmer volume 2 by Wendy Martin
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Episodes 20-41 of the webtoon
Funny, sweet and heart touching!
Very avatar esque comedy perfect for middle grade and pre teens
Prince Siren tries to protect the Beacon Kappa from execution
Queen Susca is growing impatient with siren and is willing to do the execution herself
Siren and Kappa struggle with their feelings for each other, they are clearly inlove but their positions strain their futures
Funny, sweet and heart touching!
Very avatar esque comedy perfect for middle grade and pre teens
Prince Siren tries to protect the Beacon Kappa from execution
Queen Susca is growing impatient with siren and is willing to do the execution herself
Siren and Kappa struggle with their feelings for each other, they are clearly inlove but their positions strain their futures
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Gaslighting
Its revealed that Siren's execution would save the shark colony, the beacon arrived to kill him
Susca lied when she found out she was pregnant and changed the prophecy
Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert by Bob the Drag Queen
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
a wonderful, fresh and amazing story of Harriet Tubman and 4 enslaved persons who traveled with her, her brothers and closest friends coming back to life in modern age to tell her story and "shake up" the hate and confusion surrounding her story and slavery
written in a very young adult (16+) friendly way, this book would be a fun way to educate yourself
Harriet enlists the help of producer, song writer and ex BET talk show host Darnell Williams (i saw bob the entire time) to create a hip hop track and LIVE show
while creating the album the story of Harriet Tubman is told, what it means to be free and what the idea of Harriet Tubman represents,
darnells story intertwines and more personal things are revealed that asks the question: is he truly free
written in a very young adult (16+) friendly way, this book would be a fun way to educate yourself
Harriet enlists the help of producer, song writer and ex BET talk show host Darnell Williams (i saw bob the entire time) to create a hip hop track and LIVE show
while creating the album the story of Harriet Tubman is told, what it means to be free and what the idea of Harriet Tubman represents,
darnells story intertwines and more personal things are revealed that asks the question: is he truly free
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Slavery, Kidnapping, and Murder
Vampires at sea by Lindsay Merbaum
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
a dark but hilariously sexy gothic erotic horror!
immortal beloveds rebekah and hugh are take the Black Sea Cruise for a vacation to unwind and enjoy feasting on other passengers in a spicy queer friendly environment
when the couple meet Heaven, the magical non binary social media influencer,and misha the funny murderously outgoing friend rebekah needs
but when hugh completely falls for heaven, rebekah must fight for her eternal love and find who she is without hugh
immortal beloveds rebekah and hugh are take the Black Sea Cruise for a vacation to unwind and enjoy feasting on other passengers in a spicy queer friendly environment
when the couple meet Heaven, the magical non binary social media influencer,and misha the funny murderously outgoing friend rebekah needs
but when hugh completely falls for heaven, rebekah must fight for her eternal love and find who she is without hugh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, and War
This Princess Kills Monsters by Ry Herman
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
a queer , fun retelling of original Grimm fairy tales
advertised as specifically the story of The 12 Huntsmen but the author beautifully intertwined most of the well known stories just original versions
including puns, cameos, and the main characters backstory it featured the princess and the pea, cinderella, snow white, swan maiden, rapunzel
the story follows Melilot a magical princess working under the orders of her evil stepmother, the queen
after she is tossed aside as useless compared to her step sisters powers, she is commanded to marry a king
Melilots group is attacked by spider wolves and saved by the 12 identical huntsman who were sent to protector her as there is a plot out for her murder
melilot decides its safer to hide among the staff and is helped by sam on of the 12 identical huntsmen
melilot must work through her childhood traumas and unleash her magic while torn between her feelings for sam and her betroths sister
advertised as specifically the story of The 12 Huntsmen but the author beautifully intertwined most of the well known stories just original versions
including puns, cameos, and the main characters backstory it featured the princess and the pea, cinderella, snow white, swan maiden, rapunzel
the story follows Melilot a magical princess working under the orders of her evil stepmother, the queen
after she is tossed aside as useless compared to her step sisters powers, she is commanded to marry a king
Melilots group is attacked by spider wolves and saved by the 12 identical huntsman who were sent to protector her as there is a plot out for her murder
melilot decides its safer to hide among the staff and is helped by sam on of the 12 identical huntsmen
melilot must work through her childhood traumas and unleash her magic while torn between her feelings for sam and her betroths sister
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and War
The Ghost and the Stolen Dragon by Svetlana Chmakova
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Following the events of vol 1
Na'Ya is having trouble sleeping, battling nightmares of deafeating evil scientist headmistress in the the woods
With the help of their friends and bound astral demon, na'ya works to overcome the bullying of classmates, lead by popular mean girl patricia
Aftet another spell gone wrong na'ya accidentally summons a dragon in the hopes of becoming one themselves
Na'ya, ailis and jasper must work together to get the dragon back home and find out of the headmistress is actually gone for good
Na'Ya is having trouble sleeping, battling nightmares of deafeating evil scientist headmistress in the the woods
With the help of their friends and bound astral demon, na'ya works to overcome the bullying of classmates, lead by popular mean girl patricia
Aftet another spell gone wrong na'ya accidentally summons a dragon in the hopes of becoming one themselves
Na'ya, ailis and jasper must work together to get the dragon back home and find out of the headmistress is actually gone for good
Princess in Waiting by Meg Cabot
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The 1st part of the book is mia staying ginovia with her father and gradnmere
while gone she struggles with long distance relationships (15 dating a 17 year old)
and then struggles between royal duties and her relationship
The movie came out in 2001 and i assume this was written around then or while in production because the author makes nudge nudge wink wink jokes at a movie/documentary about mias story and the success of it vs what the characters think
this one ends more on a sour note then the other novels and doesnt make for an enjoyable read with all the outdated content and treatment of characters
*a note on the audiobook reader: the first 3 were done by anne hathaway and she seems to have stopped for the others (i believe there is almost 12 books including the middle grade series)
i do enjoy this readers voice as it matched the "young mia" better
while gone she struggles with long distance relationships (15 dating a 17 year old)
and then struggles between royal duties and her relationship
The movie came out in 2001 and i assume this was written around then or while in production because the author makes nudge nudge wink wink jokes at a movie/documentary about mias story and the success of it vs what the characters think
this one ends more on a sour note then the other novels and doesnt make for an enjoyable read with all the outdated content and treatment of characters
*a note on the audiobook reader: the first 3 were done by anne hathaway and she seems to have stopped for the others (i believe there is almost 12 books including the middle grade series)
i do enjoy this readers voice as it matched the "young mia" better
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism
The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
2.0
for a anticipated horror story this was a disappointment
though it is incredibly witty with Alfred Hitchcock references along with other references, it was very young adult with alot of build up and no pay off
the ending seemed to be a rewritten version of many horror endings of the villian innocently disguising their way out of situation entirely
told through multi pov, we follow a group of Hitchcock film group friends reuniting after 16 years at Alfred Smettles newest job as the Hitchcock Hotelier in New England
mysterious and dangerous things start to happen around the hotel and the group starts to worry who or what is responsible
after about 50 % way through the advertised dead body appears with a disappointing never ending mystery of who done it
though it is incredibly witty with Alfred Hitchcock references along with other references, it was very young adult with alot of build up and no pay off
the ending seemed to be a rewritten version of many horror endings of the villian innocently disguising their way out of situation entirely
told through multi pov, we follow a group of Hitchcock film group friends reuniting after 16 years at Alfred Smettles newest job as the Hitchcock Hotelier in New England
mysterious and dangerous things start to happen around the hotel and the group starts to worry who or what is responsible
after about 50 % way through the advertised dead body appears with a disappointing never ending mystery of who done it
The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Disturbingly sad, religious dystopian horror
The main character remains unnamed throughout the story with an ending so abrupt and painful it has you questioning whether the author had more to write or if this could've been added as a short story in the last novel, 19 Claws and a Black Bird
after the MC escapes a cruel wasteland of environmental chaos, she joins the Sacred Sisterhood and deemed an Unworthy and writes her story in broken diary form with scrap paper and ink made from horrific sources
The sacred sisterhood has a weird religious hierarchy, the unworthy have opportunities to be chosen for the Enlightened but all positions seem a version of torment, punishment and sacrifice
When a stranger appears and is chosen as an unworthy the mc starts to change and reveal more about herself, her past and the bounds she creates
please research the content warning! even though this is adult horror, this is one of those times where readers would appreciate content warning pages
The main character remains unnamed throughout the story with an ending so abrupt and painful it has you questioning whether the author had more to write or if this could've been added as a short story in the last novel, 19 Claws and a Black Bird
after the MC escapes a cruel wasteland of environmental chaos, she joins the Sacred Sisterhood and deemed an Unworthy and writes her story in broken diary form with scrap paper and ink made from horrific sources
The sacred sisterhood has a weird religious hierarchy, the unworthy have opportunities to be chosen for the Enlightened but all positions seem a version of torment, punishment and sacrifice
When a stranger appears and is chosen as an unworthy the mc starts to change and reveal more about herself, her past and the bounds she creates
please research the content warning! even though this is adult horror, this is one of those times where readers would appreciate content warning pages
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
the 2nd book in the series
definitely a lot slower and more about war plans and fighting
with king robert and lord ned dead, the north and south has been split between multiple kings
Daenerys fights for ships and the saftey of her clansmen against rich men and lords
theres so much to go into but if you watched the show first you wont be disappointed with extra information( so much talking!)
definitely a lot slower and more about war plans and fighting
with king robert and lord ned dead, the north and south has been split between multiple kings
Daenerys fights for ships and the saftey of her clansmen against rich men and lords
theres so much to go into but if you watched the show first you wont be disappointed with extra information( so much talking!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism