cookiemonsterrr's reviews
54 reviews

The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis

Go to review page

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

The Binding by Bridget Collins

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.0

Chivalry by Neil Gaiman

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This should be considered some kind of horror novel if I'm being totally honest.
That's not Josie anymore, is it? Not since the whole conversation with Vance + argument with Chrissy
. It doesn't say otherwise, but I'm inclined to believe this because
of the creepy phrasing of the moment where Josie leaves with her mother to go to The Friend's place, and then the morning after Chrissy tells Klara to disregard any weird behaviour from Josie if it happens. And then Josie magically gets better after the sunlight hits her in her room and makes a miraculous recovery???


The book conveys such an uneasy atmosphere in some parts without it dipping explicitly into horror. Why are the mother-child relationships so strange and stilted and claustrophobic and manipulative?
From the moment that Chrissy made Klara imitate Josie I knew something was horribly wrong. Klara's so innocent that she doesn't see the horror of replacing Josie and is ready to go along with it. And Chrissy is grieving, but it's so uncanny to attempt to make an A.F. out of your child to prepare for when they die, while they're still alive. And the worst part is, despite Josie probably not being Josie anymore, Klara doesn't realise and thinks that Josie is fine and going to college.
 

What the hell is this book???? I read all of it in one sitting because I was so freaked out and stressed out. This was not what I expected if I'm being honest, not that that's a bad thing, I'm just so off guard right now.
Blue Exorcist, Volume 6 by Kazue Kato

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

The Confessions of Young Nero by Margaret George

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
Not a book to be reading casually. You gotta have notes for this!!
War of the Realms by Kate O'Hearn

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Overall an enjoyable read if you look past some bits of the lore and world building that O'Hearn changed. There are a lot of Deus Ex Machinas in the story but I don't mind, personally. It's a book for young teens and preteens, and I'm happy that the characters are happy and
unharmed and alive
at the end. This isn't the book to really go being all critical on. 

Reading this as an adult after remembering middle school me reading this series and loving it, it's still quite a fun series haha
Assassin's Apprentice Volume 1 (Graphic Novel) by Jody Houser, Robin Hobb

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Blue Exorcist, Vol. 5 by Kazue Kato

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad 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