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elenhill's reviews
28 reviews
Carni by R. Saint Claire
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Although the story line and theme of the book is fun, I found pretty much all of the characters insufferable. The main character, Dag, is an egotistical misogynist. I think Carni was a really great idea, and would make a great B rated movie. But it would help if there was at least one likable character who didn’t make you annoyed and frustrated.
Night Fever by Ed Brubaker
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
- 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? Yes
3.25
I am not a graphic novel reader but this was a fun little ride.
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
Ji-Won is starting her first year of college when her father walks out on her family. Her, along with her little sister are left to pick up the pieces of their devastated mother. It didn’t take long for her mother to find a new man and within weeks, he is living with the family. The new man, George, is an Asian obsessed, selfish and repulsive man… with beautiful blue eyes.
We follow Ji-Won as she spirals into darkness as her hate for her mom’s new man grows. Around her campus, bodies keep popping up, but with their eyes removed.
This book is full of tension and you can feel the claustrophobic environment full of high emotions. The characters feel real and you can’t help but kind of root for Ji-won even as she struggles with dark thoughts and hallucinations.
It’s dark, weird and gross in all the best ways.
We follow Ji-Won as she spirals into darkness as her hate for her mom’s new man grows. Around her campus, bodies keep popping up, but with their eyes removed.
This book is full of tension and you can feel the claustrophobic environment full of high emotions. The characters feel real and you can’t help but kind of root for Ji-won even as she struggles with dark thoughts and hallucinations.
It’s dark, weird and gross in all the best ways.
She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
This book definitely started off a little slow. It kept my interest but nothing super exciting happened for the first half of the book, BUT the way Mary ties the whole story together in an explosive plot twist was beautiful! There was no way to see it coming either. I read the last half of the book in one sitting because once the plot twist was revealed, I absolutely had to know how it ended. I don’t even know how to explain this book without giving anything away besides that it follows a recently divorced nurse as she cares for a woman in a coma who has attempted to end her life by jumping off a bridge. While not at work at the ICU, Meghan runs into an old schoolmate who is attending a divorce support group and discovers her old friend is trying to escape a very abuse husband. On top of that, there is a prowler in town preying on vulnerable women at night. The way these story lines are all wrapped up was mind blowing and perfect!
I will always be a Mary Kubica fan since reading Local Woman Missing and this one lives up to my expectations!
I will always be a Mary Kubica fan since reading Local Woman Missing and this one lives up to my expectations!
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
After a wife wins a weekend away at a chapel turned house in Scotland, the couple decide to use the time to try to fix their broken marriage. Immediately after arriving at the chapel, strange things start to occur. Mixed throughout the book are letters the wife has written to her husband every year on their anniversary but never lets him read. It allows for us to watch the breakdown of their marriage as time goes and what lead them to where they are now.
There are so many twist to this book. I absolute loved it. It’s my favorite book of the year and I will continue to read more of Alice’s books because I am very impressed! It is a very well thought out and well written book.
There are so many twist to this book. I absolute loved it. It’s my favorite book of the year and I will continue to read more of Alice’s books because I am very impressed! It is a very well thought out and well written book.
The Last Resort by Susi (S.J.I.) Holliday
dark
mysterious
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
3.0
A group of strangers receive invitations to a “luxury vacation” but pretty early on they realize something isn’t right. They are left on an island with a tracker implanted behind their ears that can project memories for them to all see. The memories are dark stories about each of the strangers that they wouldn’t want others knowing about. No one is sure why they are there or how their secrets were discovered by their unknown host. After it appears their has been a death in the group, no one is sure of what exactly is going on and all begin to distrust each other.
It was interesting enough as I was curious of how it could possibly end. I would say it has a pretty unique plot. The characters aren’t super deep or likable. I didn’t really find myself rooting for anyone specific. There are some plot holes and I do feel like the story is a little dramatic and cheesy. But overall it kept me entertained.
It was interesting enough as I was curious of how it could possibly end. I would say it has a pretty unique plot. The characters aren’t super deep or likable. I didn’t really find myself rooting for anyone specific. There are some plot holes and I do feel like the story is a little dramatic and cheesy. But overall it kept me entertained.
Maggie's Grave by David Sodergren
3.75
Super campy and graphic. Reminded me of a b rated 80s slasher in the best way.
The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf
4.0
A true crime author is snowed in at an isolated farm house when she discovers a young boy half frozen, in her front yard. The book follows 3 story lines. One based in 2000 about a family who was murdered and with two missing teenagers. The timeline with the author and the child. And a 3rd story line of a mother and daughter locked in a basement by her the child’s abusive father.
The end brings the story lines together with some parts being predictable and other parts I didn’t see coming. Finished it in a day. Loved it! It was an easy and quick read. I didn’t struggle to keep track of who’s who. It was tense and fast paced.
Easy little thriller to head on a snowy winter day ❄️
The end brings the story lines together with some parts being predictable and other parts I didn’t see coming. Finished it in a day. Loved it! It was an easy and quick read. I didn’t struggle to keep track of who’s who. It was tense and fast paced.
Easy little thriller to head on a snowy winter day ❄️
Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
4.0
Strangers are trapped in a cabin durning a snow storm and they keep dying off. Someone in the group is a murderer and no one is coming to save them.
I really enjoyed this read. It was 400 pages yet was a really fast read. I finished the last half of the book in one sitting. I had a pretty good idea of who the “bad guy” was about a third of the way thru but I wasn’t confident enough for that to make it boring. I ate it up in order to determine if my prediction was right. Good plot. It had a few holes. But overall worth the read.
I really enjoyed this read. It was 400 pages yet was a really fast read. I finished the last half of the book in one sitting. I had a pretty good idea of who the “bad guy” was about a third of the way thru but I wasn’t confident enough for that to make it boring. I ate it up in order to determine if my prediction was right. Good plot. It had a few holes. But overall worth the read.
The Visitor by Sergio Gomez
3.25
A group of strangers are stranded in a diner during a snow storm. It’s all fine until the power goes out an unworldly guest shows up. They have to fight to survive. Short. Fun and easy read