jpsjps's reviews
41 reviews

The Man with the Getaway Face by Richard Stark

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

4.0

I liked this one a bit more than the first. It felt like it had more moving parts and I liked Stubbs. The job in the first half was cool, but I enjoyed the intensity of the second half a lot more. Really good ending as well. I’m excited to check out the next one. 
The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie

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5.0

Red Country by Joe Abercrombie

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5.0

The Girl Who Cried Monster by R.L. Stine

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

3.0

What a wild, weird, and hilarious cop-out ending. I’m pleased to see another so bad it’s good addition to the series. I will say all the stuff with the monster before the ending was pretty good. The monster was unique and him eating the animals was actually creepy. However, the monster being defeated because “he’s a monster, but he’s also a librarian!” was really dumb. The main character also has no self awareness at all. Of course no one’s going to believe you. That twist ending though, man. Genuinely was laughing like crazy for the last two chapters of the book. 
The Hunter by Richard Stark

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

3.5

A nice, quick crime book. The writing style is very blunt and dry, matching Parker as a character. Everyone in this book is a bastard, Parker especially. This is a good introduction to the series and I’m curious to see where it goes.
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

I loved this book. I feel the same way I felt when I first read Joe Abercrombie. Though instead of characters and dialogue, it is prose. Robin Hobb’s writing is beautiful. I love her use of words and the pacing of her chapters. I find it weird that this book is marked as slow paced because it did not feel that way to me. 

Fitz is an excellent character with a lot of depth and you can not help but feel for him throughout the book. Though Fitz is the star, the other characters are also a very welcome addition. The last act is intense and wraps the book up quite nicely. I am excited for what comes next in the series, if this book is anything to go by. 
Night of the Living Dummy by R.L. Stine

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

3.25

This one is insane. My main problem is that the first half is one weird practical joke, but the second half makes up for it. The second half of this book is ridiculous in the best way possible. Mr. Wood repeatedly saying “I have powers!” Is the funniest thing I’ve read in a Goosebumps book yet. Also, Mr. Wood is the most pathetic villain in the series so far, he is really ineffective and weak. This is the first Goosebumps book in the series that is so stupid that it is amazing. Loved that second half.
Let's Get Invisible! by R.L. Stine

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

3.75

I liked this one a lot. Cool concept and the writing seems better than the last few. It follows the Say Cheese and Die format of a group of kids finding and playing with a cursed object. The kids were likable for Goosebumps standards and I liked the twist, even though it was predictable. 
Wrath by John Gwynne

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.75

A great end to the series. The last battle was incredible and paced wonderfully. Standout characters were Maquin, Camlin, Lykos, and Coralen. You can see Gwynne’s evolution as a writer in this series, and if you find Malice to slow or sloppily written I implore you to stick with it.
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb by R.L. Stine

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

0.5

Wow, this one’s awful. Unlikable characters, boring plot, nothing really spooky, just bad. It sucks because the last one was genuinely good.