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laralarks's reviews
446 reviews
The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.0
The Relentless Legion by J.S. Dewes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-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
2.0
I love the premise of this series, and have enjoyed every instalment at times. The characters are all super compelling and complex, and I’ve loved getting to know them all over the course of these novels. However, this one feels…rushed. Or, unfinished? A lot in the middle felt totally unprompted and untethered to the worldbuilding as it existed, and has such an obvious deus ex machina that I feel kind of cheated out of the characters succeeding in their own right. Also the ending felt so rushed, and so much is left unanswered that I can only assume another book is planned? But it hasn’t been announced. I’m not sure what to think here. I also really struggled with the romance plot in this one, as it felt at times it was going to go a different direction through the last two books? I was underwhelmed.
Never Yours by Lily X.
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
2.5
From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
dark
emotional
slow-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
2.0
Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A gorgeous second book from Kell Woods, and it’s exactly what I’d hoped it’d be. A stunning and well-placed historical fiction, with Breton folklore and familiar fairy tales woven in with precision and beauty. Well paced, well considered, and moving.
Esther Wane as narrator did a splendid job, and I’d happily listen to her perform other books! A dab hand at dialects and vocal variation.
I’ll be recommending this one to folks!
Esther Wane as narrator did a splendid job, and I’d happily listen to her perform other books! A dab hand at dialects and vocal variation.
I’ll be recommending this one to folks!
White Line Fever by KC Jones
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
What a FASCINATING novel this is. I do enjoy a well-contained, tight-timeline horror experience, and this book certainly delivers that!
This cast of characters is absolutely rock solid. I love our pov character Livia, her pack of childhood best friends, and the young ghost-hunters they gang up with.
I thought the premise here was really cool: SOMETHING along a purportedly haunted stretch of road tortures those on it with the trauma of their own pasts, feeding off their fear and dread until they inevitably die. Once I understood what was going on, I locked in and was all for it, but I struggled a bit in the beginning understanding why the flashbacks were relevant. The ramp-up to the true ‘oh no’ felt a little stilted as a result. It’s a hard line to traverse: giving your readers enough information that the reveals and scary stuff feels significant, but also not bogging down the early moments of your thriller with too much information for them to parse. In the grand scheme, easily could be a preference thing for me.
The ending felt EARNED, and such a lovely relief. I think it’s interesting that there is some ambiguity, but it isn’t ambiguity I dislike. It’s right. The characters’ inner demons are so central in this one that watching them face those is so so satisfying.
Arc provided to me by tor nightfire via netgalley—opinions are allll mine!
This cast of characters is absolutely rock solid. I love our pov character Livia, her pack of childhood best friends, and the young ghost-hunters they gang up with.
I thought the premise here was really cool: SOMETHING along a purportedly haunted stretch of road tortures those on it with the trauma of their own pasts, feeding off their fear and dread until they inevitably die. Once I understood what was going on, I locked in and was all for it, but I struggled a bit in the beginning understanding why the flashbacks were relevant. The ramp-up to the true ‘oh no’ felt a little stilted as a result. It’s a hard line to traverse: giving your readers enough information that the reveals and scary stuff feels significant, but also not bogging down the early moments of your thriller with too much information for them to parse. In the grand scheme, easily could be a preference thing for me.
The ending felt EARNED, and such a lovely relief. I think it’s interesting that there is some ambiguity, but it isn’t ambiguity I dislike. It’s right. The characters’ inner demons are so central in this one that watching them face those is so so satisfying.
Arc provided to me by tor nightfire via netgalley—opinions are allll mine!
Let Me Be Yours by Lily X.
emotional
hopeful
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
3.0
Bat Eater by Kylie Lee Baker
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Oh my fucking god.
Not going to lie, I had to put this one down and do a lap a couple times.
A gripping, brutal gut-twist of a horror novel that deserves every laurel it will inevitably receive. Baker is staring at the beast head on and calling its bluff in the best possible way here, and I applaud her.
Each element of this book is well thought out, well paced, and honest. As someone with OCD I can speak to how effectively portrayed Cora’s struggles with that particular monster were. I can only imagine the impact this book would have, perhaps too intense a one for some, on Asian women, particularly those living in the west that experience this kind of hate regularly. The reveal at the end made me say ‘of course, of course that’s who it is.’ And that sad inevitability is a stark reality check.
I laughed, cried, cringed, and stared in jaw-drop shock. I don’t think I can recommend this one enough.
Not going to lie, I had to put this one down and do a lap a couple times.
A gripping, brutal gut-twist of a horror novel that deserves every laurel it will inevitably receive. Baker is staring at the beast head on and calling its bluff in the best possible way here, and I applaud her.
Each element of this book is well thought out, well paced, and honest. As someone with OCD I can speak to how effectively portrayed Cora’s struggles with that particular monster were. I can only imagine the impact this book would have, perhaps too intense a one for some, on Asian women, particularly those living in the west that experience this kind of hate regularly. The reveal at the end made me say ‘of course, of course that’s who it is.’ And that sad inevitability is a stark reality check.
I laughed, cried, cringed, and stared in jaw-drop shock. I don’t think I can recommend this one enough.