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leahrosereads's reviews
1029 reviews
The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Holy hell what a conclusion! Like WTH‽ Jade has been one of my favorite final girls ever written. She is THE final girl, and while it's completely bittersweet to see this end, I know that it's not really goodbye. I can read this again and again and again.
Full cast audio here I come!
Full cast audio here I come!
The Scampering: An Extreme Horror Story by A.W. Mason, Alana K. Drex
dark
fast-paced
3.0
Squirrel horror which are two words I never thought to put together, even after going to the Grand Canyon and being warned that those squirrels could have the plague.
Glad Melinda got hers cause I hate animal cruelty and abuse, but like, maybe she was right in this one incredibly absurd horrifying case.
Oh well, all hail our new squirrel kings!
Glad Melinda got hers cause I hate animal cruelty and abuse, but like, maybe she was right in this one incredibly absurd horrifying case.
Oh well, all hail our new squirrel kings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Gore, and Violence
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.0
A fantastic anthology that had so so many good stories! I'll be thinking about these for awhile, especially Behind Colin's Eyes. My goodness that was an excellent one!
Terminal Boredom by Izumi Suzuki
dark
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
This was an incredibly bleak, hard to read collection of dystopian sci-fi made that much more heartbreaking knowing how the author's story ended.
The stories were introspective and sparked conversations or commentary around mental health, gender identity, and internal struggles with being perceived.
While each story was written in the 80s or earlier, there's a modern lens around a lot of the topics, especially mental health stigmatization.
The stories were introspective and sparked conversations or commentary around mental health, gender identity, and internal struggles with being perceived.
While each story was written in the 80s or earlier, there's a modern lens around a lot of the topics, especially mental health stigmatization.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Brooms by Jasmine Walls
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Brooms is the perfect blend of an incredible story, with fantastic characters, and a fascinating plot. I adored everything about family and found family moments, and really appreciated the horrors of the setting for the BIPOC characters.
I had a feeling that there'd be a conflict around a specific team being the snitch, and I was absolutely right. The entitlement of that team was disgusting but unfortunately accurate to the Jim Crow era. I'm glad they failed though!
Loved the art style! It enhanced every aspect of this story, and I loved seeing everyone again after the final race in snippets and moments in time.
I had a feeling that there'd be a conflict around a specific team being the snitch, and I was absolutely right. The entitlement of that team was disgusting but unfortunately accurate to the Jim Crow era. I'm glad they failed though!
Loved the art style! It enhanced every aspect of this story, and I loved seeing everyone again after the final race in snippets and moments in time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism
Saint, Sorrow, Sinner by Freydís Moon
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
NOTE: I will no longer be supporting Freydís Moon, their works (past or future) going forward. That said, I don't know if removing the fact that I've read their work is the right thing to do.
A lot of folks have been more heavily impacted by their deceit than me, and I want to make sure those voices are the ones heard at this time.
If I've recommended this author to you in the past, I'm sorry that you've potentially spent your money, energy, and emotions on a long con lie.
----------------------
Saint Sorrow Sinner was a fantastic conclusion to the Gideon Testaments trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Juniper and Sophia, while seeing more of Colin, Bishop, Tehlor, and Lincoln. They worked well together no matter their pasts, and I liked that maturity.
The horrors Sophia faced were devastating, and while I know this trilogy has come to an end, I hope we see these characters again.
They deserve peace or the world - their choice (or both)
A lot of folks have been more heavily impacted by their deceit than me, and I want to make sure those voices are the ones heard at this time.
If I've recommended this author to you in the past, I'm sorry that you've potentially spent your money, energy, and emotions on a long con lie.
----------------------
Saint Sorrow Sinner was a fantastic conclusion to the Gideon Testaments trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Juniper and Sophia, while seeing more of Colin, Bishop, Tehlor, and Lincoln. They worked well together no matter their pasts, and I liked that maturity.
The horrors Sophia faced were devastating, and while I know this trilogy has come to an end, I hope we see these characters again.
They deserve peace or the world - their choice (or both)
Asiri and the Amaru by Natalia Hernandez
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
Everything about this book was beautiful, charming, and delightful. I pretty much had a gentle smile on my face from start to finish. Loved loved loved Asiri and Dario's connection, all of the characters (human and animal alike (but definitely Felipe and Marco))!
The footnotes! They were informative and hilarious!
Loved learning about Peruvian culture, dirties, and legends.
Just all around, I have nothing but positive things to say about this! It was everything I enjoy in cozy fantasies and romantasyies!
The footnotes! They were informative and hilarious!
Loved learning about Peruvian culture, dirties, and legends.
Just all around, I have nothing but positive things to say about this! It was everything I enjoy in cozy fantasies and romantasyies!
Splatterpunk's Basement of Horror by Jack Bantry
dark
fast-paced
3.0
There were a couple strong stories in the collection but also a few misses. I DNFd or didn't rate 4 of the 14:
Mac & Millie - soft DNF until I get an answer about a dog
Mochés and Amore A Mochés - read and despised. Not the biggest fan of food horror and forced confinement
Eaten Alive - DNF after mention of animal abuse/death.
Favorite (feels wrong to label them as such) stories:
Blue-Plate Special
Leave
Friday Nights in Damascus
Mac & Millie - soft DNF until I get an answer about a dog
Mochés and Amore A Mochés - read and despised. Not the biggest fan of food horror and forced confinement
Eaten Alive - DNF after mention of animal abuse/death.
Favorite (feels wrong to label them as such) stories:
Blue-Plate Special
Leave
Friday Nights in Damascus
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Murder
The Longest Autumn: A Novel by Amy Avery
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I liked the book but not Tirne. She felt incredibly juvenile, and I hated being in her head. If this was in a third person POV where the reader was able to follow everyone or even in a multiple POV between Tirne, Autumn, Sidriel, and maybe someone else, that may have been a better time. However, I was stuck with Tirne.
While the writing itself was pretty, I feel that Tirne's character development, as well as others far older than her, was incredibly rushed or non-existent.
Toxic romance is toxic, so nothing to say there. I didn't feel like she had any real chemistry with anyone romantically, but the found family and friendship moments were beautiful and the absolute highlight of the book.
I was intrigued by the mythos Avery started to create but there was never enough to really become invested in the plight of what was happening. There were so many plot holes or underdeveloped areas of this novel. It either needed to be longer or a part of the series. But this didn't do everything I think the author wanted to do.
Really appreciated the migraine representation being shown on page but not necessarily how Tirne handled it with all the deception elements.
While the writing itself was pretty, I feel that Tirne's character development, as well as others far older than her, was incredibly rushed or non-existent.
Toxic romance is toxic, so nothing to say there. I didn't feel like she had any real chemistry with anyone romantically, but the found family and friendship moments were beautiful and the absolute highlight of the book.
I was intrigued by the mythos Avery started to create but there was never enough to really become invested in the plight of what was happening. There were so many plot holes or underdeveloped areas of this novel. It either needed to be longer or a part of the series. But this didn't do everything I think the author wanted to do.
Really appreciated the migraine representation being shown on page but not necessarily how Tirne handled it with all the deception elements.
Outdrawn by Deanna Grey
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
The banter! The healthy communication. The amazing found family support system. It was everything!
I'm normally not a huge fan of competitive characters/rivals to lovers, but I'm glad I gave it a shot cause this was perfect! I loved Sage and Noah individually, but when they interacted - it was passionate every time.
So so so freaking amazing! I need to read everything by Deanna Grey now! Like immediately!
I'm normally not a huge fan of competitive characters/rivals to lovers, but I'm glad I gave it a shot cause this was perfect! I loved Sage and Noah individually, but when they interacted - it was passionate every time.
So so so freaking amazing! I need to read everything by Deanna Grey now! Like immediately!