Scan barcode
leahrosereads's reviews
1029 reviews
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
I was a bit nervous that I'd be giving this book a 3 star rating of some variety. I've read a lot of reviews and agree with them. Easton may seem a bit unbearable for some readers in this, but then when you realize they're dealing with PTSD, it all makes a lot of sense.
The myth around the moroi was so interesting, and this was the perfect length to get to the bottom of the mystery.
I should smack myself for not trusting T Kingfisher to get this to the finish line.
The myth around the moroi was so interesting, and this was the perfect length to get to the bottom of the mystery.
I should smack myself for not trusting T Kingfisher to get this to the finish line.
Out There Screaming by Jordan Peele, John Joseph Adams
dark
emotional
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
4.5
This was a solid collection with so many amazing stories that hit pretty much every sub-genre of horror. I had so many 5 star reads but when I averaged it all out, 4.5 is what the anthology turns out to be!
Favorite stories:
Reckless Eyeballing by NK Jemisin ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Eye & Tooth by Rebecca Roanhorse - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wandering Devil by Caldwell Turnbull - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Lasirèn by Erin E Adams - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Rider by Tananarive Due - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Dark Home by Nnedi Okorafor - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flicker by LD Lewis - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Grief of the Dead: Rion Amilcar Scott - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree by Nicole D. Sconiers - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Your Happy Place by Terence Taylor - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hide & Seek by P. Djèli Clark - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Favorite stories:
Reckless Eyeballing by NK Jemisin ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Eye & Tooth by Rebecca Roanhorse - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wandering Devil by Caldwell Turnbull - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Lasirèn by Erin E Adams - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Rider by Tananarive Due - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Dark Home by Nnedi Okorafor - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flicker by LD Lewis - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Grief of the Dead: Rion Amilcar Scott - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree by Nicole D. Sconiers - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Your Happy Place by Terence Taylor - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hide & Seek by P. Djèli Clark - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
In Gaza I Dare To Dream by Rana Shubair
4.0
This memoir takes the reader through so much of the Palestinian struggle that they face every single day at the hands of the Israeli government and the ambivalence of a lot of society. Though written in 2016, every aspect of this memoir is still happening in Palestine and Gaza (and is worse in so many ways).
Bishop by Candace Nola
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Really solid horror with a good isolated setting, but because of the length, the author had to make some decisions on what to cut to keep the story the length she wanted.
I'd have loved more on character development but I'm hoping to see that in book 2!
I'd have loved more on character development but I'm hoping to see that in book 2!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
There There by Tommy Orange
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.25
There There was such a stunning, haunting at times story, that ended with such a heart wrenching moment. I'm glad I read this when I did, because Wandering Stars, the follow up to this novel will be out in a few months.
While I normally don't mind open endings, I really want to see more from these characters and the aftermath of what happened at the powwow.
Orange's poetic storytelling did so much for this book, bringing a lot of really necessary and hard hitting conversations to light in digestible moments.
While I normally don't mind open endings, I really want to see more from these characters and the aftermath of what happened at the powwow.
Orange's poetic storytelling did so much for this book, bringing a lot of really necessary and hard hitting conversations to light in digestible moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, and Mass/school shootings
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Everyone (especially if they look like me) should take the time to read this collection of essays and speeches as part of our learninf towards building a framework towards our anti-racism work. Every bit of this was insightful, thought-provoking, and devastatingly still relevant in 2024.
The Black Pages by Nnedi Okorafor
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I love short stories, and these collections that the Zon has been putting out have been really good. This story had it all in 30 pages. An interesting back-story and rich history, a confused protagonist, a djinn, big bads, and a need to save the history and stories of the ancestors.
Definitely going to recommend this collection!
Definitely going to recommend this collection!
The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias
challenging
dark
emotional
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
The Devil Takes You Home was gritty, heart wrenching, disturbing, and so fucking interesting. It's going to sound weird, but I savored this story, sat with it for days longer than it normally takes me, and still, even as it ended, I wanted more.
Not because this story wasn't told to fruition, because it was, and spectacularly so, but because I'm absolutely unhingedly intrigued by the bits of supernatural we saw.
Not because this story wasn't told to fruition, because it was, and spectacularly so, but because I'm absolutely unhingedly intrigued by the bits of supernatural we saw.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use, Racism, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Racial slurs
Minor: Transphobia
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The beginning was 5 stars when June was working through her grief, sanity, and the mysteries surrounding her life. When she went through the door, I was excited about the magical element but that excitement was dashed when we found out it was 1951. Everything that happened in the past was interesting, but as soon as we found out she had a daughter, I knew where this story was going to go and it took some of the intrigue away. That and the angst was meh (3 stars).
I ended up giving this a straight 4 stars. The writing was gorgeous, but I thought the plot was weak in a few places. That and just not really loving the 1950s timeline moments, a 4 star is feeling a little generous to me.
2/6/24: update. The more I think about it the more I can't keep this at 4 stars. 3.75 feels better.
I ended up giving this a straight 4 stars. The writing was gorgeous, but I thought the plot was weak in a few places. That and just not really loving the 1950s timeline moments, a 4 star is feeling a little generous to me.
2/6/24: update. The more I think about it the more I can't keep this at 4 stars. 3.75 feels better.
Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell by Taj McCoy
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
4.25
This was so freaking cute! I have a tooth ache from how sweet Spencer was to Savvy. Savvy's growth and self reflections shifted so well from beginning to end, and I loved seeing her put herself first.
Her friendships were truly the highlight here, though the romance was fun. I loved how supportive her friends were, and how they stood by her with whatever Savvy wanted to try. True ride or dies.
Her friendships were truly the highlight here, though the romance was fun. I loved how supportive her friends were, and how they stood by her with whatever Savvy wanted to try. True ride or dies.