lochnessvhs's reviews
820 reviews

Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver

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emotional funny lighthearted
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Definitely my favorite of the trilogy. 

I remember my reaction when I first read B&B was that it was just "too straight" for me. But after three books, honestly that is my ONLY complaint I can give for the entire trilogy. I love Weaver's writing style so much, I love how fleshed out her characters are. I love how personable they are. I love how strong AND fragile AND scared AND brave they are. 

For all of that, I'm willing to put up with a little straight smut if I have to, even if that's not my thing at all. Doesn't mean I still don't love Rose and Fionn.
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The Long Walk by Richard Bachman

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Somehow I’ve spent my life not knowing what this book was about. Seems obvious ow.

What an absolute triumph of writing. How did I not know Stephen King was the grandfather of dystopian young adult fiction?? The influence this story has had is clear. Truly a masterwork, and one that will rip your heart right out of your goddamn chest.
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Supplication by Nour Abi-Nakhoul

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.25

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The Quiet Damage: QAnon and the Destruction of the American Family by Jesselyn Cook

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

5.0

An absolutely incredible read, but a tough one. Perhaps one of the most upsetting books I’ve ever read. Cook shows how the absolute perfect storm of events funneled people down this cult pipeline and it’s heartbreaking to think that perhaps if only one of the major events in the last 10 years hadn’t happened, so many people would have been saved.
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The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night by Steven Banbury

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

4.0

An utterly enchanting and adorable tale. Not just for kids - any fellow spooky ghouls or autumn girlies will love this story just as much as your tween will. 
Boss Witch by Ann Aguirre

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

3.5

We Do Not Part by Han Kang

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dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-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

Heavy and haunting.
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The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke

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mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This short story is dancing on the edge of something I could fall in love with, but it doesn't quite get there. I truly think that given another 50 pages (and by that I mean the types of pages shown here, which sometimes only have a dozen words per page), I could have connected more with the story and it's deeper themes. I got more out of Clarke's afterward than I did the story itself.

The illustrations by Victoria Sawdon are absolutely exquisite.
The Stand by Stephen King

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.75

My 3rd time reading the Stand, but the first time reading the "Uncut" version. And honestly, it should have stayed cut. 
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Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis

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

4.5

I accidentally read the second book in this trilogy before this one, but I don't think it really affected my perception of the story as a whole. What's funny is that, even though I knew how sneakysneaky Ada is from book 2, I still didn't see her plan for what it was in this one.