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mk_loisirs's reviews
418 reviews
House of the Beast by Michelle Wong
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.75
Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review!
The story follows Alma & her eldritch god companion Aster on a bloody path for revenge and retribution...will Alma lose herself in the process or will she remain?
I was not expecting this book to pack as much punch as it did. I was pleasantly surprised. I thought the setting and overall world-building was very strong. I didn't feel bombarded with information or confused at any point to how the world worked. I really appreciated the "peeks" into the bigger world outside of the area controlled by the Elder Gods. It felt fully fleshed out. You are given breadcrumb hints throughout the story that unlocked the bigger plot points/twists as you continue. The plot twists aren't necessarily "a ha!" moments but rather you, as the reader, sit with the dread of having been correct.
The character dynamics in this book were raw and complex. I often find many MC's (especially in some fantasy) motivations to be rather shallow or unrealistic to their character as developed from the start of the story. That was not the case with Alma. Her journey starts at childhood and we are able to see it develop through the beginning part of the story. She is a flawed character that is motivated by grief, anger, sadness and revenge. You can completely understand how she reaches each moment in the story with Aster at her side. Without revealing any major plot points, I appreciated how Aster was the dark reflection of Alma. His motivations were essentially one and the same, despite being horrifically more bloodthirsty.
The subtle romance subplot was very well woven into the rest of the plot. You can see how Alma would fall in love with Aster, her companion from childhood, while also having her remain skeptical of his affections because he is a God. It was very well executed. And the ending was so much more impactful because of this.
Additionally the illustrations were especially beautiful and added to a fantastical cinematic aspect to the novel!
The story follows Alma & her eldritch god companion Aster on a bloody path for revenge and retribution...will Alma lose herself in the process or will she remain?
I was not expecting this book to pack as much punch as it did. I was pleasantly surprised. I thought the setting and overall world-building was very strong. I didn't feel bombarded with information or confused at any point to how the world worked. I really appreciated the "peeks" into the bigger world outside of the area controlled by the Elder Gods. It felt fully fleshed out. You are given breadcrumb hints throughout the story that unlocked the bigger plot points/twists as you continue. The plot twists aren't necessarily "a ha!" moments but rather you, as the reader, sit with the dread of having been correct.
The character dynamics in this book were raw and complex. I often find many MC's (especially in some fantasy) motivations to be rather shallow or unrealistic to their character as developed from the start of the story. That was not the case with Alma. Her journey starts at childhood and we are able to see it develop through the beginning part of the story. She is a flawed character that is motivated by grief, anger, sadness and revenge. You can completely understand how she reaches each moment in the story with Aster at her side. Without revealing any major plot points, I appreciated how Aster was the dark reflection of Alma. His motivations were essentially one and the same, despite being horrifically more bloodthirsty.
The subtle romance subplot was very well woven into the rest of the plot. You can see how Alma would fall in love with Aster, her companion from childhood, while also having her remain skeptical of his affections because he is a God. It was very well executed. And the ending was so much more impactful because of this.
Additionally the illustrations were especially beautiful and added to a fantastical cinematic aspect to the novel!
Anji Kills a King by Evan Leikam
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.
I feel really bad for this one because I was kindly gifted the e-arc for a review.
*minor spoilers ahead*
But I couldn’t bring myself to pick up the book once I set it down. It felt like such a drag to get through. In the first 30% there’s the inciting incident (which we don’t get a bunch of detail about) and then Anji is on the run…only to stop in a small town, get wasted and get captured by the Hawk.
I’m sorry but if she had planned to kill the king and worked her way to that point without any suspicion, it felt wrong for her to have been captured so easily.
Additionally she talks big talk against the Hawk when we have little to no background on how she could possibly back up her claims of being able to beat the Hawk if given the chance…
It just felt unbelievable and I was bored of their constant bickering and the slow “travel.”
In the end, I just didn’t feel attached to either of them to continue on.
*minor spoilers ahead*
But I couldn’t bring myself to pick up the book once I set it down. It felt like such a drag to get through. In the first 30% there’s the inciting incident (which we don’t get a bunch of detail about) and then Anji is on the run…only to stop in a small town, get wasted and get captured by the Hawk.
I’m sorry but if she had planned to kill the king and worked her way to that point without any suspicion, it felt wrong for her to have been captured so easily.
Additionally she talks big talk against the Hawk when we have little to no background on how she could possibly back up her claims of being able to beat the Hawk if given the chance…
It just felt unbelievable and I was bored of their constant bickering and the slow “travel.”
In the end, I just didn’t feel attached to either of them to continue on.
Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I had an ick the entire time reading this novella…with how Ro’s character spoke, Ash’s general demeanor…I was just not a fan.
I definitely enjoyed Guillotine much more and felt it was a stronger story.
This one felt very predictable and thus the “twist” didn’t feel as satisfactory of an ending.
I definitely enjoyed Guillotine much more and felt it was a stronger story.
This one felt very predictable and thus the “twist” didn’t feel as satisfactory of an ending.
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review.
An epistolary revenge horror story with a native supernatural twist...VAMPIRES? Sign. me. up. This book was phenomenal in a horrifying saddening way. I would not consider this a pleasant read by any stretch of the imagination.
My enjoyment of the novel came from the sheer visceral nature of the story and SGJ's impeccable writing abilities. SGJ pulls you in and makes you look at the true horrors of the colonization of Native lands (both historically accurate & fantastically imagined via vampires). Good Stab's confession, so masterfully crafted, as told to (and through) Arthur was enthralling. The inner weaving of the Pikuni language within the story was such a wonderful addition. Despite Arthur's unfamiliarity with some at the story beginning, you as the reader learn as the confession continues.
I don't want to spoil any of the main points of the story because I truly feel this is something you just need to go into without much preparation (other than be prepared for gore, death). However, I will say the way SGJ subtly changed the speech pattern, word choice and expressions Arthur uses as Good Stab continues his confession was TOP TIER.
I will admit that I honestly understood Good Stab's motivations and his actions...and quite frankly feel he was 1000% justified. I'd be a buffalo hunter hunter too.
Basically...
Stephen Graham Jones expertly weaves a story of Native identity, loss, and retribution into an artfully crafted atmospheric narrative.
I was heartbroken the entire time and I wouldn't have had it any other way.
An epistolary revenge horror story with a native supernatural twist...VAMPIRES? Sign. me. up. This book was phenomenal in a horrifying saddening way. I would not consider this a pleasant read by any stretch of the imagination.
My enjoyment of the novel came from the sheer visceral nature of the story and SGJ's impeccable writing abilities. SGJ pulls you in and makes you look at the true horrors of the colonization of Native lands (both historically accurate & fantastically imagined via vampires). Good Stab's confession, so masterfully crafted, as told to (and through) Arthur was enthralling. The inner weaving of the Pikuni language within the story was such a wonderful addition. Despite Arthur's unfamiliarity with some at the story beginning, you as the reader learn as the confession continues.
I don't want to spoil any of the main points of the story because I truly feel this is something you just need to go into without much preparation (other than be prepared for gore, death). However, I will say the way SGJ subtly changed the speech pattern, word choice and expressions Arthur uses as Good Stab continues his confession was TOP TIER.
I will admit that I honestly understood Good Stab's motivations and his actions...and quite frankly feel he was 1000% justified. I'd be a buffalo hunter hunter too.
Basically...
Stephen Graham Jones expertly weaves a story of Native identity, loss, and retribution into an artfully crafted atmospheric narrative.
I was heartbroken the entire time and I wouldn't have had it any other way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Racism, Torture, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Colonisation
Woodworm by Layla Martínez
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Told from two seemingly unreliable, yet oddly…reliable? narrators, Martínez’ book packs a creepy punch. I love a good “alive” house story and this one is no exception. It’s a story of two women holding generational trauma and their insatiable house.
I would go into it blind, as I did for I think it makes a greater impression that way.
I particularly enjoyed the stream of consciousness type prose that had a lyricism about them. But be warned, there are no quotation marks.
I would go into it blind, as I did for I think it makes a greater impression that way.
I particularly enjoyed the stream of consciousness type prose that had a lyricism about them. But be warned, there are no quotation marks.
Guillotine by Delilah S. Dawson
The long of it: Delilah does a solid job of escalating the plot at the perfect pace leading towards an over the top campy violent crescendo. I wish the campy aspect of the world was a bit more fleshed out in terms of character development. Some parts of the characters felt a little flat in regards to us getting backstory. We only ever get peeks into the motivations of the staff, which works with the events of the plot but I think the reader's investiment into the story would increase with more developped characters. Despite that I still felt sucked into the story and it wrapped up with in the end with the solid start.
My biggest "critique" or gripe with the story was that it doesn't really delve into commentary on class warfare more than rich people being entitled horrible people...Dez makes comments periodically about her life growing up as the child of a blue collar worker but that's as far as it goes. I don't think a great commentary was needed for this story to succeed, as it did without but I just feel like it would have enhanced the story a little more had it done so.
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The short of it: A bloody cathartic book. Bad people getting what they deserve. A gory revenge fueled mess.
The long of it: Delilah does a solid job of escalating the plot at the perfect pace leading towards an over the top campy violent crescendo. I wish the campy aspect of the world was a bit more fleshed out in terms of character development. Some parts of the characters felt a little flat in regards to us getting backstory. We only ever get peeks into the motivations of the staff, which works with the events of the plot but I think the reader's investiment into the story would increase with more developped characters. Despite that I still felt sucked into the story and it wrapped up with in the end with the solid start.
My biggest "critique" or gripe with the story was that it doesn't really delve into commentary on class warfare more than rich people being entitled horrible people...Dez makes comments periodically about her life growing up as the child of a blue collar worker but that's as far as it goes. I don't think a great commentary was needed for this story to succeed, as it did without but I just feel like it would have enhanced the story a little more had it done so.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.75
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review!
To say I was extremely ecstatic to have been approved for this e-arc is an understatement. The Tainted Cup is one of my favorite books and to be allowed back into the world early again was a DREAM. I found myself immediately enthralled by the extremely well-crafted and smartly written world. Not only were we given another highly detailed mystery that so neatly is resolved in the end, but were given a deeper glimpse into the backstories of both Din & Ana. The revelations surrounding Ana, that were revealed near the end of the story, were so intriguing. I cannot wait to see where the story goes with that. All the characters felt extremely well fleshed out and were highly enjoyable to read - especially the "villains". Malo is a new favorite and I just adored how she interacted with Din & Ana. The story had me both cringing with disgust and laughing out loud in the same turn.
I can say after this one I am firmly entrenched in the Shadow of Leviathan world and I cannot wait for what's to come.
To say I was extremely ecstatic to have been approved for this e-arc is an understatement. The Tainted Cup is one of my favorite books and to be allowed back into the world early again was a DREAM. I found myself immediately enthralled by the extremely well-crafted and smartly written world. Not only were we given another highly detailed mystery that so neatly is resolved in the end, but were given a deeper glimpse into the backstories of both Din & Ana. The revelations surrounding Ana, that were revealed near the end of the story, were so intriguing. I cannot wait to see where the story goes with that. All the characters felt extremely well fleshed out and were highly enjoyable to read - especially the "villains". Malo is a new favorite and I just adored how she interacted with Din & Ana. The story had me both cringing with disgust and laughing out loud in the same turn.
I can say after this one I am firmly entrenched in the Shadow of Leviathan world and I cannot wait for what's to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, Medical content, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Tenderly, I am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Thank you to Lyndall Clipstone, Macmillan & Netgalley for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.
I was very thrilled to be approved for this arc considering how much I am a fan of Clipstone's previous work, "Unholy Terrors". The flowery purple prose of Clipstone's writing is exactly my kind of writing. That being said, I was not as in love with this story as I had hoped I would have been. I love when authors use water as a key element in their story. I just felt like something about this novel was lacking for me...and I was comparing it to a favorite book of mine that also involves water and academia...
Also I was under the impression it was going to have "Saltburn" elements. It felt extremely tame to make that connection. The horror elements were hard to be found as well.
I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed and quite frankly a bit weirded out by the end of the novel. I am by no means against love triangles but the sibling aspect of it gave me a bit of the ick...especially considering I did not believe the relationship with Camille & Lark, as much as I did with Alastair. I felt the relationship blooming between Lark and her school friend more convincing than Camille & Lark. I just felt the story lacked the connection that would make them more believable. (Also Alastar & Camille could have just not been siblings?) Also Lark makes some choices I cannot fully get behind, like making out with Camille, while Alastair is being punished...a bit weird if she's supposed to love him...
I don't want to make this an overall negative review but I really was hoping for *more* especially considering how much I adored "Unholy Terrors." That being said, what didn't work for me might work for you so please give this book a try.
I was very thrilled to be approved for this arc considering how much I am a fan of Clipstone's previous work, "Unholy Terrors". The flowery purple prose of Clipstone's writing is exactly my kind of writing. That being said, I was not as in love with this story as I had hoped I would have been. I love when authors use water as a key element in their story. I just felt like something about this novel was lacking for me...and I was comparing it to a favorite book of mine that also involves water and academia...
Also I was under the impression it was going to have "Saltburn" elements. It felt extremely tame to make that connection. The horror elements were hard to be found as well.
I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed and quite frankly a bit weirded out by the end of the novel. I am by no means against love triangles but the sibling aspect of it gave me a bit of the ick...especially considering I did not believe the relationship with Camille & Lark, as much as I did with Alastair. I felt the relationship blooming between Lark and her school friend more convincing than Camille & Lark. I just felt the story lacked the connection that would make them more believable. (Also Alastar & Camille could have just not been siblings?) Also Lark makes some choices I cannot fully get behind, like making out with Camille, while Alastair is being punished...a bit weird if she's supposed to love him...
I don't want to make this an overall negative review but I really was hoping for *more* especially considering how much I adored "Unholy Terrors." That being said, what didn't work for me might work for you so please give this book a try.
Hexed by Emily McIntire
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I need to return to this once I gather my thoughts. Phenomenal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt