monicalaurette's reviews
292 reviews

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

3.75

 "...sometimes you have to sin in order to earn your way to paradise." 

I found that I genuinely enjoyed this book, but it wasn't the best like vampire one that I have read. The setting and the plot were unique, I just I guess wished there was a romance at all because it felt almost rushed to me.
I know Domingo had like a crush on her for a while but I feel her giving in and having the romance was just sudden.
I feel my enjoyment would have been more had there been no romance and just focus on the plot and saving Atl.

For those that care: the dog does not die! I know this should be a spoiler but some people need to know this in order to read it. There's no animal deaths at all in this book so happy about that and I know others will.

Having so many different types and subspecies of vampires was also an interesting twist to a vampire story, though we only get to see like three types so I wish there was either more story to meet others or just those three subspecies ever mentioned.

Overall a great book and happy to have read it. If Silvia ever writes another book to follow Atl and Domingo I will read it, but I'm ultimately happy with where it all ended.

I don't know why but Nick controlling humans (and only women) in this book gave me uncomfortable vibes and I feel like that was the author's intention, but as long as he no longer survived I was vindicated
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Go to review page

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

4.0

 “…and hey, what’s like except a love that hasn’t been invited indoors?” 

This whole series makes my brain hurt, but in a good way. Even though I picked this up RIGHT after I read Harrow...the fact that it follows basically a whole new story in a world that still has very little world building (at least to me) gives me major whiplash.

I still feel like I'm unsure who Nona was, or if we she was someone else at all. Also is that Gideon or is Kiriona a totally new person now that she knows her origins?


However I liked the intrigue of the book and trying to follow along, while some would be annoyed with it, I liked because it kept me on my toes and having to actually focus on everything being done and said. Which is why I laughed at this quote:  I don't understand yet, that's all. Not even a little. I have so much to learn in the ways of not understanding." 

This was not my favorite book in the series, but I liked it more than Harrow - we'll see how I like Alecto once it comes out (and if I should possibly re-read any of the series before then)
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Stowaway by James S. Murray, Darren Wearmouth

Go to review page

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

4.0

Full review to come
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Last Unicorn: The Lost Journey by Peter S. Beagle

Go to review page

adventurous funny mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

So I'm a lover of the Last Unicorn (movie and book) and when I found that this was the original version of the story I just had to find it. Very fitting that Peter loves libraries so much and I borrowed my copy from my local library.

The story here is so different from the one I know and love but it was fun to explore with the unicorn, Azazel, and Webster, said that it ended so abruptly and we never truly saw if she was the last in this version or not.
Future Tense: Why Anxiety Is Good for You by Tracy Dennis-Tiwary

Go to review page

informative reflective

3.5

This book I liked, but felt that maybe a bit more information on how to put the strategies into action would be beneficial. But either way I'm glad I read this and look forward to attempting some of the items in practice.
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Go to review page

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

4.0

"She had cost too much to die."

This book was just so much, I had read Gideon the Ninth a while ago and should have possibly read a summary and re-read the summary for this book before reading because I felt like I was dropped into a story half-way through. just so much confusion while reading and while it was a fun story and I was getting like angry and being so confused haha.

One thing that I was just a little thrown off on, that I don't remember being so prominent in GtN was pop culture references in the book and how some of them just didn't feel like they fit with the story, just something the author wanted to add in. But I thought the 'S' was a funny little touch to nostalgia.

 The only thing our civilization can ever learn from yours is that when our backs are to the wall and our towers are falling all around us and we are watching ourselves burn we rarely become heroes. 

I felt so vindicated when it came out that Harrow erased Gideon from her mind because I was like 'who is this ortus? what is this Canaan house?

for a god, John should have caught on to the whole 'temporal lobe mind erase' thing sooner
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

Go to review page

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

3.5

I started this book because of a book club and honestly only knew the summary provided so I had truly no clue what I was in for.

Fuck anything and anyone that made you have to survive instead of live.

Overall the book was good and I liked the story but there were issues for me with Opal's size (trying to figure out WHAT size she was) because a lot of the language was vague and I just wanted to know if she was straight, mid, or plus size. While suspension of disbelief is needed for fiction books there were just a lot of moments in the book that I was like "yeah that would not happen" and many times that I was cringing at the absurdity of the characters.

Do I hate this book? No. Would I read it again or purchase it for my shelf? No, happy I got it from the library.

As someone who is also undiagnosed (but pretty sure) neurodivergent I related to that for the characters along with some of their other personality traits. However since I am also undiagnosed I can't really go into the representation of Pepper's autism and Opal's possibly ADHD. However as a woman who is also a virgin I really appreciated the way it was handled in the book.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

This book gave me an existential crisis and I did not approve of it! How did Becky know the exact time I'd read this book and the state I'd be in my life that I'd need to read it? Someone question her about this please while I continue to laugh about Mosscap because they're honestly hilarious.

"The unknown makes us stupid sometimes."

Compared to the first book, I like this one a whole lot more. The friendship between Dex and Mosscap was so touching and I found myself wanting more pages once it was all done. MORE PLEASE BECKY! The joy that Mosscap had for life and the world mixed with Dex's knowledge of the world helped me to really see who I am and what I mean to the world - my place. If anymore is written in the world of Panga I will BE THERE.

I wanted Leroy and Dex to somehow be a couple by the end of the book but I know that's not fully how Dex operates (at least at this time)

actively scream laughed at Mosscap's greeting to Dex arriving at Leroy's and how Miss Amelia just had so much porn at her house
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Unwinding Anxiety by Judson Brewer

Go to review page

challenging informative reflective

4.0

Such a big take away for this book is to be curious about your mind and body as a way to help navigate anxiety and I’ve never thought of it that way. Glad I took notes so I can look back on them.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The wilderness was not known for letting the foolish return.

This book was such a fun and unique take on sci-fi and fantasy all together. I've only ever heard good things of this book and for good reason! Following Sibling Dex & Mosscap around the wilderness was a great experience for me, and even allowed me to have some introspection into my own life.

Also Mosscap gave me like Baymax vibes because of wanting to help and having so much knowledge, but also having that curiosity to them. Looking forward to more of what Becky Chambers has to write about these two
now that Dex has heard the crickets chirp
.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings