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neuroqueer's reviews
354 reviews
How to Survive a Horror Movie: All the Skills to Dodge the Kills by Seth Grahame-Smith
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
3.5
A Glimmer of Death by Valerie Wilson Wesley
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Overall: B-
A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Overall: B
The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion by Margaret Killjoy
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Overall: C+
Find Me by Kate Bold
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
The writing was easy to follow but the story didn't pull me in.
An Easy Job by Carrie Vaughn
adventurous
funny
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? No
4.25
Overall: A
Sinew and Steel and What They Told by Carrie Vaughn
adventurous
funny
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? No
4.25
Overall: A
Men to Avoid in Art and Life by Nicole Tersigni
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.25
Overall: B
Rose/House by Arkady Martine
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Overall: B+
Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall: B-
First off, I want to say how much I appreciated that we are immediately thrown into the horror right in the first chapter. The first few chapters show each of the four characters having an interaction with a ghostly apparition of - or related to - their presumed dead friend Ian.
As for the horror, there a few nicely done disturbing moments. There is mutilation and monsters abound. At times the antagonists of the book felt a bit campy but the passable if not good campy. The Japanese folklore used as the background was done pretty well. I initially was mixed on the method of some kids from Cincinnati (Cleveland?) messing with a Japanese card game ending up in up in a mythical creepy plane of existence but on reflection, it was done decently (WAY better than how Americans end up with mystical Japanese forces in the Grudge movies).
Unfortunately, none of the characters were very likable. Their growth throughout the novel was noticeable but didn't change how I felt about them by the end. The hostility that they all had at the beginning does cool off but some of the comments made to each other made me question how they were friends (flashbacks to their earlier years did not change this). At times, the book can be too preachy. Madeline and Emerson having some struggle Olympics in one scene was annoying. However, I appreciated the representation here, particularly for ace characters which is not always common in YA novels.
Overall, "Find Him Where I Left Him Dead" is an interesting concept for a story but unfortunately, the characters were not likable enough for me to be willing to check out the sequel. If you enjoy YA horror with some LGBT+ representation and Japanese folklore, then this may be worth checking out.
First off, I want to say how much I appreciated that we are immediately thrown into the horror right in the first chapter. The first few chapters show each of the four characters having an interaction with a ghostly apparition of - or related to - their presumed dead friend Ian.
As for the horror, there a few nicely done disturbing moments. There is mutilation and monsters abound. At times the antagonists of the book felt a bit campy but the passable if not good campy. The Japanese folklore used as the background was done pretty well. I initially was mixed on the method of some kids from Cincinnati (Cleveland?) messing with a Japanese card game ending up in up in a mythical creepy plane of existence but on reflection, it was done decently (WAY better than how Americans end up with mystical Japanese forces in the Grudge movies).
Unfortunately, none of the characters were very likable. Their growth throughout the novel was noticeable but didn't change how I felt about them by the end. The hostility that they all had at the beginning does cool off but some of the comments made to each other made me question how they were friends (flashbacks to their earlier years did not change this). At times, the book can be too preachy. Madeline and Emerson having some struggle Olympics in one scene was annoying. However, I appreciated the representation here, particularly for ace characters which is not always common in YA novels.
Overall, "Find Him Where I Left Him Dead" is an interesting concept for a story but unfortunately, the characters were not likable enough for me to be willing to check out the sequel. If you enjoy YA horror with some LGBT+ representation and Japanese folklore, then this may be worth checking out.