stellyshadows's reviews
372 reviews

Craving Murder: The Black Orchid Killer by A.V. Donaldson, A.V. Donaldson

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challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

The Unity Experiment by NK Brown

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

3.25

This is a fast paced action packed  story about 17 year old Anna who enters something called The Unity Experiment and she has to survive on her team with other species who are at odds with each other and the goal is to create unity between them and she finds out she’s the only one who can communicate with what they call the Spirit World. There is also a little tiny bit of romance between Dylan the werewolf and Anna which was pretty cute
Fractured by Roxy Rich

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challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This first book is about sisters Jolene and Alice. They have a stepdad that is truly evil and both of them get manipulated and Jolene does everything in her power to protect her younger sister while she gets to be apart of the shady stuff going on to make money for herself and help just her and her sister. This book is full of heavy topics, SA and Trafficking, Drugs and Violence etc. For the authors first book this is very well written but repetitive in certain words that takes me out of the story and how Jolene talks isn’t really realistic if she’s just a kid or teenager just a lot of very flowery writing and I personally think it’s way overwritten. Nonetheless I still enjoyed this and I recommend this, It’s a tragic story.
Venom by Yolanda Olson

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

3.0

 This is a short story and literally this isn't for anyone who has any triggers! This literally is just honestly torture from beginning to end for no reason... which is why I don't really know what to rate this really. I loved the writing and the detail to the story but just because there was no point of this and no plot I just was like huh? Maybe it's just a me thing but this isn't bad by any means. I just wanted more reasoning to the torture and just more detail behind the story. I'm kinda disappointed..

 
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

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adventurous challenging 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? N/A

4.0

Audiobook 🎧
I really liked this story even though sometimes I was confused cause I don’t really read fantasy that much but it’s so character driven and I enjoyed each character. The audiobook made it better with a full cast pretty much. Very fun and action packed but very long chapters though..
Have You Seen Sarah Baker? by T.A. Cruz, T.A. Cruz

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

This wasn't my favorite thriller/mystery but this was really interesting. We follow two mysteries, the death of Jessie Jenkins and the missing teacher Sarah Barker who was held captive for months. Eventually we get to know her secrets as we know firstly she has marriage problems. I really only liked the pov of Sarah mostly and it all was a clusterf-k but the ending was really good. It's fast paced and really well written. Lots of twists I recommend even though it wasn't my fave. 
Code Name: Wasp by Heather Slade

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

3.0

Just not what I thought. I loved Wasp as a character and apart of the K19 team but I didn’t really feel the connection or love at all between Wasp and Swan. 
Origins by Kyle West

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adventurous challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

 Alex and Makara leave what is called the Raider Bluffs after getting medical attention for Makara’s brother. The whole mission of this book is to go to Bunker 1 and get what is called black files. The writing is great and the setting you really get to know. I love this kind of stuff. I listened to it on audio and the narrator really makes the story for me in the love of Alex. More action and a bit more fast paced than the first. They are all trying to defeat what is called the Xenovirus who has turned all living things and turned them into monsters. Very action packed and if you love that stuff you’ll love this! 
Apocalypse by Kyle West

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adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious 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? No

4.0

I enjoyed this. It’s a post apocalyptic, dystopian infection series that deals with a disaster that hit earth and there are people who live in different bunkers and our main character Alex is left to leave the bunker and survive 
Broken Harbor by Catherine Cowles

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challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

 I loved this! omg.. All of these characters are so well done. We follow Sutton and Cope. Sutton being a single mom and Cope being a NHL player and he will protect Sutton and her son Luca at all costs and as they get to know each other their feelings get stronger. The banter is great, the suspense at the end, the side characters from the other books too are just so fun! This is a little bit of a DV thing with Sutton because she goes to Sparrow Falls to get away and protect her and her son Luca from her ex husband Roman who got into drugs and got dangerous. Sutton and Cope both fight demons in their life but do it together and that dang nickname Cope gives Sutton... I love love love! This is also small town, single mom, found family, sports romance and romantic suspense. I recommend for sure!