Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek

13 reviews

kaz_brekkerrr's review against another edition

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

3.5


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alyvia_jeane's review against another edition

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

5.0

“Grandma not mad just hurt…”
I am still crying…
I didn’t have high expectations for this book at all in the beginning. I went into it blind and didn’t even know it was based on polish folklore and myths. It far exceeded my expectations and I need the physical immediately. I also cried for the last 20 pgs and had to cuddle with my boyfriend afterwards.
🥲

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chris_reads's review

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emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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batbaby's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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allyareads's review against another edition

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

4.75

One of my favourite things in the universe is a sentient house. My other favourite is a broody, chaotic, bisexual wizard. Niche, I know but you can understand how excited I was when I found out that it wasn't just Howl's Moving Castle that fits the bill.
This is the Polish folklore version of Howl's Moving Castle (the Ghibli movie not the Diana Wynne Jones book). It's just as beautiful, atmospheric, and genuinely sweet.
It doesn't reinvent the wheel but it's a solid cozy fantasy easy read.

Thank you Penguin for the reader copy I had such a good time. 

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mirimira's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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chrisb913's review

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adventurous dark 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? Yes

3.0

This book had a lot of potential but for me fell kind of flat. I did enjoy the general spooky vibes and the House Under the Rowan Tree and Jaga were probably my favorite characters of the story. Sadly the story felt like it started in the middle of a story and did very little work to develop the two main character. It also felt like it heavily relied on the reader knowing the story of Beauty and the Beast, to the point that it felt like part of the plot was missing. All in all, it wasn't terrible but more just middle of the road.

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callistag1's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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ghostlyprince's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

haven't been this distraught over a book since grade eight I'm in agony I'm in mourning I'm

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ceruleanshelves's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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

4.0

“You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch.”

beauty in the beast meets howl's moving castle with much polish folklore & cultural influence and a whole lots of magic & forest 💚

there are lots of cozy cottagecore vibes and its a slower pace standalone, but it's an impressive debut novel. the magic system was intriguing with its interweaving of folklore creatures, and i found myself surprised at some revelations. there was a solid romance with some fun banter and a surprisingly charming found family. shoutout to the queer rep as well!

it was bittersweet but very touching, and i look forward to more stories from Poranek.

“There is a thing we do,” the Leszy says, “where we rearrange ourselves, cutting off pieces here and there to fit a mold that was never meant for us. I know something of that. But becoming the Driada’s warden taught me one thing: if the world had not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself.”

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