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alysbookclub's reviews
216 reviews
Bad Graces by Kyrie McCauley
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.0
Similar to House of Hollow and The Afterdark (a 2025 upcoming release), two YA fantasy/horror books I love, Bad Graces follows young women who are used to being preyed upon, and gives them teeth. These three novels also have their heroines changed in some manner by nature itself.
Bad Graces' female characters are lovable, imperfect, and strong - it also references Greek tragedies and Shakespeare, which I'm a sucker for.
Overall, a really strong YA horror novel for all the girls out there.
Bad Graces' female characters are lovable, imperfect, and strong - it also references Greek tragedies and Shakespeare, which I'm a sucker for.
Overall, a really strong YA horror novel for all the girls out there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Blood, and Vomit
Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wow - loved the writing so much. I really really loved the character building and even though I guessed where it was going, I didn't see that final twist. Only complaint is that the tone at the end was a bit off from the rest of the novel and it felt a bit disjointed for a second there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement and Sexual content
The Songbird & The Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy!
❤️🔥 Warring Gods
❤️🔥 Slow burn spice
❤️🔥 Challenging trials
❤️🔥 Undead puppy BFF
❤️🔥 Trauma bonding
❤️🔥 Descent into the Underworld
❤️🔥 Vampires
Mische was a character from the first two Crowns of Nyaxia novels that I enjoyed but didn't pay too much mind to. This novel made me feel so much empathy for her without making her into a completely tragic character. She is hopeful and so sweet. Her religious trauma is well written and such a difficult but interesting aspect of Mische.
Asar (and his unusual puppy LUCE, the BEST GIRL to EVER exist), is also excellently written, not just as a romantic interest for Mische but as a well rounded character.
I was initially skeptical of the general plot structure (journey to the underworld) being as interesting as the Kejari tournament from the Nightborn Duet, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked. Fair warning - we are left at a HUGE cliffhanger, and I can't wait to see what happens in the second novel of the duet!
❤️🔥 Warring Gods
❤️🔥 Slow burn spice
❤️🔥 Challenging trials
❤️🔥 Undead puppy BFF
❤️🔥 Trauma bonding
❤️🔥 Descent into the Underworld
❤️🔥 Vampires
Mische was a character from the first two Crowns of Nyaxia novels that I enjoyed but didn't pay too much mind to. This novel made me feel so much empathy for her without making her into a completely tragic character. She is hopeful and so sweet. Her religious trauma is well written and such a difficult but interesting aspect of Mische.
Asar (and his unusual puppy LUCE, the BEST GIRL to EVER exist), is also excellently written, not just as a romantic interest for Mische but as a well rounded character.
I was initially skeptical of the general plot structure (journey to the underworld) being as interesting as the Kejari tournament from the Nightborn Duet, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked. Fair warning - we are left at a HUGE cliffhanger, and I can't wait to see what happens in the second novel of the duet!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Torture
The Afterdark by E. Latimer
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.25
For those who loved House of Hollow, The Wilder Girls, and The Invocations - an eerie, mysterious queer horror story that takes place at a remote boarding school.
Read for the:
🖤 Lovecraftian horror
🖤 Obsession
🖤 Sapphic romance
🖤 Centuries-old secrets
🖤 Feminine rage
🖤 Multi-POV
🖤 Boarding school
🖤 Dark impulses
I loved both of the FMCs, Holland and Evie. Evie's history is so interesting and I loved how the mysteries played out. All of the reveals were pretty satisfying and I found myself thinking about the horror and mystery aspects long after I finished reading. I truly love horror lead by young female characters, and this new novel is a great addition to the genre.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.
Read for the:
🖤 Lovecraftian horror
🖤 Obsession
🖤 Sapphic romance
🖤 Centuries-old secrets
🖤 Feminine rage
🖤 Multi-POV
🖤 Boarding school
🖤 Dark impulses
I loved both of the FMCs, Holland and Evie. Evie's history is so interesting and I loved how the mysteries played out. All of the reveals were pretty satisfying and I found myself thinking about the horror and mystery aspects long after I finished reading. I truly love horror lead by young female characters, and this new novel is a great addition to the genre.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Wisteria by Adalyn Grace
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.0
A beautiful finale to this series. I've loved how this series reads like true fairytales to me - feels like you're in such a magical and wondrous world. The ending was super emotional to me and I was absolutely bawling, but I did love it.
Nowhere by Allison Gunn
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!
Wow. So good. I went into this expecting more of a thriller, but I would definitely classify this as a horror novel with a touch of thriller. Mixing themes of folklore, family, fundamentalism, and loss, Gunn weaves an ultimately heart-wrenching tale. The multiples POVs throughout reflect on each town's person's differing realities and how perception and your place in a small town can change everything.
The final few chapters took me back to the tv show The Haunting of Hill House, surprising me with how tenderly it was written - I absolutely cried a little. I was also reminded of Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and The Lottery. When the publisher's compare this to a Mare of Easttown meets Stephen King's The Outsider, they're pretty spot on in terms of vibes though.
Wow. So good. I went into this expecting more of a thriller, but I would definitely classify this as a horror novel with a touch of thriller. Mixing themes of folklore, family, fundamentalism, and loss, Gunn weaves an ultimately heart-wrenching tale. The multiples POVs throughout reflect on each town's person's differing realities and how perception and your place in a small town can change everything.
The final few chapters took me back to the tv show The Haunting of Hill House, surprising me with how tenderly it was written - I absolutely cried a little. I was also reminded of Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and The Lottery. When the publisher's compare this to a Mare of Easttown meets Stephen King's The Outsider, they're pretty spot on in terms of vibes though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Homophobia, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Car accident, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Grief, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
To Flame a Wild Flower by Sarah A. Parker
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This one was really heavy - I found it harder to get through than the first two. I did still enjoy it, and am looking forward to the next in the series!
To Snap a Silver Stem by Sarah A. Parker
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
I love love loved it. Reminds me of Plated Prisoner series, where we get to see such a sheltered naive girl grow to be a stronger woman (I mean she's still a mess but we're - hopefully - getting there?). Kai's storyline was so good I didn't even get annoyed when we flipped to it. Hate Cainon but I feel like that's the point.
Only took the .5 off because I feel like, although we were working up to Orlaith convincing herself to hate Rhordyn, her actions at the end of the book didn't ring completely true for me. We'll see how book 3 goes!
Only took the .5 off because I feel like, although we were working up to Orlaith convincing herself to hate Rhordyn, her actions at the end of the book didn't ring completely true for me. We'll see how book 3 goes!
To Bleed a Crystal Bloom by Sarah A. Parker
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
I really love Sarah Parker's world building - to the point where even if I don't love the romantic storyline (I'm torn on this one, which is probably the point) I just can't put the book down. She's just such a good writer!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed going back to this world! I love Evie and the Villain, and all of the supporting characters are so entertaining. Super interested to see how this story concludes in the next book.