bibliorama's reviews
123 reviews
Catch-22, by Joseph Heller
challenging
dark
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? Yes
3.0
This might change. The beast is done though.
Enjoyment - 2.5
Start - 2
Characters - 3
Atmosphere - 2.5
Plot - 3
Ending - 4
Style - 3.5
Overall - 3
Enjoyment - 2.5
Start - 2
Characters - 3
Atmosphere - 2.5
Plot - 3
Ending - 4
Style - 3.5
Overall - 3
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Injury/injury detail, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual violence and Rape
Wilder Girls, by Rory Power
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Enjoyment - 4
Start - 3.5
Characters - 3.5
Atmosphere - 4
Plot - 3
Ending - 3.5
Style - 4
Overall - 3.5
Start - 3.5
Characters - 3.5
Atmosphere - 4
Plot - 3
Ending - 3.5
Style - 4
Overall - 3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Animal death, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Injury/injury detail, Gore, and Medical content
Ninth House, by Leigh Bardugo
challenging
dark
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
Enjoyment - 5
Really well written and knows what vibes it wants to go for. Ghost story + murder mystery + secret societies = my cup of tea. Oh, and all on the Yale campus during winter - another plus.
Start - 5
Character - 5
Everyone was consistent and made choices that went hand-in-hand with their traits and beliefs.
Atmosphere - 5
Plot - 4.5
Ending - 4
Style - 5
This book must have taken a hell of a lot of research and work. I think it paid off.
Overall - 4.8 (basically a 5)
I'll write more of a review when I get around to it. Will definitely pick up the sequel.
Really well written and knows what vibes it wants to go for. Ghost story + murder mystery + secret societies = my cup of tea. Oh, and all on the Yale campus during winter - another plus.
Start - 5
Character - 5
Everyone was consistent and made choices that went hand-in-hand with their traits and beliefs.
Atmosphere - 5
Plot - 4.5
Ending - 4
Style - 5
This book must have taken a hell of a lot of research and work. I think it paid off.
Overall - 4.8 (basically a 5)
I'll write more of a review when I get around to it. Will definitely pick up the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement, Gore, Death, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Addiction, Blood, Sexual harassment, Violence, Body horror, Injury/injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexual assault
Listen, this is an adult book that is dealing with adult topics that can get dark. It deals a lot with who is in power, who has control, and what it's like to be at the bottom of the power system. That leads to some dark stuff. I found the topics to be well handled and make sense within the themes and conversations that the book is having. However, I would recommend you take to heart the content warnings for sexual violence in particular if that is something you would like to not read. I can't say this is the book for escapism if that's what you need right now.
Doll Bones, by Holly Black
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5
Enjoyment - 3.5
Start - 3.5
Characters - 4
Atmosphere - 3
Plot - 4
Ending - 4
Style - 3.5
Overall - 3.6
A nice middle grade book about growing up, plus a ghost story. I dug it.
Start - 3.5
Characters - 4
Atmosphere - 3
Plot - 4
Ending - 4
Style - 3.5
Overall - 3.6
A nice middle grade book about growing up, plus a ghost story. I dug it.
Pretty Dead Queens, by Alexa Donne
- My friend Megan when I told her the rundown of the plot XD
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Spoiler
"Grams really fumbled the bag on this one."- My friend Megan when I told her the rundown of the plot XD
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Murder, Terminal illness, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
I'd say Mid to Upper YA
Tithe, by Holly Black
adventurous
dark
fast-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
4.5
Enjoyment - 5
Start - 4
Characters - 5
Atmosphere - 5
Plot - 4
Ending - 4
Style - 5
Overall - 4.6
Start - 4
Characters - 5
Atmosphere - 5
Plot - 4
Ending - 4
Style - 5
Overall - 4.6
Golden Son, by Pierce Brown
adventurous
tense
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
4.5
Enjoyment - 5
Start - 4.5
Characters - 5
Atmosphere - 5
Plot - 4
Ending - 5
Style - 3
Overall - 4.5
Start - 4.5
Characters - 5
Atmosphere - 5
Plot - 4
Ending - 5
Style - 3
Overall - 4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Injury/injury detail, Blood, Death, War, and Gore
Know My Name, by Chanel Miller
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Again another story that is hard for me to give a star rating to because this story is beyond star pixels on a screen. It's a lot of truth to the emotions that survivors of sexual violence feel, and I can only hope that this book was a therapeutic experience for Chanel.
One of the many things I gathered from this book is that Chanel is a powerful writer and also a very normal human. Which just goes to show that sexual assault can happen to anyone and victims shouldn't be put into stereotypes that are used against them. I recommend this read for everyone. It will affirm your feelings whether they're anger, sorrow, hopefulness, or happiness. I think this book is a good read for someone at any stage of processing trauma.
I recommend the audiobook as Chanel is the narrator.
One of the many things I gathered from this book is that Chanel is a powerful writer and also a very normal human. Which just goes to show that sexual assault can happen to anyone and victims shouldn't be put into stereotypes that are used against them. I recommend this read for everyone. It will affirm your feelings whether they're anger, sorrow, hopefulness, or happiness. I think this book is a good read for someone at any stage of processing trauma.
I recommend the audiobook as Chanel is the narrator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Bullying, Classism, Medical content, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Know what this book is about before going into it.
One by One, by Ruth Ware
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Enjoyment - 3
Start - 3
Characters - 3
Atmosphere - 4
Plot - 2
Ending - 4
Style - 3
Overall - 3
Eh 3 stars. Definitely not the worst thriller out there and the writing is decent, just has some repetitive lines here and there. There weren't really any plot twists that shocked me/tricked me. The ending wrap-up was too long after the final ski, and I felt like the app wasn't used enough to its full potential. That ending ski run was great though and I enjoyed the snowy mountains atmosphere.
Start - 3
Characters - 3
Atmosphere - 4
Plot - 2
Ending - 4
Style - 3
Overall - 3
Eh 3 stars. Definitely not the worst thriller out there and the writing is decent, just has some repetitive lines here and there. There weren't really any plot twists that shocked me/tricked me. The ending wrap-up was too long after the final ski, and I felt like the app wasn't used enough to its full potential. That ending ski run was great though and I enjoyed the snowy mountains atmosphere.
Red Rising, by Pierce Brown
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Now that was fun
Enjoyment - 5
Start - 4
Characters - 5
Atmosphere - 4
Plot - 5
Ending - 5
Style - 4
Overall - 4.5
Enjoyment - 5
Start - 4
Characters - 5
Atmosphere - 4
Plot - 5
Ending - 5
Style - 4
Overall - 4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, Excrement, Gore, Slavery, War, Colonisation, Classism, Grief, Injury/injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Fatphobia