breezie_reads's reviews
988 reviews

Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin

dark

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

I feel like marketing this as a horror was a little misleading. It read as more of a dystopian fiction than anything else. I also wasn't expecting so much sex in this, mostly BECAUSE it was marketed as a horror. I personally haven't read any horror with as much (or any) on-page scenes as this book. And they all kick you in the face.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia

The Troop by Nick Cutter

dark tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

5.0

You could have told me exactly what this book was going to be and I still don't think it would have prepared me for what is between these covers. This book is deeply disturbing, it's gruesome, and it's beyond unsettling. I had to put it down several times to collect myself. This is one of those books that'll stick with me, whether I want it to or not.

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.

Soft DNF. I don't feel like reading a fantasy right now, especially one this large, although I did really try.

Not About a Boy by Myah Hollis

emotional

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book tore me apart. Not About a Boy is a heart-breakingly accurate portrayal of what it's like growing up not knowing who you are, what you're doing here, or how to find those answers. Mel's struggle with addiction and depression and not knowing how to ask for help or if she even wants it is the same story so many people live through, and Myah Hollis captures that despair beautifully. This is an amazing debut and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.

Metro 2035 by Dmitry Glukhovsky

dark tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Artyom has some mighty fine plot armor, but it isn't so unbelievable that it distracts from the book. Especially with everything going on throughout. This was a nonstop rollercoaster ride of a series finale and I enjoyed every second of it.

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I really disliked the blog post chapters, mostly because I thought the way the blog post was written was super annoying. But I understand why they were included and why they are important to the story. That didn't stop me from rolling my eyes and dreading having to read them, though.

Other than that, I thought this was amazing. I hadn't known what to expect going in, and that made everything hit harder. I also think this is the book that finally made me understand what an unreliable narrator is. I'll be thinking about this one for a bit.

Daughter of Fire by Sofia Robleda

slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I didn't expect to cry while listening to this, and the back of the book does not do it justice. Despite it being a slower-paced read, I couldn't stop listening. My favorite parts were obviously when they were actively rewriting The Council because those were the best written parts in my opinion, but everything about this was well done.

Pond Water by Rian Mileti, Brenda FireEagle Biddix

dark fast-paced

1.5

I originally only borrowed this book from KU to support the co-author and her medical bills, and even though the writing/editing itself was very poor and inconsistent, it's a really unique concept that I believe I would enjoy more if it was ever cleaned up a bit.

The Key by Jennifer Anne Davis
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.

This book just didn't do it for me. I was bored and uninterested. I managed to get to chapter 16, but trying to read chapter 16 was my breaking point. I couldn't read any more of it without getting annoyed, and it was mostly just because I was somewhere between bored and disappointed. Disappointed because I did genuinely want to enjoy this, but the writing style just wasn't for me, I'm not a romantasy fan, and the cliches that riddled this book were all over-used and in my opinion poorly executed.

The characters themselves were what started to aggravate me because they weren't well written. They were flat and not fleshed out in the world or in their interactions. Darmik especially was so contradictory he might as well have been two separate characters. And let's not forget about Rema, the golden child who is so different and strong and stubborn, and let's not forget she's the only person in the entire island with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Which then leads me into the world building, because that was also something that I tried to look past and just couldn't. It didn't make any sense. Maybe I would have understood more if I had actually finished the book, but based on the reviews of people who had finished the book, it doesn't get any more fleshed out. Why are people tattooed? Why is no one allowed to travel? What's the history, and why, if the royal family was blonde with blue eyes, did no one think to put two and two together and think "oh maybe that girl who's the only person on the island with blonde hair and blue eyes is related to the royal family in some way."

I didn't pay money for this book because I got it during one of those Stuff Your Kindle Day sales, and I'm so glad I didn't waste even $1 on this. Note to self for the future: just stay away from romantasy, because it will disappoint.

Death's End by Cixin Liu

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

A great ending to a great series. I definitely felt a little dumb at times, but the author did a good job of explaining things that you needed to know.