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bruinrocks's reviews
136 reviews
Killer on the Road by James Ellroy
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a very, very dark book. Absolutely chilling. James Ellroy can really get into the mind of a killer like no other. The plot was little jumbled, and sometimes didn’t make a lot of sense, but it’s written through the eyes of a killer who is mentally unstable at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Murder
In the Tall Grass by Joe Hill, Stephen King
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Listening to this as an audiobook I didn’t enjoy it as much as reading the physical book. The book was well narrated, and Michael Sheen voiced the characters really well making them each their own, but I found the book to drag on quite a bit and a few chapters in there felt like they could have been redacted, and the build up to the flood took a lot longer than I anticipated. Aside from that this was a fun adventure and I look forward to the next book in the series.
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This was a fantastic non fiction novel, a type of book I don’t normally read. It’s extremely informative, very well written, and really powerful.
The Gunslinger by Stephen King
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The Gunslinger is a wonderful Western Sci-Fi novel. A lone Gunslinger walks a vast desert in search of his nemesis. On his journey he encounters a unique cast of characters, from his friends in what appears to be a Medieval type walled city, to a ragtag group of individuals in a western town, to a young boy named Jake. His relationship with Jake is very interesting, he starts off a little cold but warms up to the boy very quickly, becoming a sort of father figure to Jake and learning his past and sharing his. The novel ends in a fantastic set up for the future series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Drug use
The Troop by Nick Cutter
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was an enjoyable novel. The authors created a scarily believable premise. A bioengineered tape worm that is supposed to help with weight loss but turns extremely dangerous and eats the host from the inside out. The scout troop gets trapped on the island after it’s quarantined, each falling into a darkness of their own. With no help or word from the outside world the boys must do their best with the things they have to survive the weekend. A well written body horror with a little mix of technothriller, this gross out fiction isn’t for those with a weak stomach.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, and Cannibalism
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
What a fantastic novel. Very bleak and desolate. The description of the landscape is beautifully eerie and solitary. The relationship between the father and son is extremely well done, their bond is unbreakable. This novel has some really graphic moments, but, it shows the lengths humanity will go to in an apocalyptic event. Read at your own risk, but you surely won’t be disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was an enjoyable book, it had some tense moments but I found it to be repetitive. It had some great character development, and the relationship between the characters is well done. The book was an interesting mix of genres, a sci-fi with some medieval battles.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and War
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is one of my favourite book series of all time, and the audiobook furthered my love for the series. The full cast brings the characters to life, in what was already an amazing story about a little girl on an adventure to save her best friend. On the way she meets many new friends, in the form of a giant bear named Iorek, and a Texan Aeronaut named Lee Scorseby. These two characters go on to become two of my favourite characters in all literature. The friendship between the two is made abundantly clear, and their dedication to Lyra is such a wonderful event to behold. Lyra goes through many hoops to make it to the North to save Roger. With an ending that could leave the book as a stand alone novel, but also propel it forward into the rest of the series I highly recommend this book and the following series to everyone. 5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, and Gore
Batman (1940-2011) #405 by Frank Miller
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This section explores Gordon a little more and his desire to catch the Batman. Mean while Bruce Wayne disguised as Batman is wrecking havoc on the lowlife criminals on the streets of Gotham. A solid piece of the Batman.