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corabookworm's reviews
218 reviews
Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler
Despite this book’s premise, it wasn’t really about octopi. Mostly, it was about the concept of intelligence, explored through humans, nature, and AI, and the struggle for power around the world that erupts over this idea. It was a really cool concept that was executed very well. The Mountain in the Sea is a web of stories, following different characters, that slowly overlap and weave together. It was a little confusing to follow, but also really really interesting. And Ray Nayler’s writing was absolutely gorgeous. I loved this book.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In the near future, a deep-sea octopus species rises into the shallows and its intelligence is revealed to humankind. Dr. Nguyen is sent to an island to study them, joining an intimidating security agent and the world’s first true android.
Despite this book’s premise, it wasn’t really about octopi. Mostly, it was about the concept of intelligence, explored through humans, nature, and AI, and the struggle for power around the world that erupts over this idea. It was a really cool concept that was executed very well. The Mountain in the Sea is a web of stories, following different characters, that slowly overlap and weave together. It was a little confusing to follow, but also really really interesting. And Ray Nayler’s writing was absolutely gorgeous. I loved this book.
The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A very enjoyable read (I always love seeing more of Elfhame, especially with so many Jude and Cardan cameos) but a lot of it felt kind of like filler stuff and just sort of dragged on. Also focused more on the romance for most of the book than the super interesting political schemes happening!
The best part about this book was Holly Black hinting at another Jude and Cardan story. I need more of them.
The best part about this book was Holly Black hinting at another Jude and Cardan story. I need more of them.
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
It's like Game of Thrones and Six of Crows had a child! It has all the elements of an incredible high fantasy (political intrigue, big battles, large casts of characters, grand adventures) and a beautiful found family story (ADORABLE relationships, romantic and platonic, good backstories, character depth). I liked this one way more than I remember liking the first one, and I can't wait to finish the series!
The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is a story that turns the typical "pirate" genre on its head by weaving in the real horrors of that time period and featuring a queer woman of color as the captain. The book follows Jacquotte and her friends as they escape a violent political overthrowal and join the crew of a notorious pirate as indentured servants. But Jacquotte refuses to be controlled by anyone; so begins her quest for freedom, romance, and revenge.
I really liked the concept behind this book. It was a decent story, and elements of it were well done. However, I didn't really vibe with the writing or the pacing. I hate saying this, but it felt almost "amateur"? Not necessarily bad, just not very remarkable? I didn't feel connected to the characters or particularly interested in the plot. (Also. a warning to my romance friends: the romance plays less of a role in the plot than the summary makes it out to.) I'm fascinated by the fact that this book was based on real events, and it makes me want to dig deeper into the story. But, unfortunately, on it's own, this book was just fine, and not much else. Good for those in the mood for an easy-to-read, historically-intriguing pirate story.
I really liked the concept behind this book. It was a decent story, and elements of it were well done. However, I didn't really vibe with the writing or the pacing. I hate saying this, but it felt almost "amateur"? Not necessarily bad, just not very remarkable? I didn't feel connected to the characters or particularly interested in the plot. (Also. a warning to my romance friends: the romance plays less of a role in the plot than the summary makes it out to.) I'm fascinated by the fact that this book was based on real events, and it makes me want to dig deeper into the story. But, unfortunately, on it's own, this book was just fine, and not much else. Good for those in the mood for an easy-to-read, historically-intriguing pirate story.
A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
NOTE: I procrastinated on writing this review, so many of my opinions weren't fresh enough in my brain to word them well. But this book was amazing, one of the best I read this year!!
Lorelei, a grumpy folklorist out of place among her noble peers, is selected to lead a group of talented, tight-knit scholars on a quest for the king. But the mission quickly goes awry when their mentor is found dead. Lorelei and her academic rival, Sylvia, must team up to solve the mystery, even as they are caught in webs of politics and hindered by both their peers and the magical creatures of their world.
I absolutely loved this book. The first thing that came to mind when trying to describe it was The Atlas Six meets The Cruel Prince. The beginning, especially, has all the elements of a good dark academic fantasy, featuring a group of scholars with wildly different personalities and complicated relationships. You will hate and love pretty much all of them. Except Sylvia, who is an angel. But it also strongly reminded me of The Cruel Prince, with fae-like creatures, complex politics, and a BEAUTIFUL enemies-to-lovers romance. But this one is sapphic. Which obviously makes it better. I haven’t fangirled over characters like this in a while.
The plot of this book was very well constructed, incorporating elements of high fantasy, adventure, and mystery. I thought I was actually onto something with the whole murder, but I was completely off! The addition of political intrigue made it even more fascinating, and the water-based magic system was super cool. I do wish we could have seen more of the worldbuilding, and the author definitely likes using big words that make my brain hurt. But this book was pretty exceptional overall, and I highly recommend it!
Lorelei, a grumpy folklorist out of place among her noble peers, is selected to lead a group of talented, tight-knit scholars on a quest for the king. But the mission quickly goes awry when their mentor is found dead. Lorelei and her academic rival, Sylvia, must team up to solve the mystery, even as they are caught in webs of politics and hindered by both their peers and the magical creatures of their world.
I absolutely loved this book. The first thing that came to mind when trying to describe it was The Atlas Six meets The Cruel Prince. The beginning, especially, has all the elements of a good dark academic fantasy, featuring a group of scholars with wildly different personalities and complicated relationships. You will hate and love pretty much all of them. Except Sylvia, who is an angel. But it also strongly reminded me of The Cruel Prince, with fae-like creatures, complex politics, and a BEAUTIFUL enemies-to-lovers romance. But this one is sapphic. Which obviously makes it better. I haven’t fangirled over characters like this in a while.
The plot of this book was very well constructed, incorporating elements of high fantasy, adventure, and mystery. I thought I was actually onto something with the whole murder, but I was completely off! The addition of political intrigue made it even more fascinating, and the water-based magic system was super cool. I do wish we could have seen more of the worldbuilding, and the author definitely likes using big words that make my brain hurt. But this book was pretty exceptional overall, and I highly recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Antisemitism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Colonisation, and War
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Initial Thoughts:
Holy shit he did it again. Andrew Joseph White never misses. Full review to come.
Full Review:
Compound Fracture is a queer Appalachian thriller that follows the story of a brutal blood feud between two families and the trans socialist teenager who finds himself involved after an attempted murder.
Well, folks, Andrew Joseph White has done it again! This book is a little different from the author’s first two, as it's more "thriller" than "horror", but it's just as dark and just as good. It's scarier, even, because unlike the first two, it’s set in the real world, and all that dark stuff is grounded in reality. And the contemporary setting didn’t discourage the author from his usual gore and body horror, either: if you’re easily bothered by blood and guts, this is NOT the book for you. It was incredibly gross but also so fucking cool.
And Compound Fracture is not just a thriller! At its core, this book is a coming-of-age story about a teen finding words to describe himself, learning he’s autistic, and coming out as queer. People are also not wrong when they call this book a “political page-turner.” I was initially surprised by the number of political references and stances within this book, but it only added to the powerful characters and conflicts.
And it WAS powerful. The story was brutal, the characters wild, and the writing utterly fantastic. Though White’s biggest strength, once again, is his character’s emotions. Reading this book, I was blown away by the visceral fear and fury and the raw exhaustion leaking through these pages. I loved it.
Compound Fracture is definitely not for those looking to escape reality or for the faint of heart, but for anyone who loves bloody thrillers, queer and neurodivergent characters, and stories packed with vicious emotion.
Holy shit he did it again. Andrew Joseph White never misses. Full review to come.
Full Review:
Compound Fracture is a queer Appalachian thriller that follows the story of a brutal blood feud between two families and the trans socialist teenager who finds himself involved after an attempted murder.
Well, folks, Andrew Joseph White has done it again! This book is a little different from the author’s first two, as it's more "thriller" than "horror", but it's just as dark and just as good. It's scarier, even, because unlike the first two, it’s set in the real world, and all that dark stuff is grounded in reality. And the contemporary setting didn’t discourage the author from his usual gore and body horror, either: if you’re easily bothered by blood and guts, this is NOT the book for you. It was incredibly gross but also so fucking cool.
And Compound Fracture is not just a thriller! At its core, this book is a coming-of-age story about a teen finding words to describe himself, learning he’s autistic, and coming out as queer. People are also not wrong when they call this book a “political page-turner.” I was initially surprised by the number of political references and stances within this book, but it only added to the powerful characters and conflicts.
And it WAS powerful. The story was brutal, the characters wild, and the writing utterly fantastic. Though White’s biggest strength, once again, is his character’s emotions. Reading this book, I was blown away by the visceral fear and fury and the raw exhaustion leaking through these pages. I loved it.
Compound Fracture is definitely not for those looking to escape reality or for the faint of heart, but for anyone who loves bloody thrillers, queer and neurodivergent characters, and stories packed with vicious emotion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Gun violence, Transphobia, Violence, Murder, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Rape, and Vomit
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was absolutely sickening in the best way. The actions and inner-monologue of the main character, paired with the building stakes, create constant discomfort and anxiety for the reader.
I skimmed some reviews for this book after reading it, and while I understand the mixed feelings, if you go in expecting a very meta dark satire book with a very unlikable main character and just roll with it, you'll be able to appreciate the story a lot more. If references to real-world companies and social media sites bug you, I don't recommend Yellowface—the author references these companies, platforms, and cultures to weave in commentary on the modern publishing industry. She addresses many aspects of it: "cancel culture," the racism of "token diversity," and the loneliness of the job, to name a few. (The last one there felt very exaggerated for the point of this book; that, or the real world is just very depressing.) If you do enjoy that "meta-ness", or if you're willing to accept it as part of the satire and social commentary (like me), then this book is pretty damn good. R.F. Kuang never disappoints.
I skimmed some reviews for this book after reading it, and while I understand the mixed feelings, if you go in expecting a very meta dark satire book with a very unlikable main character and just roll with it, you'll be able to appreciate the story a lot more. If references to real-world companies and social media sites bug you, I don't recommend Yellowface—the author references these companies, platforms, and cultures to weave in commentary on the modern publishing industry. She addresses many aspects of it: "cancel culture," the racism of "token diversity," and the loneliness of the job, to name a few. (The last one there felt very exaggerated for the point of this book; that, or the real world is just very depressing.) If you do enjoy that "meta-ness", or if you're willing to accept it as part of the satire and social commentary (like me), then this book is pretty damn good. R.F. Kuang never disappoints.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexism and Suicidal thoughts
The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ARC provided by Netgalley and Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review.
The Gilded Crown is an enchanting high-fantasy book about a girl who is forced into the twisted world of politics when the Queen finds out she can raise the dead and forces her to resurrect the murdered Princess. Now, Hellevir must keep the Princess alive and find the assassin before the cost of dealing with Death grows too high.
I loved this book! The magic system, setting, and animal companions made it feel almost like a dark fairy tale, and the writing was excellent. The characters were complex and had complicated relationships with one another, and there was a big focus on family and friendships. The plot was by far the strongest aspect, though. The political intrigue was well-built, including a dark and corrupted but also complicated monarch, and betrayal and assassins and whatnot. There was also some wonderful worldbuilding and history, with some fascinating religious conflict thrown in for fun. Altogether, extremely well-written, especially for a debut!
I only have two real critiques: one is that the romance fell a little bit flat for me. It was marketed as a romance, so I guess I expected more, but even then, I didn’t really root for the relationship as I was reading–and I couldn’t fully explain why! It just wasn’t there. The second thing is that the interactions with Death got very repetitive and boring after a while. Don’t get me wrong, it was a super interesting magic system! But they just kept having the *same* conversation, and certain events felt anticlimactic because of it.
Besides that, this book was amazing! I was expecting a standalone, but the ending proved me wrong, so it will be interesting to see how the author stretches this into a sequel. I look forward to it. Altogether, I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy magic-focused, fairy-tale-feeling high-fantasy!