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corabookworm's reviews
199 reviews
Kill Joy by Holly Jackson
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A wonderful short story with a fun mystery and a great look back at AGGGTM's lovable cast of characters. I really liked the slow twisting together of clues and trying to solve the mystery along with Pip. It also did a good job of showing her get into mystery-solving, even if it didn't give her REAL motivation for the Andie Bell case like I thought it would. It was very Pip. The only negative point for me was that they kept switching between their real names and their fake character names and it confused me lol. Also Pip's answer was so good and true. Though I kind of knew it was too complicated for a murder mystery game. I liked it wayyyy better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, and Alcohol
The main characters play a murder mystery game that involves murder, blood, affairs, drugs, gambling, etc.. Even in the book it is all fictional, nothing happens to the main characters. In their real-world, one character drinks and they make references to a murder that happened in their town.
To the Bone by Alena Bruzas
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
To the Bone was a tense historical fiction story about a girl name Ellis, newly settled in an American colony. As the weather grows cold and the food runs low and people begin to turn against each other, the book twists into the horror genre.
First things first, I was worried stepping into this book that it would glorify colonialism and all that (which is icky). But I was pleasantly surprised! I can't really speak to if the representation was FLAWLESS, but it seems like the author made a genuine attempt at tackling the issue while keeping it historically accurate. The character often thinks/talks about how they are stealing land and shouldn't be there, and the Author's Note at the end of the book goes more into the language used and the history behind it all.
Second, I am not sure I would call this book YA. It starts off alright, but gets a bit disturbing towards the end, and tackles some more adult subjects. (See TWs below.) It may be better for older teens or the "New Adult" audience.
Third: my actual review! I really liked this book! It was short, fast-paced, and the perfect amounts of dark and twisted. I did swing between loving and hating the writing style--it was very unique and prose-like, which I adore. But it annoyed me when the same things were described or thought over and over again (Jane, wickedness, hair pulling, etc.), which was definitely part of the "style" of this book and an intentional quirk of the main character. The repetition just made these elements lose their punch or intrigue or whatever you call it. Other than that, I really enjoyed To the Bone! It would be perfect for anyone looking for a historical fiction that swings more towards horror.
To the Bone was a tense historical fiction story about a girl name Ellis, newly settled in an American colony. As the weather grows cold and the food runs low and people begin to turn against each other, the book twists into the horror genre.
First things first, I was worried stepping into this book that it would glorify colonialism and all that (which is icky). But I was pleasantly surprised! I can't really speak to if the representation was FLAWLESS, but it seems like the author made a genuine attempt at tackling the issue while keeping it historically accurate. The character often thinks/talks about how they are stealing land and shouldn't be there, and the Author's Note at the end of the book goes more into the language used and the history behind it all.
Second, I am not sure I would call this book YA. It starts off alright, but gets a bit disturbing towards the end, and tackles some more adult subjects. (See TWs below.) It may be better for older teens or the "New Adult" audience.
Third: my actual review! I really liked this book! It was short, fast-paced, and the perfect amounts of dark and twisted. I did swing between loving and hating the writing style--it was very unique and prose-like, which I adore. But it annoyed me when the same things were described or thought over and over again (Jane, wickedness, hair pulling, etc.), which was definitely part of the "style" of this book and an intentional quirk of the main character. The repetition just made these elements lose their punch or intrigue or whatever you call it. Other than that, I really enjoyed To the Bone! It would be perfect for anyone looking for a historical fiction that swings more towards horror.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Cannibalism, Abortion, Lesbophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Excrement, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Colonization: The story is about a group of colonizers and colonization. There are brief references to genocide. The settlers also use racist language and have racist views towards the indigenous people. Lesbophobia: The main character has a relationship with another girl and thinks she is "wicked" because of it. She is told so by the man she works for. Abuse: The main character lives with and works for a married couple. The man is abusive towards his wife and her. Pregnancy: The woman becomes pregnant and the main character helps her abort/miscarry with herbs. Self-harm: The main character often anxiously picks at her skin, pinches her arm, and pulls out her hair. Cannibalism: People. Starving. Om nom nom.
Also just lots of blood and gore and disturbing stuff especially towards the end of the book.
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I only gave this book such a low rating because I think it was written for people smarter than I am. It was genuinely interesting, with good commentary on politics, society, gender, power, humanity, etc. etc.. But I was completely lost for the first half of it. All the politics and worldbuilding were super hard to follow, especially with the complex writing style. And at points it felt like it just wandered down weird tangents and storylines that didn't really matter. But the last half of the book went by much faster, and I liked it a lot. The action picked up and everything twisted back together into a more concrete plot. The Left Hand of Darkness is half-story, half-field journal from a guy in an alien world. It was a challenging read, but if you're willing to dedicate time and energy to consuming it, an intriguing one.
I liked when they became friends at the end! It was so cute! And then he died! What the heck!! I was very sad.
She's Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Beginning was very iffy for me because the main character annoyed me and the romance moved to fast and all the dialogue seemed kinda cheesy and fake, but once the actual plot set in it was pretty good. Definitely not amazing but an entertaining YA thriller.
House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The war between the Sherrif of Nottingham and the Merry Men didn’t end when Robin Hood retired. Clem, a cheerful and talented healer from a small village, is reminded of this rather abruptly when Robin Hood’s granddaughter kidnaps her. Mariel is grumpy, fierce, and determined to prove herself, especially when her father is captured by the Sheriff’s men. On their way to rescue him with the help of Mariel’s small band of misfits, the two girls find themselves growing closer… and beginning to question the line between right and wrong.
Once again, Lex Croucher has created a wonderful historical* fiction, packed with queer characters, cute romance, and nonstop banter. The lighthearted found family vibe was once again the centerpiece of the book, and I adored it. Every interaction between these characters was hilarious and heartwarming and absolutely precious. The only flaw with the romance is that it was very “trope-y”, by which I mean that some parts of it felt like they were written just to insert specifc tropes. Like the “one bed” scene. It kind of seemed to follow a trend that I find concerning in the modern publishing industry, which is writing more for tropes than for story/characters. I’m making it sound much more dramatic than it actually was, though! It didn’t pull from the story too much at all. And the romance was VERY cute. As much I don’t like focusing on tropes, I go weak in the knees for a good grumpy/sunshine couple. Especially a sapphic one. Their personalities contrasted nicely and the banter between them was top notch. I also really appreciated the slower development of their relationship. Even if it was a little fast, it felt way more natural and less insta-love-y than a lot of books!
Also, the whole plot of this book was really interesting! It a wonderful collection of silly little adventures through the woods with plenty of heists and battles. But it was also a good critique of systems of oppression, and discussed how the systems designed to fight them can be flawed themselves, especially when they operate to further the interests of their own hierarchies. It all felt very relevant to the world right now.
Overall, this book was absolutely delightful. Sure, its a YA book with a “trope-y” romance, but it was cute and lighthearted and meaningful and all the little characters own my heart. I will definitely pick up Lex Croucher’s next books, and I loved this one.
*Besides one mention to France, it's not really clear that this story is supposed to take place in a real historical place. I honestly thought of it more as a fantasy book, without the magic.
The war between the Sherrif of Nottingham and the Merry Men didn’t end when Robin Hood retired. Clem, a cheerful and talented healer from a small village, is reminded of this rather abruptly when Robin Hood’s granddaughter kidnaps her. Mariel is grumpy, fierce, and determined to prove herself, especially when her father is captured by the Sheriff’s men. On their way to rescue him with the help of Mariel’s small band of misfits, the two girls find themselves growing closer… and beginning to question the line between right and wrong.
Once again, Lex Croucher has created a wonderful historical* fiction, packed with queer characters, cute romance, and nonstop banter. The lighthearted found family vibe was once again the centerpiece of the book, and I adored it. Every interaction between these characters was hilarious and heartwarming and absolutely precious. The only flaw with the romance is that it was very “trope-y”, by which I mean that some parts of it felt like they were written just to insert specifc tropes. Like the “one bed” scene. It kind of seemed to follow a trend that I find concerning in the modern publishing industry, which is writing more for tropes than for story/characters. I’m making it sound much more dramatic than it actually was, though! It didn’t pull from the story too much at all. And the romance was VERY cute. As much I don’t like focusing on tropes, I go weak in the knees for a good grumpy/sunshine couple. Especially a sapphic one. Their personalities contrasted nicely and the banter between them was top notch. I also really appreciated the slower development of their relationship. Even if it was a little fast, it felt way more natural and less insta-love-y than a lot of books!
Also, the whole plot of this book was really interesting! It a wonderful collection of silly little adventures through the woods with plenty of heists and battles. But it was also a good critique of systems of oppression, and discussed how the systems designed to fight them can be flawed themselves, especially when they operate to further the interests of their own hierarchies. It all felt very relevant to the world right now.
Overall, this book was absolutely delightful. Sure, its a YA book with a “trope-y” romance, but it was cute and lighthearted and meaningful and all the little characters own my heart. I will definitely pick up Lex Croucher’s next books, and I loved this one.
*Besides one mention to France, it's not really clear that this story is supposed to take place in a real historical place. I honestly thought of it more as a fantasy book, without the magic.
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
A Dowry of Blood is primarily driven by the relationships between characters, from the abusive possessiveness of Dracula to the strange bonds developed between his lovers. Their interactions and connections guide the story in a very powerful way. The sex scenes were a little much for me, especially at the end, but I loved seeing openly queer romance in a vampire book. The overall moral and plot of this story was really good, and it was incredibly well written. I highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction, romance, and vampires.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Perfect for fans of Addie LaRue and Interview with a Vampire, this book is a twist on the story of Dracula, following Constanta through the perils of being both a vampire and his wife.
A Dowry of Blood is primarily driven by the relationships between characters, from the abusive possessiveness of Dracula to the strange bonds developed between his lovers. Their interactions and connections guide the story in a very powerful way. The sex scenes were a little much for me, especially at the end, but I loved seeing openly queer romance in a vampire book. The overall moral and plot of this story was really good, and it was incredibly well written. I highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction, romance, and vampires.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest, Self harm, Sexual assault, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was absolutely amazing. The plot unfolded spectacularly, and I really liked the incorporation of mythology and religion and historical settings into a fantasy story. Mostly, though, I liked the characters. The found family (and blood family) was adorable, and I loved all of the characters so much. Especially Amina. And her poisoner. Even her demonic husband was kinda silly. I read it as an audiobook, and the narration was incredible! If you like classic pirate adventures, with monsters and treasures and sea battles, but want one enriched by history and packed with vivid characters, including a badass female captain, you should definitely pick this book up.
The Walking Dead: Here's Negan! by Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn, Robert Kirkman
dark
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Like pretty much everyone else said: this doesn't really explain why Negan became Negan. He's was an asshole before the world fell apart, and he climbs to power about the same way you'd expect. So no surprises or backstory, really. But it was kind of interesting to see another perspective on the beginning of the apocalypse and see him collecting the members of his group. So it was a fun read, and very short. Could be worth it if you just want to see more of TWD world. :)
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
References to some traumatic events in the life of the author and her students, including death of family/friends. Dark humor overall with mentions of and jokes about suicide.