ctuncan's reviews
16 reviews

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I am not sure if my brain is clever enough for a mystery book! The plot teases you along, getting you excited at every red herring. I would love to read this again, knowing the solution, and seeing if the clues were all there in plain sight.

Currently I feel like there are plot holes.

I mean at the end they know who the murderer is but do nothing about it??

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

adventurous funny 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? Yes

4.0

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I was confused.
Then I had theories, they were proved wrong.
Then I couldn't put it down.
Everything was revealed, and I am still a little confused.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Part 2 was better than part 1, and part 3 was better still. Having reached the end I am glad that I read this book, it was delightful. But until I was half way through I was really not sure at all, and I feel that is longer than it ought be.

This book builds a world, and takes great pleasure adding details to that world, even if they do nothing to advance the plot.

There are many viewpoint characters, forming a web of connections. I think the book became stronger as these relationships were developed. While never feeling like an overwhelming maze of names and facts.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous funny inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Extinction Trials by A.G. Riddle

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I finished the book because I wanted to know how to story ended.

However the "twists" lacked impact. The story was predictable. The writing did not grab me.

I am sad that I do not have more good things to say about this book, it is unlike me.