eleanor_rose22's reviews
123 reviews

Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation Into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin by Megan Rosenbloom

informative mysterious reflective fast-paced

5.0

A phenomenal book that exactly appeals to what I love about medical history!! A fascinating exploration of the history of books bound in human skin, examining specific examples, frauds, myths and rumours surrounding the rare practice. Rosenbloom appeals to our morbid delights while also focusing intensely on the human behind the skin, and the importance of giving respect and empathy to those whose bodies have been used against their will. She brings in discussions of medical ethics and debates over human remains, to give current perspective on surgical history and the abuse of doctors. Could ramble essays on this stuff, I loved it immensely 

Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

This was such a poignant read about motherhood, aging, women’s relationships to their bodies and their families, societal and religious perception of women, and explored the nuance of taboo topics in Argentina like suicide, abortion and euthanasia. 
‘Piñero questions the extent of women’s bodily autonomy - what happens when is your body no longer your own, when it is taken into the hands of another - the state, the church, disability, a man, morherhood? 
Elena is such a admirable protagonist in her quest to understand her daughter’s death, embarking each day with the parkinsons that is destroying her, and it was a real eye-opening account of degenerative disease as well as the caregiver’s experience.  
On reflection this book made me very sad, esp the ending, but so thought provoking - will really stick with me

Cecilia by K-Ming Chang

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

not sure how I feel?? 
Surreal, disturbing, oddly sweet, very unique exploration of girlhood ‘friendships’ and obsession, a lot of weird crows and beastly bodily transformations, and FULL  of piss and shit - gave the vibes of Paradise Rot but with birds instead of fungus. Certainly an original novella, at times I felt the imagery got a bit repetitive but I did love the spiralling of dreams and memories and never knowing what was real, all morphed through grotesque forms - much to think Forms

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

adventurous dark hopeful tense 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? No

4.75

This was a really fantastic and original dystopia, which sets a group of strong and loveable queer kids up against the amargeddon of an extreme religious cult. I though Benji was such a brave kid who made my heart burst, so desperate to do Good despite the weapon he was made into, despite all the suffering he’s faced. A unique and gripping story with some real plot twists, evocative writing and shocking body horror. Occasionally let down by the Teen Speech and bit repetitive but otherwise amazing !!

Dead Animals by Phoebe Stuckes

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

A look at the female connection formed from mutual hurt, and the intensity of repressed female rage and anguish. This didn’t really do much for me - I liked the hallucinatory and eerie feel to the plot, I was intrigued by the dark angry premise, and the reoccurring animal imagery was cool but could have been bolder. I know she was depressed and traumatised but I found the protagonist a bit Wet and bland and unlikeable, and Helene was just horrid - from the start, it was obvious she would be so abusive. For a short book, the plot tended to wander aimlessly and could have been much tighter and more suspenseful - overall disappointing  

Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

Really enjoyed this grisly, macabre mystery, and not just because I too like to smoke cigs in graveyards and discuss weird medical history… A loveable group of misfits determined to decipher a mysterious empty grave in a churchyard overrun with rare with fungus, M. L. Rio understands my passions like no one else. Exquisitely written, suspenseful and strange, this novella is a delicious, delirious, dark academic nightmare 

Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz

adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

I loved Anatomy and couldn’t wait to get stuck into this sequel, and it made my heart warm and fuzzy in all the same ways!! 
Hazel is such an admirable and loveable character; courageous, moral, assertive in her beliefs and actions, she’s a surgeon in an era where everyone is against her, and she never uses her knowledge or intellect against others (in contrast to the male physicians she faces).

And she supports lesbians!! And clearly has a kink for making out in cemeteries!

A mysterious, adventurous,  historical romance with elements of the fantastical and medical - excellent writing and characters and very enjoyable :’)

New Animal by Ella Baxter

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

A surprisingly poignant and evocative read about grief and self-destruction, about wanting to have power over one’s life and so turning to the extremes of power over one’s body. Amelia was such a nuanced and messy and intriguing character, a who goes from being entirely detached from death in her job at a funeral parlour, to being completely consumed by it when struck by actual loss. She’s messy and impulsive, her feelings are totally raw and often unexplainable, but she’s so sardonic and forgivable as she navigates a land she thought she knew. The ending felt a little rushed but perhaps that was the point? How does life continue after shattering grief? It just Does

The Appeal by Janice Hallett

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Against my will and TBR, I couldn’t put this down, I was gripped by this Midsommar Murder style novel. It’s not the best thing ever written, the plot isn’t entirely believable, and the ending isn’t what I wanted - but I enjoyed the compilation of evidence as a narrative form, it rly added an element of surprise and unreliability to the story, and each character had their own distinct voice. A fun crime read that was more style over substance but still v enjoyable 

A Darker Shade: New Stories of Body Horror from Women Writers by Lisa Tuttle, Aimee LaBrie, Sheila Kohler, Cassandra Khaw, Tananarive Due, Yumi Dineen Shiroma, Elizabeth Hand, Valerie Martin, Joyce Carol Oates, Megan Abbott, Aimee Bender, Lisa Lim, Raven Leilani, Margaret Atwood, Joanna Margaret

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

Surprised this isn’t more talked about, I thought this was a phenomenal collection where each short story was uniquely shocking, horrible, excellently and distinctively written. I loved how the stories are structured, I loved the variety of eras and horrors, and I loved the grotesque manifestations of womanhood in all its rage and hunger and grossness. Fab staff