emilyhays's reviews
528 reviews
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.75
This book feels like a good mix between The Secret History and Mexican Gothic. Honestly I really liked it and read it quite quickly, but I do wish it was shorter. There was a bit in the middle where I figured out the "twist" and though I wasn't sure if I was correct, after that it really felt like it was dragging and I just wanted to get on with it already. Reason #1 why I don't love mysteries - even though this leans more gothic horror (even though I think the publisher categorizes this in fantasy?) I hate waiting around for "reveals." I will say though, I don't think my correct guess ruined the surprise, it just made the middle feels like it was lagging.
CW: high-demand religion, abuse.
I actually think this would make a really great bookclub book to discuss the themes and allegory throughout. I think it would be really interesting to explore this book through the lens of comparing it to the lifestyles of people participating in high-demand religions; a lot of grooming and manipulation going on.
CW: high-demand religion, abuse.
I actually think this would make a really great bookclub book to discuss the themes and allegory throughout. I think it would be really interesting to explore this book through the lens of comparing it to the lifestyles of people participating in high-demand religions; a lot of grooming and manipulation going on.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
4.0
One thing I love about the hunger games books/collins' writing is how the plot never lacks for characters, and the characters never lack for plot. I will say though, that I found the pacing a little weird throughout this book. While it all came down to an over-all enjoyable read, something about it really felt like it should've been a duology or something.
I was a little scared to read this - Snow is obviously the bad guy throughout the trilogy, would this make us suddenly sympathetic to him? It absolutely does not do that at all, thank goodness! In fact, I hate him more than ever!
I was a little scared to read this - Snow is obviously the bad guy throughout the trilogy, would this make us suddenly sympathetic to him? It absolutely does not do that at all, thank goodness! In fact, I hate him more than ever!