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eshurricane's reviews
420 reviews
Lost by Renée Shantel
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book grabbed my heart and twisted so many times! There is so much emotion here, with deep dives into loss and grief but also hope and love and trust and family.
Despite Zack being a rock star his story is still so relatable and accessible, his whole life changing so fast when he finds out he has a kid. He goes through all of these challenges with a new teenager who is angry and grieving and constantly wonders if he’s doing the right or wrong thing and what it means to be a parent.
And Lysander, with his sister missing and everything falling apart around him, his struggles are so intensely felt. He is such a good young man and he gets put through the wringer and it’s heartbreaking. (Full disclosure I haven’t ugly cried so much while reading a book in a LONG time!)
There are also so many other issues at play here too that stand out and are organic to the story without being shoehorned in. And despite all of the tragedy there is still such a feeling of hope, the characters clawing their way to wholeness and happiness and ugh I could rant all day. But you should just go read it. 10/10 recommend if you need a big damn cry today!
Despite Zack being a rock star his story is still so relatable and accessible, his whole life changing so fast when he finds out he has a kid. He goes through all of these challenges with a new teenager who is angry and grieving and constantly wonders if he’s doing the right or wrong thing and what it means to be a parent.
And Lysander, with his sister missing and everything falling apart around him, his struggles are so intensely felt. He is such a good young man and he gets put through the wringer and it’s heartbreaking. (Full disclosure I haven’t ugly cried so much while reading a book in a LONG time!)
There are also so many other issues at play here too that stand out and are organic to the story without being shoehorned in. And despite all of the tragedy there is still such a feeling of hope, the characters clawing their way to wholeness and happiness and ugh I could rant all day. But you should just go read it. 10/10 recommend if you need a big damn cry today!
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don’t know how to express myself without swearing so…sorry. But this book is so fucking good. I adored every second of it. It’s romantic AF and the narrative style is visceral and gorgeous, the worldbuilding js insane and the time travel! *swoon* I don’t want to spoil a single thing. Read this fucking book.
The Night Garden by Nicole Northwood
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
5.0
This book has everything I love in a magical romance: enchanting love at first sight, creative soft magic systems, and cats.
In one word I have to describe this one as whimsical. It’s gorgeous and character-driven and completely immersed me in a feast for the senses. The characters are flawed and relatable and I rooted for them every step of the way.
In true Northwood fashion, the dialogue shines with unique character voices that made me swoon, laugh, and gasp. Especially Max. I am a fangirl now.
If you’re looking for a binge-worthy romp through whimsy and beauty and rebellion, The Night Garden delivers. 10/10 recommend.
In one word I have to describe this one as whimsical. It’s gorgeous and character-driven and completely immersed me in a feast for the senses. The characters are flawed and relatable and I rooted for them every step of the way.
In true Northwood fashion, the dialogue shines with unique character voices that made me swoon, laugh, and gasp. Especially Max. I am a fangirl now.
If you’re looking for a binge-worthy romp through whimsy and beauty and rebellion, The Night Garden delivers. 10/10 recommend.
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
10 B.S. Medical Tropes that Need to Die TODAY: ...and What to Do Instead (The ScriptMedic Guides) by Samantha Keel
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Super interesting resource!
This Book Is Full of Spiders: Seriously, Dude, Don't Touch It by David Wong
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
Gwendy's Final Task by Richard Chizmar, Stephen King
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.0
I am SO torn about this review because I had the same problem with this one that I did with the second one in which I struggled to get through it. The first one was very good, and I am so badly wanted to know where the story ended so I stuck with it, but sometimes I felt like the book just dragged.
The overall premise seemed really cool: the button box is so evil that Gwendy has to shoot it into space. Like, yes! But also, there was so much lag in the middle. I am usually 100% all in for King's meandering prose, a lot of his books that people think are slow I adore because I am so happy to bathe in the words and character development.
But this one falls short for some reason that I can't put my finger on. There were some good elements--a big one being Gwendy slowly losing her thoughts with her early onset alzheimer's. A lot of the bits were repetitive but just the overall arc of her mind betraying her was a really harrowing experience. For most people I think dealing with that kind of loss of memory is a horrifying thing to think about, so that really hit the mark for me dread-wise.
But again, just very repetitive and drawn out. The first few times Gwendy had to do the word association game was interesting narratively but it was overused in scenes where it didn't further the plot and felt like wasted space.
I liked the callbacks to Derry but if I'm being honest, the whole plotline of Ryan being murdered instead of just having been in an accident felt like shoehorning and somehow too much in a story about a magical button box that can destroy the world. Maybe imbalanced is the word I'm looking for? It all felt so imbalanced.
I feel like I'm being super negative, but I can't help but still give three stars just because the ending was balls-to-the-wall awesome. Gotta admit. The one time that Gwendy's memory loss was used in a masterful way that served the plot, Gareth's whole vibe and backstory, Adesh's plan with the bugs, and the Dark Tower tie in that I am SUCH a sucker for I can't help it, haha. And then Gwendy's final mission with the button box, man it was a beautiful tragic perfect ending.
Was it worth reading books two and three to get to all that? I honestly don't know. I did it, and enjoyed the end, so...I guess it's a moot point. If I were going to recommend these books, I'd say just read the first one. Maybe dip your toes into the second one and see if you like it but...yeah I felt like I was slogging through.
Excellent narrator, though! Marin Ireland did an amazing job with Gwendy's whole vibe, her inner monologue versus her 'Senator voice.' If you're going to take the plunge, definitely do it in audio.
The overall premise seemed really cool: the button box is so evil that Gwendy has to shoot it into space. Like, yes! But also, there was so much lag in the middle. I am usually 100% all in for King's meandering prose, a lot of his books that people think are slow I adore because I am so happy to bathe in the words and character development.
But again, just very repetitive and drawn out. The first few times Gwendy had to do the word association game was interesting narratively but it was overused in scenes where it didn't further the plot and felt like wasted space.
I liked the callbacks to Derry but if I'm being honest, the whole plotline of Ryan being murdered instead of just having been in an accident felt like shoehorning and somehow too much in a story about a magical button box that can destroy the world. Maybe imbalanced is the word I'm looking for? It all felt so imbalanced.
I feel like I'm being super negative, but I can't help but still give three stars just because the ending was balls-to-the-wall awesome. Gotta admit. The one time that Gwendy's memory loss was used in a masterful way that served the plot, Gareth's whole vibe and backstory, Adesh's plan with the bugs, and the Dark Tower tie in that I am SUCH a sucker for I can't help it, haha. And then Gwendy's final mission with the button box, man it was a beautiful tragic perfect ending.
Was it worth reading books two and three to get to all that? I honestly don't know. I did it, and enjoyed the end, so...I guess it's a moot point. If I were going to recommend these books, I'd say just read the first one. Maybe dip your toes into the second one and see if you like it but...yeah I felt like I was slogging through.
Excellent narrator, though! Marin Ireland did an amazing job with Gwendy's whole vibe, her inner monologue versus her 'Senator voice.' If you're going to take the plunge, definitely do it in audio.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic