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gabography's reviews
18 reviews
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
didn't grip me the way i hoped it would.
The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
oh, how i tried. the concept and world of this series are fascinating, but holy #@&% i could not get past the narrative style. i know it's something i'm sure other readers enjoy it or find it endearing, but i kept cringing every time the characters would interject in the story like the ye olde days of fanfic dot net where the author and the characters they were writing about would "banter" either within the story or in the notes about the story's contents or argue about how they wer being written, etc etc to get a laugh from fellow fans of whatever. it was a flashback i didn't need because i didn't like it then, and i don't like it now. but again, people used to love that so there's absolutely going to be people who love this! i am just not one of those people
Artie and the Wolf Moon by Olivia Stephens
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
insane how i finish reading one werewolf book, then libby hits me with their "big library read" for the month and i couldn't ignore it.
first of all... where has this book been my entire life? i don't know where or how to begin describing how written for me this book is as an adult who used to be a little black girl raised by a single mom, in love with nature and animals and obsessed with werewolves to the point i'd constantly wish i was one. seriously, i howled at the sight of a full moon until whatever age it started to feel silly.
there aren't enough words to say how much i believe in some type of divine timing after getting my hands (digitally) on this book. currently trying to practice deeper self care with an emphasis on inner child work as a way to self soothe, and this was truly the perfect book to lose myself in for an hour (it's a middle grade graphic novel with a premise that spoke to my heart, of course i couldn't put it down).
first of all... where has this book been my entire life? i don't know where or how to begin describing how written for me this book is as an adult who used to be a little black girl raised by a single mom, in love with nature and animals and obsessed with werewolves to the point i'd constantly wish i was one. seriously, i howled at the sight of a full moon until whatever age it started to feel silly.
there aren't enough words to say how much i believe in some type of divine timing after getting my hands (digitally) on this book. currently trying to practice deeper self care with an emphasis on inner child work as a way to self soothe, and this was truly the perfect book to lose myself in for an hour (it's a middle grade graphic novel with a premise that spoke to my heart, of course i couldn't put it down).
Uzumaki by Junji Ito
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
it's so hard to find werewolf stuff that isn't campy trash or odd smut that toes a little too close to it sounding like the author/main character wants to bone an actual animal, so this being a fun read with a solid story that does grab you hard enough it makes you HAVE to see how this ends are what make it a win.
but... monster/horror book this is not. it has a more melodramatic character centric story that has to do with her personal life and traumatic past, then the werewolf thing is just sort of there. the mc was complex, relatable, and entertaining, even if it did take me a second to find her likable and not too try-hard edgy "look how cool i am" as she seemed in the beginning.
honestly, my only serious gripe isso many other reviews (idr if here or on goodreads or amazon) were talking about this being a werewolf romance and i was so ready for the werewolf that bit the mc to be the love interest to set up the "i love you no matter what. we're in this together uwu" message that ended with them howling into the night together, not the fellow grungy gal with nlog energy and ~trauma~. like yeah, i guess if you are coming into this more for the melodramatic plot than anything horror related, it works. but i audibly went "oh :/" at the reveal. althoug , i did smile at the epilogue because it made it seem like everyone gets a happy ending.
there's more i can say but i don't want to really tear this book up too much since i did enjoy and it would honestly be best for people to check it out on their own if they like werewolves, feminine rage, drama, and don't cringe at the trope of a "girlboss" leaving it all behind to move back to her hometown because love (since it's way more than that in this story. take that, hallmark!)
but... monster/horror book this is not. it has a more melodramatic character centric story that has to do with her personal life and traumatic past, then the werewolf thing is just sort of there. the mc was complex, relatable, and entertaining, even if it did take me a second to find her likable and not too try-hard edgy "look how cool i am" as she seemed in the beginning.
honestly, my only serious gripe is
there's more i can say but i don't want to really tear this book up too much since i did enjoy and it would honestly be best for people to check it out on their own if they like werewolves, feminine rage, drama, and don't cringe at the trope of a "girlboss" leaving it all behind to move back to her hometown because love (since it's way more than that in this story. take that, hallmark!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Alcohol
From Hell by Alan Moore
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Bunny by Mona Awad
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
yeah, grad school is like that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Alcohol
The Fisherman by John Langan
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
Probably just my own expectations not being met but it was just going nowhere and I couldn't even feel myself enjoying getting to know the characters. Plus, other reviewers kind of validated a lot of what I was feeling so I figured I can shelf this one for maybe another day when I am in the mood for a veeeery slow Lovecraftian story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer