howl's reviews
40 reviews
The Atlas Paradox, by Olivie Blake
funny
mysterious
- 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
Initially a very enjoyable read but it got worse as it went. This series really struggles with third acts đ
House of Hunger, by Alexis Henderson
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Absolutely adored the atmosphere that Henderson creates within the titular Houseâlush and Gothic with decay lurking under a glittering surface. I was often reminded of a line I like from Crimson Peak: âNothing gentle ever grows in this land. You need a measure of bitterness not to be eaten.â What would have elevated this book for me is sharper editing (some passages are oddly repetitive) and some added depth of character for Lizavet, the historically-inspired countess of the House of Hunger; I was not quite convinced of the hold she had on our protagonist Marion ). Regardless, my opinion remains largely positive given how impressed I was by the setting and I would love to read another novel set in this world.Â
Spoiler
nor their eventual romantic relationshipâsome elements were promising but it felt a bit rushed. Furthermore, the plot twist near the end had all the ingredients to be incredibly unsettling and impactful (teeth!!) but fell a bit flatâcould have been more horrifying in my opinion
The Herd, by Andrea Bartz
1.0
Not great from the outset but I kept reading because I was mildly curious to see which direction the plot would take. Ultimately boring and not worth it; I wish Iâd found out beforehand that Bartz is yet another journalist turned thriller author because their novels typically suck for some reason
Payback's a Witch, by Lana Harper
- On one hand it was nice to read something comparatively light and low-stress but this was full of the cringiest millennial slangâŚI tried so hard to ignore it and go with the flow but then the ~dark and mysterious~ love interest said âsweet summer childrenâ
- The characters were also underdeveloped, particularly the protag, whose personality barely came through in her first-person narration
- Lots of aforementioned slang as a substitute for personality and actual humor and while the plot seemed promising at first it wasnât developed enough either
- I read the whole thing though. The things I will do for vaguely promising f/f books