montrez's reviews
98 reviews

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

This twisted, dark read hits all the gothic horror romance tropes from amazing commentary on the rotten aristocracy (amazing parallels between animal savagery vs humanity) to the looming estate full of secrets and the pensive damsel both tempted and tormented by the affections of her brooding and deeply flawed love interest and the circumstances she finds herself in.

Crimson Peak meets The Invitation with a strong influence from Mexican Gothic and a touch of that Sundance ambivalence (that ending) . Expect more savage and twisted oddities but less heart from the main character. As bizarre and horrifying as her situation was, there wasn’t much fight in the main character, but rather a sort of lucky endurance that allows us a convenient look at the real star of the story. It felt like the house and the surrounding mythos were the real main characters and the nagging curiosity surrounding the plot was what kept me reading.

The writing was beautiful and the audiobook performance really added to the overall experience. If you read this book, I highly recommend reading with the audio to give you a greater feel for this eclectic, dark supernatural/psychological thriller.

Content Warnings

Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope

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hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-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? Yes

4.0

Memory is a powerful and precious thing. Penelope has created a fictional town that feels like home and characters that feel like a real-life community. Relatable, compelling and immersive, this is a unique historical fantasy gem. It’s a slower pace than what I expected but the writing is amazing and the audio book is an extra special treat with a stellar performance by Shayna Small that expertly captures the essence of the story.

No One's Gonna Take Her Soul Away by Amanda B. Weaver

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adventurous dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.5

Weaver’s latest work is dark, raw, and utterly captivating . An adrenaline-pumping, bone-chilling, bloody, bittersweet emotional rollercoaster ride of a book, this story will break your heart and stitch it back together, traumatize you a little, but leave you feeling inspired.

Described as being inspired by Dante’s Inferno meets the Wiz, this book delivers its promise with unapologetic gore, terror, and a whole lot of heart. This read isn’t for the faint of heart or the squeamish, but for the person who needs to be reminded that they are stronger than they know and that they can make it out of the dark places they may find themselves in.

Thank you to the author for a complimentary copy of this ebook. I am leaving a voluntary review. All thoughts and ideas expressed are my own.

Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope

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hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Jackal by Erin E. Adams

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dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear by Robin Wasley

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

This was an emotional rollercoaster perfect for readers who love found family feels, diverse representation, and rooting for underdogs.

A cozy dystopian with an inspiring and unique magic system and refreshing take on zombies, this is one of my favorite reads of the year. I’m looking forward to reading more from Wasley.

Sign of the Slayer by Sharina Harris

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced