natashaleighton_'s reviews
766 reviews

dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Rachel Harrison’s newest horror takes a refreshingly modern approach to werewolf lore that, I have to admit pleasantly surprised me.

Full of dark humour and a loveably snarky protagonist,Such Sharp Teeth explores trauma, rage, and the often complex road to recovery through a paranormal (and feminist) lens that definitely tugged at my heartstrings.

The viscerally grotesque imagery was really good and definitely stayed true to the genre, though do brace yourself if you’re even remotely squeamish as it’s not pretty. I must admit I was a little grossed out by some of the descriptions (particularly that horrifyingly detailed rat scene.)

However, the intensity and depth of emotions packed into these scenes—both in the aftermath of the attack and Rory’s first transformation—really resonated with me and will definitely appeal to anyone who loves flawed, nuanced characters confronting and overcoming the obstacles in their life.

I absolutely loved Rory, who is one of the most nuanced and complex protagonists I’ve ever encountered. Having reluctantly agreed to temporarily move back to her hometown (and live) with her pregnant sister (who recently split from her long term boyfriend), Rory finds herself struggling to cope with the resurfacing memories of her past trauma and the relationships that have become strained as a result—and made infinitely more complicated by her new (secret) life as a werewolf.

Honestly, having found out what Rory had to go through as a child, I totally understood her frustration and rage, particularly at her mother. And though she managed to find the strength and fortitude to embark on the journey of self-acceptance and healing, I don’t think I could be nearly so forgiving had I been in Rory’s position.

Ian, however was an absolute cinnamon roll and I loved how patient he was with Rory throughout her dark and painful emotional crises. Watching their flirtation and relationship slowly unfold was just a genuine delight and only added to the swoon-worthiness.

Overall, a fiercely witty, ferociously feminist and heartfelt horror that’s perfect for newbies to the genre or anyone looking for something spooky to devour.

Also, thank you to Titan books for the finished copy

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The Whispering Dark, by Kelly Andrew

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

The Isles of the Gods, by Amie Kaufman

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Gorgeously detailed and thoroughly enchanting, the first book in Amie Kaufman’s new epic fantasy series is a masterfully immersive, high stakes adventure story that I can guarantee will have you on the edge of your seats.

Ten years in the making, Kaufman’s character driven solo title follows the seafaring Selly and fun loving Prince, Leander who Selly is duty bound to escort (secretly) to the sacred Isles of The Gods, in order to complete a ritual that will strengthen their realm’s goddess and protect them from a slumbering (and war mongering) enemy God who seeks to destroy them all.

With magic, warring gods and a high octane, life or death adventure for three unlikely (and incredibly reluctant) heroes, The Isles of The Gods is a masterfully written and unforgettable read with lush world building that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I loved the merging of magic with a 1920s style world on the precipice of technological advancement also made for an intriguing exploration into social class and economic tensions and how they (much like the tensions that preceded WW1) can lead to something as destructive as war with only slightest of nudges.

The prose too, was absolutely stunning and I loved how free flowing and easy to read it was, making for some really smooth transitions between each of the alternating POVs (there were five in total) and really conveyed the complexities and nuances of the world without becoming info dumpy.

Selly, Leander and Keegan, our rag-tag trio were all really well written, relatable characters that I felt were full to bursting with nuance and emotional depth that I really enjoyed. We also really get to delve into each character’s insecurities and explore the motivations behind their decisions—which really helped me to understand them a little more, especially when it came to Selly, Leander and Laskia.

Speaking of Laskia (the younger sister of a crime Lord determined to bring back her country’s slumbering god), despite being quite an obvious antagonist I really loved the glimpse into her relationship with her sister and the power imbalance that stops her sister from taking her seriously.

It’s not often I despise and sympathise with a character in equal measure so kudos to Kaufman for making me question my own morals when it came to Laskia and her very poor decision making skills.

The pacing was a little slow to start (particularly in the first 100 pages) but once the action starts, it takes on a fairly swift speed that didn’t let up. And the action was utterly phenomenal, I honestly hadn’t expected it to hit soo hard or be quite as shockingly brutal as it was (though it’s definitely the kind of action you don’t want to tear yourself away from.) I’d also suggest looking up the TWs beforehand just to be on the safe side.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable,YA fantasy that fans of Lynette Noni, swashbuckling adventure and swoon-worthy romances are going to adore.

And Amie, if you’re reading this… it was definitely worth the wait—I absolutely loved it!

Also, a huge thank you to Nina Douglas and Rock The Boat/ Oneworld Publications for the finished copy.

Content Warnings

A Practical Guide to Mindfulness: Be Present in This Moment, by Tessa Watt

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

Fire & Blood, by George R.R. Martin

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adventurous dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

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Throwback, by Maurene Goo

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emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Maurene Goo’s coming of age YA beautifully explores the complex ties of inter-generational family relationships and the immigrant experience in this heartfelt and humour-filled, Back To The Future-esque romp.

Full of cliquey high school drama and tons of 90s nostalgia, I thoroughly enjoyed this and was completely blown away by the level of depth and emotion we see in Sam’s journey. Both in the intricacies of the mother- daughter relationship between Sam, her mum Priscilla and grandmother but, also in how their very different lived experiences (as first, second and third generation immigrants in the US) has shaped and defined them.

Sam as a character did come off as a little spoiled at first, with a confrontational approach to communication that kind of annoyed me at first. However, the journey she embarks on after finding herself stuck in 1995 really endeared her to me, and I ended up really loving her and the emotional development we see unfold as she begins to understand the challenges her mum (Priscilla) faces that aren’t too dissimilar from her own.

One of the turning points for me was when Sam realises the racist and misogynistic micro aggressions her classmates direct at her and the other non-white students won’t be called out—the defeat she’s ultimately left with in that moment was utterly heartbreaking.

There were, however, some lighter moments too and I really had fun watching how Gen-Z Sam coped in a world without Google, Social Media or 24-hr access to the internet. Her social faux pas, made from not fully grasping the nuances of 90s culture made for some really entertaining interactions, especially with Priscilla who finds Sam just a bit weird.

There is some romance which I felt was well written but do be aware the plot does mostly focus on Sam’s relationships with Priscilla and Priscilla’s relationship with her own mother. I can’t really say anything else without spoiling the ‘big reveals’ but I was pleasantly surprised by how things wrapped up.

If you love time travel plots, family based YA and general teenage shenanigans then I highly recommend picking this up—it was soo much fun!

Also, a huge thank you to Team BKMRK for the finished copy.

Content Warnings

Our Hideous Progeny, by C.E. McGill

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

C.E. McGill’s richly detailed and utterly compelling debut was a deliciously gothic and feminist exploration of ambition, obsession, betrayal and love that I couldn’t get enough of!

It’s set in 1851, at the height of the Victorian era’s fascination with all things dinosaur and follows Elizabeth (the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein) who (having spent the better part of her life being looked down on for being a woman interested in science and palaeontology) yearns to find scientific acclaim beyond the footnotes of other people’s research. But without any powerful connections or wealth, neither Mary or her husband stand a chance of ever succeeding.

Armed only with letters containing snippets of her great uncles’ past —of creating life from death (which ultimately led to his own), Mary decides to use what little of his research remains to take the scientific community by storm. And, with her husband Henry, attempt to bring life to a creature never before seen by human eyes.

But on the precipice of success, Mary begins to question the ethics and morality surrounding their creation and the love that she has developed for the creature.

I loved every second of this! It’s such an electrifyingly creative and wholly original take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and I genuinely couldn’t put it down.

The writing is lush and beautifully atmospheric, and as intricately woven as the stitches that adorn the eponymous ‘creature’ which definitely showcases the gothic/horror genre to perfection!

I was in absolute awe of just how immersive the descriptions were and loved that it really delves into the inequalities of the Victorian era and the classist, sexist and racist attitudes which were prevalent and still very much relevant today.

I adored Mary, who’s character takes inspiration from not one but three impressive women of the 19th C: Mary Shelley, Mary Anning (the self-taught palaeontologist who found the first Ichthyosaur fossil) and Mary Somerville (one of the first women admitted into the Royal Astronomical Society), and really enjoyed discovering just how much of their stories connected to our refreshingly bold and sharp-tongued protagonist—especially Mary Anning, who seemed to have to the most in common with our plesiosaur-obsessed MC.

With what we see of Mary’s childhood and isolated upbringing with her grandmother (a woman who seemed to despise Mary simply for existing) I couldn’t help but be endeared to her (and root for her to succeed.)

I was less enamoured of her husband (or any of the male characters aside from Mr. Jamsetjee who was such a sweetheart) though the realism and accuracy to the contemporary attitudes of the day were spot on and really highlighted how remarkably strong Mary (and others like her) had to be to persevere in such a harsh, discriminatory environments.

The pace was quite slow to begin however, I felt it definitely helped to build up that tense, anticipatory feeling that gothic fiction is known for—and by the half way point things really kicked into gear and ‘things’ got super interesting.

If you love dark, gothic-esque historical fiction, queer horror or Silvia Moreno-Garcia then you absolutely must check this out, it’s fantastic!

Also, a massive thank you to Izzie Ghaffari-Parker and Doubleday books for the wonderful proof.

Content Warnings