readundancies's reviews
1360 reviews
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.75
I’m not entirely sure about my rating for this one, because I think depending on the minute I’m fluctuating somewhere between a 3.5 to a 3.75 stars for this book.
Worldbuilding-wise there is a very ominous and chilly atmosphere cultivated in this story, what with all the mist and banished magic and magically-infected folk involved. The magic system is a soft one and doesn’t entirely make a lot of sense to me because I feel like it’s just not fully developed. The idea behind it and the Providence Cards which bestow magic to their holders is neat and kind of Tarot adjacent, but in terms of execution and the mechanics behind it all, it’s all very cursed at it’s core and I wanted a lot more explanation behind it all.
Yet the characters are all very interesting and compelling and that coupled with all the dark history that the lead character, Elspeth Spindle becomes embroiled in, made for some great relationship dynamics between herself and the Nightmare, the infernal soul that has shared her mind and body since she came down with fever and became infected by magic when she was child. They are constantly at odds and yet work together quite seamlessly and as we learn more and more about who the Nightmare really is and how he and Elspeth seem to be fatally connected with one another we begin to see how dangerous magic has become in the nation of Blunder.
The romance is more than a tad insta-lovey and not particularly engaging if I’m being honest, but Ravyn Yew and his family seem like they will play more important roles in the sequel outside of being the main romantic interest.
The plot was easily the strongest part of the novel as we see all of the political players involved and their connections to one another, and despite me not completely falling for this story, for a young adult gothic fantasy, I thought this was pretty well done. And I am intrigued enough to pick up the sequel when it’s released to see how it all plays out.
Worldbuilding-wise there is a very ominous and chilly atmosphere cultivated in this story, what with all the mist and banished magic and magically-infected folk involved. The magic system is a soft one and doesn’t entirely make a lot of sense to me because I feel like it’s just not fully developed. The idea behind it and the Providence Cards which bestow magic to their holders is neat and kind of Tarot adjacent, but in terms of execution and the mechanics behind it all, it’s all very cursed at it’s core and I wanted a lot more explanation behind it all.
Yet the characters are all very interesting and compelling and that coupled with all the dark history that the lead character, Elspeth Spindle becomes embroiled in, made for some great relationship dynamics between herself and the Nightmare, the infernal soul that has shared her mind and body since she came down with fever and became infected by magic when she was child. They are constantly at odds and yet work together quite seamlessly and as we learn more and more about who the Nightmare really is and how he and Elspeth seem to be fatally connected with one another we begin to see how dangerous magic has become in the nation of Blunder.
The romance is more than a tad insta-lovey and not particularly engaging if I’m being honest, but Ravyn Yew and his family seem like they will play more important roles in the sequel outside of being the main romantic interest.
The plot was easily the strongest part of the novel as we see all of the political players involved and their connections to one another, and despite me not completely falling for this story, for a young adult gothic fantasy, I thought this was pretty well done. And I am intrigued enough to pick up the sequel when it’s released to see how it all plays out.
Security by Gina Wohlsdorf
It was the culmination of everything that I learned about myself reading-wise in 2022 because this was The Year I Discovered How Much I Love The Horror Genre and this book just hammers that fact home so well.
It should be noted that this horror is not for the faint of heart lemme tell you. This is horror-thriller-slasher vibes to the nth degree, in unfailingly intimate detail when it comes to the death and gore that paints the walls of Manderley Resort.
I adored how the story was told between different camera angles and the different perspectives were split across the page. It was so effective at pushing the plot along and relaying info to the reader in an engaging way and learning about all of the players involved through the dark humour and sarcastic voice of the unnamed narrator only amplified my fun with this story because we also slowly got bits and pieces to clue us in about the narrator themselves.
I read this physically and I don’t think an audiobook would do this justice the way the physical book did in terms of delivery. Wohlsdorf’s writing was immaculate and she excelled at pushing the narrative along with such biting wit. She had no mercy, was no-holds-barred and knew exactly what she was doing when she was doing it and I’m in awe at how she had such amazing vision and then executed it to perfection.
At just 50 pages in, I was officially loving this. So fucking much. My anxiety knew no bounds and I was so wildly tense and yet so hyped at the same time. I was gripping the book so hard at some points because some of the side characters were just so goddamned likeable that it was paining me to have to let them go as they slowly got picked off one by one.
Case in point, two chapters in and I was devastated at the loss of Vivica, hotel cleaner extraordinaire. The characters were just so immediately easy to invest in, even when some were so obviously despicable.
The romance was a pretty heavy aspect of the story and while I can see it not appealing to everyone (because in the interest of full honesty it is not only slightly taboo but also dramatic as fuck-all) I was totally here for it. It was the perfect backdrop to the savage murders that were to take place and it really heightened the stakes for me because I am a sucker for the unrequited love trope.
Almost every book in which I find myself reaching for my phone so I can purchase a physical copy of it even before finishing the damn thing ends a being a 5-star experience, and this one was no exception. So much so that I am appalled and frankly quite butthurt that this is rated so low on Goodreads because that is truly a goddamned travesty.
So if you’re looking for a high-octane, wild premise of a horror-thriller story with crazy plot twists and non-stop mayhem, look no further. Pick this up.
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
I could not have ended my reading year any better than with this book.
It was the culmination of everything that I learned about myself reading-wise in 2022 because this was The Year I Discovered How Much I Love The Horror Genre and this book just hammers that fact home so well.
It should be noted that this horror is not for the faint of heart lemme tell you. This is horror-thriller-slasher vibes to the nth degree, in unfailingly intimate detail when it comes to the death and gore that paints the walls of Manderley Resort.
I adored how the story was told between different camera angles and the different perspectives were split across the page. It was so effective at pushing the plot along and relaying info to the reader in an engaging way and learning about all of the players involved through the dark humour and sarcastic voice of the unnamed narrator only amplified my fun with this story because we also slowly got bits and pieces to clue us in about the narrator themselves.
I read this physically and I don’t think an audiobook would do this justice the way the physical book did in terms of delivery. Wohlsdorf’s writing was immaculate and she excelled at pushing the narrative along with such biting wit. She had no mercy, was no-holds-barred and knew exactly what she was doing when she was doing it and I’m in awe at how she had such amazing vision and then executed it to perfection.
At just 50 pages in, I was officially loving this. So fucking much. My anxiety knew no bounds and I was so wildly tense and yet so hyped at the same time. I was gripping the book so hard at some points because some of the side characters were just so goddamned likeable that it was paining me to have to let them go as they slowly got picked off one by one.
Case in point, two chapters in and I was devastated at the loss of Vivica, hotel cleaner extraordinaire. The characters were just so immediately easy to invest in, even when some were so obviously despicable.
The romance was a pretty heavy aspect of the story and while I can see it not appealing to everyone (because in the interest of full honesty it is not only slightly taboo but also dramatic as fuck-all) I was totally here for it. It was the perfect backdrop to the savage murders that were to take place and it really heightened the stakes for me because I am a sucker for the unrequited love trope.
Almost every book in which I find myself reaching for my phone so I can purchase a physical copy of it even before finishing the damn thing ends a being a 5-star experience, and this one was no exception. So much so that I am appalled and frankly quite butthurt that this is rated so low on Goodreads because that is truly a goddamned travesty.
So if you’re looking for a high-octane, wild premise of a horror-thriller story with crazy plot twists and non-stop mayhem, look no further. Pick this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, and Death
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
Was it amazeballs for me? No, it wasn’t.
But as someone who rarely squeals over YA contemporary romance these days, it was still pretty good.
And I say that as someone who didn’t really enjoy the actual plot or premise of this novel.
Now, I didn’t know that going into this read that a survival-overnight-in-the-woods-cum-scavenger-hunt-adjacent-adventure was in my future. And I gotta say, I think it’s just not for me appeal-wise.
But the characterization was good, I did like the relationship dynamics between Brad and Celine and while I thought the Bangura family drama was a bit meh for my taste considering it was such a driving force for Celine’s actions, the more traditional take of Bradley not wanting to disappoint the legacy of following down his father’s footsteps as a lawyer tempered things out.
And the mental health and queer rep were all on point, so definitely a win on that front.
If you’re looking for a cute and quick YA romance, this one is not a bad choice.
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.25
As a reader whose history with Talia Hibbert consists of one book in Get a Life Chloe Brown, I can say with confidence that this very much feels like a Talia Hibbert read just with a YA lens.
Which is good you know, because that what she was going for.
Was it amazeballs for me? No, it wasn’t.
But as someone who rarely squeals over YA contemporary romance these days, it was still pretty good.
And I say that as someone who didn’t really enjoy the actual plot or premise of this novel.
Now, I didn’t know that going into this read that a survival-overnight-in-the-woods-cum-scavenger-hunt-adjacent-adventure was in my future. And I gotta say, I think it’s just not for me appeal-wise.
But the characterization was good, I did like the relationship dynamics between Brad and Celine and while I thought the Bangura family drama was a bit meh for my taste considering it was such a driving force for Celine’s actions, the more traditional take of Bradley not wanting to disappoint the legacy of following down his father’s footsteps as a lawyer tempered things out.
And the mental health and queer rep were all on point, so definitely a win on that front.
If you’re looking for a cute and quick YA romance, this one is not a bad choice.
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
Is the premise rather out there with some wacky characters that you can’t help but become endeared to? Yeppers.
Leon was a fucking dreamboat.
Watching Tiffy take control of her life in the face of a freshly ended emotionally abusive relationship was so fulfilling.
And all of the supporting cast fit their roles to a T.
I even dipped my toe into the audiobook near the end and then had to go back and listen to parts that I had already read because the narrators were that good.
This hit me in all the feel-good places that I needed it to when I picked it up, so if you want a mood-boost read of the romance variety this is a perfect choice.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.75
I have been sleeping on this quirky adult rom-com for far too long because I freaking adored this.
Is the premise rather out there with some wacky characters that you can’t help but become endeared to? Yeppers.
Leon was a fucking dreamboat.
Watching Tiffy take control of her life in the face of a freshly ended emotionally abusive relationship was so fulfilling.
And all of the supporting cast fit their roles to a T.
I even dipped my toe into the audiobook near the end and then had to go back and listen to parts that I had already read because the narrators were that good.
This hit me in all the feel-good places that I needed it to when I picked it up, so if you want a mood-boost read of the romance variety this is a perfect choice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Stalking, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Death by Sex Machine by Franny Choi
Of the poems that were new to me, So There, Each New Ache Makes the Old Ones Hum Along was a new favourite for me, especially the power instilled in the second half:
So basically, Franny Choi does it again, and shoutout to Gel Jamlang for that awesome cover.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
I read this collection after reading Soft Science by this poet, so a lot of the content is already familiar to me, just perhaps in a different format under a different title.
You can tell that this was written before that collection because the changes made in the newer versions are just that much more fluid in their presentation to the reader.
Of the poems that were new to me, So There, Each New Ache Makes the Old Ones Hum Along was a new favourite for me, especially the power instilled in the second half:
When I say, tie me to the bed,
I mean, rub salt in my joints so I don’t lose my shape,
constellation of ache I use to map where my body ends.
I mean bury your fingers in each wound, show me
how deep it goes. Point me out in the crowd of faces
clouding the headboard. O hunchback, make me
your clocktower, make a mallet of your mouth,
o small, broken god, make me ring. Remind me
what terrible music my iron jaw can still make.
As well as Advertisement for ThirdLife^TM: The World’s Most Advanced Avatar System because it’s so pointedly perfect in it’s execution.
So basically, Franny Choi does it again, and shoutout to Gel Jamlang for that awesome cover.
Places We've Never Been by Kasie West
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
3.0
This was as expected for a Kasie West YA contemporary romance.
So if you’ve read anything from her before and enjoyed it, this was par for the course and you’ll probably like this one too.
If you haven’t, just know trope and theme-wise that there’s a road trip, childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, family secrets and the subsequent family drama that always follows, best friend betrayal on more than one front and it’s all wrapped in a cute and comfortable young adult bow.
It didn’t do anything special for me but I’m also not within it’s demographic, so yeah.
So if you’ve read anything from her before and enjoyed it, this was par for the course and you’ll probably like this one too.
If you haven’t, just know trope and theme-wise that there’s a road trip, childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, family secrets and the subsequent family drama that always follows, best friend betrayal on more than one front and it’s all wrapped in a cute and comfortable young adult bow.
It didn’t do anything special for me but I’m also not within it’s demographic, so yeah.
Things We Found When the Water Went Down by Tegan Nia Swanson
My enjoyment was further enhanced by the realization that I kinda desperately wish that this was my first read of the year just based on the fact that there were footnotes present on the first page of this novel. Because hot damn, do I ever love a story told in footnotes.
Expectations; they had been risen.
It’s hard to get into detail about what this story is about without spoiling the experience, but if I had to summarize succinctly I’d probably go with a young archivist living in a world where the environment is quickly deteriorating away becomes embroiled in the mystery that is the disappearance of her notorious mother and goes off in pursuit of answers to questions she has not even pondered yet.
This is a bit of a slower-paced novel; it’s told in a non-linear fashion and implores the reader to take their time as they progress through the tale and I think it’s necessary to do so to really absorb everything as a whole. It discusses and explores themes surrounding murder and sexual assault especially that of Indigenous peoples, environmental degradation, trauma and healing and their vicious codependency, victim-blaming of women and queer folx, nepotism and power imbalances, the ruination of nature by men, the pursuit of solace by means of silence or solitude or savagery as well as holes, hollows and the fragility involved in filling them.
It had a wonderful thread of magical realism that heightened the mystery surrounding Marietta Abernathy’s disappearance and the way that the relationships between Marietta, Hugo Mitchum and Ellis Olsen were broken down and revealed was masterful. The prose drifted into poetry and back with ease, the characters were so rooted in the story itself and the imagery that the author evoked was spectacular.
And all as a debut novel? Pure aces.
This story won’t be for everyone, but it’s criminally under-read at the moment and I’m begging more people to pick it up, so if you’re looking for a story that will whisk you away into some rather dark places with writing that spills out a wild and untamed beauty, definitely consider this one.
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
slow-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? No
4.5
uThis book is straight-up told using a mixed media format. As in the first page is technically artwork. Now, I have limited experience with mixed media in my reading, not out of avoidance on my part, but rather that it’s not necessarily something that I seek out when I’m looking to pick up my next read. So this book being my first fully-fledged mixed media read where there are images and lists and letters and diary entries and poems and interviews and quotes, etc. are scattered throughout the story was a pleasant surprise on many fronts. I was getting hyped just by reading through the Dramatis Personae.
My enjoyment was further enhanced by the realization that I kinda desperately wish that this was my first read of the year just based on the fact that there were footnotes present on the first page of this novel. Because hot damn, do I ever love a story told in footnotes.
Expectations; they had been risen.
It’s hard to get into detail about what this story is about without spoiling the experience, but if I had to summarize succinctly I’d probably go with a young archivist living in a world where the environment is quickly deteriorating away becomes embroiled in the mystery that is the disappearance of her notorious mother and goes off in pursuit of answers to questions she has not even pondered yet.
This is a bit of a slower-paced novel; it’s told in a non-linear fashion and implores the reader to take their time as they progress through the tale and I think it’s necessary to do so to really absorb everything as a whole. It discusses and explores themes surrounding murder and sexual assault especially that of Indigenous peoples, environmental degradation, trauma and healing and their vicious codependency, victim-blaming of women and queer folx, nepotism and power imbalances, the ruination of nature by men, the pursuit of solace by means of silence or solitude or savagery as well as holes, hollows and the fragility involved in filling them.
It had a wonderful thread of magical realism that heightened the mystery surrounding Marietta Abernathy’s disappearance and the way that the relationships between Marietta, Hugo Mitchum and Ellis Olsen were broken down and revealed was masterful. The prose drifted into poetry and back with ease, the characters were so rooted in the story itself and the imagery that the author evoked was spectacular.
And all as a debut novel? Pure aces.
This story won’t be for everyone, but it’s criminally under-read at the moment and I’m begging more people to pick it up, so if you’re looking for a story that will whisk you away into some rather dark places with writing that spills out a wild and untamed beauty, definitely consider this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Racism, Bullying, Child death, Misogyny, Body horror, Sexual violence, Death, Violence, Murder, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Sexism
Soft Science by Franny Choi
Favourites from this collection:
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Franny Choi is working her way up my favourite poets and it’s like she’s not even trying.
Favourites from this collection:
- Beg
- A Brief History of Cyborgs
- Turing Test _ Empathetic Response
- The ending stanza hits different when you’re the one usually on the other side of the needle administering something or just vamping it up
- Afterlife
- Unapologetically tragic and yet hopeful with a solid dose of snark.
- Shokushu Goukan for the Cyborg Soul
- This title is fantastic.
- Chi
- This is fantastic and begs to be read aloud for full effect of its excellence
- I Swiped Right on the Borg
- In the Morning I Scroll My Way Back Into America
- There’s a finality to the end of this poem that just hits so good.
- It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Gains Consciousness
When I smack my gum it’s to signal that I do perceive space and time, it’s just I’m kind of over it.
- Another ending that just closes things off with such a finite sense of terror.
- Chatroulette
- Full circle, repetition. This shit sings to me like no other in this collection. Favourite of the lot.
- Turing Test _ Love
- Introduction to Quantum Theory
- A warning and a lesson in the transactional nature of give and take, of accountability, of karmic chance and eyes and tooths.
The Valentine's Hate by Sidney Halston
I do remember feeling guilty pleasure vibes and liking it though.
So re-readability is low, but if you’re into fake dating and fake engagements, enemies-to-lovers and weddings in your romance, this is not a bad choice.
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I don’t remember what happened in this contemporary romance novel but in my defence, I read it over 10 days ago and life has been busy since then.
I do remember feeling guilty pleasure vibes and liking it though.
So re-readability is low, but if you’re into fake dating and fake engagements, enemies-to-lovers and weddings in your romance, this is not a bad choice.
All These Subtle Deceits by C.S. Humble
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.0
For a fairly short horror novella, I found myself struggling a bit with All These Subtle Deceits and it’s introduction to the Black Wells universe.
Which is not to say that I didn’t enjoy it for the most part - I mean, just look at the cover in all of it’s glory. I couldn’t possibly despise a story with a cover like that.
But I think the worldbuilding just wasn’t as established as I was hoping for. The length of the story definitely plays a role in that; I wanted to be able to settle into the more sinister aspects of Black Wells as a setting and all of the supernatural and occult mayhem that I anticipated but instead I found I was left wanting. There were hints of darkness here and there but as a reader, I never really felt like I was getting enough information or description for me to really get comfortable with the whole haunting-cum-possession of one Lauren Saunders.
The characters were much of the same - definitely intriguing but I wasn’t getting enough from them as individuals to properly get invested in all of the character dynamics and relationships. We get the backstory of ex-pastor-turned-exorcist William Daniels who houses what is essentially a demon prison within the vessel that is body as he tries to aid Lauren with her (assumed) fledging medium skills as the afterlife attempts to communicate through her, but it doesn’t really amount to that much by the end which is at odds to the tension that is cultivated as the story progresses.
And with such a fast-paced plot, I was surprised at how often I would pick this up and then subsequently put it down in favour of something else. Because the plot and premise were my favourite parts of this story.
Yet it does feel like there’s still enough interest garnered in me that I could be convinced to pick up the sequel. Nothing terribly special has come out of this read for me but I think there’s a sufficient amount of potential in this world and the characters that it might be worth continuing on in this series.
Time will tell, but if you’re interested in picking this one up, maybe temper your expectations going in.
Which is not to say that I didn’t enjoy it for the most part - I mean, just look at the cover in all of it’s glory. I couldn’t possibly despise a story with a cover like that.
But I think the worldbuilding just wasn’t as established as I was hoping for. The length of the story definitely plays a role in that; I wanted to be able to settle into the more sinister aspects of Black Wells as a setting and all of the supernatural and occult mayhem that I anticipated but instead I found I was left wanting. There were hints of darkness here and there but as a reader, I never really felt like I was getting enough information or description for me to really get comfortable with the whole haunting-cum-possession of one Lauren Saunders.
The characters were much of the same - definitely intriguing but I wasn’t getting enough from them as individuals to properly get invested in all of the character dynamics and relationships. We get the backstory of ex-pastor-turned-exorcist William Daniels who houses what is essentially a demon prison within the vessel that is body as he tries to aid Lauren with her (assumed) fledging medium skills as the afterlife attempts to communicate through her, but it doesn’t really amount to that much by the end which is at odds to the tension that is cultivated as the story progresses.
And with such a fast-paced plot, I was surprised at how often I would pick this up and then subsequently put it down in favour of something else. Because the plot and premise were my favourite parts of this story.
Yet it does feel like there’s still enough interest garnered in me that I could be convinced to pick up the sequel. Nothing terribly special has come out of this read for me but I think there’s a sufficient amount of potential in this world and the characters that it might be worth continuing on in this series.
Time will tell, but if you’re interested in picking this one up, maybe temper your expectations going in.