s_sheppard18's reviews
281 reviews

My Body Is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church by Amy Kenny

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

World Running Down by Al Hess

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

The Mars House by Natasha Pulley

adventurous challenging 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

4.0

I really loved this book, it had me hooked from the beginning. January is a sweet character with an excellent sense of humor, and his arranged marriage partner is so endearing while also being frustratingly nationalist. It's a book of juxtaposition that shows people aren't always who we think they are, or who they say they are.

I know some reviewers have criticized this book for xenophobia, and while some main characters are absolutely xenophobic, I think it's actually a book about the humanity of the people we disagree with. In such a polarized political world, I think it does a lot of good to consider that someone might have a different political view without actually wanting to hurt the people that they would hurt with legislation based on those views. 

Did the author pull off the story she set out to tell? Almost, but no, I think she bit off a bit more than she could chew, and perhaps could have benefitted from more sensitivity editing before publishing. Did she still write an excellent book that I quite enjoyed, despite some plot holes, bad science, and squicky politics? Yes, absolutely.

The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

The Sins on Their Bones by Laura Samotin was a gripping, heart-wrenching adventure from start to finish. I'd definitely recommend checking out the website to see the content warnings, as I neglected to do so and was woefully unprepared for some of the darker scenes. 

This novel expertly weaves a story full of rich characterization and culture, drawing on Samotin's Jewish heritage and lived experiences (don't skip the end note for this one! It really added to my understanding of the book). Some books with alternating POVs are challenging for me, but each of the three narrators had such a unique voice that I had no trouble keeping track of who I was reading.

The only reason I'm rating 4 instead of 5 stars is because there was a period of time in the first half of the book where the sex scenes felt like they were overpowering the plot. But that's the kind of thing many readers love, so it's easily forgivable.

I was enthralled from the start and can't wait to read more of Samotin's work in the future. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. 

Supplication by Nour Abi-Nakhoul

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0

Supplication by Nour Abi-Nakhoul is billed as "hallucinatory literary horror," and although it certainly lives up to that categorization, it still somehow fell short for me. Either its message went completely over my head (entirely possible), or it's just not that good. 

I was interested for the first 40% of the story, but by 60% through, it seemed that my many questions about the narrator were doomed to go unanswered. What at first felt like a gripping metaphorical narrative of trauma, fear, and a search for rest, eventually became a meandering journey of episodic horrors inflicted on a main character exhibiting increasingly bizarre behavior. 

Although this is a first person narrative, it feels as though everything in the story is happening to the narrator, rather than the narrator participating in her own story. She's drawn from interaction to interaction by some cosmic, unknowable horror, but even her own actions leave me with more questions than answers, especially in light of the conclusion. 

This book started out as a promising wild ride, and turned into a frustrating slog filled with purple prose and not much else. Definitely missed the mark for me.

Thanks NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. 

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

This book emotionally wrecked me in the best way possible. RIP the person I was before

Misery Bay by Owen Lach

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

Misery Bay, much like the first two books of the Neskan Chronicles, is an action-packed YA adventure. Adan Testa, our main character, continues to grow and grapple with the reality of their group's situation, weighing the burden of leadership and the cost of violence against its necessity throughout his journey. For me, the story shines most in the way it tempers the more tense aspects of the plot with chances for the characters to catch their breath and reflect. While Misery Bay is absolutely thrilling from start to finish, it never feels too intense. What makes The Neskan Chronicles such a great YA series is the characters determination to learn how to communicate effectively within their relationships- whether those relationships are friendships, romantic partnerships, or leadership roles.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

4.0

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

5.0

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

5.0