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smalltowncreepy's reviews
75 reviews
A Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
dark
inspiring
mysterious
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? No
5.0
(full review coming soon)
It was fantastic. Vampires. Witches. Dark Academia. Stories of women through history who were smart and clever and determined to survive. I loved it.
It was fantastic. Vampires. Witches. Dark Academia. Stories of women through history who were smart and clever and determined to survive. I loved it.
The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Violence
Occult Detective, The - A Short Story Collection: A classic short story collection about detectives that hunt criminals of the supernatural and occult variety by Gertrude Minnie Robins, Kate Pritchard Hughes, Rose Champion De Crespigny, Dion Fortune (psevd. for Violet Mary Firth), Allen Upward, Rudyard Kipling, Algernon Blackwood, William Hope Hodgson, Arabella Kenealy, L T Meade
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Flesh of the Sea by Lor Gislason, Shelley Lavigne
adventurous
hopeful
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? No
5.0
We Need to Do Something by Max Booth III
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Domestic abuse
You, Human: An Anthology of Dark Science Fiction by Stephen King, Josh Malerman
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism
Come Closer by Sara Gran
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I'm not a huge fan of possession stories because honestly I'm tired of Christian mythology in horror but I was intrigued by this one because its in the POV of the possessed.
I'm glad I read it.
Recommend for fans of Rosemary's Baby or people who, like me, are tired of the same possession narratives and want something new.
Recommend for fans of Rosemary's Baby or people who, like me, are tired of the same possession narratives and want something new.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, and Blood
Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Poetic and dark and draining and glorious.
I am a fan of Sofia Ajram's work since reading Bury Your Gays anthology.
When I saw the book trailer for Coup de Grace, I immediately wanted to read it. Liminal spaces are a favorite trope of mine and this felt like Back Rooms only darker. While it is that, it is so much more. The twists and turns felt like The Worm and His Kings by Hailey Piper but with a far more claustrophobic and unrelenting story line.
Ajram's poetic language is soporific and lulls the reader into a dream-like state to skim the surface of the main character, Vicken's own depression and existential terror. There were moments I was worried this story would leave me in a fugue state afterwards and wondered if I should stop reading for my own mental health. I kept going though.
The end, with its choose your own adventure style and fourth-wall breaking point of view was brilliant.
I can tell this book will be sticking with me like cement dust in my pockets for a very long time.
I am a fan of Sofia Ajram's work since reading Bury Your Gays anthology.
When I saw the book trailer for Coup de Grace, I immediately wanted to read it. Liminal spaces are a favorite trope of mine and this felt like Back Rooms only darker. While it is that, it is so much more. The twists and turns felt like The Worm and His Kings by Hailey Piper but with a far more claustrophobic and unrelenting story line.
Ajram's poetic language is soporific and lulls the reader into a dream-like state to skim the surface of the main character, Vicken's own depression and existential terror. There were moments I was worried this story would leave me in a fugue state afterwards and wondered if I should stop reading for my own mental health. I kept going though.
The end, with its choose your own adventure style and fourth-wall breaking point of view was brilliant.
I can tell this book will be sticking with me like cement dust in my pockets for a very long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt