airxsouls's Reviews (771)

This one! It’s been out for quite some time but I love being able to read something like this set within the 90s ish and see how the creepy vibes and elements relate to reading it now. The authors writing is very story based rather than character driven, which isn’t bad! We’re sitting through our main girls nightmares vs real life as she tries to save her friend from impending death (according to her dreams that is) the ending, for me, was a bit predictable but I did enjoy the climax of the story and the vibes were immaculate for this time of year. The mystery we get from it and the thrilling discovery set this one apart!

Thank you tbrandbeyondtours and the author!

I listened to this on a complete whim when I wanted to grab an audiobook to listen to while I was out walking. Maybe not the nicest one to be outside and alone with but it definitely gave me what I wanted. The plot is somewhat predictable and I kept waiting for our main Leonora to figure out that things were waaaay too fishy (considering she’s a writer) but it came too late. The atmosphere is a spooky, eery, mountain forest scape nightmare. It was a little unbelievable, to me, for her to go in the desolate woods for a girl she no longer talks to. But I guess we have to keep our frenemies closer, right?

All in all it was enjoyable with an unreliable narrator (the character) and audio style I enjoyed the pacing! I think with speeding it up a tad it had a really nice flow.

You’re taught growing up that all history is recorded and that it’s undisputed fact, whatever is there. But history like this seems to be easily forgotten and skewed. The author Rachel Martin has researched every inch of this and gives us a book full of horror and terror. A very real terror. These things happened completely unchecked and not too long ago.

The story takes place in Clinton, TN in a very rural Appalachian town. Now what some don’t know is this town was the first school in the former confederacy to undergo court mandated desegregation. Not only has she researched but she was able to get first hand accounts from residents and the children that faced the trauma within. A must read to understand the very unhappy times that Black American children faced at the hands of other children and adults in their community.

It’s such an important topic considering most tell these things as if they happens eons ago. When that’s absolutely not true. Information like this should be taught in schools. And the fight must continue to never let things like this happen, of any sort.

Thank you Simon Books for my gifted copy!

AHHHHHH

This book was such a pleasant surprise. I knew that I’d like it, what I didn’t know was HOW MUCH. It had all the dark academia, polite society, murder mystery vibes I could have wanted! I really enjoyed Signa Farrows ancestry and her entire character throughout the book. There’s just something about her that spoke to me. Plus who doesn’t love a story where Death is a main character?? It’s the perfect plot. So eery and the writing was so richly done. I enjoyed the journey we took with her to discover what had happened and the twist really got me! Which can be hard to do after you read so many same genre books. I can’t wait to get my hands on Foxglove and continue this story. I think if you love really slow burned, kinda makes you question, romance this is for you. It was definitely slow in this aspect, which I don’t personally mind! Totally worth it.

Book club pick for October!

A very interesting slightly Nordic retelling? You’ll notice throughout the little nuances here and there. It was rather intriguing as I kept on pushing on, I had a hard time connecting with the characters from the start but as we progressed it didn’t feel as forced! Hellevir, our main girl, is cursed and blessed with a gift that pretty much everyone would love to have for themselves. And that’s exactly her problem. It was a unique political fantasy that focused on its world building and society. It was fast paced and filled with questions of morality, along with queer representation!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author!