bookswithlydscl's Reviews (639)

Black Butterflies

Priscilla Morris

4.25

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Effective and moving

The Woman in Blue

Elly Griffiths

4.0

dark emotional informative mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I just really enjoy this series. The mysteries are always solid and the characters are really growing as each book goes by - my only bugbear - Nelson and Michelle. It just feels a little forced.

Telephone

Percival Everett

4.5

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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: Complicated

Fast becoming a favourite author of mine!
A great mix of pathos and humour in this one.

Other People's Houses

Clare Mackintosh

4.5

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

4.5*

This series has really found its stride and I'm finding Ffion to be much less abrasive, more rounded and im really enjoying how her character is developing. Leo and George (and of course Dave the dog) also balance her out brilliantly.

I thought the case was great in this instalment and love the mixed media elements interspersed throughout. My only real fault for this one was the Allie chapters. She was so infuriating and annoying to read for most of it and whilst I absolutely get why she was needed and what her angle added I did get a little frustrated. However, whilst not redeemed I did come to accept her perspective for the final quarter as everything started to round up.

This is a series I've become really fond of and based on the ending I'm looking forward to what comes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Sphere for this digital review copy of "Other People's Houses" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books

Kirsten Miller

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

A little on the nose for the current state of society but is a story of hope, enlightenment and education.
Loved it overall!

Beautiful Ugly

Alice Feeney

4.0

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A few twists and turns and love the female rage idea running throughout. Unreliable narrators abound but overall I really enjoyed this.

Model Home

Rivers Solomon

2.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Unfortunately this one didn't work for me. I struggled with the style, narrative voice, themes and characters. I love the premise and there is so much potential in the story but right now unfortunately it didn't land for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone | Merky Books for this digital review copy of "Model Home" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

The Wives of Halcyon

Eirinie Lapidaki

4.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This one took me a little while to get into but once it clicked it moved at a pace for me. Think FLDS but in Scotland, all too believable!

Cursebound

Saara El-Arifi

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

4.25* - as good as Faebound for me and definitely no middle book curse! Took me a little while to become reacquainted with all the characters and feel I should have re-read Faebound as its been over a year since I read it. Other than that really enjoyed it!

Chlorine

Jade Song

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I don't know what the heck is just read but I think I enjoyed it.

A coming of age/mermaid fictional memoir this was weird and awkward and just felt very different and pretty unique.

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