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1.14k reviews by:
ishouldreadthat
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I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
Comfort Me with Apples is a claustrophobic domestic thriller with a science fiction twist. I have read one of Valente's books before and didn't connect with her writing style, however I absolutely loved her writing in this novella. A short and tightly-written story, this is a perfect example of a great novella. Taking place almost exclusively inside the main character's home, Valente does a fantastic job of creating a tense atmosphere and showing the main character's mental state.
My only issue with the book is where the story went -- it followed a theme that I just don't happen to have any interest in! That's obviously not on the author, but it kept this book from being a new favourite.
I'd recommend going into this book knowing as little as possible -- the reveal is well worth it!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
Comfort Me with Apples is a claustrophobic domestic thriller with a science fiction twist. I have read one of Valente's books before and didn't connect with her writing style, however I absolutely loved her writing in this novella. A short and tightly-written story, this is a perfect example of a great novella. Taking place almost exclusively inside the main character's home, Valente does a fantastic job of creating a tense atmosphere and showing the main character's mental state.
My only issue with the book is where the story went -- it followed a theme that I just don't happen to have any interest in! That's obviously not on the author, but it kept this book from being a new favourite.
I'd recommend going into this book knowing as little as possible -- the reveal is well worth it!
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The Test is a short book that packs an absolute punch. I've seen it compared to an episode of Black Mirror by other reviewers, and that comparison is absolutely perfect. Brutal, thought-provoking, and devastating, The Test is a brilliant example of sci-fi writing that serves as a warning.
This is one to go into knowing as little as possible -- don't let anyone spoil it for you!
The Test is a short book that packs an absolute punch. I've seen it compared to an episode of Black Mirror by other reviewers, and that comparison is absolutely perfect. Brutal, thought-provoking, and devastating, The Test is a brilliant example of sci-fi writing that serves as a warning.
This is one to go into knowing as little as possible -- don't let anyone spoil it for you!
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The third Tea Dragon Society book is just as sweet as the previous two. We rejoin Greta, the aspiring blacksmith, and her friends as they find their paths. The book is wholesome and completely adorable -- I'd highly recommend this heartwarming series!
The third Tea Dragon Society book is just as sweet as the previous two. We rejoin Greta, the aspiring blacksmith, and her friends as they find their paths. The book is wholesome and completely adorable -- I'd highly recommend this heartwarming series!
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Looking for a perfectly normal book about a marriage of convenience where the main characters catch feelings for each other?
Look elsewhere. Seriously.
The Death of Jane Lawrence is the gory, Gothic, medical horror book of my dreams. Featuring a very level-headed, logical heroine trapped in the bizarre, terrifying house of her new husband, we see her acceptance and embrace of the supernatural in the most mad, spiraling way. I loved her perspective, her thought processes, and her determination in the most dire of circumstances -- she may be a new favourite character for me.
This book took me on a ride! It’s like a fever dream of the classic Gothic genre and I loved every second of it. Is there some imagery that will stay with me forever, and not in a good way? Yes. Will I ever think about Romantic old houses the same way again? No. But I still loved it.
This book will absolutely not work for every reader -- I mean, just look at the polarising reviews. But if you like your books weird and don't mine a little bit (just kidding, quite a lot) of blood and gore and unsettling imagery, I’d highly recommend this!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
CW: explicit: medical gore and abortion; lots of gore and blood
Looking for a perfectly normal book about a marriage of convenience where the main characters catch feelings for each other?
Look elsewhere. Seriously.
The Death of Jane Lawrence is the gory, Gothic, medical horror book of my dreams. Featuring a very level-headed, logical heroine trapped in the bizarre, terrifying house of her new husband, we see her acceptance and embrace of the supernatural in the most mad, spiraling way. I loved her perspective, her thought processes, and her determination in the most dire of circumstances -- she may be a new favourite character for me.
This book took me on a ride! It’s like a fever dream of the classic Gothic genre and I loved every second of it. Is there some imagery that will stay with me forever, and not in a good way? Yes. Will I ever think about Romantic old houses the same way again? No. But I still loved it.
This book will absolutely not work for every reader -- I mean, just look at the polarising reviews. But if you like your books weird and don't mine a little bit (just kidding, quite a lot) of blood and gore and unsettling imagery, I’d highly recommend this!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
CW: explicit: medical gore and abortion; lots of gore and blood
Falls firmly into the “I’m not sure why this book exists” category. It is good to see some of the healing and recovery after the events of book 3 (this is always one of my favourite things in fantasy books - what happens after the supposed happily ever after), but there isn’t really a plot.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I won a free proof copy of this book at YALC 2018. This is a spoiler-free review.
I love historical fiction, but it tends to get cast aside in favour of science fiction and fantasy for me. Enter The Familiars, a gorgeous book set during the 17th century witch trials in England, with a cover that I couldn’t resist. I won an early copy of this book back in July and am kicking myself for not reading it sooner! This debut novel investigates class, privilege, female friendships, and the danger of being a social outcast, all with a touch of the unknown.
The Familiars is a deceptively fast-paced book that is difficult to put down. The way the prose flows so wonderfully and really brings the story to life. I loved the light sense of claustrophobia and dread threaded throughout the book -- as Fleetwood presses against social boundaries and what is considered acceptable for a woman, the prose gets more and more constricting. In addition, there is an extremely light touch of magic, which was incredibly effective.
Fleetwood is our first person narrator, so it shouldn’t be surprising that I really liked her as a character. I loved her inner monologue and the way that she slowly begins to realise her the privilege of per position in comparison to other women like Alice who do not have the protection of title and money. The fact that she does manage to identify this privilege and attempts to use it to help others was incredibly effective, but she still felt very much like a woman of her time. She wants to be a good wife and mother and due to her inability to carry a child to term, she feels like she is failing in her only duties. However she has a spark of resistance that I love in female historical fiction characters.
I was surprised that her friendship with Alice wasn't a bigger part of the story -- there isn't the kind of bonding or powerful relationship that I thought there would be. It felt almost as though their friendship was just a plot point to push Fleetwood’s growth as a character. Alice herself was a little flat and dull, although that is possibly because we don’t get her point of view at all, and I just didn’t connect with her at all. This was the most disappointing aspect of the book for me because Alice had so much potential to be a phenomenal character.
The Familiars is a spell-binding historical fiction novel that will haunt you long after you read the last page. I cannot recommend this novel more highly if you’re interested in historical fiction or female-centric books.
CW: miscarriage
I won a free proof copy of this book at YALC 2018. This is a spoiler-free review.
I love historical fiction, but it tends to get cast aside in favour of science fiction and fantasy for me. Enter The Familiars, a gorgeous book set during the 17th century witch trials in England, with a cover that I couldn’t resist. I won an early copy of this book back in July and am kicking myself for not reading it sooner! This debut novel investigates class, privilege, female friendships, and the danger of being a social outcast, all with a touch of the unknown.
The Familiars is a deceptively fast-paced book that is difficult to put down. The way the prose flows so wonderfully and really brings the story to life. I loved the light sense of claustrophobia and dread threaded throughout the book -- as Fleetwood presses against social boundaries and what is considered acceptable for a woman, the prose gets more and more constricting. In addition, there is an extremely light touch of magic, which was incredibly effective.
Fleetwood is our first person narrator, so it shouldn’t be surprising that I really liked her as a character. I loved her inner monologue and the way that she slowly begins to realise her the privilege of per position in comparison to other women like Alice who do not have the protection of title and money. The fact that she does manage to identify this privilege and attempts to use it to help others was incredibly effective, but she still felt very much like a woman of her time. She wants to be a good wife and mother and due to her inability to carry a child to term, she feels like she is failing in her only duties. However she has a spark of resistance that I love in female historical fiction characters.
I was surprised that her friendship with Alice wasn't a bigger part of the story -- there isn't the kind of bonding or powerful relationship that I thought there would be. It felt almost as though their friendship was just a plot point to push Fleetwood’s growth as a character. Alice herself was a little flat and dull, although that is possibly because we don’t get her point of view at all, and I just didn’t connect with her at all. This was the most disappointing aspect of the book for me because Alice had so much potential to be a phenomenal character.
The Familiars is a spell-binding historical fiction novel that will haunt you long after you read the last page. I cannot recommend this novel more highly if you’re interested in historical fiction or female-centric books.
CW: miscarriage
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I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
A fascinating true story of trauma, spiritualism, psychology, and national fear. I really enjoyed this look into the 1930's obsession with supposed hauntings, and why people were so desperate to believe in the existence of life after life at this time (and beyond). Summerscale does a great job of setting the scene, showing a nation on the verge of war and how current events influenced the interest in the paranormal.
I really enjoyed the quirky cast of characters, from Fodor, a Jewish-Hungarian refugee and devoted parapsychologist who's desperate to prove that Fielding's case is a true haunting, to Alma herself, a housewife with a dark past who may or may not be faking her experiences. Summerscale depicts their strange relationship and how they fed off of each other, with Fodor's obsession with Alma's increasingly strange case growing.
I love stories of the supernatural and The Haunting of Alma Fielding is a fascinating look at a poltergeist haunting drawn from the investigator's own notes. I'd highly recommend the audiobook for this one, the narrator does a great job.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
A fascinating true story of trauma, spiritualism, psychology, and national fear. I really enjoyed this look into the 1930's obsession with supposed hauntings, and why people were so desperate to believe in the existence of life after life at this time (and beyond). Summerscale does a great job of setting the scene, showing a nation on the verge of war and how current events influenced the interest in the paranormal.
I really enjoyed the quirky cast of characters, from Fodor, a Jewish-Hungarian refugee and devoted parapsychologist who's desperate to prove that Fielding's case is a true haunting, to Alma herself, a housewife with a dark past who may or may not be faking her experiences. Summerscale depicts their strange relationship and how they fed off of each other, with Fodor's obsession with Alma's increasingly strange case growing.
I love stories of the supernatural and The Haunting of Alma Fielding is a fascinating look at a poltergeist haunting drawn from the investigator's own notes. I'd highly recommend the audiobook for this one, the narrator does a great job.
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I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
What a ridiculous, silly, and absolutely delightful book.
I've only read one of Scalzi's books (Redshirts, very strange but would definitely recommend to Star Trek fans like me), so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I ended up turning to the audiobook and had an absolute blast listening to Wil Wheaton's narration. The book is full of corny jokes and banter, which translate well to audio, and the science doesn't overwhelm the reader (whether the science is in any way accurate, who know and who cares). The characters have great chemistry and there's a wonderful sense of camaraderie throughout the novel that I really enjoyed.
As others have pointed out, Scalzi sums up the book perfectly in the author's note: "KPS is not, and I say this with absolutely no slight intended, a brooding symphony of a novel. It's a pop song. It's meant to be light and catchy, with three minutes of hooks and choruses for you to sing along with, and then you're done and you go on with your day, hopefully with a smile on your face." What an absolutely perfect way to describe this book.
The Kaiju Preservation Society is a fun romp and a great summer read, and I couldn't recommend it more highly.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
What a ridiculous, silly, and absolutely delightful book.
I've only read one of Scalzi's books (Redshirts, very strange but would definitely recommend to Star Trek fans like me), so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I ended up turning to the audiobook and had an absolute blast listening to Wil Wheaton's narration. The book is full of corny jokes and banter, which translate well to audio, and the science doesn't overwhelm the reader (whether the science is in any way accurate, who know and who cares). The characters have great chemistry and there's a wonderful sense of camaraderie throughout the novel that I really enjoyed.
As others have pointed out, Scalzi sums up the book perfectly in the author's note: "KPS is not, and I say this with absolutely no slight intended, a brooding symphony of a novel. It's a pop song. It's meant to be light and catchy, with three minutes of hooks and choruses for you to sing along with, and then you're done and you go on with your day, hopefully with a smile on your face." What an absolutely perfect way to describe this book.
The Kaiju Preservation Society is a fun romp and a great summer read, and I couldn't recommend it more highly.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
A new horror thriller that can be described as Squid Game meets Cabin in the Woods.
I do love a good thriller, and Kiersten White's adult debut caught my eye! I love a good competition plot, and Hide ups the ante: if you're out, you're out (if you know what I mean). I ultimately had a great time reading this book - it's a great summer thriller - but I felt it could have been stronger. You know that feeling when you're approaching the last 50 pages of a book and are wondering how the author will manage to wrap it up? That was how I felt in the last 5-10 pages. The ending was so abrupt and rushed, I wish a little more time had been dedicated to it. We also have so many points of view - we see through the eyes of pretty much every character at some point in the book, adding up to over 13 different POVs! It was a lot to keep track of, and I think some readers will really hate this.
Despite this, I really enjoyed the characters in the book (I would die for Ava) and the heightened tensions made for some excellent tension. Mack isn't the strongest character in the book, but I really enjoyed her chemistry with some of her fellow competitors. I was totally invested in their journey until the very end.
If you're looking for a solid summer read, with a side of horror, I'd definitely recommend looking into Hide.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
CW: homophobia, suicide, murder, child abuse
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
A new horror thriller that can be described as Squid Game meets Cabin in the Woods.
I do love a good thriller, and Kiersten White's adult debut caught my eye! I love a good competition plot, and Hide ups the ante: if you're out, you're out (if you know what I mean). I ultimately had a great time reading this book - it's a great summer thriller - but I felt it could have been stronger. You know that feeling when you're approaching the last 50 pages of a book and are wondering how the author will manage to wrap it up? That was how I felt in the last 5-10 pages. The ending was so abrupt and rushed, I wish a little more time had been dedicated to it. We also have so many points of view - we see through the eyes of pretty much every character at some point in the book, adding up to over 13 different POVs! It was a lot to keep track of, and I think some readers will really hate this.
Despite this, I really enjoyed the characters in the book (I would die for Ava) and the heightened tensions made for some excellent tension. Mack isn't the strongest character in the book, but I really enjoyed her chemistry with some of her fellow competitors. I was totally invested in their journey until the very end.
If you're looking for a solid summer read, with a side of horror, I'd definitely recommend looking into Hide.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
CW: homophobia, suicide, murder, child abuse
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I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I can't tell you how happy I was to hear we are getting more books in the Singing Hills Cycle! It is one of my favourite series, and Into the Riverlands is a fantastic new installment in the adventures of our favourite cleric.
We follow cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant (she's back!) into the riverlands - a region famed for stories of its legendary martial artists. Vo explores the duality of stories, their truths and lies, and how they are told, all while exploring new characters and a very old feud. Into the Riverlands felt a little more action-packed than her previous novellas in this series, but it still maintained the thoughtful characters, excellent dialogue, and immersive world we have seen in the previous books.
Fans of the Singing Hills Cycle will love Into the Riverlands - I think it may be my new favourite book in the series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I can't tell you how happy I was to hear we are getting more books in the Singing Hills Cycle! It is one of my favourite series, and Into the Riverlands is a fantastic new installment in the adventures of our favourite cleric.
We follow cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant (she's back!) into the riverlands - a region famed for stories of its legendary martial artists. Vo explores the duality of stories, their truths and lies, and how they are told, all while exploring new characters and a very old feud. Into the Riverlands felt a little more action-packed than her previous novellas in this series, but it still maintained the thoughtful characters, excellent dialogue, and immersive world we have seen in the previous books.
Fans of the Singing Hills Cycle will love Into the Riverlands - I think it may be my new favourite book in the series.