leahrosereads's Reviews (1.04k)

The basics
Enjoyment: ⭐⭐.5
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐
Pacing: ⭐⭐
Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I loved
The absolute creepiness of it all.  The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, so even though I felt like the book dragged a bit, I couldn't stop reading. I had to know what was going to happen to Felix and Faye.  

What I didn't love
Killing off several of the Indigenous folks helping Felix and Faye didn't sit right with me.  I also thought the ending wrapped up too neatly.

The basics
Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot:⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pacing:⭐⭐⭐.5
Writing:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I loved
The characters were the absolute standout here.  That's not to say other parts weren't great, but the characters were brilliantly written.  I needed Virgil and Nathan to be OK.  Like edge of my seat, biting my nails, hoping that everything would be OK.  

This was an incredible novel, and I'll definitely be checking out every other book this author ever puts out.

The basics
Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot:⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pacing:⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writing:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I loved
Everything?  Can I say everything? The writing was some of the most exceptional writing I've ever read.  Seriously, this was a tense, haunting novel that I couldn't put down, and I attribute that to Dimaline's storytelling.  

The way she allowed readers to join Joan on her journey was phenomenal.  We got to see everything.  Every fear, joy, all of the love, and pain.  It was gorgeous and so horrific at times.

And of course the Rogarou was frightening but not scarier than the bigger bad here. Like a lot of horror, we need to look no further than man for cruelty and true horrors.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella.  The jazz, the horror, the main character - Deacon.  But, I wish we got a little more of it all.  The horror was sprinkled in, and outside of Deacon, the other characters fell a little flat.  I think this novella needed maybe 10 extra pages to flesh some elements out.

What was here though, was good.

This was an absolutely stunning, fascinating story.  Loved the different POVs and don't think I could pick a favorite.  Each enhanced the story and gave such fantastic insight to the family's dynamic.  And the fantastical elements were such a great addition.  

The conversation around grief and how it affects everyone differently was also excellently handled.

Cannot gush enough about this one!

What the heck did I get myself into?  This is a nightmare inducing, disturbing manga, and I absolutely enjoyed the journey.  I wish we got some more answers though.  For 400 pages, I'm still wholly confused as to what just happened.  

This is an absolutely stunning magical story.   Córdova is a master storyteller, and weaves the 2 timelines so incredibly well.  I loved all of the elements here - the characters, the plot, the setting, the writing, individually, but then it all comes together as a masterpiece.

Cannot wait to see what  Córdova puts out next!  

This was a super cute, wholesome story.  Loved the friendship between Wendy and Mothman.  It was just so sweet to witness in the present, as well as seeing how it developed in the flashbacks.

All of the stars for this beautifully queer contemporary!  It was absolutely delightful to read, and although, I'm not much of a baker, this story makes me want to learn or discover something I can be as passionate about as Syd is with baking.

Is it too soon to re-read this?

What a stunning, poetically written story.  Absolutely loved this take on Dracula, his brides, and vampires in general.  It was beautiful and horrifying and just everything I could have hoped for.