This was both a gripping and tough read. Enola is caught in an abusive relationship and still grappling with the trauma of a difficult child3.5 stars
This was both a gripping and tough read. Enola is caught in an abusive relationship and still grappling with the trauma of a difficult childhood she’s never fully healed from. At times, she was incredibly frustrating, but her poor decisions felt believable given how manipulated she was at every turn. That said, I struggled to understand what she saw in the man in the first place.
Roo, her best friend, was easily one of the best characters. Enola is lucky to have someone so supportive in her life. While I think the book could have been a little shorter, it was powerfully written. I wouldn’t call it an enjoyable read because of the heavy subject matter, but it definitely held my interest....more
This slow-burn mystery set in Iceland was an engaging read. I appreciated the depth of the main character, who’s grappling with heavy issues like the This slow-burn mystery set in Iceland was an engaging read. I appreciated the depth of the main character, who’s grappling with heavy issues like the death of her grandfather and her struggles with substance abuse. She journeys to Iceland to uncover the truth and hopefully clear her grandfather’s name.
As for the mystery itself, it was fairly predictable. It wasn’t hard to figure out who the culprit was or their motivations. There was also a romance subplot and it provided a glimmer of hope and happiness for the protagonist, which felt fitting given everything she was dealing with. Overall, I thought the book was fine. It dragged a bit in places and the predictability kept it from standing out, but it was still a solid read....more
This was definitely a twisty and unhinged thriller. The protagonist is an intriguing character—I felt sympathetic toward her, but I also foun3.5 stars
This was definitely a twisty and unhinged thriller. The protagonist is an intriguing character—I felt sympathetic toward her, but I also found her tendency to push boundaries and not know when to stop frustrating. She obsesses and stalks, yet somehow remains likable. This is a difficult balance to achieve, but the author pulled it off well. That said, her many questionable actions did annoy me at times.
The mystery had several layers with multiple people involved. Some parts were predictable, while others genuinely surprised me. Overall, it was an entertaining story, but it didn’t completely wow me. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t say I loved it, which is why I didn’t rate this any higher....more
I’m not a huge fantasy person, but I enjoyed this book. The main character has depth and I liked the romantic tension between her and Reid. Their scenI’m not a huge fantasy person, but I enjoyed this book. The main character has depth and I liked the romantic tension between her and Reid. Their scenes were easily my favorite. The romance was a slow burn, but you could see their feelings building with every interaction. There were even a few spicy moments as well.
I also liked learning more about her magic and her family’s history. The magic portions brought some extra oomph to all the political maneuvering. The politics weren’t particularly complex, but the book ends on a cliffhanger and it feels like things are about to get much bigger in the next one. The stakes ramped up at the end and now I’m curious to see where it all goes. Overall, it’s not the most intricate fantasy, but it was entertaining and kept me turning the pages....more
Dinner for Vampires is a well-written memoir and as someone who grew up watching One Tree Hill, I was eager to read this—especially since Haley was alDinner for Vampires is a well-written memoir and as someone who grew up watching One Tree Hill, I was eager to read this—especially since Haley was always my favorite character. Much of the book delves into her experience of being brainwashed into a cult. Because the cult was religious, there’s a lot of talk about God and spirituality. This didn’t resonate with me as much since I’m not religious, so I felt a bit disconnected in those sections. Overall, this heartfelt memoir captures just how deeply Joy was manipulated by these awful people, but I’m glad she ultimately found a way to escape and rebuild her life....more
I enjoyed the story and its unique premise, but it was a slow read that became repetitive. The book is structured around different characters3.5 stars
I enjoyed the story and its unique premise, but it was a slow read that became repetitive. The book is structured around different characters recounting their experiences with a mysterious woman, interwoven with her own perspective. Filled with darkness and tragedy, the book kept me interested in uncovering her origins and purpose. However, after a certain point, the repetition took some of the momentum out of the story for me. Each character’s account follows a similar pattern and ultimately ends the same way, which made it feel somewhat predictable. Overall, it was an intriguing story that might have been more effective as a novella....more
This is definitely more of a romantic suspense novel than a gothic one. However, the romance was pretty minimal and not particularly engagin2.5 stars
This is definitely more of a romantic suspense novel than a gothic one. However, the romance was pretty minimal and not particularly engaging. The beginning was confusing because the heroine refers to everyone by their first name, including her father. It wasn’t clear how the characters were related until about 60 pages in. The prose also felt too stiff and formal for my taste.
That said, the second half of the story became more interesting. An international mystery unfolds involving jewelry thieves, blackmail, murder, and revenge. The identity of the murderer was hilariously bad though. Overall, it wasn’t a terrible read, but it felt more like an espionage novel set in the �60s than a gothic. I’m honestly puzzled as to why this was categorized as gothic in the first place....more
An intriguing story centered on two deeply messed-up characters. While I could empathize with them at times, I never really agreed with their actions.An intriguing story centered on two deeply messed-up characters. While I could empathize with them at times, I never really agreed with their actions. In terms of the story, it felt somewhat repetitive, as it kept revisiting the same details about the murders from both Lydia’s perspective and the serial killer’s. I needed more variation from the POVs to keep the story’s momentum going.
One of the murders genuinely shocked me—I was surprised the author went that far, but it also made me realize that these characters aren’t necessarily meant to be redeemable. The romance was insta-love, which was a surprising choice and didn’t quite work for me. The characters don’t even meet until about halfway through the book and I felt their relationship would have benefited from an earlier introduction. One of the characters also lacked depth, with motivations that came across as surface-level. Overall, the justification for the murders felt weak and I struggled to enjoy this book. ...more
This was a fun and brutal holiday horror read that at times reminded me of the Saw movies, especially with the intense violence. Most of the 3.5 stars
This was a fun and brutal holiday horror read that at times reminded me of the Saw movies, especially with the intense violence. Most of the characters were unlikable and fairly one-dimensional, but the set-up kept things interesting. Of course, some of the characters made some idiotic decisions. The twist at the end was great, though a bit far-fetched. I predicted one part, but the other part caught me off guard. Overall, this was an entertaining horror novel with some creatively gruesome kill scenes....more
Wow, what a disturbing and dark read. Aoileann is incredibly messed up, but it’s not hard to understand why, given her horribly neglectful c4.5 stars
Wow, what a disturbing and dark read. Aoileann is incredibly messed up, but it’s not hard to understand why, given her horribly neglectful childhood. I was both disgusted by her and felt sorry for her—this book really stirs up a lot of mixed emotions. There are also several themes present in this book, like caring for a sick parent and the mental toll of being a new mother. Every character in this story is utterly miserable and at times, it felt like the island itself was cursed. This story is bleak, yet completely gripping. I couldn’t put it down. I was so caught up in Aoileann’s desolate life, constantly anticipating how it would all end.
Overall, this was an intense and absorbing read. This one is going to be staying with me for a long time. I think Sophie White is an incredibly talented author and I can’t wait to check out more of her work. ...more
In Haunt Sweet Home, our protagonist is adrift, searching for purpose after realizing that the college path wasn’t for her. She comes from a3.5 stars
In Haunt Sweet Home, our protagonist is adrift, searching for purpose after realizing that the college path wasn’t for her. She comes from a large family where she often feels overshadowed and less accomplished compared to her family members. Perhaps being a PA on a haunted house show might finally give her the direction she’s been looking for. Naturally, with her new role, spooky events start unfolding, blurring the lines between what's real and what's imagined.
I loved watching her growth as she discovered her skills and interests. She’s a likable character—not someone without ambition, but someone who’s still figuring out what drives her. The haunted house setting was a lot of fun too, especially getting a peek behind the scenes at how they create the scares. Overall, this was an enjoyable read with just the right mix of depth and spookiness....more
There’s a bit of mystery, though it’s fairly predictable, as was the ending—but neither detracted from my overall enjoyment. Phantasma manor felt like a character of its own, adding to the book’s gothic vibe. I also appreciated that this book is a standalone, so no cliffhangers to worry about. My only issue was that the story did lose momentum in places, which made it feel a little long at times. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book and maybe I’ll venture out and try more romantasy. ...more
I liked the premise of this story focusing on roadside memorials, but it was definitely a slow burn. Still, the book draws you in-I felt like I was riI liked the premise of this story focusing on roadside memorials, but it was definitely a slow burn. Still, the book draws you in-I felt like I was right alongside the characters on their road trip. However, Billy got on my nerves a few times for not letting things go and making some questionable decisions. If something weird and dangerous is happening, maybe don’t go outside to investigate!
The second half does pick up and get more interesting, but it took a while to get there. I enjoyed the book more once the pace picked up and I liked the folk horror elements, especially with the 80s setting. There was also an unexpected twist at the end, though I found the explanation a bit ridiculous. Overall, there were parts I enjoyed, but the story felt too dragged out for me to rate this any higher....more
The synopsis sounded intriguing but ultimately this was underwhelming. I didn’t care for the stiff prose and the characters lacked depth. The2.5 stars
The synopsis sounded intriguing but ultimately this was underwhelming. I didn’t care for the stiff prose and the characters lacked depth. There was far more telling than showing, which made it difficult to connect with the story. The relationship between Hope and Luke fell flat for me—there wasn't enough groundwork to make their connection believable or worth rooting for. Where were the emotional stakes?
The supporting characters didn't contribute much either and while the mystery had potential, it often felt muddled and overly drawn out. The first half dragged and though the pace picked up later on, it was too late to redeem the book in my eyes. Overall, it’s not a terrible read, but it just didn’t work for me....more
This story definitely stood out with its unique blend of gothic elements and Greek/Roman mythology. Blending the Hades and Persephone myth wi3.5 stars
This story definitely stood out with its unique blend of gothic elements and Greek/Roman mythology. Blending the Hades and Persephone myth with Dali’s influence gave the story quite the surreal atmosphere. Julia’s journey was filled with strange, fantastical events as she tried to piece together what was happening and how she could change her fate.
I liked Ignacio’s character, but I felt the relationship between him and Julia was underdeveloped. They had too few scenes together and Julia spent much of the book avoiding him, which made their connection feel stunted. The slow pacing also dragged down certain parts of the book for me, making it feel more sluggish than it needed to be. Additionally, a few characters were quite unlikeable.
Overall, I enjoyed the subtle twists in this retelling and how Dali was incorporated into the story, but it lacked the passion I was hoping for. The slow pace didn’t always serve the plot well. That said, the vivid descriptions of food were a highlight and I loved that the author included some recipes at the end!...more
This book’s narrative unfolds through three distinct characters, each with a unique voice that adds depth and intrigue to the story. The shi3.5 stars
This book’s narrative unfolds through three distinct characters, each with a unique voice that adds depth and intrigue to the story. The shift in prose and perspective between them is particularly engaging. It's rare for me to find a multi-POV book with distinctive voices, but the author accomplishes it here.
The narrator’s style reads like a compelling true crime novel, while Jade's thesis diverges from the typical academic format with its lyrical prose. Jade is a fascinating and complex character and her thesis is both transformative and poignant. Her instability adds to her depth and I found myself sympathizing with her because she has no real support network. She slowly unravels throughout the novel and it was a beautiful mess that I couldn’t look away from, particularly when it came to her fixation on bears.
As I read, it became clearer where the story was heading. Ursula’s POV did drag a bit, especially since I was more interested in what was going on with Jade at that point. While Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ classifies this as a mystery and horror, it felt more like a character study than anything else. There is definitely no horror but there is quite a bit of folklore mentioned. Overall, this was a solid debut and I’m definitely interested in reading more from this author in the future....more
This book wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I went in thinking it would focus on the mystery of the dead body, but it turned out to be more of a comiThis book wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I went in thinking it would focus on the mystery of the dead body, but it turned out to be more of a coming-of-age story. Most of the narrative unfolds in flashbacks, recounting the sisters' childhood, friendships, and romances. The story then shifts to the present, where we see them repeating the same mistakes they made as teenagers. Both sisters were frustrating characters—they’re just as immature as adults as they were as teens, consistently making poor decisions.
I also wasn’t a fan of the third-person POV, especially with how it jumped between different characters. Although Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ classifies this as a thriller, I’d argue it’s not. The mystery is actually a minor part of the story, with the drama surrounding the sisters taking center stage. I did like the ending, but for the most part I was disappointed and annoyed by this book....more
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