I was going to give this two stars but that would be doing a disservice to every other book I've given two stars.
This book is bad. It reads like a poI was going to give this two stars but that would be doing a disservice to every other book I've given two stars.
This book is bad. It reads like a poorly edited No Sleep episode.
The plot is repetitive and hits the reader over the head with What It All Means ((view spoiler)[ DO YOU GET IT THE LABYRINTH IS DEPRESSION (hide spoiler)]), the characterization is next to zero, and the writing? Oof. It's not flower, purple, or pretentious writing. It's just bad writing. It's opaque to the point that the words mean absolutely. nothing and you can't distinguish what's happening. Just because you can pick the most archaic word to mean something doesn't mean that you should -- which is obvious? What editor allowed this and why? There's a way to pull off mimicking the horrors of the labyrinth and this just isn't it.
This paragraph is probably technically spoiler territory, but I don't care, because I think people who have depression should know what they're getting into with this book. I did not think the representation of depression here was well done. While I'm certain that people feel the same way the main character does, reiterating that medicine or professionals can't help you but the love of a stranger who gave you blowjob in a subway station can is certainly not the takeaway I was expecting and I didn't appreciate it. (view spoiler)[ OR it ends with the main character slitting through their in the station and becoming a part of the liminal space. I honestly think this ending could have worked in the context of the story except the choose your own adventure style of writing completely took away from the gravity of that ending. (hide spoiler)]
The entire subplot about the elevator game was stupid and how the book discussed Elisa Lam was disrespectful. I'm going to need horror writers to have a crumb of decorum when they're speaking about real tragedies because real people are affected by those real tragedies and you just look like a fucking asshole.
And, at the end of the day, I'm left wondering what the point was of this story. What did it really bring to the table except poor depression representation disguised as criminally underused cosmic horror and an ending that was 1000% the worst way to end this book?
It only took me like an hour to read this but that's an hour of my life I'll never get back.
A fun holiday mystery novella -- in Australia! I haven't read the others in the series and followed this just fine. There were certainly sp[3.5 stars]
A fun holiday mystery novella -- in Australia! I haven't read the others in the series and followed this just fine. There were certainly spoilers for the first two in terms of relationships and some plot points, but nothing too bad (I think), and I also don't care.
I really like the meta elements to this, but I do wonder if it would be a bit too much in a longer novel. That said, I like the main character and the way the story's beats played out. It was a bit unevenly paced in the middle, but overall, enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend the audiobook. I'm excited to go back and read the first two! ...more
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of The Country of Pointed Firs! It comes out December 10, 2024.
This is a sweet little noThank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of The Country of Pointed Firs! It comes out December 10, 2024.
This is a sweet little novella following a writer who stays in a small coastal town in New England one summer. This is very much a case study of these small coastal towns; we meet many residents as our unnamed narrator becomes more involved in the community. It's from the late 1800s, so there are some conversations that are outdated and racist, so know that going into it, but it's cozy in the way that early American classics are cozy. It's about community and small town life and nature -- the writing of the environment really shines here.
There's also something a little somber and sad about the story -- many of the conversations are centered on people who have died and the grief that the community feels over the passing of time. There's equal parts joy and love, though. I most enjoyed the moments with Mrs. Todd and her mother. They were adorable.
I do wish we had more information on our narrator. Like what is she writing? Why did she pick that town to stay at? How did she pick that town?
I enjoyed my time with this, and I can see myself picking up more works by Sarah Orne Jewett when I'm wanting that cozy sort of nature writing. ...more
Nothing happens, but the writing was competent enough so, sure, two stars.
This started off pretty promising -- I liked the first couple of chapters. Nothing happens, but the writing was competent enough so, sure, two stars.
This started off pretty promising -- I liked the first couple of chapters. Then it got really convoluted and ends abruptly. The story didn't feel complete in any way. I agree with reviewers who feel this was more of an outline for a novel than a fully realized novella.
Listen -- I'm going to need at least ten more novellas of Alex Easton finding themselves in the middle of a supernatural event. I just love[4.5 stars]
Listen -- I'm going to need at least ten more novellas of Alex Easton finding themselves in the middle of a supernatural event. I just love them as a main character. I love how the stories explore their PTSD and the aftermath of war; I love the relationships they have with the people around them. Kingfisher's humor really works for me, especially in these novellas, as well. While the first novella, What Moves the Dead is a solid gothic tale, What Feasts at Night feels like more of a folktale.
I enjoyed it quite a bit! Please announce a third one soon....more
This was incredibly average. Just fine. An easy listen in an afternoon, but not a story I'm going to reflect a lot on after writing this. The main chaThis was incredibly average. Just fine. An easy listen in an afternoon, but not a story I'm going to reflect a lot on after writing this. The main character made some questionable decisions, as so many main characters in horror novels do, and the plot is more than a little underdeveloped given the time constraints of the project. It may have been more successful as a fuller novel rather than a novella.
There were some creepy moments, but ultimately, this was akin to watching a b-horror movie. ...more
Great haunted house vibes, coupled with commentary on class and social status in Spain. If 'I support women's wrongs' combined with the religious fervGreat haunted house vibes, coupled with commentary on class and social status in Spain. If 'I support women's wrongs' combined with the religious fervor of Carrie had a baby with a particular scene in The Tale of Two Sisters. There's some great creepy, uncanny moments within this novella, and I enjoyed the pace and plot of the story....more
A fever dream of a novella as a young woman grapples with grief, identity, and loss. The writing, here, is great -- some sentences felt a bit overwritA fever dream of a novella as a young woman grapples with grief, identity, and loss. The writing, here, is great -- some sentences felt a bit overwritten, but otherwise it was so evocative. I loved, in particular, the way that Morris describes nature.
I also greatly related to and appreciated the way that Morris handled depictions of grief and feeling inadequate in one's cultural identity.
I wanted just a bit more from the narrative -- maybe 30-50 more pages of character work and character building. There are some really fabulous ideas explored here that I think would have been even more impactful given more space to breathe.
I'm probably being a bit too generous, but this novella did exactly what I wanted it to do. The pacing is pretty well done for the length of the storyI'm probably being a bit too generous, but this novella did exactly what I wanted it to do. The pacing is pretty well done for the length of the story and the writing is pretty average. It's a bit too in the MC's head for my own liking, but I could overlook that. I thought it might be a bit more campy due to the tone of the cover and the first half of the story, but it gets pretty gruesome.
I think if you're looking for a holiday thriller featuring a snowed in MC making questionable life decisions and you can overlook some plot points, this is a fun way to pass an hour. ...more
Every time I pick up a story by Hailey Piper, I know I'm going to enjoy it. Her writing is so entertaining and her world-building and plots are alwaysEvery time I pick up a story by Hailey Piper, I know I'm going to enjoy it. Her writing is so entertaining and her world-building and plots are always a wild time. Queen of Teeth is no exception. It's a bloody, tentacle-y good time with a romance that's somehow adorable in the midst of all the chaos. There are some great conversations on government ownership over bodies (specifically women's bodies, and trans/nonbinary bodies) and the thematic connection between Yaya and Magenta and gender identity/transness is *chef's kiss*.
I do think there are some aspects of the story that needed more clarification, and the middle portion dragged a bit/got a bit repetitive, but overall it was a good time!...more
A fun little horror novella set in a small town in the 80s on Halloween night. Piper tells a great story in a relatively short a[3.5 stars rounded up]
A fun little horror novella set in a small town in the 80s on Halloween night. Piper tells a great story in a relatively short amount of time-but I would have loved just a bit more on the figure of Benny Rose.
That said, Piper nails the Halloween vibes with this one, and the audiobook is a great time. ...more
I wish this had been just a bit longer so more elements to the story could have been explored a bit more, but overall, enjoyed this. If you like horroI wish this had been just a bit longer so more elements to the story could have been explored a bit more, but overall, enjoyed this. If you like horror along the lines of the horror film American Mary, I think you'll dig this. ...more
Do you love haunted house stories that are metaphors for grief and the fear of death/dying? If so, this is the horror novella for you. I ab[4.5 stars]
Do you love haunted house stories that are metaphors for grief and the fear of death/dying? If so, this is the horror novella for you. I absolutely love how quiet and contemplative this story is. The way it presents grief is so realistic, and I love (view spoiler)[the concept that ghosts aren't here of their own volition--that they're tied here through the grief and sorrow of their loved ones, unable to let them go. (hide spoiler)] I really enjoyed Wenqi and Mrs's POVs.
I do wish there had been a bit more to the novella, particular in the latter half. Some plot points happen fairly quickly back to back, and I wish we had a bit more time in between them to process what was happening with the characters. I also did not put together that Liam and Wenqi were high schoolers. They felt younger.
Overall, though, I enjoyed this meditative reflection on grief and loss. The audiobook is fantastic, so if you read books in that format, I would highly recommend. The narrator was great and there were some awesome effects. ...more
A tense novella about a young girl (and later woman) who finds herself stalked by the obsessive "X" after the murder of her fr[3.5 stars rounded down]
A tense novella about a young girl (and later woman) who finds herself stalked by the obsessive "X" after the murder of her friend Bobby. This story was exactly as long as it needed to be, which I appreciated. The pacing and suspense were both good. There were definitely some creepy moments, but these are front loaded when Laura is a young girl, rather than when she grows up.
An easy read to listen to while doing some house chores! Glad I finally got around to reading this, and would recommend if you like obsessive stalker stories. I do think it's important to give a TW/CW for a specific element: (view spoiler)[ TW: pedophilia (hide spoiler)]....more
A solid fantasy novella, though I expected nothing different from Fonda Lee. It is a slim 120 pages, but feels like a complete[3.5 stars rounded down]
A solid fantasy novella, though I expected nothing different from Fonda Lee. It is a slim 120 pages, but feels like a complete story. Some of the scenes of the roc hunting manticores got a little repetitive, but overall, I liked this story. ...more
I enjoyed this so much more than Khaw's previous novella, Nothing but Blackened Teeth. The writing is *stunning* -- the langua[4.5 stars rounded down]
I enjoyed this so much more than Khaw's previous novella, Nothing but Blackened Teeth. The writing is *stunning* -- the language and tone are both just so beautiful and perfect for the type of story that The Salt Grows Heavy is. It's a wonderful blend between dark fairytale and grisly horror. I loved our unnamed narrator and her plague doctor and their relationship. I loved how this novella used its "The Little Mermaid" origins. The one thing I would have loved was perhaps just a bit more time to expand upon the world and give a bit more of a backstory to the narrator's time with the prince at the beginning of the story. There is some context given with an added short story that follows the novella, which was great, but I would have loved a bit more because I enjoyed the story so much.
I can definitely see myself rereading this. ...more
A fun, solid sci-fi horror! While I would have loved more, it was the perfect length. Brown did a great job setting up the characters and p[4.5 stars]
A fun, solid sci-fi horror! While I would have loved more, it was the perfect length. Brown did a great job setting up the characters and pacing the story. The audiobook was also great--highly recommend! ...more
Loading...
