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drakaina16's reviews
2116 reviews
Creatures of Appetite by Todd Travis
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I stopped reading police procedurals because they tend to be so formulaic. Disgruntled, misogynistic officer of the law, paired with an eager-to-prove themself rookie. And honestly, this book is not much different. It is compulsively readable, however. I had it all figured out in the end, but the very last chapter actually surprised me quite a bit. I had already planned on reading the next book in the series, but that last chapter definitely hooked me. 4 stars
Harvested: An Anthology of Reaping What You Sow by RJ Roles
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I do enjoy a good bit of schadenfreude every now and again, and this anthology has it in spades. Even better, all of these people deserve what they get. I had a great time with the anthology. 4 stars
Rocks by Jason Nickey ⭐⭐⭐
Sinkhole by Sidney Shiv ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Rise and Fall of the Corn Kings of Appalachia by Jae Maezer ⭐⭐
The Weird Sisters of 313 Inverness Ave. by Thomas R Clark ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Drown by Stephanie Scissom ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sacred Silence by RJ Roles ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.5
Publisher's Delight by Angelique Jordanna ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Shadow on the Hill by M. Betterelli ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Brown Sugar by Megan Stockton ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Second Date (Movie Night) by M Ennenbach ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Femmina Accabadora by Lisa Vasquez ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Buried by Colt Skinner ⭐⭐⭐.25
Ugly by Rayne Havok ⭐⭐
Go Deep, Henry by Lance Dale ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Reckoning by Eric Butler ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Rocks by Jason Nickey ⭐⭐⭐
Sinkhole by Sidney Shiv ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Rise and Fall of the Corn Kings of Appalachia by Jae Maezer ⭐⭐
The Weird Sisters of 313 Inverness Ave. by Thomas R Clark ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Drown by Stephanie Scissom ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sacred Silence by RJ Roles ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.5
Publisher's Delight by Angelique Jordanna ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Shadow on the Hill by M. Betterelli ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Brown Sugar by Megan Stockton ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Second Date (Movie Night) by M Ennenbach ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Femmina Accabadora by Lisa Vasquez ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Buried by Colt Skinner ⭐⭐⭐.25
Ugly by Rayne Havok ⭐⭐
Go Deep, Henry by Lance Dale ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Reckoning by Eric Butler ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Vixens of Horror: Vintage Edition by Megan Stockton
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Thank you to the editor for providing a review copy.
Anything with a whiff of feminine rage, and I'm all the way in. This is a "good for her" anthology, with all of the stories taking place in the 1950s. Like with any anthology, there are some real stand out stories, and a couple I didn't care for. Overall, solid collection. 3.75 stars
White Wine and Bunco, Whiskey and Poker by Jae Maezer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lucy Deserves the Finer Things by Angelique Fawns ⭐⭐⭐.25
Bait by Miracle Austin ⭐⭐⭐.5
Blueberry Buckle by Caitlin Marceau ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
No Place For a Man by Megan Stockton ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Family Traits by Chantell Renee ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Wishbone by Candace Nola ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
How Things are Done in Harmony Heights by Christine Morgan ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Twisted Angel by Cassandra Jones ⭐⭐
A Woman's World by Rebecca Evanesky ⭐⭐
Anything with a whiff of feminine rage, and I'm all the way in. This is a "good for her" anthology, with all of the stories taking place in the 1950s. Like with any anthology, there are some real stand out stories, and a couple I didn't care for. Overall, solid collection. 3.75 stars
White Wine and Bunco, Whiskey and Poker by Jae Maezer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lucy Deserves the Finer Things by Angelique Fawns ⭐⭐⭐.25
Bait by Miracle Austin ⭐⭐⭐.5
Blueberry Buckle by Caitlin Marceau ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
No Place For a Man by Megan Stockton ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Family Traits by Chantell Renee ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Wishbone by Candace Nola ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
How Things are Done in Harmony Heights by Christine Morgan ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Twisted Angel by Cassandra Jones ⭐⭐
A Woman's World by Rebecca Evanesky ⭐⭐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape
Beneath by Kristi DeMeester
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm going to be very honest - I finished this book last night, and I still have no idea how I feel about it. The first two-thirds of the book, I was absolutely ready to give it 5 stars. Beneath is beautifully written. The prose sings, and the story of a small town snake preacher enthralled with a 16 year old girl felt like something I shouldn't be reading. It was creepy and lovely.
Somewhere around the last third of the book, the narrative bogs down hard, the focus shifts, and it lost me a bit. The ending of the story was good, but I just didn't love it anymore. So I guess I'm going to give it 4 stars, because it's just so insidious and creepy and quite good for a first novel. I definitely plan on reading more by the author.
Somewhere around the last third of the book, the narrative bogs down hard, the focus shifts, and it lost me a bit. The ending of the story was good, but I just didn't love it anymore. So I guess I'm going to give it 4 stars, because it's just so insidious and creepy and quite good for a first novel. I definitely plan on reading more by the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Colours by CS Jones
dark
mysterious
fast-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
3.0
At the end of this short novelette, I found I didn't have really strong feelings about it. The monster is creepy, the writing is decent. Other than that, I find myself without a lot to say about it. 3 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Screams From the Ocean Floor: A Horror Anthology by Gage Greenwood, Patrick McNulty, Leigh Kenny, Heather Ann Larson, LM Kaplin, Ollie Gill, Angel Van Atta, Charlie Walls, Chad West, Rhonda Bobbit, Derek Heath, Megan Stockton, Joshua Macmillan, RJ Roles, D W Hitz
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The ocean has always simultaneously repelled and fascinated me. It's an objectively terrifying place. The stories in Screams From the Ocean Floor all center around water and the ocean, from creature features to psychopaths. I had a great time with the anthology. 4 stars
Dark Waters by Wil Forbis ⭐⭐.75
And Then They Eat Your Eyes by Leigh Kenny ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sand by Derek Heath ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Oceanlust by RJ Roles ⭐⭐⭐.25
Screams From the Ocean Floor by Heather Ann Larson ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Inexsub by Megan Stockton ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Dead Man's Cove by Patrick McNulty ⭐⭐⭐.75
The Island of Final Resting Places by Gage Greenwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hearing Things by Chad West ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Beneath the Waves by Ollie Gill ⭐⭐⭐.75
Into the Water by D.W. Hitz ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Fool's Gold by LM Kaplin ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Only the Ship by Charlie Walls ⭐⭐⭐
What the Tide Rolled In by Joshua MacMillan ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Wavlings by Rhonda Bobbitt ⭐⭐⭐.5
She and the Sea by Angel Van Atta ⭐⭐⭐.5
Dark Waters by Wil Forbis ⭐⭐.75
And Then They Eat Your Eyes by Leigh Kenny ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sand by Derek Heath ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Oceanlust by RJ Roles ⭐⭐⭐.25
Screams From the Ocean Floor by Heather Ann Larson ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Inexsub by Megan Stockton ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Dead Man's Cove by Patrick McNulty ⭐⭐⭐.75
The Island of Final Resting Places by Gage Greenwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hearing Things by Chad West ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Beneath the Waves by Ollie Gill ⭐⭐⭐.75
Into the Water by D.W. Hitz ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Fool's Gold by LM Kaplin ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Only the Ship by Charlie Walls ⭐⭐⭐
What the Tide Rolled In by Joshua MacMillan ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Wavlings by Rhonda Bobbitt ⭐⭐⭐.5
She and the Sea by Angel Van Atta ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Aching Plane by Cody Lakin
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
Every now again, a book comes along that so devastates me emotionally that it also ends up healing a part of me I didn't even realize needed healing. I was not expecting to find that book so early in the year.
The Aching Plane is best described as cosmic literary grief horror, and it's not only one of the best horror books I've read. It is now one of my favorite books of all time. The book is unsettling, eerie, downright uncanny. The imagery in the book will probably never leave me. The descriptions of wading through the aching planes of grief and devastatingly accurate descriptions of depression won't either. The gore isn't absent, but it never takes center stage.
This book is such an achievement, and I can't recommend it highly enough. 5 stars
Every now again, a book comes along that so devastates me emotionally that it also ends up healing a part of me I didn't even realize needed healing. I was not expecting to find that book so early in the year.
The Aching Plane is best described as cosmic literary grief horror, and it's not only one of the best horror books I've read. It is now one of my favorite books of all time. The book is unsettling, eerie, downright uncanny. The imagery in the book will probably never leave me. The descriptions of wading through the aching planes of grief and devastatingly accurate descriptions of depression won't either. The gore isn't absent, but it never takes center stage.
This book is such an achievement, and I can't recommend it highly enough. 5 stars
Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction by Gabrielle Moss
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
What a fun, nostalgic romp through teen fiction in the 80s and 90s. If you were a young bookworm, so many of these titles will be familiar. The horror section was my favorite, and it made me remember so many books I had forgotten I'd read. 5 stars
OH FUCK OH FUCK IT HURTS: A Collection of Medical Horror by Ruth Anna Evans
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Ruth Anna Evans never lets me down. Her stories are visceral and feel real. Running the gamut from body horror to the horrors of the US medical system, a lot of these stories resonated deeply with me (a chronic pain patient for the last 22 years). 4.5 stars
Lifeline ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Autoimmune ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
FAT ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Defective ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Colonoscopy ⭐⭐⭐.5
Side Effects Include ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sixteen ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Visitor ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Lifeline ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Autoimmune ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
FAT ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Defective ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Colonoscopy ⭐⭐⭐.5
Side Effects Include ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sixteen ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Visitor ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie Liu
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0