kt2e56's reviews
103 reviews

Shift by Hugh Howey

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-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

Might be even better than the first?  This one I think was way more emotionally impactful for some reason. It’s a unique choice for an author to avoid a direct continuation of events in a sequel and instead give us a whole book about everyone but our heroine. Donald is a really interesting addition. I’m excited to see where everything goes next.
Cutting Teeth by Chandler Baker

Go to review page

dark funny mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

Some of the metaphors and imagery here are a little too on the nose but all in all, wow! This was such a fantastic, darkly funny read! The author did such a great job of giving us compelling characters that felt like real people instead of caricatures. The twists in the story genuinely had me wanting to read more. Can’t wait for the inevitable TV mini series adaptation.
Wool by Hugh Howey

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense fast-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

A really compelling and unique take on what could have been just another retread of some known sci-fi and dystopian horror tropes. Some genuinely lovely prose that I think brought a lot of emotion into this.
In the Cut by Susanna Moore

Go to review page

dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I saw the movie for the first time recently and enjoyed it so was excited to read/listen to the book and unfortunately was disappointed. First of all: the voice actress is AWFUL. Truly just terrible. Her voices for Cornelius and Rodriguez are just so unbelievably racist (and pretty goofy tbh. Kinda takes any and all tension away from scenes with them) and her attempt at a brogue for Pauline was equally as offensive. This all really takes away from the story (which has some truly harrowing sequences) but in a way, so does the main romance. Maybe it’s because Mark Ruffalo is so naturally charismatic that he makes Molloy seem less awful in the movie but in the book he’s such a disgusting racist, misogynistic pig and I can’t believe someone who we’re lead to believe is intelligent (and who attempts to challenge other racist characters in the book) would ever put up with such a gross dude. Like surely it can’t JUST be lust!? C’mon girl! Stand up!

I will say that in terms of things I DID like, I mostly enjoyed the author’s writing style and I absolutely LOVED the ending. Probably one of the best (and most shocking) endings to a book I’ve read in quite some time. I also like that certain details I was confused about in the movie were explained here (like the significance of the tattoo). 
Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

Wow. WOW. Just a gut punch nasty little horror novel that’s also so beautiful and intimate too. Insane to me that it was written (and published!!!!) literally MONTHS before COVID considering how much this book so accurately predicted about the government and citizens’ responses
The Night House by Jo Nesbø

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I’ll admit that I really didn’t know where this was going and wasn’t enjoying the first part but I’m REALLY glad I stuck with it. This was surprisingly touching although it had some really solid scares. I’m glad everything unfolds the way it does and I don’t want to say too much more and spoil anything because going in blind I think really enhanced my experience.
Goddess of Filth by V. Castro

Go to review page

dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

The story sounded so interesting and unique so I was really excited to read it but unfortunately it was a rushed mess with massive plot holes, no real characterization of anyone (literally every character sounds the same and feels so bland and colorless) and an attempt at feminism that doesn’t really feel like feminism due to the mechanics of the supernatural at play. Also, I unfortunately did this as an audiobook which was a huge mistake because the voice actress is just atrociously bad. Her attempt at acting is what I’d do when reading a children’s book to my nephews but there’s no legitimate emotion there or attempt at characterization past whispering for some characters but screaming for others.
Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Oh this felt like it was made in a lab just for me. The right mix of horror and humor. Loved the film aspects of it all. The characters are all really fleshed out and lively. Just such a great start to spooky season!
The Silent Death by Volker Kutscher

Go to review page

dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Appreciated the more humorous elements this time around and expansion on certain characters but the plot itself (and explanations at the end) definitely needed some work. 
Rouge by Mona Awad

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.5

Dragged a little just at first but was as delightfully insane as the other books I’ve read by this author. A super smart horror satire of the beauty industry but also a touching story of grief and the sometimes overwhelmingly passionate love between a mother and daughter. In a way, women are taught that the first woman we’re supposed to compete with and hate is our own mothers but also that nobody will ever love us and care for us the way they do and I think this book really captures how difficult that relationship can be. Some really memorable characters and imagery. You won’t be forgetting this one any time soon.