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nocturnalbookworm's reviews
75 reviews
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Holy Sh*t At first that's all I can say. I intended to just start this before bed last night and I literally could not put it down. The storytelling style was so smooth and the pacing of everything being revealed just sucked me in where I couldn't help but keep turning the pages. A chilling and dark story if you are easily disturbed or triggered this is not the book for you but if you can handle it it is a haunting and engaging story.
I read a lot of reviews where people said things like they couldn't imagine certain victims in the story reacting to things the way they do or taking the actions they do and I have to say, as someone who has been though psychologically and sexually abusive relationships and situation, I found the depictions of the victims disturbingly and heartbreaking realistic. What I went through is nowhere near what happens in this book, but I did find the coping mechanisms and the rational of some of the victims in the book all too familiar at times. We all like to imagine we may be a certain way or do certain things in bad situations, but things like this can really fuck someone up psychologically and you just don't know until you are in that place.
I read a lot of reviews where people said things like they couldn't imagine certain victims in the story reacting to things the way they do or taking the actions they do and I have to say, as someone who has been though psychologically and sexually abusive relationships and situation, I found the depictions of the victims disturbingly and heartbreaking realistic. What I went through is nowhere near what happens in this book, but I did find the coping mechanisms and the rational of some of the victims in the book all too familiar at times. We all like to imagine we may be a certain way or do certain things in bad situations, but things like this can really fuck someone up psychologically and you just don't know until you are in that place.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Kidnapping
Bones by Yolanda Olson
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A twisted tale
I've read a lot of fucked up things but this definitely wins the "Most Fucked Up Thing I've Ever Read" award. Guy takes you along on a journey of madness, his madness though remember he's not crazy (or so he says) the descriptions of his delusions and his justification for everything is masterfully done.
I've read a lot of fucked up things but this definitely wins the "Most Fucked Up Thing I've Ever Read" award. Guy takes you along on a journey of madness, his madness though remember he's not crazy (or so he says) the descriptions of his delusions and his justification for everything is masterfully done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Stalking, and Murder
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Tense, engaging, and oddly charming. I was kept guessing until the very end!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child death
The Bees by Laline Paull
5.0
An Interesting tale
I rather enjoyed this one. I found the balance of anthropomorphic and natural bee descriptions was done quite well. I read this all in one day and just couldn't put it down. I had to know what was happening in the hive and what would become of Flora. The prologue and epilogue were nice feels-y touches as well.
I rather enjoyed this one. I found the balance of anthropomorphic and natural bee descriptions was done quite well. I read this all in one day and just couldn't put it down. I had to know what was happening in the hive and what would become of Flora. The prologue and epilogue were nice feels-y touches as well.
1984 by George Orwell
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Wow... I will have to take some time to think up a proper review. For now I can say that this was an amazing, scary, and all to possible book I found nearly impossible to put down. It's haunting, uncomfortable but at the same time I felt a need to keep going page after page. I would highly recommend this be read by everyone everywhere.