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kaabtik's reviews
367 reviews
They Never Learn by Layne Fargo
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The beginning was pretty slow and the constant switching of POVs made it muddled in the beginning.
However, I was completely engrossed by the end! Definitely took me a while to warm up to the book as it isn't exactly a topic I lean towards but it was a great read.
Discussion in The Dead Muses Society Bookclub:
finished it this just before dinner!
initially i did not enjoy the beginning half as the constant switching of POVs really threw me off as the chapters were short and very little was happening that felt warranted to switch POVs. many a time i would find myself reading carly's chapters in scarlett's inner voice - which, upon finishing, is an excellent way of hinting of the two people being one all along.
the red herring of the two girls that scarlett saw during halloween almost made me throw away the theory but the reveal made it satisfying imo. the end endeared me to the three women - though it would have been interesting to see a trio POV of scarlett, carly, and mina just so we could get to know mina better and how she was a narrative foil to carly's allison - which upon reflection makes the final murder a full circle of carly's freshman year and first kill:
scarlett shedding her identity as the beloved yet strict professor at gormon - just as she shed carly, her timid self, when she was a freshman in order to confront bash
bash and stright being the object of scarlett and carly's bloodlust - only to escape death by a hairsbreadth.
wes and jasper — her supposed love interests, the former a snake lying in wait with a silver tongue and very dark intentions, while the latter baring his fangs the moment they met.
mina and allison — those she had truly cared about, while allison ran upon the discovery of scarlett's true self, mina welcomed it - encouraged it, even.
mikayla i suppose represents the carly that first committed a murder - whether or not she follows the same footsteps as scarlett... well that's up to her. overall it was quite enjoyable and writing out my ideas here really made me realize i picked this book apart more than i should have.
However, I was completely engrossed by the end! Definitely took me a while to warm up to the book as it isn't exactly a topic I lean towards but it was a great read.
Discussion in The Dead Muses Society Bookclub:
initially i did not enjoy the beginning half as the constant switching of POVs really threw me off as the chapters were short and very little was happening that felt warranted to switch POVs. many a time i would find myself reading carly's chapters in scarlett's inner voice - which, upon finishing, is an excellent way of hinting of the two people being one all along.
the red herring of the two girls that scarlett saw during halloween almost made me throw away the theory but the reveal made it satisfying imo. the end endeared me to the three women - though it would have been interesting to see a trio POV of scarlett, carly, and mina just so we could get to know mina better and how she was a narrative foil to carly's allison - which upon reflection makes the final murder a full circle of carly's freshman year and first kill:
scarlett shedding her identity as the beloved yet strict professor at gormon - just as she shed carly, her timid self, when she was a freshman in order to confront bash
bash and stright being the object of scarlett and carly's bloodlust - only to escape death by a hairsbreadth.
wes and jasper — her supposed love interests, the former a snake lying in wait with a silver tongue and very dark intentions, while the latter baring his fangs the moment they met.
mina and allison — those she had truly cared about, while allison ran upon the discovery of scarlett's true self, mina welcomed it - encouraged it, even.
mikayla i suppose represents the carly that first committed a murder - whether or not she follows the same footsteps as scarlett... well that's up to her. overall it was quite enjoyable and writing out my ideas here really made me realize i picked this book apart more than i should have.
Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hilarious and so so so entettaining. Not a dull moment in this book and I'm partial to forsaking my monthly TBR to binge the author's works.
The Companion by E.E. Ottoman
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
god i love trans joy i love t4t love i love being trans and alive
Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
if you want a detailed review on this book read other people's reviews this is a rant.
actually pissed me off because i had high expactations for this — recommended in the same vein as Tender is the Flesh.
annoyed as fuck now because i stayed up till 1:30am for this fuckass book!
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
"I contracted a tapeworm in college during a trip to Cambodia. I know what it feels like."
"What did it feel like?"
"Feels like you’re living for something else. Makes you feel like a God, carrying something alive inside you."
if you want a detailed review on this book read other people's reviews this is a rant.
actually pissed me off because i had high expactations for this — recommended in the same vein as Tender is the Flesh.
annoyed as fuck now because i stayed up till 1:30am for this fuckass book!
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
A short yet highly enjoyable read. It retains the dark and bleak atmosphere of Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher (of which I actually dug up and reread from my junior high trove) yet has it's own unique charm - specifically its deadpan humor.
In less than 200 pages, I've been wholly enamored by the world from Alex Easton's eyes - maybe developed a crush on his gothic tboy swag but that's neither here nor there.
In less than 200 pages, I've been wholly enamored by the world from Alex Easton's eyes - maybe developed a crush on his gothic tboy swag but that's neither here nor there.
The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport
Easily one of my favorite reads — absolutely phenomenal piece of work. While I felt the cogs in my head turning with every piece of information I learned, the plot raises the stakes and drives everything into chaos.
Ikenna is constantly in Situations — thrust into life-threatening situations without so much as a reprieve. And while I do like a little bit of breathing in between my Death Situations, everything is laid out so well that I can't think of any other way that the pacing would go through.
Heed the content warnings and trigger warnings — but I strongly recommend this book jud myghad.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Blood is my gift. And blood is what they’ll get if anyone gets in my godsdamned way.
Easily one of my favorite reads — absolutely phenomenal piece of work. While I felt the cogs in my head turning with every piece of information I learned, the plot raises the stakes and drives everything into chaos.
Ikenna is constantly in Situations — thrust into life-threatening situations without so much as a reprieve. And while I do like a little bit of breathing in between my Death Situations, everything is laid out so well that I can't think of any other way that the pacing would go through.
Heed the content warnings and trigger warnings — but I strongly recommend this book jud myghad.
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If there's one thing Aiden Thomas is good at writing, it's a wet cat protagonist and the undercurrent of dread in the third act.
That being said, I read this without the knowledge of it being a duology and that made the experience even more heartracing.
Kabalo na ko asa siya padulong jd kay dili man lisud kaayo ma-figure out pero it was the execution of how to get there that really kept me on my toes.
Thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the world building as they reached the different cities. There are some minor qualms I had with some scenes but overall it was such a great read. I can't wait for Celestial Monsters!
That being said, I read this without the knowledge of it being a duology and that made the experience even more heartracing.
Thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the world building as they reached the different cities. There are some minor qualms I had with some scenes but overall it was such a great read. I can't wait for Celestial Monsters!