Hendry looked like he was fantasizing about meeting a cute girl, judging from how he kept fiddling with his curls and smoothing the wrinkles in his
Hendry looked like he was fantasizing about meeting a cute girl, judging from how he kept fiddling with his curls and smoothing the wrinkles in his sleeves. Alistair was thinking about death. More specifically, about causing it.
There goes one of my most anticipated and desired ARCs so far. As of right now I don't feel like rounding up the ratings of this book because it left me a little unsatisfied and it was definitely not the story I'd expected from a book that has the word 'villains' in the title. To be honest, I went into this hoping the vibe would be similar to VE Schwab's Vicious, and that was perhaps a bad idea because I love that book and it probably only fueled my expectations. If anything, it reminded me more of The Night Circus, and if you've been following me for a couple years, now, you'd know I have mixed feelings about that book, as well. I mean, imagine starting a book advertised as a The Hunger Games retelling with magic, purposely hoping it'll be full of mean people who do mean things to one another, only to find out the characters have decided they've had enough and are ready to pull an Everlark any minute. The magic system is pretty original, but I had some trouble with the world building and the setting. To be honest, for the first 50 pages I couldn't tell where or when this story took place. Foody's writing, on the other hand, is exquisite as I remember it, and while I found the book a bit lacking on the plot front, I'm happy to say it was the exact opposite when it comes to the characters. They were created to be unforgettable and it's a pity they were thrown into a story that ironically outshined them with its dullness.
__ ARC APPROVED! You can't see it, but I'm conspiratorialy twirling my evil mustache....more
Turned out, we were all so close to criminal. All you needed was a good enough motive.
megan miranda is usually my go-to thriller author (hello? ha
Turned out, we were all so close to criminal. All you needed was a good enough motive.
megan miranda is usually my go-to thriller author (hello? have you read all the missing girls? no? what are you doing still here?? go. read. it.) and whenever I see she's coming out with a new book, it feels a little like Christmas in my heart, even if it's the middle of summer and I'm sweating like a pig. I must admit, though, that this time, summer Christmas was a bit of a let down and I couldn't be more bitter about it if I tried. The thing is that this book wasn't bad. Far from it actually. What sets me off, is that it wasn't as good as I thought it'd be. There was something too ordinary about MM's writing and, while the plot was intriguing in its entirety, it also didn't shake me.
I liked the start, struggled through a little boring and predictable middle, enjoyed the ending although I found it a bit rushed. I mean, I know 3 stars is still a good rating, but it's not a rating I gladly give to one if my favorite thriller authors...more
If there are ghosts here, I don't want to be counted among them.
What a pleasant surprise, this ARC was! It might be one of the best thrillers I'v
If there are ghosts here, I don't want to be counted among them.
What a pleasant surprise, this ARC was! It might be one of the best thrillers I've read so far, actually. Heard's super engaging writing reminds me a lot of Megan Miranda's (whose books I simply adore) and the whole mystery thing was super intriguing. Felicity was a great main character, and although I found her a bit annoying and gullible sometimes, I also kept rooting for her through all the book. I'm not giving the book 5 full stars because the plot got a little messy and trite in the last 50 pages and because the ending was easily predictable. I also wasn't a big fan of the dialogues, but the narration altogether flowed well enough to make up for it. Overall, I enjoyed this book very much and will definitely keep up with this author's work in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review....more
Loved You, hated Hidden Bodies, was super torn about this one, but in the end, curiosity won. And even if it wasn't as good as the first one (nor bad Loved You, hated Hidden Bodies, was super torn about this one, but in the end, curiosity won. And even if it wasn't as good as the first one (nor bad like the second), I just couldn't stay away from my favorite train wreck series, couldn't I? It was okay, nothing special, nothing to make me crave more books. I guess Joe Goldberg and his obsessive and super freaky search for love reached their expiration date. RIP you. It was nice till it lasted...more
This is the best book in the series, in my opinion. I must admit it didn't take me long to understand
A monster has to practice becoming a monster.
This is the best book in the series, in my opinion. I must admit it didn't take me long to understand where the plot was headed, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Matt Wesolowski is slowly crawling his way into my reader heart and I'm not even worried about it....more
Still tremendously entertaining as the first one, but a little less shocking and predictable. I also found the ending vaguely put together, but overalStill tremendously entertaining as the first one, but a little less shocking and predictable. I also found the ending vaguely put together, but overall it didn't threw me off my new Wesolowski and Scott King's obsession. On to the third one! ...more
{this book and other classics I'm gonna try getting around to reading this year, will be featured in a shelf called ccoulrophobia has entered the chat
{this book and other classics I'm gonna try getting around to reading this year, will be featured in a shelf called classic-lit-palooza and will be picked from a list of titles considered classics or cult novels that I compiled on a sleep deprived Wednesday night. It comprehends all those books I've always wanted to read and that I've challenged myself to finally pick up in 2021. I'll try to review these books in an objective way, and do my best not to let questionable/old-fashioned contents spoil my enjoyment, although I'll definitely take into account that many of these novel might contain or glorify those that are considered problematic themes or behaviors for today's standards. Not sure who I'm announcing this to. It's like #PenguinOnATBRMission all over again. I'm complicated just like this and my need to organize things sometimes goes out of control. Hence, the whole fanfare. Please, feel free to ignore. In case you're not tired of my quirks yet, you're more than welcome to join me on this adventure!}...more
Work's being a super binch, which means I've got zero time to read. But, hey, my ears work just fine and nobody cares if I wears earphones while I do Work's being a super binch, which means I've got zero time to read. But, hey, my ears work just fine and nobody cares if I wears earphones while I do my job. Soooo...let the audiobook week begin!
“It’s probably wrong to believe there can be any limit to the horror which the human mind can experience.”
I usually don't like it when a book take
“It’s probably wrong to believe there can be any limit to the horror which the human mind can experience.”
I usually don't like it when a book takes a bit too much to pick up, when the premise is so long it takes up a good portion of the book, but I don't know why, it never happens with Mr King. I think it all comes down to the fact that Stephen King is one heck of a storyteller, and there's literally no denying in that. I really liked this book. It's equally interesting and spooky, and so well written I didn't even mind its lenght.
{this book and other classics/cult novels I'm gonna try getting around to reading this year, will be featured in a shelf called classic-lit-palooza and will be picked from a list of titles considered classics or cult novels that I compiled on a sleep deprived Wednesday night. It comprehends all those books I've always wanted to read and that I've challenged myself to finally pick up in 2021. I'll try to review these books in an objective way, and do my best not to let questionable/old-fashioned contents spoil my enjoyment, although I'll definitely take into account that many of these novel might contain or glorify those that are considered problematic themes or behaviors for today's standards. Not sure who I'm announcing this to. It's like #PenguinOnATBRMission all over again. I'm complicated just like this and my need to organize things sometimes goes out of control. Hence, the whole fanfare. Please, feel free to ignore. In case you're not tired of my quirks yet, you're more than welcome to join me on this adventure!}...more
“Together, we are madness. And there is music in madness, and madness in love.”
master of salt and bones more like master of sass and boners
this bo
“Together, we are madness. And there is music in madness, and madness in love.”
master of salt and bones more like master of sass and boners
this book and the thousand trigger warnings it comes with, is in equal parts disturbing and hot and keri lake made me convince myself i have a questionable amount of kinks i never thought i'd have in a single lifetime. i absolutely loved the gothic vibes and was gripped by the unaplogetic wrongness that is the entirety of this book. in case you're having doubts about my mental sanity, i'll invite you to check out the warning sign i put right below the first paragraph of my review. repeat after me: unless you show proper and actual signs of specific psychopaties, enjoying problematic fictional content doesn't make a monster of you. go and be wild, darling.
“Because I think I’d been looking for it all my life—a storm in my body to match the one in my head.”
Insomnia hit again last night. Couldn't sleep
“Because I think I’d been looking for it all my life—a storm in my body to match the one in my head.”
Insomnia hit again last night. Couldn't sleep so I looked for something to read, like I usually do, because books are the only thing that keep my anxiety at bay when I can't sleep from it. Unfortunately, I left my kindle charging in the kitchen and couldn't go fetch it. This was the only book present on the kindle fire I have on my nightstand, so it had to do. Read almost half of it in one sitting. Not to be dramatic or anything, but this book saved my night.
And it totally made my day, as well. I finished it in, eight hours total, I think? After devouring the first 100 pages, I managed to scrap my eyes off of the pages and read some reviews. I was not surprised to see a lot of them were positive, but I was also not surprised at all to find there were a tons of negative ones, as well. I can tell this is not a book made for everyone as it's crude, gory, unapologetically dark and so intense it takes a big stomach and a good set of detachment skills to get through it without fainting. It'll totally make you scrunch up your nose, anyway, but your experience will definitely be easiler if you can keep your disgust under control while reading some scenes.
I also think it's one of those books you must be in the right mood to appreciate. It can also be a bit triggery and if it's gory horror factor wasn't enough, read it would make your skin crawl if you compare the plot to the current events that have been shaking up our lives the past few years. I loved Hetty as a main character. You get to be inside her head for the majority of the book, and she's an exquisitely complicated, interesting and discerning host. Power's writing is lovely and a knife to the heart at the same time. I tried reading her Burn Our Bodies Down, last winter, but put it aside almost immediately because I couldn't get into it. As I said, this entire book is the right experience one must do at the right time. Loved that ending. A bit rushed, but theatrical and dramatic enough to give the whole book justice....more
this is so fucked up and not even in the good ol' fucked up way You was. It's just a pure mess with no purpose and a lot of things happening for the sathis is so fucked up and not even in the good ol' fucked up way You was. It's just a pure mess with no purpose and a lot of things happening for the sake of shock value. I'm also and mainly disappointed to see what the author made of joe in this sequel. I mean, I wouldnt say joe goldberg was ever a good nor a favorite character, but he was at least a well crafted psycho villain I didn't mind reading about.
He's not a joe anymore. Now he's just a hoe....more
Holy flip flop, this was great! It totally opened my eyes up to a new genre I didn't know I would like so much. I decided I'm going to read the other bHoly flip flop, this was great! It totally opened my eyes up to a new genre I didn't know I would like so much. I decided I'm going to read the other books of this series, because I absolutely adored Wesolowski's writing and the lack of filling info made reading this so quick and entertaining! I'm not giving it 5 stars because the ending was a little predictable and rushed, and because I have some questions that I would have liked to be answered, but aside from that, this was a wild ride that I totally enjoyed.
edit sept 2023: I just found out this book became an audiobook recently and you bet I'm gonna get it and listen the shit out of it. Holy fuck, I'm so excited!!...more
Humanity takes itself too seriously. It is the world's original sin. If the cave-man had known how to laugh, History would have been different.
As
Humanity takes itself too seriously. It is the world's original sin. If the cave-man had known how to laugh, History would have been different.
As I recently said in my latest status update, I decided to save my tbr books for 2021 and read mostly classics till the end of the year, starting with this one. Don't really know what came up to me, I just felt like giving classics a chance after receiving a copy of Jane Eyre from my mom as an early Christmas gift.
quick disclaimer I don't think I'll be able to properly review classics, since when I write reviews, I mostly tend to write about how the book made me feel and what I liked/disliked about it, rather than presenting a full-on analysis about whatever the book and its origins/message mean, but I guess I'll try to apply my method to this and the books that will follow this one. I also would like to clarify that I obviously recognize a significant amount of books we call classics are considered problematic when seen through a modern standard lens, and while I won't find myself endorsing the message these problematic themes seem to otherwise glorify or consider conventional to their time period, I won't let them spoil my objective judgement of the entire work, either.
Said, this, The Picture of Dorian Gray is a great book that makes you regret ever looking at yourself into a mirror and seeing only flaws. It clearly fights the events narrated by pushing the reader into disagreeing with every single behavior, choice and line of thought the characters (Dorian and Lord Henry, in particular) seem to partake in. It's like a reverse moral guide where you just gotta contradict each line of the content in order to do what's right. It seems to say: see this? see what this narcissistic binch and his devil of a friend are doing? yeah, the complete opposite.
This wasn't just my first time in a very long time reading something not fantasy, mystery, or at least written in the last 15 year. It was also my first time reading Oscar Wilde. I was completely captivated and love how contemporary some of the quotes I found are. I read a few out loud to my boyfriend because I was so pleasantly surprised that I couldn't not share, and he agreed that you could apply most of them to 21th century as well. Talk about relatable, am I right? The only thing I didn't completely felt enthralled by is how redundant the story was. I must say, though, that when I read books, the plot is one of the most important parts for me and I'm not really fond of character-driven novels, so it's probably my fault this didn't satisfy me completely.
Anyway, I completely loathed every single one of the characters and totally adored the writing, and this must mean it was an ac dycce. As for the rest, I feel like it doesn'd hold back on self-critics, and that perfect ending made it all even more impactful. I think it's clear what the author wanted to do with the outcome and what kind of open to interpretation yet somehow specific message it should leave its readers with. I, for one, am more than ever going to appreciate every line and every crease my body isn't capable of hiding, and allow myself time and space to make mistakes.
Oh, and you also bet your sweet bippy, I won't let anyone paint a picture of me anytime soon.
“Everybody has secrets,' she says, taking a sip of her drink. 'That's nondebatable. The only question is whether you're keeping your own, or someon
“Everybody has secrets,' she says, taking a sip of her drink. 'That's nondebatable. The only question is whether you're keeping your own, or someone else's.”
I don't think Karen McManus and I are meant to be. Her books just aren't for me and I don't think it's because I'm a bit out of age target's rate. Despite being past my sweet teens, I still appreciate YA thrillers from time to time. When they're done right, that is.
The biggest problems I have with McManus's stories are the insufferable insubstantial characters and some falsely intricate (but actually approximate) plots that rely too much on twists that wouldn't shock a baby. It also doesn't help that every single one of her books I've read so far took something like 100 pages if not more to pick up. It felt like reading the longest introduction ever and by the time things started to happen I was already half bored. Not a huge fan of her writing, either, but I could work past that if I had something in return.
They say three times a charm (and I believed I said the very same thing myself on my second McManus book reviews), but three times is also a couple times too much, sometimes. So, after the failure that was One Of Us Is Lying and the 3-star disappointment also known as Two Can Keep A Secret, and with a tad of sadness, I think I can finally say that I'd gave it my best but it's time for us to go separate ways....more
The hype and the cover brought me to this book, and then, of course, I stayed for the retelling part. Anything even remotely concerning Romeo & Juliet just can't excape my book-dar. Unfortunately for me and for my radar, this wasn't the R&J retelling of my dreams but it was a good read nonetheless.
Roma and Juliette, share a past and possible lingering feelings, which is probably not the best thing when you're both heirs to most important rival gangster families in Shanghai. Between bloody fights, monsters, political intrigues and a virus that's filling Shanghai with terror, the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers, and consequently Roma and Juliet, too, will have to put aside their reciprocal hatred to overcome a bigger enemy and try to save their city and loved ones.
I don't know why I can't write a properly articulated review for this book, but I think it's because there are so many points I'd want to touch on and I've got a few gifts, but synthesis isn't one of them when it comes to essays. So yeah, have my thoughts on this book in all their bulleted list-like glory. *tips fedora*
things I liked: -setting -the whole 'madness' plot -description of places and clothes -'horror' scenes -beginning and ending
just okay things: -general plot -the retelling aspect -kathleen -action scenes -world building
could have done without: -too much political info-dumping -plain characters -writing too repetitive and a little stiffy -romance (felt like there wasn't much chemistry between r&j) -super slow pace...more
Not bad, but also not that original. It reminded me a lot of Jar of Hearts. Best part was the amount and accuracy of all the 90s and grunge references.Not bad, but also not that original. It reminded me a lot of Jar of Hearts. Best part was the amount and accuracy of all the 90s and grunge references. I found it rather inconsistent plot wise speaking, especially when it totally forgot to portrait how all those years in prison affected Kennedy or even when it came to mention her life in jail. I'm not an expert, but I think 15 years of forced segregation with the same people make it so that bonds are created and personalities are sharpened. Like I said, it had its moments, but could have been so much better.
Every time I pick up a gothic novel, the Mexican and Sudamerican ones in particular, I end up going on mental trips I deeply adore because they alter my brain chemistry, but somehow, in the midst of the post-book fog, I forget about it all as if it all had been a pipe dream.
I couldn't stop thinking about this book. While I was reading it, when I had to put it down, and when I finally finished it, I was so enraptured my thoughts revolved around its atmospheric setting and burning writing. If I had to describe this book using an action, I'd definitely compare it to sipping a glass of bourbon while watching autumn leaves fall as the sky gets gray with rain. For some reason, this metaphor is Lance Orion approved. And damn, now I want a drink, but the point's another. The point is that I was sooooo ready to not like this but instead I did, and I did not just like it, I obsessed over it.
Noemí is a fantastic main character. Being inside her head was a pleasure, and have her thoughts narrated by Moreno-Garcia was simply the biggest treat. I love her fierceness and braveness, and I laughed so much at her inner turmoil regarding Francis and her feelings for him. I also really liked how the author mantained her vain and girly, and made her educated and smart, at the same time. I often read books where the main character is either one of these things, and I deeply appreciate when writers put it in a way where one does not exclude the other.
I enjoyed the story immensely, and even if I figured out the main twists by the halfway mark, the whole thing is dark, eerie and soul-tingling in a way only gothic books can be, and left me grieving the adrenaline rush I received after every discovery. The political and scientifical notions that pepper the plot are so carefully placed they throw you back in time, in a place in history when a woman's desires and ideas were most likely silenced. Noemí's struggles became my own and her need for freedom crept its way under my skin.
Speaking of things crawling under people's skin... The paranormal aspect of this book is s sick and twisted, which is exactly how I like it. I've mentioned that I figured out where the author was going with the mystery, but what I didn't expect was to have my own ass scared by a simple dream sequence.
There is a side of romance, too, and it was simply adorable. Francis is not your typical perfect muscled and tanned hottie and Noemí's feelings for him grow naturally and gradually, despite the difficulties and differences.
If you have any recs about books similar to this one, please drop them in the comment section, because I'm done pretending gothic novels aren't my thing. In exchange, I'll recommend you all The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, which was one of last year's favorites and gave off very similar vibes.
And omg I finally figured out why I can't help imagining Dane Dehaan as Francis! Heavy eyes and pale face description aside, this book reminded me a lot of The Cure For Wellness of which Dehaan is a main character...more
"Immortality is a long time to have a giant stick up your ass."
Previously, on "I Might Have Accidentally Become A SJM Fan": watch me unexpectedly
"Immortality is a long time to have a giant stick up your ass."
Previously, on "I Might Have Accidentally Become A SJM Fan": watch me unexpectedly fly through a 600-something-page long book I initially didn't even want to read and nonchalantly throw it 5 stars like it's confetti at a freaking carnival parade I wasn't even invited to.
I did not like this, although I recognize the story could have been interesting would it have been developed
"The ghosts are just too bloody loud."
I did not like this, although I recognize the story could have been interesting would it have been developed differently. I'm giving it two stars instead of just one because I didn't mind the writing and the effort the author put in trying to be original.
ARC approved and provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review....more
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