// Quick Review // The Forest of Lost Souls is a typical Koontz thriller filled with interesting twists and characters. Chilling yet slow at parts, his newest novel is enjoyable but more difficult to get into than others.
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// Other Information // Publisher: Thomas & Mercer Page Count: 396 pages Release Date: September 24, 2024 Series: None Tags: Fiction, Adult, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller
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// Review // While it has been a while since I have been able to sit down with a book and escape into another world, I finally found the time to enjoy this newest Koontz thriller. As a fan of Koontz’s earlier novels, I am always glad to delve into another of his stories.
For the sake of not spoiling the novel, I will simply say that Koontz did not disappoint. A chilling ride, The Forest of Lost Souls takes the reader through a story filled with a tense atmosphere. Though I had difficulty connecting with the characters in this story, I did appreciate the complexity each character had, especially Vida.
The novel does boast a disturbing antagonist, however. Nash Deacon is frightening and, frankly, the nightmare of every woman. His character made me viscerally uncomfortable, which, of course, is the goal in a horror/thriller.
I neither hated nor loved the setting. The story takes place in Kettleton County, an isolated rural place which reminded me too much of home. The plot itself is exciting yet took me a while to get into. It is a bit slow in the beginning, but becomes well-paced later on.
Overall, while this is not my favorite novel of Koontz’s, it is a solid and chilling novel. I cannot wait to read more of his future works.
// Quick Review // 5/5 Stars I was fortunate enough to have the chance to read this book prior to its release. Deep and memorable, Lady Director will leave you awestruck as it takes you on a journey through Chopra’s inspiring life.
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// Other Information // Publisher: City Lights Books Page Count: 232 pages Release Date: November 22, 2022 Series: None Tags: Non-fiction, Adult, Young adult, Memoir, Biography
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// Review // Lady Director is a raw, gripping narrative of Joyce Chopra’s experiences throughout her career as a director. The book delves deeply into the thoughts and emotions that Chopra underwent while she balanced her career and motherhood, all while undergoing the criticisms of others.
Hollywood has hardly ever been welcoming to women in the film industry, so it is no surprise that this was the case for Chopra when she aspired to become a filmmaker. I found myself enthralled with the accounts written on the page before me. It was very easy for me to empathize with Chopra, as her style of writing perfectly reflects herself at the time.
Emotionally powerful, Lady Director is a profoundly genuine and compelling memoir that delves into some of the most prominent issues involving sexism within our society. While showcasing the strength women must have to achieve their dreams, the book also celebrates the many accomplishments of Joyce Chopra in a way that makes you feel as if a friend is telling you a captivating story.
Chopra’s memoir is a rich and significant account that will leave readers stunned.
// Quick Review // The Witch of Tin Mountain is a beautifully written yet wonderfully chilling novel that left me speechless.
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// Other Information // Publisher: Lake Union Publishing Page Count: 332 pages Release Date: February 1, 2023 Series: None Tags: Fiction, Adult, Fantasy, Thriller, Romance, Horror, Paranormal, Historical fiction, Gothic
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// Review // I was very excited for this novel because I loved Kennedy’s first book, Parting the Veil. Due to my anticipation, I dove into the world of The Witch of Tin Mountain. It absolutely lived up to my expectations.
Filled with rich detail and a chilling plot, I was in love with this novel. The book starts with a mysterious scene, one that made me want to know more. As the novel progressed, I found myself sinking further into my chair because of the eeriness and mystery within the pages.
The characters were well written and had believable personalities and understandable struggles that brought them to life on the page. I did have some trouble distinguishing between some of the characters due to changes in point-of-view and time periods. However, these changes were necessary for the plot.
The setting was stunning. Kennedy has beautifully incorporated the Ozarks into her novel, creating a crackling atmosphere for her characters to journey through.
Overall, I loved this novel and look forward to Kennedy’s future works.
// Other Information // Publisher: Quill and Birch Publishing Page Count: 440 pages Release Date: October 5, 2021 Series: None Tags: Fiction, Young adult, Adult, Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal
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// Review // Golem is a brilliantly crafted horror novel perfect for fans of classic horror movies and books.
I could not put this novel down. The psychological horror in Golem is absolutely enthralling and terrifying all at once. Alleva does an excellent job of messing with the reader’s head and making them question themselves throughout their experience with the novel.
Not only are the characters realistic, but Alleva manages to make you feel like you are going through the terrors they are experiencing. Golem transports the reader to a chilling place that is perfect to enter when you want a terrifying experience.
I honestly cannot wait to read the novel again. It truly got me in the Halloween spirit with its mind-twisting plot and excellent characters.
// Quick Review // This is the second novel I have read by Kiersten White, and though it is a stark difference from Hide, I absolutely loved Padawan. This is the perfect novel for those wanting to read about Obi-Wan Kenobi’s journey of self-discovery on his way to becoming a better padawan.
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// Other Information // Publisher: Disney Lucasfilm Press Page Count: 416 pages Release Date: July 26, 2022 Series: Star Wars Tag: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Science fiction, LGBTQ+, Middle grade, Star wars, Space
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// Review // I want to start off this review by addressing the controversy that has erupted over Padawan‘s assistance in confirming Obi-Wan Kenobi as bisexual (also potentially asexual). Personally, I am glad that Kiersten White decided to include this in her novel in order to bring about more diversity within Star Wars. As a huge Star Wars fan and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I believe it is important that people are able to see themselves in media, and the inclusion of Obi-Wan’s sexuality in Padawan is a major step towards this in a beloved series. Also, I must commend White for not only including this in her novel but also making it casual in the text. Obi-Wan’s sexuality is not flaunted to be shown only as a token of diversity but is authentically shown as a part of his character. Not only is it important to have diversity in media, but it is equally essential to make it realistic, relatable, and meaningful. So, thank you Kiersten White for making an already loved character in the Star Wars fandom that much more important for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
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"'...I was living in fear for so long. Afraid to fail, afraid to let others down, afraid of loss, afraid of even being afraid.'
'And you're not afraid now?'
'No, I still am. But I'm not letting it control me anymore.'"
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Now, into the novel itself.
Kiersten White does a fantastic job of taking a well-known character yet introducing new aspects while staying true to the known Obi-Wan Kenobi. Now, this novel seems to be aimed more toward middle grade/young adults, and the maturity of Obi-Wan reflects this. Taking place long before The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan is a struggling padawan who is at odds with his master, Qui-Gon Jinn. Though dedicated to the ways of the Jedi, Obi-Wan is seen struggling with connecting to the force. He feels as if he is being held back by his master and is not able to go on missions like his fellow padawans. In the Star Wars films and shows (and yes, I have yet to watch Obi-Wan Kenobi—don’t worry, I’ll watch it soon) we see an already trained Obi-Wan, one who is connected to the force and sure in his abilities. However—though staying true to Obi-Wan’s nature—Padawan explores the uncertainty that Obi-Wan struggles with while growing up in the Jedi Order. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Obi-Wan struggle with connecting to the force, since it seems in the movies that he has no problem doing so. His battle with his training made his character that much more deep and realistic.
I have to mention that I found it funny how similar young Obi-Wan is to Anakin in Attack of the Clones. Around 28:10 in Attack of the Clones, Anakin complains to Padmé that Obi-Wan is holding him back. In Padawan, Obi-Wan complains through his narration that Qui-Gon is holding him back. It is eerily similar but also funny since Obi-Wan and Anakin’s relationship is like that of father-son, as Anakin says at 22:00 in Attack of the Clones. Gosh, I feel like I’m writing an essay and stating my evidence. But, I love Star Wars so why not?
I think it is worth mentioning that as long as you have seen the prequels, you should have no problem understanding the events of this novel. The story starts off at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant where Obi-Wan is being rebellious and skipping meditation (the Jedi equivalent of not eating your vegetables, I’m sure). From there, he discovers that Orla Jareni left the way to an unexplored planet called Lenahra. It is inhabited by a group of seemingly force-sensitive kids around the same age as Obi-Wan, though some are younger.
Kiersten White describes a rich and lively planet that is sometimes hostile to its inhabitants, yet sometimes not. As Obi-Wan navigates this new and supposedly deadly world, he also develops his connection to the force and his strength in using it. He vows to help the people he has met on Lenahra, even if his return to Coruscant reveals his expulsion from the Jedi Order. Staying true to his character, Obi-Wan wishes only to help those and bring some lightness to even the furthest corner of the galaxy.
The plot itself was excellent yet had more to do with internal struggles and evolution than that of Star Wars‘ iconic battles and light saber fights. If you go into this novel expecting loads of action and battles, you might be disappointed. However, I found the exploration of Obi-Wan’s doubts and fears to be crucial to understanding the character further. There was plenty of action towards the end of the novel, but as I said, this is not an action-focused story.
Obi-Wan’s meddling with the mystery behind Lenahra causes some issues for him and the inhabitants which he must face if he wishes to truly help the planet and its people.
Also, throwing it back to Attack of the Clones once more, Padawan mentions how Obi-Wan came to know Dex, which I thought was a clever easter egg and was a detail that got me excited.
Overall, I had a lot of fun with this novel and enjoyed its pleasant new characters and exploration of Obi-Wan’s character and background. I highly recommend it to any Star Wars fan, especially those who love Obi-Wan Kenobi. It’s essentially a Star Wars coming-of-age, which I love.
A huge thank you to Andy Frye and Atmosphere Press for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I am unable to provide a full list of content warnings due to my inability to finish reading the novel. Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading.
// Quick Review // I enjoyed many aspects of this novel but also was slightly disappointed with the execution of this 90s-filled time travel story.
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// Other Information // Publisher: Atmosphere Press Page Count: 356 pages Release Date: June 1, 2022 Series: None Tag: Fiction, Adult, Science fiction, LGBTQ+, Music, Time travel, 90s
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// Review // Promising a nostalgia-filled story for those fortunate enough to experience the 90s, Ninety Days in the 90s follows the time-traveling excursions of Darby, a music store owner who just wants to relive the past.
I was fairly excited about this novel because although I was born after the 90s, I still love music and movies from the decade. A lot of the novel focuses on the pop culture of the time, even from the very start. This has its pluses and minuses, as the references to 90s culture at the start of the novel seem to take away from the actual 90s setting during the rest of the book.
The setting was by far the best part of Ninety Days in the 90s. Darby wishes to redo her past in order to change her future and is able to do so by traveling to Chicago in 1996 through the Grey Train. The Grey Train was explained fairly well and was an interesting part of the book. It was nice to know how the time travel aspect worked. Darby is thrust back into the 90s to reunite with old lovers, friends, jobs, and music.
Unfortunately, I found that the plot felt repetitive and slow-moving. Darby traveling back in time is perhaps the most exciting part of the book to me. I will say that I cannot judge the second half of the novel, but the first half was definitely not for me. Though I enjoyed the 90s vibe and culture, I didn’t feel like anything important to the book occurred within the first half of the book. Though the idea that Darby traveled back in time itself is spectacular, the events of the novel seemed to have little to no effect on Darby’s character.
I wish that the leap back in time would have contributed to Darby’s journey of self-discovery and reconciling herself with the past. It would have made her character more enjoyable and realistic while also adding meaning to the plot.
I called this book quits past the halfway point because it felt like nothing was going anywhere, and I accepted that the book just wasn’t for me. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t the target audience, but I had a hard time reading this book. Like I said though, there were definitely things that I really enjoyed and loved reading about.
A huge thank you to Amazon Publishing and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
// Content warnings: animal attacks, cult, death, mature content, mention of cannibalism, mention of incest, mention of teen pregnancy, mentions of child abuse, mentions of self-mutilation, mentions of sexual assault, murder //
Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some in my review. This novel contains many dark themes that can be disturbing to some.
// Quick Review // The Big Dark Sky is a brilliantly written novel following the stories of various characters all connected to a mystery at the center of the spiderweb they’ve been caught in. Full of suspense and showcasing Koontz’s excellent writing style, The Big Dark Sky maintains Koontz as one of the best thriller writers.
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// Other Information // Publisher: Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing Page Count: 390 pages Release Date: July 19, 2022 Series: None Tags: Fiction, Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Science fiction, Suspense, Horror
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// Review // From the moment I started reading The Big Dark Sky, I was drawn in by the mysterious and paranormal nature of the novel. The homicidal forces that surrounded the characters posed a serious threat and made me want to know more about the peril. From a psychotic cult to murderous aliens, The Big Dark Sky presents a complex intermingling of evil forces that threaten to eradicate humankind.
Dean Koontz is a master at using multiple points of view to build suspense and shows different storylines all barreling towards one focus. Think a Stranger Things-esque meetup at the end of the season but just in a book (yes, Stranger Things is and always will be my obsession… go watch Season 4). The point is that I love media that utilize this form of storytelling and it almost always keeps me engaged with the story.
The Big Dark Sky is relatively fast-paced after the first few chapters and, as I mentioned, contains what seems to be many small plots. Still, they all connect in the end. The suspense and stakes of the situation rise rapidly throughout the book. However, I felt that the ending was too rushed and didn’t fit with the rest of the novel. Frankly, it was underwhelming and left me a little disappointed in contrast to the rest of the events. Without mentioning any spoilers, I will say that the final showdown between the characters and the monstrous evil attacking humanity would have been better had it been slowed down. Even though the fight was very predictable, it felt like the villain came out of nowhere? If that makes sense?
Gosh, it’s so hard to review books without spoilers.
Anyways, I was slightly disappointed with the characters in this novel. Usually, I can handle a large cast of characters and distinguish them from one another. Unfortunately, many of the characters just felt too similar to one another for me to truly connect to or care about them. Characters like Joanne, Ophelia, Colson, and Asher Optime stuck out, though. Joanne is a young woman whose past is shadowed by mystery, tragedy, and lies. Though, she doesn’t know it until mysterious occurrences haunt her house and dreams. The story allows her to discover the truth behind her past, unraveling the life she has known throughout her adult life. Ophelia and Colson are both captives of Asher Optime, a psychopathic egomaniac whose sole ‘purpose’ is to start and finish the destruction of humanity. For whatever reason—probably their homicidal tendencies—Asher reminded me a lot of Patrick Bateman from American Psycho (undoubtedly, though, Asher Optime could not possibly be more stylish than Christian Bale). Asher is determined to set himself apart from the rest of the human race. However, his choice of action is not to spread goodness throughout the world but instead to kidnap people, make them hopeless, and then kill them… all in the name of his twisted agenda shaped by a cult. Despite being completely evil, I found Asher Optime to be the most unique and memorable of the characters. Perhaps it is because he is the perfect villain for a thriller/suspense novel.
One of my favorite parts of The Big Dark Sky was the setting. The isolation that the Rustling Willows Ranch offered added a chilling feel to the book. It is truly one of my worst fears to be far from civilization… being in/near the woods just intensifies my absolute terror. I’ve seen too many horror movies to know that taking a ‘fun’ little trip to an isolated place is practically a death wish. Can you tell I’m not an outdoorsy person?
All parts of the novel came together to form a relatively cohesive and chilling tale of deception, secrets, and evil. Overall, I enjoyed reading The Big Dark Sky. There were many aspects that made this novel a worthwhile and suspenseful read.
// Quick Review // Oliver Seneca presents an intriguing yet creepy story in Faces in a Window, where his characters must endure the cursed nature of St. Stephen’s Middle School. Along the way, they are met with horrors that will haunt your nightmares.
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// Other Information // Publisher: Hellbender Books Page Count: 295 pages Release Date: March 27, 2022 Series: None Tags: Fiction, Young adult, Adult, Thriller, Science fiction, Horror, Supernatural, Apocalyptic, Post-apocalyptic
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// Book Description (from Amazon) // Every school has a secret.
After two beloved teachers pass away at St. Stephen’s Middle School, it’s up to Ian Evans & Michelle Thompson to fill their shoes.
But their eager anticipation soon turns to terror.
They are plagued with unexplainable nightmares and horrific visions: Students who aren’t really there; the school catching fire; scenes of their own deaths playing out before them.
Uncovering what it all means could cost them their jobs, or their lives. With each other’s determination to find the truth of the school’s past, and with the help of an old janitor, Ian and Michelle must risk it all to save more than just their souls.
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// Review // Faces in a Window starts off with a gripping scene, one that kept me reading and interested in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed how the reader was thrust into chaos by just starting to read the novel, it made for an entertaining beginning.
Throughout the novel, Seneca manages to keep tensions high, even in the most harmless of situations. I was constantly aching to know what would happen next and what terrors were just a page away.
While the novel is a tad cliche, I did enjoy the story. I was interested in the history of St. Stephen’s Middle School, where the novel takes place. However, I did feel that the pacing threw off the excellent plot and made the book feel very repetitive.
The story is split between Ian Evans and Michelle Thompson. I really wanted to care about their characters, but the lack of depth to them made me not attached to them. Similarly, I did not care about their relationship at all. The interactions between characters felt very unrealistic, and they lacked chemistry. From the moment Ian and Michelle met, I could tell they were going to be love interests for each other. Unfortunately, I felt like their romance happened far too early on in the novel for it to feel real, organic, and compelling.
Where Faces in a Window really excels is its setting. St. Stephen’s Middle School and its haunted nature was intriguing and kept me reading to find out what its history was.
The novel has a really classic horror movie feel to it, due to the inclusion of many tropes. I liked the nostalgic feeling this had, despite it being a newer novel. While some might call it outdated horror, I definitely enjoyed the older feeling it had.
Overall, Faces in a Window was promising but didn’t necessarily live up to expectations. It had some great aspects and potential, but its characters really fell flat, pulling me out of the story. The novel is perfect to read when you want some thrilling scares but don’t want to be deeply unsettled or disturbed.
// Quick Review // Due to its promising and intriguing premise, I had looked forward to reading this novel. However, it was clearly for a specific target audience that I am unfortunately not a part of.
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// Other Information // Publisher: Deixis Press Page Count: 260 pages Release Date: April 18, 2022 Series: None Tags: Adult, Fiction, Science fiction, Techno thriller, Technology, Thriller
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// Review // First of all, I want to mention that The Transfer Problem is not necessarily a bad book, but it just was not for me. The premise interested me due to the promise of an “adrenaline-fueled mystery that takes readers to the heart of a dark world”. I am a huge fan of mysteries and thrillers, so I decided to give this techno-thriller a try. I was enjoying the book and its mysteriousness until it got too technical. I don’t know what I expected from a techno-thriller, but the number of descriptions of technology seemed overbearing. This heavy emphasis was important to the book but made me bored. I am just not a person who loves pages of technology… I am not a woman in STEM.
Besides this, I was disappointed with the characters in the novel. I went into this book wanting to appreciate and like them, but I felt so disconnected from them that this felt impossible. The first few chapters seemed promising, however the further the story continued I felt less and less interested in what happened to the characters and who they were. The novel follows the story of Ethan and Anna—also Robert—who are attempting to transfer a conscious mind into Ethan’s trading algorithms. The potential to transfer oneself into a computer is definitely interesting and made me want to read the novel. However, as I mentioned earlier there was so much focus upon technology that I was lost and was unable to focus on the book.
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// Wrap Up // Although this book was not for me, there were definitely aspects that will appeal to others.
// Quick Review // While I had been looking forward to reading this novel, I was ultimately disappointed by the slow pace and could not get interested in the book. I didn’t finish reading Sofi and the Bone Song, but perhaps that’s because of a recent book slump.
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// Other Information // Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books Page Count: 416 pages Release Date: April 19, 2022 Series: None Tags: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+, Lesbian, Music, Magic
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// Review // Recently I have found it very difficult to enjoy reading, so my thoughts on this novel may not be typical. I’ve heard great things about Sofi and the Bone Song and was very excited to receive an ARC. I looked forward to reading this book, but as I started to read it I became very disinterested in the story. The characters and plot did not necessarily hold my attention and I was very bored. However, it would not be fair of me to condemn this novel when I didn’t even finish it. This is why, unlike my other DNFs, I gave this novel two stars rather than one. It was very promising, I was just unable to get into the novel.
It is noteworthy that the setting and world that Tooley created are magnificent and clearly well put together. As I said, this book just did not hold my attention.
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// Wrap Up // I recommend this to people who enjoy fantasy. Just because I wasn’t able to enjoy this book doesn’t mean you will be unable to.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
// Content Warnings: murder, violence, teen pregnancy, sexual relationship between an adult and a minor, drug deals, gun violence // – Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this book before reading, as I may have missed some here.
// Quick Review // Fast-paced and thought-inducing, The Night Shift features a spectacular mystery that keeps one yearning for answers. Filled with fascinating twists and turns, Finlay’s latest thriller presents a vast cast of characters that will connect you to an outstanding whodunit.
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// Other Information // Publisher: Minotaur Books Page Count: 368 pages Release Date: March 1, 2022 Series: None Tags: Adult, Contemporary, Crime, Fiction, Horror, Murder mystery, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
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// Characters // Though filled with a plethora of magnificent characters, the novel is split between three main characters with various circumstances and backgrounds. The way this story unfolded between its characters reminded me of Stranger Things (I’ve been rewatching the series in preparation for Season 4, of course); how all the characters deal with different pieces of the puzzle but eventually come together to form the whole picture.
Ella is the sole survivor of the New Years’ Eve 1999 attack on the Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey. It was hard to understand Ella’s character at first. It is not until later in the novel that the book begins to unveil the reality behind Ella’s character and I began to understand her better. Ella is very obviously traumatized from the attack on her and her friends in 1999. She carries the survivor’s guilt from that night and finds it difficult to navigate adult life in 2015. Agent Keller is helping to investigate the murders of workers in an ice cream shop; a murder eerily similar to that of the Blockbuster murders. Chris is a lawyer with deep connections to the Blockbuster murder. Back in the day, his brother was the prime suspect in the Blockbuster murders. Chris now lives under a different name but becomes entangled in defending the suspect of the ice cream shop murders.
All three of these characters eventually cross paths, but their journey to their meeting is what really makes the book interesting. It took me a while to become truly interested in this novel and its characters, but after reading half of the novel I began to care for Ella, Chris, Keller, and others.
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// Writing and Setting // I love media of the mystery genre that starts off with a bunch of little mysteries that need to be untangled in order to see the entire truth of the story. They typically keep my interest, just as this book did.
The secrets contained in this novel span from 1999 to 2015. The past never seems far from the present, as murders similar to that of the ones on New Years’ Eve 1999 continue to occur as the characters race against the clock to find the culprit.
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// Plot // The plot, since this is a thriller/mystery, was my favorite part of The Night Shift. Though I’ve seen many people saying they thought this story was very predictable, I found it to be the complete opposite. I was completely entranced by how in the dark I was. Perhaps it was because it took me longer to read this novel that I wasn’t immediately struck with suspicions of who the killer could be. Regardless, I thought that this book was filled with surprises and twists and turns.
As I’ve mentioned various times, the characters deal with their own sub-plots that contribute meaning to the overarching question of the novel: Who is the killer who struck in 1999 and 2015?
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// Wrap Up // Usually, when I am in a reading slump I do not finish the novel I am reading. However, The Night Shift was able to hold my attention and I’m so glad it did. Otherwise, I would have missed out on a chilling story containing betrayal, murder, and chaos.
// Quick Review // A brilliantly written horror novel that kept me interested from start to finish. Hide exhibits a broad and unique cast of characters, each trying their best to survive the horrifying circumstances they unknowingly introduced themselves to.
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// Other Information // Publisher: Del Rey Page Count: 256 pages Release Date: May 24, 2022 Series: None (that I am aware of) Tags: Fiction, Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Suspense, Horror, Paranormal
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// Review // Wow.
I don’t even know where to start with this novel. It has been so long since I was so involved in a book that I was sad to see it end, and even longer since I have read a breathtaking yet horrifying book. Hide is a truly excellent and distinctive book, one that I’m sure will stick with me for the near future.
I had hardly any issues with Hide and flew through the book at an amazing speed (for me, anyway). The plot was fast-moving but filled with mystery and terror. I spent the novel wondering about the new discoveries being made by the characters throughout the story. The plot came together beautifully and is truly a masterpiece. Hide was reminiscent of The Hunger Games and Winterset Hollow in its game of survival. However, it stands out when it comes to its memorable and lovable characters, chilling setting, and horror.
The story takes place in an abandoned amusement park where 14 characters are meant to hide for 7 days in order to win 50,000 dollars. Run down, haunted, and hiding deadly secrets, the amusement park seems like a hopeful opportunity until day by day Mack, Ava, LeGrand, and Brandon notice something is amiss. Their discovery of secrets reveals that they were not brought to Asterion—the home of this twisted game—to get a second chance. Rather, they were brought here to die at the hands of a devilish monster summoned here in generations past to protect Asterion.
I felt like I could truly connect to the vibrant cast of characters that Kiersten White created. Despite having 14+ characters introduced almost all at once, it was not hard for me to recognize them all through the frequent POV changes in the novel. The evolution of relationships in Hide added so much to the plot; it raised the stakes. With realistic characters in an unfamiliar landscape and situation, White created an absolutely genius progression of fear.
I have never wanted to see a book as a movie as much as I want this one to be. I can just imagine how terrified I would be while seeing Hide on a screen. Kiersten White’s writing style, too, is beautiful and perfectly fits the feel of this book. The way the author explores the character’s trauma while incorporating it into the plot was fascinating and made me admire the characters even more. ‘
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and cannot wait to check out more of White’s works.
Thank you to Pegasus Crime for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
// Book Content Warning: death, murder, mentions of suicide, mentions of drowning, violence, sexual content // - Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this book before reading, as I may have missed some here.
Because I had never read a novel by Paul Vidich before, I started reading this novel with no idea of what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by the brilliant mystery within The Matchmaker: A Spy in Berlin‘s pages that ended with an epic demonstration of a woman’s determination.
Anne Simpson is a woman living in West Berlin during 1989. She’s been married for two years to Stefan Koehler, a piano tuner who goes on frequent business trips. It’s not until Stefan doesn’t come back from a trip and she meets James Cooper that Anne realizes the life she has known for two years may be entirely false. Anne’s life is thrown upside down because of her discovery of Stefan’s supposed death and apparent betrayal.
I found Anne to be a strong and stubborn woman who has had a terrible past few years filled with heartbreak and grief. And although I could see this in her, I didn’t feel a true connection to her (or any other characters, for that matter) until the very end of the novel. The characters weren’t as important to me as the events that occurred, and I felt that they weren’t as relatable as I’d hoped they would be. I always look for a connection with characters while I am reading, especially an emotional one, but for some reason this novel didn’t quite hit the mark in that department.
Although I didn’t connect to the characters, that doesn’t mean they lacked depth. Most, if not all, of the main characters were fleshed out and had a backstory that impacted others or the plot. I loved the hidden layers of some characters, especially those of Stefan, who I spent the entire novel trying to figure out.
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// Writing and Setting //
Vidich’s writing is compelling and descriptive, transporting one to an important time in history in which Vidich clearly did their research. Though I am anything but a history expert, I felt that the author did a fantastic job of conveying the importance and stress of Berlin in 1989.
Although I hesitate to read historical fiction, the setting of The Matchmaker was my favorite part of the novel. The suspense in the air was clear and made me anxious for Anne as she attempted to navigate this new world of deceit she had been thrown into.
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// Plot //
The best way to describe the pace of this novel is as a rollercoaster. The beginning and end of the novel felt as if they dragged on, and it took me a little while to get into the book.
However, the action and suspense eventually became more frequent and intriguing towards the middle, and I found myself fascinated by its captivating mystery.
The end of The Matchmaker left me in awe, as it was a twist I would have never expected.
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// Overall Review //
I was delighted by the suspense of reading The Matchmaker, a thrilling spy novel set in Berlin during 1989. I will definitely be reading more of Vidich’s works.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I am unable to provide a full list of content warnings due to being unable to finish this book. Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading.
// Quick Review // The first book I read by Rachael Lippincott was Five Feet Apart, and I loved it! So, I was very excited when I found out that Lippincott was writing a sapphic novel with their wife. I had high anticipations for She Gets the Girl but was, unfortunately, let down. Whether it’s my general dislike for rom-coms or whether the unrealistic characters threw me off, I was unable to finish reading this novel.
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// Other Information // Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Page Count: 384 pages Release Date: April 5, 2022 Series: None Tags: Fiction, Young adult, Contemporary, Romance, LGBTQ+, Enemies to lovers, Lesbian, Rom-com (Romantic comedy), Sapphic
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// Characters // One of my least favorite parts of this novel is its characters. I so desperately wanted to love the characters, yet they were incredibly too unrealistic and unrelatable for me to connect with or care about them.
Told in dual-POV, She Gets the Girl follows the stories of Alex and Molly, two gay women both leaving home to go to college in Pittsburgh. Just before leaving her hometown, Alex breaks up with her girlfriend as the result of an argument over Alex’s unwillingness to commit to a relationship. Molly on the other hand has a crush on Cora Myers, a girl who is totally cool yet practically doesn’t know Molly exists.
From the start it is very obvious that Molly and Alex will get together, it’s just a matter of how it happens. Before reading, I was looking forward to the hate-love relationship between the two that was promised. Unfortunately, even before the two characters met, I found myself indifferent to their lives and relationships. They both seemed dull, like there was something crucial missing to them that would have made them lively and realistic.
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// Writing and Setting // The writing is not as compelling as I would have preferred. It’s your typical YA contemporary novel.
I found it appealing that the events of She Gets the Girl take place at a college, rather than high school (which seems to be very popular with YA novels). It was something fresh in an otherwise dull novel.
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// Plot // The plot was what kept me reading as long as I did. I was struggling to get through the book, as it is very slow-paced and disjointed at first (for the first 20% of the book, at least). I only ended up reading to the 20% mark, because I was just so bored. However, I read that far for the promise of two new college students trying to get girlfriends but falling in love with each other instead.
I was excited when I first got the chance to read this book because of the premise, however, so many other issues were hard to overlook and made this book unreadable (for me at least).
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// Overall Review // I’m not opposed to trying to read this novel again another time. There wasn’t necessarily anything wrong with it, it just wasn’t for me. I find that I hardly ever like contemporary novels, and especially not rom-coms. If I do, there has to be something unique about the book, it seems. Regardless, if you are a fan of Rachael Lippincott’s works and are looking for a sapphic rom-com to read, She Gets the Girl will be perfect for you.