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bookishkellyn's reviews
343 reviews
This Cursed House by Del Sandeen
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Once I reach a point in the plot where the correct or easy choice is apparent and the main character doesn’t take that route, I lose interest and am basically just hate reading the rest of the book. The writing wasn’t bad, save for Jemma being pitiful behind that family of uppity negroes when she didn’t have to be. The mystery was good. The Duchons were terrible. So sorry they didn’t suffer more. Jemma’s better than me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Incest, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Racial slurs, Slavery, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Harry Potter meets sad-girl lit as this taps into an adult’s innermost (but childlike) desire that they matter and are secretly powerful and unique. The FMC was especially likeable, so I found myself rooting for Lennon’s fight to maintain her moral compass in this gray environment. To complicate matters, everyone is unusually attractive, including her faculty advisor (Dante)–who may have a soft spot for her. This was such an intense and interesting, but odd, dark academia book. The weirdness and dreariness of Drayton’s campus reminded me a lot of Immortal Dark and Where Sleeping Girls Lie. Slow start but my awe of the well-crafted layers of mystery reveals secured this book a place as one of my best reads this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Forced institutionalization
The Last Petal by Janera Moon
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
- 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
3.5
A fated soulmate to two warlocks has double the pleasure, double the fun until a huge mystery is revealed and vital information is frustratingly kept from her. I liked the spice, characters, and world-building but disliked the instances of flat out explaining important history or plot points instead of breadcrumbing it to the reader. This doesn’t end on a dramatic cliffhanger but does end just as the momentum kicks up. If a why-choose romance/erotica and a fantasy had a baby, it would be this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Torture
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Genocide, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt
The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick by S. Isabelle
hopeful
relaxing
- 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
While other ladies in society are folding to the obligations of marriage for fortune, Stella’s trying to hustle her way out of this perceived “misfortune” that’s bestowed upon her by using the talent of her pen. Stella’s witty skepticism, the possibility of a love match, and hint of mystery made this a pleasant read after a slow start. This doesn’t seem to be a direct retelling of any classic but more so an original work that draws inspiration from the oppression of women in the 1800s. Unlike other historical fictions, this puts race front and center. So if you’re looking for a complete mental escape, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for a charming, period piece, underdog story, this is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Terminal illness, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates
challenging
informative
4.0
As a journalist who admittedly got his big break writing about (and criticizing) the first Black president, his essays during Obama’s eight-year tenure served as a keen perspective to how America went from extreme optimism to the open racism that inconceivably led to the election of 45. This finished product is a beautiful and cohesive literary work that’s part history lesson, autobiography, and social commentary wrapped up in one.
2nd Time Around: A B-Boy Blues Novel by James Earl Hardy
emotional
hopeful
- 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
Initially, the formatting threw me off, as there weren’t really defined chapters. It was like a stream of consciousness (with intermittent flashbacks) showcasing Raheim’s growth and correction of of his misbehaviors from the first book. It was a little boring until the conflict with his father was broached, which did answer some of my questions about his insecurities on fatherhood and his sexuality. Any scenes where Raheim was interacting with Mitchell and/or Junior were highlights and won me over–especially the last 25%.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Incest
B-Boy Blues: A Seriously Sexy, Fiercely Funny, Black-on-Black Love Story by James Earl Hardy
hopeful
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Besides this book being published almost 30 years ago, it (minus some outdated terms and views) is still poignant and a testament to the author’s writing skills. Mitchell’s attraction to thuggish men felt less like a fetishization and more of a trade off with Raheim as they both fell victim to patriarchal gender roles while seeking love and acceptance. This gave major Noah’s Arc vibes but with a toxic, central love story forged out of lust. Only flaw was the casual mention of some incestuous thoughts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Incest, Infidelity, Racial slurs, and Racism
Witch- Trapment by ML Bash
dark
A witch, werewolf, and vampire walk into a bar… This sounds like the opening line of a joke, but I promise nothing is funny about it as Cree, Huck, and Najee’s one-night stand is chocked full of taboo kinks. It felt like the author was just throwing stuff at the wall hoping it would stick. This has been my least favorite why-choose romance from her so far. I’m withholding a numerical rating because if it had been another author and/or a longer length, I would’ve DNF’d for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Blood
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment
Togetha by Keith F. Miller Jr.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
- 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
Unraveling the mystery was a detailed and engaging wild ride that seamlessly incorporated themes of betrayal, grief, and community. However, the main attraction was always the male vulnerability–familial, platonic, and romantic–between Jay, Leroy, and their support circle. The author infuses their dialogue and inner monologues with a level of sensitivity that doesn’t make their teen emotions feel trivial but instead feel like there’s something truly at stake. The nostalgic 2000s background and lyrical writing had me comfortably kicked back and rubbing my feet together like a cricket while reading. I liked this sequel even more than the first book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, and Kidnapping
Splinter by Jasper Hyde
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a diverse twist on Sleepy Hollow–the tale and TV series. Just as family and work starts getting weird, Dru’s ex-BFF (Ichabod) reappears to make everything even more complicated by revealing a supernatural world previously unknown to her. I barely remembered the legend of the Headless Horseman and still enjoyed this book. This short, spooky read had minor errors (and a cringy sex scene) but was the perfect mood for October.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, Racism, Slavery, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment