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eve_reads's reviews
121 reviews
Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ I’ve never read a work of meta fiction before, and I found Chizmar’s take on the genre absolutely fascinating. You don’t know what actually occurred and what was fictional until the VERY end.
⁕ It takes a lot to creep me out, but this book had me up past my bedtime with the lights on 😂 The blending of actual circumstances with horror elements made the horror elements feel all the more real and possible. I was thoroughly spooked.
⁕ Chris Andrew Culla’s narration of the audiobook made it feel like I was listening to a true crime podcast. If you like Serial, Up and Vanished, In the Dark, etc., then this might be the perfect audiobook experience for you!
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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⁕ I’ve never read a work of meta fiction before, and I found Chizmar’s take on the genre absolutely fascinating. You don’t know what actually occurred and what was fictional until the VERY end.
⁕ It takes a lot to creep me out, but this book had me up past my bedtime with the lights on 😂 The blending of actual circumstances with horror elements made the horror elements feel all the more real and possible. I was thoroughly spooked.
⁕ Chris Andrew Culla’s narration of the audiobook made it feel like I was listening to a true crime podcast. If you like Serial, Up and Vanished, In the Dark, etc., then this might be the perfect audiobook experience for you!
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Murder
The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab, V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ The strongest aspects of this book were its lyrical writing style and gloomy atmosphere. I got major Grimm’s Fairytale vibes; this is definitely a good fall-time read!
⁕ There are some big YA tropes in here: a dark and mysterious love interest, the death of parent, and a rebellious main character. All of them were well-written!
⁕ I didn’t fall in love the characters as I have with Schwab’s other books. That’s not to say they aren’t believable, I just didn’t get as invested.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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⁕ The strongest aspects of this book were its lyrical writing style and gloomy atmosphere. I got major Grimm’s Fairytale vibes; this is definitely a good fall-time read!
⁕ There are some big YA tropes in here: a dark and mysterious love interest, the death of parent, and a rebellious main character. All of them were well-written!
⁕ I didn’t fall in love the characters as I have with Schwab’s other books. That’s not to say they aren’t believable, I just didn’t get as invested.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Violence, and Death of parent
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.0
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ Saint didn’t push past the boundaries of the original myth of Theseus and the Minotaur until about halfway through. As someone familiar with the story, I was unmotivated to read until that point.
⁕ I never felt overly attached to or intrigued by Ariadne. She very much felt like a victim of circumstance as opposed to a heroine in charge of her own destiny. Her relationship with her sister was the only aspect of the novel that added complexity and depth to her storyline.
⁕ If you enjoy Madeline Miller’s Circe, this book is very similar in terms of prose and themes.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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⁕ Saint didn’t push past the boundaries of the original myth of Theseus and the Minotaur until about halfway through. As someone familiar with the story, I was unmotivated to read until that point.
⁕ I never felt overly attached to or intrigued by Ariadne. She very much felt like a victim of circumstance as opposed to a heroine in charge of her own destiny. Her relationship with her sister was the only aspect of the novel that added complexity and depth to her storyline.
⁕ If you enjoy Madeline Miller’s Circe, this book is very similar in terms of prose and themes.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Violence
Vicious by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ The nonlinear delivery of the story contributed to such a heightened sense of anticipation and tension. By the final chapters, I was TEARING through the book to get to the resolution.
⁕ Victor and Eli are deliciously flawed and the amoral, anti-heroes of every reader’s dreams.
⁕ I’ve read a lot of reviews saying that this book gives off similar vibes as the Amazon show The Boys. While I agree that it has similar character types, I will say this book is MUCH LESS intense in terms of gore and violence. It’s still there, but if you go in with expectations of high shock value scenes, you will probably be dissatisfied.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
⁕ The nonlinear delivery of the story contributed to such a heightened sense of anticipation and tension. By the final chapters, I was TEARING through the book to get to the resolution.
⁕ Victor and Eli are deliciously flawed and the amoral, anti-heroes of every reader’s dreams.
⁕ I’ve read a lot of reviews saying that this book gives off similar vibes as the Amazon show The Boys. While I agree that it has similar character types, I will say this book is MUCH LESS intense in terms of gore and violence. It’s still there, but if you go in with expectations of high shock value scenes, you will probably be dissatisfied.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Suicide attempt
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ If you like your dystopian fantasy novels with a heaping dose of sheer terror, this is the book for you! I can best describe it as The Handmaid’s Tale meets American Horror Story.
⁕ I could not get enough of Immanuel’s parents! The vignettes of their past and the snippets from their letters to one another are gripping. Immanuel and Ezra however…. I found the the development of their relationship unbelievable😅
⁕ I wish the world-building was a bit more explicit. It felt a bit cookie-cutter.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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⁕ If you like your dystopian fantasy novels with a heaping dose of sheer terror, this is the book for you! I can best describe it as The Handmaid’s Tale meets American Horror Story.
⁕ I could not get enough of Immanuel’s parents! The vignettes of their past and the snippets from their letters to one another are gripping. Immanuel and Ezra however…. I found the the development of their relationship unbelievable😅
⁕ I wish the world-building was a bit more explicit. It felt a bit cookie-cutter.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence
Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ Sambury does a STELLAR job creating conflict for her characters. The stakes are so high, and the tension very, very real throughout the entire novel.
⁕ This book has characters across 3 generations, and the voice acting by Joniece Abbott-Pratt captures them all SO WELL.
⁕ The world-building is subtle but effective. The setting of futuristic Canada felt familiar with sprinkles of fantastical and techy grunge vibes.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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⁕ Sambury does a STELLAR job creating conflict for her characters. The stakes are so high, and the tension very, very real throughout the entire novel.
⁕ This book has characters across 3 generations, and the voice acting by Joniece Abbott-Pratt captures them all SO WELL.
⁕ The world-building is subtle but effective. The setting of futuristic Canada felt familiar with sprinkles of fantastical and techy grunge vibes.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Police brutality and Medical trauma
Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ This book was a very refreshing read after several heavier adult fiction novels. It’s fast-paced and full of delightful little twists. I definitely recommend it if you want something to pull you out of a slump.
⁕ All of the main and secondary characters are so loveable! I just wish the book was longer or that there was a sequel so that I could have spent more time with them!
⁕ I appreciate that this text pushed me to interrogate and question the role that heteronormativity plays in a lot of fantasy, as well as the overall impact that it has on readers and our culture as a whole.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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⁕ This book was a very refreshing read after several heavier adult fiction novels. It’s fast-paced and full of delightful little twists. I definitely recommend it if you want something to pull you out of a slump.
⁕ All of the main and secondary characters are so loveable! I just wish the book was longer or that there was a sequel so that I could have spent more time with them!
⁕ I appreciate that this text pushed me to interrogate and question the role that heteronormativity plays in a lot of fantasy, as well as the overall impact that it has on readers and our culture as a whole.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Sexism, and Violence
The Girls by Emma Cline
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ This book is obviously not a feel-good read, but I feel that I have to emphasize just how graphic and intense some of the scenes are. It’s beyond icky at points and may not be the right fit for all readers.
⁕ A lot of the news, stories, and retellings of the Manson family focus on Manson himself. It was interesting to see the events from the perspective of one of the girls involved (even if this was a super fictionalized account).
⁕ I enjoyed the exploration of morality and evil through Evie’s character. One of the main questions the book asks of the reader is “can anyone be capable of evil?” — something I feel we don’t often get to discuss with female characters.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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⁕ This book is obviously not a feel-good read, but I feel that I have to emphasize just how graphic and intense some of the scenes are. It’s beyond icky at points and may not be the right fit for all readers.
⁕ A lot of the news, stories, and retellings of the Manson family focus on Manson himself. It was interesting to see the events from the perspective of one of the girls involved (even if this was a super fictionalized account).
⁕ I enjoyed the exploration of morality and evil through Evie’s character. One of the main questions the book asks of the reader is “can anyone be capable of evil?” — something I feel we don’t often get to discuss with female characters.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
3.5
Overall Thoughts:
- The "mystery" element of this novel felt half-baked and a little unbelievable. If there was a greater build-up to the big reveal, I might have found it more convincing.
- I was initially attracted to this book because the summary made it seem like the relationship between the main character and her step-daughter would be a main focus (ya'll know I'm a sucker for cross-generational female friendships). That was definitely present, but not as heavily as I wanted it to be.
- I enjoyed the narration of the audiobook! Rebecca Lowman's voice is very soothing and I could listen to this before bed or early in the morning without feeling irritated XD
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-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? Yes
3.5
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ Because this book is more focused on the relationship between Poppy and Casteel than anything else, it was much slower to start and had less political intrigue than the previous one.
⁕ While very spicy, the dialogue was repetitive and -- when I was not in the right mindset for it -- felt boring.
⁕ The character development for Poppy and Casteel was definitely there, I just wanted more of it.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
⁕ Because this book is more focused on the relationship between Poppy and Casteel than anything else, it was much slower to start and had less political intrigue than the previous one.
⁕ While very spicy, the dialogue was repetitive and -- when I was not in the right mindset for it -- felt boring.
⁕ The character development for Poppy and Casteel was definitely there, I just wanted more of it.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Death and Sexual violence
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Death of parent