michelles_book_nook's reviews
259 reviews

The Tea Dragon Festival by K. O'Neill

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? N/A

5.0

Reviewed the series as a whole. My review can be found under book 3.
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The Tea Dragon Society by K. O'Neill

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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? N/A

5.0

Reviewed this series as a whole. My review can be found under book 3.
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Cannibal Killers: Monsters with a Taste for Murder by Moira Martingale

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challenging dark informative medium-paced

4.0

⚠️ CW: graphic content, cannibalism, murder, rape, child abuse and much more ⚠️ This book is definitely not for the faint-hearted but it is so captivating and well written that I couldn't put it down! This book is a comprehensively updated and expanded version of Martingale's original publication on cannibal killers from the 90's that examines the ancestry of cannibalism from early human history right up to the present day. It is filled with research from scholars all over the world that aid the discussions throughout the book relating to the age old question of nature vs nurture and, in my opinion, is the perfect mix of psychology, criminology and true crime analysis. One particular part that I really found interesting was the discussion on how the internet has allowed groups of individuals to come together and create 'safe spaces' on not only the dark web but also in privately secured social media groups that has changed the way these people work to stalk their victims or enable their darkest desires. The only reason I dropped it down a star is because in a few areas I felt that there was an unnecessary emphasis put on some of the people who had any kind of preferences that lay outside of heteronormative behaviours or sexualities and how this somehow linked to the outcomes whether they were killer or victim. Overall, this was a very succinct and captivating read and if you're interested in psychology, criminology or just true crime in general then I highly recommend this book.
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Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica

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challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

⚠️ CW: miscarriage, infertility, sexual assault, murder and brief mentions of cancer ⚠️ If you love classic whodunits and slow burning thrillers then this one is for you! This book follows two married couples, Christian and Lily and Nina and Jake, but when one of them goes missing questions start to surface and cracks begin to show. When Jake first went missing Nina thought he was just blowing off steam after a heated argument but then as the days go by she starts to realise something more sinister is happening. Nina's friend, Lily, thinks she may be the last person to have seen Jake before he went missing but after confessing everything to her husband, Christian, the two decide nobody can find out what happened leading up to Jake's disappearance, especially Nina. But she is out there looking for Jake and she won't stop until she discovers the truth. This book was a good little page turner that kept my attention and really kept me guessing, and even though I did guess the big reveal it was still a good read! I really enjoyed the tension that Kubica builds with how she writes her books with the incident at the beginning and then drip feeds you clues like breadcrumbs for the rest of the book. Overall, I recommend this read if you like books with messy relationships and juicy lies!
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The Mist by Stephen King

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

⚠️ CW: death, overdose, suicide ⚠️ If you're a fan of Stranger Things then you'll love this! This novella follows the Drayton's and the people of Long Lake, Maine who following a freak summer storm end up joining together in their local grocery store after becoming trapped by the ominous mist that has enveloped their small town. While waiting for it to pass they realise that the dreaded mist has been concealing violent and strange forces that begin to emerge. However, that isn't their only concern as a group of survivors, led by a religious zealot, are calling for a human sacrifice. Now David and his young son, Billy, must try to escape but what's outside may be even more dangerous than what faces them in the store. This book was such an exhilarating and horror filled thrill ride! It reminded me of those classic horrors that make you choose between the enemy you know and the one you can only imagine which I absolutely loved. Overall, I highly recommend this book if you want a short horror filled read with a twist of sci-fi that leaves you wanting more!
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Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor

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adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

⚠️ CW: war, death, sexual assault and mentions of rape ⚠️ Wow what an end to an absolutely incredible trilogy! This book continues to follow Karou who is intent on steering her and the rebellion away from dead-end vengeance in the hopes of a better future for all and their war-ravaged world. However, when Jael's brutal Seraph army trespass into the human world the unthinkable becomes essential and Karou and Akiva must rally their enemy armies against the threat. It may be a twisted version of their long-ago dream but they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people, and perhaps for themselves to also find a new way of living and maybe even loving. But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing; A vicious queen is hunting Akiva and in the skies of Eretz something terrifying is happening that fills their world with a deep sense of dread. This series hasn't stopped leaving me speechless after every single book! I generally find with trilogies that there is always one book that is lacking in some way but again Laini Taylor has absolutely smashed it. There is so much I could rave about this book and this entire series but its so hard without giving spoilers. Overall, I don't know how there isn't more hype surrounding this trilogy because I've adored every last page and the beautiful writing of Laini Taylor. And I know I've said it before with the last two book reviews but if you are into epic mythical fantasies then you need to read this series!
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Behind Closed Doors by Carol Wyer

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challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

⚠️ TW: abduction, violence, domestic abuse, torture, suicide, brief mentions of drug use ⚠️ If you're looking for a slow burn that will keep you guessing then this one is for you! This book follows Stacey and her ex-husband, Jack, who turns up on her doorstep begging for her help after his 13 year old daughter, Lyra, has been abducted. But this terror is all too familiar for Stacey who was abducted 30 years earlier in a violent ordeal that was never solved and left her with severe amnesia. All she knows is that her father never paid her ransome and she was only saved thanks to an anonymous tip off to the police. And now Lyra is in the same situation and her captors have made it clear not to involve the police but Stacey can't help to notice eerie similarities between the two cases and she knows that she will do whatever she can, from using her journalistic powers to speaking with shady contacts, to save Lyra from the same nightmare. This book was a gripping read that made you second guess everything you thought you already knew about the characters while you try and piece together a complex whodunit puzzle. I did sort of guess it from quite early on but it was still really enjoyable to see it unfold and there were some great twists and plot points that I didn't see coming at all which I loved. It was a little slow in certain parts but with so much going on it made it more manageable in those slower paced chapters. However my main downside was that I felt the bad and dislikable characters outweighed the good ones but that also gave you lots of people to suspect 🤷🏼‍♀️ Overall though I quite enjoyed this read and recommend it if you're into the abduction/whodunit type reads.
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Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

⚠️ TW: war, slavery, genocide, murder, death, misogyny, torture, execution and sexual assault ⚠️ Wow, this book blew my mind just as much as the first one did! 🤯 This book continues to follow Karou who finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is and what she is but with this new knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo. She loved the enemy but he betrayed her and a world suffered for it. Now she must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Karou finds herself and Akiva on opposing sides of an age-old war that stirs back to life. While she helps build a monstrous army with her allies in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a battle for redemption and hope. But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream? This series just keeps on giving and I absolutely love it! Again, Laini Taylor flawlessly plunges you into this book with incredible world building, complex characters and the most intense storyline. Most trilogies, for me at least, seem to dip in one of their books but so far this series has me gripped in a magical fantasy vice where I want to binge the third and final book right away but I also don't want it to end yet. There is so much I could rave about this book because I love every last little thing but it's so hard without spoilers. Overall, if you are into epic mythical fantasies then you need to read this series!
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Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

⚠️ TW: war, execution, misogyny, rape, torture ⚠️ If you're looking for a beautifully written and mesmerising fantasy series that will have you instantly obsessed then you need to read this! This book follows Karou who has managed to keep her two lives in balance. On one hand she is a 17 year old art student in Prague and on the other she is an errand girl for a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to family. Raised half in our world, half in 'elsewhere', she has never understood Brimstone's dark work of buying teeth from hunters and murderers nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn't whole. When one day the portal doors to elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a nearly destroyed world that may hold the answers she has always sought. This book was everything you could possibly want from a fantasy book and I can't believe it has been sat on my tbr for so long! From the gripping storyline to the vivid characters to the impeccable world building. It left me speechless when I finished it because it was just so good and I dove straight into the second book. Overall, if you are into fantasy then you need to read this book/series because if the other two books are half as great as this one then it is incredibly underrated and needs all of the love! 
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The Convent by Marie Hargreaves

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

5.0

⚠️ TW: mental illness, domestic violence, bullying, violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, paedophilia, child death, misogyny ⚠️ If you are looking for a heartbreaking tale of trauma and bravery then this one is for you. This book follows the story of Marie and her life in Oldham growing up in poverty in the 1950's before being taken into a Roman Catholic Convent that was overseen by a cruel and sadistic nun. During her time in the Convent a ritual of physical, sexual and mental abuse took place that shaped her life forever. And years later when a police investigation was launched she realises that the time has finally come to tell the truth. This book broke my heart from the very beginning and just kept hitting to the point I had to take breaks while reading which is rare for me because it was just too much in some parts and anyone that has read this book will understand. It is incredibly hard to review but I think it is a vital story of things that once went on in some children's homes and while sickening and vile it is told so well. Overall, I highly recommend this read but please check the TW's because it really hit me hard.
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