pkc's reviews
392 reviews

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? No

4.0

This book had a touch of everything and I loved it. It was a rip-roaring plot, fabulous character development and a really great mystery that seemed to be one thing but masqueraded as something else. Just brilliant. I had a rare time reading this book and I’d like to look at more that the author has released!

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Companion Piece by Ali Smith

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funny mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Of all the Seasonal books by Ali Smith, this was one of the strongest entries for me! Aside from the random meander towards the end into a different plot that I couldn’t quite figure out the reason for until the book was almost done, I really enjoyed it. 

I can see why she’d write such a book as the world navigated Covid and human contact was compromised. The previous entries were very much focused on Britain post-Brexit and this was a continuation of that. It was interesting to look at the current, ever changing socio-political climate that she had so meticulously mapped in the four previous books and use that to start to explore the human impact of the pandemic.

It was unexpectedly funny, it was hopeful and the pastoral and modern married beautifully at the end. Sandra/Sand was such a great protagonist. She was funny in the face of her various trials and the problems facing the world, but her emotional trajectory will probably ring true to many readers who lived through the pandemic. I’m sure there aren’t many among us who could verbalise it as Smith manages to, though! 

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Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

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dark sad tense 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

3.0

It would be weird to summarise a book like this by saying whether I “enjoyed it” or not. It’s not the sort of the book where there’s much to enjoy in terms of a bleak plot and a pervading sense of hopelessness. I will say, there are snatches of poetic writing in amongst the darkness that Kiara, the protagonist is subject to. I also think Kiara is an excellently realised protagonist. Her arc is perfectly plotted and it’s easy to follow her story and invest in her life. 

I will say though, if you’re looking for a neat and traditionally happy resolution, this book won’t do it.

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Free: Coming of Age at the End of History by Lea Ypi

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funny informative sad tense slow-paced

3.0

Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall

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emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.0


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The Manningtree Witches by A.K. Blakemore

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dark funny informative mysterious sad tense slow-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? No

3.0


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I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • 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? Yes

4.0


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The Bass Rock by Evie Wyld

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challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-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? It's complicated

2.5

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

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adventurous funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? No

4.5

This was a gorgeous exploration of dueling identities. I absolutely tore through this book. I found Gifty to be the most fascinating and loveable protagonist and I rooted for her throughout. I felt emotional for her family and their various plights and I just really wanted good things for them all, but sadly good things weren’t destined throughout. Overall really loved this story. It was searingly singular but multiple all at once. By which I mean
Gifty tries to make sense of the world through both a scientific lens and a religious context all at once to answer questions about her brothers addiction and ultimate death, as well as her mothers depression. Her longing for answers is so relatable and it’s a great example of grief finding its way into the cracks in the pavement wherever you walk.

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