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jamieleepilk's reviews
590 reviews
Tenderloin by Joy Sorman
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Pink Slime by Fernanda Trías
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? N/A
4.0
"It wasn't an appeal, but rather the verbal expression of a weariness so complete it extended beyond my body, beyond my physical and mental existence; an exhaustion embedded in time itself."
A stunningly written novel about a woman who is caring for a child while remaining in a port town in the middle of an ecological disaster.
The way Fernanda writes about loneliness is gorgeous her prose is elegant and heart breaking.
A stunningly written novel about a woman who is caring for a child while remaining in a port town in the middle of an ecological disaster.
The way Fernanda writes about loneliness is gorgeous her prose is elegant and heart breaking.
Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Sexual content
The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you so much Fitzcarraldo for the early copy!
The Empusiun is a novel about a group of men suffering with TB in a Health Resort with something sinister lurking in it's walls.
Just a bunch of bitches with TB telling each other exactly.
This is my first Olga Tokarczuk (yes I'm sorry) it won't be my last. Her way of writing is dark and addictive. The horrors in this book are secretive and hidden rather than outright scary - the whole novel has a creeping sense of dread & tension that makes mundae parts feel unsettling.
Also one of the best authors notes I've seen in a book.
The Empusiun is a novel about a group of men suffering with TB in a Health Resort with something sinister lurking in it's walls.
Just a bunch of bitches with TB telling each other exactly.
This is my first Olga Tokarczuk (yes I'm sorry) it won't be my last. Her way of writing is dark and addictive. The horrors in this book are secretive and hidden rather than outright scary - the whole novel has a creeping sense of dread & tension that makes mundae parts feel unsettling.
Also one of the best authors notes I've seen in a book.
Above Us the Sea by Ania Card
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
Queen B by Juno Dawson
This was a great addition to the HMRC universe. As someone who is in love with this series and loves Tudor History it was great to have this tie in. Grace was a perfect main pov for this story and felt like a good gateway into the Tudor court world. I'd love to have more mini novella's that follow on from this or mini stories set in different periods of British History as we all know it gets real bad for witch kind and how that ties in with HMRC past the snippets we get in the original series.
My only criticism is that I found the romance between Grace & Anne - while I loved it - did feel slightly under developed and quick but this was probably more to do with the length of the novella than anything else.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a great addition to the HMRC universe. As someone who is in love with this series and loves Tudor History it was great to have this tie in. Grace was a perfect main pov for this story and felt like a good gateway into the Tudor court world. I'd love to have more mini novella's that follow on from this or mini stories set in different periods of British History as we all know it gets real bad for witch kind and how that ties in with HMRC past the snippets we get in the original series.
My only criticism is that I found the romance between Grace & Anne - while I loved it - did feel slightly under developed and quick but this was probably more to do with the length of the novella than anything else.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
The Eyes are the Best Part' by Monika Kim is fantastic!
A dark, uncomfortable and addictive read about obsession, fetishism & revenge. A claustrophobic tale as Ji-Won becomes obsessed with her mother's new boyfriend's eyes and she knows there's only one way to satisfy her cravings. I was hooked from page one. What an exciting debut, intrigued to see what Monika does next. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoyed 'Boy Parts' by Eliza Clark.
A dark, uncomfortable and addictive read about obsession, fetishism & revenge. A claustrophobic tale as Ji-Won becomes obsessed with her mother's new boyfriend's eyes and she knows there's only one way to satisfy her cravings. I was hooked from page one. What an exciting debut, intrigued to see what Monika does next. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoyed 'Boy Parts' by Eliza Clark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic friendship
Lucy Undying by Kiersten White
dark
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
DallerGut Dream Department Store by Mi-Ye Lee 이미예
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
'The Dallergut Dream Department Store' focuses on Penny who after years of trying gets her dream job at the Dream Department store! The story weaves Penny's life with those of her co-workers, the dream-makers and the dreamers.
I'd heard a lot of good things about Dallergut and it did not disappoint! It was so easy to get lost in the story and the wonderful whimsey of it all. It's so fantastical but they way it's written you just take everything at face value and just know not to question it.
The quiet heartfelt nature of it is simply beautiful. There was a chapter in this book about a pre-order/delivery service for dreams, this allows dreamers to order dreams for their loved ones to be delivered at a different date, I had to put this aside and take a breather. The descriptions of how it feels to have a dream about a loved one you've lost hit far to close to home but were nothing short of stunning.
I'm so excited for number 2 in the series for more of Penny and the wonderful Department store.
I'd heard a lot of good things about Dallergut and it did not disappoint! It was so easy to get lost in the story and the wonderful whimsey of it all. It's so fantastical but they way it's written you just take everything at face value and just know not to question it.
The quiet heartfelt nature of it is simply beautiful. There was a chapter in this book about a pre-order/delivery service for dreams, this allows dreamers to order dreams for their loved ones to be delivered at a different date, I had to put this aside and take a breather. The descriptions of how it feels to have a dream about a loved one you've lost hit far to close to home but were nothing short of stunning.
I'm so excited for number 2 in the series for more of Penny and the wonderful Department store.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Death, and Grief