pikamonster's reviews
148 reviews

Congo by Michael Crichton

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

4.0

The book starts out a little slowly but once Amy is introduced you really can't help but be invested. There's a few points I wish were explained a little better as the good part felt a little rushed. It's an enjoyable read regardless. 
The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl

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adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

2.5

I feel like they switched POVs too soon. The chapters were too short it made it hard to form an attachment to any characters. It wasn't a terrible story but it was predictable and felt like a book setting up a sequel and less like a cohesive story. 
Devil and the Bluebird by Jennifer Mason-Black

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dark hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The overall idea of the book was good but the execution left a lot to be desired. The book felt all over the place but it gave some neat insight to things you wouldn't normally think about. The diversity was really well done but the story itself felt random. 
Red Rain by R.L. Stine

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dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

This book felt very much like a grown up Goosebumps/Fear Street novel. Very predictable. Even the so called "twist" at the end I smelled a mile away. It wasn't the worst thing I've ever read and for some reason his adult writing style reminds me of Stephen King.
The Wild Hunt by Emma Seckel

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challenging dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

It was a decent story but it was VERY slow for the little that actually happened. 
The Invention of Sound by Chuck Palahniuk

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challenging dark 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

2.0

It just really felt all over the place and didn't make much sense. Just felt like a read for edgelords. 
The Burning Dark by Adam Christopher

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
I could tell where this book was going and that it was going to be a drag from the second the perspective changed to the main character. After scrolling through the reviews I'm going to trust my gut and read something else.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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challenging dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

The author's books feel a little dull to me and her main characters feel copy pasted. That being said I always want to finish the books and that's more than I can say for a lot of authors. Although the title says MEXICAN Gothic. The book feels deceptively Eurocentric. I just expected more.
Death by Bubble Tea by Jennifer J. Chow

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Fun little quick mystery. Pretty basic but still enjoyable.
Lord of the Fly Fest by Goldy Moldavsky

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dark medium-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

2.5

Honestly I expected better from this book. The plot was my literal worst nightmare. However the book itself felt lacking.