readingmaria's reviews
539 reviews

We Have Never Lived on Earth by Kasia Van Schaik

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slow-paced

4.0

Such a wonderful interconnected short story collection! This is definitely the type of book that needs to be binge read. I feel like I need to go back and reread a few of these stories for sure. Beautiful writing!
Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.
Life is too short to read trash
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow, this book is such a rich historical romance that is perfect for fall reading. You have vampires, a forbidden love story, a story set in 1840s. Literally such an immersive and compelling book. Highly recommend!
We Meant Well by Erum Shazia Hasan

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challenging dark emotional informative tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, x a million. WOW. This book packs such a punch, and has so many layers to it. I probably shouldn’t be writing this without having processed everything I read, but here we are.

This book questions a lot of intentions behind actions, expertly has you push and pull between right VS wrong, and that dangerous grey colour in between. Who do we believe? Why should we believe them? HOW can we believe them, when other past actions in similar situations have proven to be something else? WILD. This book will definitely leave a lot to digest afterwards. These characters are all unlikeable in their own way, but they also feel so real.

This is an important book that everyone must read. 
Secret Sex: An Anthology by Russell Smith

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adventurous dark funny reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

It’s fun not knowing who wrote what, and trying to guess as you read along! These stories are definitely literary, so if you don’t mind that mixed in with your reading, you’ll definitely enjoy this anthology. 
All the Colour in the World by C.S. Richardson

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reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

This book definitely grew on me, and I definitely really liked the writing and the story once I got into it. I really loved some parts of the book, and I know I’ll think about this one for a while.
What They Said About Luisa by Erika Rummel

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5.0

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this - it was the perfect mix of literary, horror, and entertainment. It’s definitely a book that will sit with me for a while, and also warrants a reread. The writing is sophisticated, so it takes a lot to concentrate, but this book is worth it!
Sign Here by Claudia Lux

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

4.0

A strong debut that mixes domestic thriller, horror, and suspense together perfectly. I absolutely loved all the dark and dry humour in here. I will say that the last quarter of the book did seem really disjointed from the rest of the book, but apart from that I just enjoyed reading this quick book with a band of (mostly) unlikeable characters. 
The Magic Border by Arlo Parks

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emotional reflective slow-paced

4.0

A beautiful audiobook that left me wanting more!