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kalventure's reviews
519 reviews
Night's Edge by Liz Kerin
The narrative is instantly gripping and sinks its teeth into you on the first page. Kerin's writing is sharp and descriptive, lyrical without feeling heavy, and the book keeps a steady pace, keeping me glued to my chair to watch the horrors unfold.
I love when books are tightly written and every scene serves a purpose, and Night's Edge is intricately plotted. It comes to a natural conclusion while leaving you ready for more in its sequel (April 2024 cannot come fast enough!).
At its core, this book uses vampires as an allegory to explore codependency in families. There's so much that I could gush about Mia's relationship with Izzy, but I wanted to keep this review surface-level so you can experience it for yourself. One part that struck a cord with me is how Mia was forced to grow up too fast and now that she's an adult herself, her mother sees her as a child. How we perceive time and how that perception becomes distorted through trauma - I found my heart aching for both Mia and Izzy.
No good vampire tale is complete with an exploration of personal agency, control, and power - and Night's Edge is a damn good vampire story. There are many intersectionalities, which introduces a lot of nuance into an analysis. Nothing is black and white, and no person is truly good or evil - almost every character in some way has their agency taken from them.
I especially enjoyed how Kerin took the vampire mythos and made a story wholly her own. The pandemic adjacent worldbuilding paints a scene that feels all too real: our modern world overrun by a virus, only this virus is responsible for turning people into vampires. I hope that there will be more focus on the Saras in the sequel, because I feel like there's so much here to explore - especially with the ending!
Night's Edge deals with codependent familial relationships and may be a difficult for some so please read the content warnings to ensure that you're in the right headspace before picking it up.
Overall, Night's Edge is a powerful and raw exploration of codependency through the lens of vampires that will stay with you long after reading. It's action-packed in a cinematic way that I was able to clearly picture the book's events in my mind. It's uncomfortable to read at times but beautiful all the same.
Content Warnings: Blood & gore depiction, Child abuse, Gun violence
ARC provided by the publisher for consideration. This does not affect my opinion or the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and are subject to change upon final publication.
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challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.5
I read this book a month ago and am still thinking about it. Night's Edge is powerfully evocative, lyrically written, and gritty with a story that you won't be able to put down.
I adored Kerin's debut novel The Phantom Forest so I was thrilled to receive an ARC to read it early for review. Thanks to the worst reading slump of my life, it took me much longer to pick this book up than intended but when I finally did Night's Edge consumed me and I devoured this book in a weekend. Normally I annotate while reading for review, but the four comments I have are basically me screaming at plot points. It's been so long since I've had this experience reading!
I adored Kerin's debut novel The Phantom Forest so I was thrilled to receive an ARC to read it early for review. Thanks to the worst reading slump of my life, it took me much longer to pick this book up than intended but when I finally did Night's Edge consumed me and I devoured this book in a weekend. Normally I annotate while reading for review, but the four comments I have are basically me screaming at plot points. It's been so long since I've had this experience reading!
"The night is starless. Clouds suffocate the moon."
The narrative is instantly gripping and sinks its teeth into you on the first page. Kerin's writing is sharp and descriptive, lyrical without feeling heavy, and the book keeps a steady pace, keeping me glued to my chair to watch the horrors unfold.
I love when books are tightly written and every scene serves a purpose, and Night's Edge is intricately plotted. It comes to a natural conclusion while leaving you ready for more in its sequel (April 2024 cannot come fast enough!).
"Sometimes it feels like she's moving backward through time. But maybe that's just me. Moving forward."
At its core, this book uses vampires as an allegory to explore codependency in families. There's so much that I could gush about Mia's relationship with Izzy, but I wanted to keep this review surface-level so you can experience it for yourself. One part that struck a cord with me is how Mia was forced to grow up too fast and now that she's an adult herself, her mother sees her as a child. How we perceive time and how that perception becomes distorted through trauma - I found my heart aching for both Mia and Izzy.
"I wonder what that's like, to know someone can't fight back. To take their silence as concession."
No good vampire tale is complete with an exploration of personal agency, control, and power - and Night's Edge is a damn good vampire story. There are many intersectionalities, which introduces a lot of nuance into an analysis. Nothing is black and white, and no person is truly good or evil - almost every character in some way has their agency taken from them.
I especially enjoyed how Kerin took the vampire mythos and made a story wholly her own. The pandemic adjacent worldbuilding paints a scene that feels all too real: our modern world overrun by a virus, only this virus is responsible for turning people into vampires. I hope that there will be more focus on the Saras in the sequel, because I feel like there's so much here to explore - especially with the ending!
"We need to believe that everyone we give our love to is a good person. But if they change... and if that change hurts us... what then? Are they still good, deep down? Because 'they weren't always like this'?"
Night's Edge deals with codependent familial relationships and may be a difficult for some so please read the content warnings to ensure that you're in the right headspace before picking it up.
Overall, Night's Edge is a powerful and raw exploration of codependency through the lens of vampires that will stay with you long after reading. It's action-packed in a cinematic way that I was able to clearly picture the book's events in my mind. It's uncomfortable to read at times but beautiful all the same.
Content Warnings: Blood & gore depiction, Child abuse, Gun violence
ARC provided by the publisher for consideration. This does not affect my opinion or the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and are subject to change upon final publication.
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Gun violence, and Child abuse
Last Tango in Cyberspace by Steven Kotler
Did not finish book. Stopped at 2%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 2%.
This was an almost immediate DNF for me. I’ve tried multiple times over the last few years to get into it and this writing style just doesn’t work for me.
Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
DNF @ 8%
I really wanted to love this Tempest retelling, but I just couldn’t get into the narrative. I found myself skimming early in through descriptions of every thought running through the character’s head and realized I didn’t care enough about the plot to continue.
I really wanted to love this Tempest retelling, but I just couldn’t get into the narrative. I found myself skimming early in through descriptions of every thought running through the character’s head and realized I didn’t care enough about the plot to continue.
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
"It's all fun and games until you're dead."
THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING AND OH MY GOD my jaw lives on the floor now! If you were worried about Bayron's foray into horror from fantasy, please know those concerns are unfounded and you need to read this book immediately! and then scream at me about it.
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight is an ode and love letter to slasher flicks and a must-read for horror fans. Fast-paced and impossible to put down, I devoured this book in one sitting. I don't know that I will ever be calm hearing a splash in an empty lake ever again, so thanks for that new unlocked fear.
One of my favorite things about the horror genre is that it's a vehicle for social commentary as well as entertainment, and this book embodies that "horror spirit". I don't want to talk too much about this aspect because I think it is best to go in blind, but I would be remiss to not mention how much my mind is reeling since finishing.
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight is an ode and love letter to slasher flicks and a must-read for horror fans. Fast-paced and impossible to put down, I devoured this book in one sitting. I don't know that I will ever be calm hearing a splash in an empty lake ever again, so thanks for that new unlocked fear.
One of my favorite things about the horror genre is that it's a vehicle for social commentary as well as entertainment, and this book embodies that "horror spirit". I don't want to talk too much about this aspect because I think it is best to go in blind, but I would be remiss to not mention how much my mind is reeling since finishing.
I'm the Girl by Courtney Summers
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Audiobook narration: 100000 gold stars! I read along with the audiobook and Lori Prince did an incredible job bringing this story to life with her narration.
"[I]t's more important to know who you are than who you think you're meant to be."
Holy heck, this book was powerful and heartbreaking and I want to punch things. This is a beautifully written uncomfortable read, please read the content warnings before picking this one up.
"Are you the girl? he asked. There could only be one answer. More powerful than disappearing was being found. More powerful was being found was being seen."
Beautifully written and effortlessly engaging, I'm The Girl is like a car accident that you can't look away from. Courtney Summers nails the teen voice and writes in a way that feels authentic. There's a raw vulnerability to this story of Georgia, a teenaged girl who desperately wants to grow up and make something of herself. Who never felt support from those around her. Who sees her beauty as a way out of poverty and a path to a better life. Whose desire and naivete draw Bad People to her and she doesn't realize that she's a victim. Georgia infuriates me and I wish that I could hold her close and tell her that she doesn't need to seek validation and that she's worthy of respect. But I remember all too well wanting to grow up, to be Seen by older men and thinking that made me special. The anger and frustration that I feel is as much for my younger self, and for all young girls who have been taken advantage of.
I can't exactly say that I enjoyed reading this book, but it is powerful, timely, and beautifully written. Courtney Summers handles the topic with care and with I'm The Girl she continues her focus on the young victims of society without sensationalizing.
Content Warnings: blackmail, child sex abuse, grooming, kidnapping, pedophilia, statutory rape
Representation: sapphic main character, poverty rep
eARC & ALC provided by the publisher via NetGalley and LibroFM for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subject to change upon final publication.
I can't exactly say that I enjoyed reading this book, but it is powerful, timely, and beautifully written. Courtney Summers handles the topic with care and with I'm The Girl she continues her focus on the young victims of society without sensationalizing.
Content Warnings: blackmail, child sex abuse, grooming, kidnapping, pedophilia, statutory rape
Representation: sapphic main character, poverty rep
eARC & ALC provided by the publisher via NetGalley and LibroFM for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subject to change upon final publication.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5