kylieqrada's reviews
768 reviews

Mister Magic by Kiersten White

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

3.5

 I was genuinely creeped out by parts of this book but the ending did not do it for me. Always love a religious twist in horror. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Alcoholism, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury

Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

3.0

I didn’t like it, but I didn’t hate it. I’m mostly just astounded that this came out of someone’s brain. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, and Kidnapping

Minor: Domestic abuse, Trafficking, and Death of parent

The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle

challenging dark emotional funny 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? Yes

3.5

I love Victor LaValle’s writing, and the commentary in this one was super strong. It just seemed a bit long, though it kept my attention throughout. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Ableism, Racism, and Self harm

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

adventurous dark emotional funny 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

5.0

I’m such a Chuck Tingle fangirl at this point it’s not even cute. The ace rep in this one pushed it over the top for me. Love is real.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Homophobia, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Vomit, and Outing

Minor: Cursing, Drug use, and Acephobia/Arophobia

How to Get a Girlfriend (When You're a Terrifying Monster) by Marie Cardno

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

A sad case of right book, wrong time. I think I would have liked this a lot more if I was in the mood for a cozy fantasy romance. I will definitely be continuing in this series!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Death, Car accident, and Death of parent

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-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

So I’ve pretty much narrowed my horror taste down to what I would classify as social horror and snarky horror. Rachel Harrison and T. Kingfisher are going to be my go-tos for the latter. So fun, so creepy, so relatable, so wild. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Blood

Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, and Alcohol

Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Another banger from Rachel Harrison. This one with the most perfectly unlikeable main character and themes of motherhood and transformation (wink wink).

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Blood

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, Car accident, and Death of parent

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

UGH I feel so torn about this one. Daniel Kraus’ writing is gorgeous and so lyrical. Mix that with scientifically accurate whale lore and a poignant exploration of father-son relationships. Very confusing mash-up that kinda worked for me? 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Suicide

Minor: Terminal illness, Vomit, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This was such a banger and I think going into it not knowing anything is the way to go. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, and Gaslighting

Minor: Misogyny, Blood, and Religious bigotry

The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

This was sooo atmospheric and creepy!! I would not last 10 minutes in this situation let alone however long Gyre was down there. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, and Death

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Death of parent

Minor: Medical content, Gaslighting, and Abandonment