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shereadytoread's Reviews (824)
emotional
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Death of parent
dark
emotional
fast-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
This was an EXCELLENT execution of MG horror. Based in a childhood game, that feeds on the fears of its victims, it provides some chilling scenes based in a variety of real life issues like grief, isolation, phobias, miscommunication, and social anxieties. As the horrors are based in each character's individual fears, it manages to add depth to all the supporting characters in addition to the MC. This is a wonderful read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Violence
tense
medium-paced
This book was pretty good. Diana Urban sets up really hooking opening chapters and a great stakes. I think that the specifics of technology in this one will be a bit dating eventually, but it's all very current right now. I think this book suffers from one thing I have seen in her previous books, where there is a reveal to the reader earlier than the MC realizes it which brings the thrills/stakes down for a bit. However, this book has some excellent extra punches that bring it all back together. While it is a bit lengthy (there is filler of her going back and forth with normal friend stuff while waiting for the next action sequence), the plot is interesting and the story itself is well-paced.
dark
mysterious
This is a book with a lot of overlapping plot lines, but once you figure it out, it becomes a bit predictable. I think it excels in setting up a good procedural, but the audience is always one step ahead of the cops, which is interesting to read. I think that one of the ... 6 main storylines was just to throw people off so it was disappointing filler at the end. I think it definitely could have been cut down a bit, but overall it's a very enjoyable story.
Disclaimer: I received a free ALC from Netgalley.
Disclaimer: I received a free ALC from Netgalley.
emotional
reflective
This was an interesting time to read this book. One of the main tenants of this human/AI Cyborg friendship is that the AI creates art. The book also addresses that AI created by humans is unlikely to be objective and unbiased but would replicate the biases and prejudices of our society.
Overall I enjoyed this book. The building of the friendship is well written. And although the story is not extremely long, there is a lot of subtext.
Overall I enjoyed this book. The building of the friendship is well written. And although the story is not extremely long, there is a lot of subtext.
dark
tense
I am withholding a review of this title in support of the Harper Collins Union until a fair contract is agreed upon.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
As someone who hasn't read any Lovecraft since high school (and absolutely will not), I wondered how much of the mythos of Lovecraftian horror was contained. Upon further research, this story (and the one it is based on) are not part of the full Cthulhu canon, so the mentions are rather minor and the story stands on its own.
This book does play a lot on identity and transformation by power and circumstance. As it is a novella, the story is concise, but unfortunately this means that many meaningful scenes happen off-page and are discussed by the characters. I like this one a lot, and would have loved an expanded version where we get to see those happenings.
I think something that is a slight draw back for me is the MC acceptance of the racist assumption that he is a monster. He is thought to be one, so he loses his humanity and turns into one. But it felt close to equalizing the violence of an oppressive system to the reactions to that system. I think that the author's note adds a lot of context, and as someone that does not read author's notes often, I read this one twice.
This book does play a lot on identity and transformation by power and circumstance. As it is a novella, the story is concise, but unfortunately this means that many meaningful scenes happen off-page and are discussed by the characters. I like this one a lot, and would have loved an expanded version where we get to see those happenings.
I think something that is a slight draw back for me is the MC acceptance of the racist assumption that he is a monster. He is thought to be one, so he loses his humanity and turns into one. But it felt close to equalizing the violence of an oppressive system to the reactions to that system. I think that the author's note adds a lot of context, and as someone that does not read author's notes often, I read this one twice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Police brutality
emotional
informative
reflective
This book was an excellent look at diet culture, health practice, and wellness culture is based on the upholding of white, thin body types and serves little else. It looks at how diet culture is often traumatizing too and health practices alienate black women, and see them as having no knowledge of their own bodies and selves.
As a registered dietician who treats women in eating disorders, she offered a unique perspective about how current perspectives and treatment of eating disorders, is all based on a specific body type and actively ignores, or often encourages unhealthy eating patterns for black women if they believe it will further their weight loss, even at the risk of their own health.
I think this book is well-timed and needed, especially after the additional wellness culture booms following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disclaimer: I received a gifted ARC and Finished Copy from the publisher.
As a registered dietician who treats women in eating disorders, she offered a unique perspective about how current perspectives and treatment of eating disorders, is all based on a specific body type and actively ignores, or often encourages unhealthy eating patterns for black women if they believe it will further their weight loss, even at the risk of their own health.
I think this book is well-timed and needed, especially after the additional wellness culture booms following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disclaimer: I received a gifted ARC and Finished Copy from the publisher.
dark
fast-paced
I enjoyed the plot overall but all of the characters were terrible people until basically the last 30 pages. Also I have a rereleased edition (I believe 10 years after the original) and my copy still had a significant amount of grammatical errors and typos. I likely won't be finishing this series. I do love the movie though!