What a good week! It’s a little bipolar in genre, but my reading always is I guess…
Starting with a request from this very website, I liked it quite a bit
The Man without Shelter by Indrajit GaraiMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really liked this book. I’m amazed that it managed to be so substantial in so few pages. The writing is clean and thoughtful, the Paris setting felt lived-in, and the characters are believable.
Arnault’s quiet resilience and attitude are the heart of the book for me. The way he keeps showing up and doesn’t fall into despair or anger is so refreshing. I feel like another book with the same premise may not make this decision, and I am pleased the author did not go this way. The social commentary never felt too preachy or overdone; it is present, but not to the point of metaphorically screaming in the reader’s face.
My one real complaint is the (view spoiler), but it just left me wishing the book lingered a bit around this.
Overall, it is a thoughtful, well-written little novella that stuck with me (even if it left me wanting a bit more of the central relationship).
** I read this book by request through my blog, but I borrowed it from Kindle Unlimited. I did not receive compensation for this review, and I leave it voluntarily.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8998390727And another request, I have no idea how I was so productive this week, usually I’m slow as heck.
Desire and Deception by M.K.J. .My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I liked this one, even though I found myself just as confused as the characters by the end. From early on, the atmosphere and the psychological games are so heavy that they pull the reader in right along with them. You’re never quite sure what’s real, what’s manipulation, and what’s simply the characters’ own fractured perceptions, and that uncertainty becomes part of the experience rather than something that pulls you out of the story.
The writing itself is quite clean: tight, controlled, and effective at building tension without ever feeling overworked. The tone is, naturally, given the subject matter, quite dark. It doesn’t rely on cheap shocks; instead, it leans into a slow, oppressive sense of unease that settles in and stays with you.
I’m still not quite sure how I feel about the ending. It didn’t give me the resolution I was half-expecting. There’s something deliberately unresolved about it that left me sitting with the book for a while afterward, turning it over in my head; it certainly makes the story linger.
Overall, a solid, intense read. It may leave you a bit disoriented at points, but that disorientation feels intentional, and it’s part of what makes the book stick after you’ve finished.
** I read this book by request through my blog, but I borrowed it from Kindle Unlimited. I did not receive compensation for this review, and I leave it voluntarily.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9001275404And getting even more use out of my KU subscription, this is a great series btw.
The Primal Hunter 16 by ZogarthMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Love this series so much! Primal Hunter was the first of many LitRPGs I’ve read this year, and it was a wonderful introduction to the genre for me.
This one gets off to a bit of a slow start (I didn’t vibe much with the Tree of Life section), but it packs the action in at the end, so I forgive it. The action itself is good, and I’m really glad the Fallen King is back. I love his character. I’m also glad Jake is back in the Order, since that’s my favorite setting in the series.
Solid entry. Looking forward to the next one.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8890048428Even more productivity, this is another request from this very website! I think the age of the characters kept making me think of it as a YA, it’s not a YA and the brick was not kissed, in fact – I’m pretty sure the brick was sharpened.
Sanctuary by Daniel PandiyanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
** I received a copy of this book for free from BookSirens; my review is my own, and I leave it voluntarily.
I wanted to love this more; I, in fact, did love it more, right up to the last page. The premise is right up my alley: post-apocalyptic, character-driven, and clearly written with a lot of heart. I can see and appreciate what the story set out to do, and for most of the book, it largely succeeds. The final stretch, though, left me frustrated.
The characters are the strongest part. They feel like real, fully formed people rather than types, and the connection between the main characters is genuinely compelling. That relationship gave the book a human center that kept me invested even when the tone got very dark (grim/dark endings aren’t usually my favorite, I’m a bit of a “and they lived happily ever after” type of girl). Their bond is what carried me through the heavier stretches, and oh boy, are there heavy stretches.
Where the book lost me was the ending. It feels like a new arc is just beginning to open up, only to be cut short. I would have liked more follow-through, (view spoiler)
Overall, this is a solid, character-driven story with real heart and some strong moments. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who can handle their content warnings (this book is not for the squeamish).
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9015709235Finally my library hold was avaliable, I’m pretty mad at the publisher for putting the first one on KU and not the second, but that’s ok, I can be patient.
The Knave and the Moon by Rachel GilligMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The way I waited for this book to be avaliable from my library!
Bartholomew the gargoyle is an absolute joy and might be my favorite fictional character ever. The romance was fine too.
Benji is where the book really frustrated me. In the first book he fooled everyone and was set up as this calculating, dangerous manipulator. (view spoiler) On the bright side, the ending is perfection.
The book tries to be dark, but mostly I spent the whole time irritated by the timeline. I’ll say it a million times: your book can last longer than six months (most especially if the characters are supposed to be in love).
(view spoiler) Overall, I’m happy, and a bit confused by the reviews totally dragging this book.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8852074248And a giveaway kindle book, pretty good. Sondra was too good though, I had trouble paying attention when she wasn’t there.
Money War by Clark WrenMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
** I received a copy of this book for free from a goodreads giveaway; my review is my own, and I leave it voluntarily.
A solid debut.
Quincy and Sondra really carried this one for me. Their storyline was the clear standout, and I found myself looking forward to every scene that included them. I liked Sondra so much, honestly, that I had trouble staying fully invested whenever she wasn’t on the page. The rest of the cast and the larger Money War plot were fine, but those two were what kept me turning the pages.
Overall this is a solid read and a very good debut. I’m glad I picked it up.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8819178074Love, love, loved this memoir. I’m discovering a real love for these this year.
Ice Bound: A Doctor’s Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole by Jerri NielsenMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this memoir. Jerri’s overall perspective and resilience is incredible to read. Her kindness and genuine gratefulness for other people and for life itself came through so clearly.
The tone surprised me in the best way. Given the subject matter I expected something much heavier and darker, but it’s much more upbeat than I expected. I also appreciate how much time is spent on life at the pole in general, and the steps that led her to take the job as well. I went in thinking the majority of the book would be about her treatment, but she spends a long time before she even gets to the cancer at all.
A powerful, unexpectedly hopeful memoir.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9004149958And last but not least, this wonderful little book, my mom bought it for me in August and I only just finished it… sorry mom… On the bright side, it was super close to a 5 star read, and I really liked it.
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by BromMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I came very close to giving this five stars. It’s a strong, atmospheric piece of horror that mostly worked for me.
The best part to me was Abitha and Samuel’s relationship. Abitha feels trapped in a time and place that has no room for her, (view spoiler)The dark, gross tone fits the material perfectly. It’s horror, so of course it’s unpleasant in places, but Brom leans into that atmosphere without apology and it mostly works (his illustrations are also gorgeous).
The weaker spots for me were Wallace, who starts to feel a bit cartoonish by the end,(view spoiler)That one landed wrong and kept the book from a full five stars.
Overall this is a solid, memorable read with real heart in the characters I cared about most. The good outweighs the bad, even if a couple of choices held it back from being a complete favorite.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8835221207