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onmalsshelf's reviews
1251 reviews
The Sing Sing Files: One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a Twenty-Year Fight for Justice by Dan Slepian
informative
fast-paced
4.5
The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Earth is in the midst of a climate disaster. There’s more hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding and people are trying to figure out where they go next. Then comes the “Inside” a building that will house selected people and all that they’ll need to survive. The people of the North American Inside are selected by a rich woman named Jacqueline and her team and the goal is to eventually house 3 million people on the Inside. However, ethical issues ensue leading characters to determine what to do next.
Like many, one of my biggest issues with this one is that the characters really fell flat until near the end. They seemed one dimensional with not much personality.
There’s not much build as to what the Inside is nor why there are multiple Insides around the world.
While the climate disaster could’ve been explained a bit better, I think Korn perfectly blend the idea of what happens when someone wants to create a perfect world in one building, but also has a secret agenda.
I recommend this for people who like:
- climate fiction
- dystopian fiction
- sci-fi
- queer fiction
- fiction that expands on ethical dilemmas
Like many, one of my biggest issues with this one is that the characters really fell flat until near the end. They seemed one dimensional with not much personality.
There’s not much build as to what the Inside is nor why there are multiple Insides around the world.
While the climate disaster could’ve been explained a bit better, I think Korn perfectly blend the idea of what happens when someone wants to create a perfect world in one building, but also has a secret agenda.
I recommend this for people who like:
- climate fiction
- dystopian fiction
- sci-fi
- queer fiction
- fiction that expands on ethical dilemmas
Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
I was really excited for the premise of this one and was happy to recieve an ARC from the publisher. Sadly this one fell flat for me and didn’t keep my interest.
The constantly switching between sisters kept taking me out and then the plot would be repeated from the other sister’s POV and it just felt repetitive instead of ongoing.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
I was really excited for the premise of this one and was happy to recieve an ARC from the publisher. Sadly this one fell flat for me and didn’t keep my interest.
The constantly switching between sisters kept taking me out and then the plot would be repeated from the other sister’s POV and it just felt repetitive instead of ongoing.
One of the Good Guys by Araminta Hall
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve decided to DNF this at 22% in. This is supposed to be a thriller, but it took 22% for anything remotely ‘thrilling’ (albeit this was just talking with listed voices).
Being inside this man’s head for this long was like listening to nails on a chalkboard in book form. It’s obvious that he’s not an actual good guy because hello his thoughts??? Red flag??
I think if more was added to this first 22%, it could’ve been more successful
I’ve decided to DNF this at 22% in. This is supposed to be a thriller, but it took 22% for anything remotely ‘thrilling’ (albeit this was just talking with listed voices).
Being inside this man’s head for this long was like listening to nails on a chalkboard in book form. It’s obvious that he’s not an actual good guy because hello his thoughts??? Red flag??
I think if more was added to this first 22%, it could’ve been more successful
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I devoured this between thanksgiving eve and thanksgiving, but it left something to be desired. I wanted more from the ending and more of the red herrings tied together. It seemed a bit of a cluster at times, but I had a good time.
Corinth 2642 AD by Bindiya Schaefer
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A debut gem that had me hooked.
If I hadn’t had a migraine all week, I would’ve finished this in just two days.
This was a short read taking place in a future that seems a little too real.
We follow Jimmy, a detective from San Francisco that’s pulled into a disappearance case of a young girl from an all-Caucasian colony in Oregon.
What follows is a mystery that leads Jimmy back to finding out more about his brother’s life while trying to figure out where Cara went and what Hexum wants with him.
Definitely recommend!
If I hadn’t had a migraine all week, I would’ve finished this in just two days.
This was a short read taking place in a future that seems a little too real.
We follow Jimmy, a detective from San Francisco that’s pulled into a disappearance case of a young girl from an all-Caucasian colony in Oregon.
What follows is a mystery that leads Jimmy back to finding out more about his brother’s life while trying to figure out where Cara went and what Hexum wants with him.
Definitely recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism
The Morningside by Téa Obreht
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
DNF @ 26%
Thank you to the publisher for a galley in exchange for a review.
After hearing such great things about Obreht's previous releases, I was excited to dive into this dystopian fiction.
What I didn't realize is how much time we would be spending with an 11 year old. Since I'm DNFing, I'm not sure if the plot eventually grows passed Silvia being 11, but as it stands right now I think this could be classified under young adult.
The Morningside reminds me of dystopian novels I read as a teenager: the main character is a young girl with just one parent that has hard time and lives in a city in a place ravaged by climate change.
It really doesn't offer anything new. Silvia is convinced by her aunt that some woman with dogs may be a witch, which leads Silvia to try to get into her apartment since she can't go to school yet.
Thank you to the publisher for a galley in exchange for a review.
After hearing such great things about Obreht's previous releases, I was excited to dive into this dystopian fiction.
What I didn't realize is how much time we would be spending with an 11 year old. Since I'm DNFing, I'm not sure if the plot eventually grows passed Silvia being 11, but as it stands right now I think this could be classified under young adult.
The Morningside reminds me of dystopian novels I read as a teenager: the main character is a young girl with just one parent that has hard time and lives in a city in a place ravaged by climate change.
It really doesn't offer anything new. Silvia is convinced by her aunt that some woman with dogs may be a witch, which leads Silvia to try to get into her apartment since she can't go to school yet.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It took me 10 days to read this, but it was 10 days of savoring and processing.
Hannah is at the top of her craft here. She is careful with the topic, yet gives the veteran nurses the respect they deserve.
Highly recommend.
I think this may be my favorite Kristin Hannah book
Hannah is at the top of her craft here. She is careful with the topic, yet gives the veteran nurses the respect they deserve.
Highly recommend.
I think this may be my favorite Kristin Hannah book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, and War