Alice Archer
2.5/5 - This book was really well written but just unfortunately not for me! I think the problem was I went into it expecting it be something that it's not.
I didn't find the storyline particularly captivating, huge chunks of the book are about the 2 characters reflecting on the loss of their parents and I found it took away from the main plot.
Furthermore, any attempt of explanation to what was actually going on in the submarine and subsequent events were all annoying vague, which was a real shame for me.
However, I did find this book was really well written and enjoyed how the plot was split into different deeper oceanic layers as it progressed.
Will I pick up another one of Armfield's work? Unsure.
5/5 - Not what I was expecting at all! Considering how short this book is, it packs a pretty deep punch. Very good physiological and body horror! If you are into fully fleshed out character development then you might not enjoy it as much, but definitely worth checking out as it throws you off guard. Made me feel uncomfortable from start to finish, not for the faint hearted!
4/5 - So many people in this book make so many bad decisions! A captivating thriller about Oliver's spiralling lies as he tries to keep his trip gone wrong to a Bath Haus from his partner. This novel had me hooked from the very start, it is very fast paced throughout. Keeping you on the edge of your seat wondering where it is going to go next and how Oliver's continuous lies are going to work out for him in the end. With that being said, the ending did fall a somewhat flat for me, but by no means took away from this overall very enjoyable read!
4/5 - A solid look into the language various types of cults use to attract and retain members into the ideology they are trying to promote. Although I would argue somewhat that this book was slightly more about various different types of cults more so than the language they use, but this wasn't something that necessarily bothered me.
From Heaven's Gate to Soul Cycle, Montell covers various different groups that use specific language to gain attraction and tries to aruge why this makes them “cultish”. The majority of time this is argued really well, however I was less sold on the “Exercise Cults” and more convinced it's just good marketing on the corperation's part.
Was overall a great insight into the world of cults, makes me want to be more aware of the things I buy into!
5/5 - Absolutely loved this dark romance novella from start to finish, this very quick read did not let up!
The premise of the this book is what got me super hooked, thief has to marry a hangman, I was super interested to see what would be done with that. And it did not dissapoint! Some of my favourite tropes where utilised - enemies to lovers, forced proximity etc..
Really enjoyed the FMC, she was independent and funny which contrasted nicely with the MMC who was gruff and very quiet.
Would definitely recommend this to those who like dark romance novella, but would suggest looking up trigger warnings before starting.
3.5/5 - Decent mystery with creepy folklore atmosphere throughout. Ending fell a little flat for me, but apart from that enjoyed the majority of this book. Would read more of Tudor's work.
I really didn't enjoy this one. Very short but could have been done with being much longer to flesh out the plot, atmosphere and characters. I found all characters similar and very unlikeable, to point where it took away from the plot (if there was any plot line to begin with). Spent the entire time waiting for something to happen and was meant to an anticlimax every time. Disappointing.
Mexican Gothic definitely met my high expectations! Noemí was a fantastic strong and fiercely independent female character which carries the novel really well. Also, refreshing to see a horror novel set in Mexico, makes a change from the “normal” British Isle and USA horror settings. High Place made for the perfect eerily creepy gothic back drop the novel. However, it was perhaps a little slow in some parts, but mostly I found it rather fast paced especially towards the end. But over all a stimulating read!Will I reread it at some point the future? Definitely!
5/5 - Absolutely brutal from start to finish, hard not to see the parallels with what happens in this book and the hypocrisies within our own capitalist society that we live in today.
3.5/5 - Provocative and disturbing novel with varing shifts in tone throughout, but at it's heart a devistating story about a women trying to cope with the trauma in her life. Trigger warning content scattered throughout the novel, although ending packed a particularly heavy punch that leaves you questioning how the story even ended up here!
4/5 - A solid mystery novel that keeps you engaged through out the majority of the novel.
For me personally I did not find this particularly scary, considering it was marketed to me as somewhat of a horror novel but this did not take away from the book at all as its mysterious plotline was executed really well.
Both Viv and Carly's perspectives were great to follow along with, I found them as well as the majority of other main characters enjoyable to read. In addition, switching between past and present added to the overall mystery plotline superbly too!
This is the first book from Simone St. James I have read and I will definitely be checking out more of her work in the future!
4/5 - Captivating and chilling account of one of the most evil serial killers the 21st century has ever seen, that most people haven't even heard of, Israel Keyes. Makes you truely wonder just how many people he murdered, I can't help but feel it is much more than the 11 Keyes hinted at.
