Maryn
The Disappearance of Vanessa Shaw was such a joy to read. The mystery aspect is expertly done, and I feel like rereading it just to see all of the foreshadowing in action.
In this novel, a group of friends come back together a year after the disappearance of one of their friends. With some of them just trying to come to terms with what has happened and others still actively trying to piece together what happened, there are tensions and secrets galore.
It is a mix of first-person perspectives of pretty much everybody involved (including Vanessa) and epistolary chapters where podcasts, police interviews, and text messages between characters are provided. It really helps the pacing and makes sure that all the characters are shown both the way they want to be perceived, and how complicated they really are.
The ending is a bit abrupt and includes a trope the ‘villain' monologue that I am not the biggest fan of. Is it unavoidable? Yes, but only to a certain degree, so I don't think it really retracts much from the quality of the story. It's a good twist and in general the misdirection is done really well throughout.
Can only recommend, even if you no longer fall within the YA demographic, to give this book a try :)
1:35 AM: ★☆☆☆☆Room for One More: ★★☆☆☆The New Kid: ★★★☆☆Average rating: ★★☆☆☆
This collection of stories is weaker compared to the ones that came before, but the best is saved for last.
Short thoughts on each of the stories:
1:35 AM: all about a scary alarm clock. I, too, tremble in fear whenever that thing goes off, but what I fear even more is stories without a satisfying ending. Sadly, this first story doesn't deliver well in that regard. I'm also really tired of the whole “oh, the place where I got this creepy thing has suddenly disappeared” trope that is so overused in these stories.
Room for One More: thought this was going to be a great story, very in tune with the games. But just left me wondering about the logistics of it all. I know, it's fiction, but I just kept thinking about how this would even work.
The New Kid: Thought this would be the weakest story of them all. So many of these stories go the “unlikable main character that regrets his/her actions in the last moment but still meets a grisly end” route. And sure, it's an exemplary FNaF formula story, but the ending!! Changed my opinion on this story completely and for that, I need to give it just a little bit of a higher rating than it probably deserves.
Blackbird: ★☆☆☆☆The Real Jake: ★★★☆☆Hide-and-Seek: ★★☆☆☆Average: ★★☆☆☆
Blackbird: the message instilled in this story is that if you are bullied, you should be grateful, because it develops your character. Also, I wish there was a bit more explanation about what the Blackbird really is, especially since in FNaF you never know if it's supernatural, animatronic, AI, psychological, or all of the above.
The Real Jake: Wow. Again, they just sandwich the best story in the middle instead of making it the title story, which I will never understand. This is an emotional one, very detached from what FNaF usually has to offer, and in a good way.
Hide-and-Seek: Traditional Frights story about toxic competitiveness. It's all right, but suffers a bit from being the third story and feeling a bit formulaic.
I generously rated Fourth Wing four out of five stars. To be honest, only the last 20% of the novel really gripped and surprised me, and made me want to see The Empyrean series fully through to the end and rate the book positively. I cannot in good conscience rate this book the same or higher, because it has some very prominent flaws.
Iron Flame picks up pretty much where we ended up in Fourth Wing, and further explores the worldbuilding, the motivations of those in power, and, well, Xaden. Standout characters to me were Dain, Rhiannon, Ridoc, and Andarna
“The world economy can tank, fuel prices can rise, clubbers can stop listening to nineties trance music, and interest rates can go through the roof, but people will always want to murder other people.”
- Richard Osman, We Solve Murders
Richard Osman does it again - this first part in a hopefully prolific series of exciting new adventures with exciting new characters was just a joy to read. The characters are full of whimsy and personality. Their banter and choices feel very real and always matter. Rosie was the real stand-out character to me! She's just too much fun. And as a Dutchie, I appreciate a Dutch character that actually has a realistically Dutch name and that isn't just a drugs dealer. I can forgive the milk drinking.
The short chapters format really works. It made me feel like I was experiencing a two-hour BBC First special in book form. Which is, let me be clear, a good thing. Richard Osman provides many different perspectives in these short scenes - from the main characters to their friends to their opponents to annoying actors in desperate need of a reality check. This works really well, as it allows you as reader to understand these characters and why they do what they do. And it works well to keep you reading - ‘Just one more chapter!' is easy when the next chapter is five pages long. And the next ten. And oh well, why not another fifteen? I hope you get the gist. And that we, one day, may actually get the two-hour special for this book we deserve.
The Thirteenth Child started off strong, but the candle burned out faster than desired.
Hazel, the main character, is an unloved and neglected thirteenth child promised to one of the major gods of this world. Once he finally shows up and tells her, “Yer a wizard healer, Hazel!” She enters a profession she didn't choose, but wants to succeed at nonetheless.
The overarching plot is intriguing, with a decently satisfying ending. I do have some frustrations that I want to share. The pacing in the first half of the book is really slow. It's just a girl studying and practicing her craft. It gets a bit bland, and I understand the choices made, but I wouldn't recommend it to those loving page-turners and staying up just to finish a book because you simply can't put it down.
The part I disliked the most is a dream sequence smack-dab in the middle of this book. I was confused when I read it - it felt like I had missed something, like I was suddenly reading a completely different tale. The writing was too different and it felt jarring to me. It's like an editor saying, “Hey, why don't we add some spice?” and this chapter was added just for that reason. The rest of the book has none of that, it's just one very out-of-place dream.
Something that I felt was also lacking were the plot twists. Everything that supposed to shock you isn't foreshadowed, but forespotlighted. The writing when something is hinted at is so on-the-nose and obvious, you'll see it coming from miles away.
And my major gripe (very mild spoilers for the ending):
How many times can you tell your godfather that you want him in your life only for him to never be around and not even have ANY impact on the ending? How was he not around for all that?
Although it did fall flat for me in some regards, I would recommend this to those looking for a modern fairytale or cute romance!
I didn't go to the Academy for Liars so here is a honest review:
There is a lot of potential in this story, but to me, it unfortunately did fall a bit flat.
The characters are the biggest problem in my opinion. I didn't feel for them. I felt very distanced from them the entire time I was reading the story. I feel like this is because everything was written very matter-of-factly. Plot twists or important beats didn't feel that way because they were over in a flash, and I didn't feel Lennon's emotions fully through the writing. There wasn't much suspense, and I wish it had more.
I felt weirded out by Lennon's choices and behaviour for most of the time. The way she clings to every man she meets like a puppy and actively tries to get in a relationship with a teacher is just... no. Not for me. If you like that kind of stuff, by all means, go for it!
On a more positive note - Gregory is everything. I almost want to give this book another star just for that little dude. Almost. :)
The Cliffs: ★✩✩✩✩The Breaking Wheel: ★★✩✩✩He Told Me Everything: ★★★✩✩Average: ★★✩✩✩
The Cliffs: This story was, in my opinion, really weak. I don't really have anything to say about it. It didn't really feel like FNaF or a fright.
The Breaking Wheel: I got spoiled by seeing some shorts about the graphic novel, so I was really looking forward to this story because it seemed really interesting. It didn't fully meet my expectations, but I still think it's pretty good. The only thing that I didn't like too much was just the lengthy descriptions of every minor character! It's a short story, and at a certain point it starts to feel like padding, like trying to reach a word count.
He Told Me Everything: The first mention of the Faz-Goo. I saw so many people ridiculing this mechanic, but I honestly thought it worked pretty well in this story! This is some real classic FNaF goodness and I love an ending that makes you think again about what you just read and what the ending implies.
A cosy mystery centered around former antique hunter Freya and her aunt Carole, as they try to figure out who has killed Freya's former mentor. The reason they are hunting the killer? Because Arthur has asked them to do so - knowing he was betrayed and had made enemies, he set out a trail that would lead them to the truth, and that only they would be able to follow.
This story starts off strong, with Freya and Carole having to decipher hidden messages and meanings in the letter sent by Arthur Crockleford, and it's fun to see them figure it out step by step.
But then, the second half of the book is pretty much just a bunch of people sitting around in a house. I felt like it lost all momentum. I also didn't enjoy the perspective switching that happened occasionally, and I feel like it would have been better if we learned everything together with Freya, rather than getting exclusive information and insights from having chapters written from suspects' perspectives.
I did enjoy Freya as a main character a whole lot - she has a complicated relationship with Arthur, and we slowly learn more and more about what exactly happened that ended their mentor-mentee relationship - the way that Freya experienced it, and Arthur's side of the story. Arthur is truly the best character in this book, and I loved his little sayings that started off every single chapter. This is a healing journey for Freya on multiple fronts and I thought it was done very well.
Although this story and the culprit reveal weren't anything mind-blowing, I still had a good time and would recommend it to anyone into cosy mysteries!
I can best describe this as a running-from-zombies journey without zombies, but with a much more dangerous opponent - regular people. People that are alive, with guns galore, and with a strange and sudden desire to kill discriminately. People that were your friend at a barbeque just a day earlier, now coming after you after disposing of their family first. The worst of human nature is explored, with other unaffected still posing a signicant threat as well.
Main dude is Jack Colclough. He isn't perfect, but he's a perfectly good hero. His family is falling apart, but when their names are suddenly read out on the radio as targets, he and his family have no choice but to band together and to try to survive as best as they can, in a world that is out to get them. I felt for him, rooted for him, and wished that he would remove his plot armour at a few points throughout the story.
His wife Dee is pretty Deecent overall. The kids, however, feel more like heavy luggage they have to carry around. Close to zero agency, standing around and simply existing as a motivation for their parents to keep on going. Cole had at least a little significance to what was happening, but I feel like whatever he had going on was not explained as elaborately as I would have liked.
There were some parts that dragged a bit - a bit too road-trippy, but hey, they are on the run so I can forgive them actually being on the run being told too. I just wish some of the more exciting locations they got to were explored a little more. I felt like every time they hit a milestone and actually got somewhere, they were only there for about five minutes and then it was back to being in a car; back on that endless road trip.
What I do love about this story is how full circle it is. It ends where it begins and begins where it ends, and only after reading it through, you can truly understand those first chapters properly. What I don't love is that I now need to find the time to read more Blake Crouch novels!
Fetch: ★★★☆☆Lonely Freddy: ★★★★☆Out of Stock: ★★☆☆☆Average rating: ★★★☆☆
The second installment in the Fazbear Frights series is definitely an improvement compared to the first (Into The Pit), where only To Be Beautiful ended up leaving an impression.
None of these three stories were boring or left me dissatisfied with the ending. Lonely Freddy is my favourite out of the three. It's at the level of To be Beautiful and really made me feel for Alec and pretty much everybody else in his life. The danger in Fetch is something that can actually become a reality with the way that tech/AI is evolving, and the monster featured in Out Of Stock is classic FNAF nightmare fuel. All in all, not a bad collection.
And only ten more left to go :')
The only crime of Rooker Flynn is that the book comes to an end. And what an ending...
The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is about, well, Rooker Flynn - a pirate through and through, with plenty of crimes to his name. However, to all fun comes an end, and he is forced to give up his freedom and the love of his life, the ship called the Venture Brigand - but he won't accept his captivity without a fight.
He is accompanied in his attempts to regain what has been lost by Jack Swift, an isekai'd teen from Chicago with quite the reputation in Flynn's world. Together, they are a team that has both smarts and strength, yet their alliance isn't always a given, their bond being tested through the many secrets they keep.
From the beginning until the end there are plenty of twists and turns, suspenseful and gruesome scenes, but it also managed to make me laugh out loud quite a few times, so it really has the best of both worlds! I loved the characters, especially Ransom and Patch, and the villains do a great job of making you absolutely detest them.
There is also a previous novel titled The Legend of Black Jack. Don't worry if you've not read that book first, because you'll still be able to understand this one fully. I haven't read it yet but will definitely pick it up to read between the release of the second and third books of this trilogy.
Can't wait to find out how Rooker Flynn's story continues!
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Thank you to NetGalley and Nepenthe House for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Felix the Shark: ★★★☆☆The Scoop: ★★☆☆☆You're the Band: ★★★★☆Average: ★★★☆☆
Felix the Shark: You CANNOT tell me this story is not based on Rosie. The description of Felix really conjured up the image of Rosie in her green-lit tank, which allowed me to imagine the final scenes very vividly. It's very different from the basic Fazbear Frights formula, which I appreciate.
The Scoop: Suffers from being a little bit extremely very much too meta. Literally just a girl on a FNAF game theory forum that discovers a secret from decompiling FNAF 3. The ending saved this story, but other than that, it is pretty weak.
You're the Band: This one was very short and sweet, and another story that was exactly what I wanted from this book series. It feels connected to the games but in a very canon-respecting and in-universe way. Definitely the best story in this final collection.
Honestly, I am SO GLAD to be done with this book series. It included plenty of duds a few gems. Here are my overall top stories:
1. To Be Beautiful. One of the first stories and the absolute best. Well-written, graphic, and I still think about this one every once in a while.
2. The Man in Room 1280. Lore-heavy (related to Ultimate Custom Night) which made it a very intriguing read.
3. He Told Me Everything. Faz-goo may be silly but it was a very well-executed story and ugh I FELTTT the teeth pulling as I was listening to it.
My overall opinion on this entire series is that it's just... not that good. A lot of very formulaic stories, really weird concepts (looking at you, Sea Bonnies), and cookie cutter main characters. It could have definitely done with being a bit more selective on what to publish and what to cut. But the stories that were amazing, I absolutely LOVED. It's a mixed bag but it was worth the ride.
I hope MatPat is proud of any and all who made it to this point :')
Don't remind me that Tales from the Pizzaplex exists
I really, really wanted to like this, but I cannot in good faith give it more than one star for a very simple reason: I've no idea what I just read.
The way the pages are laid out was very difficult to follow, and the dialogue doesn't make it any better - there are accents used that are barely decipherable (for example: ‘l'tul suguh britchiz wood'n do dis t'ole'), which isn't a very pleasant experience. The story? Couldn't tell you what it's about. The parts where the characters are introduced are the most logical, easy to follow parts. Anything else was a confusing ‘what-am-I-looking-at' ordeal. I really did enjoy ‘The Right Bait', which I think is the best part.
I may simply not be accustomed to American comics, but I really wanted to give this a try because I love the accompanying Dimension 20 campaign set in the same universe. All I can say is - you really don't need this source material to enjoy that show, and probably watching that first will help you understand this collection a bit better, rather than the other way around.
“Killing you is not the worst thing they can do to you," I say. "Controlling you is.”
I'm actually of the opinion that this sequel is better than the first book. More world-building (exploring the factions/factionless) that was missing in the original, the return of minor characters and much needed character development in general.
It does feel like more of a long bridge rather than a rollercoaster - truly, nothing of great substance happens, but it gets you from the end of A to the beginning of C and does so pretty decently.
Step Closer: ★★☆☆☆Dance With Me: ★★☆☆☆Coming Home: ★★☆☆☆Average: ★★☆☆☆
Short thoughts on each of the stories:
Step Closer: it's not a bad story, but it is hurt by the fact that this formula has been overused in the previous collections. Makes it feel uninspired, unoriginal. It's basically Lonely Freddy repackaged.
Dance With Me: opposite of Step Closer by actually breaking away from the Fazbear Frights formula. It's nothing special, and the whole mechanic of this story was kind of weird to me. That's strange to say about a FNaF story which are inherently weird, but it's missing some of that good old supernatural logic that is actually present in the overarching series.
Coming Home: Some actual FNaF lore!! Figuring out what was going on was maybe a bit too easy, I wish it took a bit longer to understand the situation. I really enjoyed this one, and it again breaks away from the pre-set notions of what a FNaF story should look like. But to me, it just wasn't too impactful. Sorry, Susie.
I expected The House in the Cerulean Sea would be stronger as a standalone, and after completing this sequel, it didn't change my mind. Even if a sequel means more Chauncey.
This book takes place after the original story, but with more insight into Arthur Parnassus instead of Linus Baker. This time, they are facing a pair of Temu knockoff Umbridges that have as much depth as a dinner plate. Just like in the original, DICOMY are coming after his children, this time worried he is building Dumbledore's Parnassus' army.
What left me baffled the most is that there were so many opportunities for real conflict that were left unexplored. I know, I know - these books are meant to be cosy, and they are - but actual conflict and stakes do matter. Just like the last one, the ending is just mediocre, relying partially on abilities not explored or properly hinted at throughout the book.
The writing also suffers from preachy dialogue, that really distracted me from being fully immersed in the story. Having a message in your story is paramount, and I totally understand the need to get it across, but it could have been done in a more subtle manner, fitting the world of the story just a bit more. Instead, the moralism is so blatant it ripped me right out of Marsyas and right back into reality.
I also made the mistake of reading the acknowledgements. What a way to end a ‘wholesome' story in a gross. holier-than-thou manner. It left a bad taste in my mouth and ruined the genuinely still-quite-enjoyable story I had just experienced.
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year was committed by me, for not actually finishing this on Christmas Day :(
This story follows Marcie Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt, two successful writers who are invited to a Christmas party hosted by Maggie's biggest fan - Eleanor Ashley, a prolific and famous author. It doesn't take long for the party to turn into a mystery with the disappearance of Eleanor, with our protagonists stuck in a house with somebody who is very keen on taking out the beloved host.
More than anything, this is a story about learning to believe in yourself. About undoing years and years of learning how to doubt and blame yourself for everything that happens to you and that is done to you. And how that can manifest in quite unhealthy ways. It's a romance, albeit one that develops very quickly, and does include some very cheesy dialogue, but I can forgive it for that because hey, the rest of it is good. Mystery? Check. Characters? All right, a bit flat. Plot? Cute and doesn't leave me with questions or disappointments.
Grab your hot chocolate, a soft blanket, and put on your Christmas playlist, and enjoy this cosy, romantic mystery.
Bunny Call: ★★☆☆☆In The Flesh: ★☆☆☆☆The Man in Room 1280: ★★★★☆Average:★★★☆☆
Bunny Call
A little slow, but with a decent twist ending.
In The Flesh
The main character gets everything he deserves, but the ending is just weird and the hacker doesn't add anything to the story, really.
The Man in Room 1280
THIS is what I wanted when I started reading these books! Lore-filled, interesting, creepy, and leaves you with food for thought on how this connects to the games. The best story in this series I've read so far.
Soul Taker is a beautifully illustrated comic about Amara, a woman who has lived for several lifetimes, being able to do so through feeding on life energy. She is just trying to live a normal life, but is being targeted by multiple large threats from her past that come back to haunt her. Amara has to fight to survive and thrive in a world that is out to get her.
I really enjoyed the art style, and especially the cover pages are gorgeously illustrated. The story is easy to follow, with an interesting cast of characters. I am rating it at three stars because the plot wasn't anything mind-blowing, but it was still a worthwhile read.
I'd recommend this comic book to anyone interested in superheroes and action stories and I can't wait to see where this story is heading in future volumes!
Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer—except, of course, for the pigs and the dogs.”
Animal Farm is a story about a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner, desiring a farm where all animals are equal. Initially, their revolution is succesful, but as time progresses, their great society turns out to not be much better than the one they fought to leave.
This story is still applicable to modern societies, where the few are able to hold power over everybody working for them. It is a lesson in learning to not trust blindly, and that leadership does not always have your best interest in mind.
Providing that lesson in the form of a group of farm animals rebelling works perfectly in my opinion. Who are more oppressed and used on a daily basis than these animals?
“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself.”
Does that not seem familiar to the way a lot of workers are treated across the world? How only those on the top are able to live lavishly, even though they aren't as capable or have to work as hard as those under them?
Even if you aren't looking at it from a political standpoint, or examine it based on the times in which it was released, there is still much in here that can provide food for thought. Orwell packages his message in a novella that reads away easily, and that will leave you upset for many of the characters. Because nothing is fair, nothing is equal. Not even animals.
Falling in Love with a Traveling Cat is filled from the first to the last page with the most adorable illustrations of cats as they travel to different locations and enjoy different leisure activities. The illustrations are accompanied by short texts informing you about what the cats are eating or wearing, so you can actually learn a bit about Japanese culture and cuisine as well. My absolute favourite is the iwate cat, he's just too cute!
I would recommend this illustration book to any fan of Mofusand, for artists who are looking for inspiration, or for anyone in need of just something wholesome to look at. Who doesn't want a 100 pages of Mofusand cats in their life?
Thank you to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for providing an ARC of this artbook in exchange for my honest review.
"Revenge is my destiny."
In The Order of the Circle, the bereaved Dorothy commits herself to avenging her husband, who has been banished to Hell - for crimes he did not commit - by an organisation called The Circle. She vows to bring their corruption to light and is willing to give up everything to see that happen.
The art and colouring of this graphic novel is absolutely stunning, with each panel being fully detailed. The story and world are intriguing, with an ending that screams “to be continued”.
I loved that there wasn't too much exposition and that the plot moved along at a great pace. You're provided with just enough understanding of this world to get what is happening, but nothing more, so you don't get overloaded with information in these 100 pages.
Overall, this is a must-read for anyone looking for a fast-paced graphic novel with mature themes and a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Highly recommended!
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Thank you to NetGalley and Dead Sky Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Being the fourth book in The Accidental Medium series, I feel like most of what I can say about this book would be repetitive and is already included in my reviews of the first three entries. The quality is consistent, with Tanz going on a new adventure on an even larger scale than the previous one. And just like the previous novels, it's funny, heartbreaking, and includes more accidental new spiritual abilities for Tanz to deal with.
In The Hidden Dead, Tanz has a midlife moment and decides to follow a love interest all the way to Iceland, even though she has a really nice boyfriend back home. It left me internally screaming at her for the decisions she was making for the first half of the book, but our girl Tanz goes through some wonderful character development in this one and all and everything is explained and neatly tied up. I loved the mystery at the centre of this novel, more than some of the earlier ones, and the newly introduced characters are just wonderful.
If you liked the first three books, you'll definitely love this one too, and I can't wait to see where Tanz' abilities will take her next!