Reviews and Comments

Absolute banger of a horror novel, and that’s coming from someone who didn’t grow up in what I know is an all-too-familiar traumatic environment for a lot of folks.

Feels like it could have used an epilogue though, to be honest. The ending is a bit abrupt.

God I love this one so much. Sometimes it’s difficult for me to read something cover to cover, but this is one of the rare ones that keeps me pushing through the eye strain. A severely underrated classic in its simplicity.

Always love seeing more work from this author, though I think I personally prefer the first in this series. The writing itself is great, engaging and tight, but the overarching plot fell a bit flat for me. It feels like there was a lot of struggle in getting certain story beats to mesh together.

It was a fun time though! Just not necessarily a repeat.

This is an odd one. I’m usually a huge fan of Kilworth’s work, and his take on hares certainly isn’t a bad one, it just feels tonally off. I really wish he hadn’t felt the need to include such a bizarre antagonist as the harpy eagle (who you only know is a harpy eagle once you read the afterward - the narrative is intentionally vague on that). Very abrupt ending as well.

I liked it! Just not my favorite of his line-up.

This took me such a long time to read, if only from how painfully relatable so many of the author’s experiences have been to my own. I’d read one essay and then have to put it down for a handful of days. Harry does such a great job describing what it’s like to experience hyper visible invisibility.

There are so few books out there written from a gay trans man’s perspective. This is one of those precious few.

This is a big mix of loving the characters, the writing, and the majority of world building - but the more cerebral focus on mind control and brainwashing was a tough sell for me.

Still really enjoyed my time, but a lot of it just isn’t for me I think.

I hate that I’m giving this two stars. Such a strong opening!! Yet it’s bogged down by a horrific bloated middle that just dilutes what impact there is by the end.

There’s stuff here I like. I like that Snow is as horrible as he is from the get-go. I love Lucy Gray and how we know so little about her because we’re locked in that limited 3rd person narrative. I love how you only get glimpses of who she really is through her songs. I love Sejanus and his whole conflict with his tribute. I love the revelations with the ending.

Ugh but hippity hoppity, that villain was lame. And would think! So was the game!

Man. This thing needs the fluff taken out of it to save the great opening/ending.

Ohhh dear. Oh no. Okay.

It gives me no pleasure to give this a two, but that last third demands it from me, no matter how strong the opening is.

This one is a warm hug and kiss on my forehead oh I love it so so much. You know how hard it is to find established relationship mlm? Let alone a mystery?

I hope we see more of James and Leo someday.

I kind of see why I had zero memory of this book compared to the first. There are two standout scenes I really, really love, but the rest of it has already turned into brain soup.

The Katniss vs. Snow scene at the beginning is great. I love the tension, the intense rose/blood imagery that Snow gets. He’s a fun villain!

I will be forever chasing that bombshell weight of that Peeta interview reveal line as well. That hit like a truck.

But everything else is just kinda… eh? I don’t like Gale. I couldn’t tell you why. He just sort of annoys me, so the love triangle between him and Katniss and Peeta doesn’t really give me much other than a dull yawn.

However, for a YA? The pro-direct action messaging is really nice.

A delightful revisit! I forgot how good this was. Collins has a real knack for world-building. It’s no wonder that this paved the way for dozens of imitators.

Listened to the audiobook by Carolyn McCormick, who might be one of my favorite narrators out there for her touch of gravitas and vocal range for character voices (that Hamish voice?? Brilliant)

This was so charming! I found this book by chance tucked in a shop corner, and the premise alone sold me. Think cozy PBS Rosemary & Thyme, but with furries. It’s got that small town coziness to it that I really enjoy. Thankfully, the authors don’t completely rely on stereotypical bestiary characterizations, but I can forgive them for leaning on them a little.

The actual mystery is a bit typical, and you’ll probably be able to suss out the clues before Vera does, but that’s okay. The journey to the end is a fun one, and I look forward to see how the rest of the series stands.