Scan barcode
alyssas_bookshelf's reviews
15 reviews
Conclave by Penelope Douglas
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
As most novellas are, this was just too short, and that’s really my only complaint (although not really complaining, because it just means I get to read Nightfall even sooner). This was short, sweet, and informative for where the plot is heading next. Unfortunately, I read Punk 57 in between Hideaway and Kill Switch so I accidentally spoiled the big secret in Conclave.. BUT ALAS, that is a product of my own doing and I only have myself to blame. 🥲
Overall, I loved the banter between characters and it was nice to have a few good laughs before, I’m assuming, things get pretty serious.
Overall, I loved the banter between characters and it was nice to have a few good laughs before, I’m assuming, things get pretty serious.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infertility and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
Well I’ll be damned.. y’all weren’t lying when you said that Damon becomes one of your favorite Horsemen..
This was an insanely good read. Of the 4 books (Punk 57 included) I’ve read so far, this one was the darkest. There were parts of the book that I had to push myself to read through the tears because it was just so emotionally devastating, but it had to be done, in order to get to the point I’m at right now. Standing ovation to Penelope Douglas.
This was an insanely good read. Of the 4 books (Punk 57 included) I’ve read so far, this one was the darkest. There were parts of the book that I had to push myself to read through the tears because it was just so emotionally devastating, but it had to be done, in order to get to the point I’m at right now. Standing ovation to Penelope Douglas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
I stayed up till 3am binging this book last night and finished it as soon as I got back home after running errands today. The spice was spicyyy, but the plot was fully there. I decided to read it in between Hideaway and Kill Switch and I absolutely adored the pop ups from my favorite characters in the Devil’s Night series.
I related to Ryen so much, it physically hurt. The pain of wanting to fit in with the popular kids at school is something that I think almost everyone has experienced and I truly appreciated the way Penelope Douglas portrayed her as a character.
Since going back on my ✨meds✨, I haven’t been able to cry, but I’ll tell you what.. I was SO close to breaking down when that last plot twist hit us. The raw emotion from Misha and the devastating conversation had me yearning to be able to shed tears and if I wasn’t mentally stable thanks to a little (Dr. prescribed*) pill, I would have been bawling my eyes out.
Ready to resume my Devil’s Night reads— Penelope Douglas has quickly become one of my new favorite authors. 🖤
I related to Ryen so much, it physically hurt. The pain of wanting to fit in with the popular kids at school is something that I think almost everyone has experienced and I truly appreciated the way Penelope Douglas portrayed her as a character.
Since going back on my ✨meds✨, I haven’t been able to cry, but I’ll tell you what.. I was SO close to breaking down when that last plot twist hit us. The raw emotion from Misha and the devastating conversation had me yearning to be able to shed tears and if I wasn’t mentally stable thanks to a little (Dr. prescribed*) pill, I would have been bawling my eyes out.
Ready to resume my Devil’s Night reads— Penelope Douglas has quickly become one of my new favorite authors. 🖤
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Hideaway by Penelope Douglas
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I’ll forever be a Kai girlie.
This book had so much depth to it. The plot twists had me on the edge of my seat, and the darker topics made me really sit back and think on certain characters and how I feel about them.
I keep waiting to be annoyed by a main female character, as I usually am, but it’s just not happening. Rika, Alex, and Banks have my heart just as much as the boys do. ♡︎
Also.. closet scene in chapter 22. That is all.
𝐅𝐚𝐯 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
• “People will think what they want to think, not because they believe they are right, but because it’s in their nature to maintain that they are.”
• “—I’m the only man whose attention you should be trying to get, and baby, you got it years ago while wearing another man’s clothes. So you can imagine how fucking beautiful you are to me right now wearing mine.”
• “Rika is my earliest memory, and I’ve loved her forever. The sun rises with her. It always has.”
• “—when you’re in the thick of abuse and still live with the torment in your head every day, it’s a little different. No one handles it. They just fake it better. How else do you cope with the terrible shit you’ve been through?”
• “Territorial is fine when it’s in the bedroom. It’s not fine when it keeps someone you’re supposed to love from living a life.”
• “When someone else misbehaves, it’s black-and-white, isn’t it? We judge, and we condemn, but when we do it, it’s a gray area all of a sudden.”
This book had so much depth to it. The plot twists had me on the edge of my seat, and the darker topics made me really sit back and think on certain characters and how I feel about them.
I keep waiting to be annoyed by a main female character, as I usually am, but it’s just not happening. Rika, Alex, and Banks have my heart just as much as the boys do. ♡︎
Also.. closet scene in chapter 22. That is all.
𝐅𝐚𝐯 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
• “People will think what they want to think, not because they believe they are right, but because it’s in their nature to maintain that they are.”
• “—I’m the only man whose attention you should be trying to get, and baby, you got it years ago while wearing another man’s clothes. So you can imagine how fucking beautiful you are to me right now wearing mine.”
• “Rika is my earliest memory, and I’ve loved her forever. The sun rises with her. It always has.”
• “—when you’re in the thick of abuse and still live with the torment in your head every day, it’s a little different. No one handles it. They just fake it better. How else do you cope with the terrible shit you’ve been through?”
• “Territorial is fine when it’s in the bedroom. It’s not fine when it keeps someone you’re supposed to love from living a life.”
• “When someone else misbehaves, it’s black-and-white, isn’t it? We judge, and we condemn, but when we do it, it’s a gray area all of a sudden.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, and Death of parent
Corrupt by Penelope Douglas
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If work and the real world didn’t exist, I would have read this book in one sitting. It was so good!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
DallerGut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I wanted to try out a book with a topic that was super different. This book delivered such an idea, but I just wasn't feeling it. It was cute and short, and it had some good words of wisdom, but it still took me 4 days to finish because I couldn't really get into it.
Shy Girl by Mia Ballard
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Brb while I go text my old sugar daddy and thank him for not being anything like this. 😂
Mia says it herself, but I feel it needs to be said again.. do NOT be fooled by the cutesy cover and make sure you read the warning/triggers before going into this story.
With that being said, this was an INSANE read. I don’t even know where to begin or end with my review, as my thoughts and emotions haven’t stopped raging ever since I finished the book. When I started dipping my toes into the Horror genre, THIS is what I was looking for.
Mia Ballard’s writing style is so smooth and flawless, I was quickly obsessed, and already have her other 2 books Sugar and We All Rot Eventually in the cart.
The way she portrays OCD, toxic relationships, the things that women go through on a daily basis, and the pure animalistic female RAGE that comes out of it all.. I couldn’t have been more impressed, seriously. I will think about this book, probably for the rest of my life, and continue to ponder on all of the deeper meanings hidden within it.
Favorite quotes:
• “‘Thank you,’ I say to the waitress reflexively. She widens her eyes at me. Get a load of this guy. I smile and cartoonishly widen my eyes back at her before she leaves the table. I love how we can telepathically converse like that. It was one of the only things women had that men couldn't take away.”
• “Rage. The word cuts through my thoughts like a knife. The sound of his voice, the sight of his face, the casual ease with which he dismisses everything he's done—it fuels the fire inside me until it consumes everything else.”
• “Women have always been cast as caretakers, peacekeepers, and forgivers. We're told to endure, to adapt, to rise above. But sometimes, the only way to heal is to rage. Sometimes, justice isn't quiet or clean; it's feral and bloody and unapologetic.”
Thank you to Mia Ballard for writing this amazing piece of art, and thank you to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read the ARC.
Mia says it herself, but I feel it needs to be said again.. do NOT be fooled by the cutesy cover and make sure you read the warning/triggers before going into this story.
With that being said, this was an INSANE read. I don’t even know where to begin or end with my review, as my thoughts and emotions haven’t stopped raging ever since I finished the book. When I started dipping my toes into the Horror genre, THIS is what I was looking for.
Mia Ballard’s writing style is so smooth and flawless, I was quickly obsessed, and already have her other 2 books Sugar and We All Rot Eventually in the cart.
The way she portrays OCD, toxic relationships, the things that women go through on a daily basis, and the pure animalistic female RAGE that comes out of it all.. I couldn’t have been more impressed, seriously. I will think about this book, probably for the rest of my life, and continue to ponder on all of the deeper meanings hidden within it.
Favorite quotes:
• “‘Thank you,’ I say to the waitress reflexively. She widens her eyes at me. Get a load of this guy. I smile and cartoonishly widen my eyes back at her before she leaves the table. I love how we can telepathically converse like that. It was one of the only things women had that men couldn't take away.”
• “Rage. The word cuts through my thoughts like a knife. The sound of his voice, the sight of his face, the casual ease with which he dismisses everything he's done—it fuels the fire inside me until it consumes everything else.”
• “Women have always been cast as caretakers, peacekeepers, and forgivers. We're told to endure, to adapt, to rise above. But sometimes, the only way to heal is to rage. Sometimes, justice isn't quiet or clean; it's feral and bloody and unapologetic.”
Thank you to Mia Ballard for writing this amazing piece of art, and thank you to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read the ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism and Car accident
Shades and Shadows by Ashley Laster
Favorite quotes:
Spice level: 🫑 (has a little bit of potential romance, but mainly plot focused, only 1 kiss between 2 characters and some funny/suggestive comments)
* ARC read through NetGalley, but this is a completely unbiased and honest review.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
YA isn’t my #1 genre, but with the paranormal/modern magic aspect, I was very intrigued and wanted to give it a try! I think middle and high school me would have LOVED this book, but adult me still enjoyed it. I would absolutely be interested in reading the next book in the series, as it left us at a point where so many things can be explored going forward.
Liked:
Liked:
- The wide variety of characters! There are witches, ghosts, different kinds of demons, and angels.
- The friends that the FMC makes along the way are so unique and have their own lovable personalities and quirks.
- Loads of humor and good banter between characters. I giggled A LOT during my read.
- The representation of anxiety in teens (younger me would have appreciated this a lot).
- The fact that the author wrote this book based off her own hometown and she even includes folklore from other areas in the world (i.e. The Black Church in Brasov, Romania).
- LOTS of descriptive writing! Although sometimes it was a little too much description and ended up having a clunky feel to it.
- There were a few plot twists that I definitely didn’t see coming and lord knows I love a good “omg, no way” moment.
- How the story challenges the way you traditionally think of good vs evil / demons vs angels.
Disliked:
- I had to Google the definition of quite a few words and it almost felt like they didn’t flow with the overall writing. It had me pulling myself out of the story just to find out that “garrulous” means “talkative”. Although.. since this is YA, it could push kids to broaden their vocabulary so I really shouldn’t complain.
- Even with how descriptive the writing was, I still felt very confused on who was doing what and what exactly was happening. Maybe this has to do with lack of world-building and how quickly events were taking place??
Favorite quotes:
- “The stars incline us, they do not bind us.”
- “The moon doesn't fear the dark; she speaks the language of stars.”
- “‘He unleashed against them his hot anger, his wrath, indignation and hostility-a band of destroying angels! Psalm 78:49’ — People forget angels are merciless soldiers."
Spice level: 🫑 (has a little bit of potential romance, but mainly plot focused, only 1 kiss between 2 characters and some funny/suggestive comments)
* ARC read through NetGalley, but this is a completely unbiased and honest review.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I’m so glad I did the Fourth Wing and Iron Flame reread right before going into Onyx Storm— the “new info overload” was heavy in the beginning of this book, and rendered me from fully getting into it right off the bat. I pushed through and by chapter 22 we were moving into the adventures and trials portion and I was HOOKED. Adventures ended, more necessary info dumps, and then the BATTLE!? THE ENDING!!? I thought I was mentally/emotionally prepared to wait however long for the last 2 books, and boy was I lying to myself.. Rebecca, I know you love your family and you deserve this break.. but I just want you to know that your break is breaking my heart. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!? 😭
Devourer of Men by Nikki St. Crowe
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
I devoured the Vicious Lost Boys series and all of its glorious spice. I think I had the same exact expectations when starting Devourer of Men, so when I was met with a lot more plot and less spice, I felt conflicted. Thats not to say that the book was bad, by any means, I actually quite enjoyed it and the ending had me hooked (pun intended? 🤔) and now I can’t wait to see what Nikki has in store for us with the 2nd book!