smashmo's reviews
293 reviews

The Gift by Patrick O'Leary

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I did not get what I was expecting...

This book was more strange and dark than I was expecting. Several times my eyes widened in surprise at events that occurred.

I really enjoyed the beginning/premise, and the end wrapped up nicely (I especially liked the pirates), but the majority of the middle of this book did not do it for me.

The characters did not often act their age or station, especially the king.

There are many legends told throughout, and I find most of them somewhat confusing in relation to the overall context. My biggest gripe is Mother Death -
How do people view her? Do they like her? Fear her? Why did Tomen die because he tried to murder her? Just because of a prophecy?


I feel like I should understand, but it's just beyond me.
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

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dark sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
So i'm not really sure how to rate this book. While it is thought-provoking, and it will stay with me for a while, a part of me also wishes that I had not read it.

I almost DNF'd because I found the first half of the book to be very distant in tone and much more tell VS show. After finishing the book, I feel like this was an intentional choice made by the author. 

The second half of the book had a tad more feeling and emotion to it and I was intrigued to see what would happen. I wasn't necessarily hoping for a happy ending, but I was expecting something a little bit better than what actually did occur.  The last line of the book especially messed with my head.

If you're looking for a book that shows the darkness and hypocrisy of humanity, then this could be the book for you. If you are a sensitive or empathetic soul like me, tread lightly.
Recursion by Blake Crouch

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective 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? No

4.0

Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

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adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Although many aspects of this book feel like it was written by a teenage boy with chains on his jeans, there was something just elevated enough and I was intrigued. Looking forward to book 2.
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

Have you ever read a book and just felt meh about it but also felt like you should have liked it more so you start trying to analyze it to find what you missed in hopes of ending up liking it more? 

That's me right now with this book. Interesting premise,  a wonderful setting in a dark forest, evil trickery monsters and half dead creatures, this should have been everything to me and more. However the ending just had me like... whuuuuuhhh? 

I wish there was more to this story maybe. Longer to add some of that depth to the characters. Maybe I need someone to spell out a deeper meaning. Either way, it just didn't land for me and I wish it had.

Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

3.0

Vita Nostra by Sergey Dyachenko, Marina Dyachenko

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challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5