Lauren

Ok so first off Clare is sort of dry as dirt, seems to be a complete idiot, and just keeps completely fucking over Dorran. (Makes him kill her aunt then calls him a murderer and is pissed at him? Grow up.) I still think Dorran has something fucking sketchy going on... but you're telling me after 800 pages of them being stuck with each other AT THE END OF THE WORLD and they are now in love and engaged and basically married since there's no priests...... That they STILL shower separately, won't change in front of each other, and won't fuck? Please. I'm still eating this shit up though so I'll keep reading but just..... Darcy please. Most unrealistic thing about this sci fi horror end of the world book is that they aren't fucking yet. Clare should also seriously be dead I'm so sick of seeing her act up and Dorran miraculously have enough energy and random skills and perseverance to keep putting up with her bullshit.

This was my first book getting back into reading as a hobby. Found it on BookTok and decided it was a good idea to try it.

I used to really like these kinds of books: YA fantasy. I dread that I might have grown out of that phase in my reading journey.

This book was easy to read, which was nice for someone like me who works >60 hours a week. It moved at a good pace, too, which kept me interested. Karou is a very interesting character and I liked reading about her relationship with Brimstone and the others.

However, once the love interest was introduced, it lost its luster for me.

I have never really been into the “I was immediately drawn to you” sort of love story. They literally say they are in love with each other the morning after meeting. I just find this sort of juvenile love not very intriguing. The other thing that grossed me out at first was that the love interest is apparently 150 years old and the girl is like, 17. This later unfolds itself in a little bit better of a light once you get farther into the book.

The other thing that didn't do it as much for me was the author's flowery language. She uses a lot of strange phrases while describing things and while I think it was trying to paint a mental picture, I just ended up skimming a lot of the book.

It was a fine read, but I have a gut feeling I don't need to finish the series to know what happens. (And, in fact, I am not planning on reading further.) I think that I've just moved on from the instant love story between two supernatural beings type of book, which is totally fine.

Not a bad read at all. Just not my cup of tea anymore.

Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

This was one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2023 and it did not disappoint.

We follow June Farrow, a 30s woman born to a line of women suffering from a terrible curse: they all go mad.

We watch as June's last living relative passes and she descends into the curse she's known was coming her entire life.

When a mystery starts to unfold, we are transported to a time of new beginnings and second chances.


I highly recommend The Unmaking of June Farrow be added to the top of your TBR.

This one was an interesting read but also felt like a real slog.

Seriously don't click on these if you don't want spoilers. It will ruin the entire ending of the book.

Taking off points because of the mad woman trope which is an ick for me. I had a feeling it would end up there when the mention of black mold started. Then even more so when the priest died and had dementia and of course, it was. At least it didn't end with her being "mad"

So torn on this one.

Four researchers go into the woods to follow in their mentors footsteps, unknowing of the horrors that lie in the woods. This book follows multiple POVs, multiple story lines, and is cosmic horror.

Pros:
I really enjoyed the writing. Harian does a wonderful job describing things and hooking you into the story.
I loved the multiple point of views, the multiple story lines, and the characters (except Holden, sorry). Siena and Cam are fantastic to read about and their friendship is fantastic.
I usually am not a fan of cosmic horror, but this one is well done. I'm normally left with a “what the F did I just read” feeling after cosmic horror and while I have this, it's a good kind of feeling, not bad.
Multiple story lines kept me guessing. What will happen to Cam? Is Avery alive? Does anyone survive this? Why is Holden even here?

Cons:
Cliff. Hanger. Honestly hate them. I don't want to wait until 2024.
Holden is a dud. Hopefully his story pans out to be something more interesting.

Sad the next one isn't out until 2024. It's a long time to wait for all the story lines and plot happening in the first book.

I don't know what I expected out of this, but it wasn't what I got. The blurb gives just enough to intrigue you without really explaining what this is about.

Sally's journey throughout this book is in turns devastating, confusing, hopeful, infuriating... She shows growth in times of adversity and honesty with herself and her flaws.

Beautiful writing about a girl with a haunted past and the mess that takes place when a secret history is unraveled, I highly recommend reading Sally's story.