Tag: book blogger

Reviews

House of Hollow Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on House of Hollow Review

*SOME SPOILERS BEWARE*

Seventeen-year-old Iris Hollow has always been strange. Something happened to her and her two older sisters when they were children, something they can’t quite remember but that left each of them with an identical half-moon scar at the base of their throats.

I really found myself attached to Iris’s character and highly intrigued by her sisters. Immediately I was ensnared by the introduction of this book and the way Iris explained how her and her sisters were weird and strange. I liked the fact that they were all so discernible from each other and had different personalities even though they were so close.

The mystery aspect surrounding Grey’s disappearance and how Iris and Vivi have to try and piece together the clues she left behind whilst also trying to escape from the man who is chasing them was highly entertaining. It kept me engaged and wanting to read on and find out what was going to happen next. It was definitely a roller coaster ride of a plot and I was surprised at every turn.

From what we learn about Grey I didn’t really like her all that much. I appreciated the lengths she would go to to help and protect her sister’s but she kind of went too far at times. Her secretive nature and how much she supposedly didn’t tell her sisters even though they promised not to investigate what happened to them all those years ago, really didn’t give me a reason to trust her at all. Which I guess my instincts were kind of right in the end.

I really felt like Tyler’s character wasn’t all that necessary, if he wasn’t in the story at all I probably would of enjoyed the book all the same. I think his involvement in the mystery came out of nowhere and I didn’t think he was that important as a character when we are first introduced to him. I still have unanswered questions as to why he wasn’t affected by their gifts and why he is drawn so much to Grey but then didn’t come when she called to his soul.

Overall I highly enjoyed this book. I felt like the premise was highly original and entertaining and the twist at the end about what happened when they disappeared was shocking and unexpected to say the least. The prose was highly descriptive and I was able just to get lost in the story and enjoy the ride!

⭐️4/5 stars creepy, bizarre & gripping

Updates

Goodreads Reading Challenge Update

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Goodreads Reading Challenge Update

Since we are in June (wtf) I figured it was a good time to check in and see how I’m going with my reading challenge and stats for the first half of the year. At this stage I have only completed 29 books and Goodreads says I am 14 books behind schedule if I want to complete the challenge whereas last year at this time I had already completed 67. I am honestly not that worried about completing the reading challenge, even though in the 4 years I’ve been on Goodreads it would be a first. I am just trying to get out of this reading slump I’ve been in for the majority of 2021. I think I am on the tail end though and I am getting more and more in the mood to read so fingers crossed for that! So far this year I have completed 9747 pages as opposed to last year where I had already read 27,598! So yeah I have some catching up to do, but I have some really good books on my TBR and I am excited to get stuck in and read!

Reviews

The Only Good Indians Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on The Only Good Indians Review

*Some spoilers below*

The Only Good Indians follows four American Indian men after a disturbing event from their youth puts them in a desperate struggle for their lives. Tracked by an entity bent on revenge, these childhood friends are helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way.

It took me a solid 100 pages or so to understand what was even happening in this book. The writing just didn’t really gel with me and I had a hard time comprehending the prose. The story was definitely compelling and shocking but I didn’t feel as invested in these characters as what I probably could have been.

The book just launches into Ricky’s point of view and I was lost. I didn’t know whether or not what was happening to him was real and I was almost indifferent to his death. Lewis I felt more of a connection to and was actually invested in his character and the subsequent demise of his state of mind. The guilt he carried around all these years and the paranoia surrounding that day and how the elk was coming for him felt real and raw. I was shocked to see how far he would go to try to rid himself from the elk woman and how apathetic he was afterwards, reasoning with himself that he did what was necessary.

Again I didn’t really feel a connection to Cass or Gabe, I didn’t get enough time with either or them to forge that connection either. Which I guess kind of makes sense in terms of the plot. Ricky got a majority of the time because he was the one who killed the mother and the baby elk and was tortured the most, Cass and Gabe are just getting the repercussions because they were there that day as well. Leaning about the sweat was definitely interesting and I liked that they added Nate’s character into the mix as a way to explain what was happening and how the would resort back to these ancient methods on the Res.

Overall this was not what I was expecting at all! I almost forgot going into it that it was a horror and surprised by the graphic scenes, but it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting to know what is going to happen next. I almost wish it was longer, but then I feel like overcomplicating this premise would of made it less intriguing. So it is what it is.

⭐️3/5 stars brutal, haunting and visceral

Updates

Library Update

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Library Update

It’s been a few months since I’ve done a library update so I figured now was the time! I have been really trying to utilise the library more this year and consistently borrow books that I’m interested in but not willing to buy. I currently five six books on loan from the Library: The Obelisk Gate & The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin, The Gilded Ones by Namina Forner, Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales. I have yet to read any of these books but I am very excited by my current selection!

Readathons

Buzzword Reading Challenge

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Buzzword Reading Challenge

If you are unaware what the Buzzword Readathon/Challenge is see my prior post HERE. Last month the buzzword was house/home and unfortunately I didn’t end up completing anything but I will endeavour to catch up in the coming months! However, I am excited to continue on with this challenge and complete this months buzzword which is:

This month the buzzword theme is name/title and just like last month I have a couple of options:

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