Natalie D. Richards

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2024 (7/30/24)

July 30, 2024 — 1 Comment

My pace slowed a bit in July because this past month has, frankly, kicked my ass. It seems it should be the other way around, right? What better way to escape from stress than to curl up with a good book? Unfortunately, it didn’t work that way for me. I still managed to finish five books, though, which put me at my goal of 50 reads for 2024 – so I changed my goal to 75.

Five Total Strangers (Natalie D. Richards)

Rating: 3.5/5

I enjoyed Five Total Strangers, except for the initial premise. Honestly, why would Mira accept the ride from a stranger? I understand the circumstances were exceptional, and she was desperate to get home, but I just can’t wrap my head around her decision, especially once she saw that Harper had invited others along as well. Willingly suspending my disbelief, however, I sank into this story and I must admit, it kept me guessing until the end.

Christmas Presents (Lisa Unger)

Rating: 4/5

I found Christmas Presents at our local library. It was a good read and definitely held my interest, but the story jumped from high point to high point without a lot of buildup or description of the progression between these major events. Don’t get me wrong: the way things unfolded made sense! The book just needed a little more descriptive filler to bridge the gaps between each event meant to carry the story forward. Plus, I had figured out the twist… When an author pointedly skates over a character too much, it becomes obvious that s/he is going to play a relevant role.

Rules for Vanishing (Kate Alice Marshall)

Rating: 4/5

I liked everything about Rules for Vanishing except the end. The concept of a ghost story and a childhood game being real, of this road to a different reality and each gate bringing about a new horror, was intriguing. Marhsall’s writing was superb, and all of the dark imagery was portrayed expertly. I was particularly creeped out by the town and the house. (The spiders and the lady will the bells were just…eerie!) However, the fact that this became a possession/exorcism story was rather anticlimactic, and the open ending was not my favorite. Sometimes, not spelling things out works to add to the spooky atmosphere, but in this case, I wanted a definite resolution.

Grandma Got Run Over By a Demon (Olivia Jaymes)

Rating: 3.5/5

While I am rather fond of Ravenmist and its cast of unique characters, Grandma Got Run Over By a Demon took a bit of an odd turn. I’m not even bothered by the events themselves, it just seems Jaymes rushed through some things that are important. I don’t want to include any spoilers, but come on – how do you make a trip to Hell a passing mention? This is the first instance I have been displeased with, though, so I will continue with this series. It’s just fun and quirky and humorous, and I’m not ready to give up on Tedi and the others yet.

A Dark Lure (Loreth Anne White)

Rating: 4.5/5

I loved this book! As someone who favors horror/thrillers, A Dark Lure marked basically all of my boxes: a serial killer with a penchant for hunting and gory postmortem rituals, a survivor who is pretty much a badass, a romance that doesn’t overshadow the plot, and an intricate web of twists and turns that all tie in neatly and grant the reader a catharsis at the end. I would highly recommend you adding this to your TBR pile if you enjoy mysteries, suspenseful thrillers, and/or horror novels.

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I am currently reading Ghost Story (Peter Straub) and Circus of the Dead: Book 2 (Kimberly Loth).

Progress: 50/75

Update: Goodreads Reading Challenge 2023 (8/10/23)

August 10, 2023 — Leave a comment

Hi, y’all! It’s been just over a month since I last updated you on my Goodreads Reading Challenge, and I have still been steadily climbing towards my goal. I did take a break and re-read Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw, just because I love it and it’s a comfort book for me (like the Harry Potter series).

As far as books from my to-be-read pile, I have marked off six more since the last challenge post. So, here’s what I finished and my rating of each one!

1. Any Witch Way You Can (Amanda M. Lee)

Rating: 4/5

The first in the “Wicked Witches of the Midwest” series, Any Witch Way You Can introduces us to the Winchesters and the inner workings of the family. Oh, and there are a couple of murders sprinkled in, just for fun. I really enjoyed this book, and I loved the characters. I wasn’t even bothered that the murders, and eventual solving of said murders, was almost an afterthought. The twist wasn’t overly surprising, but the way it all unfolded was cute and humorous. I will continue with this series, for sure.

2. The Final Girl Support Group (Grady Hendrix)

Rating: 2/5

Having read The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, I was looking forward to this novel. Unfortunately, it fell short. The plot wasn’t the best, the characters weren’t very likeable, and there was a heavy emphasis on the slasher genre being misogynistic (which I wholly disagree with). I got bored with reading about how evil men are, honestly. Hendrix ignored how many female killers there are in horror, and how one can also view the final girl trope as rather empowering – women surviving through their strength and wit, outsmarting killers who are, in general, men. While I would recommend checking out The Southern Book Club’s Guide…, I might suggest skipping this book.

3. Mad as a Hatter (Kendra Moreno)

Rating: 3.5/5

I love re-imaginings, especially dark versions of Wonderland, so I was intrigued when I stumbled across this series. The back story – how Alice became The Red Queen – definitely feeds my horror-loving heart. However, overall, this book fell short. It was too predictable, too much of a romance. And Clara accepted everything way too quickly. I am going to read the second one, because I like the plot and I don’t want to write Kendra Moreno off too soon.

4. The Resort (Sue Watson)

Rating: 2.5/5

I don’t know how to explain this book. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either. I will say one thing; Watson did a great job throwing suspicion on all of her characters, so that the killer could have been any of them. The ending did not impress me, though. I guess if you like mysteries in the vein of Agatha Christie and Sue Grafton, you should add this to your list.

5. Four Found Dead (Natalie D. Richards)

Rating: 2/5

I didn’t like this book. The writing was confused and muddled, the characters weren’t relatable, and the killer’s motive was lame. I wouldn’t recommend it.

6. Come Out, Come Out, Whatever You Are (Kathryn Foxfield)

Rating: 3/5

The concept of this book was right up my alley. I love books/movies where there are groups of people going places they shouldn’t and getting terrorized by masked killers, evil spirits, etc. However, Come Out, Come Out, Whatever You Are wasn’t the best version of this horror trope. The characters almost saved it, though; I loved every single one, especially Lex and Python. I will be checking out Good Girls Die First.

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I have now read 34 of 35 books. I may change my goal. Haha. My current read is Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine.