Qing

Overall: C-

If you’re in the mood to read a book where you hate every main character—and possibly yourself for finishing it—Outside is for you. I will never understand the premise of “friends” who clearly despise each other deciding to reunite (You can skip your high school reunion, people. Nothing good happens there either).

Gunlaugur and Daniel were obviously meant to be terrible, but I think we were supposed to root for the other two? If so, that was a flop. The setting is genuinely intriguing, though—the snowstorm isolation works, and the mysterious man just chilling (pun intended) in the corner had me curious. Unfortunately, the ending was rushed, implausible, and nowhere near as clever as it thought it was.

Overall: B-

The artwork is dynamic, expressive, and matches the crime noir tone but I just couldn’t connect with this graphic novel. The main character isn’t poorly written or annoying; his humor lands fine, and most of his choices make sense. I just never felt invested in him. With so many other characters and story threads, the story started to feel overwhelming and chaotic. It’s one of those books that I wish I liked more than I did, because the individual elements are solid but they just never came together for me.

Overall: A-

Want a suggestion for a haunted house book? Want a suggestion for a vintage horror? Want a suggestion for a horromance? Or maybe a horromantasy?

Read this book. This along with "101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered" is a great starting point for someone looking to dip their toes into different genres of horror.

Overall: B+

Good creepy anthology with intertwined stories and fantastic art.

Overall: B+

This is a slow burn type story with an original premise, beautiful writing and a great sense of dread. Really enjoyed it.

Overall: B+

Good queer fantasy in an Asian-inspired world. Wish we delved more in the magic side of things but the focus is really on the relationship and the lead's growth.

Overall: B

I kind of want to stick with this series for London setting and the lore of the magical crime families. But... I also kind of want to bail due to the underdeveloped "romance" with the detective that veers into instalove territory, the possibly telegraphed love triangle with said detective and a crime family rival and an anticlimactic resolution to the mystery that left me going "that's it?"

Overall: A- Want a suggestion for a haunted house book? Want a suggestion for a vintage horror? Want a suggestion for a horromance? Or maybe a horromantasy?

Read this book. This along with "101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered" is a great starting point for someone looking to dip their toes into different genres of horror.

Overall: C+

The premise of the story is a really good one. The build up is intriguing. The ending, however, is cheesy (in a terrible way, not fun one) and the reasons for the ghosts' existence are just dumb.

Overall: B+

I would've loved this book as a child. The drawings are unique and cute. I think there is re-readability for kids who don't figure out the trick.

Overall: B+

Really charming graphic novel that explores the relationship between a young girl and her grandmother. Explores the burden of keeping hard secrets from those that you love. Includes cute cats and prairie dogs.

🧩 Plot:

• Predictable but Enjoyable

• Clear Personal Stakes

• Cathartic & Emotionally Satisfying

•  Clear Storytelling Through Art
• Detailed & Expressive
• Stunning & Visually Captivating

• Distinct Character Visuals
• Expressive Faces and Body Language

• Engaging & Easy to Read

• * Linear & Easy to Follow

• Steady & Consistent

• Sense of Place Strong

• Compelling & Relatable

• Dialogue Reveals Character Growth

• Eye-Catching & Appealing

• Age-Appropriate for Stated Group

• A+

🧩 Plot:

• Well-paced & Engaging

• Competent but Familiar Obstacles

• Predictable but Acceptable Resolution

• Clever but Predictable

• Detailed & Expressive
• Clear Storytelling Through Art
• Unique Art Style

• Expressive Faces and Body Language
• Diverse Body Types & Features
• Reflecting Personality

• Engaging & Easy to Read

• Standard Three-Act Structure

• Evenly Paced

• Familiar setting with a fresh twist

• Likable but Unremarkable
• Minor Characters More Interesting than Protagonist

• Functional but Unremarkable

• Eye-Catching & Appealing

• Perfect Fit for Fans of Similar Authors

• B+

🧩 Plot:

• Suspenseful & Thrilling
• Subtly Haunting

• Tension Spikes Then Levels

• Thought-Provoking or Lasting Impact

• Generally Solid, With Occasional Gems

• Effective use of flash-forwards
• Third Person POV

• Escalates Cleanly to Climax

• Atmospheric & Evocative

• Unique Personalities & Motivations
• Clear Wants & Flaws

• Distinct Voices Per Character

• Visually Appealing but Not Iconic

• Serviceable Performance

• Niche but Satisfying

• Potentially Disturbing Scenes Present

• B+

🧩 Plot:

•  Predictable but Enjoyable

•  Competent but Familiar Obstacles

•  Neat Bow, Low Impact

• Telegraphed a Mile Away

• Functional Over Flourishing

•  Linear & Easy to Follow

•  Middle-of-the-Road Tempo

•  Serviceable Backdrop Without Distinction

•  Functional but Forgettable

•  Expository but Clear

• Safe and Unoffensive

•  Appeals to Intended Demographic

•  C+

🧩 Plot:

•  Predictable but Enjoyable

• Stakes Intertwined with Themes

•  Bittersweet but Right

• Detailed & Expressive
• Consistent Style Throughout
• Stunning & Visually Captivating

• Distinct Character Visuals

• Engaging & Easy to Read
• Tender Intimacy

• Linear & Easy to Follow

• Steady & Consistent

• Adequate Backdrop, Not Memorable

• Compelling & Relatable

• Genre-Appropriate Style

• Eye-Catching & Appealing

• Age-Appropriate Handling of Content
• Perfect Fit for Fans of Similar Authors

• A+

Plot 💭:

• Intriguing Premise, Mundane Middle

• Conflict Feels Inevitable but Surprising

• Loose Ends Tied Up Effectively

• Clear & Functional
• Functional Over Flourishing

• Third Person POV
• Serviceable but Plain Layout

• Drags in the Middle

• Serviceable Backdrop Without Distinction

• Likable but Unremarkable

• Eye-Catching & Appealing

• Appeals to Intended Demographic

• B-

Plot 💭:
* Well-paced & Engaging

Conflict & Stakes 💪:
* Satisfying Escalation of Tension

Resolution & Satisfying Ending 🎬:
* Predictable but Acceptable Resolution

Writing Style: ✍️:
* Generally Solid, With Occasional Gems

Structure 🏗️:
* Well-Organized & Logical Flow

Pace & Pacing: ⏱️:
* Unresolved Build-Up

Setting 🌍:
* Adequate Backdrop, Not Memorable

Characters 👥:
* Compelling & Relatable

Book Covers 📕:
* Effective, If Unremarkable

Target Audience 🎯:
* Appeals to Intended Demographic

Overall Rating (A - F) ⭐:
* B

Quick Thoughts:
I liked the backstory and build up. I liked the main character and could sympathize with her. My biggest conflict is with the ending. Just felt rushed but most likely because it IS a short story. The ending makes sense but it felt like more should have happened. The tension didn't feel fully resolved. Otherwise good writing and really drew me in. Good story if you want a new, quick, creepy read.

🧩 Plot:

• Suspenseful & Thrilling

• High Stakes for Characters

• Predictable but Acceptable Resolution

• Engaging & Easy to Read

• Effective use of multiple timelines
• Third Person POV
• Conventional But Sound

• Steady & Consistent

• Adequate Backdrop, Not Memorable

• Clear Wants & Flaws

• Genre-Appropriate Style

• Visually Appealing but Not Iconic

• B+

Look What Grandpa Left Me

Cold Hearted Woman...

The Road to the Inevitable

Short but Satisfying

🧩 Plot:

• Starts Strong, Fizzles Out

• Forced or Artificial Drama
• Characters Feel Detached from Stakes

• Neat Bow, Low Impact

• One Big Twist

• Serviceable but Lacks Distinction

• Perspective Shifts Views
• Predictable Beats

• Middle-of-the-Road Tempo

• Sketches of Place, Adequate

• Shallow
• Unlikable or Uninteresting

• Genre-Appropriate Style

•  Clear Genre Signaling

• Perfectly Matches Tone of Story
•  Easy to Follow & Clear Articulation

•  Age-Appropriate for Stated Group

•  C+

Ghost Adventures with Teenagers

Prefer the Scooby Doo Gang

Not So Scary

Romance Is Dead

Promising but Forgettable

🧩 Plot:

• Suspenseful & Thrilling
• Gripping & Unputdownable

• Societal/Global Stakes Woven In
• Consequences Matter
• High Stakes for Characters

• Leaves Room for Sequel Gracefully
• Earned & Inevitable

• Keeps You Guessing

• Vivid & Descriptive Language
• Generally Solid, With Occasional Gems

• Well-Organized & Logical Flow

• Page-Turner Momentum

• Unique & Interesting Worldbuilding
• Vividly Described & Immersive

• Compelling & Relatable
• Memorable Individuals

• Distinct Voices Per Character
• Subtext-Rich Conversations

• Eye-Catching & Appealing

• Perfect Fit for Fans of Similar Authors
• Great for Book Clubs

• A+

🧩 Plot:

•  Suspenseful & Thrilling
•  Gripping & Unputdownable
•  Satisfying Mystery Reveal

•  Compelling Conflicts

•  Believable and Well-Earned Conclusion

• Keeps You Guessing

• Vivid & Descriptive Language
• Engaging & Easy to Read

•  Well-Organized & Logical Flow
•  Effective use of cliffhangers

•  Page-Turner Momentum

•  Unique & Interesting Worldbuilding
•  Vividly Described & Immersive

•  Unique Personalities & Motivations
•  Earned Growth

•  Distinct Voices Per Character
•  Sharp & Witty Banter
•  Flows Smoothly & Realistically

•  Effective, If Unremarkable

•  Broad Crossover Appeal
•  Great for Book Clubs

•  A+

• Plot 💭:
  • Engaging at Times, Occasionally Flat 😴 
  • Predictable or Underwhelming Conflict
• Writing Style✍️:   
  •  Straightforward & Unadorned 
• Structure 🏗️:
  •  Standard & Conventional
• Pace & Pacing ⏱️:
  • Predictable Flow
• Setting 🌎: 
  • Not descriptive 
  • Bouncing around from city to city, space to space
• Characters 👤:
  • Likable but Unremarkable
• Book Covers📚:
  •  Safe and Unoffensive

Thoughts 🗣:
   * Needing More: I loved the Sandman Slim series so I'm sad that this fell flat for me. It still contains Kadrey's creative (under)world-building and snappy dialogue but the plot was a predictable set up for a series and the dialogue came out of our leads who were indistinguishable from one another. I'm still going to try the next one as the ideas presented here are interesting. 

Overall: B 

Overall: B+

Classic