Welcome to Litsy!

I didn't care much for the characterizations of anyone. It felt like a lot of box checking for a YA supernatural story. The girl power message and LGBT representation were very heavy handed. It was nice to see some asexual representation, but even that character has one scene with any actual depth. Just didn't work for me.

Atmospheric YA folk horror. Starts strong with a great setting, missing girls & a creepy devil of island lore. 3 girls face evil, adventures and crushes on each other. They lost me a bit on the YA love story. I wanted more evil & less description of the girls. Teens might enjoy that subplot more. Narrator does a good job but the writing & reading in the chapters narrated by Val gets heavy handed. #audiobook #teamslaughter #Scarathalon #31by31

Setting as character & creepy island lore make this audiobook a good listen. They live on Saw “kill” and hear a “bone” cry, so it also helps my Team Slaughter word search points. Curious as to where this story will go. #audiobook #Scarathalon #TeamSlaughter #folkhorror

I really enjoyed the first half of this, but once the mystery became clear I found myself underwhelmed by the conclusion. #Scarathlon2022 #TeamMonsterMash @StayCurious #Spookoween2022 @TheSpineView #31by31 @Catsandbooks #PointsAThon @dieareader @GHABI4ROSES #bodycountbingo @PuddleJumper #LittenListen @aperfectmjk

Started this yesterday. Too many victims for one sleepy little town, but victims of what? Definitely a creepy setup. #victim #Scarathlon2022 #ScarathlonDailyPrompt #TeamMonsterMash @StayCurious @Clwojick

Huey‘s keeping me company while I read this eery, slightly scary, story. #huey #catsoflitsy #readharder2022

#LetterS recs:

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

#AlphabetGame @alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

An odd but intriguing book. Read for #PopSugarReadingChallenge2021 3.75/5 My final book for the challenge 🙌🏻😍🤩🥳

Ok, now I'm all caught up! Finishwd this on today. While at first I didn't think I'd like this book, didn't really like the characters, and felt it may have been a bit too long, this book did end up being good and again, like most of this month's reads, very creepy. Downright scary at times. Another book recommended during this time of year.

The mystery aspect of the novel really kept my attention throughout the whole story. Overall, the characters were pretty likeable, but I felt like their dynamics with one another was what made the novel truly stand out. Despite the alternating POVs, I felt like each character was unique and distinct. I highly recommend it to anyone who also appreciates aspects of fantasy within horror!

EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THE ISLAND of Sawkill Rock: The silly old legends of its healing waters, which are impossible to altogether dismiss when one considers the people of Sawkill themselves—their hard white teeth and supple limbs.

#firstlinefridays

Atmospheric suspense? ✔
Eldrich monsters? ✔
Girls finding their power? ✔
Sentient island? ✔
Generation old curses? ✔
Secret societies? ✔

This was an incredibly good, but fucked up book. You should totally read it. 😁

My reading buddies have fallen asleep on the job.

#CatsOfLitsy

I was in the mood for something a little darker, so this evening I'm sitting on the porch and starting 'Sawkill Girls'. I bought it ages ago because the cover was so haunting, but then was never in the mood to read it. 50 pages in and I'm hooked!

I loved this. It pretty much has everything I like in YA: a horrific monster, young women claiming their power, the setting as a character, sisterhood, female friendship, weird nature things happening, feminism, and queer rep. So of course I quickly gobbled it up. That being said, it's not a perfect novel; sometimes the teen characters communicate with each other in a way that didn't seem believable for Gen Zers, but I easily overlooked that. 👇

One of my current reads. It was a birthday gift from a friend, and it has sucked me in. (Please ignore my blindingly pale legs. 🤣)

#dogsoflitsy

This book was just the right amount of weird and creepy for me! Monsters, Lore, ominous vibes! Fantastic job by Claire Legrand!

Finished earlier than expected but it was a bit hard to put down.

Ancient evil, urban legends, missing girls and strong willed young women looking to solve the mystery and save their small town. Add in some LGBTQIA rep and a bit of prophecy and you've got a pretty compelling read.

I will admit that I liked Legrand's Emperium Trilogy more, but this is wholly enjoyable

2♦️: Romance

#bookspinbingo #TBRDeckofCards @TheAromaofBooks @Clwojick

I was impressed with this book. Not only was it creepy and decently plotted horror, but I appreciated the realistic representation of an asexual character and her resulting experiences. I don't see that a lot and this particular character was phenomenal and fierce. The story was complicated in a good way and I loved the characters.

Between a so-so and a pick. I enjoyed it enough to plow through it ... but the plot just moved SO fast, it all felt rushed. It was all too quick to even be truly suspenseful ... too much reveal too early on. That said, I did enjoy all three of the girls, and who doesn‘t love it when the angry misogynists lose?

Overall I was pretty happy with this books ability to give me the creeps. As well as delighted with the representation shown by a asexual, black, fat, and queer main characters. My only critique is I feel that Marion could be a bit more rounded out and is currently a little too defined by her reactions to the others. Otherwise it is definitely a book I would recommend to any Horror lover!

I wanted to read a spooky book during October for once and this one was fun!

A total of 216 points between reading and Halloween Netflix-ing for #teamslaughter this weekend! I'm happy to FINALLY be finding time to participate ? #scarathalon #gothtober #thrilloween

This started off creepy and atmospheric but then turned a bit gimmicky, and I didn't like how the "ravenous evil" described in the blurb was almost fully revealed early on. Overall though, it's still a solid YA worth checking out! @Clwojick

I had high hopes for this one, but it ended up just being okay for me. I can't really pinpoint why I didn't enjoy it more either. I loved the idea of this one more than the execution I guess.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
#Scarathon2020 #TeamHarkness @StayCurious (16pts)
#Screamathon @4thhouseontheleft

Kept me entertained on long runs (2hrs!) & honestly a little creeped out when said runs took place on early dark mornings!
It felt a little young but I love a good supernatural story with powerful female leads AND, wait, not everyone is STRAIGHT!?? Hells to the yes! I'd love a series or better yet a graphic novels series!
Also, strange book and Latin. 'Nuff said @llwheeler

#weekendreads @runswithscissors007
1) the Iliad, Shakespeare for Squirrels, Sawkill Girls
2) I think The Gunners makes that list.
3) sweater weather, hikes in fall foliage, hot drinks, being wrapped up in my man's arms...I know, it said "thing" but oh well!

@rachelsbrittain

So Audible is having a $5 sale. I‘ve narrowed my list from 36 to 16. Has anyone read or listened to any of these books? Are there any books you feel strongly about? Good or bad? I really need help. If only I didn‘t have a book problem. 😭

This was another DNF I gave a second chance and really did end up enjoying! This was weird and pretty odd but in the end it was a wild ride of a book that was queer and gorey and definitely something right up my alley!

#audiobaking this afternoon. Banana loaf is a favorite with my husband and my boys. I threw in some pecans and chocolate chips this time around. I'm enjoying this audio so far. The plot is very engrossing, the narration is just ok in my opinion.

Between a Pick and a So-So.
BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ NEW ENGLAND ISLAND STEEPED IN LEGEND
⤏ MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES
⤏ CREEPILY ATMOSPHERIC
⤏ GIRLS LOVING GIRLS --WITH A SAPHIC SEX SCENE
⤏ DIVERSE AND TIMELY
⤏ YA-ISH
Started out strong...but then got a little too crazy for me.
https://leahsbookishobsession2.blogspot.com/2020/05/audiobook-review-sawkill-gir...

Finished the #Winter section of #Booked2020
#MillenialAuthor - Sawkill Girls
#HatOnCover - Lady-In-Waiting
#LiveAndLearn - The Monster Of Florence
#SetInHollywood - Angels Flight
#CoverCrush - Come Tumbling Down
#FinishInADay - One Of Us Is Next

Moving on now to #Spring

The legislative session ended at 1:30 am yesterday and I am taking a week off before jumping into campaign mode. My parents‘ dog, Rusty, is modeling my activities for most of the day. 😂

However, I did crack this book open and devoured the whole thing in a day. My reading desires have been tilting less YA recently, which is a bummer because my husband has filled my shelves the last few years, lol, but this one was just creepy enough. 😄

When you're moving and you have a bit of a "book problem"

Started this and cannot put it down!

Head start on my February pick for #yearofepicreads

My #JumpStart2020 roundup is 6 books finished & 3 books started. Didn‘t hit my goal of 10 books but I had fun and got a few books finished & that‘s all that matters really. How did you guys finish? Did you meet your goals? Did you have fun? And did it help to jump start your reading year?

Bk6 of #JumpStart2020 is done, just under the wire! I got through a few chapters of Say Nothing but realised I needed a break from NF, so picked this up from my #StartedTBR pile & finished it in 5hrs. It turned into a gripping supernatural thriller & was awesome. Highly recommend.🙌 #Booked2020 #MillennialAuthor #LitsyAtoZ2020 #LetterL #PopSugar20 #PassesTheBechdelTest #MemoirsAndMysteries #Supernatural #JennyIs30 #LGBTQRomance #MountTBR2020👇👇

“Beware of the woods and the dark, dank deep. He‘ll follow you home, and he won‘t let you sleep.”

This book was so fantastically creepy and thrilling. The story jumps from page one, throwing you onto the island and in the lives of three random (or are they?) girls who‘s lives connect. I couldn‘t put this book down but had to so I could celebrate New Years Eve. The nerve of really life interfering.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“What I‘m saying is that girls hunger. And we‘re taught, from the moment our brains can take it, that there isn‘t enough food for us all.”

So true.

THIS WAS AMAZING!! I am shook at how great this book was, I went in with lo lowish expectations because of how hyped up this book was, but I was blown away. This was a dark, twisty and scary but also full of sisterly love and romance. This was a book of BADASS women, this book is for women, and about women! In their dark moment and strong moments and soft and dark and every moment in between. You have to read this!!!

I usually like my fiction realistic - nothing more sci-fi than Jurassic Park, no fantasy or supernatural. While this book was obviously not at all what I expected, there was no denying that it was really good!!! This super talented author might bring me over to the dark side!

This book was angsty and hormonal and a little gory in places and I basically loved it. The author takes several tropes— a witch with a familiar, a secret cult dedicated to protecting the world steeped in “ancient wisdom” and run entirely by men and the sacrifice of a young woman— and turns them@on their head. In this book the women save themselves and that is the best.

Hard to look at moths the same way again. I read this book purely for the fact that it‘s one of the few with an asexual character. Kudos to Claire for that! I loved the girl power aspects and the misogynistic group being torn down— but the whole first half confused me too much. It ended up reminding me a lot of It. First half was a ⭐️⭐️, overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️. LGBTQIA YA horror.

My before- @BookwormAHN the picture does not do the wrapping justice 😍👏🙌 #allhallowsreadswap

Just finished this. It was ok but I just didn‘t really get into it. I feel like some parts were weird and a bit confusing.

Started this tonight. Looking forward to reading it.