Wulf's Book Reviews

My rating: 1 of 5 stars “The Way We Play” is a miserable reading experience, not because its tropes are inherently objectionable, but because they replace characterisation, logic, and genuine chemistry. The premise has workable ingredients: a cautious thirty-year-old caring for her younger brother, and an injured former kicker with a repairman’s trade. Yet the novel turns every element into a contrivance designed to prove that Rachel and Zane are destined for each other. The book practically announces this problem itself: » Zane Bradford appeared at the perfect time. « That is not foreshadowing. It is the author waving a large sign labelled “plot convenience”. Nothing feels credible. Rachel’s responsibilities exist mainly to make Zane indispensable, while Zane alternates between wounded alpha hero, miraculous rescuer, and muscular plot device. Their supposed conflict never develops into convincing friction. They announce attraction, trauma, and eternal devotion at one another, and the ...

Reliquary by Douglas Preston My rating: 2 of 5 stars “Reliquary” is what happens when a sequel mistakes escalation for improvement. Where “ Relic ” ( review ) was a fast-paced thriller that, for me, got the basics right and delivered genuine suspense in a tightly contained setting, “Reliquary” sprawls, overexplains, and keeps piling on lurid ideas until the whole thing starts to wobble under its own weight. It still has energy, and now and then it lands a scene well, but mostly I found myself watching it become more absurd with every new revelation. Its old-fashioned impulse to go big, dirty, and nasty is not a strength here but one more reason the whole thing feels overcooked and heavy-handed. Preston and Child clearly want the New York underworld here, literal and figurative, to feel mythic, diseased, and overwhelming. At moments, that works. There is proper propulsion in some of the descents into the underground, and the book can still generate suspense on a scene-by-scene level. O...

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager My rating: 2 of 5 stars I picked “Middle of the Night” up because a Goodreads friend recommended it. In hindsight, I really should have known better. Riley Sager has been wildly uneven for me, and this novel lands firmly on the wrong side of that divide. At first, the setup works. A vanished boy, a suburban cul-de-sac, a traumatised adult returning to the scene of childhood horror, sleepless nights, uneasy neighbours, dark woods. That is exactly the sort of material from which a properly creepy thriller can be made. Sager knows how to build that initial itch of dread, and for a while I kept reading in the hope that the book would cash in on its atmosphere. » The worst thing to ever happen on Hemlock Circle… « The problem is that the novel gradually mistakes strangeness for depth. What begins as eerie and potentially poignant becomes weird in a way that feels more contrived than unsettling. The story grows increasingly complicated without becoming ri...

Bred and Butter by Heather Lauren My rating: 1 of 5 stars Bred and Butter is a (thankfully!) short, kinky romance that I wanted to enjoy on its own terms: tight focus, brisk heat, and a sense that the author knows exactly which emotional buttons to press. Instead, I spent most of my time wincing at sentences that seem not merely unpolished, but unproofread, and the story itself never gives me enough character, wit, or tension to compensate. » Who’s laugh makes me smile « That is the problem in miniature: basic grammar slips, and the voice does not feel intentional enough to turn roughness into style. Even the erotic imagery strains for intensity in ways that land oddly chosen rather than charged. » The sight of her painted body withering beneath me is stunning. « Yes, withering. Under him. As if desire were a draught, and her body was a sad little plant being left to crisp at the windowsill. That single word does not heighten anything, it suffocates it. It turns sex into horticultural...

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn My rating: 1 of 5 stars When the “Happily Ever After” Feels Like a Moral Hangover This one was supposed to clear the air. Well, it succeeded in making it smell worse. Every single character, and every major aspect of this novel, left me with an uneasy feeling. Eloise Bridgerton is confused, snobby, garrulous, and somehow deeply ambiguous. She runs away from what exactly? Nobody forces her into marriage but herself. After a year of merely exchanging letters, she decides to marry a stranger and be a good, obedient wife. And yet, she also strains toward what might, at the time, have passed for an “independent spinster”. Phillip, meanwhile, basks in his self-sacrificing suffering-husband and widower roles while being emotionally estranged from his two eight-year-old children. The children are neglected, abused, and basically thoroughly traumatised, which Eloise unconvincingly tries to “love away”. Their mother, Phillip’s late wife, looms over the ...

In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde My rating: 2 of 5 stars She’s the new sole owner of a privately financed sports team. He’s the “field manager” of the team, and for reasons that never feel proportionate, they’re antagonistic until they aren’t. After that we get a lot of workplace-propriety handwringing, plus extremely efficient lust. He: She’s my employer. This cannot be! (But she has “ thick ” legs. I’m drooling!) She: He’s my employee. This cannot be! (But I want him in my fortress of solitude. And elsewhere!) Evil advisory board: This cannot be! She’s, gasp, a woman! This is nepotism, and this job needs a man. (And even the one supposed-to-be good guy on the board literally doesn’t lift a finger to help until it’s safe, and even rewarding, to do so.) The advisory board, which the book itself undercuts early on: “ I don’t technically have to run a single decision by anyone else first. ” Yet we are still expected to treat these men as a meaningful obstacle, even when the broader cu...

Sherlock Holmes and the Missing Shakespeare by J.R. Rain My rating: 1 of 5 stars I learned to read by secretly snatching my mother’s early 20th-century editions of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Since then, the fascination with anything Holmes has never left me. Many have tried to spin further tales of Holmes and Watson; some did well, others failed miserably. This one, sadly, falls into the latter category. The story is rather convoluted, albeit light in detail. Watson is reduced to a mere admiring fan, trapped in a constant " reverie and renewed admiration for Mr. Holmes ", while Holmes himself is more of a generic action hero than a detective. In one particularly jarring scene, " Holmes delivered a punishing uppercut to the man’s jaw " so hard his feet left the ground, before the detective " delivered an unforgiving heel kick to his jaw to finish him off ". This isn't the Holmes of Baker Street; it's a Victorian John Wick. The writing is medio...

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein My rating: 1 of 5 stars A children’s tale glorifying an abusive relationship with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer Shel Silverstein's “ The Giving Tree ” is often celebrated as a classic of children’s literature, yet, reading it now, I struggle to see the appeal. Where contemporaries in the genre – such as Maurice Sendak's “ Where the Wild Things Are ” – bring subtext, wit, and magic, Silverstein’s approach here is relentlessly didactic. The narrative, centring on a boy’s lifelong (abusive) relationship with a perpetually self-sacrificing tree, bludgeons the reader with its message of unconditional giving to the point of tedium. “The Giving Tree” has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. The story’s moral simplicity feels not only outdated but, frankly, rather joyless. One leaves the tale with a sense of manipulation, not enlightenment. This might suffice for those in search of finger-wagging parables, but for those yearning for depth or n...

The Bunk Up by Andie M. Long My rating: 0 of 5 stars Regressive, Reckless, and Ridiculous: Meet the Worst Book I've Ever Read In all honesty, this is the worst book I’ve ever read. It’s so backwards-leaning, demented, idiotic, and irresponsible, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Long and Sidebottom are actually Trump and Musk respectively. Daisy is our female protagonist who has just been cheated on by her boyfriend, been fired from her job, and, encouraged by friends, now wants to take a holiday. To give you a first idea of what Daisy is like, let’s examine her thoughts about that: » My pout returns when I remember she’s right. I have no job to try and take holidays from. I have no boyfriend to seek permission from. « The male protagonist, Frazer, is by no means better. » From what I know, Nigel is a prize ass, anyway, and I’m sure no mother could be proud of a son who wears brown corduroys and a feather fucking earring while he sticks toenail clippings to bits of cardboard ...

Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey My rating: 2 of 5 stars I decided to put in another festive romance reading “sprint” and, regrettably, I settled on Tessa Bailey's “ Window Shopping ”. It endeavours to offer a festive romance wrapped in themes of redemption and self-discovery but, for me, falls short of expectations. While I anticipated a heartwarming holiday tale filled with charm, I instead found a collection of hurried resolutions, clichéd characterisations, and strained dynamics. Stella’s characterisation was one of the main frustrations. She veers wildly between crippling insecurity and unconvincing strength, making her emotional journey feel inconsistent and unrelatable. Her conflict with her parents, which could have provided a rich emotional arc, is resolved almost instantly and without any meaningful dialogue or exploration. This lack of depth extended to Aiden as well. While he’s positioned as the quintessential romantic hero, his internal monologues hint at self-...

On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass My rating: 1 of 5 stars Big drama, little substance, no suspense. Seraphina Nova Glass' “ On a Quiet Street ” was, frankly, not for me. I gave it a genuine attempt, making it to 33%, but ultimately, I had to DNF. The novel starts with a mix of intrigue and melodrama, but it quickly veers into territory that felt clichéd and overly contrived – more akin to a soap opera than a compelling thriller. The premise had potential: a gated community told about through multiple points of view, revolving around Paige and her devastation over the hit-and-run death of her son, Caleb. Yet, rather than diving deep into authentic, layered characters or gripping tension, the book becomes bogged down by outlandish twists and unconvincing developments. For instance, Paige’s emotional descent pivots to her seduction of Finn – her best friend Cora’s husband – in a toilet at a ball no less. That moment was more cringe-worthy than dramatic. Meanwhile...

We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida My rating: 2 of 5 stars “ We'll Prescribe You a Cat ” by Syou Ishida is a peculiar attempt at blending magical realism and episodic storytelling, but one that ultimately veers off course. While on the surface it shares superficial similarities with “ The Travelling Cat Chronicles ”, the comparison hardly holds due to the stark differences in execution and tone. Unfortunately, “We’ll Prescribe You a Cat” leans heavily into clichés, offering overdoses of preachy content and saccharine lessons that come across as formulaic and forced. The novel presents a range of short vignettes, promising to deliver moments of heartfelt connection between humans and their feline counterparts. However, the episodic nature makes each chapter feel disconnected and shallow. Rather than a cohesive story, the book presents a series of almost obligatory moral lessons, which feel more esoteric than engaging. The subtlety I hoped for is utterly missin...

Seven Deadly Wonders by Matthew Reilly My rating: 1 of 5 stars Matthew Reilly's " Seven Deadly Wonders " is akin to reading a 90s action B-movie. Unfortunately, the novel fails to deliver a compelling narrative, with both the plot and characters lacking believability. While Reilly attempts to blend high-octane action with historical mysteries, the result is a muddled execution that leaves much to be desired. From the outset, the characters come off as one-dimensional and unconvincing. They are supposedly a diverse group from various backgrounds, but this diversity is sadly superficial. This oversight detracts significantly from the novel, creating a sense of sameness that undermines the story's potential. For instance, Big Ears dangling precariously over a ledge is a moment ripe with tension but falls flat due to clichéd dialogue and character interactions: » Big Ears was dangling over the edge of Level 1 directly above her, helpless. ‘I can’t get to her...

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand My rating: 1 of 5 stars “ The Perfect Couple ” by Elin Hilderbrand had all the makings of a gripping narrative—a murder mystery combined with romance, set against the picturesque backdrop of Nantucket. The story follows the wedding of Benji and Celeste, a supposedly perfect couple, but things take a darker turn when the maid of honour is found dead on the morning of the wedding. As the "mystery" unfolds, it's clear that Hilderbrand is more interested in exploring the petty dramas and secrets of the wealthy elite than crafting a compelling whodunit. The revelations, when they come, are bog-standard and boring, lacking any real tension or surprises. The romance was basically nonexistent as Celeste and her love interest simply fall in love at first glance. Yes, it happens, but as a story element, it’s just lazy. Another problem were the characters themselves: Benji, for instance, emerged as an exceedingly annoying and sha...

Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson My rating: 2 of 5 stars “ Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone ” by Benjamin Stevenson is a novel that, much like an overwrought comedian who never quite finds his audience, fails to strike the right chord with me. It promises a thrilling blend of mystery and dark humour but ultimately falls flat in both realms. From the outset, Stevenson’s attempts to break the fourth wall are incessant and intrusive. The protagonist, Ernest, a novelist writing his own story, constantly reminds us of his authorial presence. This technique, rather than being clever or engaging, becomes a regular source of annoyance. For instance, at one point, he states: » I’ll hold it here to mention that I know some authors are incapable of having a woman throw up without it being a clue to a pregnancy. These same authors seem to think nausea is the only indication of childbearing, not to mention their belief that vomit shoots out the wo...

Haven by Claire Kent My rating: 1 of 5 stars Let’s get this review started with the best aspect of this novella: It’s short! And that’s a mercy because it tries to put a romance story into a post-apocalyptic world - and neither of these ideas actually works. The entire story felt forced, probably due to the length of this novella: the story never had a chance to develop and I feel very strongly that romance and apocalypse don’t really fit well together. Especially not when the author, who “ has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old ”, never progressed beyond that age writing-wise: Our heroine, Faith, shows her maturity by gratuitous use of the word “fuck”. All over the place. I don’t mind vulgarity, but if it’s just introduced for its real or perceived “shock value”, it quickly becomes annoying. Especially if, as is the case here, the writing is on an extremely “plain” level. Simple sentences, driving the mediocre story forward without any linguistic ...

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner My rating: 1 of 5 stars Oh, wow. This was… bad, really bad. I expected this to be fantasy while in fact this is a young-adult novel that feels like it was written by a teenager. Kissen (I’m sorry but as a German, I’m having a hard time with this name…), our queer, one-legged hero, goes on an adventure with a former knight, childhood friend of the king, a spoilt brat, Inara, from a noble house - a house that was literally burned down, including Inara’s beloved servants, and mother. Inara also has a pest problem, manifesting as a god (of white lies). Among that lies naive romance, attempted-coming-of-age, fantasy-lite and a looooong journey that drags and drags and… You get the gist. The writing is also mediocre at best and, even worse, errors abound: » Kissen wasn’t going to let him stupid that easily. « Thankfully, that was the most aggravating mistake but, still, a disgrace. I’m abandoning this at 70% to later slumber on my Kissen . One star ...

Murder in Tuscany by T.A. Williams My rating: 1 of 5 stars I came to this book knowing nothing about it. I’m leaving it unfinished at 50%, knowing I hate pretty much everything about it… First of all, it’s rare that I read a novel and can tell after 5% that the author is an old white man. Why, you ask? Well, the hero, a retired police detective, never stops lamenting about his estranged and soon-to-be ex-wife while at the same time never stopping to ogle and lust after other women. Always commenting on their bodies, never on anything else… » She had short hair and was wearing no make-up but didn’t need any. « How very generous of him! The hero also keeps assigning “funny” nicknames to everyone around him, e. g. “» Agatha (aka Marge Simpson) « or the housekeeper/valet whom he calls “ Dracula ”. Of course, he’d never say that to anyone’s face. Also, our hero is full of entitled self-pity and oh-so-funny remarks… » This is justifiably reputed to be one of the greatest work...

Toasty by Alexa Riley The plot in a nutshell: Caveman grabs a woman, deflowers her, and knocks her up in the process. Woman flees, caveman captures her again, woman turns out to love cavemen and especially this one. Lots of sex ensues, in-between woman tells caveman she’s pregnant. Caveman: “We would have had kids anyway!”. Two epilogues with escalating numbers of children and some more caveman behaviour. One star out of five. Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam View all my reviews https://turing.mailstation.de/toasty-cozy-2-by-alexa-riley/?feed_id=2902&_unique_id=65cca6f5a70b2

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami My rating: 1 of 5 stars Wow, this was bad, really bad. It starts with the reason for this novel’s popularity: It consists of 98% pure violence porn: We get to witness how about 40 15-year-old classmates from junior high school brutally murder each other. Actually, they’re more like slaughtering each other and through my reception of the text, I had the very unpleasant feeling of watching a violence-obsessed author act out his most revolting fantasies. Takami almost gleefully presents his sadistical ideas with excessive and gratuitous violence. While I presume the novel is meant to be a commentary on societal pressures and the dehumanising effects of violence, I felt that the graphic descriptions of bloodshed and gore were used purely for shock value and did little to further the plot or develop the characters. Speaking of which: The next percent is the characters displaying the character depth of a paramecium, a single-celled organism… Taka...