pdxrachreads
@pdxrachreads.bsky.social
📖Bookworm | Lost in the world of words ✨
🐉Fantasy🧚♀️|🌹Romance💋|🔭Sci-Fi🚀
https://linktr.ee/pdxrachreads
Current Reads
📖 The Last Time I Wore A Dress
🎧 Clean Air
📱Dissolution
🐉Fantasy🧚♀️|🌹Romance💋|🔭Sci-Fi🚀
https://linktr.ee/pdxrachreads
Current Reads
📖 The Last Time I Wore A Dress
🎧 Clean Air
📱Dissolution
Overall, Skin Deep is a clever, character-driven mystery that feels both classic and contemporary. Perfect for readers who like unconventional detectives, offbeat settings, and mysteries that don’t play by the rules.
June 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Overall, Skin Deep is a clever, character-driven mystery that feels both classic and contemporary. Perfect for readers who like unconventional detectives, offbeat settings, and mysteries that don’t play by the rules.
I found the writing engaging & thoughtful, balancing suspense with emotional insight. Some plot twists require a suspension of disbelief, but the ride is entertaining enough that it’s easy to go along with it. The novel also touches lightly on deeper issues like race, adoption, & self-discovery
June 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I found the writing engaging & thoughtful, balancing suspense with emotional insight. Some plot twists require a suspension of disbelief, but the ride is entertaining enough that it’s easy to go along with it. The novel also touches lightly on deeper issues like race, adoption, & self-discovery
Siobhan is smart, sarcastic, & utterly relatable. Her sharp wit adds levity to an otherwise tense narrative, & her background gives a unique lens through which the story unfolds. The mystery is layered & steadily paced, with elements of noir, cultish intrigue, & commentary on identity and belonging.
June 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Siobhan is smart, sarcastic, & utterly relatable. Her sharp wit adds levity to an otherwise tense narrative, & her background gives a unique lens through which the story unfolds. The mystery is layered & steadily paced, with elements of noir, cultish intrigue, & commentary on identity and belonging.
Skin Deep is an original mystery that introduces us to Siobhan O’Brien, a Korean-American adoptee & PI navigating a case filled with secrets, deception, & identity. What starts as a simple missing persons case unfolds into something stranger and darker
June 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Skin Deep is an original mystery that introduces us to Siobhan O’Brien, a Korean-American adoptee & PI navigating a case filled with secrets, deception, & identity. What starts as a simple missing persons case unfolds into something stranger and darker
I had a great time with Lights Out! Definitely recommend if you like or want to test dark romance.
June 12, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I had a great time with Lights Out! Definitely recommend if you like or want to test dark romance.
This has been in my TBR for awhile! I really enjoyed the This Poison Heart duology by this author!
June 11, 2025 at 3:59 PM
This has been in my TBR for awhile! I really enjoyed the This Poison Heart duology by this author!
Conclusion
Chaos Beckons combines dark fantasy with profound emotional exploration. While it delves into heavy themes, the story maintains a sense of hope & the possibility of redemption. Recommended for readers drawn to fantasy that defies convention & probes the depths of the human mind & heart.
Chaos Beckons combines dark fantasy with profound emotional exploration. While it delves into heavy themes, the story maintains a sense of hope & the possibility of redemption. Recommended for readers drawn to fantasy that defies convention & probes the depths of the human mind & heart.
June 1, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Conclusion
Chaos Beckons combines dark fantasy with profound emotional exploration. While it delves into heavy themes, the story maintains a sense of hope & the possibility of redemption. Recommended for readers drawn to fantasy that defies convention & probes the depths of the human mind & heart.
Chaos Beckons combines dark fantasy with profound emotional exploration. While it delves into heavy themes, the story maintains a sense of hope & the possibility of redemption. Recommended for readers drawn to fantasy that defies convention & probes the depths of the human mind & heart.
Writing Style Note
The writing style does navigate between multiple character POVs which I personally always prefer be deliberately designated in the story and did make the reading a little confusing for me at times.
The writing style does navigate between multiple character POVs which I personally always prefer be deliberately designated in the story and did make the reading a little confusing for me at times.
June 1, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Writing Style Note
The writing style does navigate between multiple character POVs which I personally always prefer be deliberately designated in the story and did make the reading a little confusing for me at times.
The writing style does navigate between multiple character POVs which I personally always prefer be deliberately designated in the story and did make the reading a little confusing for me at times.
Setting
The world building is immersive & haunting. The village, with its oppressive doctrines, sets a contrast to the perilous world beyond its walls. The characters encounter a realm filled with ancient lore, magic, & intrigue. The settings are vividly described, enhancing the atmospheric tension
The world building is immersive & haunting. The village, with its oppressive doctrines, sets a contrast to the perilous world beyond its walls. The characters encounter a realm filled with ancient lore, magic, & intrigue. The settings are vividly described, enhancing the atmospheric tension
June 1, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Setting
The world building is immersive & haunting. The village, with its oppressive doctrines, sets a contrast to the perilous world beyond its walls. The characters encounter a realm filled with ancient lore, magic, & intrigue. The settings are vividly described, enhancing the atmospheric tension
The world building is immersive & haunting. The village, with its oppressive doctrines, sets a contrast to the perilous world beyond its walls. The characters encounter a realm filled with ancient lore, magic, & intrigue. The settings are vividly described, enhancing the atmospheric tension
Plot
The narrative unfolds at a deliberate pace, immersed in a world shrouded in mystery & dark secrets. While I found the start slow, the narrative expands, leading to unexpected twists & revelations. The plot intricately explores the characters’ past traumas and their impact on present choices.
The narrative unfolds at a deliberate pace, immersed in a world shrouded in mystery & dark secrets. While I found the start slow, the narrative expands, leading to unexpected twists & revelations. The plot intricately explores the characters’ past traumas and their impact on present choices.
June 1, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Plot
The narrative unfolds at a deliberate pace, immersed in a world shrouded in mystery & dark secrets. While I found the start slow, the narrative expands, leading to unexpected twists & revelations. The plot intricately explores the characters’ past traumas and their impact on present choices.
The narrative unfolds at a deliberate pace, immersed in a world shrouded in mystery & dark secrets. While I found the start slow, the narrative expands, leading to unexpected twists & revelations. The plot intricately explores the characters’ past traumas and their impact on present choices.
Characters
The cast is multifaceted. Nadia emerges as a fierce & determined protagonist, whose quest for autonomy resonates deeply. Venne captivates with his enigmatic presence & morally grey decisions. Emiil offers a quieter strength, his loyalty and internal struggles adding layers to the dynamic
The cast is multifaceted. Nadia emerges as a fierce & determined protagonist, whose quest for autonomy resonates deeply. Venne captivates with his enigmatic presence & morally grey decisions. Emiil offers a quieter strength, his loyalty and internal struggles adding layers to the dynamic
June 1, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Characters
The cast is multifaceted. Nadia emerges as a fierce & determined protagonist, whose quest for autonomy resonates deeply. Venne captivates with his enigmatic presence & morally grey decisions. Emiil offers a quieter strength, his loyalty and internal struggles adding layers to the dynamic
The cast is multifaceted. Nadia emerges as a fierce & determined protagonist, whose quest for autonomy resonates deeply. Venne captivates with his enigmatic presence & morally grey decisions. Emiil offers a quieter strength, his loyalty and internal struggles adding layers to the dynamic
Introduction
Chaos Beckons is a dark fantasy with themes of trauma, freedom & the complexities of human emotion. The story follows Nadia, determined to escape a cult-like village, accompanied by her betrothed, Venne & Emiil. Their journey weaves a narrative rich in emotional depth & moral ambiguity
Chaos Beckons is a dark fantasy with themes of trauma, freedom & the complexities of human emotion. The story follows Nadia, determined to escape a cult-like village, accompanied by her betrothed, Venne & Emiil. Their journey weaves a narrative rich in emotional depth & moral ambiguity
June 1, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Introduction
Chaos Beckons is a dark fantasy with themes of trauma, freedom & the complexities of human emotion. The story follows Nadia, determined to escape a cult-like village, accompanied by her betrothed, Venne & Emiil. Their journey weaves a narrative rich in emotional depth & moral ambiguity
Chaos Beckons is a dark fantasy with themes of trauma, freedom & the complexities of human emotion. The story follows Nadia, determined to escape a cult-like village, accompanied by her betrothed, Venne & Emiil. Their journey weaves a narrative rich in emotional depth & moral ambiguity
If you enjoy audiobooks, I definitely felt that the narration added to the story for me.
May 30, 2025 at 3:38 AM
If you enjoy audiobooks, I definitely felt that the narration added to the story for me.
Awww what a bummer! I read Ring Shout and absolutely loved it!!
May 30, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Awww what a bummer! I read Ring Shout and absolutely loved it!!
How disappointing! This one has been on my TBR for awhile, but seeing you say it lacks the dark academia of it all may remove it from that list for me.
May 27, 2025 at 11:23 PM
How disappointing! This one has been on my TBR for awhile, but seeing you say it lacks the dark academia of it all may remove it from that list for me.
Conclusion
Barker crafts a haunting, powerful reimagining of a mythic war that centers people history tried to forget. This is a novel about survival in the face of devastation, and about the strength it takes to endure when even your name is taken from you.
Barker crafts a haunting, powerful reimagining of a mythic war that centers people history tried to forget. This is a novel about survival in the face of devastation, and about the strength it takes to endure when even your name is taken from you.
May 27, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Conclusion
Barker crafts a haunting, powerful reimagining of a mythic war that centers people history tried to forget. This is a novel about survival in the face of devastation, and about the strength it takes to endure when even your name is taken from you.
Barker crafts a haunting, powerful reimagining of a mythic war that centers people history tried to forget. This is a novel about survival in the face of devastation, and about the strength it takes to endure when even your name is taken from you.
Prose & Writing Style
Barker’s prose is spare, modern, & unflinching. The brutality of war & the inner lives of the characters are conveyed with visceral detail and emotional restraint. The simplicity of the language never overexplains; trusting the reader to sit with discomfort, silence, & subtext.
Barker’s prose is spare, modern, & unflinching. The brutality of war & the inner lives of the characters are conveyed with visceral detail and emotional restraint. The simplicity of the language never overexplains; trusting the reader to sit with discomfort, silence, & subtext.
May 27, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Prose & Writing Style
Barker’s prose is spare, modern, & unflinching. The brutality of war & the inner lives of the characters are conveyed with visceral detail and emotional restraint. The simplicity of the language never overexplains; trusting the reader to sit with discomfort, silence, & subtext.
Barker’s prose is spare, modern, & unflinching. The brutality of war & the inner lives of the characters are conveyed with visceral detail and emotional restraint. The simplicity of the language never overexplains; trusting the reader to sit with discomfort, silence, & subtext.
Audiobook Narration
Kristin Atherton’s narration, supported by Michael Fox creates an immersive experience. It is emotive, subtle, and unyieldingly human. Atherton particularly amplifies the emotional weight of the novel.
Kristin Atherton’s narration, supported by Michael Fox creates an immersive experience. It is emotive, subtle, and unyieldingly human. Atherton particularly amplifies the emotional weight of the novel.
May 27, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Audiobook Narration
Kristin Atherton’s narration, supported by Michael Fox creates an immersive experience. It is emotive, subtle, and unyieldingly human. Atherton particularly amplifies the emotional weight of the novel.
Kristin Atherton’s narration, supported by Michael Fox creates an immersive experience. It is emotive, subtle, and unyieldingly human. Atherton particularly amplifies the emotional weight of the novel.
Theme - War & Trauma
Far from the glorified depictions in classic epics, this novel portrays war as a source of deep, lasting psychological trauma, especially for the women who are treated as part of the spoils.
Far from the glorified depictions in classic epics, this novel portrays war as a source of deep, lasting psychological trauma, especially for the women who are treated as part of the spoils.
May 27, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Theme - War & Trauma
Far from the glorified depictions in classic epics, this novel portrays war as a source of deep, lasting psychological trauma, especially for the women who are treated as part of the spoils.
Far from the glorified depictions in classic epics, this novel portrays war as a source of deep, lasting psychological trauma, especially for the women who are treated as part of the spoils.