_lia_reads_'s Reviews (757)

Shadow and Bone

Leigh Bardugo

4.75

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Kink: Stories

Garth Greenwell, R.O. Kwon

4.0

challenging dark medium-paced

Content Warnings

A Torch Against the Night

Sabaa Tahir

5.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Paris Library

Janet Skeslien Charles

2.5

hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

There are so many books out there about Paris during WWII and this one honestly felt exactly like all of the other ones I’ve read. Yes, it was interesting to read about the American Library and it kept running during the war, but boy I’m impressed that a book about WWII could be so uneventful. I understand that the author based this on a true story but I wish she has embellished it a bit more. Also, all the characters collaborating with the Nazis was not handled well. The story acknowledges that the Nazis were bad but i was surprised at the lack of consequences, or even discussion about any of this. It happened, it was acknowledged briefly, and then everyone moved on.

With the title and setting, I was excited for a new look on Paris during WWII, and instead got more of the same tropes.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Content Warnings