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ashleyj_reads's Reviews (370)
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Decent, somewhat predictable, fun, and very spicy (consistent spice throughout - 3.5 peppers). Connection to characters is book 1 is better than other series I've read with similar style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Author's Craft is some of the best I've seen in a LONG time. Great character development and relationships!! Plot and unfolding of events is all clever, beautiful, and very well-timed.
A couple small minor character plot holes I wish had been given closure.
A couple small minor character plot holes I wish had been given closure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would never had thought that a young adult fantasy with fae could be told in a poetic style. This is beautiful and a must read for fantasy lovers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is labeled as YA, but I think it reads like a middle grade. It's excellent in its suspense and jump scares. While some things were predictable, enough of the climax and antagonist were not that I really can't say it's a cheesy read. But only if you read it fast! If you take your time, you'll definitely see all the things coming and it won't be as fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Abandonment
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love the dual timeline, dual narrator unraveling of this story. It's an interesting and thought-provoking approach to both true crime and women criminals.
I have to say that I have some lingering questions/feelings about some pieces of the story. However, because I was listening to the audiobook (with lots of distractions), it's very possible I missed bits and pieces throughout. The epilogue definitely left me wondering a couple things, and I do think that that was intentional on the author's part.
I have to say that I have some lingering questions/feelings about some pieces of the story. However, because I was listening to the audiobook (with lots of distractions), it's very possible I missed bits and pieces throughout. The epilogue definitely left me wondering a couple things, and I do think that that was intentional on the author's part.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Just before I started this book, a friend and I were talking about the differences between the Thriller and Horror genres. For me, the line between the two is very fine. This book is both.
The style of writing is really cool: it's two points of view (Mariella and Tessa), and the story is kind of told in two different timelines. The author uses flashbacks for the characters to piece together the puzzle.
I really like the connection to past events and the conversations the characters had about both past and present.
The style of writing is really cool: it's two points of view (Mariella and Tessa), and the story is kind of told in two different timelines. The author uses flashbacks for the characters to piece together the puzzle.
I really like the connection to past events and the conversations the characters had about both past and present.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Physical abuse, Stalking
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder
Minor: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking
The writing is absolutely brilliant. Not once did I correctly suspect the final outcome of this story.
A slow burn, but fast-paced read.
I'm looking forward to reading more from Matlin!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hazelwood never ceases to captivate; as always, the writing style is perfectly all encompassing of the topics and themes in the novel. Grief processing, self-discovery, multiple relationship dynamics, girl-hates-boy turned girl-loves-boy, and more.
I need to learn more about chess now, too.
I need to learn more about chess now, too.
