blewballoon's Reviews (763)

I really enjoyed this! I only found out about it because I had seen the sequel in a book store, and then I only read it because it fulfilled my "Q" prompt for a challenge where I was trying to read books with titles for every letter of the alphabet. The plot is pretty interesting, with a few twists, and the romance actually feels very healthy and natural. The tension comes from external factors rather than miscommunication, the two male leads actually communicate very well and have a good understanding of each other. It was quite refreshing! The side characters are also charming and have clear personalities. If you're looking for a mlm historical romance, I highly recommend this one. I'll definitely be reading the sequel.

There were a lot of things I liked about this book. I liked the reflections on death, grief, and different cultural and historical practices about those subjects. In some ways I could empathize with Clover, but sometimes I found her solitude strayed too far into rudeness and I had a harder time rooting for her. Mild spoilers:

More than half of the book is spent painting her as a lonely person who avoids people and risks, and reflecting on her memories of the past that are either bittersweet or just reminders of why she prefers not to engage with anyone. I wish more of the book had been showing her gradual emergence from her shell and embracing connections with people and the present. Instead, it felt like the book suffered from ending fatigue as it dealt with these changes briefly and sequentially in a montage-like way.

Heavy spoilers:

I was very glad she didn't end up with Sebastian, and that was refreshing. Hugo pops in suddenly being absolutely perfect, and that's fine, but I wish it hadn't been so sudden? A little too insta-lovey. I also like that the book didn't imply that getting with Hugo was the sole way to open up Clover's life, she had other things she wanted to do, and getting to know him was one of them.

I grabbed this book based solely on the cover and title, and it was everything I hoped it would be and more. It's funny and touching, and one of those books that highlights the goodness of humanity while acknowledging the flaws of people and struggles they face. I loved the train gang. I listened on audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job. 

This was even better than I expected! Such a well written, compelling story. I went in pretty much blind and I definitely recommend reading it that way, the suspense and unraveling of information is great. I listened to this on audiobook that had some soundtrack music and sound effects, which was also expertly done. The narrator was perfect, and the added music and sounds were subtle and added tension and atmosphere. I would have given it 5 stars if it weren't for

The army guy's having unpleasant fixations on sexualizing women. I really hated reading those parts, they added nothing to the plot and made the characters voicing them seem excessively stupid.

I had a hard time with the first half of the book. It reads very much like a fairy tale, and I found it hard to connect with the characters despite the multiple points of view, because it felt like there was more focus on plot than character. Towards the end though, it became a lot more compelling and I really enjoyed watching all the plot threads weave together into the ending. It's a very a well crafted story, I just wish I could have felt more connection with the characters sooner. While the story is dark, it never crossed the line for me to where I'd be too uncomfortable, but please check the content warnings. 

I was really excited for this book. I loved the idea of the setting and something a little spooky going on with some crows and maybe a murder mystery. It wasn't what I expected, the tone is pretty bleak and grim throughout and the mysteries stay mysteries without much concrete resolution. I do think the ending is okay and that helps, but overall my time reading the book was unpleasant. The characters have suffered a lot in the past and aren't doing so hot in the current timeline either, and that's just the way it goes really. A lot of reflection on "the war", but without much detail. A lot of reflection on loss, grief, and guilt from multiple characters. The things that happen during the course of the story are confusing and painful most of the time, up until the end. I almost DNF'd towards the beginning of the book because

There is an awful scene of animal death where a character graphically beats one of the crow creatures (presumed to be supernatural, but that didn't help) to death with a rock. Shortly after this, one of the male characters tries to sexually assault the main female character. Things don't really pick up from there.

I'm not sure it was worth continuing, honestly. If you like depressing books and the idea of a small island town with lots of sad people and some weird crows thrown in that may or may not be a metaphor for grief and suffering, you will probably like this?

This was a lot of fun! I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator was excellent. I was expecting a typical murder mystery, but this is a lot more adventurous with many different escapades for Veronica and the various characters she met along the way. I'll definitely be continuing with the series. Veronica is a likable protagonist for a mystery series, she's highly capable but isn't always right.

A fun yet spooky horror story with a small cast of interesting and lovable characters. I enjoyed the relationship between the main character, Sam, and her mother and brother. I think the small neighborhood type setting fit the type of horror going on very well. I also had a good time learning so much about bugs and plants! T. Kingfisher always works for me, it felt like a breath of fresh air to be reading one of their books again.

I was amused by the Chekov's Doily. I did have a few questions that went unanswered, like what changed in the last year that caused the grandmother to get more dramatic with her haunting? It's possible the info is there but I missed it and didn't put it together.

I know it's kind of the point, but I had such a hard time with the main character. Usually I find the supporting characters in Alexis Hall books feel very engaging and fleshed out, but I didn't feel that enough here, and it was more missed because Paris himself was tough to connect with. Still a good book and a fun series, but not my favorite entry.