1.84k reviews by:

caseythereader

adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Thanks to William Morrow Books for the free advance copy of this book.

 - Oh my goodness, what didn't I love about INK BLOOD SISTER SCRIBE. Magical books! Secret organizations! Twisty plot turns, not knowing who to trust! Normalized queerness! An adorable pomeranian!
- I felt fully immersed in this secret, dark world that these characters inhabit, and was on the edge of my seat rooting for them to succeed in their quest.
- It reminded me a bit of a more adult SORCERY OF THORNS, which is exactly my jam. Honestly, I'm a bit sad this is a standalone book, but I'll be keeping my eye on what Törzs does next for sure. 

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emotional funny hopeful 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: No

Thanks to Libro FM for the free copy of this book.

 - FORGET ME NOT is a delicious second chance romance told through a dual timeline, with the woman's chapters in the present day and the man's chapters in the past, recalling their relationship and breakup.
- I listened to the audiobook, and while the performances were good, the male narrator was a bit too committed to being the grumpy in the grumpy/sunshine, often sounding like he was rolling his eyes at the end of every sentence, even during spicy scenes the character was clearly into.
- Aside from that, this is was lovely, tender story of two people finding their way back to each other, all while surrounded by excellent supporting characters.
- Plus, I won't give away the ending, but I loved it and how it broke the mold. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous emotional funny hopeful tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thanks to Flux Books for the free advance copy of this book.

 - I am so happy to be back in the vibrant cyberpunk world of this series. CITY OF VICIOUS NIGHT picks up shortly after the end CITY OF SHATTERED LIGHT, and right away our crew is fighting for their lives and their loves again.
- I won't talk too much plot since I don't want to give away the first book. But if you love queer found families, prickly women, edge of your seat battles, and new love, these books are a must.
- It was also great to get a wider view of the world in this installment, as we learn more about the matriarch system on Requiem as well as more about characters who weren't central in the first book. There's space at the end for more sequels, so this is me begging Flux for more of this ragtag crew! 

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hopeful informative fast-paced

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thanks to Bloomsbury for the free advance copy of this book.

 - GLASSWORKS is the novel for those of us who love a generation-spanning novel, but always wish they were more queer.
- The writing in this book is gorgeous, and yet it's still quite readable, keeping you turning the pages to find out where everyone's choices lead them. I'm hesitant to discuss any details, not so much for spoilers but because I want everyone to experience this story fully and on their own time.
- This book is going to draw many comparisons to THE GREAT BELIEVERS, and I agree. It doesn't have quite the same emotional punch, but it's a similar in that it's a tale of intimate, personal stories building across decades. 

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Thanks to Vintage Books for the free advance copy of this book.

 - I'm gonna be honest here, it's completely impossible for me to write any real review of a Samantha Irby book. I've been reading her writing for 15 years, going back to discovering her Bitches Gotta Eat blog while rotting away at my first horrible job after college. I will always adore everything she writes.
- What struck me most about this book has been this: it's a joy to grow up alongside Irby's writing. She and I have almost nothing in common, but I've been right there with her the whole time, from being a confused twentysomething to a confused nearly fortysomething. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the free advance copy of this book.

 - Please allow me to do some queer screaming about THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD ENDS! Multiple queer characters from different backgrounds! Multiple characters with varying visible and invisible disabilities! A twisty story in an opulent setting with some real heartbreaking and heart-filling moments!
- If you can't tell, I really loved this one. I blew through it in a single night, absolutely loving Waverly and her friends. I am a big fan of how Wilde used this over the top story to make real world points about capitalism, ableism, classism, and more. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous emotional mysterious 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: No

Thanks to Macmillan for the free advance copy of this book.

 - I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE DARK is a little bit creepy and a little bit romantic, and set in a fantastic world of old secrets and beautifully described magic.
- The writing in this book is lovely - great descriptions of the paranormal elements and also the complicated emotions Aria feels throughout.
- For me, the kids took a little too long to take the problems to the adults who clearly had all the answers. But the ending makes it seem like there might be a sequel on the way, and I'll definitely be checking it out. 

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