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danadoesbooks's Reviews (954)
**I usually try to keep my reviews spoiler free, but it is difficult to write about the second book in the series without spoiling parts of the first one.**
After the events Under the Mountain in A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre is struggling to adapt to her new life. I did not like Feyre in the beginning of this book. She was missing her self-preservation and her passion that she had throughout the first book. While understandable based on what she went through, it did not make for an exciting read. After about 200 pages, she finally begins to act like her old self again and the book picked up after that.
My favorite part of A Court of Mist and Fury was being able to see more of the courts. While the world is introduced in A Court of Thorns and Roses, the second book in the series develops these courts in much more detail as Feyre visits them.
After all that is revealed in ACOMAF, it is difficult to like Tamlin at all anymore. I was never a huge fan of his to begin with, but after Rhysand tells Feyre parts of their shared past, it is another reason to dislike him. Although I like Rhysand, it is tough to completely forget how he drugged Feyre every night Under the Mountain.
For most of this book, I could not figure out why people say that this one was their favorite. While there were parts that I liked about it, I found myself thinking about how much I liked the first one better. And then the last 50 pages of ACOMAF happened. It seems silly to tell someone to read 500+ pages just for 50 pages at the end, but my head was spinning at the end of the book. I thought I was going to take a break before reading the third one, but now I'm not entirely sure I can do that.
A question that is still burning in my mind is: How is this considered YA?
After the events Under the Mountain in A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre is struggling to adapt to her new life. I did not like Feyre in the beginning of this book. She was missing her self-preservation and her passion that she had throughout the first book. While understandable based on what she went through, it did not make for an exciting read. After about 200 pages, she finally begins to act like her old self again and the book picked up after that.
My favorite part of A Court of Mist and Fury was being able to see more of the courts. While the world is introduced in A Court of Thorns and Roses, the second book in the series develops these courts in much more detail as Feyre visits them.
After all that is revealed in ACOMAF, it is difficult to like Tamlin at all anymore. I was never a huge fan of his to begin with, but after Rhysand tells Feyre parts of their shared past, it is another reason to dislike him. Although I like Rhysand, it is tough to completely forget how he drugged Feyre every night Under the Mountain.
For most of this book, I could not figure out why people say that this one was their favorite. While there were parts that I liked about it, I found myself thinking about how much I liked the first one better. And then the last 50 pages of ACOMAF happened. It seems silly to tell someone to read 500+ pages just for 50 pages at the end, but my head was spinning at the end of the book. I thought I was going to take a break before reading the third one, but now I'm not entirely sure I can do that.
A question that is still burning in my mind is: How is this considered YA?
In The Badass Librarians of Timbuktu, Abdel Kader Haidara is trying to locate the illuminated manuscripts throughout the Sahara Desert before they are destroyed. Haidara's hope is to celebrate the rich culture that Timbuktu was once famous for before the manuscripts are destroyed.
In full honesty, I wanted to read this book solely for the title. Although Haidara's mission is dangerous and exciting, much of the book focuses on the political and historical context. I'm glad I listened to it as an audiobook because of these denser sections, but I also like how much context the author gave. I did not know much about the history of Mali so having this information allowed me to better understand what Haidara was up against.
In full honesty, I wanted to read this book solely for the title. Although Haidara's mission is dangerous and exciting, much of the book focuses on the political and historical context. I'm glad I listened to it as an audiobook because of these denser sections, but I also like how much context the author gave. I did not know much about the history of Mali so having this information allowed me to better understand what Haidara was up against.
At the most simplistic level, The Joy Luck Club is about mothers and daughters. It takes the loss of one of the mothers for her daughter to realize that she didn't really know her. Each chapter gives one of the seven women a chance to tell the most defining moments in her life.
The contrast in the perspectives also show the divide among these mothers and daughters. The mothers's stories are split between their lives in China and their lives in America. Many of them focus on how American their daughters are and how they are losing their Chinese heritage. In contrast, the daughters can be dismissive of their mothers's teachings and philosophies.
I always love a book that is told from multiple points of view and it was beautifully done in The Joy Luck Club. I felt like I really got to know each of the characters as she narrated her own story, especially since the stories focused on significant moments in their lives. It was also interesting to see how the characters viewed each other.
The contrast in the perspectives also show the divide among these mothers and daughters. The mothers's stories are split between their lives in China and their lives in America. Many of them focus on how American their daughters are and how they are losing their Chinese heritage. In contrast, the daughters can be dismissive of their mothers's teachings and philosophies.
I always love a book that is told from multiple points of view and it was beautifully done in The Joy Luck Club. I felt like I really got to know each of the characters as she narrated her own story, especially since the stories focused on significant moments in their lives. It was also interesting to see how the characters viewed each other.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley, and the author for the review copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
As the first book in the Jane Doe Book Club mystery series, On Borrowed Crime provides an introduction to the town of Sweet Mountain Georgia and its residents. When one of the women in the Jane Doe book club begins to look into real-life Jane Does found in the area, Lyla Moody finds herself pulled into a mystery right out of one of their book club reads.
This was an entertaining, quick mystery. There were enough clues and red herrings to keep me invested in the mystery while I read. However, there was one thing that bothered me about this book. The Jane Doe Book Club chose And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie as their book so it is referenced quite a bit. I really liked that the author chose such a classic mystery to reference, but the ending is spoiled multiple times. While it was a way to weave the book club pick into the mystery itself, the murderer in Christie’s mystery is identified more than once. There could have been a way to use it without spoiling it, especially since people may want to read And Then There Were None after finishing On Borrowed Crime.
As the first book in the Jane Doe Book Club mystery series, On Borrowed Crime provides an introduction to the town of Sweet Mountain Georgia and its residents. When one of the women in the Jane Doe book club begins to look into real-life Jane Does found in the area, Lyla Moody finds herself pulled into a mystery right out of one of their book club reads.
This was an entertaining, quick mystery. There were enough clues and red herrings to keep me invested in the mystery while I read. However, there was one thing that bothered me about this book. The Jane Doe Book Club chose And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie as their book so it is referenced quite a bit. I really liked that the author chose such a classic mystery to reference, but the ending is spoiled multiple times. While it was a way to weave the book club pick into the mystery itself, the murderer in Christie’s mystery is identified more than once. There could have been a way to use it without spoiling it, especially since people may want to read And Then There Were None after finishing On Borrowed Crime.
Thank you to Running Press, Forever, and the author for the review copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
A Field Guide to Internet Boyfriends was such a fun read! In the opening pages of the book, there are some important terms that are defined and a quiz to find out who your internet boyfriend is. The rest of the book focuses on the internet boyfriend (and some internet girlfriends) individually. Each celebrity is given a short profile describing their rise to internet boyfriend/girlfriend status and their lasting appeal. A Field Guide to Internet Boyfriends would make a great gift!
A Field Guide to Internet Boyfriends was such a fun read! In the opening pages of the book, there are some important terms that are defined and a quiz to find out who your internet boyfriend is. The rest of the book focuses on the internet boyfriend (and some internet girlfriends) individually. Each celebrity is given a short profile describing their rise to internet boyfriend/girlfriend status and their lasting appeal. A Field Guide to Internet Boyfriends would make a great gift!
Bree Matthews is ready to leave the past behind her as she starts the Early College program at UNC - Chapel Hill. She attends a party her first night on campus and sees a magical demon feeding on human aggression. When a "Merlin" tries to wipe her memory, Bree is able to fight it off. She realizes that it is the same feeling she had when the cop was telling her that her mom had died in a car accident. Bree's new mission is to get closer to this "Merlin" and the rest of his order to find out more. Was her mother's death truly an accident?
I had heard good things about Legendborn but I didn't realize it is a reimagining of Arthurian Legend. At the time I was running out of new Merlin episodes to watch so I wanted to read something based on the same legends. However, Legendborn is so much more than an Arthurian reimagining. There is so much more than just the plot in this book and even at the most basic level, the plot is phenomenal. The author includes so much about the history of our country, rootcraft, and grief, which she details in the Author's Note at the back of the book.
I love the representation in Legendborn because it feels authentic. On many occasions, Bree must confront her feelings attending a school that was built by slaves and being the only Black member of The Order. There are also other details like the way Bree cares for her hair that are seemlessly woven into the story. The author also includes Greer, a character who identifies using they/them pronouns, and Gillian, who has a prosthetic leg. The diversity feels genuine because these aspects are only a part of the fully developed character.
Legendborn is definitely a favorite book and may even be my favorite book of 2020. Don't mind me as I continue to recommend this book to everyone in the next few months.
I had heard good things about Legendborn but I didn't realize it is a reimagining of Arthurian Legend. At the time I was running out of new Merlin episodes to watch so I wanted to read something based on the same legends. However, Legendborn is so much more than an Arthurian reimagining. There is so much more than just the plot in this book and even at the most basic level, the plot is phenomenal. The author includes so much about the history of our country, rootcraft, and grief, which she details in the Author's Note at the back of the book.
I love the representation in Legendborn because it feels authentic. On many occasions, Bree must confront her feelings attending a school that was built by slaves and being the only Black member of The Order. There are also other details like the way Bree cares for her hair that are seemlessly woven into the story. The author also includes Greer, a character who identifies using they/them pronouns, and Gillian, who has a prosthetic leg. The diversity feels genuine because these aspects are only a part of the fully developed character.
Legendborn is definitely a favorite book and may even be my favorite book of 2020. Don't mind me as I continue to recommend this book to everyone in the next few months.
Finale is the final book in the Caraval trilogy, however, it feels more like the final book in a duology with Legendary. While all three books are connected, Finale concludes the story started in Legendary.
As I expressed before, I loved Caraval but found Legendary just okay. Although I liked reading more about these characters, I feel similarly about Finale. I'm glad the story was concluded but I would have also been fine with Caraval being a standalone novel.
I still recommend Caraval. While the rest of the series is not necessarily a disappointment, it is not as a gripping as the first book.
As I expressed before, I loved Caraval but found Legendary just okay. Although I liked reading more about these characters, I feel similarly about Finale. I'm glad the story was concluded but I would have also been fine with Caraval being a standalone novel.
I still recommend Caraval. While the rest of the series is not necessarily a disappointment, it is not as a gripping as the first book.
On her first day of law school, Kailyn runs smack into a man. As she is trying to detangle herself from him, she realizes it is her teenage celebrity crush, Daxton. She fangirls for a moment before becoming super embarrassed and runs off for her class, only to realize he is in her program.
Eight years later, Kailyn is helping Dax's parents set up a trust for his sister. When they both die in a tragic car accident, Dax assumes guardianship for his teenage sister. As she helps Dax with his custody case, they grow closer. Kailyn's boss will promote her to partner if she can get Dax to work at their firm, but maybe Kailyn is starting to put other priorities before work.
I had been reading heavy, emotional books lately, so I figured a light romantic comedy from Forever would be a perfect break. Meet Cute is so much more than that! At its core, it is a romance novel, but it explores grief and the struggle of raising a teenager.
The only thing I didn't like was that Dax was a celebrity and Kailyn continued to purchase memorabilia when they were together. I like the idea of her getting to meet her teenage celebrity crush, but it was weird that she continued to wear shirts with his face on them.
Overall, this is a great romance that deals with some heavier topics. I recommend if you like the single parent trope!
Eight years later, Kailyn is helping Dax's parents set up a trust for his sister. When they both die in a tragic car accident, Dax assumes guardianship for his teenage sister. As she helps Dax with his custody case, they grow closer. Kailyn's boss will promote her to partner if she can get Dax to work at their firm, but maybe Kailyn is starting to put other priorities before work.
I had been reading heavy, emotional books lately, so I figured a light romantic comedy from Forever would be a perfect break. Meet Cute is so much more than that! At its core, it is a romance novel, but it explores grief and the struggle of raising a teenager.
The only thing I didn't like was that Dax was a celebrity and Kailyn continued to purchase memorabilia when they were together. I like the idea of her getting to meet her teenage celebrity crush, but it was weird that she continued to wear shirts with his face on them.
Overall, this is a great romance that deals with some heavier topics. I recommend if you like the single parent trope!
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley (@netgalley), and the author for the review copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
Holly lives in a suburban mansion with her three kids and her husband, Jack. Jessica just relocated to Chicago to live with her boyfriend, Jon. After meeting in a hotel bar, Lark tries to make a long-distance relationship work with Trip while she is living in Los Angeles. The only problem is that Jack, Jon, and Trip are all the same man.
I am actually kind of surprised how much I enjoyed The Three Mrs. Wrights. While the ending is predictable, I found that this book is still able to offer some twists to keep the reader hooked. It is amazing how daring Jack/Jon/Trip is at some points in the book. He makes some decisions that had me wondering how he ever thought things were going to work out. Overall, The Three Mrs. Wrights is a light, engaging read!
Holly lives in a suburban mansion with her three kids and her husband, Jack. Jessica just relocated to Chicago to live with her boyfriend, Jon. After meeting in a hotel bar, Lark tries to make a long-distance relationship work with Trip while she is living in Los Angeles. The only problem is that Jack, Jon, and Trip are all the same man.
I am actually kind of surprised how much I enjoyed The Three Mrs. Wrights. While the ending is predictable, I found that this book is still able to offer some twists to keep the reader hooked. It is amazing how daring Jack/Jon/Trip is at some points in the book. He makes some decisions that had me wondering how he ever thought things were going to work out. Overall, The Three Mrs. Wrights is a light, engaging read!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, Forever, and the author for the review copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
Set in 1865, Lady Katherine Boscomb starts a column with her friend to warn the women of London about the recent murders. With a murderer on the loose, Kate wants to make sure she's reporting factual information. This leads her to Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham's crime scene. As the danger increases, so does Kate's attraction to Andrew.
This was my first Manda Collins book and I loved it! The blend of mystery and romance set against the backdrop of 19th century England was exciting! The mystery is well-planned out and the romance helps to elevate the tension. I am looking forward to reading the sequel!
Set in 1865, Lady Katherine Boscomb starts a column with her friend to warn the women of London about the recent murders. With a murderer on the loose, Kate wants to make sure she's reporting factual information. This leads her to Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham's crime scene. As the danger increases, so does Kate's attraction to Andrew.
This was my first Manda Collins book and I loved it! The blend of mystery and romance set against the backdrop of 19th century England was exciting! The mystery is well-planned out and the romance helps to elevate the tension. I am looking forward to reading the sequel!