dlrosebyh's Reviews (773)

Let Me Hear a Rhyme

Tiffany D. Jackson

3.25

emotional medium-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

1998, Brooklyn. Things have altered, as Biggie Smalls predicted. But that doesn't mean Quadir and Jarrell are okay with leaving their best buddy Steph's music under his bed after he's murdered—especially because his lyrics could transform any Bed Stuy corner into a party.

They devise a strategy to market Steph's music under a new rap persona, the Architect, with the assistance of Steph's younger sister Jasmine. Everyone soon wants a piece of him. When a hotheaded music label rep notices his demo, the three must show Steph's skill from beyond the grave.

Quadir, Jarrell, and Jasmine are forced to confront the reality about what happened to Steph as the pressure to conceal their secret rises. Each, however, has something to hide. And, with everything hanging on Steph's popularity, they must decide what they stand for or risk losing all they've worked so hard to keep—including their other.

This is my first Tiffany D. Jackson novel, and while I didn't love it, I'm pleased I finally know what her writing style is like. The beginning was fascinating, but towards the middle, I had lost interest. It became extremely slow, which is one of my major pet peeves—inconsistent pacing. With that in mind, I downloaded the audiobook, and I wish I had done it sooner—it was so much better.

I became emotionally invested in the characters and their journey. Normally, I dislike novels with lyrics, but I like this one. As a huge music fan, I was quite interested in the musical components of the book, such as establishing a band, rehearsals, or the composing process— everything involving music piqued my attention.

Aside from the beginning, I really like the ending. It made me weep so hard, something I didn't anticipate given that I went into this book blind. I'm delighted I read this book, and I'm eager to read more by Tiffany D. Jackson.

Content Warnings

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khaled Hosseini

4.0

dark emotional sad medium-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

Mariam and Laila are two women pulled together by war, sorrow, and fate, despite being born a generation apart and having very different notions about love and family. As they survive the ever-increasing dangers surrounding them—both at home and on the streets of Kabul—they create a link that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will eventually change the trajectory of not just their own lives but the lives of future generations. Hosseini demonstrates how a woman's love for her family may motivate her to stunning and heroic acts of self-sacrifice, and how, in the end, love, or simply the memory of love, is frequently the route to survival.

There aren't enough words to describe this book. It's quite similar to The Kite Runner, but instead of a man's perspective, this story is about women in Afghanistan. Something Hosseini excels at is balancing his works' personalities and plots. He does such an excellent job of immersing you in the role that you feel like you are the character.

I really like this book, although it was heartbreaking. Isn't it a sad story with a nice ending? This tale transports you to a realm you could never have imagined. Although I thought the ending was a little hurried, it was still a pleasure to read.

Content Warnings

The Finisher

RuNyx

2.5

dark emotional 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: Yes

Alessandro "Alpha" Villanova, who grew up on the streets of Los Fortis, struggled to the top while battling for his life, losing everything in the process. He used to be despised by the city, but now he dominates it alone as the ruler of a secretive empire.

Zephyr de la Vega lives outside of Alpha's universe and has a typical life, family, and turmoil. People attempting to make her drop a few pounds are her biggest issue. She crosses his path by coincidence, and she offers a proposition that alters the direction of their lives.

Their collaboration develops into something deeper, more durable, and more powerful than any of them imagined when a killer goes on the rampage in Alpha's city, tearing apart his scarred empire body by corpse, and The Syndicate enters the picture.

Although I've heard this was the least favorite, the series is becoming less and less dull for me. I think I didn't truly know the characters well enough to assess them. I adore Zephyr without a doubt, but I can't even begin to think about Alpha. He was acting so casually. I adore some grumpy love interests, don't get me wrong, but Goddamn, sometimes I forget he's even in the book.

I didn't think anything happened in terms of the narrative until the mystery's continuance at the 80% mark. As I've already mentioned, Alpha's casual attitude contributed to the misunderstanding theme in the book. I probably enjoyed it less than the others since I detest this trope so much. I believe that, in contrast to Tristan Morana and Dante Mara, their romance appeared rushed and pushed for the purpose of the plot.

Content Warnings

Rebel of the Sands

Alwyn Hamilton

4.0

adventurous medium-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

The desert kingdom of Miraji is ruled by mortals, yet mythical creatures still prowl the untamed wastes and there are rumors that djinni still practice their magic. However, Dustwalk, the hopeless village that Amani can't wait to leave, is neither mysterious nor magical.

Amani is relying on her accurate shooting to get her out of Dustwalk since she is doomed to end up married or dead. She believes Jin, a mysterious and breathtakingly attractive foreigner she meets at a shooting competition, will be the ideal means of escape. The fugitive who is sought for treason is with her as they leave the ruthless Sultan's army, but in all the years she had dreamed of escaping her house, she had never envisioned herself galloping away on a legendary horse. And she never would have imagined falling in love with him— or that he'd assist her in discovering the strong reality of who she truly is.

I adored this book so much. I was first hesitant to read it since reviews were either negative or positive. If you know me, you are aware of my fondness for a good folklore novel. I devoured this book, and I love that it has a ton of folklore.

I automatically picture a seventeen-year-old youngster who is unaware of their talents when I think of young adult fantasy. They must defeat the antagonist who has been scheming like a criminal ever since, and then, boom, betrayal trope, and blah, blah, blah. But I really like this book since it wasn't your standard cliched YA fantasy. I adore political fantasy books, and this one was firmly rooted in politics. It held my attention so well that it was difficult for me to put the book down.

I don’t think the writing was all that fantastic, but it was tolerable. There was clearly unevenness in the pace. At first, I recall thinking, "This is a slow book." However, after that, the pace quickened. This was actually a fantastic start for a first novel. I can't wait to read the following novel in the series.

Content Warnings

The Iliad

Homer

3.75

Tales from the Café

Toshikazu Kawaguchi

3.25

emotional reflective medium-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

A café in a little back lane in Tokyo has been selling properly made coffee for more than a century. However, this coffee shop provides its patrons with a one-of-a-kind experience: the opportunity to journey back in time.

Tales from the Cafe, by the author of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, is a narrative about four new customers, each of whom hopes to take advantage of Cafe Funiculi Funicula's time-traveling offer.

Readers of Toshikazu Kawaguchi's previous novel will acknowledge the following characters: the man who returns to see his best friend who died 22 years ago, the son who was unable to attend his own mother's funeral, the man who traveled to see the girl he could not marry, and the old detective who never gave his wife a gift.

This lovely, straightforward novel talks about people who must confront their past in order to go on with their lives. Kawaguchi once again asks the reader to consider what they would alter if they could travel back in time.

I liked this book better than the last one. I was screaming, crying, and throwing up. My therapist will hear about this.

Content Warnings

The Emperor

RuNyx

3.5

dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Dante Maroni, heir of the infamous Tenebrae Outfit, has been trained since birth. He has learnt to hide his ruthlessness beneath his charm, his savagery under his suits, and his love for one lady behind his quiet as a silent rebel in the shadows. Dante finds knowledge that shatters his world and causes him to play a dangerous game while infiltrating the Syndicate responsible for the abducted children.

Amara, the housekeeper's daughter, has loved Dante for as long as she can remember. She loses herself, her life, and her home as she knows it when she is abducted and abused at the age of fifteen. Years later, she's regained some kind of normalcy until her world falls again, compelling her to enter the game.

Mysteries are being solved. Secrets are revealed. And their youthful love is replaced by a profound connection, power, and survival. The hesitant king and the unavoidable queen engage in a game.

This was decent, but not TristanMorana good, you know? I enjoyed DanteMara, but their novel didn't live up to the high standards set by TristanMorana. I enjoyed the childhood pals to lovers motif in this novel, but I found the first section to be somewhat dull. The following sections, on the other hand, were incredibly good—if the novel had been that constant in terms of quality, this would have gotten a 4 star.

Amara was the top-notch character in this novel in my opinion. Her point of view was very wonderful to read. She was never into a gang like Tristan, Morana, or Dante. She was such a sweet person until something occurred. Her struggle to find love, not only for Dante, her mother, or Morana, but especially for herself, made me cry. She was one of the most well-written characters I've ever read, given her strength and fortitude.

Content Warnings

The Reaper

RuNyx

4.5

emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Morana Vitalio had caught Tristan Caine off guard. He finds himself divided between his traumatic past and an uncertain future after spending his entire life with a commitment he violated on a rainy night. Is that all he knows? He still has control over her life.

The boundary between adversaries and comrades has blurred for Morana. Everything she ever treasured has crumbled, and the unknown stares her down, leaving her with both her freedom and her life on the line in enemy territory. What is the only thing she knows? His life has always been hers.

With twenty years of history connecting them, Tristan and Morana embark on their quest for the truth together. And they discover that the disappearance of the girls is only the tip of the iceberg.

Character and plot-wise, I believe The Predator maintains its high quality. I appreciated how the mystery factor kept me guessing. I was flying through this book and had to force myself to put it down or otherwise I'd miss the characters too much.

I still don't like RuNyx's writing style, but it has clearly improved. I liked this novel better than The Predator, as well as the epilogue. I think this is one of the greatest epilogues I've ever read. However, I think Tristan was overly possessive at times. But, other from that, I'm really enjoying this series so far and can't wait for Dante and Amara's book.

Content Warnings

The Predator

RuNyx

4.0

dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Tristan Caine has stood out in the murky underworld of the mob. He is a mystery to everyone because he is the only non-blooded person in the Tenebrae Outfit's inner circle, and he has morality that is debatable and unknown motivations. He is aware that he is dangerous.

As does Morana Vitalio, the daughter of the opposing family and a genius extraordinaire. Morana uses computers to do what Caine does with firearms. Infiltrating Caine's home with the intention of killing him as a mystery from twenty years prior resurfaces, Morana is not aware of the connection that ties them together. History, fire, and hatred collide with unanticipated sparks. But something more significant and detrimental is taking place in their world. And only they are capable of putting it down, despite their hostility.

I was quite pleased by this book in several ways. I didn't want to read this book since, to start with, I don't have any faith in Booktok. Not until some of my friends started reading it and truly enjoying it? I thought, "Perhaps this isn't as horrible as I thought." and I was entirely right. I love this book a lot.

Second, I'm not a fan of gloomy romances. I didn't read much other than the Made series. Even the idea of a writer romanticizing dark subjects makes me uncomfortable, yet when done well, I obviously dig it.

Thirdly, the cover didn't appeal to me. I do, in fact, judge a book by its cover. Really, who doesn't? I automatically presume a book is going to be poorly written if I don't like the cover. It’s fucked up, I know, but I think that high quality content ought to at least should have a lovely cover.

But even with those criticisms, I still adored the book. There is an unbearable amount of tension between Tristan and Morana. I can't recall the last time I read a novel with this much conflict between the characters. The bar was set so low that when the characters genuinely experienced stress, I was taken aback.

I believe RuNyx did a fantastic job creating them as characters. They're all very genuine, and I adore that they have mixed morals. I still have several unanswered plot-related questions, but I do hope the next book will address them. The writing style was the one aspect of this book that I didn't enjoy. I wasn't a great lover of it, and I'll be honest, because of that, I was intending to put this book aside. But, wow, I'm so pleased I forced myself to finish it.

Content Warnings

Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Toshikazu Kawaguchi

3.0

emotional reflective medium-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

Before the Coffee Gets Cold introduces us to four visitors, each of whom hopes to take advantage of the café's time-traveling offer in order to confront the man who abandoned them, receive a letter from their husband whose memory has been taken by early-onset Alzheimer's, see their sister one last time, and meet the daughter they never had the chance to meet.

However, the excursion into the past is not without danger: clients must sit in a certain seat, cannot leave the café, and must return to the present before the coffee becomes cold.

See, I wasn't as fascinated as I expected to be when I read this—but I'm contemplating giving it three points just for the second half because Goddamn did that portion bring tears to my eyes.

Content Warnings

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