Dark, brooding, and quite violent given the time in which it was written. I didn't like any of the characters--finding them to have highly disagreeable personalities. However, there is a lot of talent in their creation...they have to be written well to make me dislike them. The POV for the book is interesting and uncommon, but it worked. The whole read was just okay for me. Overall I found it too tragic, without much to redeem it as enjoyable in terms of plot. Apparently it was just too much of a downer.

I continue to adore Kristoff's writing style. I find it engaging and humorous and it just seems to fit the world-building really well. There is a LOT of movement and action in this book and it didn't really fall into the sequel trap that so often turns middle books in a trilogy into info dumps. This book had a lot going for it.

There is a lot more introduction to the surrounding world in this installment and I enjoyed the nods to the "historical" relevance of these places. The action sequences are really well-written and the description makes it easy to fully visualize the scenes in my head. It's all quite vibrant. And, though things feel like they're moving really fast, I didn't get left behind at all.

I'm really enjoying the character development and saw great value in some of the added characters. I love being able to be inside their heads a little bit and watch the changes that are happening based on their different experiences.

The book ended on a pretty good cliffhanger, so I'm excited to see where it goes now.

While I went into this book thinking it would be a reflection on current culture and the things that need to be changed with regard to racial conflict, it was instead a strange blend of biography, self-help and history textbook. That's not to say that there isn't good information in the text. There are definitely helpful tidbits and things that made me do a little bit of realization and contemplation. My lack of success with this read will not stop me from attempting to read Kendi's other works as I feel he has a lot of insight to offer.

However, the thing that led me to reduce my rating was primarily the lack of accessibility. The book was a bit dense to wade through. It had a thick academic feel, making it harder to connect with. I stuck through to the end, but I would hazard to guess that many individuals walk away before coming to what I felt were the most impactful pages...the last couple of chapters. I wish it had been written with a more reader-friendly approach.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

I love a good circus read. I don't know what it is, but a circus setting will get me every time. In all honesty, just that atmosphere will add on an additional rating star for me. I also like WWII historical fiction, so this book was a perfect fit.

The historical content is good with some wonderful little details. The writing was flowing and engaging with great detail in terms of setting and action.

I loved the characters, though I felt that Michel could have been explored a little more. Something about him felt a bit more like telling rather than showing, as if we weren't really able to see inside him fully. I also would've liked more fleshing out of the interpersonal relationships. Those seemed to somewhat scratch the surface and I wanted more. I like to be fully immersed.

This was certainly something different in terms of merging two different types of storylines and I really appreciated that originality. I also liked that it was loosely based on a historical act. A good read with a bit of a surprising ending...which I liked.

4.5 stars.

This was my first Riley Sager read and I have to say that I really enjoyed myself. I'm a sucker for a gothic novel and this one had a great atmosphere with lots of creepy vibes and great gothic nods. Something about the characters also made things read a little like Clue, which I found entertaining.

I will admit that sometimes Jules felt unrealistic, but I really didn't care because I was having so much fun with the writing and the action. There are a couple of good twists and, while I sort of figured out the villain early on, I was still surprised by a few of the concluding pieces. It was a quick and gripping read and I didn't want to put it down. All in all, I just had a great time.

3.5 stars.

This rating is benefiting from nostalgia, as I love the movie. It is the rare case where the movie is better than the book. The bones of the story were there, but it just perpetually felt like something was missing. The characters had good detail and development, the plot moved in a way that made sense, and the writing was easy to fall into. Pacing did feel like a bit of a problem, as some pieces moved along too quickly so that it felt like the story was skimming the surface despite some good, descriptive writing. This was particularly true of the ending. The aunts were odd side characters throughout the narrative, but suddenly appeared and that event felt rushed and underdeveloped. The ending wrapped up very quickly and didn't have as much of a magical feel as I wanted. There was also some unnecessary crudeness in the writing that felt out of place and pulled me out of the story. I'm not a prude and don't mind language and sexual connotation if it makes sense for the plot, but these pieces just felt gratuitous. An okay read, but I'd rather watch the movie any day.

Reality meets fiction and the two intertwine. Mix in a few stories within a story within THE story, add some beautifully lyrical writing, and you have a hint to the feel of The Starless Sea.

Amazingly imaginative and unique--a modern fairy tale. Beautifully intricate with a mystery whose pieces slowly and abstractly fall into place. A heavily atmospheric read with great world-building and a story I didn't want to leave.

There is so much packed into this read that I still don't understand it all and will need a reread soon.

4.5 stars.

I am not a regular reader of women's fiction (or chick lit or contemporary romance...whatever you want to label it as), but I had been overwhelmed by the hype surrounding this book, so I had to try it out. I was pleasantly surprised. I don't know what it was about this in particular, but I LOVE Emily Henry's writing style. It's smart and quippy and her characters are...tangible. There were still moments that felt uncomfortable for my tastes, but overall I had a great time. There was much more depth and character development than I expected, making this book feel a little more like it leaned toward the "contemporary" side of "contemporary romance".

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

Dark, creepy, and super mysterious. This one was a weird read and I really enjoyed it. Fantastically gothic, including the setting of a crumbling and secluded school and a main character who appears to be a morally gray outsider.

The setup for the school is unique and on the edge of having an evil feel and I loved it. Catherine is withering and full of odd corridors. The courses are a mix of traditional and oddly particular (i.e. Japanese Prints). The dean gives off spooky vibes and the mystery surrounding the students' progress through the program, where they are not allowed to leave or have any contact with the outside world, is continuously and progressively creepy.

The writing is fully immersive, bringing forth such sensory detail that I felt pulled in and surrounded by the book. It is blunt, but at the same time secretive due to limited narration. The present is described wonderfully in terms of surrounding, but the approach is as if you are alongside the main character, only knowing what you're given. Ines is mysterious in herself and the vagueness of her history tugged at me for the entire read. I wanted to know more, but information was doled out in small pieces. This admittedly left me wanting, but was a fantastic device for keeping me hooked.

I could have used more character development and perhaps a deeper view into the mysteries of the school itself, but overall I had a great time being taken through this weird and ominous world. The ending was moderately satisfying, but unfortunately somewhat underwhelming. Absolutely worth the read, potentially worth a reread in order to see what little bits I didn't pick up on my first time through.

4.5 stars. I actually enjoyed this prequel better than the original book (Practical Magic). The writing felt much more mature and lyrical and I just found myself getting lost in the story. The characters are really explored well, especially Franny, and I liked the multiple POV approach. There are a lot of magical tidbits sprinkled throughout the narrative, which is totally my jam and made me super happy. I also appreciated the attention to detail in how much historical information was woven into the plot. The inclusion of these events and pieces of historical knowledge added depth, realism, and really created a great atmosphere. I very much enjoyed this story and I'm SO glad I read it.