kathispathi's Reviews (112)

I had high hopes for this one—the concept sounded amazing, but unfortunately, the execution left me disappointed. 😕  

📖 The Good: The idea of magical maps and a city steeped in mystery had so much potential. The premise was intriguing and unique.  

💭 The Not-So-Good:
- The writing didn’t draw me in, and I found myself getting bored.  
- The magic system felt underwhelming and lacked depth. 🪄  
- The description was misleading—she doesn’t team up with an “enemy,” just a boy she barely knows. 🤷‍♀️  
- I couldn’t connect with the characters, and many relationships felt underdeveloped. For example, why mention siblings if they don’t play a role? And Siya’s thoughts on magic seemed inconsistent at times.  

👧 Siya as a Protagonist: I struggled to pin down her age—working as a clerk made me think she’d be older, but her behavior felt childish and quite naive. It lacked the complexity I’d expect from a YA protagonist.  

⚖️ Overall, this felt like a book aimed at a younger audience, even compared to other YA novels. Maybe I’m just getting too old for this type of fantasy? 🤔  

The narrator also didn't do such a good job with the "bad guys" 

 **What I enjoyed:**  
- The old murder conviction plotline was gripping and kept me hooked.  
- Every single scene with *The Lincoln Lawyer*—makes me want to read that novel soon!  

**What didn’t work for me:**  
- The opioid trafficking storyline felt over-the-top and unrealistic, with too much action for my taste.  
- Some interactions between Bosch and women gave off vibes that made it clear the book was written by a man—those moments felt a bit off.

I really enjoyed 'How to Solve Your Own Murder'. The story was clever with great twists, and I found the characters both interesting and relatable. The dual timelines kept things engaging, and I loved piecing everything together alongside the investigation. I’m definitely excited to read the sequel and see where the story goes next!

I was surprised by some scenes that felt more 'adult' than I had anticipated (there are definitely some content warnings), with moments of unexpected gruesomeness that stood out. Additionally, parts of the second half leaned a bit too far into the fantastical for my taste, which occasionally pulled me out of the narrative. That said, the book’s blend of intrigue, action, and emotional depth made it a satisfying read, and I loved reading more about demons.

****Fourth Wing critique points with potential spoilers ****

1. Vocabulary/ phrases were really repetitive (he smirks, his jaw clenches, his eyes darken etc)
2. Themes were really repetitive, especially in the first half of the book: she is weak - she manages to overpower the situation. She is nothing special - she is very special. She thinks Xaden wants her dead - he actually helps her but she repeats that she can't trust him. This was going round in circles.
3. I get that the school is brutal, but everyone constantly dieing makes me not care about anybody dieing as I don't have any emotional attachment to the characters. And I also find it 'unrealistic' / unreasonable that the school / the officials would really care so little about losing so many potential soldiers.

On the plus side I did enjoy the story a lot once the dragons came into play.

I thought it was quite funny at times and while I enjoyed the premise and its exploration of humanity, I found the narrative a bit repetitive at times. Similarly, with "The Midnight Library," I appreciated the concept but felt it didn’t fully deliver on its potential. Overall, it was still an enjoyable read.

I found the writing style a bit challenging—particularly the absence of quotation marks in dialogue—but once I got used to it, I was fully immersed in the story. At times, I wished I knew more about Irish history, especially regarding "The Troubles," to fully grasp some of the references. Overall, it was an emotional and rewarding read.

It’s an interesting insight into the world of forensic pathology, and I appreciated Dr. Shepherd’s expertise and storytelling. However, I found myself wanting more focus on the clinical aspects of his work and less on the private and emotional reflections. It’s always challenging to rate non-fiction, but overall, it’s a well-written book.