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librarianlayla's Reviews (954)
I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
2/2.5 stars
I had high hopes for this story of a lost Prince finding his way home, discovering who he is and his past whilst tackling the new challenges that come with his identity.
It had great potential to be a fantastic self discovery book, wrapped in a murder mystery. However the execution and writing style didn't feel polished enough for my liking.
The main character Tristan, is supposed to be a young man in his early twenties that has spent the vast majority of his life living it rough, on the streets, without realising he is actually the lost prince his kingdom needs. Unfortunately his character comes across extremely juvenile, I kept being confused by his mannerisms and speech as he read as a young boy of between 10 and 12. And sadly it wasn't just his, almost all the characters, including his grandparents speech is all over the place. The storylines momentum seemed a little all over the place and I wanted there to be more depth and meaning to some scenes that were glossed over completely.
A really great concept, and I think if this had had more time to be thought over and ideas developed further, it could have been something really compelling.
2/2.5 stars
I had high hopes for this story of a lost Prince finding his way home, discovering who he is and his past whilst tackling the new challenges that come with his identity.
It had great potential to be a fantastic self discovery book, wrapped in a murder mystery. However the execution and writing style didn't feel polished enough for my liking.
The main character Tristan, is supposed to be a young man in his early twenties that has spent the vast majority of his life living it rough, on the streets, without realising he is actually the lost prince his kingdom needs. Unfortunately his character comes across extremely juvenile, I kept being confused by his mannerisms and speech as he read as a young boy of between 10 and 12. And sadly it wasn't just his, almost all the characters, including his grandparents speech is all over the place. The storylines momentum seemed a little all over the place and I wanted there to be more depth and meaning to some scenes that were glossed over completely.
A really great concept, and I think if this had had more time to be thought over and ideas developed further, it could have been something really compelling.
3/3.5 stars.
King of Fools, for me, wasn't as good as it's predecessor Ace of Shades.
The main character's personalities all ended up blurring together to be a tad one note, their dynamics all being lost in a sea of self centred greed. The more interesting side characters don't have their stories told, and I was hoping that this installment would finally shed more light on Lola as a character, but she was mostly left in the shadows.
The last quarter of the book is where it really shines, and what leads me to more of a 3.5 rating, due to there actually being high stakes conflict. Mystery and murder unfolding. It just took a long time to get to where it needed to be to hold interest, which was disappointing as it is such a lengthy book. I had such high hopes, but it lacked the drive to really pull me in and keep me hooked sadly.
King of Fools, for me, wasn't as good as it's predecessor Ace of Shades.
The main character's personalities all ended up blurring together to be a tad one note, their dynamics all being lost in a sea of self centred greed. The more interesting side characters don't have their stories told, and I was hoping that this installment would finally shed more light on Lola as a character, but she was mostly left in the shadows.
The last quarter of the book is where it really shines, and what leads me to more of a 3.5 rating, due to there actually being high stakes conflict. Mystery and murder unfolding. It just took a long time to get to where it needed to be to hold interest, which was disappointing as it is such a lengthy book. I had such high hopes, but it lacked the drive to really pull me in and keep me hooked sadly.
3.5 stars.
This is a very useful book for women of colour looking to reaffirm their worth, and discover new ways to self love. I think the exercises will be extremely helpful to some people, to really ground them in their journey to self love and authenticity.
This did however have a few typos and grammatical errors which at times detracted from the experience of reading through and absorbing the information, or at least it did for me. So if you too, are a little picky, this is something to note.
But overall some interesting insight and tips into the journey towards loving oneself despite outside sources often making us feel inadequate or invisible.
This is a very useful book for women of colour looking to reaffirm their worth, and discover new ways to self love. I think the exercises will be extremely helpful to some people, to really ground them in their journey to self love and authenticity.
This did however have a few typos and grammatical errors which at times detracted from the experience of reading through and absorbing the information, or at least it did for me. So if you too, are a little picky, this is something to note.
But overall some interesting insight and tips into the journey towards loving oneself despite outside sources often making us feel inadequate or invisible.
3.5/4 stars.
I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dark and gritty, this is a fantastic manga for those interested in apocalyptic worlds and are also fans of human mutations. It flows together with a great amount of mystery about our main characters past, and the start of an interesting journey.
I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dark and gritty, this is a fantastic manga for those interested in apocalyptic worlds and are also fans of human mutations. It flows together with a great amount of mystery about our main characters past, and the start of an interesting journey.
I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
An own voices magical surrealism story set in post–Civil War Philadelphia really appealed to me. Unfortunately it was mostly all very one note, the interlude chapters that were dotted throughout were actually more the pace that I had expected from the entire story. They held the most interest and had the sense of urgency and magic that I had wanted going into this story and had expected from a magical murder mystery.
Debut's are hard, and I see so much potential in this book, but there was so much more that I wanted from the main characters, and I really wish that the intensity, magic and dedication in the interlude chapters had been carried through to the main story. I often found myself putting the book down, losing interest and becoming distracted.
I found the constellation based magic such an intriguing concept, and I wish there had been more history behind it to really ground the reader into the world.
Overall those who enjoy a lot more of fictional history and a lot less magic, might enjoy this book.
An own voices magical surrealism story set in post–Civil War Philadelphia really appealed to me. Unfortunately it was mostly all very one note, the interlude chapters that were dotted throughout were actually more the pace that I had expected from the entire story. They held the most interest and had the sense of urgency and magic that I had wanted going into this story and had expected from a magical murder mystery.
Debut's are hard, and I see so much potential in this book, but there was so much more that I wanted from the main characters, and I really wish that the intensity, magic and dedication in the interlude chapters had been carried through to the main story. I often found myself putting the book down, losing interest and becoming distracted.
I found the constellation based magic such an intriguing concept, and I wish there had been more history behind it to really ground the reader into the world.
Overall those who enjoy a lot more of fictional history and a lot less magic, might enjoy this book.
3.5 stars.
Potential trigger warning for anyone who is suffering from anxiety due to the current global Covid outbreak, this story focuses very much on a plague that has no cure.
I love dark, gothic stories especially ones that focus on female necromancers. I really enjoyed the alchemical essence to the story, and Nedra's character development. I will say I find Grey completely unnecessary to this story, as to why only 3.5 star's not the full 4, I feel their romance happened so swiftly and held no substance at all. It didn't bring anything to the story, it was some nice fluff to lighten up the dark overtone, but as it lacked any depth it just seemed a tad pointless.
I feel that I would have loved it more if it had focused on the sister's connection with one another, and more about the other characters such as the Emperor and the Governor.
Overall though it was a quick read that filled my need for some darkness. and the suspenseful ending does make me want to pick up the sequel, I'm just not interested in Grey at all.
Potential trigger warning for anyone who is suffering from anxiety due to the current global Covid outbreak, this story focuses very much on a plague that has no cure.
I love dark, gothic stories especially ones that focus on female necromancers. I really enjoyed the alchemical essence to the story, and Nedra's character development. I will say I find Grey completely unnecessary to this story, as to why only 3.5 star's not the full 4, I feel their romance happened so swiftly and held no substance at all. It didn't bring anything to the story, it was some nice fluff to lighten up the dark overtone, but as it lacked any depth it just seemed a tad pointless.
I feel that I would have loved it more if it had focused on the sister's connection with one another, and more about the other characters such as the Emperor and the Governor.
Overall though it was a quick read that filled my need for some darkness. and the suspenseful ending does make me want to pick up the sequel, I'm just not interested in Grey at all.
A nonsensical short story following a mercurial and jealous man through his coming to terms of his own mortality. Witty at times and filled with internal monologue, it makes for a quick read.
3.5 stars
I had high hopes for this story as Loki is one of my favourite Marvel characters. However I felt that the first half of the book felt very one note and I wanted a little more from it. Theo is a saving character and I found him to be a very interesting contrast to Loki throughout the latter part of the book. I wanted more of him than any other character.
It is still a good fantasy novel, with LGBTQIA and NB inclusion, which holds strong to the original framework that surrounded Loki as a character. I was just missing more of his wit.
I had high hopes for this story as Loki is one of my favourite Marvel characters. However I felt that the first half of the book felt very one note and I wanted a little more from it. Theo is a saving character and I found him to be a very interesting contrast to Loki throughout the latter part of the book. I wanted more of him than any other character.
It is still a good fantasy novel, with LGBTQIA and NB inclusion, which holds strong to the original framework that surrounded Loki as a character. I was just missing more of his wit.
3.5 stars.
I had high hopes for this Fae inspired story but unfortunately it didn't quite deliver what I had hoped.
A lot of potential surprises about the main character were ruined in the side character's chapters, leaving there no development for her. The timeline appeared a little all over the place and the first quarter of the book was a little confusing and didn't set the world correctly. Relationships were rushed and had no substance. I think it had good potential, and as I've already purchased the sequel I will read that, but it just wasn't as polished as some of my favourite fae inspired stories.
I had high hopes for this Fae inspired story but unfortunately it didn't quite deliver what I had hoped.
A lot of potential surprises about the main character were ruined in the side character's chapters, leaving there no development for her. The timeline appeared a little all over the place and the first quarter of the book was a little confusing and didn't set the world correctly. Relationships were rushed and had no substance. I think it had good potential, and as I've already purchased the sequel I will read that, but it just wasn't as polished as some of my favourite fae inspired stories.
I was sent a copy of this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Olive is a gorgeously illustrated graphic novel centred on an autistic girl, living at a boarding school in France. Olive lives in a world she has created within her mind, which is beautiful and safe for her, whilst she traverse's the hardships of daily life. Her real world is sent spiralling by the arrival of a new roommate, and her internal world is rocked by a surprise guest.
The only reason this wasn't a five star for me, was because I felt that it ended abruptly (I know there are other volumes, so look forward to those) and I felt that it needed just a little more within the story about Olive, besides her attending therapy and class. I wanted to see a little more of her within her inner world, and get a feel for her. But overall - beautiful and unique.
Olive is a gorgeously illustrated graphic novel centred on an autistic girl, living at a boarding school in France. Olive lives in a world she has created within her mind, which is beautiful and safe for her, whilst she traverse's the hardships of daily life. Her real world is sent spiralling by the arrival of a new roommate, and her internal world is rocked by a surprise guest.
The only reason this wasn't a five star for me, was because I felt that it ended abruptly (I know there are other volumes, so look forward to those) and I felt that it needed just a little more within the story about Olive, besides her attending therapy and class. I wanted to see a little more of her within her inner world, and get a feel for her. But overall - beautiful and unique.