nadia's Reviews (587)

This was fun and I was intrigued and engaged the whole way. But I felt like a lot of things weren't properly explained or fleshed out to be believable. And it also just didn't have the emotional impact I hoped it would! The artwork was brilliant and there was a real fun storytelling structure in the final volume!

I wish I'd reread Children of Blood and Bone, which I'd read back in 2019, before reading this instalment. I thought the summaries I'd read online were good enough, but there were key details I couldn't remember, which impacted my understanding and emotional connection to the book when I started. Still, I managed to get into it after not too long!

This instalment wasn't as strong as the first. The characters' behaviour and decisions didn't always line up or seemed too naïve, some plot lines seemed rushed, and certain things needed a bit more explanation and elaboration. It definitely felt a little repetitive at times too.

Still, it wins point for ultimately being a page turner! Won't leave the final instalment so long. Plan to read it next month!

What an absolutely brilliant memoir. I really appreciated the unique perspective of a queer Muslim woman navigating life as an immigrant. I especially liked how stories from the Quran were intertwined with Lamya's recollections. The writing was also great!

A super solid Kingsbridge instalment. I loved the political intrigue of this. So gripping. It took me a really long time to read the first part of the book so I really came to appreciate Follett's way of reminding you who everyone is in a relatively smooth fashion. Some of the narration and dialogue is a little clunky or cringe-y but you get used to it!

A super fun read that raises some ethical/moral questions! Although some of the dialogue felt a little cheesy and there were parts that got too bogged down in the science, I really appreciated how clever this book was and how much research and attention to detail Weir put into it.

This book wasn't what I thought it was going to be — a lot more focused on Ozempic and the business and drama behind it — but I was really fascinated by what it was — a book about the history of obesity, food, the industry, and the varying cultures around it, weight loss drugs, the evolution of human biology, and more! I appreciated the mix of personal memoir, pop science, and journalism/narrative nonfiction, and I liked Hari's narration. There were a few times where I felt like the structure was a teeny bit messy and the scope of the book strayed a little, but overall very very good and it's got me realising just how much everything is set up against us when it comes to maintaining a healthy body and lifestyle!

Well, sound-wise, what a production this was!

It started strong, but unfortunately, I needed more unique story/plot points and meaty (instead of rather clichéd) dialogue over the action scenes! I had like zero emotional attachment to this. But the sound effects were really so well done!

If you want a real movie for your ears, this is well worth a listen!

I was really excited to read this but the problem is the title gives the book away and so I therefore had very little patience for what was happening on all sides (which I know is very harsh on the women featured. Hindsight is a powerful thing!). I also came to really despise the voice of Ethan in the audiobook, "knowing" who he was/what he'd turn out to be.

I saw Traci Thomas's review where she said this would have been better as an article or podcast and I wholeheartedly agree!

Something about this volume didn't pop for me. Felt a little emotionally removed, especially given some of the stuff that happened! I got to the end and felt like: "that's it??".

Looking forward to Volume 12!!

A solid listen! It wasn't what I was expecting when I started and I was a little bored — definitely felt like more of a standard memoir, with a lot more of a focus on relationships than I though — but then I got into it, especially in the middle, when we had more BTS re Romolini's work. I was intrigued then. I love a juicy BTS.