narcobunbun's Reviews (48)

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC! All opinions expressed are my own. 

Just finished Song of the Hell Witch and while it didn’t totally cast a spell on me, it had some real promise. The plot was cool and surprisingly fresh, with a dark magical edge and older main characters who actually got to be the stars instead of fading into the background. That alone earned some points. The writing felt a bit rough around the edges, like the author’s still finding their voice, but the bones of a great story are definitely there.

The book dives into themes of oppression, identity, and rebellion, which could’ve packed a punch, but instead felt a little too much like a speech. It’s not that the message wasn’t important, it just needed to blend more smoothly into the world instead of climbing up onto a soapbox. Still, I’m curious where the series goes from here. There’s enough potential bubbling under the surface to make me consider picking up book two.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! All opinions expressed are my own.

Okay, so “Soul of Shadow” by Emma Noyes just left me feeling kind of meh, and I hate when that happens with a book that has such a promising setup. The writing itself is solid, don’t get me wrong, but the whole thing skewed way younger than I expected. I was gearing up for some serious high-stakes tension, but instead got this oddly campy vibe that made me wonder if I accidentally picked up someone’s middle grade manuscript by mistake.

The circus background and magic obsession could have been such a cool character trait, but it just felt flat and underbaked to me. Like, I could tell the author was really trying to create this mysterious, quirky protagonist, but it came across more forced than fascinating. There were definitely glimmers of what this book could have been, and Noyes clearly has talent, but the execution just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I’m landing at 3 out of 5 stars, perfect for a lazy afternoon read but not the page-turner I was hoping for.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for providing an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

"Automatic Noodle" serves up exactly what you'd expect from a title that quirky: a warm, oddball tale of robots finding their way in a futuristic post-war San Francisco where robots are "free" yet still discriminated against. Rather than delivering a sterile exploration of artificial intelligence, this story surprises with genuinely human moments as these mechanical beings stumble through friendship and the messy business of building community. The emotions these robots experience feel startlingly real, making you wonder if we're all just sophisticated machines learning to connect.

This cozy little gem won't revolutionize your reading life, but it doesn't need to. Watching these robots navigate their new world with all the awkwardness of teenagers at their first dance is genuinely endearing, even if the plot occasionally feels as predictable as a well-programmed algorithm. A solid 3.5 out of 5 stars for a book that proves sometimes the best stories are about finding your people, even if your people happen to run on batteries.

I just couldn’t get into it. It felt like there was just a ton of nothing happening. 

"Wes and Addie Had Their Chance" was a super introspective read, and honestly, not a lot happened outside of their thoughts and feelings. If you're in the mood for a slow, character-driven story, this might hit the spot. It didn't have any spice, but there were some cute kissing moments that made me smile. Definitely a cozy kind of romance, perfect for when you just want something light and sweet.

One thing that caught me off guard was how it connected to other books! They dropped references to past characters and their stories, but you didn’t actually need to have read those books to follow along. If you're into interconnected book worlds, that little extra layer might be fun for you. Overall, it was a decent read, but I wouldn’t say it blew me away.

Just finished "First-Time Caller" and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. While romance isn't usually my first pick, this book really won me over with its fantastic dialogue. The banter between characters feels genuine and often had me smiling as I read. What truly stands out are the side characters. They're so well-crafted and hilarious in their own right that they really elevate the whole story. 

The thing I appreciated most was how relatable everything felt. The situations and relationships struck me as authentic rather than the typical romance formula. The characters face realistic challenges and their connections develop in ways that made sense. Overall, I'm giving it 4.5 stars! It's a warm, engaging read that managed to impress someone who doesn't typically reach for romance novels. Definitely worth checking out!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

This one unfortunately falls short with its rushed pacing and convenient plot developments. The character motivations felt inconsistent, particularly when the main character completely reversed her feelings about the relationship within mere pages, and the world-building lacked the depth needed to make me truly invested. The writing relied too heavily on telling rather than showing emotions, which kept me at arm's length from connecting with the story.

The intimate scenes that finally appeared after the 60% mark felt awkwardly written and somewhat disconnected from the characters' emotional journey. While the premise had potential, the basic execution and underdeveloped relationships left me uninterested in continuing the series. This book might work for readers who prefer quick plot resolutions, but I needed more substance and believable character growth.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​