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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Last Lumenian
Author: S.G. Blaise
Book Series: The Last Lumenian Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, science fiction, romance
Publication Date: June 18, 2020
Genre: YA Sci-Fi Romance
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, slavery, internment camps, romance)
Explanation of CWs: There are scenes and mentions of slavery and internment camps in the book. There is a strong romance plot line in the book. There is also violence and gore throughout the book.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 316
Synopsis: MOST PRINCESSES NEED SAVING. THIS ONE WILL SAVE YOU.
She is a rebel. Lilla is fighting for the refugees's freedom from oppression. The king, her father, lost touch with reality ever since Lilla's mother died. Now everyone else is paying the price.
The arrival of Callum, a powerful Teryn general, complicates Lilla's life. His presence leads to conflicted feelings and friction with Arrov, a handsome pilot and fellow rebel.
Her life is not what she imagined it to be. Not by far. Meddling gods, love interests and sudden magical abilities have no room in Lilla's world, but that has become her new reality. No matter how hard she pushes them away, it's too late. They all seek to control her anyway.
Now the Era War between two ruling archgods forces Lilla to act: accept who she really is magic and all; find true love; fulfill her destiny by defeating the Archgod of Chaos and Destruction before He finds her. The Last Lumenian.
Review: Overall, this was an ok book. I liked the message behind it, to stand up for what you think is right, and I liked the romance aspect of it. I thought the book’s premise was really good and the plot kept me interested throughout the book.
However, the book is badly written in my opinion. The book immediately jumps into the story without explanation of what’s going on. By page 10 we’re already knee deep into a plot that should have been 150 pages into the book instead. The book is way too fast paced and it does nothing to explain the magic system or the world we’re in. The characters are also not well developed and I didn’t feel anything for anyone.
Verdict: It’s ok, but not for me.
Book: The Last Lumenian
Author: S.G. Blaise
Book Series: The Last Lumenian Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, science fiction, romance
Publication Date: June 18, 2020
Genre: YA Sci-Fi Romance
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, slavery, internment camps, romance)
Explanation of CWs: There are scenes and mentions of slavery and internment camps in the book. There is a strong romance plot line in the book. There is also violence and gore throughout the book.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 316
Synopsis: MOST PRINCESSES NEED SAVING. THIS ONE WILL SAVE YOU.
She is a rebel. Lilla is fighting for the refugees's freedom from oppression. The king, her father, lost touch with reality ever since Lilla's mother died. Now everyone else is paying the price.
The arrival of Callum, a powerful Teryn general, complicates Lilla's life. His presence leads to conflicted feelings and friction with Arrov, a handsome pilot and fellow rebel.
Her life is not what she imagined it to be. Not by far. Meddling gods, love interests and sudden magical abilities have no room in Lilla's world, but that has become her new reality. No matter how hard she pushes them away, it's too late. They all seek to control her anyway.
Now the Era War between two ruling archgods forces Lilla to act: accept who she really is magic and all; find true love; fulfill her destiny by defeating the Archgod of Chaos and Destruction before He finds her. The Last Lumenian.
Review: Overall, this was an ok book. I liked the message behind it, to stand up for what you think is right, and I liked the romance aspect of it. I thought the book’s premise was really good and the plot kept me interested throughout the book.
However, the book is badly written in my opinion. The book immediately jumps into the story without explanation of what’s going on. By page 10 we’re already knee deep into a plot that should have been 150 pages into the book instead. The book is way too fast paced and it does nothing to explain the magic system or the world we’re in. The characters are also not well developed and I didn’t feel anything for anyone.
Verdict: It’s ok, but not for me.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the finished book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Cupcake
Author: Cookie O’Gorman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Plus size MC, same gendered couples mentioned
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, plus-size positive
Publication Date: November 2, 2021
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Recommended Age: 16+ (Sexual content, Fatphobia, HP content, Disordered eating, Emotional abuse, Romance, Bullying, Mental health)
Explanation of CWs: Mental Health is discussed in the context of what characters went to therapy for. Disordered eating is mentioned several times, sometimes in the past and sometimes in the ways people talked to others. There is a lot of fatphobic comments stated. There are 2 HP references. There is emotional abuse shown in the book. There is a lot of romance. There is some bullying shown.
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Pages: 297
Synopsis: I know what you're thinking.
You're thinking this will be just one more story of the ignored, "big-boned " girl, who sheds her glasses and a few extra pounds and finally attracts the notice of the most popular guy in school.
Except it isn't. Because I'm not unpopular. Not all that ignored. And I love the way I look―just as I am.
Then someone puts my name in for Homecoming Court.
The bigger surprise?
People actually vote for me!
Now, I'm a "princess"―whether I like it or not―but the guy I'm paired with isn't exactly Prince Charming.
Rhys Castle is the strong, silent type who always wears a frown―he's certainly never smiled at me. I'm 99.9% sure he hates being on Court and being my partner, but surprisingly…he doesn't switch when he gets the chance.
Turns out Rhys has a secret―something that makes him run hot and cold throughout the entire three weeks of Homecoming festivities. Whether he's stepping on my feet during dance lessons or gallantly escorting me through the Homecoming parade, I can't get a read on this guy, and for the first time, I find my confidence wavering.
But there's more to Rhys than meets the eye. And the more the spotlight shines on me, I realize there's more to me, too.
Review: For the most part I really liked this read! It was corny with all of the pop culture references, and sometimes cringey especially when the characters were talking about Sarah J. Maas and the ACOTAR books, but it was so much fun and I related so much to Cupcake. I liked the character development and the world building. I loved the plus size rep and I loved the message behind the book. I loved how much fun the book was and the writing, for the most part, was so well done.
However, I did have some concerns. There are two HP references in this book and it’s a fairly new release, so I had to demote it a star because of that. We are almost in 2022 and JK Rowling has been problematic for awhile. It is so easy to take out references in your works that might be harmful to many people, even if it has to be done via email to your publisher to remove it or whatever you have to do, and not doing so is extremely lazy and makes me uncertain if the author is someone I want to associate with. I also had concerns with the term “fat-ist” because of the connotation that being fatphobic is like being racist. While being fatphobic is awful (and trust me, I know because I’ve been on the receiving end of many many comments and things thrown at me), being racist is not on the same level. The history of racism, what has happened to BIPOC people, and what is continuing to occur to this day is far worse than fatphobia. And while I love this book, I am very concerned about those points. I also felt that the book didn’t describe the characters well. There was a moment when I thought Cupcake was bisexual due to her comment about a woman, but nothing else was said about it. I also didn’t see any character building on what Cupcake looks like… or anyone else besides plus size, skinny, blonde, or hot/sexy.
Verdict: It was good! Just some concerns, but a well done book.
Book: Cupcake
Author: Cookie O’Gorman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Plus size MC, same gendered couples mentioned
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, plus-size positive
Publication Date: November 2, 2021
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Recommended Age: 16+ (Sexual content, Fatphobia, HP content, Disordered eating, Emotional abuse, Romance, Bullying, Mental health)
Explanation of CWs: Mental Health is discussed in the context of what characters went to therapy for. Disordered eating is mentioned several times, sometimes in the past and sometimes in the ways people talked to others. There is a lot of fatphobic comments stated. There are 2 HP references. There is emotional abuse shown in the book. There is a lot of romance. There is some bullying shown.
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Pages: 297
Synopsis: I know what you're thinking.
You're thinking this will be just one more story of the ignored, "big-boned " girl, who sheds her glasses and a few extra pounds and finally attracts the notice of the most popular guy in school.
Except it isn't. Because I'm not unpopular. Not all that ignored. And I love the way I look―just as I am.
Then someone puts my name in for Homecoming Court.
The bigger surprise?
People actually vote for me!
Now, I'm a "princess"―whether I like it or not―but the guy I'm paired with isn't exactly Prince Charming.
Rhys Castle is the strong, silent type who always wears a frown―he's certainly never smiled at me. I'm 99.9% sure he hates being on Court and being my partner, but surprisingly…he doesn't switch when he gets the chance.
Turns out Rhys has a secret―something that makes him run hot and cold throughout the entire three weeks of Homecoming festivities. Whether he's stepping on my feet during dance lessons or gallantly escorting me through the Homecoming parade, I can't get a read on this guy, and for the first time, I find my confidence wavering.
But there's more to Rhys than meets the eye. And the more the spotlight shines on me, I realize there's more to me, too.
Review: For the most part I really liked this read! It was corny with all of the pop culture references, and sometimes cringey especially when the characters were talking about Sarah J. Maas and the ACOTAR books, but it was so much fun and I related so much to Cupcake. I liked the character development and the world building. I loved the plus size rep and I loved the message behind the book. I loved how much fun the book was and the writing, for the most part, was so well done.
However, I did have some concerns. There are two HP references in this book and it’s a fairly new release, so I had to demote it a star because of that. We are almost in 2022 and JK Rowling has been problematic for awhile. It is so easy to take out references in your works that might be harmful to many people, even if it has to be done via email to your publisher to remove it or whatever you have to do, and not doing so is extremely lazy and makes me uncertain if the author is someone I want to associate with. I also had concerns with the term “fat-ist” because of the connotation that being fatphobic is like being racist. While being fatphobic is awful (and trust me, I know because I’ve been on the receiving end of many many comments and things thrown at me), being racist is not on the same level. The history of racism, what has happened to BIPOC people, and what is continuing to occur to this day is far worse than fatphobia. And while I love this book, I am very concerned about those points. I also felt that the book didn’t describe the characters well. There was a moment when I thought Cupcake was bisexual due to her comment about a woman, but nothing else was said about it. I also didn’t see any character building on what Cupcake looks like… or anyone else besides plus size, skinny, blonde, or hot/sexy.
Verdict: It was good! Just some concerns, but a well done book.
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: This Soul’d World
Author: William Disdale
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi readers
Publication Date: October 15, 2018
Genre: Science Fiction
Recommended Age: 17+ (Child death, Violence, Gore, Religion, Sexual content, Language)
Explanation of CWs: There is a child’s death shown in the pages and frequently mentioned. There is some violence and gore. Religion comes into play a couple of times in the book. There is some sexual content. There is some cursing.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 418
Synopsis: "This Soul'd World is the trial, tribulation and revelation of space-time scientist, Callison Trebla, who has a destiny calling him from a parallel dimension. Upon retirement from his life-long employer, Quanta Laboratories, Callison 'steals' an as-yet unproven time-portal and takes it home to 'go solo' on the project. And he thinks he's got away with it: until the day he actually makes it work.
Quanta soon come knocking, revealing their dark, conspiratorial, lethal intentions. They claim the portal is their intellectual property to do with as they please, including keeping it a secret. The only route of escape for Callison becomes wherever the portal leads.
He makes the leap and unwittingly falls down a rabbit hole of infinite depth, exploring behind the inter-dimensional veil and in the process learning how to get around Quanta Laboratories. He also learns how to deal with the mystery of life itself and the loss of his young son 30 years previous.
This Soul'd World is a story of hope for the coming age, that aims to challenge our inherited paradigms about life. It pulls the reader down alternate timelines and explores all the space between. It's a medley of Science Fiction, Mystery, Forgotten Philosophies and Adventure. and readdresses the balance between the search of the world for answers, and the search of the self for questions.
Waking up is like breathing again, for those caught in a nightmare..."
Review: For the most part this was an ok book. It had some great world building and I really liked the premise behind the book. I’ve always believed in parallel worlds since I first saw Quantum Leap, so I was really interested in this book from the premise.
However, I thought that the book had a lot of work to do. The book didn’t have a lot going on plot wise in the beginning and it set the book up to be very slow. The book got a bit better in the middle, but there was still a lot of confusing and slow parts that just made the book drag on. The characters also weren’t well developed beyond their shared trauma and they just fell flat on the page. The ending also felt elongated and just drawn out.
Verdict: It was ok, but not for me. Maybe for you!
Book: This Soul’d World
Author: William Disdale
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi readers
Publication Date: October 15, 2018
Genre: Science Fiction
Recommended Age: 17+ (Child death, Violence, Gore, Religion, Sexual content, Language)
Explanation of CWs: There is a child’s death shown in the pages and frequently mentioned. There is some violence and gore. Religion comes into play a couple of times in the book. There is some sexual content. There is some cursing.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 418
Synopsis: "This Soul'd World is the trial, tribulation and revelation of space-time scientist, Callison Trebla, who has a destiny calling him from a parallel dimension. Upon retirement from his life-long employer, Quanta Laboratories, Callison 'steals' an as-yet unproven time-portal and takes it home to 'go solo' on the project. And he thinks he's got away with it: until the day he actually makes it work.
Quanta soon come knocking, revealing their dark, conspiratorial, lethal intentions. They claim the portal is their intellectual property to do with as they please, including keeping it a secret. The only route of escape for Callison becomes wherever the portal leads.
He makes the leap and unwittingly falls down a rabbit hole of infinite depth, exploring behind the inter-dimensional veil and in the process learning how to get around Quanta Laboratories. He also learns how to deal with the mystery of life itself and the loss of his young son 30 years previous.
This Soul'd World is a story of hope for the coming age, that aims to challenge our inherited paradigms about life. It pulls the reader down alternate timelines and explores all the space between. It's a medley of Science Fiction, Mystery, Forgotten Philosophies and Adventure. and readdresses the balance between the search of the world for answers, and the search of the self for questions.
Waking up is like breathing again, for those caught in a nightmare..."
Review: For the most part this was an ok book. It had some great world building and I really liked the premise behind the book. I’ve always believed in parallel worlds since I first saw Quantum Leap, so I was really interested in this book from the premise.
However, I thought that the book had a lot of work to do. The book didn’t have a lot going on plot wise in the beginning and it set the book up to be very slow. The book got a bit better in the middle, but there was still a lot of confusing and slow parts that just made the book drag on. The characters also weren’t well developed beyond their shared trauma and they just fell flat on the page. The ending also felt elongated and just drawn out.
Verdict: It was ok, but not for me. Maybe for you!
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Little Wanderers: The Everlasting Seasons
Author: I.K. Silver
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended For...: children’s readers, fantasy
Publication Date: October 1, 2021
Genre: Children’s Fantasy
Recommended Age: 8+ (some small scary moments)
Explanation of CWs: There are just some small moments that might scare smaller kids.
Publisher: Red Butterfly Press
Pages: 238
Synopsis: Snowy is a tiny dwarf leading an almost normal life in the village of never-ending winter. Aside from the ever-dreary sky, living next to rowdy neighbors, and being treated like a child, nothing seems to pose a challenge.
All that changes when rumors about Snowy breaking a taboo spread. Disheartened at what he deemed betrayal and feeling stuck in his village, Snowy sneaks out to look for Originem, a village where misfortune befalls no one. However, the aftermath exceeds his wildest expectations.
Snowy finds himself in a magical world, suddenly dealing with the quaintest of things, from singing fruits and a wizard cat to dark woods (brimming with vicious beasts) and other villages locked in one season. But to reach his destination, Snowy, and his new friend, Kokoro, must first solve the mysteries surrounding the villages of everlasting seasons, as the secret that connects them may threaten their very existence.
All that changes when rumors about Snowy breaking a taboo spread. Disheartened at what he deemed betrayal and feeling stuck in his village, Snowy sneaks out to look for Originem, a village where misfortune befalls no one. However, the aftermath exceeds his wildest expectations.
Snowy finds himself in a magical world, suddenly dealing with the quaintest of things, from singing fruits and a wizard cat to dark woods (brimming with vicious beasts) and other villages locked in one season. But to reach his destination, Snowy, and his new friend, Kokoro, must first solve the mysteries surrounding the villages of everlasting seasons, as the secret that connects them may threaten their very existence.
Review: This was a sweet book. I loved the story and it would be a cute read for younger readers. The book has great character development and plot. The writing is well done and cohesive. The book is also a super quick read and is fast paced.
The only issue I had is that I wish that there was more world building, but other than that it was a good read.
Verdict: It was cute!
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Photographer
Author: Mary Dixie Carter
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: thriller, mystery, suspense
Publication Date: May 25, 2021
Genre: Thriller Mystery
Recommended Age: 18+ (sexual content, pregnancy, stalking, infertility, miscarriage, animal violence, animal death)
Explanation of CWs: There is some sexual content and a pregnancy. There is also talk of infertility and miscarriage. There is stalking shown and there is an animal death and violence.
Publisher: Minotaur
Pages: 296
Synopsis: WHEN PERFECT IMAGES
As a photographer, Delta Dawn observes the seemingly perfect lives of New York City’s elite: snapping photos of their children’s birthday parties, transforming images of stiff hugs and tearstained faces into visions of pure joy, and creating moments these parents long for.
ARE MADE OF BEAUTIFUL LIES
But when Delta is hired for Natalie Straub’s eleventh birthday, she finds herself wishing she wasn’t behind the lens but a part of the scene―in the Straub family’s gorgeous home and elegant life.
THE TRUTH WILL BE EXPOSED
That’s when Delta puts her plan in place, by babysitting for Natalie; befriending her mother, Amelia; finding chances to listen to her father, Fritz. Soon she’s bathing in the master bathtub, drinking their expensive wine, and eyeing the beautifully finished garden apartment in their townhouse. It seems she can never get close enough, until she discovers that photos aren’t all she can manipulate.
Review: For the most part I thought this was an ok book. The book had a creepy plot that kept me reading and there was some good world building.
However, the character had no development and the story was really weird. It was just full of random things that didn’t have any impact on the plot, like mundane conversations, but they also don’t make the best decisions and I can’t suspend my disbelief for that many mistakes. The book was also very slowly paced and the ending wasn’t satisfying.
Verdict: It was ok, but not for me. Maybe for you!
Book: The Photographer
Author: Mary Dixie Carter
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: thriller, mystery, suspense
Publication Date: May 25, 2021
Genre: Thriller Mystery
Recommended Age: 18+ (sexual content, pregnancy, stalking, infertility, miscarriage, animal violence, animal death)
Explanation of CWs: There is some sexual content and a pregnancy. There is also talk of infertility and miscarriage. There is stalking shown and there is an animal death and violence.
Publisher: Minotaur
Pages: 296
Synopsis: WHEN PERFECT IMAGES
As a photographer, Delta Dawn observes the seemingly perfect lives of New York City’s elite: snapping photos of their children’s birthday parties, transforming images of stiff hugs and tearstained faces into visions of pure joy, and creating moments these parents long for.
ARE MADE OF BEAUTIFUL LIES
But when Delta is hired for Natalie Straub’s eleventh birthday, she finds herself wishing she wasn’t behind the lens but a part of the scene―in the Straub family’s gorgeous home and elegant life.
THE TRUTH WILL BE EXPOSED
That’s when Delta puts her plan in place, by babysitting for Natalie; befriending her mother, Amelia; finding chances to listen to her father, Fritz. Soon she’s bathing in the master bathtub, drinking their expensive wine, and eyeing the beautifully finished garden apartment in their townhouse. It seems she can never get close enough, until she discovers that photos aren’t all she can manipulate.
Review: For the most part I thought this was an ok book. The book had a creepy plot that kept me reading and there was some good world building.
However, the character had no development and the story was really weird. It was just full of random things that didn’t have any impact on the plot, like mundane conversations, but they also don’t make the best decisions and I can’t suspend my disbelief for that many mistakes. The book was also very slowly paced and the ending wasn’t satisfying.
Verdict: It was ok, but not for me. Maybe for you!
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I bought this ebook to support my friends! Promote/help your author friends! All opinions are my own.
Book: Ilahara: The Last Myrassar
Author: C.M. Karys
Book Series: Ilahara Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: There is a brief m/m romance mentioned
Recommended For...: young adult readers, high fantasy, fantasy
Publication Date: November 1, 2021
Genre: YA High Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (Gore, Violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Parent death, Animal hurt, Animal death, Grief, Death, Alcohol, Romance)
Explanation of CWs: There was a lot of gore and violence in the book. Sexual content is also present in the book and I feel like there was a passage that mentioned that young children worked at either a bar/tavern or a prostitution house but I’m not entirely sure on that and I can’t find it in the book again, so just be weary. There is a kidnapping and parental death mentioned. There is a story shown in the book where a dragon gets shot down and dies. Grief is discussed and alcohol is briefly mentioned. There is also some romance in this book.
Publisher: Literary Wanderlust
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Princess Asharaya Myrassar lost everything on the night of the Coup of Fire when the usurper queen, Aerella Argarys, slaughtered the royal family and claimed the throne of the fae kingdom of Ilahara. After seeking refuge on the human continent and leaving her magical past behind, Asharaya takes on a new identity: Shara, an assassin blessed with dark powers.
Prince Derron Argarys owes his royal title to his mother's coup, and although he has all the status and power one could wish for, he cannot escape the memories of the brutal death of the former prince he once called friend. Now the heir to the throne, Derron must set aside his memories and learn to rule by the Argarys words: show your power, hide your heart.
But when a crone proclaims the last of the dragon-blessed rulers still lives and prophesizes Asharaya's return to Ilahara, friend and foe alike set out to find her, Derron among them. Yet he discovers in Asharaya not only a cold and beautiful assassin but also the princess he once knew. When the chance to rid his family of the Myrassar threat comes, Derron hesitates in dealing the killing blow, charting a new course that may see Asharaya's return to Ilahara to face her greatest enemy and her destiny as the last dragon-blessed queen.
Prince Derron Argarys owes his royal title to his mother's coup, and although he has all the status and power one could wish for, he cannot escape the memories of the brutal death of the former prince he once called friend. Now the heir to the throne, Derron must set aside his memories and learn to rule by the Argarys words: show your power, hide your heart.
But when a crone proclaims the last of the dragon-blessed rulers still lives and prophesizes Asharaya's return to Ilahara, friend and foe alike set out to find her, Derron among them. Yet he discovers in Asharaya not only a cold and beautiful assassin but also the princess he once knew. When the chance to rid his family of the Myrassar threat comes, Derron hesitates in dealing the killing blow, charting a new course that may see Asharaya's return to Ilahara to face her greatest enemy and her destiny as the last dragon-blessed queen.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. It read a lot like The Shannara Chronicles and I loved the high fantasy feel of it. I also loved the trope (Lost Princess) used and I liked that the book talked openly about menstrual cycles. The book is also heavy in political intrigue, which I like. I liked the world building and the plot kept me going.
However, the book was really confusing. The book didn’t clearly define who’s POV was whose when you start the chapter and it was awkward to go into the book with multiple POVs and not know what’s going on. I also felt like the multiple POVs didn’t allow for the characters to develop well and there was little back-story on each main character, which made the book more confusing. The book was also slow paced. Finally, as I was writing this review, I copied the synopsis and realized that it helps fill in some of the gaps in the book, which is a bummer for me. I don’t read synopses before reading the book and I feel like if important details are in the synopsis but not in the book, it just sets the book up to be a letdown.
Verdict: It was ok.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received a finished copy of the book. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Girl Who Drank The Moon
Author: Kelly Barnhill
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, fairtales, witches
Publication Date: August 9, 2016
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (Sacrificing children, Sexism, Kidnapping, Gore, Violence, Abelism, Death, Animal death, Animal violence, Animal injury)
Explanation of CWs: Slight gore and violence are in this book. The book has the narrative of sacrificing babies to a witch and they abandon the babies in the process. There is some sexism talk and some abelistic words. Kidnapping is in this book. Death is discussed in detail. There are scenes of animal injury, violence, and brutal death.
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 386
Synopsis: Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.
One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule--but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her--even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. I really liked how it read like a fairytale and the concept behind it was fascinating to me. It was hard to put down because of the amazing characters and their development with each other. I also liked the world building and how well paced the book was.
However, the book had some confusing moments. It didn't fully explain the magic system and the book's plot was a bit confusing as it had 4 different plots going at once by the end of it when it originally started as 2. The book also had some confusing resolutions to it. There are also some elements that wouldn't be suitable for younger readers in the MG genre.
Verdict: I liked it!
Book: The Girl Who Drank The Moon
Author: Kelly Barnhill
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, fairtales, witches
Publication Date: August 9, 2016
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (Sacrificing children, Sexism, Kidnapping, Gore, Violence, Abelism, Death, Animal death, Animal violence, Animal injury)
Explanation of CWs: Slight gore and violence are in this book. The book has the narrative of sacrificing babies to a witch and they abandon the babies in the process. There is some sexism talk and some abelistic words. Kidnapping is in this book. Death is discussed in detail. There are scenes of animal injury, violence, and brutal death.
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 386
Synopsis: Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.
One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule--but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her--even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. I really liked how it read like a fairytale and the concept behind it was fascinating to me. It was hard to put down because of the amazing characters and their development with each other. I also liked the world building and how well paced the book was.
However, the book had some confusing moments. It didn't fully explain the magic system and the book's plot was a bit confusing as it had 4 different plots going at once by the end of it when it originally started as 2. The book also had some confusing resolutions to it. There are also some elements that wouldn't be suitable for younger readers in the MG genre.
Verdict: I liked it!
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc of the book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Nightmares
Author: Fernando Velez, Doris Marcano, and Daniel Grimaldi
Book Series: Class 6 Episode 9
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: POC character, queer character
Recommended For...: graphic novel, LGBTQQIP2SAA
Publication Date: December 13, 2021
Genre: Graphic Novel
Recommended Age: violence, gore, language, homophobia, death, discrimination, religion,
Explanation of CWs: Discrimination mentioned
Publisher: Kraven Comics
Pages: 48
Synopsis: Kian sees the universe of origin of our human ancestors before the big crush forced them to find our universe.
Class6 is about Queen Izaar, a being created by our human ancestors to safeguard humanity. But there is one problem: she was left with an ancient enemy, the reptilian race, who has tried to eliminate the human race for thousands of years. Now one last war is about to end this bloody circle, but it will happen in our time, more specifically on our planet earth. Queen Izaar's path crosses with these other five individuals who are LGBTQ, and each plays an essential role with the faith of humanity. They must come together with their abilities to join forces with Queen Izara. In the beginning, they are fighting for gay rights. Still, as they discover this more significant conflict, they must decide if they want to save the same human race that has rejected them, killed them, and attacked them for being LGBTQ. In the end, the last fight is for the survival of the human race that lays in the hand of these LGBTQ heroes. Humanity will learn the truth about our existence and origins. We must decide if we want to continue on this status quo of hate and division or if we will finally come together as one race to defeat our common enemy, and become the powerful race we once were.
Class6 is about Queen Izaar, a being created by our human ancestors to safeguard humanity. But there is one problem: she was left with an ancient enemy, the reptilian race, who has tried to eliminate the human race for thousands of years. Now one last war is about to end this bloody circle, but it will happen in our time, more specifically on our planet earth. Queen Izaar's path crosses with these other five individuals who are LGBTQ, and each plays an essential role with the faith of humanity. They must come together with their abilities to join forces with Queen Izara. In the beginning, they are fighting for gay rights. Still, as they discover this more significant conflict, they must decide if they want to save the same human race that has rejected them, killed them, and attacked them for being LGBTQ. In the end, the last fight is for the survival of the human race that lays in the hand of these LGBTQ heroes. Humanity will learn the truth about our existence and origins. We must decide if we want to continue on this status quo of hate and division or if we will finally come together as one race to defeat our common enemy, and become the powerful race we once were.
Review: For the most part I liked this newest edition to the Kraven Comics family. The plot was good, the illustrations were amazing, and I liked the character development. The book was well storied and I feel like I’m getting a lot of backstory, which is what I’ve been craving for awhile now.
However, the beginning is very confusing and, I think because I read all of the other books one right after another, I never realized how confusing it is in the beginning to not have a recap of the comics. It took me awhile to figure out where I was in this book and at the end I’m left on a cliffhanger again.
Verdict: It was good!
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Sorority Murder
Author: Allison Brennan
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: mystery, thriller
Publication Date: December 28, 2021
Genre: Thriller Mystery
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, gore, language, death)
Explanation of CWs: The book focuses on a murder that happened and it has violence, death, and gore in it. There is also some cursing in it.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 448
Synopsis: Lucas Vega is obsessed with the death of Candace Swain, who left a sorority party one night and never came back. Her body was found after two weeks, but the case has grown cold. Three years later while interning at the medical examiner's, Lucas discovers new information, but the police are not interested.
Lucas knows he has several credible pieces of the puzzle. He just isn't sure how they fit together. So he creates a podcast to revisit Candace's last hours. Then he encourages listeners to crowdsource what they remember and invites guest lecturer Regan Merritt, a former US marshal, to come on and share her expertise.
New tips come in that convince Lucas and Regan they are onto something. Then shockingly one of the podcast callers turns up dead. Another hints at Candace's secret life, a much darker picture than Lucas imagined—and one that implicates other sorority sisters. Regan uses her own resources to bolster their theory and learns that Lucas is hiding his own secret. The pressure is on to solve the murder, but first Lucas must come clean about his real motives in pursuing this podcast—before the killer silences him forever.
Lucas knows he has several credible pieces of the puzzle. He just isn't sure how they fit together. So he creates a podcast to revisit Candace's last hours. Then he encourages listeners to crowdsource what they remember and invites guest lecturer Regan Merritt, a former US marshal, to come on and share her expertise.
New tips come in that convince Lucas and Regan they are onto something. Then shockingly one of the podcast callers turns up dead. Another hints at Candace's secret life, a much darker picture than Lucas imagined—and one that implicates other sorority sisters. Regan uses her own resources to bolster their theory and learns that Lucas is hiding his own secret. The pressure is on to solve the murder, but first Lucas must come clean about his real motives in pursuing this podcast—before the killer silences him forever.
Review: I loved the premise of this book! I like that the MC has a podcast and that he is into true crime. The book is told in kind of a true crime podcast fashion as well, which is so much fun. I loved how the characters were developed and how the world was built. I also thought the mystery worked well for the most part and the plot kept me interested in the story enough to find out what happened at the end.
However, the pacing is so so slow in this book in the beginning and it picks up in the middle. The book is a bit of an info dump in the beginning, which put me off of it for a bit. The book spends a lot of time going back over old evidence and repeating the same thing over and over again. The ending was also a bit of a letdown and it kind of was outside of the realm of expected.
Verdict: it was good.
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dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: My Darling Husband
Author: Kimberly Belle
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: thriller, mystery
Publication Date: March 8, 2022
Genre: Thriller Mystery
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, slight gore, home invaders, kidnapping, language)
Explanation of CWs: There is some cursing in this book. The book centers on a home invasion and kidnapping. There is some violence and slight gore.
Publisher: Park Row
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Everyone is about to know what her husband isn’t telling her…
Jade and Cam Lasky are by all accounts a happily married couple with two adorable kids, a spacious home and a rapidly growing restaurant business. But their world is tipped upside down when Jade is confronted by a masked home invader. As Cam scrambles to gather the ransom money, Jade starts to wonder if they’re as financially secure as their lifestyle suggests, and what other secrets her husband is keeping from her.
Cam may be a good father, a celebrity chef and a darling husband, but there’s another side he’s kept hidden from Jade that has put their family in danger. Unbeknownst to Cam and Jade, the home invader has been watching them and is about to turn their family secrets into a public scandal.
With riveting twists and a breakneck pace, My Darling Husband is an utterly compelling thriller that once again showcases Kimberly Belle's exceptional talent for domestic suspense.
Jade and Cam Lasky are by all accounts a happily married couple with two adorable kids, a spacious home and a rapidly growing restaurant business. But their world is tipped upside down when Jade is confronted by a masked home invader. As Cam scrambles to gather the ransom money, Jade starts to wonder if they’re as financially secure as their lifestyle suggests, and what other secrets her husband is keeping from her.
Cam may be a good father, a celebrity chef and a darling husband, but there’s another side he’s kept hidden from Jade that has put their family in danger. Unbeknownst to Cam and Jade, the home invader has been watching them and is about to turn their family secrets into a public scandal.
With riveting twists and a breakneck pace, My Darling Husband is an utterly compelling thriller that once again showcases Kimberly Belle's exceptional talent for domestic suspense.
Review: For the most part I really liked this one. It read and felt like something that could be a good horror thriller film and the action started from the first chapter and didn’t let up really until the end. The book is also interesting with the back and forth timeline and the multiple POVs. The book had well developed characters and world building. The book was also very evenly paced.
However, usually in thriller/mystery books there’s a second act surprise or twist. This one really didn’t have one and it was kind of weird. It just kept going with the original plot and didn’t stop. I also felt like the book ended a bit abruptly.
Verdict: It was good!