purplepenning's Reviews (1.72k)

Hex Appeal by Kate Johnson

Hex Appeal

Kate Johnson

3.75
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

Laurie Gilmore

4.0
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner

Godkiller

Hannah Kaner

4.0
adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
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This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher

This Will Be Fun

E.B. Asher

DID NOT FINISH: 41%
I feel like I gave it up just when the plot was finally going to kick in, but I just couldn't do it any more. I've had this issue with these authors before — the high-angst, slow-reveal method of storytelling just doesn't work for me. (But it does work for others. What I call frustrating, others may call a page-turner.) It's a particular shame this time, because I was actually interested in the story and entertained by the tongue-in-cheek fantasy setting. Just not enough to offset how miserable these characters are and how miserable and frustrated they're making me! Maybe I'll come back and skim to the end sometime.
Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin

Wild is the Witch

Rachel Griffin

The woodsy-PNW-witchy vibes and YA nemesis-to-lovers tropes (complete with "only one tent") are on point. But this one wasn't for me — as sometimes happens with YA, I just couldn't get past the main character (an 18-year-old) doing a Very Dumb Thoughtless Dangerous Thing that kicked off the whole plot. 
You Had Me at Happy Hour by Timothy Janovsky

You Had Me at Happy Hour

Timothy Janovsky

3.75
emotional hopeful fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Queer, new adult rom-com with excellent mental health rep that goes hand in hand with steamy, toy-assisted sex positivity. 
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Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Starling House

Alix E. Harrow

4.25
adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
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The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Message

Ta-Nehisi Coates

4.5
challenging emotional reflective fast-paced
No one needs my basic, white, Gen- X, middle-class thoughts on Ta-Nehisi Coates's latest message in essays. It's not very long — go read it for yourself. 
The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones

The Wild Huntress

Emily Lloyd-Jones

4.25
adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
A standalone fantasy rooted in traditional Welsh folklore, The Wild Huntress slips the reader into the edges of the uncanny world of the Fae before plunging them deep into the dark adventure of the Wild Hunt.

Where The Drowned Woods (same world, different standalone tale, also recommended) gave us morally gray, complicated magic users, thieves, rulers, tricksters, and an adorable corgi, this one gives us morally gray, complicated magic users, thieves, rulers, tricksters, and a cat who may be more than it seems. 

For an extra treat, and to hear the beautiful Welsh pronunciations, check out the audiobook narrated by Moira Quick.
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An Intrigue of Witches by Esme Addison

An Intrigue of Witches

Esme Addison

DID NOT FINISH: 30%
This does seem to deliver on the "National Treasure" meets "Discovery of Witches" vibes! It's just more exposition than I'm looking for right now.