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sarai0410's Reviews (404)
informative
fast-paced
It's Not Hysteria delves into the world of reproductive health for AFAB (assigned female at birth) individuals in an easy to understand, practical manner. The book is setup in a way that the reader could skip around to the chapters/topics of interest/relevancy to themselves, but I highly recommend that readers look into each topic even if it doesn't seem relevant to yourself as understanding healthcare is about more than 'you' - it's about understanding what others experience and how those experiences effect the world around you.
This book is incredibly inclusive and I appreciate the effort that the author put into their language usage, covering topics not specifically for non-cisgender people (transgender, intersex, etc.), and generally creating a safe environment in which to learn because gatekeeping healthcare is not the move.
This book is incredibly inclusive and I appreciate the effort that the author put into their language usage, covering topics not specifically for non-cisgender people (transgender, intersex, etc.), and generally creating a safe environment in which to learn because gatekeeping healthcare is not the move.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gods this was almost perfect and - depending on how long the story and characters linger in my head - it might just get bumped up to a 5 ⭐ despite one tiny thing I would have liked more of.
The atmosphere and vibes of One Dark Window are exquisite - gothic and historical, fantastical and darkly romantic - I couldn't get enough of the world Gillig created. The magic system is utterly unique and I would love a reference book of the Old Book of Alders just to absorb more of the world.
Our main characters, Elspeth and Ravyn (yes, I will admit that their names are a little bit ridiculous), both contain bits of surprises within their personalities, and the only thing I would have wanted more of from the story was more relationship build-up as it did seem a little insta-lovey (but not so much that I didn't like them still).
Now the real star of the show in my opinion - The Nightmare. Poetic, dark, protective in his own ways - I love him your honor.While the reveal behind who he is is rather predictable, I loved his interactions with Elspeth and his almost paternal nature towards her.
I have some theories going into the sequel and I'm excited to see if they are true.
The atmosphere and vibes of One Dark Window are exquisite - gothic and historical, fantastical and darkly romantic - I couldn't get enough of the world Gillig created. The magic system is utterly unique and I would love a reference book of the Old Book of Alders just to absorb more of the world.
Our main characters, Elspeth and Ravyn (yes, I will admit that their names are a little bit ridiculous), both contain bits of surprises within their personalities, and the only thing I would have wanted more of from the story was more relationship build-up as it did seem a little insta-lovey (but not so much that I didn't like them still).
Now the real star of the show in my opinion - The Nightmare. Poetic, dark, protective in his own ways - I love him your honor.
I have some theories going into the sequel and I'm excited to see if they are true.
"There once was a girl,” he murmured, “clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a King—a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same: “The girl, the King… and the monster they became.”
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another fun and cozy installment in the Shady Hollow mystery series. Are the mysteries rather predictable? Yes - but the coziness and the characters really make the story worth reading still. I really love the romance sub-plot for our main character, Vera, and the background plots of each book add so much to the Shady Hollow community, keeping me interested in continuing on in the series.
dark
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
oh no, this book caused me to fall back into my dark MC romance era and I can't get up
Seriously though, this was so good. The characters and their chemistry was so hot; yes it's a little insta-lusty, which doesn't usually work for me, but in this case it worked . The smut was...look, there was a lot going on, but holy hell it was good (please for the love of all things holy, check your trigger warnings). The plot was good - although I would have liked a little more and to see the other members of the MC more.
I loved how Wolfe took his time to build Brinley up; making her stronger, not only physically, but mentally - building her confidence and teaching her to not let other's expectations influence her decisions. While Brinley brought a different side of Wolfe out, being the light he needed.
The big highlights of Wolf.e for me (other than the smut 👀) were: NO miscommunication trope and NO third act breakup 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
now excuse me while I fall down the Sons of Anarchy rabbit hole... 🏍️
Seriously though, this was so good. The characters and their chemistry was so hot; yes it's a little insta-lusty, which doesn't usually work for me, but in this case it worked . The smut was...look, there was a lot going on, but holy hell it was good (please for the love of all things holy, check your trigger warnings). The plot was good - although I would have liked a little more and to see the other members of the MC more.
I loved how Wolfe took his time to build Brinley up; making her stronger, not only physically, but mentally - building her confidence and teaching her to not let other's expectations influence her decisions. While Brinley brought a different side of Wolfe out, being the light he needed.
The big highlights of Wolf.e for me (other than the smut 👀) were: NO miscommunication trope and NO third act breakup 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
now excuse me while I fall down the Sons of Anarchy rabbit hole... 🏍️
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adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While I didn't enjoy this as much as the first in the series, I'll always enjoy a Rick Riordan story. Carter and Sadie are amazing characters and I love the back and forth storytelling style that these two have. The additions of Bes and Walt are really what kept the story going for me, and I'm very interested to see what is in store in the final installment of The Kane Chronicles for them and our Kane siblings.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was alright - there was a lot of 'telling, not showing' that really pulled me from the story, which made it hard to actually see the relationship and character development.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's been a while since I read a book within the Wayward Children universe, so I was sufficiently confused jumping into Come Tumbling Down; there was no way around the amount of Googling I did to determine who was who and what happened previously.
After getting reacquainted with the characters and their doors though, I fell into the story so easily - McGuire's writing as an unnatural ability to pull you in and has more depth in under 200 pages than most 500+ page books.
While I think Jack and Jill's story didn't need another book, I felt like this was a nice way to round out their characters.
After getting reacquainted with the characters and their doors though, I fell into the story so easily - McGuire's writing as an unnatural ability to pull you in and has more depth in under 200 pages than most 500+ page books.
While I think Jack and Jill's story didn't need another book, I felt like this was a nice way to round out their characters.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While I didn't love this one as much as the first, What the River Knows, I still enjoyed following Inez and Whit's adventures through Egypt and their quest to discover the truth behind Inez's parents. There were some very questionable decisions that came from our MMC and FMC, some which made me want to smack them upside the head with their own book...but I could still see why those decisions made sense to the characters themselves.
Spoiler territory:
While I can see why the author chose to include Whit's betrayal in the story for both some resolution to his character arc in the first book, and to create discontent between him and Inez, it felt like all of that wrapped up quite quickly, with Inez forgiving him within a couple days. HOWEVER, before I rag on that too much - her forgiving him makes sense to her character. Throughout book one we see how desperately Inez wants to be included, wants someone, anyone to choose her. Her parents were constantly jerking her around during her childhood, leaving her in Argentina, and then the poor girl is betrayed by her mother and then by her father (those moments were painful, Inez needs therapy after this book tbh), and she was desperate for Whit to be her person. I'm not saying Whit's actions themselves are forgivable, but I understand why Inez would be so ready to forgive him.
Throughout the story, there were so many villains and so few people that were trustworthy, that I was questioning every single character (I was right about Isadora though, so pats to me).
Similar to my thoughts on the first book, I just wish there was a little bit more focus on the magic itself.
I don't read a lot of YA, but Ibañez's writing style and characters are fantastic, so I would happily read more of her works in the future.
Spoiler territory:
Throughout the story, there were so many villains and so few people that were trustworthy, that I was questioning every single character (I was right about Isadora though, so pats to me).
Similar to my thoughts on the first book, I just wish there was a little bit more focus on the magic itself.
I don't read a lot of YA, but Ibañez's writing style and characters are fantastic, so I would happily read more of her works in the future.
DNF @ 42 pages - the premise seemed interested but already so short into the book, the writing style was wonky, the FMC was beyond questionable, and already hints at incest..no thank you.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
You know that feeling that starts to bubble within yourself when you start a book and so quickly you can sense that the words on the page are transforming themselves into something that will grip your heart and make you fall in love with storytelling all over again? That is exactly what I felt ~30 pages into The Lost Story.
It's going to sound dramatic (and it kinda is tbh) but I truly don't have any words for how beautiful this story is; how gripping the characters and their relationships are; how magical the world felt.
Go in blind; go in looking for magic - I promise you'll find it.
It's going to sound dramatic (and it kinda is tbh) but I truly don't have any words for how beautiful this story is; how gripping the characters and their relationships are; how magical the world felt.
Go in blind; go in looking for magic - I promise you'll find it.
In other words, a hero on a quest for the Holy Grail isn’t looking for the Holy Grail. The hero is trying to find himself, and the only way he can find his true self is by going on a journey, being tried and tested until he knows if he is a hero in name only or a hero in truth. And that’s why the world has Holy Grails—not because the world needs Holy Grails but because the world needs heroes.
All books are magic. An object that can take you to another world without even leaving your room? A story written by a stranger and yet it seems they wrote it just for you or to you? Loving and hating people made out of ink and paper, not flesh and blood? Yes, books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is.
Every falling star in Shanandoah / 5 🌠