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578 reviews by:
secondhandbookshelves
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I did not enjoy this one.
I read it over two days and could not tell you much about it except that there are five different types of mages, a war between monarchy vs libertarians, and that babies can be dragons.
The characters moods, tones & personalities wildly change throughout the story, but the main character did start and end with the same thought - making it home.
Also cows fight demons.
I read it over two days and could not tell you much about it except that there are five different types of mages, a war between monarchy vs libertarians, and that babies can be dragons.
The characters moods, tones & personalities wildly change throughout the story, but the main character did start and end with the same thought - making it home.
Also cows fight demons.
Minor: Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The team is back together & they have a cute name for investigating all the murders that happen around them - the Kestrels.
This book picks up immediately where book one left off - and it is now exactly a month after Sara's 18th birthday.
She's growing in her power and investigative skills, catching two murders in such a short time!
She can do some....interesting things with magic that seem a little too convenient for the story but I suppose she is still "testing her limits"
Also this book changes from flirting to friends with benefits!
She is still fighting against the patriarchy and monarchy, trying to show she needs no man.
On to book 3.
This book picks up immediately where book one left off - and it is now exactly a month after Sara's 18th birthday.
She's growing in her power and investigative skills, catching two murders in such a short time!
She can do some....interesting things with magic that seem a little too convenient for the story but I suppose she is still "testing her limits"
Also this book changes from flirting to friends with benefits!
She is still fighting against the patriarchy and monarchy, trying to show she needs no man.
On to book 3.
Minor: Death, Infidelity, Violence, Medical content, Murder
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Sera is a mage being "tutored" by a Guardian in a male dominated London.
The book focuses on her 18th birthday, escaping from her teacher, taking her place on the mages council, and how she deals with her first .... week? Month? I'm not entirely sure but it is a short period of time involving murder, magic, and a little flirting.
She's a strong female character but still only a teenager, and in a time when women were still assumed feeble & unworthy of doing more than bearing children.
The story progressed quickly, without being too predictable and I found that I enjoyed both the world that was built and the majority of the characters introduced.
I am planning on borrowing book two from the library as soon as my hold becomes available.
The book focuses on her 18th birthday, escaping from her teacher, taking her place on the mages council, and how she deals with her first .... week? Month? I'm not entirely sure but it is a short period of time involving murder, magic, and a little flirting.
She's a strong female character but still only a teenager, and in a time when women were still assumed feeble & unworthy of doing more than bearing children.
The story progressed quickly, without being too predictable and I found that I enjoyed both the world that was built and the majority of the characters introduced.
I am planning on borrowing book two from the library as soon as my hold becomes available.
Moderate: Sexism, Murder
Minor: Animal death, Death, Suicide, Classism
The Cabinet of Curiosities: 36 Tales Brief & Sinister
Katherine Catmull, Emma Trevayne, Claire Legrand, Stefan Bachmann
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
It's a collection of short, haunting dark tales with a few "letters" between the curators who assembled the stories.
A quick read.
I enjoy short stories (and collections of them best of all!) Since I can finish one during a lunch break.
Definitely enjoyed some of the tales better than others, but I was Enchanted with the way they were presented.
A quick read.
I enjoy short stories (and collections of them best of all!) Since I can finish one during a lunch break.
Definitely enjoyed some of the tales better than others, but I was Enchanted with the way they were presented.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not bad. Entertaining enough for a long afternoon with no plans.
Be prepared to hear lots about vegan dishes & have facts repeated multiple times.
The characters are kinda wooden.
there didn't feel like much emergency, even though this is supposed to be a murder mystery.
All of the twists were predictable.
Probably won't reread & honestly not sure if I'm going to continue the series.
Be prepared to hear lots about vegan dishes & have facts repeated multiple times.
The characters are kinda wooden.
there didn't feel like much emergency, even though this is supposed to be a murder mystery.
All of the twists were predictable.
Probably won't reread & honestly not sure if I'm going to continue the series.
Minor: Death, Suicide, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I picked up this book on a whim & devoured it in a single sitting.
I love the character . I love the museum. I love the willow world. I love the way things were described.
I will quite possibly have unquiet dreams about this world and I would not have it any other way.
An absolute delight, 10/10, buying a copy for the shelf ASAP.
I love the character . I love the museum. I love the willow world. I love the way things were described.
I will quite possibly have unquiet dreams about this world and I would not have it any other way.
An absolute delight, 10/10, buying a copy for the shelf ASAP.
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I absolutely adored this book.
Every single character is fantastic and varied and wonderful.
I loved that there were little tidbits from past Librarians scattered throughout the book.
This story has a hold on my heart and I have already ordered a physical copy (I listened to the audiobook) and the next book in the series.
There were magnificent twists, a handful a surprises, and I will be in denial that it is over for quite some time.
"You save yourself. You write your own story here."
A heartbreaking, beautiful, wonderful book that I will reread many times.
Every single character is fantastic and varied and wonderful.
I loved that there were little tidbits from past Librarians scattered throughout the book.
This story has a hold on my heart and I have already ordered a physical copy (I listened to the audiobook) and the next book in the series.
There were magnificent twists, a handful a surprises, and I will be in denial that it is over for quite some time.
"You save yourself. You write your own story here."
A heartbreaking, beautiful, wonderful book that I will reread many times.
Moderate: Death
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Violence, Grief, War
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A few very sad chapters but overall this was so fun to read.
The characters all have varied personalities and do not fail to share them. 90% of the characters are sassy AF & I love that.
The knights are less prominent in this book; it focuses almost exclusively on Fin, Annika & Katelyn.
I was delighted to have Kraken appear in this book again but would have loved to see more from his perspective. He popped in & out while playing a huge part in the story but seem glossed over, sadly.
Still a great book & I will most likely revisit it in the future!
The characters all have varied personalities and do not fail to share them. 90% of the characters are sassy AF & I love that.
The knights are less prominent in this book; it focuses almost exclusively on Fin, Annika & Katelyn.
I was delighted to have Kraken appear in this book again but would have loved to see more from his perspective. He popped in & out while playing a huge part in the story but seem glossed over, sadly.
Still a great book & I will most likely revisit it in the future!
Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A hauntingly beautiful, heartbreaking sad tale of friendship, decisions, and growing up.
Told as almost completely narration from an outside view - there is very little dialog in this book, and yet, it is a wonderfully woven tale.
Told as almost completely narration from an outside view - there is very little dialog in this book, and yet, it is a wonderfully woven tale.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fun little read about a 13 year old orphan boy who suddenly finds out he's a wizard & goes on an adventure in a magical world.
The puns were great, the author is sassy & I enjoyed the book quite a bit.
The narrator has a delightful voice, but I did have to listen on 1.5x speed since there were huge pauses & he does talk a little slow for my tastes.
Definitely picking up the next book in the series.
The puns were great, the author is sassy & I enjoyed the book quite a bit.
The narrator has a delightful voice, but I did have to listen on 1.5x speed since there were huge pauses & he does talk a little slow for my tastes.
Definitely picking up the next book in the series.