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632 reviews by:
takarakeireads
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My favorite so far in the series. Lundy’s backstory is about the transition from childhood to young adulthood. It is both poignant and heartbreaking to read. There is also an overarching criticism of the greed of our current society and it’s exploitative nature
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexism, Grief
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Violence
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Abortion, Pregnancy
adventurous
funny
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:
Complicated
Book 3 - they're back at the school with some new characters. This one is really funny (particularly one of the new characters). Fun narration and more of the worlds (nonsense).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Eating disorder, Death of parent
Minor: Transphobia
adventurous
emotional
tense
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:
Complicated
- Seriously amazing characters
- Political intrigue
- Dragons and magic
- Sapphic romance
The true definition of an epic sweeping high fantasy. Going into this I basically only knew two things: sapphic and dragons. I would've liked to get more dragons, but I feel as if that might be coming in Priory. I have not read TPOTOT yet as I decided to do this prequel first. I think because of that I had to get all the world building out of the way and it took about 200+ pages before I felt like I wasn't constantly referencing maps/character lists (tho I SUPER appreciate them being included). There are a lot of background characters and it takes a bit to get settled into the main POVs, but all the main characters are all just scrumptious. Truly hard to pick a favorite (although personally are Glorian and Dumai). I look forward to reading Priory next month (one 800+ pg book per month is all I can handle)!
I was originally gonna rate this 4.75 stars but I just cannot stop thinking about it, so it's 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Pregnancy, War
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Grief
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book focuses on the back stories of Jack and Jill - two characters from book 1. I really loved how gender roles were explored (and critiqued).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse
Minor: Fatphobia
Much of the book deals with Jack and Jill's parents forcing them into gender specific 'roles'. While neither character is trans, they are both girls who are not allowed to be true to themselves.
Adult/minor relationship - while I don't believe there is explicitly anything sexual between Jill and 'the master' (who is a vampire) there's def a power imbalance/ ick-factor in their relationship
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:
No
Loved this story and I feel like it's the start to a great series. Immediately interesting and intriguing. Mysterious and a bit dark. Fantastic representation. Quick read, and great narration on audio.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Murder
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Animal death, Deadnaming, Eating disorder, Acephobia/Arophobia
funny
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
So I read this for a book club thing (long story) cause otherwise I likely wouldn't have. It's a funny, cute story for the most part. I do like that the children learn some self-awareness and recognize their spoiled attitudes. There is a mystical quality used to describe nature and it's importance.
Definitely have to take into consideration when it was written because there are some racist stereotypes particularly of Indians (the MC comes from living in British colonized India and moves back to England). I then found out that the authorwas part of the Christian Science movement, which holds the belief that you can heal yourself with just your mind and that definitely changed my perspective on the book a lot. If you didn't grow up reading this story I'm not sure I can necessarily recommend it...
Definitely have to take into consideration when it was written because there are some racist stereotypes particularly of Indians (the MC comes from living in British colonized India and moves back to England). I then found out that the author
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Death of parent, Colonisation
Minor: Animal death, Confinement
lighthearted
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
- witch families
- small town
- WLW bisexuals
- contemporary fantasy romance
- bonding over hatred of a man
I thought the concept of this quirky witchy tourist town was cute. I wasn't wholly invested in the outcome of the characters beyond their goal of taking down this trash of a man (which honestly, fine!). The tournament plotline is a bit generic, but heck if you're looking for a witchy queer romance with some spice, it's a fun time!
3/5 🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence
Minor: Misogyny
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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:
No
- Black girl magic
- Sapphic
- Gothic
- Plant magic/apothecary
- Greek mythology
[audiobook] - Immediately immersive and interesting. Reads very easily and quickly. I was fascinated by all the plant information, must have taken quite a bit of research. I loved Bri's parents and their relationship. I'm excited for the sequel and glad I already have it on my shelf.
SO now I'm gonna read The Secret Garden (as this is a retelling)...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Racism, Grief
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Having an interest in F1 Racing (or at least race car drivers...) helps. Noah has good character growth (we love to see a man voluntarily enter therapy!). "Brother's rival now teammate" is a new one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Car accident, Alcohol
Noah's father is abusive.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
A deeply personal memoir about mother/daughter relationships, and being an Asian American balancing two cultures. Michelle's relationship with her mother (and father) is very complicated. Much of the book deals with her mother's battle with cancer (check full TW!). Those of Asian and particularly Korean heritage will find many cultural comforts, especially when it comes to Korean food descriptions. The art teacher passage/letter wrecked me. Being a fan of Japanese Breakfast, I never knew their first album was a picture of Michelle's mom and that she wrote some of the songs for her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness, Excrement
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Racism, Car accident, Abortion
This book focuses very heavily on Michelle's mother's battle with cancer, and the struggle of caretaking through terminal illness.
Michelle has a sometimes contentious relationship with both her parents. Her father deals with substance abuse issues.