Take a photo of a barcode or cover
typedtruths's Reviews (1.8k)
10 Things I Can See From Here was a solid contemporary story about family, mental health and first relationships. The characters and their dynamics were definitely what made this book for me. Romances tend to be a hit or miss in these kinds of stories but Mac managed to balance Maeve and Salix’s blossoming relationship perfectly with the other elements of the story. It was never overpowering or unrealistic. It unfolded at a steady pace from simple attractions through several awkward, fumbling first dates until it hit that steady relationship stage. I absolutely adored seeing Maeve and Salix test our their dynamics and learn about each other throughout the story. I loved that there weren't any cases of miscommunication or unrealistic tragic backstories. It was a simple girl-meets-girl storyline that was incredibly sweet and lovely. It is just so nice to have another good f/f romance to ship!
The anxiety rep was also fantastic. I don’t have much more to say about it. It was done so well and with such a genuine voice that I would happily recommend it.
The characters were a tiny bit of a mixed bag but for the most part, fascinating. My biggest problem was definitely Maeve’s mother. We were told that she and Maeve were close but I never saw that in the story; not only did she jet off to Haiti with her unusual boyfriend but she did so when her daughter - who has severe anxiety - was not in a particularly good place. I did not like her very much at all.
Maeve’s step-family, on the other hand, was perfect. I could cry over how much I adored seeing Claire and Maeve’s relationship unfold. It was nice to have a supportive stepmother in the story. Yes, their relationship was far from perfect but they could lean on each other when they needed and grew so much closer as the story progressed. I don’t know what else I could ask for. Her stepbrothers were adorable. I loved them too much for words. I also really liked how Maeve’s relationship with her father was handled. Was he my favourite character of all time? Dear God, no. However, I felt like it was one of the most authentic 'alcoholic parent’ I have ever read. Their relationship was complex and messy. There were no right answers. They struggled, they fought, but they were family and worked through it and I loved, loved, loved that we got to see this common trope done differently and finally done well, in my opinion.
The one aspect of this book which let me down was the portrayal of sexual assault. I was so grateful that we touched upon it, especially how it raised the point that many assault cases with a female perpetrator go unreported, but it did feel a tad rushed. I wished that it had been given some more page time or played a larger role in the overall story.
Overall?
10 Things I Can See From Here was a solid contemporary story. The portrayal of anxiety and family were beyond fantastic. I really enjoyed the unique characters and complex relationships. The romance was adorable. It was realistic and fumblish first love that made me smile. I am so happy to have found a solid f/f romance to recommend! The writing and the plot were engaging. I liked almost every aspect of this story and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by this author.
Please be aware of trigger warnings before checking this one out for yourself because sexual assault, addiction relapses, and suicide are central themes.
Blog • Twitter • Instagram
The anxiety rep was also fantastic. I don’t have much more to say about it. It was done so well and with such a genuine voice that I would happily recommend it.
The characters were a tiny bit of a mixed bag but for the most part, fascinating. My biggest problem was definitely Maeve’s mother. We were told that she and Maeve were close but I never saw that in the story; not only did she jet off to Haiti with her unusual boyfriend but she did so when her daughter - who has severe anxiety - was not in a particularly good place. I did not like her very much at all.
Maeve’s step-family, on the other hand, was perfect. I could cry over how much I adored seeing Claire and Maeve’s relationship unfold. It was nice to have a supportive stepmother in the story. Yes, their relationship was far from perfect but they could lean on each other when they needed and grew so much closer as the story progressed. I don’t know what else I could ask for. Her stepbrothers were adorable. I loved them too much for words. I also really liked how Maeve’s relationship with her father was handled. Was he my favourite character of all time? Dear God, no. However, I felt like it was one of the most authentic 'alcoholic parent’ I have ever read. Their relationship was complex and messy. There were no right answers. They struggled, they fought, but they were family and worked through it and I loved, loved, loved that we got to see this common trope done differently and finally done well, in my opinion.
The one aspect of this book which let me down was the portrayal of sexual assault. I was so grateful that we touched upon it, especially how it raised the point that many assault cases with a female perpetrator go unreported, but it did feel a tad rushed. I wished that it had been given some more page time or played a larger role in the overall story.
Overall?
10 Things I Can See From Here was a solid contemporary story. The portrayal of anxiety and family were beyond fantastic. I really enjoyed the unique characters and complex relationships. The romance was adorable. It was realistic and fumblish first love that made me smile. I am so happy to have found a solid f/f romance to recommend! The writing and the plot were engaging. I liked almost every aspect of this story and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by this author.
Please be aware of trigger warnings before checking this one out for yourself because sexual assault, addiction relapses, and suicide are central themes.
Blog • Twitter • Instagram
#1) The Shadow Queen ★★★☆☆
#2) The Wish Granter ★★★½☆
#3) The Traitor Prince ★★★½☆
The Wish Granter was an enjoyable companion to The Shadow Queen.
While it definitely has similar issues, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the characters. Ari and Sebastian were wonderful protagonists but their romantic relationship was only mediocre. Ari had such a distinctive voice. Her obsession with food definitely made me smile. I mean, relatable much. I adored having a self-confessed curvy female protagonist who was truly happy with her weight and appearance. It was refreshing to see a plus-sized character completely and utterly comfortable with themselves, particularly in a fantasy. Her determination and bravery also made her quite the admirable protagonist. She was not a Special Snowflake, just an ordinary girl thrown into a tricky situation and trying to figure out where she belonged. I will say that it was a little frustrating that Redwine felt the need to constantly remind us Ari was smart and brave when it was so clearly shown, but I didn’t ruin her narration for me.
Sebastian was also wonderful. He was sweet and loyal. I loved his little crinkly-eyed smile. He is actually one of the very few realistic childhood abuse survivors I have ever read about. His childhood is too often exploited for the Tragic Backstory cliche but Redwine did it justice. While the words ptsd and anxiety are never used, it is clearly portrayed as having those symptoms. The fact that his fear of being touched and left alone in crowds was integral to his storyline, never disappearing at convenient moments, meant a lot. I was a little worried that he started to ‘get better’ when he met Ari but it never got to the stage where he was magically cured by the romance. She did help him make progress, but only because he started to build a support system for the first time, not anything else.
The plot was effortlessly engaging. I found it so hard to put down that I whipped through it in a single afternoon. I was genuinely intrigued to see how Ari planned to wheedle her way out of Thad’s disastrous deal. The storyline got much darker than I thought it would - a happy surprise! Thank God, the author decided she wouldn’t make her characters take any of the easy shortcuts. The political aspects of the story could have gone a tad further, I thought. I never truly understood the scope of Teague’s operation or how he used Thad’s influence to manipulate it. Seeing that portrayed more clearly, rather than just stated, would have really drawn me in.
What definitely let me down was how it was a tad too predictable, which is always a risk with retellings. Redwine didn’t quite manage to distinguish her story from the familiar myth. It led me to expect the ending way before the characters did… which is always a tad irritating. It drains a lot of the excitement from the climax of the story.
Overall?
The Wish Granter was an easy and engaging read for my lazy Saturday. It drew me in with its lovable protagonists. Ari with her feisty spirit and baking talents was an admirable protagonist but Sebastian definitely stole the spotlight. His anxiety/PTSD representation was so well-written and added an element to the story I didn’t know I needed. I thought the plot was a little predictable but I appreciated that it didn't gloss over some of the darker aspects of the story. I definitely thought this sequel was a more engaging read than The Shadow Queen. I would recommend continuing on with the series if you were dubious. You might even start with this companion if you are new to the series since it follows an entirely different cast and storyline.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
• Fantastic mcs. I adored both Daniel and Colin's povs. There was never a moment when I wanted to skim someone's chapters. In fact, I often wanted more scenes from each of their povs.
• I think that the plot was a tad repetitive; cycling through sex scenes, dialogue and tattooing got old pretty fast.
• The fact this story focused on a man in his twenties coming to terms with his sexuality made me weep with joy; it was not only about coming out but also about first relationships and experiences.
• I am not sure how to feel about the eating disorder rep. I definitely need to do more research and find some #ownvoices reviews, if any exist.
• There was so much communications between mcs. Halle-freaking-lujah!
• ^Honestly, this made the story for me. I am sick of miscommunication in romances like this. Colin and Daniel’s openness about all aspects of their lives was everything, especially when they had honest conversations about sex and boundaries.
• The tattoo artistry subplot was also amazing, so authentic.
• I did feel like I needed a tad more from Colin’s backstory. His eating disorder and fitness addiction were not glossed over but I felt like it could have played a more on-page role too. In particular, I would appreciate having some of his therapy sessions on the page.
• More about Daniel’s naval experiences and how that affected him would have been nice too.
• Witt has an addictive writing style.
• I think that the plot was a tad repetitive; cycling through sex scenes, dialogue and tattooing got old pretty fast.
• The fact this story focused on a man in his twenties coming to terms with his sexuality made me weep with joy; it was not only about coming out but also about first relationships and experiences.
• I am not sure how to feel about the eating disorder rep. I definitely need to do more research and find some #ownvoices reviews, if any exist.
• There was so much communications between mcs. Halle-freaking-lujah!
• ^Honestly, this made the story for me. I am sick of miscommunication in romances like this. Colin and Daniel’s openness about all aspects of their lives was everything, especially when they had honest conversations about sex and boundaries.
• The tattoo artistry subplot was also amazing, so authentic.
• I did feel like I needed a tad more from Colin’s backstory. His eating disorder and fitness addiction were not glossed over but I felt like it could have played a more on-page role too. In particular, I would appreciate having some of his therapy sessions on the page.
• More about Daniel’s naval experiences and how that affected him would have been nice too.
• Witt has an addictive writing style.
#1) The Screaming Staircase ★★★★☆
#1.5) The Dagger in the Desk ★★★★☆
#2) The Whispering Skull ★★★★☆
#3) The Hollow Boy ★★★★☆
I don't know how reading a book for the first time can feel like coming home,, but that's exactly what this series does to me.
🌻 Trigger warnings for extreme death themes, blood/gore, physical injuries, graphic violence, murder, attempted murder, explosion, knife violence, physical assault, mild animal cruelty, and fatmisia. Mentions persecution for witchcraft.
Blog • Goodreads • Twitter • Instagram
Deciding to "read" an audibook for the first time was a pretty big decision on my part. It's been a long time coming, I know. But I couldn't have hoped for a greater introduction to the format than I got with The Dark Unwinding. It took me a long, long time to finish it - who knew that audiobooks took so damn long? - and there were times where I forgot who was who because it was so drawn out, but that is everything negative I have to say about the experience. I certainly didn't expect anything so engaging or well-written.
• Can we just talk about Katherine Tullman for a second? The author deserves more than just the proverbial tip of the hat for the character development she reached with Katherine. I'm pretty much powerless against loving such a head-strong, feminist female protagonist from the 1800s in the first place, but one that went on such a journey of self-discovery and improvement had me positively tipsy with joy! There's nothing better than getting such a raw MC become such a fleshed-out, well-rounded character. Honestly.
• I loved Mary. She was hilarious, and the perfect companion for Katherine - even if she annoyed her to no end at times.
• I did expect a steampunk story when I started this (it has cogs on the front cover - what else was I expected to think?) but I'm actually pleased that those elements weren't bought into the story. Maybe it's just that I'm in such a historical mood, but I think that the character-driven storyline with the mysterious subplots suited the story so much more. I loved the simpleness of the storyline and how it allowed for equal exploration of the characters, time period and mystery to occur all at once.
• Speaking of plot, there were so many unexpected moments in this story... and I loved it! I actually gasped out loud at least one. It always had me on my toes, and I didn't know what to expect. The story kept changing directions (not in a bad way, at all) and the foreshadowing was so subtle, I was just clueless until they were revealed.
• I, surprisingly, didn't cry at all at this story but the ending certainly shocked me. I thought it was apt though, and will definitely be reading the sequel immediately.
• The side story of how mental illness (I'm not sure what else to call it - their term 'lunacy' seems much too harsh) was particularly interesting. Obviously, I knew how "unfavorable" it was to have such a family member and the the scandals their conditions could cause, but the fact that "lunacy" was a punishable crime astonished me! I literally had no idea - whether that's just sheer ignorance on my part or not, I found it absolutely fascinating to see how the characters dealt with Mr/Uncle Tully.
• The very subtle touch of romance - it's not really there, I don't think they even kissed - was nice. It wasn't too much but it was enough, and I cannot wait to see how it develops in the sequel.
• I love the time period, and the way the writing and dialogue captured the era perfectly.
• The narration was well-done, or I think it was. I don't exactly have anything to compare it to so I cannot be sure, but I loved how the narrator used different voices to distinguish who was speaking, and slight accents. The entire book was spoken in a British accent too which I loved more than I can say. This story is set in England so it was most apt and just fantastic - it really helped capture the time and mood of the story.
Overall this was so much more than I expected. I loved Katherine as a protagonist, and the story was engaging and exactly what I needed. The sequel is waiting for me on my iPad and I'll definitely be listening to it straight away.
• Can we just talk about Katherine Tullman for a second? The author deserves more than just the proverbial tip of the hat for the character development she reached with Katherine. I'm pretty much powerless against loving such a head-strong, feminist female protagonist from the 1800s in the first place, but one that went on such a journey of self-discovery and improvement had me positively tipsy with joy! There's nothing better than getting such a raw MC become such a fleshed-out, well-rounded character. Honestly.
• I loved Mary. She was hilarious, and the perfect companion for Katherine - even if she annoyed her to no end at times.
• I did expect a steampunk story when I started this (it has cogs on the front cover - what else was I expected to think?) but I'm actually pleased that those elements weren't bought into the story. Maybe it's just that I'm in such a historical mood, but I think that the character-driven storyline with the mysterious subplots suited the story so much more. I loved the simpleness of the storyline and how it allowed for equal exploration of the characters, time period and mystery to occur all at once.
• Speaking of plot, there were so many unexpected moments in this story... and I loved it! I actually gasped out loud at least one. It always had me on my toes, and I didn't know what to expect. The story kept changing directions (not in a bad way, at all) and the foreshadowing was so subtle, I was just clueless until they were revealed.
• I, surprisingly, didn't cry at all at this story but the ending certainly shocked me. I thought it was apt though, and will definitely be reading the sequel immediately.
• The side story of how mental illness (I'm not sure what else to call it - their term 'lunacy' seems much too harsh) was particularly interesting. Obviously, I knew how "unfavorable" it was to have such a family member and the the scandals their conditions could cause, but the fact that "lunacy" was a punishable crime astonished me! I literally had no idea - whether that's just sheer ignorance on my part or not, I found it absolutely fascinating to see how the characters dealt with Mr/Uncle Tully.
• The very subtle touch of romance - it's not really there, I don't think they even kissed - was nice. It wasn't too much but it was enough, and I cannot wait to see how it develops in the sequel.
• I love the time period, and the way the writing and dialogue captured the era perfectly.
• The narration was well-done, or I think it was. I don't exactly have anything to compare it to so I cannot be sure, but I loved how the narrator used different voices to distinguish who was speaking, and slight accents. The entire book was spoken in a British accent too which I loved more than I can say. This story is set in England so it was most apt and just fantastic - it really helped capture the time and mood of the story.
Overall this was so much more than I expected. I loved Katherine as a protagonist, and the story was engaging and exactly what I needed. The sequel is waiting for me on my iPad and I'll definitely be listening to it straight away.
4.5 stars
I have two things to say about this book:
A) It is the most brilliant portrayal of mental illness and its effect on relationships, particularly familial and romantic ones, that I have ever read. It gutted me in a beautiful way and I think it will stay with me for a long time.
B) It is way too long for a contemporary (I mean, 550+ pages is a lot)… but that’s my only complaint.
This was such a beautifully thought-provoking and insightful book about mental illness. Move over [a:Jennifer Niven|45592|Jennifer Niven|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1332194516p2/45592.jpg] and [a:John Green|1406384|John Green|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1353452301p2/1406384.jpg]. This is how it should be done! Go do yourself a favour right now and give this book a go. It has an amazing protagonist and the themes are handled sensitively and with an open rawness that you’ll want to applaud. It has my highest recommendation.
I have two things to say about this book:
A) It is the most brilliant portrayal of mental illness and its effect on relationships, particularly familial and romantic ones, that I have ever read. It gutted me in a beautiful way and I think it will stay with me for a long time.
B) It is way too long for a contemporary (I mean, 550+ pages is a lot)… but that’s my only complaint.
This was such a beautifully thought-provoking and insightful book about mental illness. Move over [a:Jennifer Niven|45592|Jennifer Niven|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1332194516p2/45592.jpg] and [a:John Green|1406384|John Green|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1353452301p2/1406384.jpg]. This is how it should be done! Go do yourself a favour right now and give this book a go. It has an amazing protagonist and the themes are handled sensitively and with an open rawness that you’ll want to applaud. It has my highest recommendation.