_chrstnlvly's reviews
222 reviews

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Go to review page

adventurous slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

At last, I finally finished it. It was somewhat difficult to finish (read: boring) because there wasn't much of a plot—they were just travelling and waiting for something to happen.

All I could hope was that Shadow and Bone was merely a duology rather than a trilogy. The events in Siege and Storm may have made up no more than 20% of a book.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Go to review page

mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Review after rereading:

I guess my hyperfixation to this series reignited after watching the show. I appreciated Holly Jackson's writing more after my reread. She is indeed a genius.

And since I can't wait to read again how it all ties together, I'm off to read Good Girl, Bad Blood.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

Go to review page

lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

Go to review page

mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Do You Remember by Freida McFadden

Go to review page

mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

One word: inane.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Love Unwritten by Lauren Asher

Go to review page

emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Go to review page

funny 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? No

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Ex by Freida McFadden

Go to review page

mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Next Girl by Carla Kovach

Go to review page

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book is a straightforward procedural thriller. 

It took me some time to finish it due to a lack of compelling tension. Although the stakes were high with a life on the line, the plot revealed the victim's situation while the protagonist, DI Gina Harte, was still trying to solve the case. As a result, I, the reader, was merely waiting for the protagonist to catch up with what I already knew. The question was not 'what will happen?' but 'when and how will the villain be caught?' This aspect dulled the suspense and made me less inclined to pick up the book. 

However, DI Gina Harte, the protagonist, was a well-developed character. Even though her personal backstory didn't profoundly affect me, I could understand her because her character was thoroughly explored. 

I'm undecided about continuing with the series. I might consider reading the second book in the future, but if it follows the same format, I may not pursue the entire series.
Also, to be honest, Harte was a bit.. dumb for a DI. She actually didn't solve the case in this book. All the pieces just fell into place: she didn't find the victim, someone else did. She didn't take down the perpetrator. Someone else did.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Perfect Wife by Blake Pierce

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

A quick, easy read. I knew it was part of a series, but I wasn't aware it's a 38-book series. I guess I've found another series that I'll be reading for a while.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings