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art_books_chemistry's reviews
538 reviews
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
emotional
funny
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexism, Car accident, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Classism
Fire Maidens: Paris Rose (Billionaires & Bodyguards #0.5) by Anna Lowe
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
- A nice little "how we met" story with a bit of current day prequel information to get a reader interested in the first full book. Cute and quick.
- Terrible narrator for the audiobook. She reads as if she's a news reporter reading off a teleprompter.
- Terrible narrator for the audiobook. She reads as if she's a news reporter reading off a teleprompter.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and War
Goodnight Lab: A Scientific Parody by Chris Ferrie
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
Save the Last Dance for Me by Cora Lee
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.5
This is a cute, quick, historically appropriate, clean romance. It was also a bit funny to have such an innocent fake dating storyline, a lot of modern ones end up with the one-bed scenario or similar intimate situations which could not accurately be the case here; I suppose that also makes it a friends-to-lovers plot as well.
For me, I frankly found this boring, the most exciting things to happen were stories of the MMCs archaeology trips. I'm also not a fan of the miscommunication trope, especially as it was used here.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
For me, I frankly found this boring, the most exciting things to happen were stories of the MMCs archaeology trips. I'm also not a fan of the miscommunication trope, especially as it was used here.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Chronic illness
Steel and Stone: The Curse of the Stone Keep by Silvana G. Sánchez
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Steel and Stone is like if you threw Sleeping Beauty qnd Persephone's origin story in a blender with a few pages of The Odyssey for seasoning. Sanchez weaves these stories together in such a way that they feel like their own cohesive tale but the Easter eggs are everywhere.
It's important to note that although the very beginning of this book intersects with the end of the first one (Ash and Snow), it is definitely a standalone. I can't decide whether I actually like our heroes and heroines, the author definitely loves her morally gray characters. But they are certainly strong and heroic during their various quests and adventures.
My only complaint is that it was starting to feel long. The chapters were nice and short allowing you to keep going in sequential order easily between the POVs but some of Beauty's parts felt repetitive at points, where nearly the same things happened day after day.
Overall, I absolutely recommend this! And I can't wait for the next book!
It's important to note that although the very beginning of this book intersects with the end of the first one (Ash and Snow), it is definitely a standalone. I can't decide whether I actually like our heroes and heroines, the author definitely loves her morally gray characters. But they are certainly strong and heroic during their various quests and adventures.
My only complaint is that it was starting to feel long. The chapters were nice and short allowing you to keep going in sequential order easily between the POVs but some of Beauty's parts felt repetitive at points, where nearly the same things happened day after day.
Overall, I absolutely recommend this! And I can't wait for the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
Tentacles VOL 1: A Tentacle Alien Romance (Erotic Encounters of the Monster Kind Bundle) by Mandy Spice
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
Richard Scarry's Best Little Board Book Ever by Richard Scarry
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
Hollowed by Jessica S. Taylor
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Overall, Hollowed swept me up and took me for a wild horse ride. I recently read the original Sleepy Hollow short story and was actually very unimpressed. Taylor takes that story as well as the 90s movie for inspiration and runs away with it. I found the story to be incredibly unique, albeit still a tad predictable. (I guessed the responsible party fairly early but was not 100% sure until it was revealed!) Character development was solid and I liked having a hearing disabled FMC and it being worked naturally into the story. My only wish is that it was also used a strength (like being able to read lips from far away to learn something), instead of just a flaw. The FMC is also great anxiety and imposter syndrome representation.
I loved that this was able to also be a period piece with references to the "War for Independence" and clothing styles without feeling like a dry historical fiction. I was lowkey expecting them to leave the bubble of the town and it be modern day, like they were stuck in their bubble so long they didn't know about modern conveniences.
My only major complaint is that I was hoping for some real on page spice. xD I know that's a pro to a lot of readers though so take that as you will. It is properly STEAMY between the main characters, just basically a lot of kissing.
I can absolutely recommend this to everyone!
I loved that this was able to also be a period piece with references to the "War for Independence" and clothing styles without feeling like a dry historical fiction. I was lowkey expecting them to leave the bubble of the town and it be modern day, like they were stuck in their bubble so long they didn't know about modern conveniences.
My only major complaint is that I was hoping for some real on page spice. xD I know that's a pro to a lot of readers though so take that as you will. It is properly STEAMY between the main characters, just basically a lot of kissing.
I can absolutely recommend this to everyone!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Gore, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Vomit, and Grief