baileys_books's reviews
238 reviews

The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book is 30% yearning, 30% heartbreak, 30% war/politics, 9% arm wrestling, and 1% surprisingly blatant typos. I loved it, can’t wait to finish the series. 
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • 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? Yes

4.5

Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Sad gay boys fighting eldritch forest monsters they created? Inject it right into my veins. 
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

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

3.75

Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

The Bloodless Princes by Charlotte Bond

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adventurous dark inspiring mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

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adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Absolutely adored this book, as I knew I would. Loved the world, the politics, the magic, the sapphic yearning. 
Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas

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adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

A satisfying conclusion to the duology. Definitely YA, which I won’t take stars off for, but it does mean that a lot of the conflict was very surface level and was wrapped up very easily and neatly. While not necessarily a fault, I *personally* prefer when tension and conflict is more drawn out and requires more work to get past. 

Still, loved this book and was very happy with how it all concluded! 
Swordcrossed by Freya Marske

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

I was invested in both their relationship and the details of the wool trading business and the politics behind it, which I never thought I’d be! 

I’m grateful that the dreaded third act breakup was due to more than just a small miscommunication - it was a legitimate issue that required legitimate work to fix, and the correct amount of work was put in. The conclusion was satisfying and didn’t feel contrived.
 

Came for the homoerotic sword fights, stayed for our boys learning to take responsibility and ask for what they want. 
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

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adventurous funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

Howl’s Moving Castle meets Pride and Prejudice in a sweet, fun little regency fairytale with a nice dusting of class consciousness and anti-monarchy moments.