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baileys_books's reviews
239 reviews
The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
4.5
This book has everything. Sapphic enemies to kind of enemies but also mutually yearning! Deals with death and necromantic magic! Undead animal companions! Authoritative, power hungry new religions! Grappling with grief, mortality, autonomy, and power! Eyepatches!
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
This was a dark, eerie, moody book perfect for early November. It took its time building to the plot, but was okay with it because we got to be entrenched in this cold, damp, dark, fantastical world. It didn’t shy away from the darker elements of fairy tales, and was at times nauseating in such an entertaining way.
Unfortunately the romance fell flat. It was a little too shallow, happened too fast, and was a little bit forgettable. Even though I enjoyed both characters, I wish they’d had more time to fall believably in love.
Can’t wait to read the next sisters’ story!
Unfortunately the romance fell flat. It was a little too shallow, happened too fast, and was a little bit forgettable. Even though I enjoyed both characters, I wish they’d had more time to fall believably in love.
Can’t wait to read the next sisters’ story!
Hell For Hire by Rachel Aaron
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.25
A dark and sultry forest witch hires a ragtag group of demons as security from the warlocks while he grows a new witch forest outside of Seattle. The leader of the demon security unit, Bex, is 5’1” of attitude, rage, and love for her friends.
Shenanigans ensue, including ill-timed boba tea, a sassy non-binary shapeshifter, an even sassier talking sword, and a casual battle against the corrupted forces of heaven.
This was a fun, exciting ride from start to finish and I cannot wait to read the sequel!
Shenanigans ensue, including ill-timed boba tea, a sassy non-binary shapeshifter, an even sassier talking sword, and a casual battle against the corrupted forces of heaven.
This was a fun, exciting ride from start to finish and I cannot wait to read the sequel!
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The movie is one of my go-to comfort watches, and I can’t believe it took me so long to read the book!
I really enjoyed the book. The plot never got too deep, and quite a bit was left unexplained or lacked closure. But I hardly cared, because I was swept along the fantastical journey with Sophie. A fun, nostalgic time with delightful insufferable characters!
I really enjoyed the book. The plot never got too deep, and quite a bit was left unexplained or lacked closure. But I hardly cared, because I was swept along the fantastical journey with Sophie. A fun, nostalgic time with delightful insufferable characters!
Ghostsmith by Nicki Pau Preto
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A fine end to a fine duology. I think I would’ve loved this series when i was a teenager (which is who it’s written for, so props there) but the main characters are just so painfully young and dumb at times. Love the magic, love the little found family, and love the macabre.
Evocation by S.T. Gibson
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have a love/hate relationship with this book. I loved the idea and the contemporary setting with magic. I hated just about all the characters. But they were fun to hate, most of the time! It was just when they acted out of character, or did something we weren’t supposed to hate that was still awful (aka every time Rhys did anything) it was infuriating. I wish this focused like far more on the magic and far less on the two shitty men whining to themselves about each other.
Looking forward to reading the further books in the series (except maybe Rhys’s)
Looking forward to reading the further books in the series (except maybe Rhys’s)
Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
adventurous
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
4.5
Water dragons! Pacific Islander mythology! Tattoos that come to life and are cute little (or not so little) animal companions!
Dragonfruit is such a fun and delightful standalone YA fantasy.
Dragonfruit is such a fun and delightful standalone YA fantasy.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
I loved the Sophie/Howl dynamic that Emily and Wendell share, even though both of them are at times infuriating. The academic footnotes were fun. I enjoyed the story, and can’t wait to read book 2!
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.25
This was a quick, emotional story that was at times sweet, sad, and funny. Seeing the world through Maricat’s eyes was delightful.
A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was, unfortunately, a little forgettable. I liked aspects of it, but a lot of it fell flat for me.
Having Keera start the book as a well-established assassin, many years gone from the trials that are the trope of many assassin books, was a fun twist. I think nerfing her power by having her start the book as an alcoholic was a decent way of handling the power scaling, but I wish the alcoholism had been handled with a gentler hand. It was only ever mentioned as an explanation for her actions, or as something she bravely overcame - even though we barely saw her go through much turmoil in her recovery at all. I think it needed to be handled with a little more care.
The books were diverse, and dealt strongly with racism. It was evident that it was written by an indigenous woman - you’ll find no white saviors here. Keera will save her own people.
The romance was predictable, and thus forgettable. The progression from mortal enemies to love was very fast, but that’s also to be expected for an author to hook readers who are heavier on the romance than the fantasy.
The writing needed a little more editing. It was sloppy and sometimes simplistic.
I’m intrigued enough to finish the series!
Having Keera start the book as a well-established assassin, many years gone from the trials that are the trope of many assassin books, was a fun twist. I think nerfing her power by having her start the book as an alcoholic was a decent way of handling the power scaling, but I wish the alcoholism had been handled with a gentler hand. It was only ever mentioned as an explanation for her actions, or as something she bravely overcame - even though we barely saw her go through much turmoil in her recovery at all. I think it needed to be handled with a little more care.
The books were diverse, and dealt strongly with racism. It was evident that it was written by an indigenous woman - you’ll find no white saviors here. Keera will save her own people.
The romance was predictable, and thus forgettable. The progression from mortal enemies to love was very fast, but that’s also to be expected for an author to hook readers who are heavier on the romance than the fantasy.
The writing needed a little more editing. It was sloppy and sometimes simplistic.
I’m intrigued enough to finish the series!