Scan barcode
beccisays's reviews
369 reviews
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
fast-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? It's complicated
4.25
Overall I really enjoyed this book. Characters and concept was a hit for me, cliffhanger was not appreciated but I guess that's just a sign that I want more of this story. I think the way it involved gods was really unique and original. I did NOT see the twist coming at all. I'm glad that we got to see a little blossoming romance and I hope that continues to grow in the sequel.
I think the audiobook was great, I appreciated the narrator's take on Kissen's accent as it felt natural and fit the character well. The performance of some of the creepier gods talking straight into the mind was also very well done and intense.
I think the audiobook was great, I appreciated the narrator's take on Kissen's accent as it felt natural and fit the character well. The performance of some of the creepier gods talking straight into the mind was also very well done and intense.
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This was everything I hoped it would be. Twisted fairytale meets dark cottagecore vibes. I love T. Kingfisher’s takes on fairytale retellings, they manage to be both comfortably familiar and unique all at once.
It’s only a short novella and although it covered the story well, I did end up wishing we could follow Toadling on past the end of this story and into the years with Halim, as she learned more of her human heritage and his culture.
It’s only a short novella and although it covered the story well, I did end up wishing we could follow Toadling on past the end of this story and into the years with Halim, as she learned more of her human heritage and his culture.
The Faire by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
As I said at the time of reading this, in a plot twist anyone who has met my exes would have called a mile off, I fell in love with the villainous prick of a MMC and forgave him almost everything.
Some parts of him absolutely make me uncomfy but he won me round and slid back into comfortably murderous and morally grey MMC territory somewhere along the way. I couldn't pinpoint when. Perhaps it was around when the man-eating-murder-circus really began to live up to its name and steal his spotlight.
Shadow's contribution to this series absolutely wrecked me. In fact, I think I was wrecked many times over during this book. It hits you in the feels in a big way. I wasn't expecting the focus on suicidal ideation and death, however this cropped up quite a few times and really does provoke thought.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
He didn't deserve her. He knew it.
But when did anything stop him from taking what he didn't earn and keeping it?
He was a covetous creature.
And Cora Glass was his.
And he would burn down the world to protect her.
As I said at the time of reading this, in a plot twist anyone who has met my exes would have called a mile off, I fell in love with the villainous prick of a MMC and forgave him almost everything.
Some parts of him absolutely make me uncomfy but he won me round and slid back into comfortably murderous and morally grey MMC territory somewhere along the way. I couldn't pinpoint when. Perhaps it was around when the man-eating-murder-circus really began to live up to its name and steal his spotlight.
Shadow's contribution to this series absolutely wrecked me. In fact, I think I was wrecked many times over during this book. It hits you in the feels in a big way. I wasn't expecting the focus on suicidal ideation and death, however this cropped up quite a few times and really does provoke thought.
The Ringmaster by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Honestly, consume this series at your own risk. It is addictive as hell, I remember losing sleep so I could binge read all the books back to back.
I THINK liked The Ringmaster as a book, maybe. I KNOW I really hate The Ringmaster as a character. I also cannot decide from one moment to the next if I like or trust Simon. Which is kind of apt because Simon also can't decide from one moment to the next if he likes or trusts himself. Or Cora. Or anyone for that matter.
I felt like I got whiplash towards the end of this book, with that sinking "no, no, no" sinking feeling where you want to throw your book across the room but also can not possibly put it down.
So if that's what you're into: Roll up, roll up! The Ringmaster offers you a ringside seat to a wild show.
I THINK liked The Ringmaster as a book, maybe. I KNOW I really hate The Ringmaster as a character. I also cannot decide from one moment to the next if I like or trust Simon. Which is kind of apt because Simon also can't decide from one moment to the next if he likes or trusts himself. Or Cora. Or anyone for that matter.
I felt like I got whiplash towards the end of this book, with that sinking "no, no, no" sinking feeling where you want to throw your book across the room but also can not possibly put it down.
So if that's what you're into: Roll up, roll up! The Ringmaster offers you a ringside seat to a wild show.
The Clown by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Phew, this series took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I remember coming into this book feeling really uncomfy as a reader, due to Simon & Cora's trauma bond style love affair. I won't pretend that went away but I did really appreciate the depth and emotions brought to the surface by the characters in this particular installment.
Clown is such a loveable and pure person. He's so good at making Cora open up, despite his silence and he walks alongside her as a familiar warmth in some of the more emotive moments of this book. As a note of comic relief, I also really loved getting to know the Peter Pan-style Shadow character, following Simon around while he's on his psychotic rampages.
Clown is such a loveable and pure person. He's so good at making Cora open up, despite his silence and he walks alongside her as a familiar warmth in some of the more emotive moments of this book. As a note of comic relief, I also really loved getting to know the Peter Pan-style Shadow character, following Simon around while he's on his psychotic rampages.
Saltblood by Francesca De Tores
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book read as an adventurous historical memoir filled with dramatic twists and turns. We follow the many lives of Mary Read, as she grapples with her own complicated identity, gender and sexuality while surviving in a man's world.
"The navy is full of boys pretending to be men. Is it such a big difference, one girl pretending to be a boy?"
Towards the middle mark of the book, I'd almost given up on seeing a single pirate. They didn't appear until 54%. Before then, we spent most of the time wading through the muddy trenches with Mary/Mark as a soldier, then in the infantry. Although they had started in the Navy, it felt like a long time until we returned to the sea to find adventure. Mary/Mark really did live a thousand lives, I just wish we were able to connect with some of them in a more meaningful way as they often felt like fractured parts of the person but never the full picture.
"I could pass again as a woman. And may yet in years to come. But I will never not be a sailor."
I'll admit, I was expecting more pirating. Perhaps it's a repetitive line of work that doesn't translate well to storytelling but I must say that I envisioned much more of the book to take place upon a pirate ship. I expected Mary would rise up the ranks of pirate kind, perhaps captain her own ship of multiple female pirates. However it seems Mary was one-of-a-kind female who seized her chance to jump aboard a sinking ship during the decline of piracy, never advancing beyond a shipmate. Could well be that I am just unappreciative of what is a realistic and factual retelling of history.. however, I can't deny that it was a bit of a reality check for a reader expecting female pirates galore embarking on bountiful swashbuckling adventures.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing & Francesca De Tores for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
"The navy is full of boys pretending to be men. Is it such a big difference, one girl pretending to be a boy?"
Towards the middle mark of the book, I'd almost given up on seeing a single pirate. They didn't appear until 54%. Before then, we spent most of the time wading through the muddy trenches with Mary/Mark as a soldier, then in the infantry. Although they had started in the Navy, it felt like a long time until we returned to the sea to find adventure. Mary/Mark really did live a thousand lives, I just wish we were able to connect with some of them in a more meaningful way as they often felt like fractured parts of the person but never the full picture.
"I could pass again as a woman. And may yet in years to come. But I will never not be a sailor."
I'll admit, I was expecting more pirating. Perhaps it's a repetitive line of work that doesn't translate well to storytelling but I must say that I envisioned much more of the book to take place upon a pirate ship. I expected Mary would rise up the ranks of pirate kind, perhaps captain her own ship of multiple female pirates. However it seems Mary was one-of-a-kind female who seized her chance to jump aboard a sinking ship during the decline of piracy, never advancing beyond a shipmate. Could well be that I am just unappreciative of what is a realistic and factual retelling of history.. however, I can't deny that it was a bit of a reality check for a reader expecting female pirates galore embarking on bountiful swashbuckling adventures.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing & Francesca De Tores for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Note to readers: this audiobook is best enjoyed with a steaming cup of chai and a sweet treat. Trust me now and thank me later!
Not all partnerships are created equal but cozy fantasy and audiobooks are an absolute power couple. As are our two main characters in this charming magical adventure. Reyna and Kianthe escape the daily grind of a high-powered mage and bodyguard, to enjoy the rural, anonymous life they've always dreamed of together. Their first Hiccup (wink wink) comes as our couple learns that the simple life becomes a tad more complicated when the sleepy town you choose to settle in to open your bookshop, just so happens to be plagued by dragons.
Don't let anyone fool you into thinking cozy fantasy always has to be mellow and low-to-no stakes, this is a lovely balance of relaxing slice-of-life style descriptions and the odd magical mishap to keep things interesting. I can definitely see the parallels between this book's format in comparison to Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust. It is essentially the same story framework with different characters. However I must say, I personally enjoyed Can't Spell Treason without Tea more, as I like my cozy fantasy with an extra dose of mystery and magic - which this book definitely delivers.
Thank you to Macmillan & Rebecca Thorne for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Not all partnerships are created equal but cozy fantasy and audiobooks are an absolute power couple. As are our two main characters in this charming magical adventure. Reyna and Kianthe escape the daily grind of a high-powered mage and bodyguard, to enjoy the rural, anonymous life they've always dreamed of together. Their first Hiccup (wink wink) comes as our couple learns that the simple life becomes a tad more complicated when the sleepy town you choose to settle in to open your bookshop, just so happens to be plagued by dragons.
Don't let anyone fool you into thinking cozy fantasy always has to be mellow and low-to-no stakes, this is a lovely balance of relaxing slice-of-life style descriptions and the odd magical mishap to keep things interesting. I can definitely see the parallels between this book's format in comparison to Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust. It is essentially the same story framework with different characters. However I must say, I personally enjoyed Can't Spell Treason without Tea more, as I like my cozy fantasy with an extra dose of mystery and magic - which this book definitely delivers.
Thank you to Macmillan & Rebecca Thorne for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
To summarise: this book was haunting, emotive and deeply powerful. I still struggle to review or describe this book, I’ve put it off for so long that it caused a backlog. No matter how often I thought on it, and that was very often, I was at a loss for words. I could not form the right sentences to explain the impact of such a short story, especially when this is not the usual genre or writing style I reach for.
Rivers really packed in a powerful storm of emotions into a small package. Between their retelling, the song that inspired the story and onwards, there is layer upon layer of metaphors and history (both real life and imagined), that makes up the fabric of this underwater world and society. The writing style is richly descriptive and dramatic, I highly recommend the audiobook which was narrated by Daveed Diggs (from the group Clipping whose song inspired this novella).
Recurring themes echo throughout, including carrying the burden of generational trauma, shared history and lost history.
I read this as one of my Pisces season picks and it is a perfect embodiment of the energy. Deeply emotional, creative and lost within dreams and memories.
Rivers really packed in a powerful storm of emotions into a small package. Between their retelling, the song that inspired the story and onwards, there is layer upon layer of metaphors and history (both real life and imagined), that makes up the fabric of this underwater world and society. The writing style is richly descriptive and dramatic, I highly recommend the audiobook which was narrated by Daveed Diggs (from the group Clipping whose song inspired this novella).
Recurring themes echo throughout, including carrying the burden of generational trauma, shared history and lost history.
I read this as one of my Pisces season picks and it is a perfect embodiment of the energy. Deeply emotional, creative and lost within dreams and memories.
Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen
adventurous
informative
inspiring
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
3.75
I loved how this story introduced me to so many new words, cultural practices and mythology. I think African mythology is so underrepresented and I love to see the rise of its prevalence in fantasy fiction.
This would have been a solid 4 stars if not for my lack of connection with Simi as a character. I was rooting for the group on their adventures but found myself being frustrated by her closed off nature and with some of her choices and reactions throughout the book. Some interactions with the rest of the group were snappy in moments of anger or pain. I hope we see her open up and forge connections more in the sequel.
This would have been a solid 4 stars if not for my lack of connection with Simi as a character. I was rooting for the group on their adventures but found myself being frustrated by her closed off nature and with some of her choices and reactions throughout the book. Some interactions with the rest of the group were snappy in moments of anger or pain. I hope we see her open up and forge connections more in the sequel.
Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
I think giving this anything less than 5 stars would be unfair. This duology is haunting and beautiful, one of my all time favourites.
The character’s are charming but in a kooky, off key and out-of-left field way. Laini Taylor has such a way with building rich, imaginative worlds and magic systems, that although they are simple enough to immerse yourself into, it’s rare to see something of this calibre. Her style is unique and isn’t often duplicated or imitated.
My heart broke learning about Minya’s origin story and her burden from all angles and perspectives.
The story of the two sisters really caught me off guard, I appreciate how the fate of the girl left behind and the woman she grew to be was described in such an emotive and raw way, while still remaining true to the book’s YA tone. It was honest, without being too blunt.
I liked that in the end, everyone (including the unlikable chatacters) were able to play their part in bringing the saga to a close.
I read this as one of my Pisces season picks and this duology really encapsulates the characteristics well. Dreamy, emotional and full of magic.
The character’s are charming but in a kooky, off key and out-of-left field way. Laini Taylor has such a way with building rich, imaginative worlds and magic systems, that although they are simple enough to immerse yourself into, it’s rare to see something of this calibre. Her style is unique and isn’t often duplicated or imitated.
My heart broke learning about Minya’s origin story and her burden from all angles and perspectives.
The story of the two sisters really caught me off guard, I appreciate how the fate of the girl left behind and the woman she grew to be was described in such an emotive and raw way, while still remaining true to the book’s YA tone. It was honest, without being too blunt.
I liked that in the end, everyone (including the unlikable chatacters) were able to play their part in bringing the saga to a close.
I read this as one of my Pisces season picks and this duology really encapsulates the characteristics well. Dreamy, emotional and full of magic.