Scan barcode
breabooks's reviews
173 reviews
Bloodfeather Heartsong by Amber L. Werner
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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? No
5.0
A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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
5.0
This should be marketed as LOOSELY based on Monte Cristo. I am only a little familiar with that story and loved this, but after seeing negative reviews and looking up the synopsis, I can see how expectations fall flat.
With that out of the way- I ate this book up! This young adult book is loosely based on The Count of Monte Cristo, but gender bent. The main character, Dania, is fiercely determined to escape from prison so she can exact vengeance on her former lover, Mazin. Because this is written in the perspective of a teenager, Dani can be hard to love at times- but her development at the end makes up for it. Her growth nearly makes her a new person by the end. The story is mostly fast paced, with a few small lulls. The last 30% was a whirlwind that had me staying up late to finish the book. I did not expect some of the twists.
To escape prison Dania teams up with Noor, a girl who possibly has access to the means of Dani’s vengeance. I really enjoyed Noor’s character. She is comic relief, often tempering Dani’s wrath.
The love interest and Dania’s story is sweet. I was kicking my feet like a little girl at parts. Again, it’s very YA and closed door.
The magic was fun and unique. Magic through seeds? I’ve not run into a magic system like this.
With that out of the way- I ate this book up! This young adult book is loosely based on The Count of Monte Cristo, but gender bent. The main character, Dania, is fiercely determined to escape from prison so she can exact vengeance on her former lover, Mazin. Because this is written in the perspective of a teenager, Dani can be hard to love at times- but her development at the end makes up for it. Her growth nearly makes her a new person by the end. The story is mostly fast paced, with a few small lulls. The last 30% was a whirlwind that had me staying up late to finish the book. I did not expect some of the twists.
To escape prison Dania teams up with Noor, a girl who possibly has access to the means of Dani’s vengeance. I really enjoyed Noor’s character. She is comic relief, often tempering Dani’s wrath.
The love interest and Dania’s story is sweet. I was kicking my feet like a little girl at parts. Again, it’s very YA and closed door.
The magic was fun and unique. Magic through seeds? I’ve not run into a magic system like this.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction
Vultures in the House of Silence by A.R. Latif
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
2.0
How does it feel? by Jeneane O'Riley
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I’m not saying it’s good, but I enjoyed it for what it was?
Whoever edited this needs a new job- so many errors. The author didn’t do a good job of keeping the two POV’s consistent in the way they spoke. Mendax was all over the place- from formal to casual to formal and not in a way that was indicative of his character’s development.
And that one scene. They barely acknowledged it? What?? And was it consensual? Gag. It feels like it was inserted to appease the booktok peeps.
The ending. It wasn’t believable. The author did not set that up well. At all.
This had the potential to be so so so good but was disappointing. It at least was interesting enough that I need to know what happens next.
Whoever edited this needs a new job- so many errors. The author didn’t do a good job of keeping the two POV’s consistent in the way they spoke. Mendax was all over the place- from formal to casual to formal and not in a way that was indicative of his character’s development.
And that one scene. They barely acknowledged it? What?? And was it consensual? Gag. It feels like it was inserted to appease the booktok peeps.
The ending. It wasn’t believable. The author did not set that up well. At all.
This had the potential to be so so so good but was disappointing. It at least was interesting enough that I need to know what happens next.
We Shall Be Monsters by Tara Sim
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
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
This book left me so wonderfully conflicted: Content but upset with the ending, in awe of the story telling but mad that it had to end, and craving more but satisfied with what I read.
Tara Sim borrows bits of Frankenstein in an amazing retelling of Halahala. Infused with Hindu mythology (and some Buddhist), the story follows Kajal’s quest to bring her sister back to life. Every bit of Hindu lore was explained in a way that even someone with little background knowledge of Hinduism could follow. I only know the basics and could keep up- though I did constantly look up pronunciations. A pronunciation guide would be the cherry on top. Plus the typical tropes (one horse, for example) were done in a different way- understated but definitely a trope.
The writing style is beautiful. The prose is not overly flowery. The horror aspect was well done. The horror scenes were scary without being over the top. There was definitely some Walking Dead vibes! Even with the horror, the banter was really amusing. The small snippet of romance was cute and believeable- no falling head over heels immediately.
The characters were so relatable. Kajal is witty, strong-willed, and perceptive. I really enjoyed her character’s growth, especially at the end. Tav was tragic and almost underdone- I wanted more of him! But I like how his actions make more sense by the end.
The pacing was different but not bad. Youre thrown into the story fast paced with a hundred questions. The pacing slows down, but never to a point where it gets boring. When I thought I was in a lull there would be a wild twist that had me audibly gasping (or yelling or screaming “no no no!”).
This is definitely a book I will re-read over and over. I’m surprised it’s not blowing up on social media.
Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Throne of Glass meets The Bachelor. It was fun! Go into the book expecting to have a fun time- the book is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I loved binging it so that’s why I gave it 4/5. It’s perfect brain rot.
The world was interesting, but not overly complex. Lor is stuck in what is essentially a concentration camp for the Aurora kingdom. She’s thrown into a pit (sort of like solitary confinement) after a brawl over a bar of soap. She’s stolen from the pit only to be thrown into the Sun King’s contest to be the next Sun Queen. Lor must compete against 9 other “tributes.” The problem is that they’re all elite Fae with training while Lor is a lowly human. Meanwhile, Nadir (the Aurora Prince) is looking for the mysterious prisoner that escape from the pit.
Lor’s development was interesting because despite learning bits about her throughout the book we still have no idea who she really is (though she’s probably who we all predict). Gabriel was a brute and a jerk yet somehow likable? Nadir was the typical brooding prince. I can’t wait to see more of him in the second book.
My biggest complaint would be the way the dual POV is written. I like dual POV but first person in present tense to third person omniscient in past tense was too much.
The world was interesting, but not overly complex. Lor is stuck in what is essentially a concentration camp for the Aurora kingdom. She’s thrown into a pit (sort of like solitary confinement) after a brawl over a bar of soap. She’s stolen from the pit only to be thrown into the Sun King’s contest to be the next Sun Queen. Lor must compete against 9 other “tributes.” The problem is that they’re all elite Fae with training while Lor is a lowly human. Meanwhile, Nadir (the Aurora Prince) is looking for the mysterious prisoner that escape from the pit.
Lor’s development was interesting because despite learning bits about her throughout the book we still have no idea who she really is (though she’s probably who we all predict). Gabriel was a brute and a jerk yet somehow likable? Nadir was the typical brooding prince. I can’t wait to see more of him in the second book.
My biggest complaint would be the way the dual POV is written. I like dual POV but first person in present tense to third person omniscient in past tense was too much.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
House of the Raven by Ingrid Seymour
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0