cameronreads's reviews
526 reviews

Reviewing now that Harper Collins Union has a fair contract!

This was the perfect way to dip back into this world. I love the universe and characters so much, the joy I felt at being here again was unmatched. I’m not a big fan of short stories, and there were some I liked more than others, but I loved this for the most part.

I got literally exactly what I wanted from this book. I didn’t completely blow me away, but left me with a smile and a strong desire to eat a cinnamon roll. I love the characters, the relationships, and the descriptive writing was amazing. I was a little worried going in that it would lack plot, but that wasn’t the case at all. Completely delivered on its promise of cozy fantasy.

Wow this one was intense! Villain pop is amazing, and I love Koichi in this one, and the ENDING?? What was that!!

I really enjoyed the concept here; magical books will always be a buzzword for me and I think they were done really interestingly here. I liked the plot as well, for the most part I liked the plot twists and figuring things out with the characters, although the final reveal felt a little info-dumpy. I think there was something just a little off about the pacing, with the beginning feeling a bit slow. The first 100 pages or so spent a lot of time on flashbacks and explanations, but it did make the book less confusing. There were definitely characters I liked better than others; I really enjoyed Nicholas and Esther but think Joanna’s character could have been developed a bit more. I also wanted to see a bit more out of the sister relationship. I did really like the vibes and atmosphere of this book though, and it was a lot of fun. The writing was also well done, especially for a debut. There was just something stopping me from being 100% attached or feeling that typical ‘on the edge of your seat’ feeling, but I’m not sure what. Still, I definitely enjoyed this, and am looking forward to seeing more from this author.

I really enjoyed this book, it was so much fun. I loved following Little Ash and Uriel’s journey and adventures. I think the elements of Jewish culture were explored really well, and it was so interesting to learn about the parts I didn’t know as well. I think the writing style worked perfectly for the book. I also think the discussions of gender and identity as a whole were so interesting. As a non-binary person I was especially interested in how Uriel experienced its gender and the dysphoria it felt. I did find myself wanting just a little more out of the characterisations and relationships in here, they were so close to perfect but lacking just a little something that meant I wasn’t as attached as I could have been. Overall though I do really like this book and would definitely recommend!

I literally think these books are so sweet, and this was definitely one of my favourite ones. I think the world was so interesting and I loved the little snippets of lore we got about the doors. I think Seanan McGuire’s writing is masterful and I love the tone of these books. The themes in the beginning were handled wonderfully and I was crying listening to the audiobook on the way to my lectures. I’m just such a fan of this series.

I want to inject the concept of this book into my blood stream. I am SO gutted that there’s not going to be a third book (so I’ve heard) , I literally want to read this series forever. 
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it’s perfect - I had a few issues with the pacing of this second book. I find books that are mostly prepping for a big battle often don’t work for me, and the ending always feels a little anticlimactic. This one wasn’t too bad, but I definitely had that sense. I also specifically wanted a bit more from Manny’s backstory - at one point it felt like it was going to be a huge plot point and I definitely think it could have worked as one, but it resolved so quickly! 
Still though, everything about it is just so good. The world, magic system, concept, characters, relationships, writing. NK Jemisin just has a way of bringing a place I’ve never been to life (and not just because she gives them real living embodiments). I felt like I was in New York for the duration of this book, and I could viscerally feel her passion for the city come through. 
The characters are just wonderful. There’s a fairly big cast, but the all felt fleshed out and independent. They had such distinct voices - NK Jemisin did a wonderful job of making the prose match the POV character. I especially loved watching the tension between Manny and Neek (another reason I’m so upset we won’t get a third book - how can it just leave us there??) 
I loved the discussions this book had around race and the importance of diversity, as well as all the queer rep. 
I just want a third book so much!!

These books are just so sweet and cozy. I loved watching Dex and Moss Cap’s travels, and their relationship grow. I loved the conversations in here too, and will definitely be coming back to both of these novellas whenever I need something that feels like home.

There was a lot about this I really liked. I think it was utterly compelling exploration of a figure who we feel we know so well, and I loved watching the corruption of God’s favourite. As a queer person who grew up in a Catholic school, the realisation of what God really is in relation to you was so relatable and the anger that Lucifer felt at being punished for loving someone above God was so interesting. I think the writing style was great for the most part, although parts near the end were a little confusing, the way love was shown in different ways without using words like romantic and platonic was done very well. It was a really interesting exploration of religion and morality, and a morally grey - albeit very dark grey - character. It didn’t quite cure me in ways I expected it to, but it fed me hatred for God in a way that I needed.