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cerina's reviews
409 reviews
The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.5
Cute story. Some bullying. Good ending
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I think I liked this book? It went by quickly, and I didn’t *dislike* it. I liked it better than the last book for sure; it’s not as dark.
I can’t tell if I like this series or not 😅
I do like the group books better than the solo ones, I think. As soon as I realized we were back at the school for wayward children, I got excited.
I’m torn about whether I’ll keep reading these or not. But I already have the next one checked out, so I’ll probably at least read that one.
I can’t tell if I like this series or not 😅
I do like the group books better than the solo ones, I think. As soon as I realized we were back at the school for wayward children, I got excited.
I’m torn about whether I’ll keep reading these or not. But I already have the next one checked out, so I’ll probably at least read that one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Minor: Transphobia
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I REALLY wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, I found the combination of whimsy and “blunt reality” not to my liking. I honestly do like the silliness this book portrays, like the main character going by Robert but having an obscenely long pretentious name. However, I was not prepared for the many dragon deaths, nor the way that domestic abuse was casually mentioned.
This one just wasn’t my cup of tea.
This one just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Vomit
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I loved this book. It scratched a similar itch as Red Rising did for me. I love books about social justice, rebellion, and the struggle against oppression. When I first started this book, I got a quarter of the way through it and I felt like nothing had happened, yet I was intrigued to see what would happen. Somehow it had a hold over me, though I couldn’t quite explain why.
These characters are complex with many subtleties, and there is definitely great character development. I love Vin. She embodies women as I know them so well. Wanting to love, but scared to trust; intelligent, but careful; highly empathetic, able to see through how people present down to who they are. I both love and hate that this girl needs to be the more level-headed one that gets things done while the men are brash and fool-hardy. It feels representative of real-life, and I don’t like that that’s how things are. Though, as I write this, I’m realizing it might just be those parts of the book that resonate with me, which is why they stood out. The book might actually be more balanced, more nuanced, than that.
When Kelsior’s big plan came to fruition, it felt so hollow. Like, that’s it? I understand the purpose of it, giving everyone something to believe in. I just didn’t feel anything when it happened. I didn’t cry. I can’t remember if I cried during the first Red Rising book. I know I cried during the third, and that the scene that made me do so is part of why it’s my favorite series. I’m holding out hope that a similar thing will happen as I continue reading this trilogy.
The world building in this book is fantastic. It’s a combination of the depth of the world building, the relationships between the characters, and the twists that I didn’t see coming but that fit seamlessly into the story that makes me love this book.
These characters are complex with many subtleties, and there is definitely great character development. I love Vin. She embodies women as I know them so well. Wanting to love, but scared to trust; intelligent, but careful; highly empathetic, able to see through how people present down to who they are. I both love and hate that this girl needs to be the more level-headed one that gets things done while the men are brash and fool-hardy. It feels representative of real-life, and I don’t like that that’s how things are. Though, as I write this, I’m realizing it might just be those parts of the book that resonate with me, which is why they stood out. The book might actually be more balanced, more nuanced, than that.
When Kelsior’s big plan came to fruition, it felt so hollow. Like, that’s it? I understand the purpose of it, giving everyone something to believe in. I just didn’t feel anything when it happened. I didn’t cry. I can’t remember if I cried during the first Red Rising book. I know I cried during the third, and that the scene that made me do so is part of why it’s my favorite series. I’m holding out hope that a similar thing will happen as I continue reading this trilogy.
The world building in this book is fantastic. It’s a combination of the depth of the world building, the relationships between the characters, and the twists that I didn’t see coming but that fit seamlessly into the story that makes me love this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Rape, Torture, Vomit, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
2.5
The whole time I was reading this, I was thinking this has to be a debut novel. The ideas are good, but the execution not so much. It felt like it doesn’t know what it wants to be. The cruel parts are just thrown in there with the good parts, and there’s no transition and no exploration of it. I think the ending wrapped it up decently (not great but decent), but if I hadn’t been so enamored with the idea of the story, I would’ve DNF’d it a quarter of the way in. I spent most of this book either bored or frustrated. I feel like the ending was left open on purpose so that a second book can be written. It hinted at two romances but never followed through with either. We don’t see the one character get a redemption arc that is sort of foreshadowed. Without the detailed gore-filled bits, this would’ve been a cute adventure story. As is, it’s sort of a mashup of cute magical adventure and trauma-giving horror scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Torture, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Misogyny, Vomit, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Maybe 4.5 stars
This duology is so good at making the reader reflect on life and the priorities of it and the importance of making time to sit with the little things.
Great book. Maybe not quite as good as the first, but still wonderful. I didn’t love the open ending haha.
I loved getting to revisit this world with the two main characters. Getting to know them both better was a delight
This duology is so good at making the reader reflect on life and the priorities of it and the importance of making time to sit with the little things.
Great book. Maybe not quite as good as the first, but still wonderful. I didn’t love the open ending haha.
I loved getting to revisit this world with the two main characters. Getting to know them both better was a delight
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Imaginative and inclusive; wonderful read! My only gripe is the open-endedness of it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death