chaptersofmads's reviews
820 reviews

“Why do we desire, above all other things, that which has the greatest power to destroy us?”

Short, romantic, and beautifully atmospheric, An Enchantment of Ravens was like a magical DCOM with a really high budget and fantastic color-grading.

That is to say: this wasn't my favorite, but it was by no means bad. It was (mostly) an enjoyable read with many aspects I love, such as creepy forests and fae that are actually frightening. It's also poorly paced, with severe insta-love and (in my opinion) a plot that was predictable to the point of making the story boring.

I think if I had connected with the characters more, I might not have minded the plotting issues. Since I didn't really feel much for the main characters or their romance, these aspects felt much more obvious than they might to someone else.

There was also one of the worst romantic lines I have ever read:

"It was like riding him as a horse again." (said as she's straddling his waist and kissing him for the first time.)

This might not bother some people, but I kept thinking of this line for the rest of the book and cracking up all over again.

Overall, my issues aside, this was fun! I'd recommend it to people looking for a quick, magical, autumnal read that displays some of the darker, warped versions of the fae (just... be careful with this book if you struggle with any kind of food.)

“All that mattered was the story. The myths that made gods, brought them to life in their shrines. Stories bind hope and love to make it faith.”

Fantasy books with a focus on gods, religion, and the line between faith & fanaticism have my entire heart.

I was a bit hesitant going into this book because I'd heard some mixed reviews, but I absolutely loved it. I can see why some people were let down, especially if they loved the first book for the found family and quest vibes (which were notably... less present in this story lol.)

The focus turned more towards the gods and their followers, which was exactly what I wanted. We still followed most of the characters from Godkiller, but their focus was on the changing tide of the kingdoms, the struggles of the gods, and the changing political climate.

The characters were perhaps the weakest part of this installment, which isn't to say I didn't still care for them, but their own internal struggle took up so much of their narratives that it became hard to connect with them. One character in particular was acting so rashly that I found it hard to not be irritated every time it was their perspective. (Not my beloved Skedi though; his internal struggle was actually handled the best, in my opinion.)

Also, Elo and Arren were 1,000,000% in love and I will die on this hill.

As for recommending this: I know this trilogy isn't quite as character driven as some books, but I'd still highly recommend this series to everyone. It's so good, familiar and unique at once, as well as fantastic at being inclusive without feeling forced.

Now, I shall sit here and wait for March/April, because I need Faithbreaker in my hands as soon as possible. 

This was the book equivalent of a PureFlix film, including misogyny, using forgiveness to continue cycles of abuse, and the most rushed romance I have ever read. Like... she's awed and amazed that he had wanted to kiss her since the day before.

I want to make it clear: I didn't rate this book a one star because of the religious aspects, though I do think this should have been marketed better. With that being said, I did want to mention that - as an ex-Christian - I did find the religious aspects both tedious and... very forced. The prayers were both excessive and really awkwardly placed/timed?

I went into this expecting a fun, Christmassy time and I left feeling very let-down.

There's not a single enjoyable moment in this nor are any of the characters redeemable. A big part of the story is Starr's love for her family which makes... no sense. If my boyfriend of 6 months left me the moment he laid eyes on my sister and then my entire family treated me like I was unreasonable for being uncomfortable, I'd be a little bothered.

Overall, this was... a mess and I did not like a single thing about it. I wish the author well and I hope she continues to find readers that love her books, I'm just not one of them. 

“Strange, the powers you find sometimes, in a garden at the end of the road.”

Maybe the real horror elements were the family members we made along the way.

This was my third T. Kingfisher book and my least favorite, which is impressive because this was still good. It dragged on a bit and bored me at times, but it was still a well-crafted horror book with a strong focus on familial trauma - which really appeals to me as a reader.

(Please note that there are quite a few triggers in this book, but I am tired and still sick so didn't feel like typing them all out.)

Overall, I liked this and I'm glad I read it, but it won't be one I revisit.

“It’s a weak and unimaginative human being who resorts to violence to get what they want.”

I've been sick so I never reviewed this; or even marked it as completed, for that matter.

To put it briefly: I really, really enjoyed this one. A bit less than book 1, but I think that was because this installment lost some of what made What the River Knows feel quite so unique. Along with a few instances of trope service 

such as how very much Whit used the phrase "my wife" throughout the book. It got irritating.

That being said though? I loved this. I love these characters and this setting and the magical artifacts. I love Isabel Ibañez' writing style and I need to pick up more of her books in the future, if they're even half as enjoyable.

Overall, I highly recommend this duology. It's very quickly become one of my favorite series, so if we usually have similar tastes, I think you'd love this. I was both satisfied and delighted by this conclusion. 

This was both a solid sequel and a bit of a letdown.

Book 1 was one of my most pleasant surprises this year, in terms of going into a book with very little expectations and leaving shocked by how much I enjoyed it. With a strong focus on Irish mythology, weaving together the historical and the fantastical, female rage and tenderness as strength, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men was exactly what I love in a story.

The Words of Kings and Prophets carried on with a lot of what I enjoyed about its predecessor, but seemed to lose some of the steam built up in book 1. The best term I can think of for this book is "meandering". With slow-paced, political based books, it's incredibly easy to feel lost in all of the small decisions that create the larger picture. I'm usually not someone who minds that; but for some reason, I kept finding my attention drifting from this book.

It wasn't just slow-paced or detailed, it was boring me.

I also struggled with the characters a bit more this time around? Something I loved about the first book was how complex and real the characters felt, which was something that was missing for me in this book. Particularly Gormflaith and Fódla, our two main characters, seemed like a collection of decisions rather than actual characters.

That being said, there was still a lot I really liked about this book (such as the increased focus on the magic and the discussions of Christianity overtaking paganism). The second half was definitely much stronger than the first and I did ultimately have a good time with this, I just think I was hoping for more.

Overall, I'll continue recommending this series to people that love Irish mythology and political intrigue and definitely read the next book; I just wish I would have enjoyed this one a bit more. 

Nothing wrong with this, I'm just not really enjoying it.

I think I need to stop trying YA romcoms because I (almost) never connect with them, especially when they want you to feel like the HS seniors are in their mid-twenties lol.

This sounded super cute (Christmas/Hannukah, second chance, Sapphic fake-dating; all a lovely mix!) and I hope more people pick it up and enjoy it, I can just tell it isn't for me. 

"To love was to live, and to live was to die."

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Do you ever read a book and just instantly know how many people will love it?

That was my experience with Our Infinite Fates, a YA book with a uniquely executed concept and plenty of angst - filled with lines of poetic longing and pain, a look into the human experience and what love really means to each person. How it can transcend time, how it can cause euphoria and agony, and what it means to be alive.

The entire time I was reading this ARC, I could tell it was filled with so many things that will work for so many people - especially on BookTok. This checks so many boxes and tropes that I think plenty of readers will adore it.

Unfortunately for me, it felt kind of like a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic episode had a baby with a John Green novel. I could carry that comparison on, but I think it adequately describes all of my opinions on this book.

I will say: if you're someone that's not a fan of certain popular books (like Powerless by Lauren Roberts) or you're struggling with YA feeling a bit predictable or immature at the moment, I'd probably recommend skipping this one.

Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this book - even though it was 100% not for me. As I said, it checks so many reader boxes, such as: beautifully illustrated queer love, enemies and lovers, Taylor Swift references (not excessive, if that bothers you), sibling bonds, and the kind of poetry that would have slayed on Pinterest a decade ago. 

“I am no longer your creation, I think, words knitted in my chest.”

I've decided not to rate this because I... don't think it necessarily earned a one star but I also can't give it a higher rating, because I thought it was bad.

Not only was there a bunch of weird stuff with the "plot-twist" and flat plotting/characterization/pacing, there were also a few things that just felt... hm. I can't exactly think of how to word it.

Minor spoilers: Sally visits the human world and spends several pages gawking over Queen Elizabeth II and talking about how amazing and elegant and loving she is. There's also an incredibly uncomfortable scene where she goes to St. Patrick's Day world and has an encounter with a leprechaun that would have been too stereotypical for an early 2000s DCOM.

These things paired together felt pretty gross, in my opinion.

Basically! I did not like this! Not one bit! And I don't think most fans of the movie would either, but the decently high average rating on this seems to disagree with me so perhaps I am wrong.

Either way, I'm grateful this was such a short book or I would definitely have dnf'd. 

Oh, this was so cozy!

The art has been fantastic in each installment of this series but the autumnal/crossing over into wintry vibes of this one really spoke to me.

A perfect read for this time of year.