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constancenorene's reviews
378 reviews
Mother of Rome by Lauren J.A. Bear
adventurous
emotional
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
5.0
A woman becomes a wolf.
Mother of Rome is a retelling of how Rome was founded, told through Rhea Silvia’s eyes. While in the original myth Rhea and Lupa are two different entities, Lauren Bear combines them here, and it is beautiful.
When Rhea Silvia’s youngest brother is killed, her father, the king, falls into despair, leaving a space open for his younger brother to form a coup. Amulius sends Rhea to the Vestal Virgins, in an attempt to make sure she has no children to threaten his hold on the throne. But Rhea has other plans, and so after a night with Mars, the God of War, she must be careful to stay hidden and keep her sons alive.
Antho is Rhea’s cousin, and she never asked to become the new princess. Never asked for the bretrothal to a man thrice her age. Once Rhea is announced dead, Antho realizes nothing is as it seems, and begins plotting a coup of her own to bring her father’s sins to light.
Mother of Rome is a story of strong women rising above the circumstances they find themselves trapped in. And these women have sharper teeth than the men in their lives realize. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and its take on who Rhea was!
Mother of Rome is a retelling of how Rome was founded, told through Rhea Silvia’s eyes. While in the original myth Rhea and Lupa are two different entities, Lauren Bear combines them here, and it is beautiful.
When Rhea Silvia’s youngest brother is killed, her father, the king, falls into despair, leaving a space open for his younger brother to form a coup. Amulius sends Rhea to the Vestal Virgins, in an attempt to make sure she has no children to threaten his hold on the throne. But Rhea has other plans, and so after a night with Mars, the God of War, she must be careful to stay hidden and keep her sons alive.
Antho is Rhea’s cousin, and she never asked to become the new princess. Never asked for the bretrothal to a man thrice her age. Once Rhea is announced dead, Antho realizes nothing is as it seems, and begins plotting a coup of her own to bring her father’s sins to light.
Mother of Rome is a story of strong women rising above the circumstances they find themselves trapped in. And these women have sharper teeth than the men in their lives realize. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and its take on who Rhea was!
Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The concept of this book was excellent. An older sister, doing whatever it takes to keep her brothers safe. A never ending Nightmare that becomes far too real each time, a sign that the boys are in danger. Evil doppelgängers. But I found myself having to force myself through it the further in I got.
Jamie and Dre are really, really annoying. They’re both so selfish that I found it laughable that Calla would still want to protect them. Even Calla annoyed me a few times throughout this book.
However, the nightmare and what it contains were extremely captivating to me! The author’s writing style is very vivid and very graphic, which can be seen as either really good or really bad depending on how sensitive to gore you are.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for this review!
Jamie and Dre are really, really annoying. They’re both so selfish that I found it laughable that Calla would still want to protect them. Even Calla annoyed me a few times throughout this book.
However, the nightmare and what it contains were extremely captivating to me! The author’s writing style is very vivid and very graphic, which can be seen as either really good or really bad depending on how sensitive to gore you are.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for this review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
How To Die Famous by Benjamin Dean
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Mmmmm this was a DELECTABLE read. The ending is a slight cliffhanger I didn’t care for, which I felt ruined the resolution of the story, so I did take off a star for that. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
It’s 2024, and production company Omnifent is bringing their hit show Sunset High back for a third time! While previous casts didn’t go very well, leading to the show’s reputation of being cursed, they’ve brought in a bunch of fresh faces! Ryan Hudson, Lucky Tate, Ella Winters, and newcomer Abel Miller are all set to star in this latest reboot.
But the Sunset High curse is rearing its ugly head already. Stalkers, threatening messages, media leaks, and more have the new cast clinging to each other for safety. And Abel Miller has his own reasons for joining the cast: his older brother’s death wasn’t an accident, and he’s certain Omni is behind it.
This is a thriller I didn’t want to put down!
It’s 2024, and production company Omnifent is bringing their hit show Sunset High back for a third time! While previous casts didn’t go very well, leading to the show’s reputation of being cursed, they’ve brought in a bunch of fresh faces! Ryan Hudson, Lucky Tate, Ella Winters, and newcomer Abel Miller are all set to star in this latest reboot.
But the Sunset High curse is rearing its ugly head already. Stalkers, threatening messages, media leaks, and more have the new cast clinging to each other for safety. And Abel Miller has his own reasons for joining the cast: his older brother’s death wasn’t an accident, and he’s certain Omni is behind it.
This is a thriller I didn’t want to put down!
The Underwood Tapes by Amanda DeWitt
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Books with sleepy small towns are some of my favorites, especially when these towns have a mystery hidden below the surface. The Underwood Tapes feels like listening to one of those podcasts with a plot line and a full voice cast, just in written form. Grief is one of the main underlying themes in this book, a heavy fog that settles on the shoulders of our main protagonists, Grace and Jake.
When Grace Crain moves to the town of Hermitage, Florida, over the summer, she hopes it’ll be a respite from the reminder of her mother’s passing. Yet everywhere she goes, the townsfolk only seem to see her as her mother. After her uncle gets her a summer job at the Municipal Building, Grace sets to work transcribing the archive tapes so they can be digitalized. While she expects this to be boring work, she quickly realizes there’s a mystery on her hands, and that the boy recording the tapes 30 years earlier can hear anything she records on them.
But the disappearances of Charley and Jake Underwood are something the town doesn’t want unearthed. It’s up to Grace and a pre-disappearance Jake to discover what truly happened, and who the members of the Hurricane Club truly were.
I thoroughly enjoyed this! My only gripe is that the conclusion of the book wasn’t as satisfying as I hoped for, in wording as spoiler-free as possible. Thank you to NetGalley and PeachTree Books for taking a chance on me and letting me read this!
When Grace Crain moves to the town of Hermitage, Florida, over the summer, she hopes it’ll be a respite from the reminder of her mother’s passing. Yet everywhere she goes, the townsfolk only seem to see her as her mother. After her uncle gets her a summer job at the Municipal Building, Grace sets to work transcribing the archive tapes so they can be digitalized. While she expects this to be boring work, she quickly realizes there’s a mystery on her hands, and that the boy recording the tapes 30 years earlier can hear anything she records on them.
But the disappearances of Charley and Jake Underwood are something the town doesn’t want unearthed. It’s up to Grace and a pre-disappearance Jake to discover what truly happened, and who the members of the Hurricane Club truly were.
I thoroughly enjoyed this! My only gripe is that the conclusion of the book wasn’t as satisfying as I hoped for, in wording as spoiler-free as possible. Thank you to NetGalley and PeachTree Books for taking a chance on me and letting me read this!
Januaries: Stories of Love, Magic & Betrayal by Olivie Blake
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Overall rating: 3.5 stars! I do love a good short story collection, but most of the themes and meanings in this one went way too far over my head. I couldn’t understand most of them or connect with them. However, Olivie Blake’s writing style is always fun to read.
Individual ratings:
- The Wish Bridge: 5 ⭐️
- The Audit: 3 ⭐️
- Sucker for Pain: 3 ⭐️
- The Animation Games: 4 ⭐️
- The House: 2 ⭐️
- To Make A Man: 4 ⭐️
- Preexisting Condition: 3 ⭐️
- Monsterlove: 2 ⭐️
- How to Dispel Friends and Curse People: 3 ⭐️
- Fates and Consequences: 2 ⭐️
- Sous Vide: 4⭐️
- Sensual Tales for Carnal Pleasures: 4 ⭐️
- Chaos Theory: 4 ⭐️
- A Year in January: 4 ⭐️
Individual ratings:
- The Wish Bridge: 5 ⭐️
- The Audit: 3 ⭐️
- Sucker for Pain: 3 ⭐️
- The Animation Games: 4 ⭐️
- The House: 2 ⭐️
- To Make A Man: 4 ⭐️
- Preexisting Condition: 3 ⭐️
- Monsterlove: 2 ⭐️
- How to Dispel Friends and Curse People: 3 ⭐️
- Fates and Consequences: 2 ⭐️
- Sous Vide: 4⭐️
- Sensual Tales for Carnal Pleasures: 4 ⭐️
- Chaos Theory: 4 ⭐️
- A Year in January: 4 ⭐️
Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a super cute read! I could have done without the spice at the end, and the dreaded third act breakup, but I found myself adoring the cast and the small town.
When Jeanie moves to the small town of Dream Harbor to take over her aunt’s cafe, she never intends to stumble upon a mystery and a hot farmer. Strange noises outside, unplugged fridges, and a broken dishwasher. Logan avoids town as much as he can, sticking to his farm and his grandparents after his last relationship went sour. But when Jeanie, the cute newcomer, begs for his help, he can’t seem to stay away.
Facing gossipy book clubs, runaway tents in the rain, and the upcoming fall festival, Jeanie and Logan work together to solve the mysterious goings on at the Pumpkin Spice Cafe! This book was such a comforting and easy read, no high stakes, just fall vibes and a diverse cast of loveable characters. I can see why everyone has been raving so much! Can’t wait to read the rest of this series!
When Jeanie moves to the small town of Dream Harbor to take over her aunt’s cafe, she never intends to stumble upon a mystery and a hot farmer. Strange noises outside, unplugged fridges, and a broken dishwasher. Logan avoids town as much as he can, sticking to his farm and his grandparents after his last relationship went sour. But when Jeanie, the cute newcomer, begs for his help, he can’t seem to stay away.
Facing gossipy book clubs, runaway tents in the rain, and the upcoming fall festival, Jeanie and Logan work together to solve the mysterious goings on at the Pumpkin Spice Cafe! This book was such a comforting and easy read, no high stakes, just fall vibes and a diverse cast of loveable characters. I can see why everyone has been raving so much! Can’t wait to read the rest of this series!
The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Erin Craig knows how to perfectly twist a fairy tale into a new, gothic setting. As I was reading this I thought to myself, “Hm, this is a lot more lighthearted than her debut!” And then the dark twist hit.
The Thirteenth Child is a retelling of Godfather Death, a fairytale where a young boy becomes the most talented physician in the land, only to disobey the rules his godfather set for him. Hazel, our physician, is such a wonderful character. The emotions she feels for her patients, both those she can and cannot save, are so strong. Each death haunts her, and in turn makes her will to save people stronger.
Leopold, Hazel’s love interest, starts off shallow and vain. One of my favorite tropes, if we’re being honest, (looking at you, Fiyero Tigelaar). As time goes on, we see him learn how to be better, for the girl who makes him want to be better.
A mysterious illness known as the Shivers brings the two together, and it may be up to the two them to eliminate it once in for all. The imagery in this book is both ethereal and disturbing, going from elaborate palaces and peaceful country cottages to skin sloughing off of flesh and dreadful coughing.
The Thirteenth Child is a retelling of Godfather Death, a fairytale where a young boy becomes the most talented physician in the land, only to disobey the rules his godfather set for him. Hazel, our physician, is such a wonderful character. The emotions she feels for her patients, both those she can and cannot save, are so strong. Each death haunts her, and in turn makes her will to save people stronger.
Leopold, Hazel’s love interest, starts off shallow and vain. One of my favorite tropes, if we’re being honest, (looking at you, Fiyero Tigelaar). As time goes on, we see him learn how to be better, for the girl who makes him want to be better.
A mysterious illness known as the Shivers brings the two together, and it may be up to the two them to eliminate it once in for all. The imagery in this book is both ethereal and disturbing, going from elaborate palaces and peaceful country cottages to skin sloughing off of flesh and dreadful coughing.
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
Genuinely wrecked.
The Burning God has been the hardest book in this trilogy for me to get through. I can support women’s wrongs, but man, Rin dragged me through the Wringer here. I’m applauding R.F. Kuang for not only being able to write a character going mad, but for doing it so well that all I could do was gasp, close the book, and come back to it.
With the Cike gone and the Republic’s support taken away, the stakes are so much higher. Rin, Kitay, and Venka have joined up with the southern army, with one goal in mind: take Nezha and the Republic down, and take Nikan back for good.
Extremely tragic, but so so good.
The Burning God has been the hardest book in this trilogy for me to get through. I can support women’s wrongs, but man, Rin dragged me through the Wringer here. I’m applauding R.F. Kuang for not only being able to write a character going mad, but for doing it so well that all I could do was gasp, close the book, and come back to it.
With the Cike gone and the Republic’s support taken away, the stakes are so much higher. Rin, Kitay, and Venka have joined up with the southern army, with one goal in mind: take Nezha and the Republic down, and take Nikan back for good.
Extremely tragic, but so so good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail