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ddnreads's reviews
402 reviews
The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
For a debut, it's not bad but it's not exceptionally great either.
It started with an intriguing premise, cited from the description: Since she was a little girl, Hellevir has been able to raise the dead. Every creature can be saved for a price, a price demanded by the shrouded figure who rules the afterlife, who takes a little more from Hellevir with each soul she resurrects.
Until she resurrected the heir of the kingdom, Princess Sullivain. You think with such a power she would have a better bargaining position. But no, the Queen blackmailed and threatened to hurt her family if she refused to be around just in case the princess was assassinated (again).
And the book becomes frustrated (at least for me). I'd love for Helevir to fight more, be more cunning, more so to survive within the kingdom. Stand up for herself. She did, tho and I love her for that. But in the end, love wins. She couldn't do anything. She would still do what the Queen asked for her no matter how ridiculous the number of princess' deaths that she had to ressurect.
Oh and I think she needed to be more considerate who to help. Like the way the princess acted made it not worthy (honestly).
What I like is her on adventure finding the clues to give the Death. She with her best friend raven. Her relationship with her father. This girl deserves better really. That ending is kinda hopeful.
Oh and in my mind her appearance is kinda horror the way she had to pay the price with her body and her soul. But I think the writing could be more atmospheric bcs sometimes I find it hard to visualise the people, esp in the kingdom. I do love the desc of Death's area and his demeanor, tho.
This is a suitable read in October. Horrorish fantasy with kingdom political intrict.
Thank you for the arc in exchange for honest review π©·
It started with an intriguing premise, cited from the description: Since she was a little girl, Hellevir has been able to raise the dead. Every creature can be saved for a price, a price demanded by the shrouded figure who rules the afterlife, who takes a little more from Hellevir with each soul she resurrects.
Until she resurrected the heir of the kingdom, Princess Sullivain. You think with such a power she would have a better bargaining position. But no, the Queen blackmailed and threatened to hurt her family if she refused to be around just in case the princess was assassinated (again).
And the book becomes frustrated (at least for me). I'd love for Helevir to fight more, be more cunning, more so to survive within the kingdom. Stand up for herself. She did, tho and I love her for that. But in the end, love wins. She couldn't do anything. She would still do what the Queen asked for her no matter how ridiculous the number of princess' deaths that she had to ressurect.
Oh and I think she needed to be more considerate who to help. Like the way the princess acted made it not worthy (honestly).
What I like is her on adventure finding the clues to give the Death. She with her best friend raven. Her relationship with her father. This girl deserves better really. That ending is kinda hopeful.
Oh and in my mind her appearance is kinda horror the way she had to pay the price with her body and her soul. But I think the writing could be more atmospheric bcs sometimes I find it hard to visualise the people, esp in the kingdom. I do love the desc of Death's area and his demeanor, tho.
This is a suitable read in October. Horrorish fantasy with kingdom political intrict.
Thank you for the arc in exchange for honest review π©·
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, and Gaslighting
Naruto, Vol. 17: Itachi's Power by Masashi Kishimoto
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
As a criminal, I'd say Kisame is way too polite
Naruto, Vol. 16: Eulogy by Masashi Kishimoto
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Iruka:"""
Itachi!!!!
Kakashi Obito π₯Ί
For a criminal, Kisame is considerably polite.
Itachi!!!!
Kakashi Obito π₯Ί
For a criminal, Kisame is considerably polite.
Naruto, Vol. 15: Naruto's Ninja Handbook! by Masashi Kishimoto
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
The beasts are out is getting better π€πΎ Shukaku is kinda cutie tho. An oversized angry kitten
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Yes, agree that it was very different than other Ali Hazelwood's work and I find it okayish.
Loving this mostly bcs it was no brainer, stress free, happy ending read.
I don't mind the characters' personality actually. Sunshine bf (whose whole personality is loving and listing after her) and grumpy cold gf (who's socially inept, tense, strict).
They brought such a huge baggage and I like the way they talked through it.
The 'revenge plot' could've had better written.
And I don't think I'm a fan of insta-love, insta-lusty but yeah bearable ππΌ
Loving this mostly bcs it was no brainer, stress free, happy ending read.
I don't mind the characters' personality actually. Sunshine bf (whose whole personality is loving and listing after her) and grumpy cold gf (who's socially inept, tense, strict).
They brought such a huge baggage and I like the way they talked through it.
The 'revenge plot' could've had better written.
And I don't think I'm a fan of insta-love, insta-lusty but yeah bearable ππΌ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Naruto, Vol. 14: Hokage vs. Hokage!! by Masashi Kishimoto
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Naruto is all about teacher-students relationship
Naruto, Vol. 13: The ChΕ«nin Exam, Concluded...!! by Masashi Kishimoto
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
It's getting juicier
Naruto, Vol. 12: The Great Flight by Masashi Kishimoto
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Shikamaru!!!!
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
dark
emotional
tense
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? No
5.0
OMFG WHAT WAS THAT????!
It's illegal for a book to be this good π the book finished me fr....
This is a book about female rage, a sort of coming of age (?), on how the so called "civilized" people built their power upon the taking, salvaging, emptying indigenous land.
This is a reflection of how our "modernity" works. And to take that literally....
A critic of academic world of how mostly they don't live up with the truth nor knowledge...
So neatly written, so atmospheric, I can see the red. When ML WANG wrote Blood Over Bright Haven she meant it. Mother is mothering π§πΎββοΈπ§πΎββοΈπ§πΎββοΈπ§πΎββοΈ
Of you're into high fantasy, dark academia, toppling down tyrannical government, while dealing with hope and internal conflict of your feelings.... READ THIS BOOK.
Thanks so much Del Rey Pub for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for honest review.
It's illegal for a book to be this good π the book finished me fr....
This is a book about female rage, a sort of coming of age (?), on how the so called "civilized" people built their power upon the taking, salvaging, emptying indigenous land.
This is a reflection of how our "modernity" works. And to take that literally....
A critic of academic world of how mostly they don't live up with the truth nor knowledge...
So neatly written, so atmospheric, I can see the red. When ML WANG wrote Blood Over Bright Haven she meant it. Mother is mothering π§πΎββοΈπ§πΎββοΈπ§πΎββοΈπ§πΎββοΈ
Of you're into high fantasy, dark academia, toppling down tyrannical government, while dealing with hope and internal conflict of your feelings.... READ THIS BOOK.
Thanks so much Del Rey Pub for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Slavery, and Police brutality
The Moon That Turns You Back: Poems by Hala Alyan
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Oh I like this one better than The Twenty-Ninth Year.
The poem format is adding the nuance, and the genius on each sentence is top notch.
Please do check the TW before reading.
The poem format is adding the nuance, and the genius on each sentence is top notch.
Please do check the TW before reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Genocide, Miscarriage, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Colonisation