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deidra_shadetreereads's reviews
332 reviews
Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.5
This was fun! I have to say that I enjoyed Ghost Squad a bit more. I feel like that one was more unique as I still haven’t anything quite like it. The Honeys and Ballad & Dagger are YA stories that you will probably like if you liked Witchlings. For me, it’s probably the fact that I read those 2 very recently but they all 3 have similar stories executed differently.
All that said, I froggin liked this! Though it did take me a minute to care about what was happening…I’d say until about the 40% mark…I’m still hype for the sequel! I didn’t expect the twists and I need to know what the spares will achieve next!
All that said, I froggin liked this! Though it did take me a minute to care about what was happening…I’d say until about the 40% mark…I’m still hype for the sequel! I didn’t expect the twists and I need to know what the spares will achieve next!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse
One of the witching’s parents withheld food as a punishment.
Arcade and the Dazzling Truth Detector by Rashad Jennings
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
This was great! Except the choice to include the civil war/Abraham Lincoln was unfortunate even in the context it was used because I feel there were plentiful other choices that could have been made to illustrate the same point. Sad that happened in the last book.
The Playa's Handbook by Ellen Jackson, Brenda Jackson
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
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
Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma, Vol. 12 by Yuto Tsukuda
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
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
No More Playas by Brenda Jackson
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a surprisingly good time. I'm so mad at them for mentioning romance as a descriptor because HOW? WHERE? That wasn't romance. To go into detail would be spoilers. But trust me when I say this had the makings of a love story but it never gelled in that regard. And if "seaborn romance" hadn't been said and we still go what we got, I would have liked that much better because my expectations would have been a bit more in line with the overall story. Because I certainly was turning my nose up at the idea of unwashed sexy times...ngl. Anyway, I can see myself lowering my rating after discussion with the book club because of that. Mayhaps even after further reflection.
All that said and considered, I enjoyed it in the end! I love nautical fights and pirates. Plus who doesn't love good food and being behind the line with a good chef?! I felt that the descriptions of how "Spoons" foraged for ingredients aboard a pirate ship and kept his ball of yeast on his person to keep it happy were realistic and fun. With his life on the line, he was extremely resourceful using whatever objects he could to make the Captain's Sunday meals. And I enjoyed the other story going on alongside the kitchen drama. Much of the time the other stuff took precedence and rightly so.
At the end of the day I will recommend this for fans of historical fiction with an adventure for the main course, a side of vigilante pirate queen and a kidnapped chef for the after dinner coffee!
All that said and considered, I enjoyed it in the end! I love nautical fights and pirates. Plus who doesn't love good food and being behind the line with a good chef?! I felt that the descriptions of how "Spoons" foraged for ingredients aboard a pirate ship and kept his ball of yeast on his person to keep it happy were realistic and fun. With his life on the line, he was extremely resourceful using whatever objects he could to make the Captain's Sunday meals. And I enjoyed the other story going on alongside the kitchen drama. Much of the time the other stuff took precedence and rightly so.
At the end of the day I will recommend this for fans of historical fiction with an adventure for the main course, a side of vigilante pirate queen and a kidnapped chef for the after dinner coffee!
The Drops of God Volume 2 by Shu Okimoto, Tadashi Agi
challenging
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell by Taj McCoy
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
3.5
This was a cool book. I just hate how often we have to read about an insecure plus-sized woman who gets dumped for being fat. And then I've always hated the idea of a "revenge body". I mean I know I'm a Scorpio but showing an ex who said incredibly hurtful things for YEARS what they missed shouldn't be the main motivation to make healthier choices. I wish that more of these romance books featuring fat female MCs would reflect what I see in real life. Which is plus-size girlies in their shapewear, at least outwardly showing confidence at the size they currently are. That's my main gripe with this book because I liked everything else.
It was fun to get to know Savvy's girlfriends and her tennis trainer. Having a front row seat for when she was in the kitchen banging pots together was also a good time. I related to wanting to please a mother who is very hardworking and successful in her field. And it was cool following Savvy to her job as she saved everybody's ass repeatedly. The ending was satisfying enough for me to feel good about rounding up.
Overall I'd say pick this book up if you don't have the same feelings as I do about plus-sized MCs and you need a quick read.
It was fun to get to know Savvy's girlfriends and her tennis trainer. Having a front row seat for when she was in the kitchen banging pots together was also a good time. I related to wanting to please a mother who is very hardworking and successful in her field. And it was cool following Savvy to her job as she saved everybody's ass repeatedly. The ending was satisfying enough for me to feel good about rounding up.
Overall I'd say pick this book up if you don't have the same feelings as I do about plus-sized MCs and you need a quick read.
The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I loved this! The experience of reading it alongside The Undead Truth of Us was *chef's kiss*. So far (I'm still in the 1st third of TUToU), they are quite similar in themes but the stories are very different. It's a slow burn mysterious horror book that hit all the marks for me!
The pacing was on point for the entirety of the book. I'm glad that they didn't try to sell this as a thriller when I paused to read the synopsis a few chapters in. The first chapter makes you think you might be in for a fast and furious ride. But it mellows out quickly to develop the backstory.
I like horror but I have to admit that I don't read a ton of it. That's doubly true for YA horror. All that to say that I'm operating on vibes here. The writing was poetic and flowed so well. If I had to guess, I'd say it probably gives Midsummer vibes too but I haven't read or watched that work. The atmosphere at Aspen made me think of the trailer for that movie in parts. Other than that, I thought it was unique story! I can't think of anything similar I've read in recent times.
As far as the characters, I didn't love or hate any of them. I thought they all fit the story and no one was particularly flat. Mars was an interesting MC and I liked they way they thought. I do wish that we got a bit more from the ending. It feels like I'm always saying that. But at least I'm consistent, right?
The pacing was on point for the entirety of the book. I'm glad that they didn't try to sell this as a thriller when I paused to read the synopsis a few chapters in. The first chapter makes you think you might be in for a fast and furious ride. But it mellows out quickly to develop the backstory.
I like horror but I have to admit that I don't read a ton of it. That's doubly true for YA horror. All that to say that I'm operating on vibes here. The writing was poetic and flowed so well. If I had to guess, I'd say it probably gives Midsummer vibes too but I haven't read or watched that work. The atmosphere at Aspen made me think of the trailer for that movie in parts. Other than that, I thought it was unique story! I can't think of anything similar I've read in recent times.
As far as the characters, I didn't love or hate any of them. I thought they all fit the story and no one was particularly flat. Mars was an interesting MC and I liked they way they thought. I do wish that we got a bit more from the ending. It feels like I'm always saying that. But at least I'm consistent, right?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Homophobia, and Transphobia
From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
medium-paced
2.0
I low key had to push myself to finish this installment in the series. It was bad bad and made me mad a few times!