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emilia_reads's reviews
363 reviews
Kei X Yaku: Bound by Law, Vol. 2 by Yoshie Kaoruhara
emotional
lighthearted
tense
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? No
There is no logical reason why this series has such a chockhold on me. I would die for the main guys. Their interactions, however small, give me the warm and fuzzies. 5 Star manga
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
Writing is too juvenile and underdeveloped for my taste. I want to stick it through bc I want the boys to fall in love, but I just am not enjoying reading it. Characters are also just kind of odd without being endearing.
Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Punished by the Vampire King by Darcy Fayton
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall, I thought this book was super entertaining. The first half of the book is made up of several short stories, while the latter half is basically one novella. I was definitely more of a fan of the latter half of this book, as it featured more of a fantasy plot. I did have a hard time following some of the plot points, but that is probably more my fault for being bad at paying attention than it is the book’s fault. I'm usually more of a character-driven person, so I wish the characters were more memorable to me. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in it, it's a very fast and easy read. My only other minor complaint is that I wish there was more vampire content - the vampires in this book breathe and eat human food, and there is little mention of any other “vampire” traits. I just wish the vampire content was more central to the story.
Thanks to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
The Book of Purrs by Luís Coelho
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
A lovely little collection of inspirational and funny one-liners with the cutest illustrations of cats! I found the one-liners to be somewhat simplistic, but also very enjoyable to read. The illustrations are the best part of this collection, just adorable.
Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
Helen of Troy, 1993 by Maria Zoccola
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This is an atmospheric poetry collection that is a reimagining of the story of Helen of Troy. I was intitially interested in this poetry collection because of its connection to Greek mythology. The collection focuses on themes of motherhood, womanhood, and free will by following the life of a housewife in Tennessee.
Usually I tend to struggle to understand poetry, and to really pick up on what the poet wants the reader to gain from the poems. I had this same struggle here, although this is not necessarily a bad thing. Poetry is meant to get the reader pondering about the themes and meanings of the poems.
This is a collection that I would recommend broadly, even to people who do not tend to read poetry. However, I think you would get more out of this story if you knew a little bit about the relevant Greek mythology.
Thanks to Scribner and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
Usually I tend to struggle to understand poetry, and to really pick up on what the poet wants the reader to gain from the poems. I had this same struggle here, although this is not necessarily a bad thing. Poetry is meant to get the reader pondering about the themes and meanings of the poems.
This is a collection that I would recommend broadly, even to people who do not tend to read poetry. However, I think you would get more out of this story if you knew a little bit about the relevant Greek mythology.
Thanks to Scribner and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
Malibu Summer by Libby Gill
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Unfortunately, this just wasn't the romance for me. I found the relationship development between Ivy and Conrad to be underdeveloped, and the main characters to be one-dimensional. The characters' jobs and their individual grief over being widowed are the central focus of this book, whereas the romance was somewhat in the background. Conrad is a tv show writer who wants to create shows with more impact, while Ivy is a soil scientist who is trying to create a novel irrigation system but is having problems with an investor. They both have issues at their jobs that take up the majority of this book; the resolutions are much too abrupt and convenient. There are other mini-conflicts in the book, mainly an issue with a weird photographer guy. This character is cartoonishly evil, and the resolution to this conflict is just bizarre.
I just don't think I really understood the point of this novel, nor was it really the summer romance I was expecting. I'm sure there is an audience for this book, but that audience is unfortunately not me.
Thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
I just don't think I really understood the point of this novel, nor was it really the summer romance I was expecting. I'm sure there is an audience for this book, but that audience is unfortunately not me.
Thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
To Kidnap A Princess by Katee Robert
adventurous
hopeful
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
3.0
The Rules of Royalty by Cale Dietrich
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I was so so excited to pick up this book! As a fan of Young Royals, these seemed like such a perfect book "version" of the show.
Unfortunately, I rated the book fairly low, and knew from the first chapter that the writing style was not for me. I powered through and completed the book mainly because it was an easy breezy book to just pick up when ever I had a free moment. I do not think that this book is objectively bad, but I rate books quite subjectively, and this book simply was not my type of favorite read.
Although the characters are 17/18 years old, this book is more suited to a much younger audience. The writing is a little cringey to me and it is more tell than show, the conflicts that arise in the book are easily and quickly dealt with (even the third act conflict was very quickly resolved), and the characters (especially Jaime) just read much much younger than 17/18. I would guess that a younger teen would probably really love this book, especially because so many important topics are discussed within the text and the story is very easy to follow.
I just wanted something that read more older YA/adult, dealt with more complex themes that were not easily resolved, and most of all, I prefer books that are written in a more complex manner.
Thanks to Wednesday Books at St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
Unfortunately, I rated the book fairly low, and knew from the first chapter that the writing style was not for me. I powered through and completed the book mainly because it was an easy breezy book to just pick up when ever I had a free moment. I do not think that this book is objectively bad, but I rate books quite subjectively, and this book simply was not my type of favorite read.
Although the characters are 17/18 years old, this book is more suited to a much younger audience. The writing is a little cringey to me and it is more tell than show, the conflicts that arise in the book are easily and quickly dealt with (even the third act conflict was very quickly resolved), and the characters (especially Jaime) just read much much younger than 17/18. I would guess that a younger teen would probably really love this book, especially because so many important topics are discussed within the text and the story is very easy to follow.
I just wanted something that read more older YA/adult, dealt with more complex themes that were not easily resolved, and most of all, I prefer books that are written in a more complex manner.
Thanks to Wednesday Books at St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!