erinnicolecreads's reviews
207 reviews

Savage Lands by Stacey Marie Brown

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adventurous hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This is THE cure to a reading slump. I finished this in 24 hours. This felt so nostalgic to me. It gave me all the same vibes as the dystopian books I loved as a teen (kinda Divergent ish vibes) but in a bit more of a grown up way. Loved the tension between characters and the challenges the FMC is forced to face. I was completely hooked through the story and am SO curious to see where this goes!!!! Addicted.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I have so many mixed feelings about this book! The various messages within this story have profound meaning. Female relationships, unexplained cruelty, things we take for granted on a day to day basis, one’s sense of humanity, etc. The story and the writing feel very meaningful and profound, yet not a lot really happened in the story. It felt very intentional, but for the enjoyment of the reader, it was difficult to feel hooked by the story. I know the story will stick with me for a very long time, however, the actual experience of reading the book was on the slower side for me. I also know the lack of closure/answers was likely intentional (going back to the point of unexplained cruelty), but again, as a reader, I’m left CRAVING answers. Still enjoyed this read though & its messages are so important! 
The Road of Bones by Demi Winters

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adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

4.5

This book just FEELS like quality. The pacing of the first 60-70% of the book is on the slower side, but the way it builds up the story & crafts the world really comes together in the last portion of the story. The world building in this was fantastic - I felt so immersed in the world & it was very intricate. I really enjoyed having a softer FMC in this book too! I feel like that’s uncommon in most Romantasy books nowadays. The end of this was CRAZY & very fast paced! I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book - book one sets readers up perfectly to dive in to the rest of the story. 
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

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adventurous mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I had a good time with this, but I have to say, I think it’s my least favourite out of the series so far. I was certainly entertained, but the pacing felt off/choppy, the romance fell flat for me (yes Xaden was very aggressively in love, but it kinda felt like too much in this?? Idk), the side characters also fell flat, the start of the story didn’t feel very cohesive to connect to the previous book, & the course of events felt rushed/like a lot happened but simultaneously nothing happened (probably because the same plot line of mission idea, who’s going, travel, mission was recycled over & over again for most of the book). Still a decent rating because the vibes were there & I was still quite hooked through the story, but this was very highly anticipated & I feel rather disappointed by it. Still a good time though! 
Spiral by Bal Khabra

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.5

Okay Collide was good but this was somehow even better!!! I was so hooked to this one. I really felt invested in the characters & loved the build up between the FMC & MMC. The tension was DELICIOUS. Like Collide, I also liked the balance between plot & romance in this book. It felt very realistic & believable while still being very engaging. I also ADORE the side characters & the found family in this book. I seriously loved this read so much & I already can’t wait for the next book!!!

Thank you so much to Penguin Canada for the ARC & Berkley for the eARC!!!
Collide by Bal Khabra

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was a super cute read! This was textbook college hockey romance & it was done quite well. Sure, some moments the dialogue was a bit cringey or the FMC was acting a bit toxic, but overall, I quite enjoyed this read!! The plot was entertaining & kept me interested, while the romance was fun & flirty. Really cute & a fun, easy read. So excited for the next book!
Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia

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adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

This was absolutely ADDICTING. This demolished my slump. I seriously couldn’t get enough of this book & I can’t believe it’s not being raved about??? The character work was so phenomenal - each POV was so different from one another & the dialogue & inner thoughts of each character felt so unique & actually realistic. Some of the quotes in this book gut punched me. This is a quirky murder mystery with magic but shit gets real FAST. Each chapter ends with a grand reveal or twist & the plot seriously thickens with every chapter. The end was crazy. I’m seriously in shock rn. GOD this was a good read. The perfect anti-slump read. The inheritance games walked so mystery royale could run. 

Thank you SO much to MTMC tours for this review copy - I fell absolutely in love with this book & I need more like now
Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book was super highly anticipated for me, so I’m so bummed to have not loved it! The premise of this book sounded so fascinating. Unfortunately, I found the plot to be choppy & often didn’t seem to make sense or flow, the antagonist was over the top evil in a way that wasn’t interesting, the two main characters lacked chemistry & their romance went from 0 to 100 with what felt like 0 build up, & I felt as though the explanation of the magic system & world building was lacking. I’ve seen lots of others rave about this book so perhaps this is just not for me. 

Nonetheless, thank you so so very much to Random House Canada for the ARC copy! 
Golden Son by Pierce Brown

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

WHAT THE FUCK 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Lightlark by Alex Aster

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adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

My expectations for this book were really low, & while it was only a 3 star for me, it did exceed my expectations. It has its plot holes, the beginning was rather slow, the writing felt choppy at times, and it felt like the same tropey fantasy books I’ve already read a hundred times over, but I had enough fun to rate it 3 stars. It’s no literary masterpiece by any means (& some YA books truly are masterpieces) but I’d say this is a really good place to start for a young (15-18) person new to fantasy/reading. This is akin to YA zodiac academy to me - not great writing, doesn’t always make sense, can be boring at times, but overall a fun enough time.