Scan barcode
foiblesandfiction's reviews
462 reviews
A Conspiracy of Truths by Alexandra Rowland
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
dnf @ 6%
there has maybe never, in the whole history of the world, and in the whole history of literature, and in the whole history of oral storytelling, been a more obnoxious main character.
never. ever.
there has maybe never, in the whole history of the world, and in the whole history of literature, and in the whole history of oral storytelling, been a more obnoxious main character.
never. ever.
Folk Around and Find Out by Penny Reid
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. and i was very excited to receive this arc because penny reid is one of my go-to cozy romance authors. i recommend her books all the time because she writes the most real and vital characters. they're flawed and hilarious and low-key quirky. except for cletus, that boy is full-on quirky. and still i have read cletus' book more times than i can count; him and jen are my otp.
but i'm really disappointed to say that folk around and find out fell really short for me.
there was minimal conflict, and what minor conflict existed was overblown and then tidily resolved off-page.
the author uses hank's strip club as a tool to humanize and defend sex work throughout the book. yet, there are a few passages that do the complete opposite. like, why are we comparing sex work to the horrors of war? ew.
useless scenes full of purposeless dialogue (some of charlotte's conversation's with hannah, the epilogue)
yes, charlotte and hank are great characters. that's a given when reading a book by penny reid. unfortunately, that's really all this book had to offer me.
overall, this series is wonderful, but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if you skipped this one. *shrug*
but i'm really disappointed to say that folk around and find out fell really short for me.
there was minimal conflict, and what minor conflict existed was overblown and then tidily resolved off-page.
the author uses hank's strip club as a tool to humanize and defend sex work throughout the book. yet, there are a few passages that do the complete opposite. like, why are we comparing sex work to the horrors of war? ew.
useless scenes full of purposeless dialogue (some of charlotte's conversation's with hannah, the epilogue)
yes, charlotte and hank are great characters. that's a given when reading a book by penny reid. unfortunately, that's really all this book had to offer me.
overall, this series is wonderful, but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if you skipped this one. *shrug*
Breaking the Bully by Jessa Kane
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
i haven't dabbled much in bully romances and i'm not sure if it's my thing. but, i do enjoy a heaping spoonful of angst in my romance reads and this had a whole dollop. would i read it again? probably not, but i do give the author credit for making an originally cliche fmc who loves storms for making her feel alive. that's in at least a million fanfictions i've read and it still hit pretty well.
Hefty by Jessa Kane
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pure lovely, gorgeous, spicy fluff. i read this in one sitting and spent most of that time yelling to my dog about the angst.
tbh would probably be a five star review if some smexy scenes weren't peak cringe.
this is for you if you enjoy:
lifelong friends to lovers
a third act breakup
angst
touch her and die
90% smex
tbh would probably be a five star review if some smexy scenes weren't peak cringe.
this is for you if you enjoy:
lifelong friends to lovers
a third act breakup
angst
touch her and die
90% smex
The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
knowing this book was ya, i did go into it feeling very skeptical. i had recently finished a (supposedly) dark ya gothic romance that ended up being terribly disappointing and left me quite jaded. it promised me death gods and darkness yet delivered a misty grey at best.
but this book, oh it delivered. not only is it filled with amazing imagery, death lore, and honestly vulnerable themes, but it also gave me an imperfect, angry, selfish main character who i love. that is so rare in ya! ren is not trying to make the world better or be a savior for humanity. no, she wants to find a place where she can belong and the gods help anyone who gets in her way.
this book is written really beautifully (i mean, who knew you could describe literal darkness in so many ways?) and, while i don't believe this is the intended subgenre, i'm saying good for her.
but this book, oh it delivered. not only is it filled with amazing imagery, death lore, and honestly vulnerable themes, but it also gave me an imperfect, angry, selfish main character who i love. that is so rare in ya! ren is not trying to make the world better or be a savior for humanity. no, she wants to find a place where she can belong and the gods help anyone who gets in her way.
this book is written really beautifully (i mean, who knew you could describe literal darkness in so many ways?) and, while i don't believe this is the intended subgenre, i'm saying good for her.
Below by Laurel Hightower
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
a fun horror novella with one of my fave horror elements - a cave.
with some reflection after reading, i can see the themes of overcoming misogynistic programming within the story and its imagery. i appreciate it, it was cleverly done. but it also led to the incorporation of an overwhelming amount of horror elements. i read this with a book club and we couldn't reach a consensus on what actually happened, what was an oversight versus purposely left ambiguous, and that's really disappointing as a reader. i want to understand the author's point of view and intentional message but there's so much going on in this book that its too muddy.
additionally-
i will be accepting fanfiction of addy/mothman. thx.
with some reflection after reading, i can see the themes of overcoming misogynistic programming within the story and its imagery. i appreciate it, it was cleverly done. but it also led to the incorporation of an overwhelming amount of horror elements. i read this with a book club and we couldn't reach a consensus on what actually happened, what was an oversight versus purposely left ambiguous, and that's really disappointing as a reader. i want to understand the author's point of view and intentional message but there's so much going on in this book that its too muddy.
additionally-
i will be accepting fanfiction of addy/mothman. thx.
The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
t. kingfisher - i am in love with you. thank you for existing and putting your weird and wonderful brain into books for me to read.
this book has moments that are truly disgusting and terrifying, and yet i consistently laughed at its humor through the ending. and explaining the sparknotes plot of this book to your friends is even more hilarious.
this book has moments that are truly disgusting and terrifying, and yet i consistently laughed at its humor through the ending. and explaining the sparknotes plot of this book to your friends is even more hilarious.
Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.5
i think this book is going to stick with me for a while. it wasn't a perfectly written story and there were some sections that dragged a bit in pace. but it still is one of those reads that erased most of my faculty for language and left lots of *feelings* in its place.
the themes of family, identity, and inherited trauma hit on some of my vulnerable places.
the focus on the characters' relationships was really enjoyable to read.
the dual timeline was used effectively.
honestly, i liked this book a lot and you'll probably hear me throwing it out as a recommendation.
and god, have you seen that gorgeous cover?
the themes of family, identity, and inherited trauma hit on some of my vulnerable places.
the focus on the characters' relationships was really enjoyable to read.
the dual timeline was used effectively.
honestly, i liked this book a lot and you'll probably hear me throwing it out as a recommendation.
and god, have you seen that gorgeous cover?
Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
i'm just gonna get it out: this book is wonderfully written and i didn't like it.
there is a peaceful and calm flow to rachel griffin's writing that is wonderful to read. she seems to effortlessly create emotional ranges in her characters, embracing their angsty and messy parts. i love angst so i love her writing in this way. her character's are flawed and traumatized and real. it was the same way in the nature of witches and i liked that book as well.
BUT
there are some directions taken in the plot of this book that i strongly disagree with. they weren't necessary and they were handled poorly.
first, the MC is introduced leading with her trauma and i don't believe that the trauma is ever actually addressed in such a way to allow the ending that this book landed with. she has trauma, she falls for a boy, she works to save boy, and she is better. pffft, screw that. give the poor girl some on-page therapy.
this second one i'm going to hide because spoilers...Pike being forced to become a mage was not only an egregious assault but also unnecessary. both Iris and Pike could have had their emotional arcs without him becoming a mage, and the author could have very easily allowed the curse's magic to transfer to anything in that damn forest other than Pike. yet the author chooses to assault this traumatized boy with the magic he fears? for no good reason.
i'm gonna end this review here because i'm trying to not angrily dwell on books that i dislike. but it's hard because i did like this book? i love angst, i'm a sucker for it. but i cannot and will not get over the poor choices of this storyline. sorry. bye.
there is a peaceful and calm flow to rachel griffin's writing that is wonderful to read. she seems to effortlessly create emotional ranges in her characters, embracing their angsty and messy parts. i love angst so i love her writing in this way. her character's are flawed and traumatized and real. it was the same way in the nature of witches and i liked that book as well.
BUT
there are some directions taken in the plot of this book that i strongly disagree with. they weren't necessary and they were handled poorly.
first, the MC is introduced leading with her trauma and i don't believe that the trauma is ever actually addressed in such a way to allow the ending that this book landed with. she has trauma, she falls for a boy, she works to save boy, and she is better. pffft, screw that. give the poor girl some on-page therapy.
this second one i'm going to hide because spoilers...
i'm gonna end this review here because i'm trying to not angrily dwell on books that i dislike. but it's hard because i did like this book? i love angst, i'm a sucker for it. but i cannot and will not get over the poor choices of this storyline. sorry. bye.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this is one of the most odd and original worlds i've read in a really long time. it was enjoyable and i want more of it.
i'd recommend this book to those who love a lil' pining and angst in their romance and a cozy lil' mystery on top of it.
i'd recommend this book to those who love a lil' pining and angst in their romance and a cozy lil' mystery on top of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing