greyys_libraryy's reviews
181 reviews

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

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adventurous mysterious tense slow-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

3.5

The Familiar was a book that I bought with no pretense as to what it was about So far I've loved all of Leigh Bardugos books and this one was the same. Though I would rank it lowest of all her books, I did still find it enjoyable. I thought that the story overall was done very well both in it's historical aspect and it's fantasy aspect. I liked the character dynamics that were displayed throughout the book and the plot progression overall.The ending was the thing that I thought I wouldn't enjoy until I got to the last chapter.
Thinking that it would end only with their deaths felt, while realistic, like a cop out. But once I realized that they had actually ran away and that she rebuilt him every morning was a nice way to end it, showing both their love for freedom and their love for each other.
Before this book of known almost nothing about the inquisition, and even just being historical fantasy it managed to teach me something about it.
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

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adventurous reflective tense slow-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? No

4.5

Ariadne was a myth that i was vaguely familiar with before I began reading. It did take me a little while to truly get into the book, but once I did I was enthralled by it. The way that Saint writes is beautifully done and condones her message well. The dual POVs between Ariadne and her sister added to the story and to the endings of both of theirs. The myth being told in this perspective changes the way that it's seen and the end to their story. I thought that it was very well written while staying true to the multiple versions of the mythology surrounding it. It stayed true to the time period and the myths while also giving it a more modern context.
What Lies Between Us by John Marrs

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I listened to this book in audio format, and it was so good. I thought that the narrator did a good job performing the piece and that the story itself was very well done. It kept me wanting to know more and each twist and turn shocked me. I was not expecting so many things to have happened, I only wish that they had been revealed to Nina. I thought that the ending was almost a cop out and that I could have been done better, but that overall I enjoyed the book a lot. So far John Marrs has had the audiobooks that I pay the most attention to.
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

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adventurous mysterious tense 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

A Tempest of Tea wasn't fully what I was expecting it to be, but that was my fault for not reading the blurb before k started to read it. I hadn't expected the book to be very vampire based, but enjoyed it anyways. I felt that the vampire lore mixed into the government and worldbuilding though was confusing. I understand that the tea shop was always under scrutiny because it couldn't be proved that it was for vampires, even if it was common street knowledge, and yet there was a whole ass vampire den in the city that was allowed to run. I think that The characters were all fleshed out well, and I enjoyed the dynamics and twists within it. The main complain is that it felt too much like it was trying to recreate a six of crows story rather than be originally it's own, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I liked the heists and the overall plot of the book, only which that it picked up the pace earlier in the book instead of reading around a 100 pages of mostly exposition and worldbuilding.
All of Our Demise by C. L. Herman, Amanda Foody

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

All of our Demise was a book that from the beginning was tense with high stakes. The plot kept going and the character dynamics shifting.
I loved the slow burn relationship between Alistair and Gavin, as well as Isobel and Reid.
The dismantling of the tournament and it slowly collapsing kept me on the edge of my seat for the whole time, never quite knowing if it would work or not.
Even knowing that it probably would because that's how books usually go, it still felt as though it was possible that it would just collapse and that'd be it.
This was the perfect wrap up to the duology, and as much as I would've loved a novella or a third boon just showing the lives of them all a few years down the road, I think it ended very nicely and in a way that makes readers content with the ending of the story and wraps up all the storylines well.
All of Us Villains by C.L. Herman, Amanda Foody

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adventurous challenging 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? It's complicated

5.0

All of us Villains was a book much better than I had expected it to be. I liked the way that you learned about the tournament, town, and characters all at the same time. Each character and the family without it, while living up to some cliches, we're all still unique and three dimensional. I didn't feel as thought I was reading a flat or boring character. They interacted with their families in ways that felt realistic for a fantasy setting such as this. The tournament was so exciting, and felt the way wat hung the first hunger games game unfold. Not knowing exactly how cruel it is yet and the lengths that are needed to win. I also liked learning the boat histories of the game through both the quotes at the begining of each chapter, but by the characters dialogue. This book, while marketing for fans of fantasy and of the hunger games, is entirely unique and special.
Hendry's death was a plot twist I hadn't expected so early in the book, but was definitely a driving factor for Alistair throughout the book. Alistair and Isobel's relationship was something I hadn't expected, as was the curse she laid on him at the end. Each character being so different from how the other perceived them was also a thing I really enjoyed, especially the history between Briony, Isobel, and Finely.
I'm glad I bought both books before starting, because I NEED to know how the tournament concludes.
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

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

2.5

the overall story was very interesting. I liked how for the whole story Jekyll and Hyde were believed to be seperate. the only issue is that because of how well known the story is, the main plot twist is already spoiled making the ending full and anticlimatic. the entire book depends on the twist at the endz which for me makes the any to reread it much less because it just doesn't feel worth it. 
The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare by G.K. Chesterton

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

2.0

The Man Who Was Thursday was an interesting read. Listening to it in audiobook format I don't think was the best choice for me, only because some things got misremembered to not remembered at all since it would act as background noise. I did love the narrator though, and think that his narration did help me to pay slightly more attention. The book itself was odd, but enjoyable. The plot twists were unexpected, and the overall end message was well done. I just think that it was slightly longer than it honestly needed to be and that on a next read I'd prefer to listen to it less as background noise or buy a physical copy.
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

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adventurous challenging tense 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? No

4.0

The Darkest Minds is a book that I thoroughly enjoy on every reread. I originally watched the movie first and found the premise to be so cool that I had to read the book. I quickly got sucked into the lives of Ruby, Liam, Chubs, and Zu. Their found family dynamic is what originally sparked my love for the found family trope. Liam and Ruby's romance was also done very well, and though was quick didn't feel rushed.
The way that Clancy slowly is revealed to be the villain and that despite everything that happened they all became seperated and practically back to square one is devastating, but is essential to the story and characters.
To me everything about this book is amazing, and the only reason it's not 5 stars is because of the YA feel that it has, which is still appreciated most of the time.
Out of the Blue by Jason June

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

2.5

out of the blue was a good book. most of the time I didn't expect what was coming. I liked the characters and their relationships with each other. one thing I didn't enjoy was how horny the characters always were and the constant mentioning of Sean's thick thighs. I enjoyed the fantasy elements and the culture in the fantasy world. It was a light read, but I'm not sure if I'd read it again.