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indieandajean's reviews
422 reviews
Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower by Tamsyn Muir
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
4.0
4/5 Stars
Princess Floralinda turns the princess in a tower tale on its head in the best possible way. I always love a story about women rescuing themselves.
The book does a great job tackling concepts surrounding gender expression and gender roles, as well as demonstrating that people can change in the act of survival. Floralinda's change from a goody-two-shoes princess in distress to a morally grey warrior woman was particularly enjoyable to read. The grittier she got, the more I enjoyed her character.
There were a few moments where the scenes dragged for me pacing wise, particularly as most of the book's pacing was quick, but otherwise it was paced well and it was a quick read for certain.
The ending earned a laugh from me, and I loved the final forms of all the involved characters.
Overall I'd recommend this to anyone who grew up reading fairytales and is or was waiting on their prince to come. Don't wait for him, just pick up the sword yourself instead.
Princess Floralinda turns the princess in a tower tale on its head in the best possible way. I always love a story about women rescuing themselves.
The book does a great job tackling concepts surrounding gender expression and gender roles, as well as demonstrating that people can change in the act of survival. Floralinda's change from a goody-two-shoes princess in distress to a morally grey warrior woman was particularly enjoyable to read. The grittier she got, the more I enjoyed her character.
There were a few moments where the scenes dragged for me pacing wise, particularly as most of the book's pacing was quick, but otherwise it was paced well and it was a quick read for certain.
The ending earned a laugh from me, and I loved the final forms of all the involved characters.
Overall I'd recommend this to anyone who grew up reading fairytales and is or was waiting on their prince to come. Don't wait for him, just pick up the sword yourself instead.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
The Book That No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.0
3/5 Stars for a fun, quick, Pratchett-esque reflection on books and reading for children narrated by the book itself.
I enjoyed The Book That No One Wanted to Read, the characters were fun, the story was quick, and generally speaking it was enjoyable and humorous. There were parts I enjoyed, including the accurate explanation of what happens in book recycling, though I think that it might scar some book loving children.
Unfortunately I also found it a bit meandering, particularly for its intended audience and I felt that the core of the story, the child speaking with the book, was treated almost like an afterthought. There needed to be a better balance between action and exposition, even with the book being as short as it is. Additionally, I really think that we're past the need for shushing librarians in children's books. It's not realistic and it's not encouraging children to look at libraries as spaces they belong is.
Overall this book is a good way to start speaking with children about why books get written, published, and why they do or don't succeed. I don't think that this is the sort of book that most children would pick up for fun, but I think it would be a good classroom read or discussion starter for children interested in writing.
I enjoyed The Book That No One Wanted to Read, the characters were fun, the story was quick, and generally speaking it was enjoyable and humorous. There were parts I enjoyed, including the accurate explanation of what happens in book recycling, though I think that it might scar some book loving children.
Unfortunately I also found it a bit meandering, particularly for its intended audience and I felt that the core of the story, the child speaking with the book, was treated almost like an afterthought. There needed to be a better balance between action and exposition, even with the book being as short as it is. Additionally, I really think that we're past the need for shushing librarians in children's books. It's not realistic and it's not encouraging children to look at libraries as spaces they belong is.
Overall this book is a good way to start speaking with children about why books get written, published, and why they do or don't succeed. I don't think that this is the sort of book that most children would pick up for fun, but I think it would be a good classroom read or discussion starter for children interested in writing.
The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Mo Netz
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5/5 Stars for this beautiful middle grade debut about overcoming obstacles, being brave, and having the willingness to try again.
I loved how this book blended a variety of folklore to create its monsters, and how real the lovable characters fighting them felt to me as a reader. Oftentimes when reading middle grade books, I find that the characters feel more archetypal than they feel realistic, but this cast was diverse, nuanced, and reminded me of people that I have known in my life. Similarly books for middle grade readers have a tendency to get heavy handed with the directness that the prose provides the theme to the reader (which makes sense given that these books are part of a child's path toward comprehending more complex texts as they age) but here I felt that the author had a good sense of balance between directness and allowing the reader to come to understand the themes of the story through the plot.
The action was enjoyable, the universe was interesting, and overall this is a great spooky read. I would recommend this book for children who enjoy books like What Stays Buried, The Otherwoods, The Agony House, and general spooky stories.
I would also recommend this book for its diversity as it hits on many topics of disability, family types, race, gender expression, and religion in a way that is digestible for children. It would be a great addition to any library, classroom, or child's bookshelf.
I loved how this book blended a variety of folklore to create its monsters, and how real the lovable characters fighting them felt to me as a reader. Oftentimes when reading middle grade books, I find that the characters feel more archetypal than they feel realistic, but this cast was diverse, nuanced, and reminded me of people that I have known in my life. Similarly books for middle grade readers have a tendency to get heavy handed with the directness that the prose provides the theme to the reader (which makes sense given that these books are part of a child's path toward comprehending more complex texts as they age) but here I felt that the author had a good sense of balance between directness and allowing the reader to come to understand the themes of the story through the plot.
The action was enjoyable, the universe was interesting, and overall this is a great spooky read. I would recommend this book for children who enjoy books like What Stays Buried, The Otherwoods, The Agony House, and general spooky stories.
I would also recommend this book for its diversity as it hits on many topics of disability, family types, race, gender expression, and religion in a way that is digestible for children. It would be a great addition to any library, classroom, or child's bookshelf.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Girls Weekend: A Monster Bait Romance by Sierra Kline, C.M. Nascosta
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
4/5
PWP where the W does stand for "with" but pretty loosely.
I started Girl's Weekend a few years ago when I was still deciding whether or not I liked monster romance, but put it down before finishing. Now that I have decided that I DO in fact love a good monster romance, I picked it back up and very much enjoyed the read.
This book is a great introduction to Cambric Creek, the town where most of Nascosta's stories take place, despite focusing on the nearby resort town of nudist orcs. The characters we meet in this book are very lovable, and the plot (as little as there really is) is positive and focuses on women who are rejecting the expectations society places on them while embracing what brings them joy. I certainly preferred some of the girl's storylines over others, but given that we are following three characters, it was bound to happen!
I'd recommend this book as a litmus test if you're looking at getting into monster romance (particularly if you're looking to branch out from vampires and werewolves) as it is relatively tame, but also contains many of the genre's tropes. It also works well as a light read for those who already enjoy the genre and it makes a great introduction to C.M. Nascosta's work.
Overall I found the book to be funny, positive, and quite spicy.
PWP where the W does stand for "with" but pretty loosely.
I started Girl's Weekend a few years ago when I was still deciding whether or not I liked monster romance, but put it down before finishing. Now that I have decided that I DO in fact love a good monster romance, I picked it back up and very much enjoyed the read.
This book is a great introduction to Cambric Creek, the town where most of Nascosta's stories take place, despite focusing on the nearby resort town of nudist orcs. The characters we meet in this book are very lovable, and the plot (as little as there really is) is positive and focuses on women who are rejecting the expectations society places on them while embracing what brings them joy. I certainly preferred some of the girl's storylines over others, but given that we are following three characters, it was bound to happen!
I'd recommend this book as a litmus test if you're looking at getting into monster romance (particularly if you're looking to branch out from vampires and werewolves) as it is relatively tame, but also contains many of the genre's tropes. It also works well as a light read for those who already enjoy the genre and it makes a great introduction to C.M. Nascosta's work.
Overall I found the book to be funny, positive, and quite spicy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
3.5
Fluff of the highest order. This great fall inspired read has all the welcome tropes of a Hallmark movie with just the right amount of (pumpkin) spice!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Vomit, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
Assistant to the Villain is an adorable fantasy rom-com with more emphasis on the "com". The slow burn in this book will be of no surprise to anyone who enjoyed watching the tiktok series it was based on, and it makes for a lot of exasperation from a reader's perspective when you read many chapters of pining and them "almost" getting to the point. This is a feature, not a bug.
The characters are lovable, the plot moves along at a decent pace, and it has just the right amount of tropes that one would expect from a slow-burn, mutual pining, workplace rom-com. It also has a dragon, which is always a positive.
My only complaint is that at times the book was a little too slow. There were unnecessary scenes that did little to move the plot forward or deepen the reader's understanding of the characters. I understand that the author was given a three book deal and that where there is a three book deal about a single romance, there is going to have to be some filler. That said, the story never dragged, even through these filler moments, and it was always fun to pick back up to read.
My review is probably somewhat biased as I fell in love with Evie Sage played by Hannah Nicole Maehrer in her Tiktok videos that were the catalyst for the books, but I challenge anyone who loves a good underdog to watch the videos or read this book and not also love the character. She, the Villain, Blade, Tatiana, and yes, even Becky, are great characters and it was fun to see them more fully fleshed out in this book.
I am very much looking forward to book two which is coming out this fall, particularly because of the cliffhanger ending!
I recommend this one for anyone who enjoys a bit of humor in their romances, morally grey fantasy villains, dragons, and strong female characters who overcome obstacles and earn the respect of people around them.
The characters are lovable, the plot moves along at a decent pace, and it has just the right amount of tropes that one would expect from a slow-burn, mutual pining, workplace rom-com. It also has a dragon, which is always a positive.
My only complaint is that at times the book was a little too slow. There were unnecessary scenes that did little to move the plot forward or deepen the reader's understanding of the characters. I understand that the author was given a three book deal and that where there is a three book deal about a single romance, there is going to have to be some filler. That said, the story never dragged, even through these filler moments, and it was always fun to pick back up to read.
My review is probably somewhat biased as I fell in love with Evie Sage played by Hannah Nicole Maehrer in her Tiktok videos that were the catalyst for the books, but I challenge anyone who loves a good underdog to watch the videos or read this book and not also love the character. She, the Villain, Blade, Tatiana, and yes, even Becky, are great characters and it was fun to see them more fully fleshed out in this book.
I am very much looking forward to book two which is coming out this fall, particularly because of the cliffhanger ending!
I recommend this one for anyone who enjoys a bit of humor in their romances, morally grey fantasy villains, dragons, and strong female characters who overcome obstacles and earn the respect of people around them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Daughter of the Deep is a brilliant "what if" piece of science fiction. I love how it pulls from the works of Jules Verne to create a narrative around a group of diverse freshmen students doing what adults deem impossible. It is very much in the vein of Percy Jackson, and Riordan doesn't shy away from mixing the fantastical with the real struggles of a teenage girl.
The characters are extremely lovable, the plot is fun and mostly well paced, and the twist was one that was well foreshadowed. I found that the plot did drag a bit while the students were on the ship trying to arrive to the base, but despite the fact that this section could have used a little more action or conflict, it didn't detract much from the book.
Overall I very much enjoyed this read. I would highly recommend it for tweens particularly as it doesn't shy away from the very real experiences that they are having or will have (anxiety, imposter syndrome, trouble with peers, death of loved ones, menstrual cramps, crushes, and responsibility). I would also recommend it for those with an interest in science fiction, those who enjoyed any of Rick Riordan's books (or Rick Riordan Presents), and for those who enjoy a good adventure story.
The characters are extremely lovable, the plot is fun and mostly well paced, and the twist was one that was well foreshadowed. I found that the plot did drag a bit while the students were on the ship trying to arrive to the base, but despite the fact that this section could have used a little more action or conflict, it didn't detract much from the book.
Overall I very much enjoyed this read. I would highly recommend it for tweens particularly as it doesn't shy away from the very real experiences that they are having or will have (anxiety, imposter syndrome, trouble with peers, death of loved ones, menstrual cramps, crushes, and responsibility). I would also recommend it for those with an interest in science fiction, those who enjoyed any of Rick Riordan's books (or Rick Riordan Presents), and for those who enjoy a good adventure story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
The Tea Dragon Society by K. O'Neill
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? No
5.0
An adorable quick children's graphic novel read. The characters are charming and relatable, The story is cozy with little conflict, and the overall theme of friendship and ensuring that traditions are not forgotten comes through very well without knocking the reader over the head with the information.
The illustrations are gorgeous and exactly what one would expect from K O'Neill. The colors are vibrant and well suited for the cozy illustrations that invite the reader into the world of tea dragons.
Highly recommend this one for beginning graphic novel readers, fans of fantasy, anyone looking for a quick graphic novel read, and for anyone who loves gorgeous illustrations of magical creatures!
The illustrations are gorgeous and exactly what one would expect from K O'Neill. The colors are vibrant and well suited for the cozy illustrations that invite the reader into the world of tea dragons.
Highly recommend this one for beginning graphic novel readers, fans of fantasy, anyone looking for a quick graphic novel read, and for anyone who loves gorgeous illustrations of magical creatures!
The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
4/5 stars
Not my usual read, but I enjoyed it much more than I have other realistic fiction coming of age stories.
The characters were loveable, the story was entertaining, and the switching between the past and future was very fluid.
Going into this book I wasn't sure what to expect, and I'm glad I gave it a shot!
Not my usual read, but I enjoyed it much more than I have other realistic fiction coming of age stories.
The characters were loveable, the story was entertaining, and the switching between the past and future was very fluid.
Going into this book I wasn't sure what to expect, and I'm glad I gave it a shot!
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Enola Holmes and the Boy in Buttons by Nancy Springer
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
5/5
A lovely short story that really shows Enola's development into a confident young woman who cares deeply about those around her.
It's a fun little read to enjoy while waiting for more Enola Holmes stories!
A lovely short story that really shows Enola's development into a confident young woman who cares deeply about those around her.
It's a fun little read to enjoy while waiting for more Enola Holmes stories!