ishouldreadthat's reviews
1126 reviews

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty

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adventurous funny mysterious 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

A fantastic start to what promises to be another amazing series from Chakraborty. I will always have a weak spot for books set at sea and this is no exception. This is an absolute riot to read with loveable characters, amazing banter, and a fabulous adventure. I listened to the audiobook and would highly recommend it - the narrator does a great job of bringing Amina to life. One of the best books of 2023!
The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell

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dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.5

Another amazing book from Laura Purcell. I loved the relationship between the three female main characters and the themes of obession. She does an amazing job of bringing the settings, especially the Mercury Theatre, to life. Haunting, but not in the way you'd usually expect from one of her books. Instead, this is unsettling and creepy and will stick in your brain. I think this will be one of my favourites of the year!
The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World by Malcolm Gaskill

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dark informative medium-paced

4.0

An interesting nonfiction book about witch trials that predate Salem. I listened to the audiobook and had a good time with it, but it hasn't stuck in my mind much since reading it.
Lumberjanes, Vol. 11: Time After Crime by Kat Leyh, Shannon Watters

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adventurous funny lighthearted 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

4.5

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

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

3.0

A beautifully written book, but I'm not sure I entirely 'got' it. It has been a few months since I read it and I remember almost nothing about it!
Lumberjanes, Vol. 13: Indoor Recess by Kat Leyh, Shannon Watters

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adventurous funny lighthearted 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

4.5

Lumberjanes, Vol. 12: Jackalope Springs Eternal by Kat Leyh, Shannon Watters

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adventurous funny lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.5

The Only One Left by Riley Sager

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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

2.0

This was my first Riley Sagar book and it was an absolute let down. The characters were dull, the twist was obvious, and the plot should have been amazing but the writing just wasn't up to par. I'm not sure I'll be reading any more of his books after this.
System Collapse by Martha Wells

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dark emotional funny 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

4.5

I find the Murderbot series to be a little uneven, but System Collapse is a great addition to the series. One of the reasons this one resonated so much with me is that we, of course, get our usual Murderbot shenanigans, but Something has happened and the story takes an emotional turn. I am a sucker for non-humans exploring humanity, so System Collapse was right up my alley. 
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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dark mysterious tense 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

I'm a big fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's work and have read the majority of her novels. So when I say that Silver Nitrate might be my favourite, it's beating some stiff competition. The story and atmosphere are absolutely perfect - she has such a gift for creating a sense of time and place - and I loved the inclusion of not only magic, but the real-world background to that magic. The characters, especially Montserrat and Tristán, and sheer perfection despite their flaws and complexities.

Silver Nitrate is a perfect novel for autumn reading, regardless of whether or not you're a horror movie buff (but its a must-read if you are).