izzie_27's reviews
412 reviews

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

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challenging emotional 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

5.0

Another Ali Hazelwood I absolutely INHALED. I loved the story, I loved the characters, I loved their journey. The spice was a little spicier but not too much for all the bluster on social media. 
As many have said the little cameos by Adam and Olive were very sweet. No notes. 

I listened a little when I couldn't put it down but has to drive somewhere and goodness the narration was fantastic too. I loved Lukas's accent by his narrator. The other characters often blurred though (e.g., had to distinguish between side characters). 
Narration: 4/5
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

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adventurous dark emotional reflective 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

I was pleasantly surprised on my re-read of ACOTAR. I remember reading this series first in 2022 in a fever dream on a Bali holiday. Reading ACOTAR this week I wondered if I would feel the same. I expected to find the writing more basic and the story weaker, as I know the world building and complexity grows. 

Instead I was delighted to go back into the world and I felt that Maas did a great job of slowly introducing us to Feyre and Prythian. The characters I know and love were still present and still phenomenal in their early stories. 

I absolutely adored seeing Feyre and Rhysand. The moments of Rhysand discovering her and coveting her and knowing what seeing her in love with Tamlin would be like... Extra delightful on a re-read as I had no idea when initially reading.


Also a small moment for the fact that Feyre has absolutely no chemistry with Tamlin. She has more with Lucien! The first half of the story was more of a drag than I remembered.


While I might have minor notes, for a first book in a high fantasy series, I think this stands the test of the re-read. 

Stars: 5/5
Spice: 1.5/5 (very vanilla really!) 
Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz

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

5.0

My favourite of the series, I thought the slight change in story telling, the different timelines and the additional character of John Dudley really made for a great read. The acknowledgements said there's 7 more books planned! I can't wait to read the next one. 

Narration: 4/5 (sorry Rory but your Aussie accent is shit)
Alone With You in the Ether by Olivie Blake

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emotional reflective sad slow-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

Olivie Blake writes so beautifully. Every sentence is structured, no word wasted, a masterpiece to read. Ethereal.

This story is no different. One of her few without a fantasy element, I was still hooked on finding out what happened to Aldo and Regan as their gravities push and pull them together. 

My only negative is I never felt hooked to finish the story, I was happy to let it ebb and fade, I could put it down for ages and not worry about finishing the story. 
Let the Dark In by SenLinYu

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.

The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green

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challenging funny reflective medium-paced

4.5

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I will be telling certain stories to as many people as possible, the Teddy Bear origins is a personal favourite. 

I hope John Green feels brighter about the world now, his melancholy over Covid is palpable through out. 
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

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adventurous emotional 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

4.0

All You Want by SenLinYu

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

4.5

A well thought out omega-verse fanfic, this was a fun ride. It's soft, sweet, angsty, yet fairly substantial fic - enough to get your teeth into without being dark or too heavy on the world building or plot. 
The Heiress and the Orc by Finley Fenn

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adventurous emotional tense 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? Yes

3.5

A hard book to review... I certainly loved Natt and Ella more than Jules and Grimarr however there was still a level of soap opera twists to the story that made it seem to go on a bit too long. 

In saying that, the politics behind those twists were what makes this series enjoyable and why I come back to them even when swearing I never want to hear about orc semen ever again. 

I know it's not good but I can't help it, I'm back again. 
From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley, Riley Keough

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challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

What a beautiful memoir. Firstly, this is phenomenal via audiobook. I started reading a physical book but then my eaudiobook from the library came in and I continued from that. Snippets of Lisa Marie's actual tapes add so much to the experience, with Julia Roberts taking on the challenge in between. Riley Keough is an incredible storyteller, and her reflections on her mother's life, in combination with the format meant this felt like a conversation with friends, hearing their life story over tea. 

I also read this book after Priscilla's which certainly made for some sassy and spicy reading. I appreciated the story connecting up and taking over after that point. 

Having known so little before jumping into either book it was fascinating to hear about their lives and in some ways I wish there was more. I'll miss hearing their voices. Thank you.