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joyfulfoodie's reviews
324 reviews
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
This was a reread (probably third or fourth reading actually?) to prepare for the next installment’s release. First time listening to the audiobook, which I thought was very well done. The narrator does a fantastic job conveying the emotions.
This book continues to feel fresh and rewarding with rereads, and remains a favorite. It has some layering of details from later books that on a reread make early scenes here richer.
This book continues to feel fresh and rewarding with rereads, and remains a favorite. It has some layering of details from later books that on a reread make early scenes here richer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racism, Slavery, Violence, War, and Classism
Moderate: Rape and Cannibalism
Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
adventurous
challenging
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
4.5
This was a satisfying conclusion to the series. I’m not feeling any loose ends I wish were tied off (as of yet) and was pleasantly surprised that a couple twists caught me unaware. I see the signs looking back but I didn’t see them ahead, so that was fun.
Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This one … besides not being able to remember where it started and the previous one ended… managed to send some surprises that I feel the others didn’t. I’ve read a spoiler for the last book that tinted my reading of this one a little but it was still a good quick read. Interested to see how it all wraps up.
Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The twist that I feared hasn’t happened (…yet?? 🙃). A twist I saw coming has, but that wasn’t terrible, it worked. There were some good surprises along the way in this one. I’m eager to finish the series and see if it wraps up the way I expect it will. 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I liked this one better than book two… all the way up until the end. I did not like the end. Taking off a quarter star for the end.
Was it probably the right narrative move? Ok maybe. But I don’t like it.
Was it probably the right narrative move? Ok maybe. But I don’t like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Frostbite by Richelle Mead
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think this series is growing on me - I enjoyed book two more than book one. Maybe it was partly being more familiar with the three types of vampires, maybe it was that some of the world building was out of the way and the plot could just go.
Now to be clear I’m giving this five stars but it’s not like a new favorite book of all time that I’m planning to fan girl and reread … but it was solidly enjoyable.
Now to be clear I’m giving this five stars but it’s not like a new favorite book of all time that I’m planning to fan girl and reread … but it was solidly enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Sexual content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
adventurous
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
4.5
This was an enjoyable low thinking book. Learning the three main groups (basically live vampires, dead vampires, and the half vampire class that supports and protects the live ones) was a bit of a struggle for me. I’ve definitely got down the dead ones now since they are villainized frequently (and not unfairly so far). There are definitely a few reveals that I saw coming. But I’m pretty sure this is YA fiction so that’s understandable and fine. I’ll continue the series and that doesn’t feel like a burden. 😉
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Mental illness, Self harm, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Alcohol
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
5.0
I really enjoyed these characters and the historical depiction of both race issues and lgbtqia issues. It was less jarring to hear some of the arguments against being gay out of historical mouths than when you see them in modern social media posts. You can forgive their ignorance here, at a time when sexuality wasn’t really a thing and it was perceived as a sinful Choice instead of a piece of who you are.
The characters are lovable and evolve nicely through the book.
The characters are lovable and evolve nicely through the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
What the Hex by Jessica Clare
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
So I enjoyed this book. It was fun. Book one was better, but it is possible that was partly influenced by the fact that I love Kylo/Ben and Rey, so reading what basically amounts to fic worked for me. I spent a large part of this book trying to decide if it was also based on Star Wars characters…best guess is if it is that they are Rose Tico and General Hux. I don’t know why they are being shipped if that’s a correct identification but there you go.
My issues with the book:
There are several errors that should have been caught in editing. One - guy makes a point of changing out of green suit into blue. Gal references the green suit he is wearing just a couple pages later. Another - gal puts laptop in bag, then a couple pages later is wrestling laptop into laptop sleeve and hurrying to put it in her bag. You get the idea.
Gal spells out curse exclamations, like oh em gee and double yew tee eff. It’s not cute and quirky, it’s annoying to read.
NSFW Plot point, kinda. It’s sort of part of how the characters start liking each other. The plot device that we orgasms everytime he casts magic with her is weird. It doesn’t fit with how the world was built in the previous book. If you can suspend belief on that it kind of is amusing I guess? But it felt like an abrupt kick in to how they were going to get together, which was already kind of rushed.
But overall I enjoyed it. Quick read. Has some steamy bits, none of which are too cringy.
My issues with the book:
There are several errors that should have been caught in editing. One - guy makes a point of changing out of green suit into blue. Gal references the green suit he is wearing just a couple pages later. Another - gal puts laptop in bag, then a couple pages later is wrestling laptop into laptop sleeve and hurrying to put it in her bag. You get the idea.
Gal spells out curse exclamations, like oh em gee and double yew tee eff. It’s not cute and quirky, it’s annoying to read.
NSFW Plot point, kinda. It’s sort of part of how the characters start liking each other.
But overall I enjoyed it. Quick read. Has some steamy bits, none of which are too cringy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexism
Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is very well executed. It gets emotional. You are highly invested in these characters. I outright cried multiple times.
There is one thing that bothers me about the ending, so I’ll spoiler cut. The story ends with Pounce, the nanny bot, taking up a vigil to watch over his kid’s new settlement. Problem is they don’t address a power source. Earlier in the book they do a fabulous job of addressing charging issues, but there is never any hint that they can charge themselves outside with solar or anything. And then we’re supposed to accept a circle of nanny bots sitting out to watch over this camp indefinitely with no grid to support them? Questionable and sloppy. It wouldn’t have taken much to have them sitting in a circle around a solar generator instead of just “in a sewing circle” to tighten that up.
There are also a couple of places where you almost get the sense that a character is sacrificed for the sake of a main character’s growth… kind of like the “fridging” a character trope you see in tv sometimes. Since there is a lot of violence in this apocalyptic robot war book it doesn’t really hit you like that in the moment, but it kind of makes you wonder looking back at the end.
Still. It reeled me in and held me, I was emotionally invested, and thought about it a lot between time listening to the audiobook (which is fabulously executed, superb voice actor.) Five stars.
There is one thing that bothers me about the ending, so I’ll spoiler cut.
There are also a couple of places where you almost get the sense that a character is sacrificed for the sake of a main character’s growth… kind of like the “fridging” a character trope you see in tv sometimes. Since there is a lot of violence in this apocalyptic robot war book it doesn’t really hit you like that in the moment, but it kind of makes you wonder looking back at the end.
Still. It reeled me in and held me, I was emotionally invested, and thought about it a lot between time listening to the audiobook (which is fabulously executed, superb voice actor.) Five stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Violence, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, Alcohol, and Classism