kayceeisbookish's reviews
311 reviews

Warriors of Wind and Ash by Rebecca F. Kenney

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

3.75

While I enjoyed the continuation of this series, the drastic duality between the duo was almost too much at times. Having the FMC being tortured at times while the MMC is having a funny time learning how to use a human toilet was a bit *too* much of a distance for the reader to jog between POVs. 
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A Deception of Courts by Ben Alderson

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slow-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

3.75

A Kingdom of Lies by Ben Alderson

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adventurous emotional slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

Perfect for fans of ACOTAR/TOG or Folk of the Air series. This steamy queer fae romantasy is non-stop action, magic, and deception around every turn. 
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Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire

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

3.0

While the narrative was definitely difficult to read (the tone feeling very old-timey like LOTR vibes), once you read beyond that, it is a very traumatic tale of a young Elphie. Felt very reminiscent of A Series of Unfortunate Events...since nothing ever seemed to go right for young Elphie and her family.
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Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver

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dark funny lighthearted medium-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? Yes

4.75

Dark, alluring, spicy, and full of gruesome humor. I loved it. This series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. 
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Heir to Thorn and Flame by Ben Alderson

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

A magic fantasy full of images, dragons, and deception around every turn. Who can you trust? Apparently, no one. 
I enjoyed this book. The plot had a few holes, but overall, it was a fun fantasy story about friendship, family, and self-discovery.
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Symbiote by Michael Nayak

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

3.75

Very reminiscent of The Thing and The Hot Zone. My biologist heart loved it and oozed nerdiness. My skin crawled the whole time.
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The Witch who Trades with Death by C.M. Alongi

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adventurous dark sad slow-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

3.75

3.5 stars: The summary makes it seem very Belladonna vibes. This book is actually a war novel, which is not bad, just not what I had expected at all. Definitely check TW/CW. The magic system sort of cheapens the loss when characters die since the MC can heal/revive people fairly easily. Felt like there was a lot of unneeded exposition.
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Spectacular by Stephanie Garber

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funny lighthearted 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

4.0

It's a fun holiday novella where we get to have more time without our favorite Caraval characters.
The Horseman of Sleepy Hollow by Rebecca F. Kenney

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

3.5

This book was a good retelling. I was not a fan of the insta-love. I liked the close proximity trope and the doctor/patient trope, though.
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