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kelsbookzone1's reviews
243 reviews
Forgotten Sisters by Cynthia Pelayo
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Like a tribute story to some darker history of Chicago, the story was well written and flowed well. Albeit pretty predictable, it was quite enjoyable
Projections by S.E. Porter
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Too slow. Great premise but nothing was really happening
The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
I got about 38% of the way in- it was just boring
The Seep by Chana Porter
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland
emotional
mysterious
slow-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? No
2.0
Thank you to NetGalley for an early release arc and Ballantine books.
A historical slow paced story starting with our midwife Jean, as she meets Muirin and slowly setting the stage for a slow build sapphic love story.
A historical slow paced story starting with our midwife Jean, as she meets Muirin and slowly setting the stage for a slow build sapphic love story.
Jean and Muirin are both likeable characters albeit Muirin was pretty underdeveloped . As a folktale retelling, the story lost me a bit with the loss of explanation and I don’t want to give away who the retelling of the fantasy is in regards as I then had to do research. Which I wish I had
not, as I did find contradictions as the author even admits to not really researching ahead of time and going off of memory. I contemplated DNFing this one.
Boy was this story all over the place and inconsistent. One minute, we’re gasping over a character saying the f word and the next, we’re laughing at a crude joke by same character that gasped. I really couldn’t figure out what this story was trying to accomplish- one minute, it’s over explaining in narration, feeling repetitive questions and the next, it’s jumping from a to z, completely missing any explanation at all. It almost feels like being written by two different people, with two different goals. I hope this finished copy feels better edited, as this just felt like a first draft to me.
not, as I did find contradictions as the author even admits to not really researching ahead of time and going off of memory. I contemplated DNFing this one.
Boy was this story all over the place and inconsistent. One minute, we’re gasping over a character saying the f word and the next, we’re laughing at a crude joke by same character that gasped. I really couldn’t figure out what this story was trying to accomplish- one minute, it’s over explaining in narration, feeling repetitive questions and the next, it’s jumping from a to z, completely missing any explanation at all. It almost feels like being written by two different people, with two different goals. I hope this finished copy feels better edited, as this just felt like a first draft to me.
A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon
adventurous
dark
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? No
4.25
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an early release copy
Wow- almost all I can say. Deeply emotional and hopeful, from the first few pages the story will hook your heart strings and leave you rooting for our main character. For a short novella, the author does a good job of creating a story and giving at least a little depth for our protagonist.
Wow- almost all I can say. Deeply emotional and hopeful, from the first few pages the story will hook your heart strings and leave you rooting for our main character. For a short novella, the author does a good job of creating a story and giving at least a little depth for our protagonist.
Our main character is a lost 29 year old, feeling bleak, lost, and buried in debt with no promises of the future. Many trigger warnings for the introduction. But when she is at her lowest, she gets an introduced to Roa who lets her know she is a magical girl. Roa and even overall the story represents to me, even when you’re at your lowest, you never know what tomorrow will bring. I would have enjoyed a little more story at the ending, as it felt rushed but a good novella still.
The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for an early release copy
A debut novel, following the family of Venus, brewing potions in secret to sell in DC due to the injustices that hit her Witcher family in the past. Set in the real world revolving around social and racial injustices, the story revolves around Venus as she discovers what happened to her mother and her seek for revenge.
A debut novel, following the family of Venus, brewing potions in secret to sell in DC due to the injustices that hit her Witcher family in the past. Set in the real world revolving around social and racial injustices, the story revolves around Venus as she discovers what happened to her mother and her seek for revenge.
A good debut, I enjoyed the beginning a little more and the pacing felt uneven as the story continued. I wasn’t a huge fan of chapters of that had excerpts of things of “witchipedia” instead of just including the world building into the story. Overall, the narrator was fantastic. There were so many characters and the narrator did a great job of giving each character their own personality
The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to an early release
What a fantastic start to a new duology. This fantasy world features MC Nhika, an outcast in society by all standards but mostly by her most kept secret- she is a Bloodcarver. As a bloodcarver, she has the power to heal, or harm, people by feeling their body systems.
What a fantastic start to a new duology. This fantasy world features MC Nhika, an outcast in society by all standards but mostly by her most kept secret- she is a Bloodcarver. As a bloodcarver, she has the power to heal, or harm, people by feeling their body systems.
What a great world the author develops; I enjoyed how the story unfolded, as tidbits of adventures were dropped throughout the story to keep the story moving. Nhika was such a great developed character, I wish a few other characters had reached her depth. The romance at the back of the story also left me wanting a little bit more of the beginning and a little less romance.
I wish I had requested the print version as the audio was a little too monotoned or too lacking for an emotional difference. But I look forward to the second one in future.
The Waves Take You Home by María Alejandra Barrios Vélez
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Thank you to NetGalley for a free download of an early release.
Sweet Vi, an illustrator and brave woman, leaving her community and family behind in Colombia as she is encouraged to pursue her dreams in New York City. Even though this is a tale as old as time, I enjoyed the cozy nature and the likability of Vi’s character. The story does a good job of building upon itself and creating a character you would want to root. The dialogue and storytelling was a little too obvious and cheesy at times and repetitive, that it made me crave a little more innovation from the storyteller. If you are looking for a sweet, slow paced story, this could be a good fit for you.
Sweet Vi, an illustrator and brave woman, leaving her community and family behind in Colombia as she is encouraged to pursue her dreams in New York City. Even though this is a tale as old as time, I enjoyed the cozy nature and the likability of Vi’s character. The story does a good job of building upon itself and creating a character you would want to root. The dialogue and storytelling was a little too obvious and cheesy at times and repetitive, that it made me crave a little more innovation from the storyteller. If you are looking for a sweet, slow paced story, this could be a good fit for you.
You Know What You Did by K.T. Nguyen
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thanks to NetGalley for an early release of this one
A novel that captures the complications of the mother-daughter relationship. Annie’s own mother has just passed away, the intro setting up a link between the two for a secret her mother concealed for her daughter. And even though that seems like a complicated relationship, the one between Annie and her own daughter is apparent to mirror the same. So do we ultimately just become our mother? What a scary thought
A novel that captures the complications of the mother-daughter relationship. Annie’s own mother has just passed away, the intro setting up a link between the two for a secret her mother concealed for her daughter. And even though that seems like a complicated relationship, the one between Annie and her own daughter is apparent to mirror the same. So do we ultimately just become our mother? What a scary thought
A twisty thriller that kept me intrigued the whole time. The author has in depth details and descriptions, leaving the reader guessing what is real or not. The first half of the book felt more literary, exploring generational trauma and mental health. This thriller part doesn’t really pick up till the back half. But that’s part of the reason I enjoyed it. I hope they add trigger warnings on this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness