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kelsbookzone1's reviews
248 reviews
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
The One That Got Away with Murder by Trish Lundy
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.5
A twisty young adult book that follows high school soccer player Lauren running from her past who catches the attention of Robbie, a wrongly suspected murderer. Or is he?
This story is 100% plot driven, to the point I would have preferred a little more character development as O didn’t find myself liking or disliking the main characters. But overall the story is engrossing, the red herrings not done in an overtly way and the author does a good job of keeping the story moving. The ending doesn’t really make sense
This story is 100% plot driven, to the point I would have preferred a little more character development as O didn’t find myself liking or disliking the main characters. But overall the story is engrossing, the red herrings not done in an overtly way and the author does a good job of keeping the story moving. The ending doesn’t really make sense
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.75
Would have benefitted from being a quicker pace and a little editing.
The Split by Kit Frick
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Split is a sliding doors concept, one where Jane picks up her sister Esme and one where she does not. This is a hard concept to me to pull off- not only do you have to make one riveting thriller that keeps the page turning but a whole separate story that does the same. Cool concept but the story just doesn’t work to pull off the concept. If this idea intrigues you but you need a more thrilling plot, try Before She Finds Me by Heather Chavez. Not quite the same as a split timeline but has two narrators feeling like they’re telling two separate stories that still co exist.
There are some unexpected twists but you have to get about 70% of the way in before the captivating parts hit. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for an early ARC release
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
adventurous
dark
medium-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
4.5
One Last Breath by Ginny Myers Sain
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A story that feels like it was written like a made for tv movie, Tru’s small town in Florida has a claim to fame: the unsolved murder of two teenage girls from 20 years ago like a true crime podcast. The author paints the scenery lovely as well as describing the details of Tru’s real passion, deep diving. A passion she shares with the new to town mysterious Rio. Unfortunately I predicted this story in about 20 pages in, from the mystery to the supernatural elements in it that I wish I had just put it down. The main character’s sister’s own unsolved murder feels like an afterthought and unnecessary for most of the plot. And being they were teens, please expect some lack of common sense to dismiss. This could be a good story if you are new to the mystery genre but I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who is a heavy mystery/thriller reader. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group readers for an early release