luckylulureads's reviews
387 reviews

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater

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

4.75

The Witchwood Knot is everything I’ve come to expect from Olivia Atwater’s writing. It’s at once heartfelt, cunning, and cozy in all the best ways. While this is the beginning of a new Faerie Tale era, it builds off of the world and characters we’ve come to know in the Regency series. I lobe interconnected universes like this. However, with that in mind, I wouldn’t recommend starting here. I think to fully grasp the scoop of this world, you’ve got to read the first trilogy. That way you know the history and the landscape of the world. Each story is technically a standalone about a different couple, but they’re all building toward larger stories, it seems. 

Of Atwater’s Faerie Tale world, Winifred my be one of my favorite heroines yet, next to Dora. She’s clever, cunning, and willing to do what she needs to do in order to survive a world of faeries and monsters. She has a traumatic past, but seeing her reclaim her own desire was amazing. 

This is a delightfully gothic tale, with all the classic trappings of the genre. The mysterious, dilapidated manor, the gothic father/monster duology, and an atmospheric sense of isolation. Atwater combines this flawlessly with her existing world. It’s creepy, it’s heartfelt, and it’s a great time. While I occasionally found myself a bit confused, I felt that by the end I had all the answers I needed. I can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review. 
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This Place: 150 Years Retold by Sonny Assu, Katherena Vermette, Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Jen Storm, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, David A. Robertson, Brandon Mitchell, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, Richard Van Camp, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Chelsea Vowel

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challenging emotional informative reflective slow-paced

3.75

Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 54%.
It’s just not capturing my interest. It also seems like it’s pulling from indigenous cultures, which has me side-eyeing it, although it’s not my place to speak on that. 

If someone whose taste I trust convinced me it was worth a read, I might be convinced to retry it with a physical copy. 
The Name-Bearer by Natalia Hernandez

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adventurous slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

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adventurous funny mysterious 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

4.5

All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters

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

4.5

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Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris

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

3.5

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Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman

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

5.0

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The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker

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challenging dark funny 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

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The Mist-Walker Vol. 1: The Breath of Things by Stéphane Fert

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-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? No

4.75

I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel, and can’t wait for the second installment. The art is singular and stunning, full of rich colors and interesting, folksy flair. 

The story follows Temperance, a young ogress raised by witches, as she learns about who she really is and what’s she’s capable of after being forced on a journey to save her village from “the mist.” The same mist she was apparently born within. 

The mist mutates people and animals, resulting in some delightfully sinister creatures for Temperance to fight. 

I’d recommend this for mature teens and older, as there’s some (non-sexual) nudity and violence. I love that body diversity is celebrated in this book, including a plus size main character. It’s also sapphic, and features a diverse cast of characters. 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
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