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luthienneart's reviews
226 reviews
Jade City - Familie ist Pflicht by Fonda Lee
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Godfather meets John Wick – but in a magical world.
The story follows the Kaul family, who are in a bitter power struggle for control of jade. This magical substance grants its users extraordinary powers and is therefore extremely valuable.
However, getting into the story wasn’t easy for me. The magic system and the many names and terms were a bit difficult to understand at first. It took a while before I could fully immerse myself in the world, but from the middle of the book onward, the story really pulled me in!
The book is full of violent conflicts, loyalty, and betrayal within the family – brutal and intense.
A fascinating mix of crime, action, and fantasy with Asian-inspired traditions, customs, and social structures.
4/5 ⭐
The story follows the Kaul family, who are in a bitter power struggle for control of jade. This magical substance grants its users extraordinary powers and is therefore extremely valuable.
However, getting into the story wasn’t easy for me. The magic system and the many names and terms were a bit difficult to understand at first. It took a while before I could fully immerse myself in the world, but from the middle of the book onward, the story really pulled me in!
The book is full of violent conflicts, loyalty, and betrayal within the family – brutal and intense.
A fascinating mix of crime, action, and fantasy with Asian-inspired traditions, customs, and social structures.
4/5 ⭐
Eisige Wellen by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I take it all back - Mal is just a complete headache! His constant "you've changed" statements really get on my nerves. To me, he symbolises toxic masculinity because he only accepts Alina when she acts like a "normal girl", and he denies her entire personality. Her magic is just as much a part of her as everything else.
Nikolai and his crew are a complete contrast - they have captured my heart once again! Nikolai is the perfect mix of humour, intelligence and iron will.
I won't spoil too much here, but just read it - it's worth it!
I'm really looking forward to the final book.
4/5 ⭐
Nikolai and his crew are a complete contrast - they have captured my heart once again! Nikolai is the perfect mix of humour, intelligence and iron will.
I won't spoil too much here, but just read it - it's worth it!
I'm really looking forward to the final book.
4/5 ⭐
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
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
3.5
No, no, no! That's no way to start a book after such a cliffhanger! – The start of Onyx Storm was disappointing. After the exciting ending of the second book, I had high expectations, but the time jump was too sudden, and too little attention was paid to unanswered questions and developments from the previous book, making it difficult to get into the story.
Another issue is the constant repetition. Violet repeatedly talks about needing to save Xaden, but somehow, she doesn't really do much about it. Especially in the first 500 pages, the story often feels repetitive, like a recounting of things we already know, which takes away the tension.
The secondary characters, who were highly interesting in the first two books, are unfortunately hardly given any space here. This was very disappointing, as many of them had the potential to make the story even more exciting.
The relationship between Violet and Xaden is often toxic and overly passionate. Violet's constant obsession with Xaden takes up far too much space and makes it difficult to focus on the actual plot. This over-focus on their relationship means many other important themes and characters are neglected.
The dragons continue to be a highlight of the series! I love the connection between them and their riders. Ridoc was also a bright spot and brought much-needed freshness to the story. He saved the book!
Final Verdict: Onyx Storm has a lot of potential, but it suffers from repetition, an overly exaggerated and toxic relationship between Violet and Xaden, and a lack of development of important secondary characters. More story and less romance, and this book would have earned 5 stars from me.
As it stands, it's only 3.5/5 ⭐
Another issue is the constant repetition. Violet repeatedly talks about needing to save Xaden, but somehow, she doesn't really do much about it. Especially in the first 500 pages, the story often feels repetitive, like a recounting of things we already know, which takes away the tension.
The secondary characters, who were highly interesting in the first two books, are unfortunately hardly given any space here. This was very disappointing, as many of them had the potential to make the story even more exciting.
The relationship between Violet and Xaden is often toxic and overly passionate. Violet's constant obsession with Xaden takes up far too much space and makes it difficult to focus on the actual plot. This over-focus on their relationship means many other important themes and characters are neglected.
The dragons continue to be a highlight of the series! I love the connection between them and their riders. Ridoc was also a bright spot and brought much-needed freshness to the story. He saved the book!
Final Verdict: Onyx Storm has a lot of potential, but it suffers from repetition, an overly exaggerated and toxic relationship between Violet and Xaden, and a lack of development of important secondary characters. More story and less romance, and this book would have earned 5 stars from me.
As it stands, it's only 3.5/5 ⭐
Wisteria - Die Liebe des Todes by Adalyn Grace
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was really looking forward to Wisteria, but unfortunately it was more of an in-between book for me. The characters had not much depth and the plot was often very predictable. The world and the magic were interesting, but the development of the story didn't really captivate me. The protagonists in particular sometimes seemed flat and their decisions were often difficult to understand. I also found the spice scenes unnecessary and distracting as they didn't really add to the story. All in all, a solid Romantasy novel that entertained me but didn't really grab me.
3/5 ⭐
3/5 ⭐
Die Nebelgeborenen: Held aller Zeiten by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
5.0
For me, this book is an absolute masterpiece! The world Sanderson creates is absolutely fascinating. I was especially impressed by Sazed - he is my absolute favourite character! His wisdom, his inner struggles and the way he struggles with his responsibilities and his faith make him an incredibly deep and emotional character.
The story is full of surprising moments that take your breath away. And the final plot twist? Completely unexpected! I just cried. Overwhelming. The philosophical themes that the Mistborn series raises are thought-provoking and stay with you long after you've finished reading.
If you love complex, well-developed characters and unexpected twists and turns, you simply have to read this book!
5/5 ⭐
The story is full of surprising moments that take your breath away. And the final plot twist? Completely unexpected! I just cried. Overwhelming. The philosophical themes that the Mistborn series raises are thought-provoking and stay with you long after you've finished reading.
If you love complex, well-developed characters and unexpected twists and turns, you simply have to read this book!
5/5 ⭐
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Good Wives is the sequel to Little Women and follows the sisters as they face the challenges of growing up as young women. Each of the sisters has their own dreams and goals in life: Meg is forming a family, Jo is pursuing a career as a writer, Beth is fighting with her health and Amy is seeking artistic success. Despite their different ways of life, the close sibling love is what binds them together.
The book is an impressive example of the importance of support and understanding within the family when dealing with everyday problems and personal challenges. It becomes clear that true happiness does not lie in social success or material things, but in interpersonal relationships and the ability to stay true to yourself.
The book is an impressive example of the importance of support and understanding within the family when dealing with everyday problems and personal challenges. It becomes clear that true happiness does not lie in social success or material things, but in interpersonal relationships and the ability to stay true to yourself.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Goldene Flammen by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-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
4.5