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lyss_reads's reviews
156 reviews
Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-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
3.75
Nell is young girl growing up in Ireland in 1846. At sixteen, it's a time in her life when she should be focused on school and self-discovery, but many of her friends and family are starving as a blight destroys their crops and food source. Nell has been forced to leave her studies and take a job in a wealthy home as a servant in order for her family to survive. There, she meets a mysterious young man and soon finds herself developing feelings for him. There's one big problem though--he's British.
This story of forbidden love in a time of political unrest and survival quickly unravels through verse as Nell learns to find her voice and fight for what she believes in.
I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book and how quick it was to get through, even though some of the passages fell flat for me and left me wanting more. I will admit, I found it hard to understand why Nell was so drawn to her love interest in the beginning. Overall, this was an emotional, heartfelt, and gripping tale I feel many different age groups and audiences could enjoy.
This story of forbidden love in a time of political unrest and survival quickly unravels through verse as Nell learns to find her voice and fight for what she believes in.
I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book and how quick it was to get through, even though some of the passages fell flat for me and left me wanting more. I will admit, I found it hard to understand why Nell was so drawn to her love interest in the beginning. Overall, this was an emotional, heartfelt, and gripping tale I feel many different age groups and audiences could enjoy.
Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Nice quick read, but I felt too many questions were left unanswered or open ended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Medical content and Alcohol
Minor: Death
The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Started off promising with an engaging plot and mystery. Very reminiscent of Daisy Jones. Characters were similarly grey and problematic, if that is what you enjoy. But the pacing of this book was off, and as time went on I cared less and less for the characters and the lack of motivation behind their decisions. By the end, their reasoning felt immature, unbelievable and frustrating. The resolution was lackluster, and there was so little character growth and development.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
This Cursed House by Del Sandeen
challenging
dark
mysterious
- 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
3.0
The premise of this book is entertaining and spooky, though the plot for me was very predictable. I found plot twists were easy to figure out before they were revealed. Still, I enjoyed this and would recommend it to fans of haunted house reads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, and Torture
Minor: Domestic abuse
When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Thank you for opportunity to read an advance copy of this book!
When the Tides Held the Moon, by Venessa Vida Kelley is a romantic YA fantasy with lyrical prose, stunning artwork, and a world that will leave you mesmerized long after you've left.
Set in 1910's New York, Benny is an immigrant from Puerto Rico, working as a blacksmith in the mills when he receives a mysterious job opportunity to build an elaborate tank for wealthy business man Sam Morgan. Impressed by his work, Sam offers Benny a new job on Coney Island.
Soon things spin out of control as Benny is swept up into a world of carnies and sirens. By the time Benny realizes what he has done, it's too late. Benny's work has become a prison to showcase Morgan's latest attraction, the Prince of Atlantis.
As Benny works to help restore the old failing theater, he can't help but feel drawn to the Merman held captive by his own invention. As plans for survival and escape devolve into love, Benny must face everything he's kept hidden and choose between his friends, his love, or everyone's freedom.
While I found the plot of this book straight forward and predictable, it was a light and easy read. I enjoyed the complexity of the relationships in the book and the diverse representation of cultures and languages within the characters. I found even the sections written in other languages were easy enough to interpret the meaning given context clues, but a glossary of translations was included in the back for those who prefer to know exact meaning.
Rio and Benny were a beautiful couple and it was easy to root and swoon for them.
The artwork of course was breathtaking also, and paired well with the atmosphere of the book.
I would highly recommend this to any collector of beautiful books and covers.
I am looking forward to seeing the finished product when published.
When the Tides Held the Moon, by Venessa Vida Kelley is a romantic YA fantasy with lyrical prose, stunning artwork, and a world that will leave you mesmerized long after you've left.
Set in 1910's New York, Benny is an immigrant from Puerto Rico, working as a blacksmith in the mills when he receives a mysterious job opportunity to build an elaborate tank for wealthy business man Sam Morgan. Impressed by his work, Sam offers Benny a new job on Coney Island.
Soon things spin out of control as Benny is swept up into a world of carnies and sirens. By the time Benny realizes what he has done, it's too late. Benny's work has become a prison to showcase Morgan's latest attraction, the Prince of Atlantis.
As Benny works to help restore the old failing theater, he can't help but feel drawn to the Merman held captive by his own invention. As plans for survival and escape devolve into love, Benny must face everything he's kept hidden and choose between his friends, his love, or everyone's freedom.
While I found the plot of this book straight forward and predictable, it was a light and easy read. I enjoyed the complexity of the relationships in the book and the diverse representation of cultures and languages within the characters. I found even the sections written in other languages were easy enough to interpret the meaning given context clues, but a glossary of translations was included in the back for those who prefer to know exact meaning.
Rio and Benny were a beautiful couple and it was easy to root and swoon for them.
The artwork of course was breathtaking also, and paired well with the atmosphere of the book.
I would highly recommend this to any collector of beautiful books and covers.
I am looking forward to seeing the finished product when published.
A Grandmother Begins the Story by Michelle Porter
emotional
reflective
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
3.75
My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen
challenging
dark
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Pedophilia, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death and Grief
The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by J. Ann Thomas
dark
slow-paced
3.75
Elegy has spent her entire life at the mercy of her controlling father and his spirit collection of ghosts, where she has been isolated and forced to dress in outdated clothing and forsaking modern technology and invention. As her father’s health begins to fail, Elegy will soon be expected to take control of the collection and Thorne Hall. But Elegy dreams of something more. A life outside the walls of Thorne Hall where she is free to choose what to wear, who to be—and who to love.
This story was a wonderful surprise. The beginning was a very slow start, but Thomas, builds a wonderful atmosphere, full of haunts to keep readers engaged. This was reminiscent of a classic gothic ghost story, perfect for those who are suckers for a haunted house tale and a dash of romance.
My criticism is that the beginning was such a slow start, and it was often difficult to keep all the ghosts and their names straight, but at the same time, felt their backstories a little lacking and wish there had been more time to know their stories as well.
Overall, this was an engaging read I would recommend to fans of the genre.
This story was a wonderful surprise. The beginning was a very slow start, but Thomas, builds a wonderful atmosphere, full of haunts to keep readers engaged. This was reminiscent of a classic gothic ghost story, perfect for those who are suckers for a haunted house tale and a dash of romance.
My criticism is that the beginning was such a slow start, and it was often difficult to keep all the ghosts and their names straight, but at the same time, felt their backstories a little lacking and wish there had been more time to know their stories as well.
Overall, this was an engaging read I would recommend to fans of the genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual violence