mayastef's reviews
179 reviews

Aces Wild: A Heist by Amanda DeWitt

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4.0

Overall fun rep I guess but also wish the ace experience was more part of the plot, I guess they did do some talking about/ breezing over ace experiences but for a book called Aces Wild: a Heist I honestly think it was lacking in the aces, the wild, and the heist. Do not get me wrong all the characters are ace and its a super cute title but idk I think I maybe just wanted more focus on the asexual vibes for a book specifically about asexuals. It sounds like i dislike it but i just have really high standards for queer rep, being wild, and heists bc those are 3 major things I look for in all books i read. I still gave it 4 stars ! i had a good time reading! But im not gonna be running and shouting from the rooftops that everyone should read it. 

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty

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5.0

I was in a major reading slump; every fantasy book just felt the same nothing was interesting until I finally cracked open this book. I loved The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi it checked all the boxes of what I love in a book while still being unique. The story had the right amount of nail-biting action without dipping too far into the stress zone and making it not a good outlet for stress relief (I use reading to chill out, not to be anxious, I produce the anxiety on my own time). I loved the narration/ POV where the story was being told via Amina telling it to a scribe, and their dialogue interjects every once in a while, or theres a short chapter of notes from the scribe that gives the reader more context into the world. Also Amina loves to drop a well placed f-bomb which usually takes me away from the story but not in this case. 
I have no idea how to articulate all of my feelings about this book. Just know that I loved it, and if you're looking for a fantasy adventure without enduring an insane amount of world-building, this book is a great fit. 
Happy Place by Emily Henry

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5.0

Let's be real; I will eat up anything Emily Henry writes. Happy Place really hit somewhere deep in my soul. It was refreshing for me to read a romance about characters with an established history because I think that adds such a deeper level to the heartbreak/warm fuzzy feelings. I also LOVE stories about friendship, and I loved reading about friends whose deep ties to each other reminded me of my own friends and made me miss them dearly. This book filled me with warmth cast me out into Siberia knocked me down picked me back up again spat in my face only to wipe it off and sweet-talk me before laying me to rest. 
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

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5.0

I cant not give this book a fiveā€¦ it has everything I love; found family, emotional girlboss journey, bats, magic, fighting, spice, great plot, schemes, and twists???? I was gooped, gagged, and gobsmacked by this book. The ways that SJM describes the Night Court and all the locations in this book is so scrumptious I really felt like I was there. 
The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean

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4.25

Let me preface this by saying that I have a better command of chemistry than the average person. I don't consider myself a great chemist, but with my current job, you could make a case for my career being chemistry.  With that said, I think this is a very fun-factable book in the way that when you read it, the stories are so interesting that you immediately want to go tell someone about the weird little thing you just learned. Overall I think the science is pretty accessible, but towards the end, it got a bit too heavy even for someone working in STEM (partially because I do not like reading about too heavy science in my free time since it feels like work).  I think if you consider yourself a science person in any way, this book will be more of a light read for you, but someone without a science background may find it slightly more challenging not to be overwhelmed. I truly think it's easily accessible to those who passed high school chemistry.
Islands of Abandonment: Nature Rebounding in the Post-Human Landscape by Cal Flyn

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4.0

It is beautifully written and an interesting concept but its a little too real for me. I bought this book before I realized that reading nonfiction vaugly related to my field is PAINFUL for me. I started reading this book in 2021 and finished it in 2023. It is not a bad book! The writing is beautiful and the places described are very interesting! It's just not a book for ME!
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

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4.25

I have some very specific bones to pick with the plot of this book that I will not elaborate on in review form bc of spoilers. It basically boils down to SJM picking bad times to be predictable and worse times to be unpredictable. I think a lot of her choices undercut the greater development of the characters when you really boil it all down I think SJM is stretching my brain thin. I'm totally down to let her cook with this whole multiverse thing/ bringing in characters later in the book to come and clutch up in the 11th hour but I think she has too many bits of the story in different pots and the metaphorical stove of my brain does not have enough burners for all the plots. 
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

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4.5

Feyre is not my favorite main character, I will admit it, but I don't hate her, I do think she is dumb as hell, though. Not a lot of forethought with that girl. Sarah J Maas has a real talent for writing the first books in a series that could stand alone. In my opinion, both ACOTAR and TOG could be stand-alone books with some minor tweaks here and there. Once you've read one SJM series your experience of the others will be tainted because you will start being able to predict her antics. 
Once & Future by A.R. Capetta, Cory McCarthy

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4.25

I do love gay space teens, but overall I felt like there were parts of the story missing. I enjoyed reading this book but I probably will not read any sequels. 
Vow of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson

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4.0

The scheming is constant, so much so that this book gave me anxiety. Overall the story is cool, but the actual magic/fantasy elements of the story really do not feel whole at all. I am not mad that I read it but I wont be recommending it there are just better options. overall these books are middle of the road but have chunks of them that are 5 star worthy so I think it shakes out to 4/4.25 ish.