micaelamariem's reviews
727 reviews

inspiring lighthearted fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

While this book wasn't on my initial TBR, I did want to read it someday. Turns out, it's my 10-year-old nephew's favorite book and since he's "already read it twice" he lent it to me. I figured I should read it so I could return it to him quickly!

Wonderby R.J. Palacio, published by Borzoi, is a middle grade novel about 10-year-old August Pullman starting the fifth grade for the first time in a real school. His whole life he's been homeschooled because of some medical issues, but mostly due to his face. Due to two gene anomalies randomly coming together, Auggie's face is very different--some might call it deformed, though he hates that word. Starting middle school around other kids for the first time with a face like that is daunting. But Auggie goes through with it, and the book looks at August and some of the characters that are close to him and their experience with this year.

I wasn't sure if I would like this book as I've heard mixed reviews on it, but I ended up loving it. The book was sweet with the right message of kindness directed towards an audience that is typically not known for being such (i.e. middle school students).

I liked that we got a multi-POV. I was expecting to read the story just from August's point of view, so it really surprised me when we jumped into his sister's chapter. I think seeing other character's perspectives really added dimension to the story and helped us understand things that maybe the ten-year-old main character couldn't at the time. I think Via's chapter was the most interesting, as it shows how much August's condition affects her, too.

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The writing style was also appropriate for the intended age target. For the most part, it seemed believable that these were middle schoolers. Except for how invested some of them were in dating. I know ten year olds date, but I don't see a ten year old boy calling a girl "hot." I also don't think girls at any age worry that much about being "flat," and I found that cringy to read. Those were only a few sentences, though, and the book overall was probably relatable to kids.

I also found the relationships to be realistic and accurately depicted. Kids trying to fit in and be popular before realizing it was a waste of time. Friends drifting apart as they get older. Awkward yet nonchalant conversations. It all just made sense, and it was a quick read.

Most importantly was the theme of kindness and authenticity. This was driven home with a teacher's monthly precepts and the end of the year speech Mr. Tushman gives, as well as instances in which Jack Will stood up for Auggie. (Which--spoiler here so skip to next paragraph if needed--I'm so angry that Jack didn't win the Beecher award. He deserved it more! August already had honor roll, give Jack something!)

Overall, I'd give this book a solid 4 stars.

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A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

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adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I fear I didn’t have the best of time with this book. At first, I thought it was because Norse mythology wasn’t my fave, but I like all mythology.
What I think could be the reason was most of the characters were unlikable and unempathetic. Even coming from a culture that craves war and bravery, I’d expect some empathy; especially when they reviled Freya for doing the same things they did. That, combined with a slow start (though there were action scenes, it seemed the plot itself didn’t pick up until the final third of the book), didn’t bode well for my enjoyment of reading.
I will say, though, the author did a good job at setting the scene and describing each place we journeyed to. I particularly liked the Draug scene and wish the whole story could have kept that pacing along with the good writing style.
Unfortunately, I saw the plot twist from a mile away. (Maybe because I read too much and have been burned by characters before).
So…am I going to read the sequel? Probably but I’m not going to try to get it right when it comes out. I just hate leaving things unfinished. And hey, maybe it’ll be better.

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Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

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adventurous dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Eeeeeee! I finished this third book in the Empreyan series by Rebecca Yarros (published by Entangled publishing) just a few hours ago and I'm still processing, but I can tell you I loved it. It had me in a chokehold. Also, this will be a spoiler free review for Onyx Storm, but due to it being later in the series, there may be spoilers for Fourth Wing and Iron Flame.

Onyx Storm begins immediately after the events of Iron Flame. Violet and the other characters are thrust into war against the venin, on a search to find Andarna's kind, and worried about Xaden's, er, predicament. As a 527 page book, there is a lot that happens.

Now, I know there are some criticisms out there. A lot of people love to hate popular books. However, some of their criticisms are valid. For example, a lot of people felt there were too many name droppings and too many characters to keep track of. On this, I agree. I don't even know how the author could keep it straight. I don't think this is bad worldbuilding--quite the opposite, she clearly put a lot of work in--but I think the way it's conveyed is dizzying. Just because you created every detail of this world, doesn't mean we need to know all of it as readers.

Others crticized the work for being more of a filler book; I think to a point this is true. The last 100-200 pages were action-packed and important but I do think half of it could have been cut out. However, I still had a good time with it, so I will probably ignore that particular criticism.

Now onto the good stuff.

While there may have been too many characters, the main ones were still their loveable selves, each with their own distinct personality. Towards the end, we got a few different perspectives that showcased the riders' personal bond with their own unique dragon and I thought that was really cool to see.

I really do think the worldbuilding is elite; it just needs to be communicated more effectively. But to be able to put together multiple gods and religions, politics, geography, languages, and laws is a feat of itself, and I respect and admire anyone who can.

The writing has a very distinctive voice, descriptive without verging on purple prose, and capturing each character. There were a few chapters in the middle that were a little cringey but overall it held it's own. (Though, I do wish these characters would stop cussing out world leaders on diplomatic missions. That won't solve anything).

The plot, again, is amazing, if we're going over the plot of the whole series. There is still so much to entangle that I don't know and I'm on the edge of my seat. I'm going to be chewing on my fingers (not even nails, fingers) waiting for the next book.

Of course I love Xaden and Violet's relationship. It's everything I want in romance--especially when he trusts her and sends her to the battle lines despite wanting to protect her. BUT even more so, I love how the story shows that a rider's relationship with their dragon beats any romance, and that a love between dragon and rider is unbreakable and heartbreaking all at once.

I also love the disability representation, not just in Violet, but in Andarna, too.

Finally, despite the earlier criticisms, this is the most important. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I laughed and cried and felt. And this is why, despite its weaknesses, I'm giving the book five stars.

All Romantasy readers should read this series! (In my humble opinion)

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The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

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adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I loved the characters here. I love how Celeana, our main character, is sassy and isn’t afraid to love nice things and be selfish. It makes her more relatable. The others in this book had their own motivations and selfishness, too, and their experiences provided a broader perspective for the overall series.
The setting was also cool as we got to travel with Celeana on her missions and punishments, experiencing the continent and beyond, showing a clear detail to worldbuilding. (And there’s a map!)
I also like SJM’s writing style, but I always have. It’s descriptive enough to paint a portrait but not too overly purple prose-ish. I’m amazed at how she can write fight scenes. I know nothing about dodging a punch and the way she can write pages of different techniques astounds me.
More on my blog as it didn’t let me copy everything! But 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

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Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness

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emotional hopeful tense slow-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

3.0

I was so excited to dive back into the All Souls universe. I had adored the original trilogy and when I found out that there were two more books, I was ecstatic. Though, I was a little nervous because, in my experience, books that continue after the original series end tend to not be as good. Still, I dove into Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness, published by Penguin Books, with nervous expectations.

Deborah Harkness is more than just an author. Her novels have a historic quality because she spent a lot of her life as a history professor and she spent her PHD studying the history of magic, where a lot of the story's inspiration came from.

In Time's Convert, the novel is mainly focused on Marcus and Phoebe with a few updates from Diana and Matthew. Phoebe has decided to make the transition to vampire and become Marcus's mate. In order to do so the traditional way, they must spend ninety days apart while Phoebe makes the transition. During this time, Marcus stays with Matthew and Diana at Sept-Tours and is nostalgic for his own transition in the midst of the American and French Revolution.

My initial misgivings proved to be correct--this book was not as good as the original trilogy. It wasn't bad, per se, but I didn't find it as enjoyable. I'm having a hard time deciding how to rate it, so bear with me as I talk with you all about what I liked and didn't like to process it!

As far as characters go, there wasn't really anything new added to them. The most interesting aspect, in my opinion, was getting to know Phoebe better. But, honestly, she seemed to just be an art version of Diana and Marcus is a more naive version of Matthew.

Atmosphere, though, was the best part of the novel. As always, Harkness did a beautiful job at describing when and where the setting was--important in a book that splits timelines. She painted the Revolutions and modern day in a way that activated all the senses and really included the reader. The vivid descriptions made my heart soar.

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Similarly, the writing style was beautiful. I totally understand that her writing style isn't for everyone, but if you enjoyed the initial trilogy, you'll also like the writing style here. It's sophisticated and vivid.

As for the plot, I wasn't as interested. It was fascinating to see Phoebe's transition, but as for wading through Marcus' memories, I didn't care much for. I already knew the formula--trauma, transition, make mistakes or be evil for a while, be redeemed. Perhaps being set in a historic period I didn't care much about anymore didn't help. I did also enjoy Diana's chapters and getting to know her children.

I also didn't think there was much intrigue to the book. There weren't a lot of plot twists--I kind of already knew how things would turn out. Nothing besides a new familiar really kept me turning the pages or kept me up at night.

Logically, most things made sense. We had the same tradition yielding vampires and witches keeping them on their toes. The one thing that made me yield was the one scene in which Matthew (in the past) was with Juliette and didn't say anything as she had slaves to feed from. That does not sound like Matthew to me, not like anything he'd stand for. It was Past Matthew but I still lost a lot of respect.

Overall, I enjoyed Phoebe's and Diana's chapters but, unfortunately, the majority of the book was Marcus' memories and I just could not get into them. I read for the women, I guess, and the writing descriptions.

With that in mind, I think I'll be giving this book three stars. It was okay, but I wouldn't have missed anything if I hadn't read it. Will I read Black Bird Oracle? Yes, because I can't abandon the characters now. But I don't have high expectations for it.

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The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

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funny lighthearted mysterious tense 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

4.0

t’s not often I like mysteries but if it’s mixed with romance then yes! I adored Ethan and Maggie (though Maggie was kind of mean to him at first, in my opinion, for not really any good reason). The mystery parts were good, too. Mostly because I like things involving poison and secret passageways. The whole assembly of family in this locked room mystery were full of quirky eccentric characters which made it fun. And, having read Ally Carter before, I knew I liked the relatable writing style.
My one drawback was the whole “Christmas” aspect was a little forced, even though it was a fun idea.

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A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan

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adventurous tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

First of all, thank you so much to Sophie Jordan and HarperCollins for this ARC. The book itself is gorgeous with illustrations and sprayed edges.
But my review here is honest and 100% my own.
I really enjoyed this book. It was the type of romantasy I fall for. Yes, the characters were full of tropes and the plot was a bit cliche and easy to guess the twists, but a plot full of arranged political marriages, folkloric creatures, a war against magic, and a mysterious past is something I will eat up every time. I deeply loved the two main characters, while also deeply hating Gale—oh sorry, I mean, Stig. I wish there was more of the sisters, too.
The writing itself was beautiful but not over flowery to make it difficult to read. The descriptions and worldbuilding was just immersive enough.
One thing I wish was that the ending wasn’t so rushed. I think the author could have make the book a little longer—which wouldn’t be unprecedented for fantasy—and taken time to flesh out the plot twists and characters’ reactions to them.
Still, I am excited to read the sequel when it comes out.
If you like dragons and enemies to lovers type of stuff, this is for you.
3.5 stars rounded up

Content Warnings

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: The Druid's Call by E.K. Johnston

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adventurous lighthearted 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? It's complicated

3.0

I really wanted to love this because I love D&D and my friend for this for me as a gift last year, but it felt like fanfiction.
As a middle grade novel, it’s fine. It’s not necessarily spectacular but it has some heartwarming lessons on self-acceptance.
Otherwise I didn’t feel or see anything new. Maybe that’s also the problem with movie tie-ins, I don’t know.

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Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

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adventurous reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

It really bothers me that I don't know how to do accents on my keyboard so I can't spell the author's name right. Anyway...

Another Book of the Month pick I put off for a year because I was trying to read it during the right season, then read it in December anyway.

Vampires of Norteby Isabel Canas, published by Berkley, is what I'd call a Gothic Western. Set in 1840s Mexico with the backdrop of the Mexican-American war, Nena struggles to prove her worth as a healer. In her home rancho, mysterious cases of susto have been popping up but Nena agrees to accompany her father to war as a healer so that she's not married off. Meanwhile, her childhood friend, Nestor, returns to the rancho to help the war cause after abandoning it years ago, believing he witnessed Nena's death by a mysterious night creature. When he finds her alive--and angry for his running away--he needs to prove himself. But when the two find more creatures among the rancho and battlefield, they need to have more courage than pride.

The author, Isabel Canas, is a Mexican-American writer who has been everywhere: Mexico, New York, Egypt, Scotland, etc. She has a doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and writes fiction about her heritage.

I'm going to be honest. I didn't hate this book, but I also didn't love it. A lot of this review will be me trying to figure out how I feel about it--using the CAWPILE method created by G of Book Roast on YouTube (thank you so much for correcting me on this!)

C stands for characters. And, if I'm being honest, I found the characters a bit insufferable. Mostly because they seemed so one-minded. I suppose it is good they had goals, every character needs a motivation. But for Nena and Nestor to be so focused on each other and how they couldn't have each other and kind of glazing over the bigger factors of the plot seemed so frustrating to me. And I realize the whole theme of the book was for them to gain courage to stand up for themselves but it took them so long I wanted to scream. Characters: 2/10

A stands for Atmosphere/Setting. This is something the book did really well. I wanted gothic and spooky and I got gothic and spooky--with a mix of western as we had desert and cowboys. But the descriptions, while being so vivid, also left that eerie creepy feeling that someone's watching you. It was perfect for the plot. Atmosphere: 10/10

W stands for Writing Style. Canas can definitely write well. As mentioned above, the scenes were vivid. Though the writing fell a bit more on the sentimental side, which I tend to love, this time I was bored. Writing: 7/10

P stands for Plot: In general, the plot worked well. Vampires invading on a historical war and a deep look onto who the real monsters are. A forbidden romance for which the war serves as a backdrop. The logic of how this was carried out is what bothered me the most, but we'll get there. Plot: 9/10

I stands for Intrigue: I wouldn't say there were any major twists in this book, but a few mild surprises. It's not a mystery so it didn't need to have a huge plot twist but on the whole I wasn't on my heels waiting to see what happened. Intrigue: 5/10

L stands for Logic/Relationships: Here's where a lot of issues come into play. In the prologue, Nena is bit, Nestor believes she is dead and runs. Why didn't he check? Why isn't she dead or turned? How does one become a vampire? To write about vampires, I think there needs to be more lore around their origins. Also, I find it very hard to believe that a family would let their daughter into battle but not alone with a man to protect her--I get that it was a different time and men and women couldn't be alone together, obviously. But for them to be mostly chill with going with the army didn't sit right with me. Logic: 3/10

E stands for Enjoyment: As someone that reads mainly for enjoyment and escapism, this is probably the most important yet most subjective part. I was bored a lot of the time with this. I haven't encountered many westerns so maybe I just don't like cowboys. But I thought I'd love anything about vampires! I found the chapters that focused more on the paranormal the best parts, and there were parts I did enjoy, but overall it was just in the middle for me. Enjoyment: 5/10

The average is 5.85/10. Converted to a 5 star rating system we get 2.92/5 or rounded up to 3 stars. It was an okay read. If you like westerns, you might enjoy this. Otherwise, I'm not sure it's for you!

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Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold by Stephen Fry

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funny informative reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

It’s hard to review this since it’s basically a straight retelling of Greek myths.
But the narration was easy to follow and mixed in with relatable humor. It was the perfect audiobook, and I wish there were more myths included in this because it helped me understand easier the beliefs of Ancient Greece.
And I LOVE Greek mythology.

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micaelamariem's reviews 727 reviews

micaelamariem's reviews
727 reviews