natashaleighton_'s reviews
1032 reviews

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.5

Yasmin Zaher’s breathtakingly pacey debut, about a nameless Palestinian woman who immigrates to New York to teach, only to descend into a cycle of compulsive cleanliness (whilst simultaneously getting caught up in an illegal, Birkin reselling scheme) was both captivating and utterly unputdownable!

Expertly exploring the issues of race, class, inter-generational trauma and consumerism. Zaher’s lush prose lays bare the harsh realities of modern society and its often contradictory nature. Summed up perfectly by the narrators’ experiences of New York City (which appears not as not a glitzy, glamorous utopia but a dirt filled and poverty ridden city that has our narrator concluding The American Dream is well and truly dead, if it ever existed at all.)

We never do find out the name of our protagonist—who recounts her daily life to us in short, surreal, journal-esque chapters. But I kind of liked that and felt it made her stream of consciousness-style narrative waay more compelling than I expected, building a strange sense of intimacy that had me both eager to see what would happen next.

I do want to say, that this is a book that needs to be read to be truly appreciated, and will probably not appeal to everyone. However, it’s messy, chaotic and complex look at mundane life; through the bleak humour of our isolated (and increasingly unreliable) narrator —will have literary lovers and fans of Ottessa Moshfegh utterly hooked.

If this isn’t already on your radar then I really feel it should be (especially if you love literary fiction) cause I can totally see this popping up on all the fiction award and must read lists in the near future. I do, however, advise checking the TWs first.

Also a huge thank you to Rachel Quin and Footnote Press for the finished copy.

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When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-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

I’m still in my dragon fantasy era so pretty much devouring any and all books that even so much as hint at them, so when I saw the sprayed edges on this stunning Waterstones edition I knew I needed to read it.

And I’m glad to say it really didn’t disappoint! The world building was exquisitely detailed and our characters compelling and in depth; especially Raeve, our badass assassin FMC who I absolutely adored.

Her journey is full of pain, heartbreak and trauma but she overcomes it soo spectacularly, I’m honestly in awe of how strong she is— both emotionally and physically.

And her chemistry with the smouldering, dragon riding Kaan is off the charts. Their banter and witty repartee had me absolutely hooked; though I do warn it’s definitely more of a slow-burn type romance so if that’s not your thing then you might not enjoy this as much.

Kaan, one of our other POV characters (and Raeve’s infuriatingly sexy love interest) stole my heart almost instantly. He’s fabulously broody and will go to any lengths to protect Raeve but, still adheres to boundaries that she’s set— like giving her the means to leave, knowing he may never see her again. If you love alot of angst in your book boyfriends then you’re gonna absolutely love him!

We have a few other characters whose POVs we dip in and out of which I found really interesting (Veya, Kaan’s sister was probably my fave of the supporting POVs) —and really helped to flesh out Raeve and Kaan’s individual (and rather tragic) backstories.

I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoiling anything, but I will say if you loved Throne of Glass or are looking for the next high fantasy with jaw dropping twists, dragons and an intricately crafted magic system. Then you definitely need to consider checking this out! Though given some of the content, I do advise checking the TWs first.

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The Good Ones are Taken by Taj McCoy

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Taj McCoy’s companion novel to Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell was a fun, love triangle/friends to lovers Rom-Com that brought us banter, feel good vibes and some pretty steamy scenes with not one but TWO handsome love interests.

I just have to preface that I didn’t realise this was a sequel, so wasn’t familiar with Savvy or the rest of our protagonist, Maggie’s friend group. That being said, I loved how close and supportive of one another they were, and really enjoyed soaking up the joy and love in their banter filled conversations.

I really liked our protagonist, Maggie as well, and was soo glad to finally have a romance with a FMC over the age of 20. At 38 and on track to make partner at her Law Firm, Maggie is a strong independent woman who knows what she likes. But getting to glimpse behind her hardened exterior at her softer (gooey) vulnerable side made her even more compelling to me.

Though, her difficulty in choosing which of her love interests she liked most did irk me a little, as I was Team Garrett pretty much as soon as we meet him. For his (quite obvious) devotion to Maggie, but also as he listened too and anticipated almost every need and want she had without expecting anything but friendship in return.

For that reason, I never really gelled much with Blake (Maggie’s other love interest, who was also quite a catch) as I already had my heart set on her with Garrett.

The prose surrounding clothing and food was really detailed, but did slow the pacing in some scenes, which is something to take into consideration. I also wouldn’t read this on an empty stomach as you’re almost certain to be crave all of Maggie’s delicious sounding meals.

Overall, a really enjoyable read that Rom-com fans and readers looking for a feel good read with a cast of entertaining (and diverse characters) should definitely consider checking out.

Also, a huge thank you to Alexa at Renegade Books for the finished copy

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The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-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

A deliciously thrilling, enemies to lovers fantasy filled with dark magic, monsters and revenge seeking, rival assassins. That’s set against the backdrop of a Paris inspired city—where the stakes are high, the romance deadly and the twists unpredictably gasp-worthy.

As one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 I was absolutely over the moon to get my hands on a proof. And let me tell you, it surpassed all of my (admittedly high) expectations.

The setting was gorgeously vivid, and the rich detail of the city (Fantome) reminded me quite a bit of the gaslight fuelled streets of Belle Époque Paris. The world-building was phenomenal too, and the lore surrounding the deadly magic (and the rival Cloak and Dagger gangs who utilise it) was soo detailed and intricate. I literally ate up every morsel Catherine Doyle threw our way!

And yet, it was the complexity of our protagonists Sera and Ransom (and the depth of emotion we see from each on their respective journeys) that really kept my attention. Sera’s simmering fury and fierce determination worked well as a foil for Ransom’s brooding, Byronic disposition. Which gave us some deliciously intense and sizzlingly slow-burn scenes I couldn’t get enough of.

I loved that we also got some murder attempts from Sera and Ransom as well, which doesn’t happen nearly enough where this particular trope is concerned —enemies to lovers fans are going to be in their element.

Our supporting cast of characters were really likeable too, especially Cloak members: Val, Bibi and Theo, who welcomed Sera as one of their own and supported her through some pretty difficult moments. Their banter was also a great source of comic relief between some of the darker, more emotionally charged moments—and gave great insight into the gangs’ overall dynamics. Ransom’s small group of friends, though loyal to him for the most part just didn’t inspire the same warmth in me.

And the plot twists?!! They were shockingly good, and soo perfectly timed that I genuinely never saw most of them coming (I did, however suspect one of them and felt smugly satisfied when it turned out to be true.) If you’re the kind of person who loves to be taken by surprise then this will certain keep to guessing until the very last page.

Overall, a superb series starter that has me eager for the sequel already.

And, a huge thank you to Nina Douglas and Simon & Schuster for the proof.

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A Kingdom of Shadows by Rina Vasquez

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-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

4.0

As action packed and plot twisty as the first, Rina Vasquez’s follow up to her romantasy debut (A City of Flames) was really good!

The worldbuilding and lore is more detailed (which had me utterly intrigued) and the swoon-worthy banter was in full swing —with more slowburn, chemistry laden tension than you can shake a stick at.

I love delving into a character’s backstory (and understand what fuels them), so was excited for the chance to learn more about Darius’ past. Despite his tough, flirtatious exterior he’s a big softie at heart and I really enjoyed watching Nara slowly realise this. They had some incredible (swoon-worthy) interactions as well, and the emotions that seep into their scenes were spectacular — I was actively on the brink of tears more than once.

We also get some pretty HUGE twists and revelations, especially where Darius is concerned which I felt not only brought depth to his character but also gave us the chance to watch Nara slowly realise her own feelings for him and begin to open up emotionally.

But, I confess Tibith, and his naive yet hilarious penchant for truth telling (and impeccable timing) did steal the show for me. I NEED him to be a POV character soo much (if not in the rest of the series then at least in a bonus chapter/ novella.)

There’s not much else in can say without spoilers, so I’ll just say if you’re looking for a dragon-filled romantasy with plenty of romantic tension, a sprinkling of spice, elves and magical quests— then you should definitely consider adding this series to your TBR!

Also, a huge thank you to Ana over at Wildfire for the finished copy

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The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Thomas Crown Affair and Ocean’s 11 meets Dorian Gray in this fun, plot twisty palate cleanser of a read that I genuinely loved!

The magical art heist premise and its focus on the complicated bonds between protagonist Dani, her art thief mother (who she helped send to prison) and her mother’s crew was really compelling. I really empathised with Dani and the difficult choices that led to the FBI catching her mum.

The heist aspect of the plot (like most heist movies) was an action packed whirlwind, that kept us guessing right up to the eleventh hour (with obligatory mishaps, betrayals and post-heist reveals) that I thoroughly enjoyed.

However, I would’ve liked the character development of our love interests (we sort of get a bit of a love triangle for a brief moment) and the rest of the cast to have been more in depth. The crew and Dani had soo much history together and I felt like we barely scratched the surface.

And the romance itself wasn’t as prevalent as I’d hoped for either which was a bit disappointing. Especially as Elliot and Dani’s second chance relationship is hinted at in the blurb, but doesn’t really leave the angsty longing stage until the last 50 or so pages.

I did like the magical realism and creepy, Dorian Grey-esque antagonist, Archer. He was the perfect, love to hate antagonist that you know you won’t be rooting for later, which I’ve come to realise are surprisingly difficult to write well. But Gwenda Bond absolutely nailed it!

Overall, this was a really quick and entertaining read that I had soo much fun with. The world and magic system was intriguing too if a little brief but I live in hope that Bond will expand on it via a sequel or spinoff at some point in the future.

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The Friend Zone Experiment by Zen Cho

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emotional hopeful mysterious medium-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

4.0

A thought-provoking, K-drama-esque romance that was everything I imagined it would be and more!

Having loved Zen Cho’s witty supernatural novel, Black Water Sister, I was excited to see how she would tackle the contemporary romance genre. Which I’m glad to report didn’t disappoint.

Delving into the complex (and slightly dysfunctional) bonds of family, class, corruption and ethics, Zen Cho’s social commentary-infused prose was a masterclass in nuance that had me glued to my seat.

The emotional depth in our protagonists (Renee and Ket Siong) was really well executed and the backstory that unfurls between them (detailing their unique family situations, longtime friendship and their reason for drifting apart) added a layer of complexity to their second chance romance that I found quite compelling.

I loved our fashion designer protagonist, Renee, and really enjoyed exploring beyond the ambitious public persona she has spent the past decade crafting to the endearing and emotionally vulnerable woman beneath.

Her struggle to gain respect for her hard earned success from her own family, and the high stakes, drama filled rivalry with her brothers (and their frustrating sense of entitlement) was edge of your seat worthy— I was completely invested in the drama and rooting for Renee the whole time.

Fellow protagonist and love interest, Ket Siong was really endearing too. His journey to uncovering the truth behind his friend’s disappearance is what leads him back into Renee’s orbit—and I loved the subtle, simmering development of their relationship.

I do think the romance aspect does occasionally take a back seat to some of the more important issue (like corruption, unethical business practices and family struggles) which is perfect if you love your romances to have a little depth.

Overall, a deft and engaging contemporary romance with a cast of flawed but compelling characters that fans of Succession or Crazy Rich Asians definitely want to consider checking out!

Also, thanks to Book Break UK and Chloe Davies for the fabulous proof.

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The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 57%.

The pace was just really slow and made connecting with the characters too difficult, which was a shame as I read another series by this author and absolutely loved it.

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The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Merhorses, Unicorns and cloud bears oh my! A cosy and whimsical, slice of life fantasy that’s bursting with magic, lush island descriptions and a cast of heartfelt, magically diverse characters I couldn’t help but find endearing.

If you love cottagecore narratives then you’re almost certain to enjoy Sarah Beth Durst’s newest fantasy standalone. Which follows a Librarian and her sentient spider plant assistant, who after fleeing the danger of a revolution, decide to set up a Jam and (secret) magical remedy shop on the island of her birth.

I adored every second of this! The warm fuzzy, feel good vibes were fabulously strong, and the low stakes action made this such an easy to digest read. Firstly I just have to say, I absolutely adored Caz, the worrisome but protective (sentient) Spider Plant. His bond with Kiela was soo sweet and I enjoyed seeing him learn to thrive in such a vastly different environment to the one he’s become accustomed too (having only ever lived inside a library.)

Meep, the newly sentient, non-binary Cactus that Caz befriends was such a fun, endearingly energetic character as well, their dynamics with Caz was soo reminiscent of Baby Groot and Rocket Raccoon (from Guardians of The Galaxy) that I found myself eager to see what escapades they’d find themselves in next.

But, it was Kiela, our introverted librarian and protagonist that really stole the show for me. Her reclusive tendencies and preference for books over people was so relatable, and exploring her emotional development which sees her slowly grow in confidence and learn to open up to the caring, found family-esque community around her (and her cinnamon roll, merhorse herding love interest, Larran) had me feeling like a proud parent.

Kindness (something our own world sometimes feels like it need more of) is at the forefront of this heartfelt escapist fantasy, with themes of friendship and finding a place to belong taking centre stage. However, we do briefly touch upon deeper issues like magical resource hoarding by the elite (and their gatekeeping of knowledge) which I found surprisingly relevant to our own world’s issues.

The clever methods in which Kiela, Caz and the inhabitants of Caltrey manage to thwart the unjust system were delightfully entertaining and definitely made certain the cosy, lighthearted tone lasted until the very last page.

Overall, this was a cosy, feel good read that fans of Legends & Lattes or Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea don’t want to miss. But beware, you’re gonna crave tons of jam and baked goods —so do make sure to stock up beforehand.

Also, thank you to Olivia and Book Break UK for the incredible proof.

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The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black

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adventurous emotional tense medium-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

Dark and deliciously twisty! The conclusion to The Stolen Heir duology, was everything I wanted from a spin-off series set in the same world as The Folk of The Air.

With twists, betrayals and court intrigue taking centre stage—along with our cast of endearingly complex, morally grey characters. Long time fans of Black’s work are in for a treat!

And finally, we get to explore Oak’s POV! I loved getting to know Wren better in The Stolen Heir, and adored the layered emotional backstory that me love her soo much. I was disappointed that Oak’s portrayal wasn’t as full of depth in the first book, so naturally I was ecstatic to delve into his equally as complex, Cardan-esque perspective this time around.

The romance between Wren and Oak is deliciously chemistry laden too, though a bit too brief for my liking. Nevertheless their dynamics will definitely appeal to Jurdan fans or anyone who loves their romance with a little angst.

Family and communication definitely play a huge role in the plot as well (which makes sense given Oak’s family) which I found incredibly interesting. I won’t spoil anything but Black weaves her plot twisty magic to perfection— I was utterly hooked!

I loved every second of being back in Elfhame and getting to see more of Cardan and Jude’s life as rulers. In fact, Jude is actually a pretty prominent side character this time around which I was very excited about.

But there were a few supporting characters I enjoyed seeing again just as much, like Tatterfell whose caring nature and protectiveness of Oak was really sweet, reminding me of her dynamics with Jude (in case you can’t remember she gave Jude the necklace of Rowan berries in The Cruel Prince.)

Overall, a satisfying if whirlwind conclusion to The Stolen Heir duology, that’s definitely worth reading if you loved The Cruel Prince. But if not familiar with the world, you may not enjoy nearly as much. (Do be sure to check TWs)

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natashaleighton_'s reviews 1032 reviews

natashaleighton_'s reviews
1032 reviews