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nicolealycia's reviews
923 reviews
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A story spanning decades, the tale of two friends and how their lives unfolded after tragedy struck them at a young age. A story of love and loss and heartbreak and determination to find someone you loved and lost.
I definitely understand why so many people loved this book but I definitely didn’t love it as much as others did.
I thought the first half of the story really dragged at times. The writing could be a little confusing and I found myself going back to reread sentences and paragraphs to make sure I was understanding it all.
The second half of the book was so much better and I found I couldn’t put the book down at times. Saint is such an incredible main character and I loved reading about the life she lived and everything she went through. It made her such a strong person and someone you could really connect with and sympathize with. Patch was definitely an interesting character but I found him to be so selfish sometimes that I never felt invested in him and his plight.
Overall it was a very solid read, maybe a tad longer than it needed to be but a really powerful story.
I definitely understand why so many people loved this book but I definitely didn’t love it as much as others did.
I thought the first half of the story really dragged at times. The writing could be a little confusing and I found myself going back to reread sentences and paragraphs to make sure I was understanding it all.
The second half of the book was so much better and I found I couldn’t put the book down at times. Saint is such an incredible main character and I loved reading about the life she lived and everything she went through. It made her such a strong person and someone you could really connect with and sympathize with. Patch was definitely an interesting character but I found him to be so selfish sometimes that I never felt invested in him and his plight.
Overall it was a very solid read, maybe a tad longer than it needed to be but a really powerful story.
Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
A combination of cozy fantasy and romance, this is the story of the Petridi sisters and how they had to overcome the heartbreaks of their past to protect their future.
This book perfectly intertwines the intricacies of sisterhood with magic and all consuming love. It starts out as a lighthearted story that grows in depth as you continue to read.
I really enjoyed reading about the different types of magic in the book and the sisters curse. The characters were so relatable and I loved the sisters and their interactions. Maybe it’s because I don’t know how long the story was stretched out over but I did feel like the romance was a little rushed at the end, it reads like a slow burn but I think the book takes place over the course of a couple weeks.
Other than that I enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more!
Shoutout to the author and Dell Romance for sending me a copy of this book!
This book perfectly intertwines the intricacies of sisterhood with magic and all consuming love. It starts out as a lighthearted story that grows in depth as you continue to read.
I really enjoyed reading about the different types of magic in the book and the sisters curse. The characters were so relatable and I loved the sisters and their interactions. Maybe it’s because I don’t know how long the story was stretched out over but I did feel like the romance was a little rushed at the end, it reads like a slow burn but I think the book takes place over the course of a couple weeks.
Other than that I enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more!
Shoutout to the author and Dell Romance for sending me a copy of this book!
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
This was, quite possibly, the best fantasy duology I’ve ever read!
From start to finish this series was filled with action and adventure, love and pain, magic and mystery. You couldn’t help but be invested in the characters and the whole story. I found myself rooting for them and whisper shouting at the pages for them to do certain things. I was so invested in everything going on in the story.
It was an amazing story, that was incredibly written and I cannot wait for more stories from this author!
From start to finish this series was filled with action and adventure, love and pain, magic and mystery. You couldn’t help but be invested in the characters and the whole story. I found myself rooting for them and whisper shouting at the pages for them to do certain things. I was so invested in everything going on in the story.
It was an amazing story, that was incredibly written and I cannot wait for more stories from this author!
Nothing Ever Happens Here: A Thriller by Seraphina Nova Glass
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A riveting thriller from start to finish!
Nothing ever happened in Shelby’s small, Minnesota town until one night she is locked in a walk in freezer and left to die. Now, over a year later, her attacker is back and is set on tormenting her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one start to finish! It sucks you in from page one and keeps you guessing throughout the book. I had it narrowed down to 2 suspects at the end and I will say one of my guesses was correct 💁🏼♀️ but it wasn’t obvious at all!
I’ll definitely be looking out for more by this author going forward! I really enjoyed the characters and the small town setting and the way the story was told!
Nothing ever happened in Shelby’s small, Minnesota town until one night she is locked in a walk in freezer and left to die. Now, over a year later, her attacker is back and is set on tormenting her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one start to finish! It sucks you in from page one and keeps you guessing throughout the book. I had it narrowed down to 2 suspects at the end and I will say one of my guesses was correct 💁🏼♀️ but it wasn’t obvious at all!
I’ll definitely be looking out for more by this author going forward! I really enjoyed the characters and the small town setting and the way the story was told!
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.25
Tao, the teller of small fortunes, travels the countryside in her wagon telling fortunes to those willing to hear them. In her travels she meets some unlikely companions, helping one to find his missing daughter. Along the way she discovers who she truly is and the importance of the friendships she forms along the way.
I loved so much of this! The characters were great, I love stories that involve traveling about, and I love books that involve fortune telling! I loved the friendships formed and the adventures they went on along the way.
The only thing I didn’t love about this book was the length of the chapters. As someone who can be easily distracted when reading they were waaaay too long. Most of them could have easily been 2 or 3 chapters that were 10 pages long instead of 1 chapter that was 30+ pages long. It made the book drag at times, in my opinion.
Other than that I highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a cozy fantasy with no spice and lots of friendship and traveling adventures!
I loved so much of this! The characters were great, I love stories that involve traveling about, and I love books that involve fortune telling! I loved the friendships formed and the adventures they went on along the way.
The only thing I didn’t love about this book was the length of the chapters. As someone who can be easily distracted when reading they were waaaay too long. Most of them could have easily been 2 or 3 chapters that were 10 pages long instead of 1 chapter that was 30+ pages long. It made the book drag at times, in my opinion.
Other than that I highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a cozy fantasy with no spice and lots of friendship and traveling adventures!
All Better Now by Neal Shusterman
dark
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This book had a super interesting concept and I really wanted to love it but I felt like it dragged a lot around the middle. The book is about a pandemic that causes recoverees to be happy and content all the time. People who haven’t contracted Crown Royale are terrified of what it could do to the world as a whole, causing economic infrastructure to crash. But recoverees just want to spread the virus to everyone…
Again, I wanted to love this one but I just didn’t. Parts were too long and the characters weren’t that interesting. Some parts were kinda scary to think about but overall it just wasn’t my favorite.
Again, I wanted to love this one but I just didn’t. Parts were too long and the characters weren’t that interesting. Some parts were kinda scary to think about but overall it just wasn’t my favorite.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
dark
emotional
informative
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? It's complicated
4.0
A heartbreaking story about what is was like to be unwed and married in 1970. Taking place in a home for wayward girls, the story focuses on 15 year old “Fern” who is sent away after her parents find out she is pregnant. This is the story of her and the friends she made in the home and what they did to try to reclaim some sense of power in their lives, resorting to witchcraft to do so.
This story was so heartbreaking and so moving that I could have honestly done without the witchcraft in it. The supernatural touches were nice but the actual story was what made this book so good. It’s so sad to hear about what girls like that went through … they were the only ones who had to face the consequences of their actions and had to make such difficult decisions at an age they never should have had to.
I definitely recommend this one if you’re interested in witchy historical fiction!
This story was so heartbreaking and so moving that I could have honestly done without the witchcraft in it. The supernatural touches were nice but the actual story was what made this book so good. It’s so sad to hear about what girls like that went through … they were the only ones who had to face the consequences of their actions and had to make such difficult decisions at an age they never should have had to.
I definitely recommend this one if you’re interested in witchy historical fiction!
From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley, Riley Keough
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.5
Narration: 5/5 🌟
I never knew much about the Presley family before going into this, obviously I’d heard of Elvis but that’s where my knowledge ended.
Being the child of someone as famous as Elvis could not have been easy and it really showed. There was so much tragedy in Lisa Marie Presley’s life and she struggled with so much at such a young age.
I loved hearing Riley’s side of the story as well, it made the story that much more moving. She added so much insight to the life of her mother. I learned so much about both of them and I really enjoyed it!
I never knew much about the Presley family before going into this, obviously I’d heard of Elvis but that’s where my knowledge ended.
Being the child of someone as famous as Elvis could not have been easy and it really showed. There was so much tragedy in Lisa Marie Presley’s life and she struggled with so much at such a young age.
I loved hearing Riley’s side of the story as well, it made the story that much more moving. She added so much insight to the life of her mother. I learned so much about both of them and I really enjoyed it!
The Rules of Fortune: A Novel by Danielle Prescod
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a well crafted story about wealth and power and what it takes to achieve and keep both. It’s an intricately woven story of personal struggles and family struggles.
William Carter Jr. came from nothing and realized that to become someone important you have to take what you want. Decades and billions of dollars later, his legacy is at risk when someone starts digging into the past of the company he worked so hard to build.
I have nothing against this book personally, I just don’t think it’s something I can fully appreciate. I think, for the correct audience, this book can be incredibly powerful. Unfortunately I’m just not that audience so this one fell flat with me. I couldn’t connect with the struggles of any of the characters and couldn’t fully understand the trials they went through.
If you enjoy books about power struggles and intricate family dynamics then this book is definitely for you!
William Carter Jr. came from nothing and realized that to become someone important you have to take what you want. Decades and billions of dollars later, his legacy is at risk when someone starts digging into the past of the company he worked so hard to build.
I have nothing against this book personally, I just don’t think it’s something I can fully appreciate. I think, for the correct audience, this book can be incredibly powerful. Unfortunately I’m just not that audience so this one fell flat with me. I couldn’t connect with the struggles of any of the characters and couldn’t fully understand the trials they went through.
If you enjoy books about power struggles and intricate family dynamics then this book is definitely for you!
Carving Shadows into Gold by Brigid Kemmerer
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
4.0
I don’t think I enjoyed this one as much as the first and I think that was because I was trying to read 2 books at once instead of focusing solely on this book…
I really enjoyed Callyn’s chapters in the book and really liked the way we saw her character develop throughout the book. I wish we would have gotten more of her but I feel like this book was mostly focused on Tycho and Jax. Part of the reason I didn’t enjoy this one as much was because I wasn’t a fan of Jax in this book. I thought his character seemed really immature at times and made no effort to grow. He attempted to adapt at times to the situation around him but for most of the book he was so sullen and constantly feeling sorry for himself that it made him an unsympathetic character.
Tycho’s story could be annoying at times but we saw a lot more development from him in this one, especially at the end of the book.
I’d really like to see more of Callyn in the next story because I’m so interested to see what happens with her!
I really enjoyed Callyn’s chapters in the book and really liked the way we saw her character develop throughout the book. I wish we would have gotten more of her but I feel like this book was mostly focused on Tycho and Jax. Part of the reason I didn’t enjoy this one as much was because I wasn’t a fan of Jax in this book. I thought his character seemed really immature at times and made no effort to grow. He attempted to adapt at times to the situation around him but for most of the book he was so sullen and constantly feeling sorry for himself that it made him an unsympathetic character.
Tycho’s story could be annoying at times but we saw a lot more development from him in this one, especially at the end of the book.
I’d really like to see more of Callyn in the next story because I’m so interested to see what happens with her!