psychology4introverts's reviews
190 reviews

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful fast-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

5.0

At first I thought it would just be another YA entertaining read, but there is actually more depth to the characters and the story is rather dark, yes, but that‘s just the setting, the characters and the story are wonderful, delightfully complex and there‘s a lot of character development. They seem very realistic in their development under the circumstance that they have to fight for survival every day, which becomes kind of normal in the book, but not in an unrealistic way, which gives it additional depth. The character development is great and it is very well written, there are no lengths at all, hard to put down and therefore 5 stars, which I did not expect but happy to have given it a try! The magic is connected with languages, which reminded me a lot of Babel, but it‘s definitely not as tragic as Babel.
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 63%.
I forced myself to listen until track 48, to 63% but then couldn‘t continue. It started out promising, the writing is good, but it‘s inconsistent and there are more and more torture scenes and that’s the one thing I don‘t want to hear or read because it‘s a not why I read books. Also the audio recording is inconsistent. There‘s a male and a female narrator, but they switch chapters and the key two characters, but then they read all other characters of course, but not one per character, but each one reads all the characters in their chapter, and in the next the other one reads the same side-character in his chapter but of course then in a different way, which makes it confusing and annoying.
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Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It is undoubtedly a great series, and the writing is really good, the emotions intense, but Bella‘s constant guilt trips, while logically sound, are drawn out a bit too much. There is much more detail than in the movie of course, and it‘s the key reason to read the books, because everything makes a lot more sense with those details that the movies leave out, which really is kind of the reason for the bad rep the movies get from some. 
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

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adventurous challenging dark emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Well it has its lengths, but it’s still great writing overall. I read it mainly because after reading book 1, I realised how much the movies are dropping and with that background the story makes a lot more sense and gains in depth beyond a crazy teenage infatuation. That’s also the reason I’m probably read the rest of them, there’s a lot more character development on the other characters as well, which adds so much to the story arc, and for fans of the movies, which I admit I am, because it is still a great love story and for some, Bella is a relatable character in her antisocial weirdness :-)
Shadow Reaper by Isla Frost

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

3.5

Great audio book voice actor.
Scoop by Evelyn Waugh

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adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.5

This is most of all a masterfully written book in every respect. That in itself makes it a must-read. It doesn‘t have a happy end, but one knows that from the start, so it‘s ok. It really is not about the end, it is about the story itself and how it evolves. It makes you think, always on the brink of emphasising, but then not. It keeps you tethered because it somehow involves you and makes you think and ponder, only to reveal a different truth than you thought it would, more mundane and at the same time more mind-boggling. It would be a loss for any intelligent human being who is fascinated by the „Why“ of things, to not read it. I got the hardcover version and I‘m glad because I‘ll surely read it again. It is indeed the perfect dark academia book, and perfect for an autumn read.
Shadow Witch by Isla Frost

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.5

As good as the first. Great series to listen to. Very magical Academia.
Firstborn Academy: Shadow Trials by Isla Frost

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Entertaining read, it really is hunger games and Harry Potter in one and therefore enjoyable, the audio narrator is very good and I for one did not guess the mystery that resolves in book two, which I think will be even better.