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puddlejumper's reviews
726 reviews
Cute Fantasy Art Class by Naomi Lord
informative
5.0
This was beyond cute! The characters themselves were adorable and there were a lot of different ones.
The instructions were clear, detailed, and easy to follow. This made it accessible to someone like me who doesn’t draw.
The characters each had a unique description which would appeal to fantasy or D&D fans. I shared this with my D&D group who immediately wanted to draw their characters as cute creatures.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
The Haunting Between Us by Paul Michael Winters
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I was underwhelmed by this book, however, the ending I found very distasteful. It turned the book from a meh to a solid no.
The book suffers from tonal whiplash and not knowing who its audience is. Some chapters are teenage cutesy romance and others are ghost haunting mystery.
The characters are 16 though read a lot younger which is why it was super jarring when they had sex and it didn't even fade to black.
I would have assumed this was aimed at the younger end of YA because the characters read more like 13/14 and the writing was quite simplistic.
Everything was wrapped up too quickly at the end and it felt cheap.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
The book suffers from tonal whiplash and not knowing who its audience is. Some chapters are teenage cutesy romance and others are ghost haunting mystery.
The characters are 16 though read a lot younger which is why it was super jarring when they had sex and it didn't even fade to black.
I would have assumed this was aimed at the younger end of YA because the characters read more like 13/14 and the writing was quite simplistic.
Everything was wrapped up too quickly at the end and it felt cheap.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses, Volume 2: 54 New Themes, Templates, and Ideas for Integrating Inspiration into Your Class by Shayna Keyles
2.25
I haven't read the first volume so I wasn't familiar with the layout or content of this series. I was interested in the theme ideas and how a yoga class could be structured.
I found this very alien and inauthentic. Several of the things suggested I felt were outside a yoga teacher's remit.
This may be cultural because I've not come across any yoga classes where the things suggested would be appropriate. If a teacher started reading poetry or song lyrics in a class or gave me wool at the beginning of the class, I would walk out.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC
I found this very alien and inauthentic. Several of the things suggested I felt were outside a yoga teacher's remit.
This may be cultural because I've not come across any yoga classes where the things suggested would be appropriate. If a teacher started reading poetry or song lyrics in a class or gave me wool at the beginning of the class, I would walk out.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC
The English Monster by Lloyd Shepherd
slow-paced
3.0
This was very slow, it got better at the end but I found it a slog to get through
Murder in the Snow by Verity Bright
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
Leftover from December this was a solid cosy murder mystery.
The Procrastination Playbook for Adults with ADHD: How to Catch Sneaky Forms of Procrastination Before They Catch You by Risa Williams
3.0
I was drawn to this book as I'm neurodivergent and struggle with procrastination.
I read this on my Kindle and much of the book was unreadable. Sections had no spaces between words, words would be different sizes or bolded. I assume these were formatting errors that would be sorted out before publication.
Unfortunately, this made it difficult to read and the worksheets looked odd.
Onto the parts I could read, I think some people would find this useful. It wasn't anything new. If you're already struggling with procrastination or executive dysfunction then this is stuff you'll already be aware of.
This advice might work for some people, it doesn't for me. If I'm procrastinating then I'm not going to follow a worksheet or write a list. Or I'll write the best list ever with so much detail and then never do it because in my mind I've already done the task and gotten the reward from planning it.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC
I read this on my Kindle and much of the book was unreadable. Sections had no spaces between words, words would be different sizes or bolded. I assume these were formatting errors that would be sorted out before publication.
Unfortunately, this made it difficult to read and the worksheets looked odd.
Onto the parts I could read, I think some people would find this useful. It wasn't anything new. If you're already struggling with procrastination or executive dysfunction then this is stuff you'll already be aware of.
This advice might work for some people, it doesn't for me. If I'm procrastinating then I'm not going to follow a worksheet or write a list. Or I'll write the best list ever with so much detail and then never do it because in my mind I've already done the task and gotten the reward from planning it.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC
Guardian: Zhen Hun (Novel) Vol. 1 by priest
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really enjoyed the first volume. I've wanted to read this for ages after watching bits and pieces of the show. It is very different from the show and I think much better.
Guo Changcheng was definitely my favourite. I related to him so much.
There was mystery, mythology, pining, and longing looks, all the good stuff.
I do hope the secondary characters get some development. It was great to see more of Wang Zheng and her past. Love to see more of the others.
Guo Changcheng was definitely my favourite. I related to him so much.
There was mystery, mythology, pining, and longing looks, all the good stuff.
I do hope the secondary characters get some development. It was great to see more of Wang Zheng and her past. Love to see more of the others.
Blind Tiger by Jordan L. Hawk
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Chicago during the roaring 20s with cat shapeshifters, mobs, and speakeasies. Absolutely fantastic!
The ending was a bit quick and hand waving but I didn't really mind that. The romance was sweet and had a natural build up.
This is part of the Hexworld universe which I've not read, or I've read one, but you don't need to have read them to understand the book.
The ending was a bit quick and hand waving but I didn't really mind that. The romance was sweet and had a natural build up.
This is part of the Hexworld universe which I've not read, or I've read one, but you don't need to have read them to understand the book.
A Web of Obsidian by Lydia M. Hawke
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
This is fast paced and action packed. It follows a nun who accidentally becomes embroiled in the supernatural.
I was intrigued by the main character being an older woman. It's something new to me in this genre. She was amazing, very realistic, reactive, and cared about the people around her.
Everything moved very quickly which I think worked well for the plot. It was hard to put down as there was never a lull in the action.
I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it. It's different from the usual offerings in this genre and I liked the focus on the paranormal mystery and platonic relationships.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the #ARC
I was intrigued by the main character being an older woman. It's something new to me in this genre. She was amazing, very realistic, reactive, and cared about the people around her.
Everything moved very quickly which I think worked well for the plot. It was hard to put down as there was never a lull in the action.
I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it. It's different from the usual offerings in this genre and I liked the focus on the paranormal mystery and platonic relationships.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the #ARC
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System: Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really enjoyed this. This was my first official Danmei novel and I'm glad I started with this. It was very light and humorous, made fun of and then subverted common tropes, and was a fun read.