purplepenning's reviews
1646 reviews

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0


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This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 41%.
I feel like I gave it up just when the plot was finally going to kick in, but I just couldn't do it any more. I've had this issue with these authors before — the high-angst, slow-reveal method of storytelling just doesn't work for me. (But it does work for others. What I call frustrating, others may call a page-turner.) It's a particular shame this time, because I was actually interested in the story and entertained by the tongue-in-cheek fantasy setting. Just not enough to offset how miserable these characters are and how miserable and frustrated they're making me! Maybe I'll come back and skim to the end sometime.
Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin

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The woodsy-PNW-witchy vibes and YA nemesis-to-lovers tropes (complete with "only one tent") are on point. But this one wasn't for me — as sometimes happens with YA, I just couldn't get past the main character (an 18-year-old) doing a Very Dumb Thoughtless Dangerous Thing that kicked off the whole plot. 
You Had Me at Happy Hour by Timothy Janovsky

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emotional hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

Queer, new adult rom-com with excellent mental health rep that goes hand in hand with steamy, toy-assisted sex positivity. 

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Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25


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The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates

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challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

4.5

No one needs my basic, white, Gen- X, middle-class thoughts on Ta-Nehisi Coates's latest message in essays. It's not very long — go read it for yourself. 
The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

A standalone fantasy rooted in traditional Welsh folklore, The Wild Huntress slips the reader into the edges of the uncanny world of the Fae before plunging them deep into the dark adventure of the Wild Hunt.

Where The Drowned Woods (same world, different standalone tale, also recommended) gave us morally gray, complicated magic users, thieves, rulers, tricksters, and an adorable corgi, this one gives us morally gray, complicated magic users, thieves, rulers, tricksters, and a cat who may be more than it seems. 

For an extra treat, and to hear the beautiful Welsh pronunciations, check out the audiobook narrated by Moira Quick.

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An Intrigue of Witches by Esme Addison

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
This does seem to deliver on the "National Treasure" meets "Discovery of Witches" vibes! It's just more exposition than I'm looking for right now. 
The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas

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adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Perfect balance of magical to real, traditional to contemporary, horrific to heroic!

Nestor, a middle grader whose dad is deployed to the Middle East, is used to moving around with his mom a lot, never putting down roots, never making real friends, and never letting anyone know that he can talk to animals. Until they move in with his abuela, who is being blamed for witchcraft in the woods and the disappearance of beloved animals. It'll take the help of all of his new friends (humans and animals) to defeat the evil in the woods, clear his abuela's good name, and give him the courage to find his community and his home. 


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Twenty-Four Seconds From Now by Jason Reynolds

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emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Incredibly sweet and incredibly candid, this funny, creative account of a Black teen's first time is pure gold and pure #goals. 

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