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purplepenning's reviews
1646 reviews
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Well, this was far more charming than I expected! In trope lingo, you've got grumpy/sunshine, enemies to "it's complicated," with magically imposed forced proximity. In story lingo, you have nemesis sorcerer trainees having to work together to break an unintentional curse. There's questing into the deadly Wilderlands, an intriguing sorceress in a tower that's bigger on the inside, magical beasts galore, an interesting magic system that includes a bit of rogue magic woven into music, and a sweet thread of growing understanding and regard throughout. It's the first of a trilogy, which is really my only complaint — I would've preferred it as a standalone with a bit more development and conclusion. But it does stand on its own fairly well, with no horrible cliffhangers, and I will be looking for book two.
A Gallery of Rogues by Beth Lincoln
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Happily Never After by Lynn Painter
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Top-tier banter and chemistry brought to life by superb narration
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, and Sexual content
The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.25
Fantastic Beasts and the Socially Anxious Zookeeper Who Loves Them!
An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
3.25
An example of an objectively excellent, well-researched, sizzling steamy, sapphic historical romance that ... just didn't hold my attention. I had to skim-read and double-time the audiobook just to keep from DNFing.
Romancing Miss Stone by M.C. Vaughan
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
Interesting characters, fun gender-flipped Romancing the Stone vibes, and a good premise, but the writing falters, affecting the character development and the flow of action.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Mental illness and Death of parent
A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Body shaming, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury
The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
This is a madcap Victorian fantasy ROMP-com that skewers academics with one hand while making professorial bird puns with the other. The shtick started to feel a little shtuck in the middle, but Holton always delivers a fun ride overall.