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rjsetserauthor's reviews
857 reviews
A Magic Evermore: Book One in the Mirri Langley Series by Michelle Massie
adventurous
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
*4.5 rounded to 5 stars on sites that don't accept halves*
A Magic Evermore is such a fun story that reminded me of an Alice in Wonderland type of chaos with a touch of Narnia. Reluctant heroes rise, quests abound, strange creatures greet you at every turn, fantasy foods that you can taste, and a unique world to explore!
I loved the emphasis on storytelling that Mirri and her journal portray throughout the story. Smidge and Jinx were equally lovable characters and made the adventure a delight to read. This story is everything I expect from a YA fantasy quest. I can't wait to start the next book!
A Magic Evermore is such a fun story that reminded me of an Alice in Wonderland type of chaos with a touch of Narnia. Reluctant heroes rise, quests abound, strange creatures greet you at every turn, fantasy foods that you can taste, and a unique world to explore!
I loved the emphasis on storytelling that Mirri and her journal portray throughout the story. Smidge and Jinx were equally lovable characters and made the adventure a delight to read. This story is everything I expect from a YA fantasy quest. I can't wait to start the next book!
Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-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
Actual tears in that last chapter. Wow.
Full review and content warnings to come.
Full review and content warnings to come.
Argylle by Elly Conway
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Lost interest, may try again after I watch the movie (and if I like it)
Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas by Morgan Llywelyn
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
Just lost interest...
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
adventurous
slow-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
5.0
A Random Tavern by Duncan Wilson
adventurous
dark
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
A Random Tavern is a deeply narrative and somewhat bizarre short story.
Written with eloquence and from the perspective of the tavern owner (Theo), this story aims to transport you from your mundane life into a random tavern by the seaside. I adore short stories for their ability to pack so much into so few pages and leave you considering deeper meanings long after you've read the last page. A Random Tavern does just that.
We sympathize with Theo by surmising that Randolph might be crazy, but the story reflects the human desire to believe in the supernatural and unthinkable as we ponder if he's really endured such a fantastical tale. We're left wanting to believe his stories, but unsure if we can.
I think this is the type of short story that a book club would enjoy dissecting, as there are countless lines, phrases, and incredible illustrations that deserve a spotlighted discussion.
Overall, I really enjoyed this short story and recommend it to anyone who also has a soft spot for brief, yet complex short stories.
Content warnings below: A few spooks and mentions of monsters and mildly descriptive gore. No sexual content or romance at all. A couple of very mild curse words.
Written with eloquence and from the perspective of the tavern owner (Theo), this story aims to transport you from your mundane life into a random tavern by the seaside. I adore short stories for their ability to pack so much into so few pages and leave you considering deeper meanings long after you've read the last page. A Random Tavern does just that.
We sympathize with Theo by surmising that Randolph might be crazy, but the story reflects the human desire to believe in the supernatural and unthinkable as we ponder if he's really endured such a fantastical tale. We're left wanting to believe his stories, but unsure if we can.
I think this is the type of short story that a book club would enjoy dissecting, as there are countless lines, phrases, and incredible illustrations that deserve a spotlighted discussion.
Overall, I really enjoyed this short story and recommend it to anyone who also has a soft spot for brief, yet complex short stories.
Content warnings below: A few spooks and mentions of monsters and mildly descriptive gore. No sexual content or romance at all. A couple of very mild curse words.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gore and Blood
The Roadtrip Of Life by A.Ikram
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
The Roadtrip of Life feels like having coffee with a friend.
This collection of poetry and thoughts takes the reader on a journey of self-reflection and encourages us to heal from past experiences and keep moving forward. The author is passionate about guiding their reader to find their true self and be happy with who they are.
The formatting of this collection is unique, as each chapter opens with a short poem, includes an expansive bit of prose to accompany the poem, and then closes with a question and a heartfelt letter to the reader. I really enjoyed this setup, as it felt incredibly different than other poetry collections, however, it did feel repetitive at times because the prose seemed to re-word exactly what the poem said. But I definitely enjoyed the poetry and look forward to watching A. Ikram grow as a poet in the future.
I didn't note any content warnings for this title.
This collection of poetry and thoughts takes the reader on a journey of self-reflection and encourages us to heal from past experiences and keep moving forward. The author is passionate about guiding their reader to find their true self and be happy with who they are.
The formatting of this collection is unique, as each chapter opens with a short poem, includes an expansive bit of prose to accompany the poem, and then closes with a question and a heartfelt letter to the reader. I really enjoyed this setup, as it felt incredibly different than other poetry collections, however, it did feel repetitive at times because the prose seemed to re-word exactly what the poem said. But I definitely enjoyed the poetry and look forward to watching A. Ikram grow as a poet in the future.
I didn't note any content warnings for this title.
Flounder, Flounder, In the Sea by Samuel DenHartog
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Review to come!
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Might come back to it later, but the main character reminded me of my recently deceased grandpa and it's just too emotional for me to read right now.