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roseleebooks's reviews
227 reviews
Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu
adventurous
tense
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? No
4.0
Overall I enjoyed this book. The first and last 20% especially had a good mix of character and setting building combined with events that moved the plot along. Jai and Frida are compelling characters, and their growth as allies throughout the middle section of the book kept me reading.
The things I didn't like were fairly minor but distracting enough to make this a book I only mostly liked. Primarily the slow pace of the middle of the book after a fairly intense start at the beginning. The details of the magic system and learning its use became a bit monotonous to me. Rufus as a character I also thought could have been detailed more during that slower part of the book which would have made him more compelling to read about.
The world-building, interesting plot points, and setup for the next book will have me picking up the sequel when it comes out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication.
The things I didn't like were fairly minor but distracting enough to make this a book I only mostly liked. Primarily the slow pace of the middle of the book after a fairly intense start at the beginning. The details of the magic system and learning its use became a bit monotonous to me. Rufus as a character I also thought could have been detailed more during that slower part of the book which would have made him more compelling to read about.
The world-building, interesting plot points, and setup for the next book will have me picking up the sequel when it comes out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
House of Marionne by J. Elle
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This book was a magical boarding school book that kept me reading late into the night. The concept and magic system is really interesting with a debutante system of progression through trials for students to cement their position as a magic user in their society.
Quell is an interesting protagonist with forbidden magic that she is struggling to hide, which could get her killed if it was discovered. Watching Quell's goals change as she learns more about the society she is trying to become a part of was fascinating. And the end of this book had me wishing the next was released already.
The only issue I had was that the time frame for everything in the book seems very fast, but then that was also part of what kept me reading.
Overall I cannot wait to learn more about the world and characters in this book, and see where Quell's story takes her as the series progresses.
Quell is an interesting protagonist with forbidden magic that she is struggling to hide, which could get her killed if it was discovered. Watching Quell's goals change as she learns more about the society she is trying to become a part of was fascinating. And the end of this book had me wishing the next was released already.
The only issue I had was that the time frame for everything in the book seems very fast, but then that was also part of what kept me reading.
Overall I cannot wait to learn more about the world and characters in this book, and see where Quell's story takes her as the series progresses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Murder
The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a solid read for me and I really enjoyed it overall. I wasn't sure going in how much Guanzon's fanfic might play into it and having never read it can say that other than some of the character descriptions and descriptions of the magic system at times I would not have realized that it originated from that.
What I liked: the ambition of the plot. There was a lot happening but it felt cohesive and like it was progressing in a way that made sense. The political aspects were more enjoyable than I would have expected. The tension between Talasyn and Alaric was very well written also. Early in the book I was looking forward to scenes where they interacted. I also really liked listening to this on audiobook. I read some of it in book format but the writing and dialogue really lend themselves well to an audio format.
What I didn't like: sometimes the angst and arguments between Talasyn and Alaric were a little too much for me. And maybe this was because I wasn't quite in the mood to read about that type of relationship.Also, the earlier parts of the book during the war felt very abrupt and didn't allow us to develop much connection to the events and the side characters. However, none of this detracted enough from the book to be a big issue enough.
Overall this was an entertaining read and I will be continuing the series with the next book.
What I liked: the ambition of the plot. There was a lot happening but it felt cohesive and like it was progressing in a way that made sense. The political aspects were more enjoyable than I would have expected. The tension between Talasyn and Alaric was very well written also. Early in the book I was looking forward to scenes where they interacted. I also really liked listening to this on audiobook. I read some of it in book format but the writing and dialogue really lend themselves well to an audio format.
What I didn't like: sometimes the angst and arguments between Talasyn and Alaric were a little too much for me. And maybe this was because I wasn't quite in the mood to read about that type of relationship.
Overall this was an entertaining read and I will be continuing the series with the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
"A thing that is happening happens whether you look at it or not."
This book impressed me in every way. The simplicity of the narration, the characters, the way this warns of what we can lose when we think that "those things don't happen here".
This deals with a very difficult topic, child abuse, but does it in a way that is accessible and can be read by a younger audience.
In short it is incredible. It tells a story that is not especially complicated, but is heartbreaking. It's a story about truth and believing and being willing to see the unseen truths around you. It's a story about humanity and how our beliefs about our world blind us to things that are real and happening around us. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.
This book impressed me in every way. The simplicity of the narration, the characters, the way this warns of what we can lose when we think that "those things don't happen here".
This deals with a very difficult topic, child abuse, but does it in a way that is accessible and can be read by a younger audience.
In short it is incredible. It tells a story that is not especially complicated, but is heartbreaking. It's a story about truth and believing and being willing to see the unseen truths around you. It's a story about humanity and how our beliefs about our world blind us to things that are real and happening around us. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Yes, I'm Hot in This: The Hilarious Truth about Life in a Hijab by Huda Fahmy
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
Loved this collection of comics.
We Are the Origin by C.M. Lockhart
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I liked this book, it is a unique approach to the fantasy genre and the audiobook format really worked for me. There is a lot of information about the world that wasn't clear to me, though I appreciated the way things were slowly revealed or explained so that there wasn't an overwhelming amount of info in any specific scene.
Looking forward to the next book in the series! Will do a more complete review after finishing it.
Looking forward to the next book in the series! Will do a more complete review after finishing it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Touched by Walter Mosley
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I don't really know what to think about this novella. It is a blend of genres and themes, but primarily a sci-fi in which a man awakens having become "the cure" during a dream that spanned lifetimes. His experience from there is both a commentary on our current state as well as a question of what is the purpose of life? What is the end result?
Will be thinking about this for a while.
Will be thinking about this for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity
Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana
Going to take a pause, the narration style is really distracting me but I may try to pick this back up another time.
Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I'm very glad I picked this up as it surprised me in a good way. I knew it was going to be at least partly a horror and the writing and integration of that part of the story is outstanding. The tension really builds for the first portion of the book when Wyatt is trying to fix the farm that is falling apart around her. I won't give away the plot by talking too much about the other characters, but will say that the interpersonal dynamics and flashbacks are handled very well in building the story.
I did think that some of the plot elements felt a little rushed at the end, however thinking more about it after finishing the book I appreciated the direction it went in.
Overall this was the horror with heart at it's center that I didn't know I wanted to read. It is a story of loss, love, and hope with all the supernatural horror that I could ask for. There are no easy solutions in the world Kelly Andrew has created and I am glad that the story embraces that element.
Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic books for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
I did think that some of the plot elements felt a little rushed at the end, however thinking more about it after finishing the book I appreciated the direction it went in.
Overall this was the horror with heart at it's center that I didn't know I wanted to read. It is a story of loss, love, and hope with all the supernatural horror that I could ask for. There are no easy solutions in the world Kelly Andrew has created and I am glad that the story embraces that element.
Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic books for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
This is a horror novel with some romantic elements, I would not characterize this as a romance centric book.
The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was wonderful and I adored every minute of reading it. A grumpy fallen god and a gumiho trying to keep him off her tails team up to save their city from a darkness that could destroy everything. The mystery and side characters were great, and the romance is beautifully written. Overall a fun read that had me so emotionally invested in the relationship between the two main characters that I was tearing up at the end. Would love to read another story set in this world.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication.