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roseleebooks's reviews
227 reviews
In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.5
In the Shadow of the Fall introduces a fascinating world and lore. Ashâke is a protagonist I think has a lot of potential. Her backstory was well thought out and could make for a really wonderful series. However the story felt very rushed with a lot of plot put into a small number of pages. I kept wanting more time to be spent expanding the characters and the story.
I'll likely still pick up the next book to see where this goes, but would wish to see more of the book spent on character development and not feeling like the pace was too fast for the story it is telling.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group - Tordotcom books for an opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
I'll likely still pick up the next book to see where this goes, but would wish to see more of the book spent on character development and not feeling like the pace was too fast for the story it is telling.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group - Tordotcom books for an opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I suspected this was going to be a great read for me right at the beginning after all the main characters have been introduced.
This is a heist book that is really about the cast of characters that Faizal has assembled and not so much the plot itself. Like in her previous series the group dynamics are at times hilarious and at other times heartbreaking. The book is fast paced and action can seem a little rushed due to the way the focus stays on the immediate thoughts and experiences of the POV character. However the immediacy of this style of writing didn't take me out of the story.
The heist itself is more of a means to an end, but the ending and reveal really brings the overarching villain back into focus and gives us some hope after the events at the end.
I cannot wait for the next book and might go back and read The Sands of Arawiya again before I reread this one!
This is a heist book that is really about the cast of characters that Faizal has assembled and not so much the plot itself. Like in her previous series the group dynamics are at times hilarious and at other times heartbreaking. The book is fast paced and action can seem a little rushed due to the way the focus stays on the immediate thoughts and experiences of the POV character. However the immediacy of this style of writing didn't take me out of the story.
I cannot wait for the next book and might go back and read The Sands of Arawiya again before I reread this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, and Colonisation
To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I really wanted to like this book, and if the entire story had been written more like the last 20% this review would have been mostly positive.
Let me start with what I did like: the world was really interesting. The Romans are a direct reflection of the modern West, but with access to a world that was relatively unspoiled by pollution and exploitation of natural resources. Pangu is a world built around magic which the Romans don't have and this setup has so much potential in the science vs magic.
However, the story is hindered by the first 70% of the book in which it felt like very little happened except a lot of internal monologue of the main character. The book spends so much time telling us how the FMC feels and what she's thinking without showing us the world or characters around her in any meaningful way. The last portion of the story gets better with a bit more plot but I nearly stopped reading so many times leading up to that.
Overall I was disappointed by the pacing and limited view of the world and characters. I'm not sure if I will pick up the next book or not at this time.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House publishing group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
Let me start with what I did like: the world was really interesting. The Romans are a direct reflection of the modern West, but with access to a world that was relatively unspoiled by pollution and exploitation of natural resources. Pangu is a world built around magic which the Romans don't have and this setup has so much potential in the science vs magic.
However, the story is hindered by the first 70% of the book in which it felt like very little happened except a lot of internal monologue of the main character. The book spends so much time telling us how the FMC feels and what she's thinking without showing us the world or characters around her in any meaningful way. The last portion of the story gets better with a bit more plot but I nearly stopped reading so many times leading up to that.
Overall I was disappointed by the pacing and limited view of the world and characters. I'm not sure if I will pick up the next book or not at this time.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House publishing group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
A Rake of His Own by A.J. Lancaster
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed this addition to the Stariel universe with a focus on Rafe and Marius. I would not consider this a standalone as much of their relationship starts in the earlier books and is necessary to understand this story. They have some really great banter and their relationship is just a lot of fun to follow. I think one of the things I struggled with was the mystery in this as I didn't find it as compelling as the romance plot, so it became more of a distraction. Overall I liked this book and the series as a whole and would recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Blood, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail
Blood Justice by Terry J. Benton-Walker
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
As a sequel, this book picks up 9 months after the events of Blood Debts. Clem and Chris are living with the outcomes of the events at the end of that book, both positive and negative.
I really appreciated the growth that each character has in this book. Clem is struggling under the pressure of his commitment to help Yves and Auguste, and Chris is letting her anger and desire for justice overwhelm her. They continue to be teenagers and they make a lot of mistakes, but I found their stories to be compelling because of this.
The expansion of our understanding of the gods and magical community was fascinating and I can't wait to see how that continues in the next book.
There were a few scenes that felt unnecessarily long and I thought could have been edited to be shorter without losing the impact. I also wished we'd seen more of some of the side characters but based on the ending suspect they will have larger roles in the next book.
Second in series books can sometimes be less compelling but this did not suffer from that. I could not put this down. Can't wait for the next book!
Thank you Netgalley and Tor Teen for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
I really appreciated the growth that each character has in this book. Clem is struggling under the pressure of his commitment to help Yves and Auguste, and Chris is letting her anger and desire for justice overwhelm her. They continue to be teenagers and they make a lot of mistakes, but I found their stories to be compelling because of this.
The expansion of our understanding of the gods and magical community was fascinating and I can't wait to see how that continues in the next book.
There were a few scenes that felt unnecessarily long and I thought could have been edited to be shorter without losing the impact. I also wished we'd seen more of some of the side characters but based on the ending suspect they will have larger roles in the next book.
Second in series books can sometimes be less compelling but this did not suffer from that. I could not put this down. Can't wait for the next book!
Thank you Netgalley and Tor Teen for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib
challenging
informative
inspiring
5.0
Hanif Abdurraqib's writing is extraordinary. The audiobook was wonderful and includes some additional introductions that he included for some of the essays, and his reading style is poetic. Highly recommend this collection of essays.
Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a YA contemporary fantasy that explores themes of trauma, family, racism, power, and justice, all through the lense of characters who are still working out their place in the world.
This is a story that follows teenage twins Clem and Chris, whose family has a history of power and loss related to their inherited magic and former leadership on the Generational magic council. Their search for answers about the death of their father leads to a much bigger mystery than they were prepared for.
The book reads like a detective story and there are a lot of elements built around the magic system and politics related to the council. It is fast paced but the way each new piece of information is revealed makes sense and helps to move the story along without feeling contrived. I thought the characters actions were logical for them as teenagers who are trying to solve a mystery while also navigating their lives as 16-year-olds.
I really enjoyed the writing, it feels like it would translate well to television or film because of the focus on events and plot. There is resolution at the end, but definitely some setup for the next book.
This is a story that follows teenage twins Clem and Chris, whose family has a history of power and loss related to their inherited magic and former leadership on the Generational magic council. Their search for answers about the death of their father leads to a much bigger mystery than they were prepared for.
The book reads like a detective story and there are a lot of elements built around the magic system and politics related to the council. It is fast paced but the way each new piece of information is revealed makes sense and helps to move the story along without feeling contrived. I thought the characters actions were logical for them as teenagers who are trying to solve a mystery while also navigating their lives as 16-year-olds.
I really enjoyed the writing, it feels like it would translate well to television or film because of the focus on events and plot. There is resolution at the end, but definitely some setup for the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
I liked this book overall, and enjoyed the writing. The narration took me out of the story a couple of times so might have preferred reading more than listening to audiobook.
The story was atmospheric and had an interesting take on how stories change and evolve depending on the teller. I especially enjoyed the way the ending was handled.
I did find that the story dragged a little in the middle and the romance felt rushed. However, the house as a character and the side characters made up for this in a lot of ways. Their influence and contribution helps to keep the slower middle portion interesting, as well as providing some counter to Opal's viewpoint and narrative.
The main character, Opal, is flawed but in a way that allows us to sympathize. She makes many mistakes and while she doesn't face any truly dire consequences, she does have to reconcile the outcome of her actions.
I keep thinking about her and her actions and the way she approaches life. I can't fully decide if I like her as a character or not. I suppose that's a comment on Harrow's effectiveness as a writer. I will definitely be rereading this at some point.
The story was atmospheric and had an interesting take on how stories change and evolve depending on the teller. I especially enjoyed the way the ending was handled.
I did find that the story dragged a little in the middle and the romance felt rushed. However, the house as a character and the side characters made up for this in a lot of ways. Their influence and contribution helps to keep the slower middle portion interesting, as well as providing some counter to Opal's viewpoint and narrative.
The main character, Opal, is flawed but in a way that allows us to sympathize. She makes many mistakes and while she doesn't face any truly dire consequences, she does have to reconcile the outcome of her actions.
I keep thinking about her and her actions and the way she approaches life. I can't fully decide if I like her as a character or not. I suppose that's a comment on Harrow's effectiveness as a writer. I will definitely be rereading this at some point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse
To Bleed a Crystal Bloom by Sarah A. Parker
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked this book overall but it was a lot of setup, reading the next to see where the story goes and will likely adjust my rating based on the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This second book picks up shortly after the ending of One Dark Window.
The focus and atmosphere of this story was different from the first and although I found it enjoyable, it didn't quite manage to hold onto the subtlety of the horror in the first book. It felt much more like a quest/adventure story except for certain aspects of Elm's POV.
There also was a reveal that was projected so obviously to us as readers that it was annoying that the characters didn't figure it out.
Despite the above, I think the pacing and characters were once again so well done that you just get pulled right back into the story. The inclusion of Elm's storyline became a strength of this book, as was the Nightmare as a more filled out character.
Overall the series was very good and I would give it a 4.5 overall.
The focus and atmosphere of this story was different from the first and although I found it enjoyable, it didn't quite manage to hold onto the subtlety of the horror in the first book. It felt much more like a quest/adventure story except for certain aspects of Elm's POV.
There also was a reveal that was projected so obviously to us as readers that it was annoying that the characters didn't figure it out.
Despite the above, I think the pacing and characters were once again so well done that you just get pulled right back into the story. The inclusion of Elm's storyline became a strength of this book, as was the Nightmare as a more filled out character.
Overall the series was very good and I would give it a 4.5 overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Grief