sebrittainclark's reviews
1859 reviews

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan

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adventurous slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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 liked the premise of this novel where a person gets pulled into the world of an epic fantasy series as one of the villains. However, I really struggled with the pacing, which made it difficult for me to ever really get immersed in the story.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
Tadek and the Princess by Alexandra Rowland

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Truth About Dragons by Julie Leung

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hopeful inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

This is a beautiful story about the ways different cultures view dragons and using that metaphor to say that you don't have to pick just one set of cultural beliefs to be true for yourself.

I did think that this audiobook was pretty hard to understand without the illustrations. I needed to listen twice to really get it. I think it would be most enjoyable for kids who have read the picture book already or have the picture book to read along with the narration.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean

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lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

2.0

I love a good cozy fantasy, and I was really excited by a cozy fantasy set at a zoo and about conservation of magical creatures. I enjoyed a lot of the descriptions of the zoo and of the phoenixes, but this didn't pull me into the world as much as some other cozy fantasies I've read. It was a very slow read, and I felt like the romance took way too long to develop. I was also frustrated by how long it took Aila to realize things that were quickly obvious as a reader.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
Parent Like a Pediatrician: All the Facts, None of the Fear by Rebekah Diamond

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informative medium-paced

4.0

I thought this book did a wonderful job combining evidence based advice with the reality of parenting. Diamond did a good job of breaking down which recommendations are critical and which have some wiggle room, as well as explaining questions that come up in modern parenting. I wish I had read this book before having my first child because I think it could have helped ease some of the fear and research overload of that first year.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Dark Restraint by Katee Robert

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dark lighthearted 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

4.0

Ariadne has finally escaped her father. Even if that escape mean she's going to have to marry a stranger and her father is furious enough to send the Minotaur to kill her. The Minotaur agrees, but only because he has his own plans to get Ariadne and himself out of Olympus before the city falls apart. It's a fun and thrilling read.

This book left me so excited for the rest of the series. I loved all the new details we got about Hera, Poseidon, and Hermes. I cannot wait to read the final three books in the series

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I loved this premise, but this book just did not work for me. I didn't like the storyteller interludes, and I felt like the book never focused on the parts of the premise I found most interesting.
Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now! by Phillip Hoose, Claudette Colvin

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informative fast-paced

4.0

I thought this was a great introduction to who Claudette Colvin is and her role in the civil rights movement for children. I thought the narrator did a wonderful job bringing the story to life.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.