sebrittainclark's reviews
1859 reviews

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

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adventurous dark medium-paced

4.5

Cordelia is 14 and her mother, Evangeline, is on the hunt for an adequately wealthy husband so that Cordelia can one day marry an even wealthier husband. Evangeline is also a sorceress who uses her power to manipulate those around her to bend to her will. Hester is the middle aged sister for a squire who has the misfortune of being an ideal target of Evangeline. Cordelia and Hester find themselves in a dangerous situation they must both find their way out of.

I loved this just as much as Kingfishers' other fairytale retellings. I thought Hester was a perfect Kingfisher protagonist, and Cordelia was a wonderful counterpart with Hester's pragmatism about the world and Cordelia's knowledge of sorcery by naivety about everything else. I thought this one leaned ever more on the side of horror especially the kind magic Evangeline did to Cordelia.

I thought both narrators did a great job brining Cordelia and Hester to life. 

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
What Can a Mess Make? by Bee Johnson

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lighthearted 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

4.0

A very cute little book about creativity, imagination, and connection. It's a good reminder for parents and kids that a mess can be a wonderful thing.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
Robots by Henny Admoni, Neon Squid

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informative fast-paced

3.0

This was an interesting book full of facts about what robots are, what they do, some of the kinds of robots that exist today, and some that might exist in the future. I thought it was a good broad introduction to the topic.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
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The Science of Cleaning: Use the Power of Chemistry to Clean Smarter, Easier, and Safer-With Solutions for Every Kind of Dirt by Dario Bressanini

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informative slow-paced

3.5

This was a fascinating read. Bressanini goes into the chemistry and history of cleaning products and why we use the chemicals we do and what purpose different cleaning ingredients have. I learned a lot about why so many different cleaning products exist, and it really change my perspective of finding the right tool for the job.

I thought the narrator did a great job keeping the book engaging even though it's digging into the science behind how different chemicals work, but I do think this might work better as a reference book in print

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
Capybara (Young Zoologist) by Julia Mata, Neon Squid

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informative fast-paced

4.0

This was such a fun read to listen to with my son. It was full of interesting facts about capybaras. We both learned a lot, and I imagine we will listen to it many times.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti

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lighthearted medium-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? Yes

4.0

Selina is excellent at fixing things. When Duke Peter Kent needs to become more respectable to become the guardian of his younger siblings, Selena decides to fix the situation by getting him married to someone very respectable. Someone who isn't secretly running a circulating library like she is. 

I really enjoyed this book. I particularly liked Georgiana and hope I can read more about her in future books.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

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

5.0

Escargot and the Search for Spring by Dashka Slater

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This was a cute little audiobook. I thought it covered a lot of good topics like boredom and emotions. I also thought the narrator was very engaging and brought the story to life even without illustrations.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
Secrets of the Ocean: 15 Bedtime Stories Inspired by Nature by Alicia Klepeis, Neon Squid

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informative lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook with my family. Each story really brought the ocean animals to life. It was a lot like listening to a nature documentary. And I loved that each story also included scientific facts at the end. I thought each story was the perfect length for young kids to focus.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis

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

4.0

A ship's crashed on a protoplanet and if someone doesn't come rescue Ada's broken ship soon, she won't be any better off. When a government salvage ship finally answers her call, it's clear that both she and the crew of the ship know something about the crash.

On the first read, I sometimes felt that too much of Ada's knowledge was being concealed from the reader even though she was the POV character. It became more clear what she was hiding in the end, but it was occasionally frustrating when it was obvious that there was information that Ada knew that I didn't.

On a second read, I really enjoyed the subtle clues laid out throughout the book for the direction in ended up going. This is a book that lends itself well to rereads when you can better understand what Ada both is, and intentionally isn't, saying.

I thought the narrators did a wonderful job bringing the story and Ada to life.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.