sebrittainclark's reviews
1824 reviews

The Demon's Queen by Katee Robert

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

4.0

The Best American Food and Travel Writing 2024 by Jaya Saxena, Padma Lakshmi

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adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

4.0

I thought this was an excellent collection of essays that engaged with a number of topics, both difficult and lighthearted, through the lens of food and travel. A standout for me was Forbidden Fruit about some of the contention surrounding the farming of avocados in Mexico.

Thanks to Netgalley and Mariner Books for an early copy.
Hedgehogs Don't Wear Underwear by Marissa Valdez

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funny 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

This was a very cute and silly story about being true to yourself.

I thought the narrator did a wonderful job with the hedgehogs' french accents.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan Young Listeners for an early copy.
Januaries: Stories of Love, Magic & Betrayal by Olivie Blake

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adventurous medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

I thought this was a really interesting and fun set of fantasy short stories. My favorites were Sucker for Pain where the servant of a witch becomes a vampire and gains her own power, The Animation Games where two betrothed take advantage of their resurrected afterlife to hunt one another now, and Chaos Theory, the longest story in the collection, where the actions of two individuals in one universe have ripple effects across their lives in four other alternative universes. I become a bigger and bigger fan of Olivie Blake with everything I read.

I appreciated that each short story had a different narrator, which made it easier to remember which story I was listening to as I paused and unpaused the audiobook.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy.
A Sick History of Medicine: A Warts-And-All Book Full of Fun Facts and Disgusting Discoveries by Jelena Poleksic, Neon Squid

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informative fast-paced

4.0

This is a collection of interesting and somewhat gross facts about how medicine was practiced in the past, and occasionally even now. I liked the audio effects, and I think it will certainly entertain any kids who listen.

Thanks to Neon Squid and Netgalley for an early copy.
How to Summon a Fairy Godmother by Laura J. Mayo

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adventurous 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

4.5

Theodosia might be the wicked stepsister to Princess Beatrice, but when her mother tries to marry her off to an ancient duke, she knows she has to save herself. She finds Beatrice's notes for summoning a fairy, and make her own deal to escape her upcoming marriage. Of course nothing is easy when you're wicked, so Theo is tasked with completing three selfless tasks to prove that's she's worth of fairy magic.

I really loved the narrator and the way she brought Theo's attempts to be a good person to life.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the twists and turns were so good, and I cannot wait to see where the next book takes Theo.

Thanks to netgalley and orbit for an early copy.
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The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

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informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

I thought this was a really lovely essay about what we can learn from the serviceberry and ecology more broadly about gratitude, reciprocity, community, and gift economies. I found it's message very inspiring.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
Together, a Forest: Drawing Connections Between Nature's Diversity and Our Own by Roz MacLean

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

3.5

This was a lovely audiobook that illustrates that idea that diversity in nature, as well as in ways of thinking, creates a beautiful and functional ecosystem. I think it's a great book for helping kids see the beauty if different ways of experiencing the world around them.

I liked the audio extras, which made the book feel more substantial as an audiobook.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A Natural History of Empty Lots: Field Notes from Urban Edgelands, Back Alleys, and Other Wild Places by Christopher Brown

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hopeful informative slow-paced

3.0

Christopher Brown was inspired by the nature and wildlife he began to notice within his city when he purchased an empty lot in an industrial area in Austin to build his home. He began to document the ways that nature reclaims the places humans abandon.

I thought this book was beautifully written and the topic was very interesting. It was also very dense and I had difficulty focusing on the overall message.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.