takarakei's reviews
521 reviews

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

Go to review page

adventurous fast-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

3.5

YA KNOW WHAT? I had a good time and I also was intrigued with some plot/world building!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
My December Darling by Lauren Asher

Go to review page

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

3.75

I've not read the other books in this series, but this is apparently just set in the same town but not as much overlap character wise? So you get the background of all the characters in this book explained. I found the romance in this pretty refreshing in terms of conversations around vulnerability. It's a fairly slow-burn which I love. I would've loved one more spice scene at the end tho *hehe*
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle

Go to review page

funny lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

This was such a fun (funny!) and surprising read! The MC starts out very unlikeable, but she grows throughout the story and I think her journey is well done. It's almost like a fantasy/paranormal-adjacent romance with Hol being a spirit? But I found it to be a very refreshing holiday romance! 

Spice: (Closed-door)
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
How the Dukes Stole Christmas by Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, Tessa Dare, Joanna Shupe

Go to review page

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

4.0

This was such a cute holiday short story collection! Was nice to get a taste of some of these author's writing. Def rec for an easy holiday historical romance read!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

Go to review page

funny 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? It's complicated

4.5

OBSESSED!!!!!!! I was kicking my feeeeeet! THE perfect holiday romance for the fantasy romance folks! Cause we have political intrigue + queer romance *star eyes*
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
soft dnf might come back, but also I feel like I don't know enough astrology to get this?
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

Go to review page

dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

Oh gee, well I forgot to write a review of this when I finished, so here we are at month's end... 

I remember not loving this, but liking it pretty well enough? and feeling like maybe I wanted it to be a tad longer? I think if the book was longer we could've gotten a bit more in depth with the themes. I did learn a bit about Jewish history which was cool. And there's a classic Leigh Bardugo sad boy™ character so there's that!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this short story collection. I've mainly read Naomi's Scholomance series, which is why I picked this up because I will take every crumb of that world I can get (only one of these is connected, and I don't think it would make any sense really if you haven't read the series first). A few other stories seem to have been the seeds of her other books, or related to them - but I don't think any would really be spoilers or not make sense if you haven't read her other books. I did feel the stories in the first half were stronger. I do think also you can tell Naomi got her start in fanfiction because there's a few retellings (but I think they're generally done well): Ariadne, Sherlock, Pride & Prejudice. The story set in the Temeraire world, but during the Roman empire was really funny.

If you're familiar with Naomi's work you'll probably get even more out of this!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Wake-Up Call by Beth O'Leary

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.
idk man maybe I'm just slumping but I wasn't interested enough, and I thought it would be more holiday-y than it was
Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet by Thích Nhất Hạnh

Go to review page

reflective medium-paced

3.5

As someone who hasn't done a ton of reading on Buddhism, but has some general knowledge I felt like this book was a fairly good introduction to some concepts. They're applied to a perspective of using techniques like breath in certain situations as an activist that can be distressing (as an example). A lot of his personal anecdotes from Vietnam give context for the life Thay lived practicing these concepts in reality. 

I'm not sure quite what I was expecting but I was thought I would be a bit more inspired/motivated/etc or maybe to just have a little more depth? There's definitely some quotes here or there that I could come back to. I think it could've leaned a lot more into the 'saving the planet' part I suppose.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings