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theblacklodgebookshelf's reviews
540 reviews
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley & Pan Macmillan for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The winning element to any heist book (for me) comes down to characters, and my desire to see them achieve their goal. Whether they are ultimately successful or not is inconsequential. The cast of characters in A Tempest of Tea are so much fun to read about. I absolutely loved their individual personalities as well as their inner dynamics with one another.
The winning element to any heist book (for me) comes down to characters, and my desire to see them achieve their goal. Whether they are ultimately successful or not is inconsequential. The cast of characters in A Tempest of Tea are so much fun to read about. I absolutely loved their individual personalities as well as their inner dynamics with one another.
I loved The Sands of Ariwaya duology by this author too so I loved all the small references thrown in here and there (you do not need to have read these books first, but the events and outcome at the end of the duology is mentioned in passing so this will be spoiled for you if you plan on reading them).
One of the things this author does well is romantic tension, so be prepared for a lot of flirty banter from multiple characters, secret pining and plenty of lustful gazing between potential couples.
I thought the heist itself was really entertaining and easy to follow along, with a few twists along the way because these things are never simple. Fair warning - it does end on a cliffhanger, but not too brutal of one.
Overall, a lot of fun and I cannot wait for the sequel!
The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli
I didn’t understand why Harrow kept pushing Gideon into sleeping with Rune? She was incredibly persistent and got annoyed with him when he hadn’t done it yet. I understand that he needed to check Rune’s body for casting scars, but Harrow putting unnecessary pressure on him was very odd. Maybe this will be explained further in the sequel, or maybe this was just put in to cast doubt on her character? I don’t know, it just made me feel very uncomfortable?
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 Stars
An entertaining cat and mouse fantasy story about a vigilante witch-in-hiding, and the city’s most renowned witch hunter tasked with bringing her in.
This was really fun and engaging. A lot of tension between the two main characters which results in a few steamy scenes. The only part of the story I didn’t quite like is in the spoiler box below-
I thought the ending was great and will definitely be picking up the sequel.
Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
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
5.0
5 Stars
2024 is my year of finally reading the books I’ve been too intimidated to read. Babel was probably at the top of this list and I am so happy that I read it.
I mostly listened to the audiobook with a little bit of physical reading when I could. Chris Lew Kum Hoi was the perfect narrator; every character had a distinct voice, the range of accents he was able to portray was incredibly impressive. His performance was very moving at times.
It feels very weird to say that I enjoyed the book, because the content and the plot centres around very distressing themes. But it was so hard to stop listening. I was so invested in these characters and their well-being.
On the surface it is a dark academia book and I loved the exploration of etymology and how language itself was used as the magic system, alongside silverwork. But Babel is so much more than this. It’s devastating, hopeful, enraging and intelligent. Prepare to be uncomfortable and do read content warnings before starting.
Between Devils and Dragons by IVLG
Did not finish book. Stopped at 77%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 77%.
2.75 Stars
DNF @77%
Every so often my brain tricks me into thinking I should read a dark, spicy, paranormal/urban fantasy, and every time I am left disappointed.
This really wasn’t for me. I have no issues with dark themes or content, but there were glaring issues with this book that made it difficult for me to overlook.
The dialogue is so cringe it completely took me out of my reading headspace. Everyone seems to be constantly horny the instant they make eye contact with someone. There were random chapters thrown in from POV’s we didn’t need or that didn’t feel relevant. There are a lot of filler chapters that could have been shaved off with no impact to the story. Because of this, the plot doesn’t really kick in until 60% of the way and by that time I had mentally checked out.
Jade Shards by Fonda Lee
emotional
informative
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
4 Stars
As an avid fan of The Green Bone Saga I was so excited to read more from these characters and get a glimpse into their histories.
We follow 4 short stories about Ayt Mada (told from the perspective of Yuri, Anden’s Mother), Lan, Hilo & Wen and finally, Shae. As well as some narration in between by the author, to shed light on the reasons why these scenes are important to the series overall.
I would absolutely recommend you read at least Jade City (Book 1) in the main series before reading this collection.
An enjoyable short visit back into lives of the Kaul family.
Labyrinth's Heart by M.A. Carrick
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
4.5 Stars
It’s hard to go into this and not provide spoilers – but what I will say, is that this is an incredibly satisfying conclusion to what has been a fantastic series.
The world building is phenomenal. The rich & immersive varying cultures and traditions, as well as the two complementing magic systems is so well done. The character development, particularly in this book was everything I wanted.
If you are a high fantasy reader and you are still somehow on the fence about reading this series, DO IT.
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
3.5
3.5 Stars
This was my third Rogerson book and my least favourite so far. I appreciated the more sinister and mercurial depiction of the Fae than what is more common these days, but the plot of this book was hard to find. Everything felt very low stakes and quite fast paced which meant there was no build-up of tension. The romance didn’t really feel genuine to me either?
If you’re in the mood for a cosy fantasy with *all vibes* and not much plot then you’ll enjoy this.
The Liar's Knot by M.A. Carrick
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
4.5 stars
This series is so slept on. This was an incredible sequel. The groundwork that was laid in book 1 really pays off in this instalment. We dig further into the characters of Ren, Grey & Vargo and learn so much about their histories as well as how their fates may be intertwined. Vargo is by far the most interesting for me, and I am so happy we learnt about his connection to Mr Peabody.
The plot itself was hugely interesting but a little confusing at times (again I listened on audio but I do think I will be buying the physical books as there are A LOT of terms/places that sound very similar). This is definitely a series that demands your time and full attention otherwise you will lose your place quite easily.
Already diving into the last book as I need to know how this ends!