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thewritenatalia's reviews
14 reviews
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.0
This is definitely the better book in the series.
Stephanie switched up the writing style a lot but making it into POV chapters which I think made the story a lot better. Now, rather than just getting Evangeline's side of the story, we get Jacks' and even Apollo's. I do wish we got more of Jacks though, since the past 2 books have been focused a lot on Evangeline.
Speaking of her, the way she acts now is definitely much better than the last 2 books. She puts more thought behind her actions, which sometimes still gets her into trouble, but at least I can see that she's actually thinking.
There were still some questions that weren't answered by the end of this series, but it's not hugely important or critical so that's not too bad.
Stephanie switched up the writing style a lot but making it into POV chapters which I think made the story a lot better. Now, rather than just getting Evangeline's side of the story, we get Jacks' and even Apollo's. I do wish we got more of Jacks though, since the past 2 books have been focused a lot on Evangeline.
Speaking of her, the way she acts now is definitely much better than the last 2 books. She puts more thought behind her actions, which sometimes still gets her into trouble, but at least I can see that she's actually thinking.
There were still some questions that weren't answered by the end of this series, but it's not hugely important or critical so that's not too bad.
Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
tense
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? Yes
2.0
This is the meaning of a FMC that I don't like.
Evangeline Fox isn't strong, and I don't think she needs to be. In this kind of setting that she's in, the fairy tale, whimsical kind, I didn't mind her being the "damsel-in-distress". But PLEASE. COULDN'T THE AUTHOR CREATE HER WITH A LITTLE COMMON SENSE?.
There were just some parts where I could have scolded her for being so foolish and rash. Like girl, use your brain, you were born with it.
The plot isn't bad...I just feel that there are some situations that get repeated over and over. Evangeline gets into trouble, Jack's saves her...Round and round it goes. Ofc, this is also the whole concept of "the damsel-in-distress" but also a result of Evangelines poor choices.
I do love the setting though. It's very fairy tale like and it sounds like a place that I would have loved to visit. World building is very well done, I'll just say.
Evangeline Fox isn't strong, and I don't think she needs to be. In this kind of setting that she's in, the fairy tale, whimsical kind, I didn't mind her being the "damsel-in-distress". But PLEASE. COULDN'T THE AUTHOR CREATE HER WITH A LITTLE COMMON SENSE?.
There were just some parts where I could have scolded her for being so foolish and rash. Like girl, use your brain, you were born with it.
The plot isn't bad...I just feel that there are some situations that get repeated over and over. Evangeline gets into trouble, Jack's saves her...Round and round it goes. Ofc, this is also the whole concept of "the damsel-in-distress" but also a result of Evangelines poor choices.
I do love the setting though. It's very fairy tale like and it sounds like a place that I would have loved to visit. World building is very well done, I'll just say.
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
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? Yes
2.5
This one is slightly better than the first book in this series.
Evangeline still is foolish in a lot of ways, but she seems to have learned from her massive mistakes in the past book and is acting a little more cautious now.
I didn't really like the writing in this book though. For me, it just fell flat and that's a big no no. Some of the words felt weird when put together.
However, I would be lying if I said that I'm not enjoying the progression in Evangeline's and Jacks' relationship. Stephanie has been consistent in making them hate each other as much as possible but also be really caring when needed. It's balanced. I did like the way this book ended (even if it was a massive cliffhanger) but it just shows how much Jacks' really cared for Evangeline, no matter how hard he tries to hide it.
Evangeline still is foolish in a lot of ways, but she seems to have learned from her massive mistakes in the past book and is acting a little more cautious now.
I didn't really like the writing in this book though. For me, it just fell flat and that's a big no no. Some of the words felt weird when put together.
However, I would be lying if I said that I'm not enjoying the progression in Evangeline's and Jacks' relationship. Stephanie has been consistent in making them hate each other as much as possible but also be really caring when needed. It's balanced. I did like the way this book ended (even if it was a massive cliffhanger) but it just shows how much Jacks' really cared for Evangeline, no matter how hard he tries to hide it.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book made me feel so many things lol. Really long paragraph coming up.😆
First of all, the fae world that Holly has created is so intriguing and pulls me in. I can tell that she really put everything she had into making this the a strong fictional world and one thing I like is how she brings us to explore it without info dumping. Just by following the main character we get a clear sense of the rules of the fae world.
For the characters, I didn't really like how Holly portrayed Jude as a "strong female lead". It's just quite clichè with the:
1. Ability to fight
2. Tendency to making reckless actions
She's still a good character and very well formed, AND I still love her, but if she had a different kind of strength rather than just mainly physical, that would be nice.
(However maybe it just couldn't be helped since this is a fae world full of dangers afterall haha)
I hate and love Cardan. He made me sooo angry for the first half of the book, like I really wanted to kick him all the way to Mars. However, Holly did do a good job of helping us understand his backstory and personality. I also liked the fact that once we know more about him, his attitude towards Jude stays pretty much the same except that he doesn't bully her as much. It's realistic cause people don't just change overnight.
Overall, a solid read for people getting into fantasy.
First of all, the fae world that Holly has created is so intriguing and pulls me in. I can tell that she really put everything she had into making this the a strong fictional world and one thing I like is how she brings us to explore it without info dumping. Just by following the main character we get a clear sense of the rules of the fae world.
For the characters, I didn't really like how Holly portrayed Jude as a "strong female lead". It's just quite clichè with the:
1. Ability to fight
2. Tendency to making reckless actions
She's still a good character and very well formed, AND I still love her, but if she had a different kind of strength rather than just mainly physical, that would be nice.
(However maybe it just couldn't be helped since this is a fae world full of dangers afterall haha)
I hate and love Cardan. He made me sooo angry for the first half of the book, like I really wanted to kick him all the way to Mars. However, Holly did do a good job of helping us understand his backstory and personality. I also liked the fact that once we know more about him, his attitude towards Jude stays pretty much the same except that he doesn't bully her as much. It's realistic cause people don't just change overnight.
Overall, a solid read for people getting into fantasy.
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5 STAR. 5 STAR.
My whole brain was in a turmoil by the time I finished. I was hoping for ** but I knew by the time I reached the last 2 chapters, a ** was not going to happen.
The writing was just like poetry, even the way the characters talk to each other, it's almost like they're all reciting a poem that never ends. However, it wasn't draggy, and every word had its purpose in the story.
The characters are multi layered and for me at least, I felt so deeply for every single one whether it was sadness, despair or anger, the feelings were all there. Liang really does a good job of twisting our perspectives in how we view the characters.
I loved the concept of beauty as a weapon, which is something that is rarely talked about, where women can only be the "hero" if they are strong. The FMC, Xishi is very strong ... just not in the way the world now would see it.
I can't say more or I'm going to get traumatised all over again, so just read it then you'll understand.
My whole brain was in a turmoil by the time I finished. I was hoping for ** but I knew by the time I reached the last 2 chapters, a ** was not going to happen.
The writing was just like poetry, even the way the characters talk to each other, it's almost like they're all reciting a poem that never ends. However, it wasn't draggy, and every word had its purpose in the story.
The characters are multi layered and for me at least, I felt so deeply for every single one whether it was sadness, despair or anger, the feelings were all there. Liang really does a good job of twisting our perspectives in how we view the characters.
I loved the concept of beauty as a weapon, which is something that is rarely talked about, where women can only be the "hero" if they are strong. The FMC, Xishi is very strong ... just not in the way the world now would see it.
I can't say more or I'm going to get traumatised all over again, so just read it then you'll understand.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.0
I loved the beautiful world that the author crafted for us. It is obvious that she put a lot of thought into the world building as mostly everything is covered and I didn't really have many questions unanswered about the "Spirit Realm".
The characters are good too. I dislike female leads that have no flaws whatsoever and for me at least, the author did a good job of portraying her weaknesses, as well as her strengths. Even though there was an age gap between the ML and FL I didn't really mind it much but I did find the part where they suddenly feel attracted towards each other rushed. Just a few hours ago, she didn't like him, then suddenly she does. I get that it's an enemies to lovers Trope maybe but still. A few hours seemed a little too fast for me
The theme of the cruelty of gods really drew me in although one thing that I found a little off putting were the certain plot holes in the story. There were just some parts where there could have been more explanations as why something happened.
The characters are good too. I dislike female leads that have no flaws whatsoever and for me at least, the author did a good job of portraying her weaknesses, as well as her strengths. Even though there was an age gap between the ML and FL I didn't really mind it much but I did find the part where they suddenly feel attracted towards each other rushed. Just a few hours ago, she didn't like him, then suddenly she does. I get that it's an enemies to lovers Trope maybe but still. A few hours seemed a little too fast for me
The theme of the cruelty of gods really drew me in although one thing that I found a little off putting were the certain plot holes in the story. There were just some parts where there could have been more explanations as why something happened.
The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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? No
4.5
The classics are always golden reads.
Dickens has carefully woven a beautiful story about a boy and the trials that he goes through just to get happiness.
The writing IS very lengthy and there were times where I had to reread some sentences to fully understand but I didn't really mind since the prose was gorgeous.
The characters are well planned. You can feel connected with the main characters and whenever something bad happens, the feelings of anger, despair and injustice are all there.
In Dickens times, this story was really a big awakening to the rich about the state of the poor. If anything, this is what stories should be like. A meaningful story that creates impact.
Dickens has carefully woven a beautiful story about a boy and the trials that he goes through just to get happiness.
The writing IS very lengthy and there were times where I had to reread some sentences to fully understand but I didn't really mind since the prose was gorgeous.
The characters are well planned. You can feel connected with the main characters and whenever something bad happens, the feelings of anger, despair and injustice are all there.
In Dickens times, this story was really a big awakening to the rich about the state of the poor. If anything, this is what stories should be like. A meaningful story that creates impact.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-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? No
5.0
The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
5.0
I have such a weakness for "mentally challenged people" books. There's just something about the way it's written that draws me in. It's quite tricky to portray a MC who has OCD accurately but I think Hanna hit the mark perfectly.
The writing is so good, enough to make me feel anxious for the characters especially since I'm reading the MC's thoughts. It really gave me a glimpse into what a civil war is like...there are no winners. Just stupid people, lost lives and many regrets.
The writing is so good, enough to make me feel anxious for the characters especially since I'm reading the MC's thoughts. It really gave me a glimpse into what a civil war is like...there are no winners. Just stupid people, lost lives and many regrets.