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val_theburrowofstories's reviews
354 reviews
All the Young Dudes - Volume Two: Years 5 - 7 by MsKingBean89
Did not finish book. Stopped at 47%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 47%.
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
(Tried to read this in January 2024)
I started this book already suspecting I would DNF this book and I was okay with it. I mean… yeah I listened to 16% but that’s because I just needed something to hear while I was doing laundry, after one day I just wanted something else, on the second day I said I would not let more than 2 days pass until I picked this up again, on the 4th day I could not even remember I was reading this, and the rest of the days I just knew I could easily DNF this with no guilt. Today is day 8 after I started this and I’m writing this lmao.
This book just checks every single box in my “When to DNF a book” list: don’t care about the story or characters, can’t even remember what that 16% was about and I’m sure it would not have had a plot anyways, and most importantly, I’m not the public intended for this book, this is simply not my kind of book, I’m sure this contemporary and literay book talking about this rich people and the poor family who moves with them is interesting for some people, but I’m not one of them, couldn’t care less about whatever you want to tell me or teach me here, just give me my dragons and magic and fantasy.
I started this book already suspecting I would DNF this book and I was okay with it. I mean… yeah I listened to 16% but that’s because I just needed something to hear while I was doing laundry, after one day I just wanted something else, on the second day I said I would not let more than 2 days pass until I picked this up again, on the 4th day I could not even remember I was reading this, and the rest of the days I just knew I could easily DNF this with no guilt. Today is day 8 after I started this and I’m writing this lmao.
This book just checks every single box in my “When to DNF a book” list: don’t care about the story or characters, can’t even remember what that 16% was about and I’m sure it would not have had a plot anyways, and most importantly, I’m not the public intended for this book, this is simply not my kind of book, I’m sure this contemporary and literay book talking about this rich people and the poor family who moves with them is interesting for some people, but I’m not one of them, couldn’t care less about whatever you want to tell me or teach me here, just give me my dragons and magic and fantasy.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
adventurous
mysterious
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
This series has been in my TBR since 2018, so I figured I should start 2024 by finally reading it and I'm so glad to say I enjoyed it a lot and finished the audiobook in one day (great narrator)!
I really liked the characters and can't wait to see more of them, I love how Blue is so independent but also relies on her family to help her and they are always there for her; I want to know more about Gansey to have him as favorite, I see the potential, but we'll see; I already love Adam and just want to protect him but also smack him for his pride lol; Ronan is starting to grow on me but is going to take time with his personality ; and for whatever little we get to see of Noah I'm liking him too I like Noah (never getting over this personal things because it's just so funny, can't believe I avoided spoilers for SIX years only to go into twitter that day, read their names and then see how Noah is a ghost lmao I mean I wasn't sure if he wasn't joking at the beginning when he said that he had been dead for 7 years, but the biggest surprise was that he was the boy murdered by the boys's professor, that would've good to find out on my own, but no big deal)
ALSO, I know I'm not the only one who saw the connection here: The Raven Boys reminded me of The Marauders! (don't expect something exactly like them, just something similar in dynamics, personalities, role in the group, but it was nice to see)
Love all the paranormal stuff about being able to see ghosts and the souls of people who will die, this "prophecy" on Blue, Ronan'spower with dreams that made him being able to take out an animal to the real world!? and I'm excited to see more of that in the 2nd book.
I agree with other reviews though that this has an open ending, you won't get answers here, in fact you will have more questions on how things work and what the characters are going to do about it, but you will really want to know them and continue with this story and the characters. So if you're okay with that read this book.
So happy my first book of the year was so good.
I really liked the characters and can't wait to see more of them, I love how Blue is so independent but also relies on her family to help her and they are always there for her; I want to know more about Gansey to have him as favorite, I see the potential, but we'll see; I already love Adam and just want to protect him but also smack him for his pride lol; Ronan is starting to grow on me but is going to take time with his personality ; and for whatever little we get to see of Noah I'm liking him too I like Noah (never getting over this personal things because it's just so funny, can't believe I avoided spoilers for SIX years only to go into twitter that day, read their names and then see how Noah
ALSO, I know I'm not the only one who saw the connection here: The Raven Boys reminded me of The Marauders! (don't expect something exactly like them, just something similar in dynamics, personalities, role in the group, but it was nice to see)
Love all the paranormal stuff about being able to see ghosts and the souls of people who will die, this "prophecy" on Blue, Ronan's
I agree with other reviews though that this has an open ending, you won't get answers here, in fact you will have more questions on how things work and what the characters are going to do about it, but you will really want to know them and continue with this story and the characters. So if you're okay with that read this book.
So happy my first book of the year was so good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Self harm, Murder, and Alcohol
If you want to know more about the Trigger Warnings I'm leaving the specifics here, but some are spoilers and be aware some might affect you. For a longer list of the Triggers look into the feature of Storygraph, but I think this are the most notable: SELF HARM (doesn't happen to any of the main characters, it just shocked me how this random character just dropped a comment about "slitting her wrists" as if it was a joke. ) ;; MURDER / DEATH (There's 2 cases of this, both involving 17 yo kids being both the murder and the victim. They happen around these pages Won't say names so it's not an spoiler, but you find out about one at 30% and the other one happens near the end. ) ;; GUN VIOLENCE (no names mentioned: a guy in his 20's having a 17yo kid at gun point , and the Murder involves a gun.) ;; KIDNAPPING (let's just say the bad guy gets kidnapped so who cares lol) ;; DOMESTIC ABUSE BOTH PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL INVOLVING A CHILD (We see just one big scene of this but that's enough, one of the boys suffers from this at home and you will hate his father. If you want to know the name, it happens to Adam , one of Gansey's best friend ) ;; ALCOHOLISM (No one is surprised to hear that the abusive father is the one who drinks.)
Camp Half-Blood Confidential by Rick Riordan
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Camp Jupiter Classified: A Probatio's Journal by Rick Riordan
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? No
3.0
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
(Tried to read this in December 2023)
- I’m going to be realistic, this is so slow, I don’t care about the characters, I don’t care about learning this mythology, I’m bored and I’m just done with this.
- Could I try and forced myself to finish this? Yes. Do I want to do that now? No.
How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
(Tried to read this in December 2023)
- I don't want to waste my time in a book that I'm really not that interested in when there's so few days left in the year.
- I just listened to 23% of the audiobook before the Due Date on Libby and then I had to wait weeks to get it again, and I'm not doing the waiting for this.
- I don't really care about the writing or characters or story.
- Maybe this is just not my kind of book.
- And this is way personal maybe but the narrator should NOT be Jim Dale lmao that’s Harry Potter even if I haven’t listened to the audiobooks yet.