vel629vet's reviews
1031 reviews

Superior Spider-Man: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 by Dan Slott

Go to review page

adventurous

4.0

Honestly I was way more impressed than I thought I would be. The most original Spider-Man story in ages. 
Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

2.75

I was so disappointed in this sequel. It very nearly lost all of its quirky charm from book 1 and got dragged down with too much plot/drama/world building/mystery/you name it. The will they/won’t they between Evie and the Villain was old by the end of book 1, so for the angst to continue for another whole novel made me lose interest. I still love the characters themselves, and I love the silliness of the interactions between them. But this book fell into the worst kind of middle book syndrome. I’ll read the next one in the series and hope for some redemption. 
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No

4.75

Love that the story got off the ground so much faster than book 1. The writing of these books is incredible and I still can’t believe it’s the same author as Shadow & Bone. Wonderfully spooky, intricately designed, and so original. Definitely thought it was a duology so now I’m desperate for book 3! 
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

I tore through this book in less than a week. Parts were incredibly bleak but it was such a wild, spooky right. I was a little disappointed when the first ‘reveal’ happened toward the end, because it left me thinking it was a pretty simple solution to what seemed like a huge mystery. Then BAM BAM BAM twist after reveal after twist… Bardugo’s writing is incredible. Immediately starting book 2. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

I have never read a romance trilogy that was tied up and connected so perfectly at the end of book 3. I loved how the characters were brought together. 
Emma is the most emotionally damaged character of the three books but this is honestly the most well done story. Emma and Justin were torn apart by life and it was so accurate to what happens in life that is out of your control. Really beautifully written characters and situations. 
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.5

4.5 stars - I was completely absorbed. Only critique was that I wish the reveal was live, rather than a confession note/letter. Definitely want to read more Agatha Christie! 
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful sad tense medium-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? No

4.75

A quasi-World War novel where the people are fighting for Gods instead of nations and magic is part of life in small but beautiful ways. 

Basically a 5 star read but I knocked just a tad because I had a hard time staying continuously interested in the story. The last quarter of the book was incredible - I wondered many times how Ross was going to tie up all of the loose ends but she did it masterfully. This was really wonderful and unique fantasy and I think she is an expert storyteller. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Funny Story by Emily Henry

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

4.0

This was a pretty solid 3 star book for me right up until the end. I didn’t feel that Daphne nor Miles were as developed as characters in her other books and I was generally really uninterested and apathetic about their story unfortunately. I felt like jumping so many days throughout the story (from Sunday to Sunday) meant that we weren’t actually getting to SEE Daphne becoming a new person. We just got told she changed. Same for Miles. 
The ending was very solid for me - really comparable to real life when things just blow up. 
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.25

I love Jimenez's writing. Banter is absolutely top tier in this book, and Briana is one of my favorite romance book heroines ever. She is hilarious. That being said, I liked Part of Your World a bit better because the miscommunication trope was a bit too much for me here. And for a literal doctor to not be in therapy for a traumatic life event was a stretch. Otherwise a really cute story that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Amazing Spider-Man: Big Time: The Complete Collection, Vol. 4 by Dan Slott

Go to review page

3.0

Alpha was a pretty weak story. This isn’t my favorite work by Dan Slott, and I continue to dislike this art style. Kingpin and Hobgoblin(s) are also pretty forgettable.