xandra_lyn's reviews
543 reviews

Mummies and Pyramids by Mary Pope Osborne, Will Osborne, Salvatore Murdocca

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informative fast-paced

4.0

Really great overview. I wish there'd been more about the pharaohs, as there were so many interesting ones.
Best Nerds Forever by Chris Grabenstein, James Patterson

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emotional funny mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

The part of me that was destroyed by this book wants to give it a 2. The part of me that loved this book wants to give it a 5.

But a 4 is probably more accurate than a 3 so I landed there.

I laughed, I sobbed, I stared in shock at the last page. It was definitely a heavy subject, especially reading it as a parent. 

I *think* I loved it. But omgggggg the last few chapters had me sobbing, and then the last chapter was just....I don't even know.
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Pumpkin Carving For Superstitious Witches: An Obscure Academy Story by Laura Greenwood

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

4.0

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

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adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I really liked the slice of life aspect to the book. The big reveal of why his family was murdered seemed a tad anticlimactic, and the ending itself was bittersweet. But I loved meeting all the interesting creatures and people and ghostie type things. I read it for Halloween, and it was a really good choice 
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Drinking Blood For Squeamish Vampires by Laura Greenwood

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

3.0

I found this story line very slow. Also, her world building was confusing; I haven't read previous series where she talks about vampires,  and I was really confused on certain points (like they said they couldn't have kids, but then throughout the book they talked about "born" vs "turned" vampires. Like....how are they both unless turned vampires can have them???)

Also, both of them were "turned," and it was clear both of them were assaulted. Which gave the book a far darker vibe than other ones of this series 
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Skeleanor the Decomposer: A Graphic Novel by Emily Ettlinger

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funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

Such a cute story!! Really short, and fun to read around Halloween time!
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Unfortunate Decrees and Iced Coffees by Laura Greenwood

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lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This was such a cool premise - a necromancer archeologist?? Yes please!

But literally nothing happened. And there were so many nods to a previous series that I felt as if I should know some of the characters, which was confusing.
Magic and Mayhem by Cathryn Fox, Sylvia Day

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This was just straight sex, which was slightly disappointing because there were some glimmers of interesting world building 😂. It was a fun, quick, Halloween read though. 

My one big issue is who the fuck tells their cat their sexual fantasies?!? 😂
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The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Omgggg!! This was SUCH an amazing book! The characters were vibrant and quirky and sweet and fun. I laughed a lot. I was dreading the third act break up because I hate those, but it wasn't that bad. It was the perfect fall vibe, taking place in October. 
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Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #4 by Andy Diggle

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

3.5

It's getting a tad convoluted, but it is still interesting 
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