Alana

Everyone kept telling me to read this monster of a book because it was popular and well-written and all that. Of course, I tend to lean toward the arcane more than the mainstream, but then I thought, well - as a reviewer (who is really trying to expanding her horizons - NY Resoultion!!) I should give it a go. And I'm really glad I did. It was wonderfully written with such a unique and interesting idea - about a woman who makes a deal and can live forever...but never be remembered by anyone. This book isn't as simple as “romance between girl and devil” (which I thought it might be going into it). Addie is a fantastically written character and Schwab truly dives into her loneliness. The devil isn't the classic “I'm a scary bad guy” no...this guy is actually DANGEROUS. It's not stereotyped or trivialized. He's not even really referred to as a “devil” in the classic sense.

I had SO many reactions throughout this book as well, which I count as a success.

Me when Henry remembers her:

Me when I all the sudden am hit with the question “WAIT, WHY does he remember her?”

Me THE ENTIRE BOOK regardless of what was happening:

This is a slow-paced book, which I could see turning off some readers. But I think, if you like fantasy and romance and a well-thought out book, it will be worth the muddling through the slow parts.

I wasn't as into this as I was #1, but that doesn't mean I wasn't into it. There's a lot about social injustices and happenings in Sweden, so I certainly learned a lot. Like #1, this one is fast paced, complicated, and layered. Also, I learned that Sweden is one of the countries that imports the most prostitutes per capita from Russia/Baltics. Wtf??! Guess my utopianistic view of those Nordic countries had a wake up call.

This is a book that doesn't shy away from controversial and hard-to-talk-about issues, which I really appreciate. The characters were complex and multi-layered, and Krischer overall did a great job keeping the reader engaged. I also appreciated her use of TWs just in case someone may need it.

This book is HORRIFYING (ha ha, get it?). But seriously...it very much creeped me out. That said, I enjoyed it all the way through. It delves into some pretty creepy themes, some pretty emotional themes, and some pretty raw themes, yet Leno does it in a way that feels realistic and believable. There were a lot of aspects of this book that reminded me of King - exploring mental illness and trauma in a fictional setting, leaving the themes to be interpreted by the reader. And I really appreciate that. As a reader, I like to feel like the author understands I'm intelligent enough to grasp the complexity of the themes they reveal to use (if done well). And this one...this one is done well.

As I am not easily disturbed, the dark parts of this book did not upset me (unsettle, perhaps, but not upset - though look at the tws on other posts, for if you are, there are some heavy things going on). My issue with the book was was writing itself...there was no clear voice, which made the book verge on less weird and more incomplete. Yes, I finished it, and yes, there were parts that shocked me (I am not an easy person to shock and I love the dark and morbid - again CHECK. TWs. because these went beyond just dark and morbid), but the inconsistent tone, voice, and writing made it just okay rather than good or great.

This was a perfect, perfect June read. Jaigirdar includes lighthearted romance to make you smile while also exploring topics like biphobia, social issues, and more, drawing a really beautiful juxtaposition between fluff and romance and cute “fake” dating with more serious topics, and she does so in a really beautiful and well-written way. This book made me smile more times than once, and my that cover is so cute.

I'm reading this just about a year after it's published (finding recent reads is my hobby, I think). It's a good book - Vivian was a good MC who I liked throughout the book. And yet...something just isn't right. Maybe it's because I'm left with questions after reading the book, or maybe it was because while feeling like I wasn't getting my questions answered, I also wasn't as engrossed as I'd hoped I'd be. Still a fun read, glad I read it, just probably won't read again.

There's a haunting and deep sense of place in the victorian London that Kidd dives into, and that is one of the main reasons I love this book so much. There's suspense and tension and a gotchic-Victorian feel (my personal favorite). Wonderful read.

Now THIS is a mystery book. THIS is how you write intersecting timelines and characters in a way that doesn't confuse or bore the reader, but pulls them further into the story. THIS is how you write a character who is morally grey...I mean truly morally grey, not just slightly grey but overall good (like I see so often). THIS. THIS. THIS. I'm sure you can sense that I tore through this novel. Sharpe does an excellent job from beginning to end weaving the six different girls, yet focusing on Nora who is truly one of the best characters I've read to date (maybe because we have similar personalities...yes I am biased, I'm a reader, I'm supposed to be. Maybe.) Gahh, this book made me so happy to have read. What a strong start to 2021!

Secrets, mysteries, magic, and a fierce protagonist? Sign. Me. UP! These types of books are my favorites. Below the obvious mystery and the magic of this book, Davis comments on themes like friendship and love and family and forgiving those you love. There's so much in this book and so much to interpret how you want, and it's a remarkable author who can utilize one storyline to comment on other themes at the same time. Many authors do this, yes, but not all succeed. Davis succeeded. The cover, as well, is just as beautiful as the writing. The whole thing exceeded my expectations, and then some. If you like magical realism and relevant, haunting, and emotional plots, I think this is the read you gotta try out.

Beautiful collection of stories. Even more beautiful now that I realized it's a debut, because it's just that strong. Wonderful, potent, raw stories for lgbtq+ readers and non-lgbtq+ readers alike

This is a bit like City of Ember, but darker. Same idea - Earth has gotten too damaged (in this case, hot) to live on, so people had to move underground. The content, though, is a bit more adult than COE. Mc is great and layered - tormented by past demons and trauma - and you follow her in her attempt at escape from the oppressive compound. Chisholm manages a disturbing look at a dystopian society where floors are arranged in a hierarchy of sorts, and Eve, the MC, is close to the bottom. There's a lot of violence in this book, and I was gripping those pages hard as I continued. Action-packed, character-oriented, exciting.

I'd never heard of this particular legend until reading this book, and my, I'm glad I did! What a curse! I loved the characters and the romance (even though at times I felt it was rushed). The idea of the story - stemming from a real legend - is very cool and informative for those like me who've never heard of this particular legend.

An elite boarding school, murders, gore...this one gripped me for sure.

a POTO inspired book is alllll the rage for me. This is your pretty typical YA, though, complete with the love triangle which did verge on insta-love but was still cute enough to enjoy. Yes, it felt a little underdeveloped sometimes and the romance wasn't super believable, but for a standard YA with the love triangle trope it was cute enough...and big bonus in my book for the phantom inspiration!

I know a few reviews have said this, but if you like urban fantasy, you're going to like this one. And I just so happen to LOVE urban fantasy. This book is well-paced and personally I felt like my attention was kept the whole time. The way magic is used is done well, I can't stand books where magic (despite being unrealistic itself) is USED in unrealistic ways. I mean...you have to at least make an impossible thing SEEM possible. And Wildenstein does! I appreciate it. This is a great urban fantasy read and I truly think lovers of the genre like myself will have a good time with this one.

This is the kind of YA slow-burn romance fantasy you can read in a weekend and enjoy doing so. The writing doesnt ruin itself with purpose prose and the characters (although sometimes a little bland) are likable and feel real in their interactions. Took a chance with the cover, loved the read.

A REALLY fun read, and one that I've been waiting for a long time. As soon as April 13th hit, you can bet I started reading. And it was perfect. Kiva's a really great character with layers to her story and personality, and as wonderful as the romance is, it isn't what the story focuses on, which leaves so much room for Kiva and her healing, and her prowess not only with what she does but with survival and staying alive in the prison. It's a real beauty watching her change, and I'm thrilled that this was all I expected and more from Noni.

Interesting plot idea, I could see this being a series on tv! It follows a secular Jewish family and explores family and relationships in dealing with disease. I can't say I'd necessarily read it again, but it was an insightful and original read with some great themes that I'll certainly remember.

This book pretty much has it all - comedy, adventure, fantasy, romance, a badass female MC, weapons, and a cover that makes you think it was published in 1900, only to look at the release date and realize it was released in...2021?! Exquisitely written, Chatsworth has developed an insanely likable MC and surrounding characters, alongside a plot that will have you immersed in all sorts of genres, woven together exceptionally well. Gahhh, I LOVED this, if my review has not already shown. READ. THIS. BOOK. You won't regret it, friends.

For starters, I think the cover and title are awesome. But the story and the writing...eh. Ok, the writing is decent enough, but the story/plot is basically what you'd expect of a “gossip girl-esque” mainstream book...it's predictable. So predictable and stereotypical that it almost gives me Riverdale vibes. I'm not surprised - I know these type of books sell, especially to teen girls, and maybe it's just me who can't get into it. But at the end of the day, I find it predictable.

I had a lot of fun with this one. The MC is awesome (and the representation is ON POINT, this is refreshing as hell), and the plot is woven and put together so well that I was gripped the entire time. Definitely a strong, strong scifi from an author I hadn't heard about prior but know I will be following.

This is a beautiful, very original book with an awe-inspiring cover. Was it perfect? No, but it was pretty damn good. It is definitely more character-driven than most novels I read, but there was something refreshing about that.

Creepy teeth-related stories always draw me in because I am one for the macabre, but this one just did not do it sadly. Maybe it was the writing style or maybe it was the characters that I just really couldn't get behind. I can see people liking this one - it's weird, yeah, but who doesn't like an odd book from time to time? For me, what really lacked was likable characters and a writing style that flowed. Sadly, this one just did not have that.

This book fills a lot of the fantasy aspects I like to see - there's romance, there's action, and by the second part there's A LOT going on, but for me it made the read fun. I've never read anything by Ringle, to be honest, but this one had me hooked to the point where I'd be likely to read more from her. I'd recommend this to fantasy-lovers like myself. Some points gets a littttle muddled near the end, but it wasn't excessive, and I still very much enjoyed it.