Larissa S.
The first half of this had me kicking my feet and giggling (5 stars!), while the second half...did not (2 stars). So I guess that comes out 3.5 stars?
This is heavy on the romance, but the fantasy side is definitely there, which I appreciate. The world is absurd and I still can't figure out if an autoduck is a car or a boat, but somehow it worked. And the characters and romance are great (for the first half). They both have their own problems and they're interesting characters. But halfway through it feels like the story needs them to fight, so they do.
Overall, all the little questions get answers in a decently satisfying way, so maybe I'll round it up to 4 stars. But I didn't end up loving like I thought I would.
The first half of this had me kicking my feet and giggling (5 stars!), while the second half...did not (2 stars). So I guess that comes out 3.5 stars?
This is heavy on the romance, but the fantasy side is definitely there, which I appreciate. The world is absurd and I still can't figure out if an autoduck is a car or a boat, but somehow it worked. And the characters and romance are great (for the first half). They both have their own problems and they're interesting characters. But halfway through it feels like the story needs them to fight, so they do.
Overall, all the little questions get answers in a decently satisfying way, so maybe I'll round it up to 4 stars. But I didn't end up loving like I thought I would.
There's a type of fantasy romance book where the story is so focused on the love interest that it almost feels like the characters are in a bubble. And I'm realizing I don't like these kinds of stories.
It's kind of hard to describe what I mean. Like, Leo is at school in the beginning, but the only time we really see him in class is when he's interacting with Grimm. It just makes the world feel very small.
On top of that, this is a slow burn in the sense that they don't even realize they like each other in this book. They'll obviously get together in a future book, since the story is SO focused on the two of them annoying each other. But don't go into this expecting the pay-off of them getting together.
There's a type of fantasy romance book where the story is so focused on the love interest that it almost feels like the characters are in a bubble. And I'm realizing I don't like these kinds of stories.
It's kind of hard to describe what I mean. Like, Leo is at school in the beginning, but the only time we really see him in class is when he's interacting with Grimm. It just makes the world feel very small.
On top of that, this is a slow burn in the sense that they don't even realize they like each other in this book. They'll obviously get together in a future book, since the story is SO focused on the two of them annoying each other. But don't go into this expecting the pay-off of them getting together.
This should have been published as middle grade, with the characters listed as 14. You wouldn't have to change a single other thing about it (maybe take out the brief reference to r*pe). The plot is very simple and I saw the twists coming from a mile away. Which isn't to say that it was bad, it just felt like it was for a younger audience.
This should have been published as middle grade, with the characters listed as 14. You wouldn't have to change a single other thing about it (maybe take out the brief reference to r*pe). The plot is very simple and I saw the twists coming from a mile away. Which isn't to say that it was bad, it just felt like it was for a younger audience.
I've seen other reviews describe this as really good fanfiction, and I think that's a pretty accurate description. The magic system & magic school are just here for vibes--this story is entirely about the romance. Arthur and Mika are cute and snarky and clueless, and have endless banter, like all good fanfiction couples.
My big complaint is that Mika has a girlfriend through most of the story, and the sort-of-cheating is pretty much ignored. If that's going to bother you, don't read this book.
I've seen other reviews describe this as really good fanfiction, and I think that's a pretty accurate description. The magic system & magic school are just here for vibes--this story is entirely about the romance. Arthur and Mika are cute and snarky and clueless, and have endless banter, like all good fanfiction couples.
My big complaint is that Mika has a girlfriend through most of the story, and the sort-of-cheating is pretty much ignored. If that's going to bother you, don't read this book.
The first half of this had me kicking my feet and giggling (5 stars!), while the second half...did not (2 stars). So I guess that comes out 3.5 stars?
This is heavy on the romance, but the fantasy side is definitely there, which I appreciate. The world is absurd and I still can't figure out if an autoduck is a car or a boat, but somehow it worked. And the characters and romance are great (for the first half). They both have their own problems and they're interesting characters. But halfway through it feels like the story needs them to fight, so they do.
Overall, all the little questions get answers in a decently satisfying way, so maybe I'll round it up to 4 stars. But I didn't end up loving like I thought I would.
The first half of this had me kicking my feet and giggling (5 stars!), while the second half...did not (2 stars). So I guess that comes out 3.5 stars?
This is heavy on the romance, but the fantasy side is definitely there, which I appreciate. The world is absurd and I still can't figure out if an autoduck is a car or a boat, but somehow it worked. And the characters and romance are great (for the first half). They both have their own problems and they're interesting characters. But halfway through it feels like the story needs them to fight, so they do.
Overall, all the little questions get answers in a decently satisfying way, so maybe I'll round it up to 4 stars. But I didn't end up loving like I thought I would.
This was such a strange, absurd little book. And I loved it.
This was such a strange, absurd little book. And I loved it.
I wouldn't say this is a perfect book, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Every time I put it down, I found myself picking it right back up again, needing to know what was going to happen. This book has great tension, and I could never predict what would happen next, or how Rune was going to get herself out of the various corners she finds herself in.
I do wish it had ended differently, but I'll definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out.
I wouldn't say this is a perfect book, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Every time I put it down, I found myself picking it right back up again, needing to know what was going to happen. This book has great tension, and I could never predict what would happen next, or how Rune was going to get herself out of the various corners she finds herself in.
I do wish it had ended differently, but I'll definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out.
I think if I had read this book as a teenager, it would have been one of those books that stayed with me. It's a simple moment in the life of a girl on the cusp of womanhood, and that simplicity is its strength.
I think if I had read this book as a teenager, it would have been one of those books that stayed with me. It's a simple moment in the life of a girl on the cusp of womanhood, and that simplicity is its strength.
So glad I finally read this. What a masterpiece!
So glad I finally read this. What a masterpiece!
It was fine. The worldbuilding is superb but there's no character arc and the stakes feel lacking.
It was fine. The worldbuilding is superb but there's no character arc and the stakes feel lacking.
I enjoyed this one. I really liked Kore/Persephone and the journey she goes on. The misogyny of society was a bit heavy-handed sometimes, and the romance was dragged out through miscommunication. But the writing was good and it was a quick read.
Spice level: mild (the intimate scenes are non-graphic)
I enjoyed this one. I really liked Kore/Persephone and the journey she goes on. The misogyny of society was a bit heavy-handed sometimes, and the romance was dragged out through miscommunication. But the writing was good and it was a quick read.
Spice level: mild (the intimate scenes are non-graphic)
This is a book I've kept on my shelf since I read it as a teenager (along with Keeping the Moon and This Lullaby), and I wasn't sure if it would hold up now that I'm older. But this book hit me just as hard as it did the first time.
This book is about a girl who feels lost and invisible in the aftermath of her sister running away, and it chronicles a romantic relationship that slowly turns abusive.
There are two things that make this book great. First is how it pulls you into Caitlin's emotions. You're right there with her as she struggles with feeling lost, the excitement of Rogerson and doing something new. And you're right there with her the first time he hits her, and she decides not to tell anyone. Because being with him makes everything better, more bearable, and she can't bear to lose that.
The second thing is all the side characters. Stories like this are often written way too deep in the character's head, so that all we see are their thoughts, and other characters are filtered through those thoughts and never right on the page. This book isn't like that. The other characters are vibrant, with their own lives and struggles. And it makes it all the more striking as she withdraws from them, and they either don't notice or can't seem to catch hold of her.
My only critique of this book is that there are some descriptions and language that are no longer PC. It was written in 2000 and you can really feel it sometimes. I had a similar feeling re-reading The Bean Trees, which has some character descriptions that made me cringe, but is another book I absolutely love.
A random thought: I want to say that every teenage girl should read this book, but I wonder if the lack of technology makes it entirely irrelevant. One of the major sequences of the book hinges on the fact that Caitlin is trying to call Rogerson, but he's not at home (this is before cell phones). I feel like this story would be written so differently if it was put out today, with cell phones and social media.
This is a book I've kept on my shelf since I read it as a teenager (along with Keeping the Moon and This Lullaby), and I wasn't sure if it would hold up now that I'm older. But this book hit me just as hard as it did the first time.
This book is about a girl who feels lost and invisible in the aftermath of her sister running away, and it chronicles a romantic relationship that slowly turns abusive.
There are two things that make this book great. First is how it pulls you into Caitlin's emotions. You're right there with her as she struggles with feeling lost, the excitement of Rogerson and doing something new. And you're right there with her the first time he hits her, and she decides not to tell anyone. Because being with him makes everything better, more bearable, and she can't bear to lose that.
The second thing is all the side characters. Stories like this are often written way too deep in the character's head, so that all we see are their thoughts, and other characters are filtered through those thoughts and never right on the page. This book isn't like that. The other characters are vibrant, with their own lives and struggles. And it makes it all the more striking as she withdraws from them, and they either don't notice or can't seem to catch hold of her.
My only critique of this book is that there are some descriptions and language that are no longer PC. It was written in 2000 and you can really feel it sometimes. I had a similar feeling re-reading The Bean Trees, which has some character descriptions that made me cringe, but is another book I absolutely love.
A random thought: I want to say that every teenage girl should read this book, but I wonder if the lack of technology makes it entirely irrelevant. One of the major sequences of the book hinges on the fact that Caitlin is trying to call Rogerson, but he's not at home (this is before cell phones). I feel like this story would be written so differently if it was put out today, with cell phones and social media.