Yorha
I enjoyed the writing, the ideas and the vibes a lot but the last few chapters kinda fell off for me
I was so excited to read this and knew I'd love it but the writing style is just really not for me. It's flowery and overwritten, and goes on for too long about nothing. I enjoy what I've read but I do not enjoy the experience of reading it, if that makes any sense? Which just makes me sad but I've dreaded going back to it for 2 weeks so I'm just going to let this one go.
Nothing much happened in this book though i really enjoyed the underwater setting and wish we saw more of it.
Overall I enjoyed the book, I loved the banter and the rep was so good. It made even my little cold heart feel things. The two MCs had amazing chemistry and I loved seeing them together but my god, the miscommunication was exhausting. I understand what the author was trying to portrayed but it was way overdone and that makes me sad. A very good read otherwise!
“I simply didn't know how to make things better. I could not solve the puzzle of me.”
What a surprise of a book! 4.5 ✨
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman is an emotional read that will stay with me for years to come.
In the book we follow our heroine, Eleanor, who is extremely socially awkward, takes everything literally and says exactly what she is thinking without a filter. At times, she can be very difficult to root for but the way the author handled Eleanor's growth is excellent.
During the first half I thought it wasnt going to be a particularly memorable read for me — Eleanor, while at times relatable, frustrated me a couple of times. However, the second hand of the book makes it all come together so beautifully that it made me love the story and root for Eleanor. She truly is one of a kind 💕
The thing I loved most about the book was the way mental health struggles were portrayed. They were well-written, handled with care and relatable. This is what made the ending feel so rewarding and it gives you hope for the future without being overdone.
I love and truly appreciate seeing neurodivergent characters being written with so much care.
This book will definitely stay with me for awhile.
If you like audiobooks, I can highly recommend this one, it was superb.
This is the perfect case of going into a book with the wrong expectations. I really enjoyed Sorcery of Thorns and I was expected a more story-driven adventure with romance as the backdrop and more developed characters.
Sadly, An Enchantment of Ravens is a YA romantasy, a genre that I have learned recently I just cannot stomach for the most part (with exceptions). Now, i do like romance but I do need the build up, here unfortunately we get instalove which is another one of my pet peeves. This, along with the fact that the characters weren't fleshed put enough just didn't make for a good read for me.
One thing I did really enjoy about the book were the vibes. The setting and the atmosphere were something I really wanted more of. It's perfect for an autmn romance read.
All in all, it was just not a book for me and I shouldn't have went with high expectations solely because of Sorcery of Thorns.
I can't decide between 3.75 and 4 stars, so I will decide later while the books sits with me for a couple of days.
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The Scarlet Alchemist is a fun ride that features tons of alchemy, resurrecting people from the dead, zombie monsters and is one that isn't shy to pull some punches.
I have thoroughly enjoyed The Scarlet Alchemist. It is a very brigeable book with a fun concept and a bigger focus on the characters than the story. Zilan, our main character, is a bit of a mess. She does some questionable things in order to survive, but does have a moral compass. She reminded me quite a bit of Rin from The Poppy War (though Rin's moral compass is debatable), a lite version of her anyway. Both make a lot of rash decisions out of desperation and have to face the consequences later. The story makes Zilan acknowledge that she might have been too cocky and insecure, and she has to live with the consequences of her actions from before the book began, as well as what she had done during the length of the book. If you do not like very flawed characters, Fu Zilan might not be the character for you but I personally had a blast watching her make bad decisions and the book being aware of that. Gimme more of that!
Our love interest, Li Hong, was also quite refreshing. He is a soft and sensitive guy who tries his best. I am tired of every other YA having a broody, mysterious guy in every book so it was nice to see a different kind of love interest (I don't dislike them, i just want variety). I also appreciate that while the book had romance and it definitely was important, the focus was more so on the politics, familiar bonds and, most importantly, Zilan's character and her potential to grow in the future installments.
I do have a few complaints however!
The world-building isn't rich and there were a few situations in the book that just do not make logical sense. They happen to move the plot forward and to make the situation seem more dire, but it was hard to take it seriously when it didn't make much sense. The plot was also quite predictable for the most part, there were only 2 revelations that I did not expect, but i don't think it makes the book bad by any means but it does lower my rating a bit.
I think this series has a lot of potential and I can't wait for the sequel. While this book wasn't afraid to pull the punches, I am hoping Kylie Lee Baker ups it even more and we are going to get emotionally destroyed in the next installment. I need my dose of pain and suffering from my books.
Definitely an extremely fun ride and I have to thank my friend Emily for being so enthusiastic about recommending this book because I wouldn't have picked it up otherwise and that'd be a shame!
After the first 30% i thought i was going to absolutely hate the book, i almost dropped it at 50% but i kept going because i was curious and I was actually kinda sorta interested in the next 30% following that (only to get annoyed again at the latter parts of the book) and i don't hate the book.
The world-building was ABSOLUTE rubbish, it was a mess. The world-building details were scattered throughout the book at random moments and it was wasn't well done at all. It was as if Chloe Gong came up with an semi-interesting magic system/plot but had no idea how to actually make it work and made it up as she wrote the book (at least in my humble opinion). I am not usually one to be super nitpicky (at least i dont think i am) but the world-building was so jarring i just couldn't help but pin point and get really annoyed. I don't think it makes very much sense at all. The games also felt like an accessory just to make the plot a bit more entertaining and action packed more than anything else. At the end of the day, i feel like i have way more questions than I have answers.
All this being said, despite the characters and the romance both reading YA (unsurpisingly), i did not hate them. Am i attached? no, not at all, but unlike in the last two books I've read, i did not want to throw the characters off the cliff.
They are by no means outstanding or unique in any way, but i enjoyed them enough tbh. The characters however, especially the MC, were not morally gray or too complex. Also, the romance could've been so much better if it was more build up before the confessions started slapping you in the face – but i am generally an advocate of slow burn so maybe this is why it kinda ruined what could've been. It just ended up feeling very juvenile at the end of the day.
I also enjoyed the overall vibes and the violence in the book, i thought they were both kinda fun. Would've loved to see more violence tbh (sorry not sorry).
Overall, the writing was a mess but i didn't hate it like i hate some other books. Will I read a sequel? I am not sure, i might depending on what will be the setting/plot for it, but i did not enjoy the ending to this book so maybe not.
I will also say that throughout listening to the book, i felt like it read like an action flick. A lot of action, some violence, some romance and a plot that didn't make a lot of sense. I can totally see the appeal and i think if you go in with the right expectations, it can be an enjoyable read! but if you go into it expecting a well-thoughtout fantasy, you might be disappointed.
I hope this review doesn't come off as too negative, you're totally valid if you love the book!! I just wish i did.
No one is more disappointed than me with this rating. I absolutely adore The Marvellous Light, A Restless Truth was also a ton of fun with amazing character moments and humour but this instalment is probably going to be my biggest bookish disappointment of the year (I hope. I don't want any more).
My favourite part about the book is seeing the old characters back! I adore Edwin and Violet so much — Edwin/Robin were also such a joy to see again. The cast interactions and the found family was very heart-warming, especially seeing Jack appreciate those around him. The plot was satisfying enough for the most part, except that it all ended in a very convenient way but I could forgive it if the romance was as good as before.
As you can probably guess, it was not. It felt very physical and lacking of the emotional bond and understanding between the characters. Only at the end do we see a more vulnerable side to the two characters but it was a little too late. The focus is very much on the physical aspect of their relationship and the sexual tension they have which, sadly, isn't all that well done in this book (I'm saying this actually being so hyped for this romance after A Restless Truth). I felt like the author really could've done so much better with this couple given their difference in social status and different life experiences. It was such a good contrast and I'm left disappointed.
The smut scenes were very kinky and the author was really leaning into the dominant/submissive tropes that sadly I despise (so it's defo a me thing). Also roleplay during smut scenes is just so off putting to me personally — i just really didn't think it was as well written as in book 1.
Soft DNFd it once and I wanted to DNF it again but pulled thru for my love of the series.
I will miss this cast of characters so much, it was fun a fun ride but next time I read the books, I might just skip this one.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the eARC
3.5
Really enjoyed the concept, the writing and the parts of the book set in the past but I found it to be too long for how little was happening, and the parts set in present time didn't interest me quite as much.
What in the soap opera was this???
I've actually really enjoyed book 1 and I'm baffled this was written by the same author.
It is a bad take on Persuasion that has a whiny MC who has zero self-awareness and who doesn't own up to ANYTHING she has done. It also has a love triangle with two very unlikable love interests, with one very obviously being the “villain” and not one youre supposed to root for.
Initially I kept having hopes for one of the LIs but the reveal at 75% takes away any last bits of enjoyment i felt and makes me wish the MC had the confidence to ditch both of the guys for someone better. Girl, learn to love yourself.
“Don't you dare tell me to forgive you. Don't put that burden on me”
With the way Sabaa Tahir writes about trauma and emotions, I guess I gotta read an amber in the ashes, huh
