just wow. probably the best book I've read all year, and that is no exaggeration. this book was so well-crafted and lives in my head rent-free.(4.5/5)
just wow. probably the best book I've read all year, and that is no exaggeration. this book was so well-crafted and lives in my head rent-free. would have liked to see more of the sci-fi elements being explored (but I get that it's not the point of the story and just a plot device. but still lol). definitely a must-read....more
i absolutely LOVED how all of the fantasy elements and whatnot were woven into this, especially with all of the different plotlines going on and the ai absolutely LOVED how all of the fantasy elements and whatnot were woven into this, especially with all of the different plotlines going on and the amazing queer rep that was effortless and really present so no token gays. that being said, i really do think that there is room for character growth, which i'm very much looking forward to in the next book >:D
all the thanks to era for convincing me to read this in the first place! check out her review here!...more
having read some of scarlett st. clair's previous books,,, well, let's just say that i was mentally preparing myself for a dumpster fire when i(3.5/5)
having read some of scarlett st. clair's previous books,,, well, let's just say that i was mentally preparing myself for a dumpster fire when i started this.
boy am i glad to say it wasn't :D
i wouldn't go so far as to say that this book was really good; in all honesty, it was mediocre. however, there's a clear plotline here that's coherent and present throughout the course of the story and not just at the end, which is such a vast improvement from the hades x persephone books that i could cry from happiness.
the characters weren't my favorite but they weren't infuriating either, which is a total win in my books. look at what has become of my standards. i pretty much predicted the plotline of isolde's true identity from the very beginning of the foreshadowing, however, so i wasn't exactly surprised during the big reveal. also, adrian wasn't the dark emo edgelord that the synopsis made him out to be, which i found incredibly funny. isolde herself was a touch annoying at times, but not particularly so. captain dude whose name i've already forgotten was incredibly infuriating and i hope he gets eaten by a cloud of zombie locusts in the near future.
the plot itself was actually engaging, although i would have appreciated it more if there weren't as many info-dumps, especially in the beginning. i did really end up liking reading about the whole history of the world and am honestly looking forward to reading more about the backstories that were involved, as well as some of the motivations and magic.
and, of course, there was smut. a lot of it, in fact. in the beginning, it seemed more angry sex than anything else, but that's irrelevant, and let's just say, for the rest of the book, it was there and it was not square.
anyway.
overall, this book defied a lot of the lower-than-the-mariana-trench expectations that i had, and for that, i'm pleasantly surprised. of course, that means that my expectations will inevitably be higher for the next book, but i actually have faith here, and i'm looking forward to more of the plot that i'm hopeful is to be introduced....more
I actually really liked the beginning of this and felt that there was a lot of potential here.
Then the story progressed. And progressed. And progresseI actually really liked the beginning of this and felt that there was a lot of potential here.
Then the story progressed. And progressed. And progressed.
The chemistry between Kate and Ian just sort of... fizzled out? It was all very anticlimactic. The story was dragged on and on and on, to the point where it became repetitive and boring. When it finally did end, however, many plotlines were left hanging and certain parts of the plot were just never really wrapped up. It was extremely sudden and extremely irritating.
Overall, the art was good and that's about it. I regret the time I wasted reading this but oh well....more
It is a truth universally acknowledged that romances where the ML falls for the FL first are superior.
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I'm just going to admit it: I'm absolute It is a truth universally acknowledged that romances where the ML falls for the FL first are superior.
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I'm just going to admit it: I'm absolute trash for fluffy romances where you can feel yourself turning into a pile of pathetic goo while also subconsciously realizing that the reason you have such unhealthy standards for relationships and people in general is because you're always comparing them to fictional characters, but we don't talk about that.
Sica and Karsus (hahaha sus) and their entire dynamic was absolutely A+. It was so fun to read about their individual backstories and the way they worked so well together as a team, apart from just their romantic dynamic. Yes, there were some yandere moments from both of them, but we don't talk about that.
Of course, the best stories have a little bit of everything: a solid plot and a solid romance, without either overshadowing the other. And this manhwa has EXACTLY THAT. You don't even know how much I freaked out when I realized that there was a healthy balance here that ACTUALLY WORKED.
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The romance is good and cute and adorable.
The plot is absolutely amazing.
The plot twist at the end was extremely predictable but whatever.
So why did I absolutely not love this?
Simple: a group of characters known as the 'savages'. The thing that really bothered me about them was how they were portrayed compared to literally all of the other characters.
Almost all of the main characters and protagonists are white/pale-skinned, while the 'savages' are drawn in darker shades. The 'savages' also wear feathered headbands and other paint markings on their faces/bodies. Which, just- uMMM ??? Really rubbed me the wrong way, even if it might not have been completely intentional.
I've been told that these sort of things are present in a lot of manhwas because of cultural/ethnic homogeneity in the country of origin, but still. As a non-white person, it was borderline uncomfortable to read.
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So yeah. As much as I loved the characters and the romance and the plot, it wasn't a total five-star read because of those issues. Apart from that, I really did enjoy this, especially since it wasn't needlessly dragged out and solid from start to finish. The ending might have been a bit rushed but in my opinion it really worked for the story, and made for a cute resolution to everything....more
Nevertell is interesting and not entirely what I expected. It follows Lina, a young girl who was born in a Soviet prison camp, her escape, as w(3.5/5)
Nevertell is interesting and not entirely what I expected. It follows Lina, a young girl who was born in a Soviet prison camp, her escape, as well as the magic that she experiences on her journey.
This book was definitely much, much more plot-based than it was character-based. While the main character and the side characters (in particular Natalya and Svetlana) were established and had backstories of their own, the focus was placed mostly on how Lina and Bogdan fared after leaving the camp, and the magical mishaps they encounter.
That being said, the characters are definitely endearing. They're courageous in a way only the protagonists of a middle-grade fantasy novel can be, and are clearly just doing their best to survive.
I absolutely loved the concept that this novel is centered around, mainly that of magic in a historical context that isn't the Elizabethan or Victorian eras. While the true horrors of the Soviet camp were somewhat toned down due to the younger target audience, and the plot felt a bit repetitive at times, it made for a quick but enjoyable reading experience.
The plot twist was excellent and I really should have expected it sooner. The ending, however, was fairly lukewarm, all things considered. I feel that it didn't truly do the book justice, but in a way, it was also realistic.
Overall, this is certainly a middle-grade historical fantasy that I would be willing to recommend to othres. I was definitely judging this book by the cover when I first picked it up at the library, and I don't regret my decision :D...more
words. is that even something that i can do anymore?? i doubt it but i can try.
i absolutely loved 'cast in firelight'. the combination of entertainingwords. is that even something that i can do anymore?? i doubt it but i can try.
i absolutely loved 'cast in firelight'. the combination of entertaining characters, a good magic system, and an intriguing plot together created a book that was totally up my alley. and with the way the first book ended? i was *completely* hyped for 'bound by firelight'.
and thankfully, this book pretty much delivered.
once again, this book is much more plot-based than character-driven, so everything that happens directly affects the characters and the way they react. there's definitely character growth, but it isn't obvious; it's subtly shown where it makes the most impact on the plot.
speaking of the plot, even if it was less 'fun' and more serious than the last book, things still move quite quickly here, with action and intrigue woven together. for my part, i read through most of this book in a day technically while i was supposed to be helping my brother with his math course but we don't talk about that.
ummm, magic??? that was good. more interesting stuff happened with that. yes.
yeah i don't even know anymore. i don't have much to say, but not in a bad way?? it was satisfying to read and a good conclusion, and that's that i suppose.
the characters were just as enjoyable to read about as last time, along with some new ones that were introduced. things got a little fast there at the end but overall it made for a fun experience. roses are red, chalkboards are slate, i've never had an original thought in my life, but this book was great?all that good stuff.
there is a REASON i love margaret rogerson's books so much y'all. her work really speaks for itself.
going into this book, i wasn't entirely certain ththere is a REASON i love margaret rogerson's books so much y'all. her work really speaks for itself.
going into this book, i wasn't entirely certain that i was going to enjoy it all that much. for starters, i'm veritably weak for romance, and of rogerson's previous books, both at least had some sort of romance plot to them. this book? not at all.
and i did struggle to get into this book at first. i'll admit, this isn't the first time i'm attempting to start this book. each time my hold came in on libby, i would get through maybe the first five or ten percent, and then inevitably, "something else" would "come up" and my loan would automatically return, only for me to put it on hold again and for the process to repeat itself (for seven months, apparently ...more
The Crystal Ribbon tells the story of Li Jing, and how she finds her way back home after essentially being sold to another family as a bride.
Li Jing hThe Crystal Ribbon tells the story of Li Jing, and how she finds her way back home after essentially being sold to another family as a bride.
Li Jing has always been teased for her name, similar to the name of the deity that protects her village. However, over the course of the story, and after meeting many characters that provide some helpful insight, Jing comes to love and accept her name.
Upon being sold to a wealthy family as a bride, Jing is basically treated as a servant, and is bullied most of all by her young husband's sisters. She struggles a lot, but eventually comes to terms with her situation. Unfortunately, not much time passes before the family, undergoing financial issues, decides to sell her somewhere else.
The timing/pacing of the book was a little off for me, because while I'm pretty sure that multiple years pass between when Jing leaves her village and returns, it isn't always written like that.
Ultimately, this book is about the physical and emotional journey that Jing undergoes in order to find herself. She makes many friends along the way, and comes to terms with what her family had inadvertently done.
The ending was a little vague and open-ended, but I think it suited the book better than a clear "the end" would have. Overall, this story was magical and enchanting, especially with the era and location that it was set in. I absolutely loved reading about Jing and all the growth that she underwent over the course of the book....more
Thank you to Netgalley and Magnetic Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
(actual rating: 3.5/5)
I'm a total sucker for good aThank you to Netgalley and Magnetic Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
(actual rating: 3.5/5)
I'm a total sucker for good art, and this really proved that.
'Brindille' tells the enchanting tale of a girl who finds herself in an unknown village, following a forest fire and the loss of all of her memories. She sets out through the forest, looking for answers, and makes an unlikely friend. But the more she learns about herself, the more complicated things seem to be.
The very first thing that needs to be mentioned about this graphic novel is just how absolutely stunning the art is. It's genuinely amazing how detailed and effective the art is, and how easily it conveys the emotions of the main character and story. Even though the storyline doesn't make sense at certain points, the art is consistently wonderful.
Speaking of the plot, while fairly disjointed, it was intriguing enough to keep my interest. I was reasonably invested in the girl's backstory and how it would play out with the rest of the book. The ending, although somewhat confusing and leaving many unanswered questions, was ultimately satisfying to what the book was trying to accomplish and express. Or at least, that's the conclusion I've come to, having had a few days to ruminate on the ending.
Overall, I'd recommend this book for its fantastical storyline and excellent art, and think that it would especially appeal to anyone looking for an encompassing yet quick graphic novel read....more
an unhelpful character guide to mdzs, by yours truly: ? wei ying (wei wuxian): densest mc you will ever encounter ? lan zhan (lan wangji): ceo of rabbitan unhelpful character guide to mdzs, by yours truly: ? wei ying (wei wuxian): densest mc you will ever encounter ? lan zhan (lan wangji): ceo of rabbits ? jiang cheng: deserved better, probably needs therapy ? jiang yanli: *crying noises* ? lan xichen: the first wangxian shipper ? lan sizhui: mUST PROTECC ? lan jingyi: The Sassy One? ? jin ling: desperately needs a hug ? jin guangyao: burn the hat ? nie huaisang: ceo of hand held fans ? wen ning: t u r n i p ? wen qing: helth ? xue yang: if evil why hot ? xiao xingchen: *sad noises* ? song lan: *more sad noises* ? a qing: the bravest character
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I'M CRYING PLS I LOVE WANGXIAN AND THIS STORY SO MUCH...more
WHERE THE FIRST SEASON WAS ALL OBSESSED ABOUT THE WEIRD LOVE TRIANGLE DYNAMICS THIS ONE ACTUALLY EXPLORED THE PLOT AND LYR(4.5/5)
THIS WAS AMAZING WHAT
WHERE THE FIRST SEASON WAS ALL OBSESSED ABOUT THE WEIRD LOVE TRIANGLE DYNAMICS THIS ONE ACTUALLY EXPLORED THE PLOT AND LYRA'S PAST AND HOW SHE GREW AS A CHARACTER BASDKJBADSKJB...more
Thank you to Netgalley and Vertical Comics for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
'A School Frozen in Time' is the first volume in aThank you to Netgalley and Vertical Comics for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
'A School Frozen in Time' is the first volume in a manga series following a group of students who have been trapped in their school, right at the moment when a classmate of theirs committed suicide three months earlier. What follows is a psychological horror as the students try to remember who it was that lost their life that day, and the twists and turns that follow.
I really enjoyed this manga for a number of reasons. While it isn't outright horror, there's definitely an eerie, unsettled feeling that you can pick up on throughout the book. It also examines how friendships in their many forms change with our actions, which I liked.
Personally, I feel that the art style could have been a bit cleaner, but it definitely conveys what it needs to. I'd recommend this to anyone who would like a psychological thriller in manga form, or is looking for something out of their comfort zone....more
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