authorkristenelizabeth's reviews
27 reviews

The Betrayed by Kiera Cass

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I definitely enjoyed this more than book 1 of the series. Hollister is one of those characters who learns to stand her ground and become something more than what is expected of her. Her ever-changing relationship with Etan was nice - the banter made me laugh at certain points.
I'm still not entirely 100% on board with them falling in love. I get why story-wise, but it felt like Silas was all for nothing. Or maybe he couldve been the catalyst for them to be happy. Either way, I am still on the fence with it. The way that Etan and Hollis became rulers of their respective country was exciting. I really was not expecting Quintonto go down without a fight, and certainly not expecting Jameson to impale himself using the sword made by Silas. Both were unexpected twists I didn't see coming.
There is definitely more drama and action which I liked. I do recommend this series if you like a YA/teen period drama.
The Betrothed by Kiera Cass

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

3.75

It's been a while since I've read a YA book but I really enjoyed this one. I pretty much binged it in a day due to a road trip. I did enjoy the storyline, however it did seem slow in a lot of places to me. I was very much against the "love triangle" at first, but I warmed up to it a bit by the end. Hollis as a character is pretty aloof until she needs to act on a problem. I think I'll continue the series because I do have more questions than answers about the future that Hollis has outside of her cushy life at court. I will say that the twists that happened more toward the end threw me, which is why I'll also be continuing the series. It's a fun read for a teen drama set in royal life.
The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams

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

4.75

I loved this journey! Nora and crew are such great characters. The mystery surrounding Abilene and other newcomers to Miracle Springs had me on my toes the entire time. The twists were unexpected - I never clocked the killer until Nora faced them head to head. I loved the blooming relationship between Jed and Nora - how they overcome their past together and learn to trust is just so heartwarming. I was tearing up at the end! Really good story and I cannot wait to continue the series. Definitely a must read if you like cozy mysteries!
Gifted by Kora Greenwood

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adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious sad tense fast-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 enjoyed this book! It's an interesting blend - I kinda related it to Divergent. Arin is a strong-willed girl looking out for her family all throughout the story. It was nice to see her grow from one ideology that was her entire life into something much greater. I love Linc as well - he's a great love interest for Arin and I hope to see more of their romance in the next book. Some parts took me completely by surprise - more towards the end for sure. I don't wanna give anything away, but if you want a cool take on a scifi coming-of-age and overthrow-the-government while you're at it, I suggest this one!
Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink, Jeffrey Cranor

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

5.0

This is such a fun read! The audiobook is particularly hilarious - I loved the interspersed breaks from the plot to listen to Cecil and his bringing of the news. Welcome to Night Vale is super quirky and has a unique world. Night Vale itself is a town full of very interesting (and deadly) creatures. Everything was so far fetched until the very last few chapters where it all came together. It's a really good book! I'm ready for more of Night Vale!
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

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

5.0

Wow. This was an experience. Listening to the audiobook was a whirlwind. I did not expect where everything was going - and that's good in my opinion. The twists and turns were done at just the right time. WARNING! This book is VERY graphic of its violent scenes. There is a lot to unpack emotionally throughout the entire novel. A small part of me was hoping for redemption and a more justice-like conclusion, but overall I'm satisfied with what transpired. It's a great book if you're into high-stakes true crime that happens in the moment.
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Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley

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

4.75

I loved this! Delilah is such a relatable character. She definitely takes the cake as an amateur sleuth (pun intended lol). The murder mystery kept me guessing until the end - then it made a shockingly good amount of sense. I was thrown when the real killer was revealed! I loved the banter between Delilah and Detective Capone - I hope there is more of them together as the series progresses (I want them together as a couple!) The way Mindy Quigley slowly unraveled the layers of each character was so well done. Once I really got into the story, I couldn't stop!
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

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adventurous funny lighthearted slow-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

4.5

This is such a great cozy fantasy! I loved the characterization of the main crew - Kiela, Caz, and Larran. Right from the get-go, these characters grabbed me. I listened to the audiobook, so the pace for me seemed slow as compared to reading a paperback/ebook version. I did appreciate that the conflicts that arose were more realistic and funny moments than a "war is coming we're all going to die" vibe. Larran is definitely my favorite - he is just a big teddy bear willing to help anyone in need (cinnamon roll trope to the extreme but I love him!) The plot is cute and the supporting cast made me laugh. The Spellshop is a fun read if you're looking for something light-hearted. I definitely enjoyed!
The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a 5 star read for me this month. Wow. Just wow. I don't want to spoil anything so I'm just going to gloss over my initial thoughts.
First, the world building is phenomenal. Theumas is such a strange place wrapped in science and technology with a hint (just a hint) of the fantastical. The lore of the Yarong and what it means to be a heartsooth/bloodcarver was so well done. Nhika may not have known everything from her ancestors, but the way that the minimal knowledge she did have wrapped into everything around her was done so well. I can't get enough of the world.
Characters I loved are obviously Nhika (she's my girl), Kochin, and Trin! The three of them are now in my brain forever. I really loved the blooming friendship between Trin and Nhika. They have a sort of comradery that comes from being on the other side of the rich folks - they know of the struggle and how life can get real. Kochin is my baby and I'll protect him at all costs - I love him so much it's insane. The way that he and Nhika get along - if you like enemies to lovers/slow burn, this is it right here. I totally understand where he comes from in all the mess.
The mystery of murder and mayhem throughout the story really amplifies the stakes. There were so many moments where I thought I had things figured out and then bam! Plot twist. It's such a great book - I want the sequel out asap so   can continue with the storyline. It's so good!
To Your Eternity, Volume 1 by Yoshitoki Oima

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adventurous dark inspiring mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

This is a pretty fast paced manga. We start with "It" as an orb that goes through different transformations on Earth. The story gives off mysterious vibes since we go through the journey along with It, who is later named Fushi. I wasn't expecting the storyline to take a darker turn, but it was necessary for the growth of Fushi as it develops more emotions and growth as a human. It's a good start into the series and I plan on purchasing more volumes.