bookedbymadeline's reviews
907 reviews

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

I finished this in just 2 days, which is pretty quick for me especially in the summer! It took a bit to get into the story but once I did, I did not want to put it down 🤭

I loved the switching POVs and getting to know the characters. At first it was a little difficult to keep track of everyone but it got easier over time! It also helped having such a large cast that I was constantly trying to guess the suspect.

Writing can be a little too much telling over showing at times. It was harder to get into compared to Foley’s other books. There are also quite a few pop culture/brand name dropping references which I don’t love, it’s a pet peeve of mine that will make the book feel dated in years to come😂

I only guessed one of the smaller reveals/twists. Absolutely shocked at the big reveals and watching the secrets come to light!! My jaw was on the floor, as always Foley has done it once again and continues to be one of my favorite thriller authors ❤️

Content Warnings

Heroes: Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventures by Stephen Fry

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.

I really wanted to give this a chance after not loving Mythos but hearing this was better. I just don’t like Fry’s British humor infused into these stories. There’s better retellings out there and I was done with this the second he had Perseus say “blimey”

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Hooked from the beginning! I devoured this book, so engaging and fast paced. A unique retelling that lived up to the hype! The plot twist caught me completely by surprise, it was so well done.

The only “negatives” that I didn’t completely love (but didn’t keep this from being a 5 star) was the romance and a couple of predictable plot points. The romance was just okay for me, it felt a bit insta lovey. As for the plot points/reveals, I predicted two of them almost immediately 😂🥲

Overall it was a quick, entertaining read! Highly recommend for those that also enjoy retellings

Content Warnings

Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn

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adventurous dark medium-paced

4.5

Thank you netgalley and sourcebooks for the eARC! Number 4 in Grecian Women series but they’re more interconnected, stand alone books that can be read separately/out of order.

I loved Lynn’s Athena’s Child and was so excited for a Demeter and Persephone story. Love getting Demeter’s story and some justice for her! She’s one of my favorite goddesses and doesn’t get enough love 💗 I also enjoyed getting to know other gods and goddesses too, like Hephaestus and Hecate!

The story is told through Switching POVs from Demeter and Core (Persephone) which I always love in my books! I was engaged most of the book, there were times it slowed a little in the middle but overall the pacing was well done. Atmospheric writing made me feel like I was in the Underworld and traveling the islands picking flowers with Core!

So far Lynn has done an amazing job of retelling myths and stories of Greek goddesses! This is only my second from her and I’ll definitely be reading her other books!

I loved the explorations of grief and love! The book could be dark at times given some of the topics but they were handled well in my opinion.

Characters are complex and flawed and multi dimensional! I could connect and feel for most of them (🖕🏻Zeus and Poseidon). I didn’t completely hate how Hades was portrayed? He was a bad guy but had a soft side so it felt weird but I’m not mad about that choice. I did however get a little upset by the last few chapters. I HATE when Persephone and Hades are romanticized and being put into this view of love when he KIDNAPPED AND IMPRISONS her?! It was a 5 star read up until this point and I’m kinda mad that Lynn took the same direction that everyone does with their story. I wanted Persephone to stay upset with begrudging respect for Hades not fall for the guy!!!

I think Hannah Lynn handled this retelling very well for the most part. Such an emotional, moving story of mother-daughter relationships, womanhood, grief, freedom, and claiming your power/voice.

Content Warnings

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.

I was so sad to DNF this as I had been really excited for it! I just felt a bit bored and wasn’t loving the MC, her humor was a bit meh for my taste. Then I was looking at reviews to see if it would pick up/get better only to end up getting spoiled because NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO WARN OF SPOILERS. If I know two plot points there’s no point in continuing because I wasn’t enjoying the journey anyways

Of Elderberry, Fire, & Fable by Bridgette Valentine

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hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

I love the cover!! I liked some poems more than others, as with most poetry collections. I enjoyed some of the lines about getting older and your inner child. For the most part though I didn’t connect with most of the collection and it felt disjointed; more like random words on a tumblr post. I’d be willing to try this author again though.
Thanks to netgalley and Quernica for the eARC!

Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

Thank you netgalley and Tor for the eARC!

Loose retelling of Persephone with some Cinderella vibes too. I did not know this when I requested it, otherwise I would’ve waited/not requested at all. Hating that this is basically “Persephone and hades are in love and the mom is evil” 😭 based on synopsis I thought she’d be a badass independent woman knowing her worth and taking power but instead she’s a naive, one-dimensional 19 year old child with Stockholm syndrome 🫣

Love the atmospheric setting descriptions! Set in 15th century Yorubaland (which would be modern day Nigeria) and infused with West African Folklore. I love how unique this story/setting is, I’ve never read anything like it!! Also the food descriptions had me drooling. But that’s where my positives end 🫠

I was pulled in right away but it did drag a bit at times. There were some exciting moments but the pacing was so off. After one climactic moment, it begins to drag and have overly descriptive telling over showing inconsequential details. I started skimming toward the end. The ending also felt rushed and unrealistic, you really have to suspend a lot of belief for this book.

How can you be falling for this man that KIDNAPPED YOU and be blushing and shy and teheehee giggling so quickly?! Stockholm syndrome is strong with this one. Maybe my dark romance girlies will enjoy this but I’m sitting here thinking this girl is insane and wanting to gag. This book has me fuming, I’ve never felt so angry and annoyed while reading!

Repetitive-if I never hear “I tuck his braids behind his ear. They always come loose from his buns. He never notices” it’ll be too soon 🙃

Love Kolo, she’s the only sane and complex/dimensional character in this book. The others are all flat and not as well developed. The FMC Ododo is contradictory, she’s naive and innocent but she’s also viewed as this brilliant military strategist and cunning at court politics?!

It had so much promise but the execution didn’t work for me. I’m very much in the minority opinion on this and it’s mostly because of a personal preference of not enjoying dark romance type stories!

Content Warnings

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger was a unique story, unlike any fantasy I’ve ever read before! I listened on audio and liked the narration having two narrators for the two MCs. The narrator for Oli was so funny and he was good at doing voices for minor characters he interacted with!

I also really liked the Lipan Apache stories of nature and animal people! I love learning about other cultures and beliefs so I enjoyed those stories interwoven throughout Nina’s chapters.

A lot of telling over showing, which is a style I don’t like. The writing and humor felt more middle grade, I’m definitely not the audience for this even though I’ve enjoyed other YA and middle grade books, this one just wasn’t my cup of tea.

It’s sooo slow and nothing happened until the second half-Nina and Oli don’t even meet until 65%. I was expecting a faster paced, more focused/plot driven fantasy story based on the synopsis. But it’s more Low stakes, cozy fantasy with found family and little stories scattered throughout. I did enjoy the friendships and characters but it felt like the plot was an afterthought with a rushed climax/ending.

Overall it was still a nice read outside of my comfort zone and I was glad to have read it. I’d recommend for those wanting a cozy, low stakes fantasy about found family, friendship, magic and environmental themes!

Content Warnings

Secrets of Rose Briar Hall by Kelsey James

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.

DNF 😭 I wanted to love this because I enjoy gothic mystery and loved James’ debut but I couldn’t bring myself to go past 32% (102 pages).

Way too much telling over showing making the story drag and feel so boring and slow!

I guessed the twists early on and skipped ahead to discover I was right all along 🙃

Charles killed Gertrude because they were having an affair and she threatened to tell Millie. The paintings went missing because shocker Charles was in financial ruin, and that’s also why he was courting the rich senator’s daughter

way too predictable and the romance felt so forced and unnecessary. Hopefully James’ third book is better because I’m willing to give her another chance since I enjoyed her debut so much, sadly she fell victim to the sophomore slump

Content Warnings

The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr: What Really Happened to Henry VIII's Last Queen? by June Woolerton

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informative mysterious medium-paced

4.5

Thank you to netgalley and Pen & Sword for the eARC!

Really interesting look at the life, death, funeral, and discovery of Parr’s tomb. Author gives a brief overview of Parr’s life and just how influential she was as Queen!

Author also gives evidence of what we do know about Parr and the typical practices of this time period. I loved the theories and how the author would talk about the possibilities surrounding Parr’s death and funeral arrangements, but then point to other sources/past events to show how unlikely it would be! For example she discussed the funeral being such a rushed and less than royal affair for a queen, and Parr followed the new religion (Protestantism) which would explain why the funeral was so different as it was a first for a royal funeral to not follow the old, Catholic ways. However, it didn’t explain why she was buried in a small private chapel and not buried in London or a royal chapel, given how much embalming she had done and how uncommon it was for royals to be buried in the same place where they died!

I was just fascinated by the whole thing! The theories, getting to know more about the practices of the time period, learning more about Katherine Parr. It made my little Tudor obsessed heart happy 🫶

The one “negative” I’d have is that some of the information can get repetitive. The author goes over some previously discussed info in multiple chapters so it could become tedious at times, but other times it was nice to have the reminder in a new context.

Highly recommend for anyone interested in the Tudor’s or 16th century historical period! Given the amount of information, some reviewers had said it was dense which I disagree, but it maybe isn’t for casual readers and only interesting for history nerds 😂

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bookedbymadeline's reviews 907 reviews

bookedbymadeline's reviews
907 reviews