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bookphenomena_micky's reviews
4674 reviews
Quicksilver by Callie Hart
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Headlines:
Slow build start
Rich world building
Romantasy done right
I wasn't sure this book would live up to the hype I'd been seeing, I was managing my expectations. Lo and behold, this book managed my expectations back into a buzz because for me, this was romantasy done right. I need great plot with depth, detailed characterisation beyond romance and a world I can invest in and feel some uniqueness about. I got all of that and a bit more.
The story was a slower start than the pace that came later but it was still a gripping read as I learnt about the world that Saeris came from. An abused sect of her world, starved and dehydrated and she was thief and nimble-footed character. I liked her scrappy style and her disrespect for authority while being full of love and loyalty for her family.
Her world got turned onto its head as she plummeted into another world of fae. When I read about a fae world, I need it to be different from those I've encountered before and I was rewarded with freshness, strange powers, a battlefront and an a$$hole in the form of Fisher. This fae male was annoying, an a$$ and 100% intriguing. He took a form that didn't feel one bit like other fae males I've read and I was thankful for that.
This is a long book, much happened with lots of layers and every bit had me glued to the page. The baddies were so bad, Fisher's clan were as grey can be and the connection that built was addictive reading. The intimacy was written well and was paced well in terms of development to that stage. I am now unapologetically low key obsessed with this couple.
I await the next book with bated breath.
Slow build start
Rich world building
Romantasy done right
I wasn't sure this book would live up to the hype I'd been seeing, I was managing my expectations. Lo and behold, this book managed my expectations back into a buzz because for me, this was romantasy done right. I need great plot with depth, detailed characterisation beyond romance and a world I can invest in and feel some uniqueness about. I got all of that and a bit more.
The story was a slower start than the pace that came later but it was still a gripping read as I learnt about the world that Saeris came from. An abused sect of her world, starved and dehydrated and she was thief and nimble-footed character. I liked her scrappy style and her disrespect for authority while being full of love and loyalty for her family.
Her world got turned onto its head as she plummeted into another world of fae. When I read about a fae world, I need it to be different from those I've encountered before and I was rewarded with freshness, strange powers, a battlefront and an a$$hole in the form of Fisher. This fae male was annoying, an a$$ and 100% intriguing. He took a form that didn't feel one bit like other fae males I've read and I was thankful for that.
This is a long book, much happened with lots of layers and every bit had me glued to the page. The baddies were so bad, Fisher's clan were as grey can be and the connection that built was addictive reading. The intimacy was written well and was paced well in terms of development to that stage. I am now unapologetically low key obsessed with this couple.
I await the next book with bated breath.
Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Headlines:
Untrustworthy fae
A cruel regime
Infiltrating
Untrustworthy fae
A cruel regime
Infiltrating
Servant of Earth was captivating from the first pages and it kept that momentum all the way through. I loved the sneakiness, courage and loyalty of Kenna, the heroine. She was swept into the fae world but never once did she trust them.
I might have read many fae worlds, but this one was truly memorable. The houses, the lost house and the skills they each had were fascinating. Kenna was inconsequential as a human in this world but she made a splash and caught the attention of some important leaders.
I did see where the romance was going in this read and also mentally called the perhaps true love interest but none of this makes it any less enjoyable. I cannot wait to see if my suspicions about where things are heading are true.
The last quarter of the book was twisty and exciting… I’m rather sad to be finishing.
Thank you Gollancz for the review copy.
The Favourites by Layne Fargo
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
"Sexually charged, will they, won't they, fuckery."
This quote is how other characters described the MCs and I couldn't agree more.
I don't quite know how I feel about this book on finishing, I liked it...I think but it was so incredibly angsty and messed up that it wasn't exactly pleasurable to read. The push and pull between Kat and Heath was insane, they were scrapy to one another and to everyone else. They were obsessive and as a reader, it was easy to become obsessive with them.
Let me rewind. This story set in the world of ice dancing in the 90s and 2000s painted a dramatic and salacious picture of the inner worlds of competitors. No more than for Katerina and Heath, two poor kids with talent and ambition to climb into this elite world. In the early parts of this book, I cheered for these two in their climb and in their romantic connection. As the pages unfolded past half way, I wasn't sure if I wanted them to compete together or stay together because it was hella destructive.
Added into this story was a key role model in Sheila Lin, Kat's ice hero and her twin children, Bella and Garrett. These twins added such complications to Kat and Heath's life, mostly negative. I hate-read some of the plot lines but I couldn't stop turning the pages.
Is this romance, technically no. Did I finish the book satisfied, also no. Did I feel connected to the characters in the story, hell yes.
If you want to be twisted up and spat out by a book, I highly recommend this one.
Thank you to Vintage Digital for the eARC.
This quote is how other characters described the MCs and I couldn't agree more.
I don't quite know how I feel about this book on finishing, I liked it...I think but it was so incredibly angsty and messed up that it wasn't exactly pleasurable to read. The push and pull between Kat and Heath was insane, they were scrapy to one another and to everyone else. They were obsessive and as a reader, it was easy to become obsessive with them.
Let me rewind. This story set in the world of ice dancing in the 90s and 2000s painted a dramatic and salacious picture of the inner worlds of competitors. No more than for Katerina and Heath, two poor kids with talent and ambition to climb into this elite world. In the early parts of this book, I cheered for these two in their climb and in their romantic connection. As the pages unfolded past half way, I wasn't sure if I wanted them to compete together or stay together because it was hella destructive.
Added into this story was a key role model in Sheila Lin, Kat's ice hero and her twin children, Bella and Garrett. These twins added such complications to Kat and Heath's life, mostly negative. I hate-read some of the plot lines but I couldn't stop turning the pages.
Is this romance, technically no. Did I finish the book satisfied, also no. Did I feel connected to the characters in the story, hell yes.
If you want to be twisted up and spat out by a book, I highly recommend this one.
Thank you to Vintage Digital for the eARC.
Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Headlines:
Contemporary vampires
Unlikeable characters
Strong start, waning plot
I started Fang Fiction with enthusiasm. This was a story set around Manhatten with humans and vampires seperate until they werent. There was a strange but quirky interplay of this cast of vampires being known to the humans as they were all from a cast of books that were well known. It sounds odd but it worked.
The human MC was an interesting and appealing character, a post grad student who had experienced a SA and retreated from the academic world. She found herself on 'vampire island' trying to connect one vampire twin back to the other. From here, things started to lose interest for me. The vampire characters were all pretty unlikeable although I did warm up a little to Callum.
The plot waxed and waned and I found myself disinterested from about half way. The side sapphic relationship was a bonus but it still didn't pull me back into investment.
I finished this book feel little care for the story or characters which was disappointing after my early investment. Was this romance, I'm not sure. I think the book, contemporary, vampire interplay didn't gel well together overall and that was where I came unstuck.
Rounded up to three stars.
Thank you to Piatkus for the review copy.
Contemporary vampires
Unlikeable characters
Strong start, waning plot
I started Fang Fiction with enthusiasm. This was a story set around Manhatten with humans and vampires seperate until they werent. There was a strange but quirky interplay of this cast of vampires being known to the humans as they were all from a cast of books that were well known. It sounds odd but it worked.
The human MC was an interesting and appealing character, a post grad student who had experienced a SA and retreated from the academic world. She found herself on 'vampire island' trying to connect one vampire twin back to the other. From here, things started to lose interest for me. The vampire characters were all pretty unlikeable although I did warm up a little to Callum.
The plot waxed and waned and I found myself disinterested from about half way. The side sapphic relationship was a bonus but it still didn't pull me back into investment.
I finished this book feel little care for the story or characters which was disappointing after my early investment. Was this romance, I'm not sure. I think the book, contemporary, vampire interplay didn't gel well together overall and that was where I came unstuck.
Rounded up to three stars.
Thank you to Piatkus for the review copy.
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Headlines:
Angsty slow burn
Relationship baggage
Friendship foundations
I didn't expect to get as swept up into this story as I did. At first, I wasn't sure I would like these messy characters but I really came to love the chaos that was Shiloh and the steadfastness that was Cary.
This story was told over decades, mostly in the present but with some chapters that went to the 'before' across the previous timeline. All the pieces slowly fit together about how this close friendship went astray, how they connected romantically at times and how they met again in the present. This couple had 'meant to be' stamped all over them but it was an angsty ride. What I did appreciate about the angst was that as we got over that in the last quarter, there was plenty of time to enjoy them without that sense of stress.
Both Shiloh and Cary had family baggage. How Shiloh navigated the world as a single mother but also giving herself a chance to love again was admirable. Her kids were a quirky and a fun part of this read. Cary showed his good guy card when it came to her family. That said, Cary had a shed-load of family baggage too.
This was a story of messy relationships that found their neater end...and I loved the ride.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC through netgalley.
Angsty slow burn
Relationship baggage
Friendship foundations
I didn't expect to get as swept up into this story as I did. At first, I wasn't sure I would like these messy characters but I really came to love the chaos that was Shiloh and the steadfastness that was Cary.
This story was told over decades, mostly in the present but with some chapters that went to the 'before' across the previous timeline. All the pieces slowly fit together about how this close friendship went astray, how they connected romantically at times and how they met again in the present. This couple had 'meant to be' stamped all over them but it was an angsty ride. What I did appreciate about the angst was that as we got over that in the last quarter, there was plenty of time to enjoy them without that sense of stress.
Both Shiloh and Cary had family baggage. How Shiloh navigated the world as a single mother but also giving herself a chance to love again was admirable. Her kids were a quirky and a fun part of this read. Cary showed his good guy card when it came to her family. That said, Cary had a shed-load of family baggage too.
This was a story of messy relationships that found their neater end...and I loved the ride.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC through netgalley.
Stolen English by Tasha Boyd
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Twenty-Four Seconds From Now by Jason Reynolds
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
This was an interesting read from Reynolds. It was like a stream of consciousness and inner monologue from the protagonist with some flashback scenes; it worked well in that format. I didn't realise that would be the narrative style but I got into it pretty quickly.
Initally, the story started with a teen nervous about intimacy with a beloved partner, there was some hilarious inner monologue but things got deeper from there. I loved how they met, despite the sad circumstances.
This was a hopeful tale. It was an endearing, introspective view of a caring young man wanting the normal things but caring about his partner.
Thank you to Faber YA for the review copy.
Initally, the story started with a teen nervous about intimacy with a beloved partner, there was some hilarious inner monologue but things got deeper from there. I loved how they met, despite the sad circumstances.
This was a hopeful tale. It was an endearing, introspective view of a caring young man wanting the normal things but caring about his partner.
Thank you to Faber YA for the review copy.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
An important story to tell but some of the execution didn't work for me. It took me past the half way mark to get into it and I didn't connect with the characters like I expected to. This was no more apparent than when difficult stuff happened towards the end and I didn't emote.
I've read other books with similar themes that I've connected with much more, where the horrors of WW2 were felt down to my soul. I didn't with this one.
I've read other books with similar themes that I've connected with much more, where the horrors of WW2 were felt down to my soul. I didn't with this one.
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I see why these books are popular, this was easy to read and easy to like.
*Predictable characters with authentic feelings
*Jerk redemption early on
*Hands off our sister
*Working through some trauma
*No third act break up
I'll definitely read the others.
*Predictable characters with authentic feelings
*Jerk redemption early on
*Hands off our sister
*Working through some trauma
*No third act break up
I'll definitely read the others.
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Headlines:
Cosy
Low stakes
Cat, baking, found family
The Teller of Small Fortunes was a reasonably slow paced read but it fit the low-stakes cosiness within the pages. What started as a lone traveller in Tao offering small fortunes (only) to villages and towns, became an eclectic foursome and pawsome of folks on a low-key mission.
Kina the messy baker was adorable as was Tao. The two guys were an odd addition to the two women but it worked, when the cat joined, I felt like it was perfect. The quest to find Mash's daughter Leah wasn't angsty but it was something that I cheered for in terms of result.
Seeing Tao reunited with her mother and finding out some of the past pulled back the layers on the privacy and walls Tao had built and I felt like I really got to know more about her then.
It took me a while to read this book and I think that was to do with the pacing. It wasn't difficult to read or pick it up but I didn't want to devour it, if that makes sense. I'd definitely pick this author up again.
Thank you Hodderscape for the review copy.
Cosy
Low stakes
Cat, baking, found family
The Teller of Small Fortunes was a reasonably slow paced read but it fit the low-stakes cosiness within the pages. What started as a lone traveller in Tao offering small fortunes (only) to villages and towns, became an eclectic foursome and pawsome of folks on a low-key mission.
Kina the messy baker was adorable as was Tao. The two guys were an odd addition to the two women but it worked, when the cat joined, I felt like it was perfect. The quest to find Mash's daughter Leah wasn't angsty but it was something that I cheered for in terms of result.
Seeing Tao reunited with her mother and finding out some of the past pulled back the layers on the privacy and walls Tao had built and I felt like I really got to know more about her then.
It took me a while to read this book and I think that was to do with the pacing. It wasn't difficult to read or pick it up but I didn't want to devour it, if that makes sense. I'd definitely pick this author up again.
Thank you Hodderscape for the review copy.