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bookphenomena_micky's reviews
4705 reviews
Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed the set up and characterisation of these two. The mental health background to the MMC was well written. Unfortunately, the plot waned and even though this wasn't a long book, it felt a bit long winded. I finished liking the characters still but not being that invested in the later journey.
Under the Oak Tree: Volume 1 (The Novel) by Suji Kim
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Headlines:
Marriage of convenience
Getting to know one another
Self worth
This text novel of the graphic novel (web comic to hard copy) was so worth the read. I have previously enjoyed the graphic novel and reading the text novel with all that visualisation in my mind was vivid and rich. The characterisation of the two MCs Maxi and Riftan was so appealing as I got to know each of them better and better as the story unfolded.
It was all brusque meets shyness, confidence meets uncertainty and temper meets meekness. These two contrasted completely and yet they were a complimentary match with real feelings seeming to catch fire. Talking of catching fire, this was relatively graphic in the intimacy department but it conveyed a tangible connection.
Maxi is by far my favourite character. She was abused by her father and there is no doubt she was traumatised. Maxi had a speech impairment and this is a key focus in this novel. She had huge issues with self worth and she just wanted to be useful and to matter to someone. Honestly, my heart still really goes out to her.
Riftan was a bit oblivious to her issues but her truly does care for her. I cannot wait for some future honesty between them about their developing feelings.
I wait to read on, to be honest, that wait will be impatient.
Thank you to Inklore Books for the review copy.
Marriage of convenience
Getting to know one another
Self worth
This text novel of the graphic novel (web comic to hard copy) was so worth the read. I have previously enjoyed the graphic novel and reading the text novel with all that visualisation in my mind was vivid and rich. The characterisation of the two MCs Maxi and Riftan was so appealing as I got to know each of them better and better as the story unfolded.
It was all brusque meets shyness, confidence meets uncertainty and temper meets meekness. These two contrasted completely and yet they were a complimentary match with real feelings seeming to catch fire. Talking of catching fire, this was relatively graphic in the intimacy department but it conveyed a tangible connection.
Maxi is by far my favourite character. She was abused by her father and there is no doubt she was traumatised. Maxi had a speech impairment and this is a key focus in this novel. She had huge issues with self worth and she just wanted to be useful and to matter to someone. Honestly, my heart still really goes out to her.
Riftan was a bit oblivious to her issues but her truly does care for her. I cannot wait for some future honesty between them about their developing feelings.
I wait to read on, to be honest, that wait will be impatient.
Thank you to Inklore Books for the review copy.
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Headlines:
Immersive
Layers
Allegiances
I'm irriated that I've sat on this series so long because now I want to hoover it up. I guess the upside is that I get to romp through four books at break-neck speed.
The lead character Paige made me compulsively read this book. Her surface character, her underworld character and her character in captivity made her multifaceted...and then there was her frustrating tendency to run headlong into stupid situations through obstinacy. I may have muttered at her a few times in annoyance.
The characters around her, Nick, Jaxon, Liss and the Warden (and more) were elusive in many ways and I turned those pages to find out more. The Rephs most of all were hard to fully understand from the anatomy, the skills and the allegiances they held. Alongside them, the buzzers remained a little elusive too.
The aether world was fascinating as were the talents of the unnaturals. These elements made Paige so interesting as I fathomed her and she fathomed others.
I made the hilarious mistake of looking up some art because I needed to mentally sketch out the warden but my goodness, that was not helpful. If anyone has any character art they know of, please help me!
Thank you to my buds Amy and Cat who have championed me opening these pages for years but have been patient until I have.
Immersive
Layers
Allegiances
I'm irriated that I've sat on this series so long because now I want to hoover it up. I guess the upside is that I get to romp through four books at break-neck speed.
The lead character Paige made me compulsively read this book. Her surface character, her underworld character and her character in captivity made her multifaceted...and then there was her frustrating tendency to run headlong into stupid situations through obstinacy. I may have muttered at her a few times in annoyance.
The characters around her, Nick, Jaxon, Liss and the Warden (and more) were elusive in many ways and I turned those pages to find out more. The Rephs most of all were hard to fully understand from the anatomy, the skills and the allegiances they held. Alongside them, the buzzers remained a little elusive too.
The aether world was fascinating as were the talents of the unnaturals. These elements made Paige so interesting as I fathomed her and she fathomed others.
I made the hilarious mistake of looking up some art because I needed to mentally sketch out the warden but my goodness, that was not helpful. If anyone has any character art they know of, please help me!
Thank you to my buds Amy and Cat who have championed me opening these pages for years but have been patient until I have.
Guardian of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
In the prior book, I asked for clearer world building or a plateau in world building and I'm pleased to report that in that respect, there was stability in that and I became clearer on the magic, the skills and the baddies.
This installment had more of a relationship focus than the fantasy plot. I liked how the author turned this triangle into a pair. It was done without malice, it had a natural evolving. I do really like the emerging couple together. The late reveal about a shared aspect of their lives was something I did not see coming at all. There were some other great twists too.
The trials for the FMC kept coming, similar to book one in terms of persistent intensity. That said, she started to believe in herself a bit. I feel like I need a bit less repetition for the next book but I don't know if I'll get that.
Overall, I'm still invested in this series and I'll be picking up book three soon while everything is still fresh in my mind.
This installment had more of a relationship focus than the fantasy plot. I liked how the author turned this triangle into a pair. It was done without malice, it had a natural evolving. I do really like the emerging couple together. The late reveal about a shared aspect of their lives was something I did not see coming at all. There were some other great twists too.
The trials for the FMC kept coming, similar to book one in terms of persistent intensity. That said, she started to believe in herself a bit. I feel like I need a bit less repetition for the next book but I don't know if I'll get that.
Overall, I'm still invested in this series and I'll be picking up book three soon while everything is still fresh in my mind.
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