bookphenomena_micky's reviews
4681 reviews

Headlines:
A city of ego
Violated tribes
Magical dark academia

I am so desperate to do this book justice in my review as I am full of feelings on finishing. This has been a book I have both devoured and savoured over a week. It has made me feel anger at the horrendous injustices, hopeful that things could change, sadness and excitment at the plot in general.

Sciona, a female mage trying to trailblaze ranks that no female mage had ever reached, was such a worthy protagonist. She was single-minded and blinkered in her quest for admittance to the magistery and then the same about the tasks she was given. Alongside Sciona was Thomil, a Kwen servent, janitor and then assistant. I don't even have the words to describe the two races in this book. Suffice it to say that methaphor could not be missed in these two nations housed in one strip of land and my heart hurt.

The plot was fantastic, a dark academia based on magical powers and the pursuit to learn more. It wasn't heavy or dull, a criticism I often see about dark academia. It was engaging and thrilling with a fairly fast pace.

There were themes of patriachy, misogyny, abuse, prejudice and some content that might be difficult for some readers. All of these elements were handled with care and measure, not for sensationalism but to highlight power dynamics and how leaders wield their power to those who are at their mercy. It wasn't preachy either, you could read this on the surface or you can sink your teeth into the deeper themes that are there for readers.

I am so impressed with this story, the plot, the characterisation and the ease of writing. This book will hit my top ten list for sure for 2024.

Thank you to DelreyUK for the review copy. 

Headlines:
Unique plotline
Too many POVs
Satisfying end

I went through a lot of phases with this read...interest, questioning which person was narrating, at which time, some lulls and a surge of renewed interest in the last 10%. This story, with fate at the head was fascinating but rather long-winded at times.

The characters were not that likeable but that wasn't the purpose of this story. It started with strangers on a plane having a shared experience of forced fortunes, death dates and causes. That whole early part of the book was so incredibly shocking. The rest of the book was the fall out for these characters and the effect of living with this information.

The "psychic" was a really unlikeable character but I did like the direction the author took with her in the latter part of the book. How the plot resolved itself was truly satisfying and finished the book in a better place than I was expecting.

The middle section of the book was overly long. The many, many POVs were excessive and confusing (a trend with this author). I wished it could have kept my interest more avidly throughout.

I've enjoyed Liane Moriarty books in the past, but the prior release was a DNF, now this one was very middling. I will be a wary reader in the future.

Thank you to the publisher through netgalley for the eARC.

 

I liked the story and the two MCs but a few things I found difficult. The art wasn't that appealing to me and the text was difficult to read throughout. Those two elements are so crucial in liking a graphic novel and while it could just be me, I suspect it isn't.

Not sure if I'll continue. 

Headlines:
Protective male
Single dad
Hiding
Abuse

There were some heavy themes in From Here to Eternity but they were balanced well with a connection that seemed meant to be (please check the content warnings at the end if you need to). Charleigh had been on the run for some time, grieving and just surviving when she turned up at River's tattoo shop hoping to imprint some words on her skin. There was a real fizzle of something between these two.

River found himself inviting Charleigh into his home and family with his son Nolan. Charleigh found so many things she needed in this found family, his sister with similar experiences, his son who she adored and some small sense of safety.

River was a complex, morally grey hero. He gave off dark and dangerous vibes but there was a soft centre. The single dad element was endearing, the cause he and his friends pursued was pretty noble. Charleigh was completely skittish, untrusting but her past gave her reasons to want to be invisible. The revealing of that past was difficult reading.

The reveal that came in the latter part of the read was so unexpected. It made for a tense and exciting end.

Thank you to the author for the review copy.

 

Headlines:
From Lady to low
Secrets
World building-heavy

A lot happened in this series starter but I've ended very invested in what's to come for the characters in this series. There was a lot of world building and a rather complex plot but I imagine the burden of set-up will be less in the subsequent books. I also feel like the world-building was worth it and I managed to keep up.

It was a interesting world with a coming-of-age-magic ceremony that revealed so much in terms of disappointment for the protagonist Lyr and her family. These women had big secrets to keep and what started as excitment about the start of the adult life and magic capabilities became full of peril and uncertainty.

I liked the diminished Lyr much more than the entitled young women she was initially. The experiences she had built her character and I really enjoyed her time in the sortorion training. The triangle shaped connection between Lyr, Tristan and Rhyen had me invested and I know who I am rooting for.

There were some nasty characters including those in power and some fellow sotorion trainees. All this was offset by the sortorion Lyr was apprenticed to; he was kindness and empowerment. I can't claim to truly understand one aspect of the world but I hope to get clearer about that as the series progresses.

I am looking forward to the next book I have here. There are also some novellas I want to pick up but the blurb says they have spoilers for book two, so I'll hold off reading those for now.

Thank you to Hodderscape for the review copy. 

Audio review
This book got off to a good start with a meet cute in the protagonist's bakery/cafe, there was chemistry over coffee. Everything from there was coincidence or was it hexing? I liked Dina initally and her friends and family. It was a cosy world.

BUT, from there, the foot was on the accelerator and insta love ensued. These two did have that inital spark but I would have enjoyed a slower and more realistic build so much more than what we got. I also would have liked more tension and effort to find their way to one another.

I was left feeling a bit unsatisfied and I didn't enjoy the descriptions of intimacy. I know this was a debut, so I'd give the author another go because there was a finesse to the writing itself, just the plotting and characterisation didn't work for me.

Narration-wise, this was dual POV with dual narration. Good narrator choices. 

Headlines:
Spoopy romance
From different worlds
Amusing misunderstandings

My Vampire Plus-One was highly entertaining, quippy and fun. Between the pages was a real connection but I was allured to this story for the spoopy, vampiric clash with the human world.

Amelia was the straight-laced accountant who literally bumped into Reggie, a real-life bump in the night. These two fake dated their way into misapprehensions about one another and instead of it being frustrating, it was silly-fun. I enjoyed seeing the eventual realisation that Amelia came to, it was hilarious.

I was less keen on the back story of Reggie being on a vampiric wanted list and that whole plot line. I did like seeing the previous couple feature and being able to see their story move on through others' eyes.

Overall, this was fun and engaging but I don't think it will stay with me long. I'd definitely read more from the series/author however.

Thank you to Delrey UK for the review copy. 

Headlines:
Being special
Everyone's expectations
A difficult role in life

This story was as charismatic as it was dark. It was impossible not to be seduced by the writing, the world and it's characters, especially Hazel. Hazel, born a thirteenth child, unwanted by her parents but wanted by a godly godfather. Merrick's long-awaited entrance into Hazel's life was not at all what I expected, he lacked nurture but there was a sense of growth in their relationship.

Hazel's younger childhood was difficult to swallow and the stealing of her later childhood to become a healer, seemed a better outcome than the before. This story had phases, and each phase of Hazel's life was totally absorbing. I loved her early time in the inbetween, her first healing village but the time in the palace was frought with difficult charcters, illness and decisions.

The idea of the deathshead was chilling and Hazel's role was even more sinister. The decisions she had to make led to quite a responsibility to carry. The latter part of this book was rather twisty and I enjoyed having the rug pulled out from my perceptions about the characters in the palace.

The eventual romance was believable and had me cheering for these two. The ending shredded my heart with emotion but it was also beautiful; I literally ended on tears.

The Thirteenth Child was a fantastic dark fantasy standalone. It was grim, chilling but with warm characterisation that saw this reader through the tough bits. I am blown away.

Thank you Rock The Boat for the review copy.