booksandladders's reviews
2111 reviews

Sound the Gong by Joan He

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3.0

Strike the Zither by Joan He

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

4.25

I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming

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

4.25

Thanks to Berkley for the early copy! Review to come closer to release date.
A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope by Patrice Caldwell

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

2.5

Some of the stories were really great but others just completely missed the mark. That's the hard part with anthologies! Overall, I think the standouts were: "Letting the Right One In" by Patrice Caldwell and "The Curse of Love" by Ashley Woodfolk. Both I would take as full novels and then TV shows a la "First Kill" by V.E. Schwab.

I would recommend picking this up from the library, still!
Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge

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adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

4.25

In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker

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

2.75

The Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

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3.75

American Royalty by Tracey Livesay

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3.25