booksandrollercoasters's reviews
26 reviews

The Shadow Glass by Josh Winning

Go to review page

adventurous challenging mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Everyone who is nostaglic towards the Dark Crystal should read this.
Loved all the snippets of movienerd culture between the chapters, and the story itself was awesome!
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

Go to review page

adventurous challenging funny lighthearted 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? Yes

3.75

I love a quirky book, but this was almost too quirky?
It was like a more random version of Alice in Wonderland. 
I thought it was fun, but maybe my anticipation was a bit too high for this one. 
Cassandra: A Short Horror Story by Savannah James

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.25

Shadowless by Randall McNally

Go to review page

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

5.0

The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean

Go to review page

adventurous challenging lighthearted 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? Yes

3.0

DallerGut Dream Department Store by Mi-Ye Lee 이미예

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

The Soldier in the Scullery by Jean Swan

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Now I finally read everything there is to read by Jean Swan. 
And this one was another gem.
A raw slice of life story, about a soldier trying and trying to get and take a new chance in life.
Swan proves herself again to be a master of writing in this small but touching story...
The Ill-Made Mute by Cecilia Dart-Thornton

Go to review page

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

4.0

This was so pretty! But also a bit tedious read.
Dart-Thornton writes very flowery and descriptive of nature, which makes the world really vivid and bright. What a great world has she created.
But that makes the plot sometimes take the backseat. The plot is very fairy tale ish or folklore inspired, a bit easy if you will. Its a very slow buildup towards book 2, and some parts were a bit too slow for me.
But as a traditional fantasy with fairies and small myths sprinkled throughout, I can really appreciate it. 
Will continue this series!
PET by Akwaeke Emezi

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Strange but very unique story that took me ages to finish because its contents were kinda heavy? Some people call this whimsical, for me it was almost horror in a sense that there's a certain heaviness throughout the book.
A Shining by Jon Fosse

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Got gripped by the mood of this story (which made me think this could've been a new favorite), got lost in the narration and repetition, and kept waiting for that style to change a bit, or, something to really happen.