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claragweny's reviews
188 reviews
Just as You Are by Camille Kellogg
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
4.0
I was enjoying the story and how relatable everyone felt that it took me till about 60% through to realize this was a Pride & Prejudice retelling. What can I say? I put the book on hold at the library months ago and forgot what it was about đ¤ˇââď¸
As Iâm nearly 30, questioning my career, constantly questioning/changing my queerness, and feeling generally listless about much of my life this book felt so, so right. It also made me miss New York so badly it hurts. The descriptions in the lesbian bars gave me vivid flashbacks to my times visiting lesbian bars there and feeling SO similarly to the characters in the book.
(What the hell, man. I gotta go move to New York, change my career, and have my big queer friend group now.) I loved all the characters so much and I want them all to be my friends (and maybe my partners đ).
As Iâm nearly 30, questioning my career, constantly questioning/changing my queerness, and feeling generally listless about much of my life this book felt so, so right. It also made me miss New York so badly it hurts. The descriptions in the lesbian bars gave me vivid flashbacks to my times visiting lesbian bars there and feeling SO similarly to the characters in the book.
(What the hell, man. I gotta go move to New York, change my career, and have my big queer friend group now.) I loved all the characters so much and I want them all to be my friends (and maybe my partners đ).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Iâve had this on my TBR since last year just waiting for winter again and Iâm so glad I finally read it! What more could you ask for? Itâs a Christmas tree farm fake dating book! Entirely readable and thoroughly enjoyable. The tension between Luka and Stella is palpable. Comparable to Laurie Gilmore (the Pumpkin Spice Cafe is what Iâve read) in terms of cozy reads but MUCH better plot and character wise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
âDeath comes for us all. I would simply have mine mean something.â
A Conjuring of Light was my favorite of the series and itâs also the longest. I loved that we got the multiple point of view storyline again.
Rhyâs story really hooked its claws into me. I cried for his story. My favorite quote from one of his chapters: âAs Rhy Maresh walked through the streets of London, a new myth was taking shape.â He had the most character growth of anyone in this book and he became such a badass in the end.
We get chapters interspersed in the plot with background for Holland. To get a glimpse behind the facade of the cold Antari magician was moving (and sad). These chapters and the chapters from Hollandâs point of view made Holland into my favorite character.
There are scenes in this book that had me wishing for an alternate universe where Kell and Lila had Holland for a magic teacher. At one point Holland says something along the lines of âI canât believe there are things you still do not knowâ. I cant help but think Holland would have been a perfect teacher for them both.
We end this trilogy with a lot of loss. Itâs always sad to end a series and this one is no exception. Iâll miss these characters and this story but it was a good ending.
A Conjuring of Light was my favorite of the series and itâs also the longest. I loved that we got the multiple point of view storyline again.
Rhyâs story really hooked its claws into me. I cried for his story. My favorite quote from one of his chapters: âAs Rhy Maresh walked through the streets of London, a new myth was taking shape.â He had the most character growth of anyone in this book and he became such a badass in the end.
We get chapters interspersed in the plot with background for Holland. To get a glimpse behind the facade of the cold Antari magician was moving (and sad). These chapters and the chapters from Hollandâs point of view made Holland into my favorite character.
There are scenes in this book that had me wishing for an alternate universe where Kell and Lila had Holland for a magic teacher. At one point Holland says something along the lines of âI canât believe there are things you still do not knowâ. I cant help but think Holland would have been a perfect teacher for them both.
We end this trilogy with a lot of loss. Itâs always sad to end a series and this one is no exception. Iâll miss these characters and this story but it was a good ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
medium-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
4.0
"She bent most of the rules. She broke the rest.â
A Gathering of Shadows is unequivocally Delilah Bardâs show and it is so much fun. Lila is such a brash and unapologetic character who we get to follow on her journey of magic, mistakes, and growth. We end the story knowing who she is at her core while still questioning what she really is. But we know she is special. After all, she is ânot like most girls.â (A direct quote from the book. A bit too on the nose maybe but this is YA!)
Kell and Rhy are having a tough time in this story. Rhy is grappling with the consequences of Kellâs spell on his life. Meanwhile, Kell is grappling with the emotional toll of losing the trust of the royal family and Red London as a whole. Theyâre -both- struggling together, poor boys. I really started to feel Kellâs sense of confinement and Rhyâs loss of control.
Then we start the games - and these are so fun. I got through this part of the book the quickest because I was enjoying how cinematic it was. Everything was described so vividly it was so easy to picture everything.
I was surprised we actually got some romance(s) in this book too. It wasnât something I expected but enjoyed and felt natural to the story - not added as an afterthought or an edit at a later date.
If youâre not a fan of fantasy tropes or most YA fantasy, you might have some problems with this book. But if youâre alright with tropes and not interested in critically analyzing the story I think youâll probably enjoy A Gathering of Shadows and recommend continuing the series. I will warn you in advance that it ends on a very big cliffhanger so you should have A Conjuring of Light ready and waiting!
A Gathering of Shadows is unequivocally Delilah Bardâs show and it is so much fun. Lila is such a brash and unapologetic character who we get to follow on her journey of magic, mistakes, and growth. We end the story knowing who she is at her core while still questioning what she really is. But we know she is special. After all, she is ânot like most girls.â (A direct quote from the book. A bit too on the nose maybe but this is YA!)
Kell and Rhy are having a tough time in this story. Rhy is grappling with the consequences of Kellâs spell on his life. Meanwhile, Kell is grappling with the emotional toll of losing the trust of the royal family and Red London as a whole. Theyâre -both- struggling together, poor boys. I really started to feel Kellâs sense of confinement and Rhyâs loss of control.
Then we start the games - and these are so fun. I got through this part of the book the quickest because I was enjoying how cinematic it was. Everything was described so vividly it was so easy to picture everything.
I was surprised we actually got some romance(s) in this book too. It wasnât something I expected but enjoyed and felt natural to the story - not added as an afterthought or an edit at a later date.
If youâre not a fan of fantasy tropes or most YA fantasy, you might have some problems with this book. But if youâre alright with tropes and not interested in critically analyzing the story I think youâll probably enjoy A Gathering of Shadows and recommend continuing the series. I will warn you in advance that it ends on a very big cliffhanger so you should have A Conjuring of Light ready and waiting!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
âI'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still.â
I donât know why it took me so long to read A Darker Shade of Magic. At least Iâve read it now because I have a feeling itâs ongoing to be one of my favorite trilogies.
Kel and Delilah have such great chemistry together and I am fully invested in their stories - both together and separately. I am left with so many questions I want answered about both of them. The setting in this story is fascinating to me. The multiple Londons and their applicable colors being relevant to something in the physical world is so cool. Genuinely, I could continue to rave about tiny individual parts of this novel that I found compelling but Iâll stop here and just say this: if youâre a magic loving fantasy reader just do yourself the favor and read this book.
Content note: the violence isnât particularly gore heavy - however there is quite a bit of violence and murder, heavy on the blood content.
I donât know why it took me so long to read A Darker Shade of Magic. At least Iâve read it now because I have a feeling itâs ongoing to be one of my favorite trilogies.
Kel and Delilah have such great chemistry together and I am fully invested in their stories - both together and separately. I am left with so many questions I want answered about both of them. The setting in this story is fascinating to me. The multiple Londons and their applicable colors being relevant to something in the physical world is so cool. Genuinely, I could continue to rave about tiny individual parts of this novel that I found compelling but Iâll stop here and just say this: if youâre a magic loving fantasy reader just do yourself the favor and read this book.
Content note: the violence isnât particularly gore heavy - however there is quite a bit of violence and murder, heavy on the blood content.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
The Pumpkin Spice CafĂŠ by Laurie Gilmore
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was a book I read, I guess. I have zero strong feelings at all which I donât think is a good thing. Just kind of bland. For being a book I saw people raving about I really expected more. Or at least more coziness.
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-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
5.0
Get ready to be confused! The nonlinear timeline, unreliable narrator, and intentionally confusing narrative are used as plot devices. Once youâre a good chunk into the book things start to make a little bit of sense. Itâs so gripping at that point that youâll want to stick with it despite the confusion. Keep in mind, itâs not just you whoâs confused. Harrow is too. It makes you feel more involved in Muirâs universe rather than just a spectator. I wasnât sure if I would be sticking with the series past this book but the ending was so compelling that I simply must continue. I canât ~not~ know more about this story, this universe, that Tamsyn Muir has created.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, and Blood
The Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert
emotional
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
3.75
We can always trust Talia Hibbert to write fantastic steamy sex scenes. What was different about the Roommate Risk was the sub-themes of the story. Heavier topics that Hibbert doesnât normally write about in her novels. I enjoyed this depth. While this still isnât my favorite novel of hers Iâd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes her work. Especially if you like a bossy MMC. đ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
adventurous
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
3.0
The concept of the âescape to nature to heal and growâ trope has been done many times and in more emotionally complex ways. I donât think the romance is really all that compelling either. Though the âhe fell first she fell harderâ trope done here is sweet and feels true. The movie was definitely better. We lacked only a little of the information from the book in the movie and it was changed it a few ways for the better. Iâll never say âdonât bother reading the bookâ but if youâre on the fence about this one - watch the movie and enjoy Ellie Kemper breathing life into Helen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0