ellemnope's reviews
2349 reviews

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Though not as powerful as the first in the series (mostly because the shock appeal does wear off after you've learned a bit of what to expect), the sequel in the Finlay Donovan series still packs a punch. The banter is just as witty and Finlay is still just a bit off her rocker. There is a need to have some suspension of disbelief in these tales and just ride the wave. The story is super fun and fast-paced and somehow the grit of the situation still comes off as just goofy and funny. Hired assassins? Dangerous mob? Death threats? Somehow not daunting, just entertaining. It's a feeling I'm not sure I've quite experienced outside of this series and it's really making me like mysteries again. This series continues to be a good time and the ending wraps up well enough to feel solid while still leaving a nice bit of cliffhanger. At this point, I'm not sure I'll get tired of reading any of these books.

Spells of Iron & Bone by Sarah Piper

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Dune by Frank Herbert

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adventurous challenging tense slow-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

3.5

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is SUCH an entertaining read. I thought for sure I'd be rolling my eyes at things, but instead I was trying to hold back a laugh. And the plot really works. Sure, there's some suspension of disbelief, but it's actually really well-handled. It's fast-paced with some good banter to the writing and I'll definitely be moving right into the next in the series.

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

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dark reflective sad slow-paced