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emilyreadthatbook's reviews
803 reviews
A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
An interesting study on class wars with a dragon twist.
Vivien, a young woman who hopes to go to the university to study dragon languages, finds herself in the midst of a war. After her parents are arrested under suspicion of rebellious activities, Vivien sets out to free them. In doing so, she frees a criminal dragon to she uses to destroy potential evidence against her parents. With the destruction of a government building in the process, this act breaks a fragile truce between dragons and humans.
Vivien is captured and taken to Bletchley Park as a code breaker, with the agreement that if she breaks the code of a secret dragon language, her family will be freed. As her work progresses, Viv learns the true purpose of this language, along with the inequities her companions face with the current class system. She has to determine what her morals can allow with the information she has discovered and what role she is choosing to play on the future of her country, her friends lives, and the lives of dragons worldwide.
This book dives deep into class systems, government control of its people, and the restriction of rights for certain beings. These concepts are delivered in a manner that is approachable in a YA story. There are examples given and the FMC is given the opportunity time and time again to make a difference. She has to make decisions that impact the greater good of her family, dragons, and the lower class people of her country. Sometimes she makes the decision for the greater good of all and sometimes she selects the option that will save her family, but not others. I appreciated that it wasn’t cut and dry and she gets to change her mind later, once she learns new information.
This was an interesting tale about some heavy topics… but it has dragons (and the language piece is really really interesting).
Vivien, a young woman who hopes to go to the university to study dragon languages, finds herself in the midst of a war. After her parents are arrested under suspicion of rebellious activities, Vivien sets out to free them. In doing so, she frees a criminal dragon to she uses to destroy potential evidence against her parents. With the destruction of a government building in the process, this act breaks a fragile truce between dragons and humans.
Vivien is captured and taken to Bletchley Park as a code breaker, with the agreement that if she breaks the code of a secret dragon language, her family will be freed. As her work progresses, Viv learns the true purpose of this language, along with the inequities her companions face with the current class system. She has to determine what her morals can allow with the information she has discovered and what role she is choosing to play on the future of her country, her friends lives, and the lives of dragons worldwide.
This book dives deep into class systems, government control of its people, and the restriction of rights for certain beings. These concepts are delivered in a manner that is approachable in a YA story. There are examples given and the FMC is given the opportunity time and time again to make a difference. She has to make decisions that impact the greater good of her family, dragons, and the lower class people of her country. Sometimes she makes the decision for the greater good of all and sometimes she selects the option that will save her family, but not others. I appreciated that it wasn’t cut and dry and she gets to change her mind later, once she learns new information.
This was an interesting tale about some heavy topics… but it has dragons (and the language piece is really really interesting).
Lucky Charm by Anne-Marie Meyer
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It was fine. Nothing really amazing about it. The author really does like to tell you every single thing the characters do. It felt a little unnecessary.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
At over 3 hours in, I did not care about anything happening and had no interest to see where it ended up. Plus, there was a super weird scene abandoning a newborn baby on its dead mother’s grave, followed by hooking up with a supposed angel while attempt to locate the baby later. It was just too weird for me.
Tuesday Night Truths by C.W. Farnsworth
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I love CW Farnsworth’s books and was nervous this would be the one I wouldn’t enjoy due to a review I read. Luckily, the streak continues.
This book is about imperfect people attempting to become better versions of themselves to be a good partner. Holden has a history (covered in the previous book, Friday Night Lies) of fighting and sleeping around in high school. This book is a time jump to senior year of college for Holden and Cassia and looks at where their relationship is and what changes they have made to better show up for each other. Holden no longer fights and has been faithful to Cassia.There is a scene that some might consider cheating but everyone has a different line. He screws up and puts himself in a compromising situation. I don’t think proximity to someone equals cheating. Plus, he does talk to Cassia about it. While Cassia has learned to ask for what she needs and not take scraps due to feeling inferior to Holden’s “basketball god” status.
Ultimately, this is a satisfactory ending to Cassia and Holden’s story. I like seeing Easter eggs of other books woven in. I’m curious on what else will show up as I continue the backlist.
This book is about imperfect people attempting to become better versions of themselves to be a good partner. Holden has a history (covered in the previous book, Friday Night Lies) of fighting and sleeping around in high school. This book is a time jump to senior year of college for Holden and Cassia and looks at where their relationship is and what changes they have made to better show up for each other. Holden no longer fights and has been faithful to Cassia.
Ultimately, this is a satisfactory ending to Cassia and Holden’s story. I like seeing Easter eggs of other books woven in. I’m curious on what else will show up as I continue the backlist.
The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Emily Lloyd-Jones has mastered the art of weaving a story that binds you until the end. This one is no different. Though not as dark as some do her other books, this story had me caught up. Usually at 20% of the way through it a book, it starts really taking shape for me. I was still attempting to determine how the three different POVs fit together. When it finally starts making sense, there is another twist or turn to surprise you. It kept me guessing until the very end.
Saving 6 by Chloe Walsh
challenging
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This series is sooooo long but so good.
Stealing for Keeps by Rebecca Jenshak
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Ooof I do not miss high school. This book captures my memories of the relationship melodrama of high school.
Claire is recovering from a figure skating injury that ended her hopes of further competition and career. During this time, her long term boyfriend broke up with her. Never fear, as the school year begins a new guy starts at her school who she definitely has an interest in. One problem, he plays on the same soccer team as her jealous ex.
Rebecca Jenshak does a great job taking us to that place of high school relationship angst. Claire and Austin don’t want to hurt her ex Vaughn’s feelings, but also cannot stay away from each other. This, along with the everyday family issues and concerns about grades and what’s next; this is the epitome of a high school romance. If there was one thing I would change, I would love to know a little bit more about the side characters. I feel some of the side characters backgrounds and other details that are usually included in Jenshak’s books were glossed over or left out. It was hard to really know their personalities and what made them tick.
Claire is recovering from a figure skating injury that ended her hopes of further competition and career. During this time, her long term boyfriend broke up with her. Never fear, as the school year begins a new guy starts at her school who she definitely has an interest in. One problem, he plays on the same soccer team as her jealous ex.
Rebecca Jenshak does a great job taking us to that place of high school relationship angst. Claire and Austin don’t want to hurt her ex Vaughn’s feelings, but also cannot stay away from each other. This, along with the everyday family issues and concerns about grades and what’s next; this is the epitome of a high school romance. If there was one thing I would change, I would love to know a little bit more about the side characters. I feel some of the side characters backgrounds and other details that are usually included in Jenshak’s books were glossed over or left out. It was hard to really know their personalities and what made them tick.
A Trace of Something Stranger by Allison Giordano
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
A unique story of a girl learning the truth about her family and true nature, mixed in with a magical fantastical element.
Going to camp seemed like such an innocent act of rebellion, but for Tempest, it is the catalyst for her whole life changing. When she meets Jet, there is a spark on her side, but on his, there is a recognition of something more. This is the story of what happens next.
Allison Giordano has a special way of building this story. I had several moments throughout where I made guesses about what was going to come to pass, only one proved true (so far). There was a significant amount of world building, but it didn’t suffocate the story since it was divulged as Tempest, herself, was learning about the world around her. There are many threads available for future books (and I hope there are future books). I want to know what happens next. What Jet finds. And most of all, I want to know who Tempest becomes.
Going to camp seemed like such an innocent act of rebellion, but for Tempest, it is the catalyst for her whole life changing. When she meets Jet, there is a spark on her side, but on his, there is a recognition of something more. This is the story of what happens next.
Allison Giordano has a special way of building this story. I had several moments throughout where I made guesses about what was going to come to pass, only one proved true (so far). There was a significant amount of world building, but it didn’t suffocate the story since it was divulged as Tempest, herself, was learning about the world around her. There are many threads available for future books (and I hope there are future books). I want to know what happens next. What Jet finds. And most of all, I want to know who Tempest becomes.
War by Brittanée Nicole
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Tyler “War” Warren is a tattooed enforcer of a hockey captain, and a complete cinnamon roll. When he runs into a roadblock adopting his kids, his lawyer jokingly suggests getting married. Enter Ava. Ava hates War. Several years prior he stood her up and continued to let her down by not attending charity events he had committed to that she had organized. Ava has a super special relationship with one of the little girls War is attempting to adopt and rather than see Josie remain in the system, agrees to fake marry War.
This story is fairly predictable but has a very earnest delivery, which makes it heartwarming and not tired. To add, Brittanee Nicole kills it with the spice. The spice is spicin’ and there are a surprising number of references to glittery male genitalia (unless you have been reading the series, plus the previous interconnected one, in which case, it is not surprising at all).
Ava and War’s relationship is sweet and sometimes a little sad. Both have some history and are working through some of it by giving these kids the opportunity to a loving family. In this, they find ways to honor each other and share the little things that feel like family to them. The scene with Christmas breakfast is just adorable.
This story is fairly predictable but has a very earnest delivery, which makes it heartwarming and not tired. To add, Brittanee Nicole kills it with the spice. The spice is spicin’ and there are a surprising number of references to glittery male genitalia (unless you have been reading the series, plus the previous interconnected one, in which case, it is not surprising at all).
Ava and War’s relationship is sweet and sometimes a little sad. Both have some history and are working through some of it by giving these kids the opportunity to a loving family. In this, they find ways to honor each other and share the little things that feel like family to them. The scene with Christmas breakfast is just adorable.
Saint: A Novel by Adrienne Young
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Saint may now be my favorite character in the Narrows world. With the intro to him in Fable, he came across as cold and unfeeling. This origin story explains how some of those behaviors came to be. They were part of what made him as successful as he became.
In Fable and Namesake, Isolde is but a name, we never get to meet her. Having her also be a part of this story helps create a richer backstory for the original duology. In the descriptions of Isolde in the duology, there is a sense she was confident and maybe a little foolhardy. What we see in this book is her coming into her own. Leaving the protection of her mother, she loses the security her mother’s name brings her. There is a sense that she has been sheltered in some ways and being around Saint and the other characters she crosses paths with really opens her eyes to the world she now lives in.
Here’s hoping this is not the last we see of these characters or this world. They now live rent free in my head.
In Fable and Namesake, Isolde is but a name, we never get to meet her. Having her also be a part of this story helps create a richer backstory for the original duology. In the descriptions of Isolde in the duology, there is a sense she was confident and maybe a little foolhardy. What we see in this book is her coming into her own. Leaving the protection of her mother, she loses the security her mother’s name brings her. There is a sense that she has been sheltered in some ways and being around Saint and the other characters she crosses paths with really opens her eyes to the world she now lives in.
Here’s hoping this is not the last we see of these characters or this world. They now live rent free in my head.