emilywemily6's reviews
350 reviews

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo

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adventurous reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

This book leans more fantasy than the last. I love how different each of these stories feel, while still tapping into the storytelling aspect. This book discusses truth being different from different people/perspectives, and the messages we try to send to others. Again, I feel like I am missing something that others got out of this, but I enjoyed it.
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

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adventurous inspiring reflective fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

This was a good novella with some beautiful writing and some deeper meanings hinted at. I liked the progression of the storytelling and the implied lessons we learn. I wish they weren’t so obscure and we could get some beautiful writing to teach us. Overall, I feel like missed something that others got out of it, but I’m glad I read it. This was a reread prior to reading the rest of the series.
Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

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adventurous mysterious reflective 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

3.75

This was a short and sweet werewolf story that read more like a fantasy coming-of-age story than a horror. We follow the main character’s journey as she transforms, adapts to her new situation, and revisits her past in her hometown while reconciling her newly defined future. I felt kind of indifferent to the characters in general, I didn’t connect with any of them.  The ending wrapped up nicer than I thought, so it was kind of a feel good werewolf story? It was interesting and not nearly as dark as I expected. I want more horror and darkness from a werewolf story, though.
All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox

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emotional hopeful lighthearted slow-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

2.75

The miscommunication!!!! Ugh I was already more than halfway when I realized the miscommunication would not end, so I just kept going. There were so many chances to share simple things that shouldn’t have been kept a secret? Like I am so surprised they fell so hard for each other but didn’t disclose basic info. And then neither of them trusted the other or gave them the benefit of the doubt, so it was frustrating from both sides of the relationship. When they got along, it was sweet, but they had a falling out every chapter it felt like. The spicy scenes were pretty subtle and I liked the writing style in general, but if I have to read one more miscommunication from this author I might throw something.
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

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adventurous hopeful mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

I really enjoyed this YA. The setting was really cool, both in the historical fiction aspect (lots of research behind this, which was so cool) and the Egypt/archeology aspect. I like Inez as a character, though the first half of this book felt so slow because she kept having the same arguments over and over again with everybody until the expedition finally happened. I liked the twists and turns. While I liked the idea of magical elements, I didn’t like how it played out in this book. A tie that makes boiling water? A sandal that lights up like a candle? The magic didn’t really make sense so it felt disingenuous with the rest of the story. The ending had me gasping and rereading parts of the book in a panic. I am really excited to read the next book!
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

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funny lighthearted mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.25

This was the perfect holiday special, with 24 chapters and 24 clues leading up to the reveal of the killer, so it was kind of like an advent book! Lots of red herrings but also a fair play mystery (mostly). I enjoy this sense of humor and this read was a quick one. To be warned: it’s really easy to accidentally see who the killer is if you are just trying to see how long the book is, so be careful!
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

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

3.75

This is a children’s classic for a reason. It’s got a fast-paced, fantastical story that changed the game for children’s books. I feel like a lot of the meaning behind the story went over my head as a kid so it was nice rereading it as an adult. I also feel like a children’s book should be meaningful for children, not just for adults. I wish there was more world building and description too.
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

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

2.75

If a black woman had written this, it could have been a 5 star.
Be warned, this is a dark book. Part of me appreciates what the author was trying to do, but there were so many moments where there was something really vulgar or crass that seemed meaningless, or where the themes of good vs evil were too heavy handed. It was a strange combination that left me feeling like I didn’t quite understand Macguire’s goals for the book. It was also such a slog to get through and felt so slow. I also felt like I was watching Elphaba from above for most of the book instead of looking inside her head, which made this book lacking in a lot of ways. It felt more emotionless than it could have, considering the dark topics and themes. Again: if a black woman wrote this, it would have been a much better story. The storytelling in the musical is better in regards to pacing and understand the depth of Elphaba’s character and struggles.
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

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

4.5

I enjoyed this book more than I thought! I loved that these characters were morally gray, but like a light gray. It was more suspense than thriller in its themes, with some spy-esque plot elements. I had a lot of fun reading and gobbled this book up really fast. I would have liked to read a few chapters from Ryan’s perspective to thicken the plot in the second half of the book. I think most people would generally enjoy this, but someone who loves thriller might not like this as much as I did.
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

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hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-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? No

4.0

This book was gentler and more slice-of-life than the others in the series. It didn’t really add much to the plot arc of this series, but I liked getting to see this found family and understand the characters on a more complicated level. I still hate Nesta. I like the winter/holiday setting which I wasn’t expecting. The spicy scenes are nice.