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emilywemily6's reviews
351 reviews
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
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.
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
This book was definitely better than the first one but not nearly as good as the second one. The pacing was a little off, with the beginning a bit slow and feeling aimless, and the ending being jam packed with stuff. I appreciated the contrast of Feyre’s experience in the Spring Court in this book in comparison to the first. I feel like I liked the lead up of the Throne of Glass conflict better than this conflict; the stakes didn’t feel as high because the lead up with relatively brief compared to ToG. As always, I want more death in SJM’s books.
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
5.0
How is this sequel better than the first one? Amazing. It felt so unique in the direction the story went, especially with the uncertainty we feel at the end of book 1. I loved more of a focus on Elm and Ione, but I still got plenty of Ravyn and Elspeth. The stakes were higher and secrets were uncovered and it was so good!
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.75
This book was so good- almost perfect! It was a little hard to get into because I didn’t really understand what was happening with Elspeth and the Nightmare for the first little bit; I listened to the first two chapters a couple times until I got it, but from there the rest of the story was easy to follow. It has great gothic fairytale vibes and a unique magic system. The playing card magic system sounds dorky but it is really interesting and varied and has shaped this world. I loved the slow and subtle romance and the character development. The ending blew my mind and makes me want to read the second book asap, though I’m not sure what it will look like.
Daily Joy: A Devotional for Each Day of the Year by Russell M. Nelson
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
This devotional book was perfect for a quicker, more simple devotional study. Each page had a verse of scripture and a paragraph or two pulled from the talks of President Russell M. Nelson. The only thing this book was missing was references to all the talks from which the quotes were pulled. Even if they had a bibliography at the end, that would have been really nice. Otherwise, this was an inspiring read that Latter Day Saints would enjoy, and I feel like other Christians or spiritual people would still appreciate its teachings.
How to Steal a Galaxy by Beth Revis
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5
I loved this book! This series was so easy to binge and I’m sad I have to wait for the third and final novella. I enjoyed the pacing and storytelling of this book, though it didn’t have as much space magic or interesting things happening. There was a lot more talking and less doing. It was still hilarious and fast paced, and I love the dynamic of these main characters. I would love more development in their relationship to each other though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Drug use, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
I loved this book and it was so unexpected for me! I started the second book in the series unknowingly, and then backtracked about 25% into the second book so I could read this one. This was funny, punchy, and had the perfect length and pacing. Lots of fun space travel and adventure, and a fun twist that had Ocean’s Eleven vibes. These characters were so fun to get to know and I couldn’t wait to dive back into the next book for more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Minor: Medical content, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
If you are looking for dark, gothic fairytale retellings that feel both familiar and unexpected, this is for you. I enjoyed every story, though I definitely had a hard time staying awake at night to read them. The stories that stick with me the most are probably the fox, the fabrikator, and the mermaid stories. I like the Grishaverse flair these stories have. I especially loved the Darkling’s cameo in the last story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was actually my first read in this series and I liked it more than I thought I would! There are a ton of side characters that I feel like would be more understood if you have read the others in the series. While I understood Gretchen’s perspective, she got on my nerves, especially with the third act conflict. I honestly was team Colton the whole time and felt like everything potentially hurtful he said was 100% truth 🤷♀️ Gretchen’s family made me angry. In general, I liked the writing style and I adored Colton, so I see myself reading from this author again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Physical abuse
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This was alright but not a super satisfying end to the trilogy. Lots of loose holes and questions remain. A lot happened in this book but it felt a bit disjointed as far as plot and pacing go. I love these characters, and while Apollo’s POV was intriguing, it didn’t add a lot to the story overall- 2 or 3 chapters would have been plenty.