ginalucia's reviews
495 reviews

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

 In need of your next fantasy romance with witches, magic, and The Handmaid’s Tale vibes (what?!)? This might be it!

You're probably thinking, The Handmaid’s Tale, really?!

Let me explain myself. This book, even though it’s a YA romantasy, gave me those vibes. 

Honest!

The world is kind of gritty, slightly dystopian-feeling, and the women within it either feel persecuted for something almost unexplained, almost natural, or they’re part of the system.

It’s gritty, kind of sad, and you don’t really know a lot because the world and its dynamic are slowly handed to you through the characters. I liked it. A lot.

Of course, there is a romance element. It wouldn’t be romantasy without it. This is the perfect blend of dark reality and relationship-building. The dynamic between characters is fantastic, and the near-constant drama and action pulls you through the story.

This book was a very easy and enjoyable read. Slightly predictable but with a dark edge. Can’t wait to read the next one.

For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt 

The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth: The Stories of the Mischievous Kappa, Trickster Kitsune, Horrendous Oni, and More by Thersa Matsuura

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informative lighthearted

4.75

 Lighthearted, slightly silly, informative, and charming. This is one of those non-fiction, kind of fiction books that hits all the marks.

The Book of Japanese Folklore tells you the stories, history, and cultural context of spirits, monsters, and yokai in Japanese myth. 

Honestly, this kind of book is right up my street. As a 90s kid growing up watching a mix of Pokemon, Dragon Ball Z, and Sailor Moon, I now eat up anything Japanese-related. Especially if it involves mythology and folklore.

Let’s just say it scratched that itch.

Each section within the book has just enough detail to feel like you've absorbed the information, but not so much that it's hard to follow. 

Plus, I’m not sure there's anything better than learning about mythology and looking at some of the most gorgeous illustrations I’ve seen. They’re colourful, fun, and absolutely necessary.

For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt 
 
Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-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

Disney-like charm, a hint of darkness, magic, found family, mythology, and dragons? Yes please!

Dragonfruit was such a joy to read. It’s short, punchy, and if you enjoyed something like The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, you’ll love this. 

I’m a firm believer in stories not being drawn out for the sake of page numbers, and Dragonfruit is a perfect example of this. It delivers a fun story while balancing some punchy atmosphere.

The descriptions of the beautiful islands, the unique and lovable heroine, and the incorporation of lesser-known mythology all contributed to this.

Let it be known that this is on the younger side of YA. So the themes are light, the vibes are pretty positive, and the messaging leaves you with a good feeling in your tummy.

More of this please!

For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt

Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi

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adventurous challenging dark tense fast-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

2.75

Children of Anguish and Anarchy wastes no time diving headfirst into the action, which keeps you on your toes from the start.

However, I couldn't shake the feeling of being thrown into a new storyline abruptly. It felt like picking up a sequel without the necessary setup, and it disoriented me. 

It was like I’d missed something or misremembered the first two books because this felt like something entirely new rather than a conclusion to a series.

I wondered if condensing this into a duology might have helped. The rapid introduction of new elements made it hard to stay grounded in the established world and characters.

While the writing is undeniably strong and intense, I struggled to connect with the new direction of the plot. It felt like the relationships and developments from the earlier books were brushed aside for the sake of speed.

Children of Anguish and Anarchy is short and highly energetic, almost as if it were sprinting towards a conclusion. While this style has its thrills, it left me longing for what the first two books ultimately were, a lot better.

For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Just going to put this aside for obvious reasons 
The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Yeah not for me.
Scythe and Pen by A.C. Hobbs

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challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 
Scythe and Pen is all about atmosphere. It's gritty, dark, and intricately layered from the get-go. The characters are portrayed with finesse, down to their smallest quirks, which gives them a depth that feels genuine.

What struck me most was how the book avoids the usual pitfalls of its genre. Rather than leaning heavily on tropes and stereotypes, it crafts its world and characters with subtle, intricate details that lend authenticity to the time period and setting.

The dialogue is a standout feature. It’s almost cinematic in its delivery, making these scenes a joy to read.

Around the halfway mark, the story really picks up momentum and becomes incredibly gripping. You have to endure a gradual build-up of characters before the action kicks in, but once it does, it's worth the wait.

For me however, I found the book a bit lengthy. There were moments where the detailed descriptions and slower pacing made me lose interest. This is completely personal, I’m not a patient reader, and this reflects in my rating.

Scythe and Pen offers a fantastic story with rich themes and engaging characters. Due to its length, it's a lesson in patience, but for those willing to invest the time, the payoff is rewarding.

For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt 

 
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The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

 
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi swept me away with its delightful narration style. It's filled with charm and personality. Perfectly suited for the audiobook format that I enjoyed.

What stood out the most was the brilliant dialogue, which crackled with wit and humor. Amina's character development felt genuine and satisfying, and the comedic moments sprinkled throughout were perfect.

Plus, the world-building was immersive and well-crafted, transporting me effortlessly to the vibrant settings of Amina's adventures.

Overall, this book is a perfect blend of entertainment. I loved every moment of it.

For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt 

 
Hera by Jennifer Saint

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challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 
Hera dives deep into power, manipulation, and the messy relationships of the Greek gods. It’s a fresh take on Hera, and boy, does Jennifer Saint make you feel it.

This book isn't always a breeze. Seeing Hera go from fierce warrior goddess to who she becomes is tough - it's heartbreaking and frustrating, but Jennifer Saint tells it well.

She nails how Zeus pulls Hera's strings with chilling precision. Their dynamic is like watching a train wreck - you can't look away.

The way Saint threads together all these tales into one story is pretty impressive too. She moves smoothly from one myth to the next, keeping you hooked throughout.

However, some parts did drag a bit. The gods, especially Hera, felt a bit distant at times, which made their dealings with mortals feel rushed. I guess that's the trade-off between immortal lives and mortal ones.

While I liked this fresh angle on Hera, I was hoping for more of her legendary wrath and cruelty. Her subdued portrayal left me wanting more fire and brimstone.

Overall, Hera is a popcorn-eating deep dive into divine drama. Jennifer Saint's take on Hera is thought-provoking and adds much-needed layers to her character, even if it left me craving a bit more of that divine fury.

For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt 

 
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The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is cosy fantasy at its best. 

It’s a beautiful, low-stakes story that's completely easy to devour in a day, depending on how quickly you read.

The fantasy elements are perfectly blended with the beautiful developing relationships. I honestly loved pretty much every second.

It was so close to 5 stars but there was one part of the story I found to be a bit unbelievable. 

For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt