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honeyreads1066's reviews
337 reviews
We Unleash the Merciless Storm by Tehlor Kay Mejia
adventurous
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? No
I didn't think this book could be as good as the last one and it wasn't but I still really enjoyed it.
This book changes the focus to follow Carmen instead of Dani which because of the way the last book ended I wasn't too keen on but I got used to it eventually. I like that we get to see the relationships that Carmen developed and also the way she felt about Dani. I'm kind of upset that this didn't have the same political stuff as the first one, I really enjoyed the sneaking around and trying to figure out certain things and this one was a lot more action.
I also didn't like that a few of the big twists at the end were really predictable and not in a satisfying way. I hoped that some things would come out of nowhere or there would be a massive curveball but nothing hit the way that some of the twists did in the first book.
I think overall this was an okay conclusion to the duology but because I loved the first one so much, with the change in story style and perspective, inevitably, I was never going to like the second one as much.
This book changes the focus to follow Carmen instead of Dani which because of the way the last book ended I wasn't too keen on but I got used to it eventually. I like that we get to see the relationships that Carmen developed and also the way she felt about Dani. I'm kind of upset that this didn't have the same political stuff as the first one, I really enjoyed the sneaking around and trying to figure out certain things and this one was a lot more action.
I also didn't like that a few of the big twists at the end were really predictable and not in a satisfying way. I hoped that some things would come out of nowhere or there would be a massive curveball but nothing hit the way that some of the twists did in the first book.
I think overall this was an okay conclusion to the duology but because I loved the first one so much, with the change in story style and perspective, inevitably, I was never going to like the second one as much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and War
Minor: Homophobia
Spy x Family, Vol. 1 by Tatsuya Endo
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
5.0
We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
I didn't think I would like it, given the fact that it's YA and I think I've grown out of the genre a little but this is honestly a new favourite. I swear I devoured this book in a way I haven't in a long time. Obviously, I love that it centres on Latinx characters and culture so that was an immediate plus and then it's also queer with an enemies-to-lovers trope. I am honestly obsessed.
The characters themselves felt complicated and 3 dimensional. You could really see the difference between their training and their true feelings. They also felt real in their desperation and/or anger. Their actions did not, therefore, feel out of place and even when I was annoyed with what the characters would do, it was still understandable. ALSO THE TENSION BETWEEN CHARACTERS. Masterful that's all I can say.
The setting is something I hope is explored more in the second book but also I understand how difficult it can be to world build and also have a really complicated plot. THE POLITICAL INTRIGUE. I swear that is my new favourite thing because it was done so well in this.
I guess overall I clearly really enjoyed this, I would recommend it and I really hope that the second book is just as good.
I didn't think I would like it, given the fact that it's YA and I think I've grown out of the genre a little but this is honestly a new favourite. I swear I devoured this book in a way I haven't in a long time. Obviously, I love that it centres on Latinx characters and culture so that was an immediate plus and then it's also queer with an enemies-to-lovers trope. I am honestly obsessed.
The characters themselves felt complicated and 3 dimensional. You could really see the difference between their training and their true feelings. They also felt real in their desperation and/or anger. Their actions did not, therefore, feel out of place and even when I was annoyed with what the characters would do, it was still understandable. ALSO THE TENSION BETWEEN CHARACTERS. Masterful that's all I can say.
The setting is something I hope is explored more in the second book but also I understand how difficult it can be to world build and also have a really complicated plot. THE POLITICAL INTRIGUE. I swear that is my new favourite thing because it was done so well in this.
I guess overall I clearly really enjoyed this, I would recommend it and I really hope that the second book is just as good.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: War
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
Honestly, I loved this but I'm a little disappointed with both the ending and some of the other elements.
The characters with the exception of Monique felt so real. I liked that a lot of them are not great people, they have flaws and do things that are wrong without falling into a specific archetype. It just reminds you that people are complicated and complex and I really liked that. Though Monique I felt was a little boring, I was not invested in her, her relationship or her growth at all and the twist at the end didn't feel as rewarding as I had hoped. Especially since they were making it seem like it was a really big thing and that Evelyn was a horrible person etc, and then when you find out that she did what she did to Monique's dad, it isn't even that bad but that's probably because I didn't care for Monique the way that I cared for Evelyn and her family .
I loved how old Hollywood was portrayed as we really got an insight into how it would have been and everything felt so real. It also was interesting to read how media worked before the internet and magazines for people who were famous.
Overall, I liked this, I wished the ending was better but it did for the most part live up to the hype.
The characters with the exception of Monique felt so real. I liked that a lot of them are not great people, they have flaws and do things that are wrong without falling into a specific archetype. It just reminds you that people are complicated and complex and I really liked that. Though Monique I felt was a little boring, I was not invested in her, her relationship or her growth at all and the twist at the end didn't feel as rewarding as I had hoped.
I loved how old Hollywood was portrayed as we really got an insight into how it would have been and everything felt so real. It also was interesting to read how media worked before the internet and magazines for people who were famous.
Overall, I liked this, I wished the ending was better but it did for the most part live up to the hype.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Car accident
The Kimono Tattoo by Rebecca Copeland
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.0
Honestly, this book was completely different from what I originally expected.
I thought the characters themselves were the strongest part of the plot except for the detail in terms of the culture. I usually am not particularly keen on main characters and find the supporting characters particularly more interesting but here Ruth felt real and her actions were driven by logic and emotion that made sense and was in line with things that I would do. The detail of her feelings and her curiosity was character traits that worked really well in the story and I really enjoyed every moment of being in her head.
In terms of the description and culture, there was so much of it, in such great detail. It really felt like I was there since the paths were described so well. The roads and bridges were named which was amazing. I loved the way that the dancing and the kimonos were described. It was rich with detail from something as large as the style to something as small as the colours and flow of the patterns on the kimonos.
I think where this fell a little flat for me was towards the end. There was such a large build-up of events that I felt too many things were left unanswered. I understand in a way why but also it did get a little annoying. Alsothe way that Matthew was handled I thought was a little poor. I felt like there could have been a little more foreshadowing or emphasis on his relevance from the beginning.
Overall, I did for the most part enjoy this. I was practically in Japan and as Ruth was an outsider who lived there I felt like an outsider too.
I thought the characters themselves were the strongest part of the plot except for the detail in terms of the culture. I usually am not particularly keen on main characters and find the supporting characters particularly more interesting but here Ruth felt real and her actions were driven by logic and emotion that made sense and was in line with things that I would do. The detail of her feelings and her curiosity was character traits that worked really well in the story and I really enjoyed every moment of being in her head.
In terms of the description and culture, there was so much of it, in such great detail. It really felt like I was there since the paths were described so well. The roads and bridges were named which was amazing. I loved the way that the dancing and the kimonos were described. It was rich with detail from something as large as the style to something as small as the colours and flow of the patterns on the kimonos.
I think where this fell a little flat for me was towards the end. There was such a large build-up of events that I felt too many things were left unanswered. I understand in a way why but also it did get a little annoying. Also
Overall, I did for the most part enjoy this. I was practically in Japan and as Ruth was an outsider who lived there I felt like an outsider too.
Savage Drift by Emmy Laybourne
adventurous
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
3.0
I am lowkey a little disappointed with how this series ended.
Maybe it was because this was an ending, but I didn't feel the tense rush I felt while reading the last 2 books. I still enjoyed it to a degree but it just didn't give what needed to be given. The characters themselves were okay, I still loved Josie and Dean still annoyed me but honestly this whole thing with Dean, Astrid and Jake just began to annoy me. Maybe it was because we are reading from Dean's perspective but honestly I was on Jake's side almost the whole time. Not that I liked them together at any point, but in this instalment, I was not convinced of their love.
The ending itself felt incredibly rushed. About 20 minutes before the end, there seemed to be so much that needed to be wrapped up and plotlines that I felt were not fully finished. I liked that we got a cohesive ending in that we knew mostly where all the charactersaside from Jake were but it still felt very unfinished.
I did however love Josie's sections. They were tense and chilling and I loved every second of being in her head. I really felt her fear and all the other emotions that came with her predicament. I think this was the book where I liked her the most, probably because half the book was from her perspective. The ideas were also very original in the whole series but especially here, to do things that have been done many times before in a unique way is a feat but I felt it was done incredibly well.
Overall, this ending was a little disappointing, especially with how much I enjoyed the rest of the series but clearly I still enjoyed it so that's okay.
Maybe it was because this was an ending, but I didn't feel the tense rush I felt while reading the last 2 books. I still enjoyed it to a degree but it just didn't give what needed to be given. The characters themselves were okay, I still loved Josie and Dean still annoyed me but honestly this whole thing with Dean, Astrid and Jake just began to annoy me. Maybe it was because we are reading from Dean's perspective but honestly I was on Jake's side almost the whole time. Not that I liked them together at any point, but in this instalment, I was not convinced of their love.
The ending itself felt incredibly rushed. About 20 minutes before the end, there seemed to be so much that needed to be wrapped up and plotlines that I felt were not fully finished. I liked that we got a cohesive ending in that we knew mostly where all the characters
I did however love Josie's sections. They were tense and chilling and I loved every second of being in her head. I really felt her fear and all the other emotions that came with her predicament. I think this was the book where I liked her the most, probably because half the book was from her perspective. The ideas were also very original in the whole series but especially here, to do things that have been done many times before in a unique way is a feat but I felt it was done incredibly well.
Overall, this ending was a little disappointing, especially with how much I enjoyed the rest of the series but clearly I still enjoyed it so that's okay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Sky on Fire by Emmy Laybourne
adventurous
dark
tense
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? No
4.25
Honestly, I am living for this series.
It is truly hitting the spot of dystopian fiction that I NEEDED. The characters at this time became significantly more loveable. I love that the characters wereseperated and that they seemed to grow so much over the course of this short book.
I have very little to say except I am really enjoying this and that I feel like it shows how awful humanity can be and how brilliant they can be. The kids were very much till written as kids and honestly it was brilliant to see them again be their awesome selves.
I loved the way that it ended and honestly I felt that if it stopped there I would have been content though I am very happy to read the final instalment of this series. One thing though that I was not exactly keen on was the way the split perspectives were written. I didn't think that the voices were particularly different and I think that annoyed me a lot.
Overall this is my guilty pleasure series and I love it.
It is truly hitting the spot of dystopian fiction that I NEEDED. The characters at this time became significantly more loveable. I love that the characters were
I have very little to say except I am really enjoying this and that I feel like it shows how awful humanity can be and how brilliant they can be. The kids were very much till written as kids and honestly it was brilliant to see them again be their awesome selves.
I loved the way that it ended and honestly I felt that if it stopped there I would have been content though I am very happy to read the final instalment of this series. One thing though that I was not exactly keen on was the way the split perspectives were written. I didn't think that the voices were particularly different and I think that annoyed me a lot.
Overall this is my guilty pleasure series and I love it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Racism
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.0
I did not expect to like this book as much as I did.
Honestly, did I like the characters? No. Was I a massive fan of the writing? Also no. But this plot had me in a gorilla grip and I honestly had no idea where it would go. The fact that this followed teenagers and incredibly young kids. The fact that this was set in a store where they could have everything they want and needed. I have no idea why it worked so much but it is so different from anything that I have ever read.
The characters I was not a fan of probably for the reason that they really did act like teens. Idk how Laybourne managed to write them to be so realistic but honestly, I'm gonna pretend that I was never like that. Being around kids quite often, the way the kids were written was also incredible. The hysterics, how annoying they are, the fact they feel like they know everything, it was incredibly realistic. The characters did do things or think things that really gave me an icky feeling but I have chosen to ignore it because the other characters make it clear the majority of the time that it's not okay.Mainly the way they view Sahalia, they all gawk at her even though they make it clear they all see that she's a child and her behaviour isn't really seen as that bad even though she is literally 13.
The plot was its biggest success. A series of natural disasters force these kids to be stuck in a supermarket with no adults and they can't leave.A chemical leak that affects people based on their blood type (which nobody knows so it's a toss-up as to which person is going to have which effect). I really just had no idea where it was gonna go until the very end.
Overall, was it an absolute masterpiece of literature? No. But I will read the rest of the series and greatly enjoy the nostalgia for that era of dystopian fiction that it gives me.
Honestly, did I like the characters? No. Was I a massive fan of the writing? Also no. But this plot had me in a gorilla grip and I honestly had no idea where it would go. The fact that this followed teenagers and incredibly young kids. The fact that this was set in a store where they could have everything they want and needed. I have no idea why it worked so much but it is so different from anything that I have ever read.
The characters I was not a fan of probably for the reason that they really did act like teens. Idk how Laybourne managed to write them to be so realistic but honestly, I'm gonna pretend that I was never like that. Being around kids quite often, the way the kids were written was also incredible. The hysterics, how annoying they are, the fact they feel like they know everything, it was incredibly realistic. The characters did do things or think things that really gave me an icky feeling but I have chosen to ignore it because the other characters make it clear the majority of the time that it's not okay.
The plot was its biggest success. A series of natural disasters force these kids to be stuck in a supermarket with no adults and they can't leave.
Overall, was it an absolute masterpiece of literature? No. But I will read the rest of the series and greatly enjoy the nostalgia for that era of dystopian fiction that it gives me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual violence
My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Basically, I just felt it was a little too cheesy for me. Not bad but just in a way I think I'm too old for.
After the End by Amy Plum
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I have had this book on my to-read list for such a long time I thought it would be time to read it, but honestly I think I waited too long and I'm just too old to enjoy it the way I wanted to.
This book follows Juneau, who lives with her clan in the middle of Alaska. They have been taught to be completely self-sufficient after WW3 wiped out most of humanity in 1984. Except when a mysterious organisation takes her clan and she goes on this journey to find them, she realises that her whole life has been a lie and there was never a WW3 at all. Now she can only trust herself, nature and possibly this boy Miles who has promised to take her to where her people are being held captive.
I really liked the premise of this book. It was giving an M. Night Shyamalan twist and I was here for it. The concept of the Yara and the betrayals were done really really well, as was Juneau's survival abilities but honestly, that was all I sort of love from this.
The other characters felt very 1 dimensional and somewhat irritating. I felt like they were there specifically to further the plot and had no other purpose. I didn't like Miles at all, I have no idea why he was the love interest and honestly, the best parts were the bits he was not in. I had no attachment to anyone in Juneau's clan and was not particularly bothered about whether she saved them or not.
Though the plot itself was enough to keep me going. I had no idea where any of that was going to go in terms of why Juneau is connected to the Yara and why her clan was taken. I had no idea where Whit fit into anything and it almost made me read the second book but I couldn't do it.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book but it did have an awesome concept. I think had I been a couple of years younger, I would have liked it a lot more.
This book follows Juneau, who lives with her clan in the middle of Alaska. They have been taught to be completely self-sufficient after WW3 wiped out most of humanity in 1984. Except when a mysterious organisation takes her clan and she goes on this journey to find them, she realises that her whole life has been a lie and there was never a WW3 at all. Now she can only trust herself, nature and possibly this boy Miles who has promised to take her to where her people are being held captive.
I really liked the premise of this book. It was giving an M. Night Shyamalan twist and I was here for it. The concept of the Yara and the betrayals were done really really well, as was Juneau's survival abilities but honestly, that was all I sort of love from this.
The other characters felt very 1 dimensional and somewhat irritating. I felt like they were there specifically to further the plot and had no other purpose. I didn't like Miles at all, I have no idea why he was the love interest and honestly, the best parts were the bits he was not in. I had no attachment to anyone in Juneau's clan and was not particularly bothered about whether she saved them or not.
Though the plot itself was enough to keep me going. I had no idea where any of that was going to go in terms of why Juneau is connected to the Yara and why her clan was taken. I had no idea where Whit fit into anything and it almost made me read the second book but I couldn't do it.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book but it did have an awesome concept. I think had I been a couple of years younger, I would have liked it a lot more.