Take a photo of a barcode or cover
ladygetslit's reviews
823 reviews
The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
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
I can't even express in words how much I love each of NYC's avatars, flaws and all. I love the lore behind these books, and even the parts that were spooky or mind-stretching were so much fun to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Racism, Violence, and Police brutality
Girls of Fate and Fury by Natasha Ngan
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.75
I absolutely loved Girls of Paper and Fire when I first read it. While I'm not typically a high fantasy reader, I was able to get into the worldbuilding and connected so much with Lei and Wren's romance. However, the second book, and even more so this third installment, really didn't land as well for me.
I am not as interested in the political intrigue or the wartime action scenes, although that's a personal preference. Mostly, though, I couldn't get into the writing with this one. The first and second book are both in 1st person present tense the whole time, and we're really immersed in Lei's thoughts and feelings. In the third book, Lei's perspective is mixed with Wren's; on the surface, I love the idea of including Wren's perspective, but the execution fell short for me. Wren's chapters are told in 3rd person and past tense, which really threw me for a loop every time the narrative switched. If they had both been 1st person and the same tense, I think I could've enjoyed Wren's perspective more. As it is, the writing made the book feel more disjointed than it needed to be, even though most of it is taking place with the girls separated and living out their own storylines.
And, finally, I wasn't satisfied with the ending. The second book seemed to imply that there was no good solution to the problems in this world, because when individuals get power, they use it terribly, regardless of intention. This series fell into the trap of well, we need to resolve everything and then spent several chapters walking us through what happens after the resolution so that we know for sure that everything is all fine and dandy.
That being said, I do think this is a fast-paced, action-packed fantasy series that was easy to get sucked into, and it's still worth reading. As a writer, I'm not even sure how I could've resolved the story any better than Ngan did, and I enjoyed getting to spend more time with these wonderful characters.
I am not as interested in the political intrigue or the wartime action scenes, although that's a personal preference. Mostly, though, I couldn't get into the writing with this one. The first and second book are both in 1st person present tense the whole time, and we're really immersed in Lei's thoughts and feelings. In the third book, Lei's perspective is mixed with Wren's; on the surface, I love the idea of including Wren's perspective, but the execution fell short for me. Wren's chapters are told in 3rd person and past tense, which really threw me for a loop every time the narrative switched. If they had both been 1st person and the same tense, I think I could've enjoyed Wren's perspective more. As it is, the writing made the book feel more disjointed than it needed to be, even though most of it is taking place with the girls separated and living out their own storylines.
And, finally, I wasn't satisfied with the ending. The second book seemed to imply that there was no good solution to the problems in this world, because when individuals get power, they use it terribly, regardless of intention. This series fell into the trap of well, we need to resolve everything and then spent several chapters walking us through what happens after the resolution so that we know for sure that everything is all fine and dandy.
That being said, I do think this is a fast-paced, action-packed fantasy series that was easy to get sucked into, and it's still worth reading. As a writer, I'm not even sure how I could've resolved the story any better than Ngan did, and I enjoyed getting to spend more time with these wonderful characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, and War
Moderate: Physical abuse and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares by Tehlor Kay Mejia
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
This was a reasonably fast-paced story and we get to see Pao really grow a lot. That being said, I wasn't as into this part of the saga as I would've hoped. There's a big emphasis on her tracking down her father, but very little time in the book is actually spent resolving that storyline. I was also really bothered by Dante's behavior, and while I get that's an important part of the plot, I would've wished that it was less... angsty? That being said, this is still a great series, and only somewhat succumbs to second book slump.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows by Tehlor Kay Mejia
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
The third installment of the Paola Santiago series really lived up to its potential. I loved seeing the complexity of the relationships formed. Pao really struggles with her identity in this book, and I've enjoyed getting to watch her grow as a young person and come to terms with who she truly is. There's a strong sense of community in this one as well, and the plot kept me intrigued the whole way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Racism, Violence, and Kidnapping
Shadowhouse Fall by Daniel José Older
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Such a great follow-up that can truly stand on its own! I absolutely love Darius: he’s kind, and dorky, and thoughtful, and strangely insightful. I appreciate the nuanced perspective on depression, and how it’s not something that necessarily goes away, and having it also doesn’t mean you can’t be happy in your own way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Cazadora by Romina Garber
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
This sequel was even better than the first book! My only complaint is there’s no third book and I’m not ready to be done with these characters and their world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
A Better Man by Louise Penny
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Grief
Minor: Miscarriage, Suicide, Blood, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail
The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) by Alyssa Sheinmel
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
The blurb made this seem more like a mystery, when it’s actually more about teen mental health. And while I feel it’s an important topic, the characters felt like they were reduced to their mental illnesses and I couldn’t feel connected to anyone.