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laerkefugl's reviews
42 reviews
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
The way Coriolanus indirectly got Sejanus killed, watched his hanging, and still felt comfortable taking his fortune and family? That was one of the cruelest things I’ve ever read. It pissed me off. Sejanus deserved better. The way he yelled “Ma!” right before he died completely broke me—this book was playing with my emotions.
Another part of the epilogue that stood out was Coriolanus’ conversation with Dean Highbottom at the Academy. That’s when Casca revealed how The Hunger Games were first conceived. It immediately took me back to the end of Mockingjay, where Katniss and the remaining victors vote on whether the Games should continue. Katniss wonders if this was how the Games were first considered. But no—it’s somehow even worse. The entire concept of the Games was a drunken mistake by Casca Highbottom, which Crassus Snow turned in for a grade. Just the thought of that is insane. That one selfish act—Crassus betraying Casca (much like Coriolanus betraying Sejanus, by the way)—eventually led to over 1,700 children taking their last breaths in the arena.
4.5
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins is a fantastic addition to The Hunger Games universe. The backstory of Coriolanus Snow and the early years of the Games was incredibly engaging. However, I made the mistake of finishing the book right before bed. Which, in turn, rewarded me with a terrible night's sleep. That epilogue literally made me feel sick.
Another part of the epilogue that stood out was Coriolanus’ conversation with Dean Highbottom at the Academy. That’s when Casca revealed how The Hunger Games were first conceived. It immediately took me back to the end of Mockingjay, where Katniss and the remaining victors vote on whether the Games should continue. Katniss wonders if this was how the Games were first considered. But no—it’s somehow even worse. The entire concept of the Games was a drunken mistake by Casca Highbottom, which Crassus Snow turned in for a grade. Just the thought of that is insane. That one selfish act—Crassus betraying Casca (much like Coriolanus betraying Sejanus, by the way)—eventually led to over 1,700 children taking their last breaths in the arena.
Spoilers aside, I love how Snow was written as a character. He’s not framed as a misunderstood antihero like some villain origin stories tend to do, but he’s also not a cartoonishly evil caricature. I liked the balance. Suzanne Collins did a great job portraying him as the young and developing fascist he was meant to be.
I also loved seeing the Games from a different perspective. In the original series, we experienced them through Katniss inside the arena. Here, following Coriolanus as a mentor added a fresh and intriguing layer to the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If it weren’t for Sunrise on the Reaping coming out soon, I’d be sad to see this series end. That said, I do agree with others who felt some parts dragged—particularly Part Three: The Peacekeeper. I found myself skimming at times when not much was happening. While I still enjoyed the story, the pacing lost some momentum until the ending, which completely redeemed itself.
A solid 4.5 stars. I’d possibly reread it someday alongside the main series.
|—TL;DR—|
Focus Genre: Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Nostalgia: Disqualified
Personal Enjoyment: 4⭐
Plot: 5⭐
World-Building/Setting: 5⭐
Characters: 5⭐
- Relationships: 5⭐ (includes friendships, rivalries, etc.)
Writing: 5⭐
Pacing: 4⭐
System/Tech: 5⭐
Social Commentary: 5⭐ | Human nature, Ethics vs Control and Power, Authority and oppression, Much more+ |
Themes/Philosophy: 5⭐
Ending: 5⭐
=Overall=
4,36-stars⭐ ≈ 4,5-stars⭐
~13/02/25~
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Cannibalism, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
5.0
I enjoyed The Hunger Games: Mockingjay far more than I expected. Before picking it up, I wasn’t particularly engaged with the movie adaptations of this part of the story, so I worried that—like an average Capitol citizen—I’d lose interest now that the Games were over.
But after reading the book, I’m happy to say I was completely wrong. I was invested from start to finish. Unlike the previous two books, I went into this one with very little knowledge of the plot (aside from some major death spoilers I’d picked up over the years from the internet). That certainly enhanced my experience, but it wasn’t the only reason I enjoyed it so much. Certain moments were beautifully written, and the way emotions were conveyed throughout the book was incredibly impactful. Each character deals with their struggles, stress, and grief in different ways, making their journeys feel raw and realistic. I almost cried multiple times while reading—chapter nine, in particular, stands out as one that hit me the hardest. It didn’t give my thoughts or emotions a break before throwing me into yet another gut-wrenching moment.
The central focus on war, especially Katniss’ role as the Mockingjay, was also fascinating. While I don’t support war in reality, it’s undeniably an interesting topic to explore. Seeing the rebellion unfold and witnessing the ways both sides wield power, propaganda, and violence made for an intense and thought-provoking read.
Overall, I don’t have much else to say—I love this series, and I loved this book—another 5-star rating.
|—TL;DR—|
Focus Genre: Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Nostalgia: Disqualified
Personal Enjoyment: 5⭐
Plot: 5⭐
World-Building/Setting: 5⭐
Characters: 5⭐
- Relationships: 5⭐ (includes friendships, rivalries, etc.)
Writing: 5⭐
Pacing: 5⭐
System/Tech: 5⭐
Social Commentary: 5⭐ | War morals and ethics, Government control and power |
Themes/Philosophy: 5⭐
Ending: 5⭐
=Overall=
5-stars⭐
~31/01/25~
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
5.0
I’d say The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a fantastic successor to the first book. It retains everything that made the original great while adding more depth to Panem as a nation. A major overarching theme in this installment revolves around the beginnings of a rebellion against the Capitol. I found the snowball effect leading to a strong alliance between several districts particularly engaging—an alliance the Capitol had historically prevented through segregation and violence. Watching the cracks in the Capitol’s regime of fear widen and the Districts begin to rise was quite appealing to read. That said, I have to admit that the first part of the book (The Spark) didn’t fully capture my attention while I was reading it. In retrospect, I can appreciate its importance in setting up the rebellion’s groundwork, but some slower segments held me back a bit in the moment.
Having already watched and enjoyed the movie adaptation years ago, I went into the book familiar with the plot and its key twists. Still, this didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the source material. In fact, I appreciated noticing the subtle differences between the book and the film, which gave me a fresh perspective.
The characters remain just as compelling as in the first installment, and this is where the book truly shines for me. I loved the expanded focus on familiar characters, particularly Haymitch, and the evolving relationships between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. The introduction of new characters was also a highlight—Finnick, Johanna, Beetee, and Mags quickly became standouts for me.
All in all, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins earns another 5 stars from me. It’s an incredible sequel that builds on the foundation of the first book.
|—TL;DR—|
Focus Genre: Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Nostalgia: Lightly Influenced
Personal Enjoyment: 4,75⭐
Plot: 5⭐
World-Building/Setting: 5⭐
Characters: 5⭐
- Relationships: 5⭐ (includes friendships, rivalries, etc.)
Writing: 5⭐
Pacing: 4,75⭐
System/Tech: 5⭐
Social Commentary: 5⭐ | Entertainment, Government's Power using Manipulation and Violence, Teamwork vs Survival |
Themes/Philosophy: 5⭐
Ending: 5⭐
=Overall=
4,95-stars⭐ ≈ 5-stars⭐
~25/01/25~
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
5.0
This is technically my second time reading The Hunger Games. The first was when I was thirteen, as part of a required class assignment. At the time, I hated the experience—endless chapter summaries, collective class reviews, and a final paper made it feel like a chore. Looking back, I realize I never truly gave the book the attention it deserved. At that point in my life, not reading enough or appreciating literature was the least of my concerns.
Now, with a healthier mindset, seven years of aging, and a greater appreciation for books, I decided to give it another shot—partly inspired by the upcoming release of Sunrise on the Reaping. However, this time I took myself the liberty of picking an edition, where the cover didn’t personally insult my sense of sight, and Katniss’ name wasn’t changed for some truly unnecessary reason.
I’m incredibly grateful I decided to revisit this book because the writing is exceptional—both captivating and immersive from the very start. The worldbuilding and history are intricately crafted, and the characters are both compelling and unforgettable. As far as science fiction goes, this is undoubtedly one of my favorites. Anything less than a 5-star rating would feel unjust. It’s a modern classic, and now I can fully appreciate why it’s so highly regarded. Honestly, no words in this review could truly capture how gripping and impactful this read was.
|—TL;DR—|
|—TL;DR—|
Focus Genre: Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Nostalgia: Lightly Influenced
Personal Enjoyment: 5⭐
Plot: 5⭐
World-Building/Setting: 5⭐
Characters: 5⭐
- Relationships: 5⭐ (includes friendships, rivalries, etc.)
Writing: 5⭐
Pacing: 5⭐
System/Tech: 5⭐
Social Commentary: 5⭐ | Entertainment, Survival vs Morality, Much more+ |
Themes/Philosophy: 5⭐
Ending: 5⭐
=Overall=
5-stars⭐
~12/01/25~
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Twisted Games by Ana Huang
3.75
After finishing the first book, I was excited to dive into this one. I already liked both Bridget and Rhys in Twisted Love, even though their relationship wasn’t explored in depth there. I’d say Twisted Games is an improvement over its predecessor, feeling less trope-filled overall (though it still has plenty in there).
Bridget was an alright character, but I found myself a bit underwhelmed. I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting—maybe more layers to her personality? While we know she likes animals and reading, those traits didn’t feel all that integral to the story beyond providing some background about her mom and that one scene with the upside-down book.
I preferred Rhys to Alex, though the two share many similarities as characters. For me, Rhys stood out because he felt less "insane" than Alex. I appreciated that he wasn’t as hung up on power and revenge, which made him more appealing as a male lead.
The romance between Bridget and Rhys was satisfying, taking years to develop and leaning into a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers dynamic (even with the frequent time jumps). I don’t have much to critique about their relationship—I think they worked well together. As for the spicy scenes, there were noticeably more than in the first book. Initially, I thought they served their purpose, but after a while, they started to feel repetitive. One way to address this could have been to vary the dominant and submissive roles, especially since Bridget is about to become the queen of Eldorra. I get that Bridget (like Ava, and likely the other leading ladies in the series) prefers a submissive role, and that’s fine, but from a reader’s perspective, a bit more variety would’ve been refreshing.
Overall, I’m giving Twisted Games 3.75 stars. While I think it’s the better book of the two I’ve read so far in the series, I’m still giving it the same rating because I just can’t bring myself to rate it higher than a 3.75.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction and Alcohol
Minor: Drug abuse, Kidnapping, and Car accident
Jeg er glad for min mor døde by Jennette McCurdy
5.0
I first picked up this book based on glowing recommendations from seemingly everyone on the internet in 2022. I don’t usually gravitate toward memoirs, but my love for iCarly and Sam & Cat during my younger years—and all the praise surrounding this book—made me curious enough to take it home when I saw it in a store.
In my opinion, it couldn’t have been written any better. The writing was incredibly engaging, and Jennette McCurdy has a remarkable talent for ending chapters in a way that demands your attention. Many of the closing sentences—if not the very last one—land with a sharp, impactful punch, like a metaphorical slap to the face, leaving a lasting impression. Even after finishing the book, a few of those lines continue to linger in my mind.
As for the content, McCurdy did an excellent job depicting her complex relationship with her mom, her struggles in the entertainment industry, her battles with eating disorders, and so much more. While I couldn’t personally relate to many of the things she went through, her storytelling left a strong impression on me. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for any future work she might release.
All in all, I’m giving I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy 5 stars. A perfect memoir.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Twisted Love by Ana Huang
3.75
This was the first Ana Huang book I’ve read, thanks to TikTok’s persistent recommendations. I have to admit, I was engaged in the story—it definitely didn’t lack drama. Where this book shines the most is in the drama and banter departments. The conversations between the characters kept me hooked throughout, especially the lighthearted and silly exchanges among the four main ladies of the series.
The romance between Ava and Alex was fine if I didn’t overthink it. For a book clearly meant to entertain and provide a fun escape, I didn’t mind their dynamic too much. However, I found myself going back and forth on how I felt about their relationship, occasionally feeling a bit turned off. I think this reflects how my personal taste in men and relationships tends to broaden and become more tolerant of questionable behavior when reading fiction compared to real life. That said, it did lean a little too heavily on the physical side for my preference—this book is definitely spicy, and that’s worth mentioning.
What stood out the most was how trope-heavy the book is. It felt like it included every trope imaginable: billionaire MMC, dating the brother’s best friend, grumpy x sunshine, enemies/rivals to lovers, tragic murderous backstories for both main characters, sharing one bed—you name it! It honestly surprised me how many tropes kept popping up. I understand why some readers compare it to Wattpad stories, and while I’m not necessarily against that vibe, it did feel very cliché at times.
Despite these critiques, I genuinely enjoyed my time with Twisted Love. It kept me entertained enough to want to read the next book—and probably the rest of the series. For me, it’s a solid 3.75-star read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Jul i rubinrødt by Amanda Hellberg
2.75
Jul i rubinrött by Amanda Hellberg was a good little holiday read, even though it’s my first time diving into seasonal books. The story had its intense moments, especially toward the end, but I didn’t mind that in a romance novel.
As for the romance, the relationship between Nina and Johan was fine—sweet but not groundbreaking. To my surprise, I found myself just as invested—if not more—in the chemistry between Wilhelm and Elias. Wilhelm’s chapters quickly became my favorite. Watching him wrestle with his sexuality and his relationship with God added a surprising layer of depth to his character. Despite his morally questionable actions, I couldn’t help but sympathize with him.
The writing and pacing felt a bit different from what I’m used to, and I initially struggled with it. About halfway through, I switched to the audiobook, which worked much better for me with this particular story. If I decide to read more books from this series (Books 1 and 3), I’ll definitely go for the audiobook format from the start.
Overall, I’d rate this book 2.75 stars. It was slightly above average for me—it didn’t fully capture my interest, though it had its moments. That said, I might revisit the series next Christmas and give the other books a fair shot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Abortion
Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy
En Gentlemans Hemmeligheder by Julia Quinn
3.0
…I have a complicated relationship with The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy. I quite enjoyed the mystery aspect—the way the reader is left just as clueless as Iris about Richard's true motives for marrying her was thrilling. However, my main critique of the plot is that it felt rushed at the end. The entire conflict is resolved in the last two chapters (Chapter 24 and about half of Chapter 25), which left the conclusion feeling abrupt.
Now, let’s talk about the characters. I have to agree with a lot of other reviewers: I hated Richard. If you’re looking for a drinking game, take a sip every time he makes Iris cry, talks down to her, gaslights her, makes her mad, or makes her feel rejected. You’ll be drinking in nearly every chapter. Without giving away spoilers, I’ll just say Richard is easily my least favorite male lead in any Julia Quinn book. Coming off the likes of Marcus, Daniel, and Hugh—three heroes I really liked from the earlier books in this series—Richard felt like a huge letdown.
Iris, on the other hand, was the only saving grace in this book. I already liked her as a side character in the earlier Smythe-Smith novels, so maybe I’m a little biased. But here, I mostly just felt bad for her. She’s smart, kind, and incredibly observant, yet she spends most of the story being mistreated. One scene that really got under my skin was when her aunt, mother, and father blamed her for being compromised by Richard during the Pleinsworth poetry night. I get that it might be historically accurate for the Regency period, but it didn’t make it any less frustrating to read.
When it comes to the romance, I just didn’t buy the chemistry between Iris and Richard. I could not, for the life of me, figure out what Iris saw in him. He ignored her most of the time, and when he did engage, their conversations often ended poorly. It was essentially a masterclass in horrible communication. At one point, Iris even questions whether Richard might be gay—an observation that only added to their strained dynamic.
Despite all these criticisms, I’ve decided to rate The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy 3 stars. Why? Because, in my opinion, the worst thing a book can do is bore me—and this book was far from boring. It made me feel something: irritation. I disliked Richard so much that it became a real page-turner.
That said, I wouldn’t recommend The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy unless you’re in the specific mood to feel angry (or you’re somehow into heroes who mess with your head). It’s not a book I’d revisit, but it certainly left an impression.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death of parent and Classism
Minor: Grief
The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn
4.5
When I first saw the lineup of books in the Smythe-Smith Quartet, The Sum of All Kisses was the one I was most excited to read. It features an enemies-to-lovers trope, which I usually enjoy. I definitely loved how Julia Quinn handled this trope in The Viscount Who Loved Me.
This book follows Hugh Prentice and Sarah Pleinsworth, who had a terrible first impression of each other at an engagement ball due to an (at the time) unresolved familial dispute.
Let me start by addressing an expectation issue. When I first read the blurb on the back cover, I was under the impression that there would be sexual tension and emotional attraction throughout the book, leading to multiple kisses across several chapters. Yet both leads are still very much in denial about their feelings for much of the story. My assumption stemmed from this specific line in the blurb:
“And when one kiss leads to two, three, and four, the mathematician may lose count, and the lady may, for the first time, find herself speechless...”
However, that’s not quite the case. The first kiss doesn’t happen until Chapter 14, and by then, both characters already know they’re in love, even if they haven’t admitted it aloud. At this point, Hugh is fully committed to the idea of marrying Sarah. I’m not sure if this mismatch was just a misinterpretation on my part, but it’s not the first time I’ve felt misled by a Julia Quinn book blurb. The first time, I realized the issue lay with the Danish publishing company and not Julia herself, so I gave it a pass. This time, I checked, and the blurb is the same in both the Danish and English editions. By the halfway point of this book, I had to recalibrate my expectations.
That aside, I still enjoyed the read. The plot moves at a decent pace, with nothing major to criticize in that department. Some shocking moments didn’t surprise me because I’d already read the first two books in the Smythe-Smith Quartet, where those revelations were mentioned. However, I appreciated the additional context these moments brought.
As for the romance, I liked the chemistry between Hugh and Sarah. That said, I have a few notes. Their relationship begins with the classic "terrible first impression," followed by a few awkward conversations, and then the attraction kicks in. To me, it felt a little surface-level in the beginning since they barely knew anything about each other. Up to that point, they either disliked or outright hated each other, and their interactions were limited to those awkward, not-so-groundbreaking conversations. Later in the book, they spend significant time together, during which they bond and get to know each other better. However, some of this bonding felt "gatekept" from me as a reader. In a few instances, it was summarized in quick paragraphs instead of being shown through scenes. Thankfully, this wasn’t the majority of the book. There are still many valuable moments of chemistry and connection—moments like their conversation about astronomy, followed by Sarah forbidding Hugh from calling himself or them “crippled.” Hugh responds by asking Sarah for a dance in the moonlight while both lean on their shared cane. That scene was actually really cute to read. Still, the occasional “telling-not-showing” approach was a minor letdown.
Now I will admit the real reason why I’ve rated The Sum Of All Kisses 4.5 stars. It was, no doubt, all because of Hugh Prentice. Not only is he the first and only character by Julia Quinn to have a disability (Aside from Simon's speech impediment in The Duke and I, from the Bridgerton-series. And Georgiana's congenital respiratory problem, in First Comes Scandal, from the Rokesby-series.). A lingering physical injury is something I hadn’t yet seen in her previous work. He also has a lot of autistic traits. Which is something I can personally relate to. I first caught hints of this in the two former books as well as the blurb. Along with the importance of Hugh in those previous books, I was stoked to see him as a main lead in this book. I was already curious about his life and perspective on the dual with Daniel Smythe-Smith, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. Hugh added so much depth to the story for me. Not just in this book, but throughout the entire series so far. It’s hard to put into words how much this character means to me, so I’ll sum it up with one: favorite.
I’d recommend The Sum of All Kisses to anyone who enjoys the enemies-to-lovers trope (and isn’t bothered by the content warnings listed below). It works well as a standalone but is even better when read as part of the series. The ending resolves a significant overarching plot point spanning all three books, and it’s an overall enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia and Rape
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail