natashaleighton_'s reviews
1043 reviews

Fracture Me by Tahereh Mafi

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emotional reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Bakewell

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adventurous emotional 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

4.0

This was a beautifully atmospheric coming of age fantasy, with a tender sapphic romance at its heart that readers are bound to find riveting.

The world-building was really magical and lush (with whimsical, regency-esque, Princess Bride meets Bridgerton vibes), and I adored Catherine Bakewell’s prose which was gorgeously poetic and unputdownable. And if you love the romantic chemistry of a tender, slow-burn relationship; that’s steeped in pining, and a quiet (but steadfast) affection that transcends words—then you’re probably gonna enjoy this.

Particularly as we get such a wonderful cast of characters. My fave being Female Knight, Lope, who struggles with her loyalty to, (and unspoken feelings for) the naive Lady Ofelia, who she’s duty bound to protect; and her need to stop the shadow creatures (that have plagued the kingdom for decades and taken the lives of soo many of her friends.) This duality to her motivations and the struggle she endures, really added a complexity and depth to her that I found soo compelling.

I loved the setting too — which takes the opulence of the royal palace, “Le Château Enchanté” and juxtaposes it against the (fear inducing) shadow monsters that stalk beyond the gates (and cause all manner of destruction and chaos.)

However, it was the mystery surrounding the origin of the shadows (and the King’s strange refusal to allow any mention of them), that really piqued my interest. The plot twists and reveals were all really good too, though I did manage to guess quite a lot of them.

Tonally, this felt very much at the younger end of YA fantasy, so tween/teen readers are almost certainly gonna enjoy this one. If you love more mature/darker themed fantasy, however, then you might not enjoy this nearly as much.

But, it does tackle some pretty interesting themes, such as: self discovery and overcoming fears, love (both romantic and platonic), power and privilege, and the highly relevant reality vs. Illusion; that I feel would be the perfect starting place for further discussions (into some very timely topics.)

Overall, this was a magically satisfying read that fans of lyrical, heartwarming storytelling (or the whimsy of Margaret Rogerson’s An Enchantment of Ravens) should definitely consider checking out.

Also, a huge thank you to Harper360YA for the proof.

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Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

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adventurous emotional 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

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What Lies Beyond the Veil by Harper L. Woods

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Finding Jupiter by Kelis Rowe

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

With gorgeous prose, found poetry and a tender (beautifully moving) exploration of love, grief, identity, friendship and healing— I loved every second of this one and genuinely didn’t want to put this down!

The depiction of first love was incredible and the slow burn build-up, as Ray and Orion get to know one another (and share their inner most thoughts and feelings with each other) felt soo nuanced and realistic.

This was definitely on the deeper side in terms of emotions and did have me crying multiple times — but the message (of hope, healing and resilience) was absolutely worth it!

So, if you love Contemporary YA or coming of age stories, you should definitely consider checking this one out.

I won this copy a while back, so just want to say thanks again to United By Books

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The fates by Rose Blythe

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

4.5

A deeply compelling and refreshingly unique take on Greek mythology, that focuses on the weavers of fate themselves: Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos. Which I have to say, I genuinely loved every second of it!

The Fates (or Morai) are such an intrinsic part of soo many tales in the Greek mythology but seldom do we ever explore their persons, so getting the chance to finally do so (and explore their rather intricate and twisty backstory) was amazing!

Weaving Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos’ experiences of life before both gods and mortals, to the golden age of Zeus’ rule and even the interwoven fates of the mortals they preside over. Rosie Garland has crafted a rich, multilayered and compelling cast of protagonists whose personalities, motivations and flaws really bring them all to life.

I especially loved that (inspite of immortality or godliness) none of their flaws are sugarcoated or glazed over, which added a depth and human-esque complexity to of all their individual struggles.

I have to say, it’s really hard to talk about this one without spoiling the twists. But, I will say the strong focus on female voices (many of whom are either voiceless, or whose stories are much reduced in the original versions) was fantastic; and those twists that arose (and intertwined as the story unfolded) held me thoroughly in thrall.

The themes we explore were really interesting and timely too! With thought provoking topics such as: Power, Fate, women’s autonomy, the of reclaiming forgotten voices (both marginalised and female) and the strength (and sometimes weaknesses) in the bonds of sisterhood and family. And I think would make this an amazing contender for a book club read.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know I love retellings with a strong female presence (or feminist slant.) And The Fates— I’m glad to report — has both in spades!

It’s incredibly engaging and wonderfully immersive (though , with multiple POVs, and interconnected plot-lines, some may feel the narrative loses its way slightly at the halfway point.) But by the end, everything ties together nicely and the bigger picture Garland has been cleverly weaving becomes phenomenally clear.

Overall, this was such a magically realist, emotionally deep and original retelling that fans of Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint will definitely want to consider picking up.

Also, thanks to Quercus Books for the gorgeous PB copy.

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Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

I really enjoyed this! It was a beautifully written (and cosy) cottage-core fantasy, that sees our protagonist, Clara, overcome her own self doubt around her wild magic, and learn to finally embrace it.

Clara was such a sweet and adorably introspective character who deserved all of the hugs. Seeing her at her most anxious and vulnerable (in the opening chapters) was a little bit heartbreaking, and really made me want to give her soo many hugs.

But her personal journey was incredible and I loved seeing just how far she came, in learning to accept her powers and finally believe in herself. I also adored how supportive and caring her father was too! And really enjoyed the blossoming friendship/ relationship between Clara and Xavier.

Overall, this is such an enjoyable coming of age fantasy; with a heartfelt message of love, friendship, self acceptance and hope that fans of cottage-core based stories (and Howl’s Moving Castle) should definitely consider checking out.

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Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

A uniquely witty and surprisingly deep Rom-com following Grad school drop-out, Tess. Who, in the midst of trying to recover from a past trauma, finds out that not only are the vampires in her favourite book series, Blood Feud, real. But that the series’ twin bonded vampire villains, currently separated by a magical barrier, (put in place to trap all of vampire-kind) desperately need her help.

Dealing with themes such trauma, self discovery and the healing power that fan bases communities can have (ie: in the sense of belonging/ deriving comfort from having a safe space to be yourself and share in your passions) I really enjoyed this one.

As a former AO3 teen who was obsessed with vampire stories/media in general (Buffy, Twilight and The Vampire Diaries especially) I found the fan fiction-esque premise utterly compelling, with a unique take on vampire lore and fandom culture that had me invested until the very end.

Though I will say, it’s definitely driven more by the rich (and in depth) characters; whose journeys to self acceptance, healing and empowerment really stole the show for me.

And seeing both Tess and Joni (Tess’s estranged bestie) branch out in ways that help them, was really interesting too— especially with the parallels we see in their discovery of the supernatural world (and the ways in which they choose to navigate it.)

I do have to mention that one of the characters is dealing with the trauma of sexual assault, so this is definitely something to consider when deciding whether to pick this up.

Though, the subject itself was handled rather sensitively, and in a way that never felt exploitative. Thanks in part to the empathetic way in which Kate Stayman-London chooses to depict our protagonist’s recovery process.

We also get dual alternating romance plots, that I really enjoyed too! And have to say I loved the parallels here as well; as Tess and Joni both explore the power dynamics and levels of intimacy (and trust) of relationships in new and interesting ways.

Overall, this was an intriguing and genre-blending read that fans of Buffy, stories with complex female relationships or supernatural romances should definitely consider checking out. Though please check the TWs beforehand.

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The Ragpicker King by Cassandra Clare

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adventurous challenging 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

5.0

Another intricately crafted and richly imagined instalment in The Chronicles of Castellane series, that had me utterly gripped!

Having loved the first book soo much, I had such high hopes for The Ragpicker King, and I’m glad to finally report it lived up to all of my expectations. An impressive feat given its epic, 500+ page count!

From the docks, to the city’s pleasure seeking Caravel and many more opulent backdrops in between —there was never a dull moment. Even if there were plenty of delicious, slow burn ones.

Delving ever deeper into the lore of the Goddess Reborn and the Sorcerer Kings, the shady political scheming (both on the Hill and in the city) and complicated personal issues tying Lin, Kel and Prince Conor together. Cassandra Clare has once again won me over with her gorgeous prose and unwavering ability to craft compelling, emotionally complex (and occasionally morally ambiguous) characters, that I couldn’t help but fall absolutely in love with.

Plus the exploration into Lin, Kel and Conor’s intensely raw and vulnerable moments; the changes and personal growth they experience as a result of previous events (if you’ve read Swordcatcher then you’ll know) was absolutely marvellous.

I was also in awe of the longing and gut wrenching intensity Clare imbues into the romantic sub-plot —which I’m still trying to recover from. Seriously, I felt ALL THE FEELS!

But I must admit, the aspect that fascinated me (and had me the most excited) was getting to explore the cities’ criminal underworld in a bit more depth. Especially when it allowed us to spend more time with the mysteriously elusive Ragpicker King, Andreyen. Part Kaz Brekker, part Thomas Shelby he’s a surprisingly fair-minded Crime Lord, with a moral compass not many possess in this world. And a backstory I hadn’t expected that definitely cemented him as one of my fave side characters.

We’re also introduced to a few new characters too: The Exilarch, Aron, and the Princess of Kutani, Anjelica. Both of whom provide a bit more of an objective, outside POV when it comes to viewing Castellane; be it the political relationships, power struggles and general court intrigue (Anjelica), or the culture, traditions and customs of the Ashkar community (Aron.) Which again, added a layer of depth and complexity that expanded the world-building so exquisitely.

Overall, this was a rich and vividly immersive read, full of twists and revelations that fans of epic fantasy, George R.R. Martin or Samantha Shannon are bound to enjoy.

Also, a huge thank you to BookBreak UK and Tor UK for the stunning proof.

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Tales of a Monstrous Heart by Jennifer Delaney

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adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

A decadently rich, slow burn fantasy that completely stole my heart!

As a huge fan of Jane Eyre (it’s been my favourite classic since I was twelve), I knew I needed to check out Tales of A Monstrous Heart as soon as I heard it took inspiration from it. And I’m soo glad I did, as I absolutely loved every vividly atmospheric second.

From the themes of class and discrimination, the gorgeously gothic setting and our phenomenally resilient and determined protagonist, Katherine— as well as our mysteriously brooding Lord Blackthorn. The glimmers of what made Brontë’s novel soo successful were wonderfully present (and really felt like a love letter to Brontë.)

But it’s Jennifer Delaney’s ability to craft such a complex and wholly unique tale, without losing any of the essence (and emotional complexity) that encompassed Brontë’s original— that really blew me away.

Part gothic fantasy, part social commentary on real world issues, such as: the discrimination and oppression of marginalised groups, identity, class, systemic inequality and even the corruption of power. Delaney effortlessly explores it all, weaving magic and fae based lore with her own evocative insights that bring her compelling (and rather introspective) characters to life.

I adored Katherine, who was such a loveably engaging character, and whose defiance of the social norms (and the very discriminatory expectations placed upon her) had me utterly transfixed.

Lord Emerys Blackthorn was just as intriguing and I loved the intensity of the slow-burn relationship that blossoms between him and Katherine. Their interactions were brimming with longing that led to satisfying (and emotionally charged) payoff that was soo worth the wait.

There’s nothing else I can really add that all the glowing reviews haven’t already covered. So I’ll just say, if you love gothic fantasy, the Brontë sisters or even Carnival Row (the Cara Delevingne & Orlando Bloom led show) then you should definitely consider picking this up ASAP!

Though I do recommend checking TWs beforehand.

Content Warnings

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natashaleighton_'s reviews 1043 reviews

natashaleighton_'s reviews
1043 reviews