prishukla's reviews
84 reviews

Radiant Sin by Katee Robert

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I read Katee Roberts for the 🌶️ & parallels to Greek mythology. The storytelling isn't necessarily strong, but the intimacy is extremely well-written / well-employed for plot advancement.
The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk

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adventurous hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I think C.J. Polk's style just isn't for me. I liked the concept of spirits as familiars, but it was a bit preachy for me at times (men can do magic, but women are too fragile and need to be restrained) I also didn't particularly care for the Victorian world-building (tension around throwing the best picnic or identifying flowers correctly just don't really build suspense for me). But the magic itself of the book was great & I enjoyed the climax of the book, as a result.
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Book Lovers by Emily Henry

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emotional funny hopeful relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This cozy romance just isn't for me - I am not Emily Henry's audience. It's too blah 90s romcom for me without enough quirkiness in the FMC or MMC for my liking.
The Magpie Lord by KJ Charles

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adventurous 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? Yes

4.0

This is a 🌶️ queer Victorian-era magical romance and mystery. It is graphic and violent, but also an enjoyable mystery and a fast read. Glad that this is a series.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

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dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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

The premise of this book had so much promise, but it never got there. And, I was really disappointed in the plot mechanisms that bring the prot gonist back from the brink. It's still readable, but I don't know that it's enjoyable l.
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Galatea by Madeline Miller

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

4.0

Short story in the same vein as Circe, beautifully told & lovingly heart-wrenching
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A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
I couldn't get into the writing style -- too expository for my liking
Flames of Chaos by Amelia Hutchins

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
The writing is just not for me, too juvenile. There was some promising world-building, but the poor character development & plot development got in the way. I was hoping for something akin to Katee Roberts, but this isn't that 
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Blurred Lines by Lauren Layne

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 45%.
This book just didn't deliver in the way I expected and I got bored 
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
I think I'm not in a place to enjoy this. The writing is fun and accessible, just not for me in this moment