readingrobin's reviews
2302 reviews

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce

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funny 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? Yes

4.0

Cute nerdy romance between theatre and gamer geeks. Having been a part of both worlds, there were definitely some relatable circumstances. Very speedy read and there's a good balance between progression and character development. A must for those that love to get caught in a bad fauxmance.
Season of the Witch by Sarah Rees Brennan

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adventurous dark 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

3.0

I've seen maybe the first episode of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, so I at least went into this book with some basic context. I was drawn to it mainly because of Sarah Rees Brennan since In Other Lands is a favorite book of mine and her writing style does make a fast paced, very character centric story more engaging. The plot itself is a bit slow, as the character dynamics and insights take up a big chunk of page length. I think this book might go over better with fans of the show, as it gives some deeper characterization to side characters, than get people interested in the world. 


Squire & Knight: Wayward Travelers by Scott Chantler

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adventurous lighthearted fast-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? Yes

4.0

Loved that the author was adamant in making this follow up an extension of the first story rather than a retread. Squire gets a lesson in humility, learning that it's not only the brawny ones that are susceptible to boasting.
Don't Call the Wolf by Aleksandra Ross

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 78%.
I just slowly lost interest the longer I went on with this book. Sure, it was nice to see a story based on Polish folklore, but there was nothing really that engrossed me or made the characters that memorable. I'm usually a quick reader so if a book is taking me two months to read, it's clear that I really don't intend on finishing it.
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Witcher comparisons are incredibly on point here, but not in a disparaging way. I liked the world building, which was not incredibly cryptic or overly complicated. There were moments that dragged a little more than others, which became a bit of an issue since I was reading this for a short reading challenge, but I made it through.

I will agree that the romance felt somewhat out of nowhere. Kissen didn't really seem like the sort of character to have an impromptu tryst while trying to protect a charge,
though I am glad she chose to live more for Inara's sake than wanting to come back for Eno.
 
Life in the Present: A Joyful Collection of Comics About Living in the Moment by Liz Climo

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

Heartwood Hotel Book 1: A True Home by Kallie George

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Read this for a work reading challenge and I don't think I was in the right mindset for a cutesy animal story. It's sweet for younger kids but the wolf enthusiast in me couldn't help but think "well wolves have to eat too."
This Place: 150 Years Retold by Sonny Assu, Katherena Vermette, Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Jen Storm, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, David A. Robertson, Brandon Mitchell, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, Richard Van Camp, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Chelsea Vowel

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adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring 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

An impactful, informative anthology that was a great introduction for me as an American reader to the history of indigenous peoples in Canada. There was a variety of styles that were all engrossing in their own ways, though the presentation of "Rosie" was probably my favorite. 


Call of the Jersey Devil by Aurelio Voltaire

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dark funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This exactly the kind of book one would imagine Aurelio Volatire, goth icon that he is, would make. Perfect for fans of The Evil Dead, this truly is a campy creature feature of a book starring a cast of shitty mall goths, a washed up goth singer (who looks very familiar if you remember the Voltaire of the 90s), and that cryptid asshole, the Jersey Devil. 

I kind of admire Voltaire for his shameless insert in the form of Villy Bats, it really ups the B movie vibes. The story flows so seamlessly, with a slow lead up until we finally get to the gloriously gorey bits. It does have quite a cinematic feel, which is natural since this originally took form as a film script. Movies are hell to make so I'm glad Voltaire was able to make this story alive in some way.

There was some word usage that gave me some ick.
"Retard" and "ass rape(in a joking context)" were used a little too much for my liking but they were mostly used by a character that gets killed off first so you know, glad it was easy for me not to empathize with him. Plus this was written back in the day where edge humor thrived so take all that with a grain of salt.


Either way, glad I read it once and got some glorious cheese horror.
Wynd Book Three: Throne in the Sky by James Tynion IV

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

James more series please. I need it.