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readingrobin's reviews
2312 reviews
Home by Nnedi Okorafor
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
While this sequel feels more like a bridge between the first and third installments than a story in its own right, I did enjoy the personal journey Binti made as she returns home to see her family and reflect on the changes in her life.
A Universe of Wishes by Dhonielle Clayton
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.0
This is the second "We Need Diverse Books" collection I've read after Fresh Ink. This was a decent collection of stories, of course some a bit more standout than others.
My favorites would include:
Cristal y Ceniza - Wonderful take on Cinderella, a fairy tale that usually doesn't really intrigue me, but I love the updates to this one.
The Takeback Tango - A story following the reclamation of treasured artifacts from a museum, a great warranted heist ensues.
The Weight - Just vibed with the voice and storytelling in this one.
The Coldest Spot in the Universe - Absolutely heartbreaking and slightly terrifying as we watch a teen's final moments before succumbing to a dying earth and an alien race studying her notes long after she has passed.
Longer Than the Threads of Time - The ending alone. Ooof.
Habibi - Such great distinct voices with a lot of heart.
My favorites would include:
Cristal y Ceniza - Wonderful take on Cinderella, a fairy tale that usually doesn't really intrigue me, but I love the updates to this one.
The Takeback Tango - A story following the reclamation of treasured artifacts from a museum, a great warranted heist ensues.
The Weight - Just vibed with the voice and storytelling in this one.
The Coldest Spot in the Universe - Absolutely heartbreaking and slightly terrifying as we watch a teen's final moments before succumbing to a dying earth and an alien race studying her notes long after she has passed.
Longer Than the Threads of Time - The ending alone. Ooof.
Habibi - Such great distinct voices with a lot of heart.
Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
Rounding up from a 3.5 just because.
Strangely enough, this was probably the hardest book of the series to get through, which is something you don't really want when wrapping up your epic fantasy series. I don't know if it was because I was going through a bit of a slump or the pacing just wasn't helping.
There were so many extraneous plot threads that really could have been shortened or cast aside to make for a better flow. Though I understood and admired Eliza's part in the story, the human side of it really feels shortchanged by the end of it.We don't really get a satisfying wrap up on the Earth side of things. Eliza's friends just fall by the wayside as the action kicks up and there is no mention as to the fallout of the end of the invasion or if life goes on. Karou and her friends just leave and then that's it. For an author that excels at writing such expansive and authentic worlds, this oversight feels so gaping.
The Stelians and their whole backstory feel as if it should be gotten a little more attention earlier, as we get a good dose of the history of Eretz, the Fallen, and why there are portals between universes. It might have felt better as a second story clincher, but the last one was heavy enough as it was that I can see why it was pushed here.
Ziri and Liraz's relationship came out of nowhere? Like they meet ONCE and boom they're instantly into each other. It really comes off as a "everyone has to end the story paired off or else" kind of ending and I don't really think it was necessary, at least for Liraz. I know Ziri had to move on from his crush on Karou but there could have been a better way of depicting that journey than instalove.
I have to say, I will miss Zuzanna, the best best friend character in YA fiction. Little chaos gremlin she is.
As an ending to the series, it's okay. It ends with an enthusiastic "eh" rather than a bang, but I'm glad I read these books and will pass them on to any budding fantasy reader.
Strangely enough, this was probably the hardest book of the series to get through, which is something you don't really want when wrapping up your epic fantasy series. I don't know if it was because I was going through a bit of a slump or the pacing just wasn't helping.
There were so many extraneous plot threads that really could have been shortened or cast aside to make for a better flow. Though I understood and admired Eliza's part in the story, the human side of it really feels shortchanged by the end of it.
The Stelians and their whole backstory feel as if it should be gotten a little more attention earlier, as we get a good dose of the history of Eretz, the Fallen, and why there are portals between universes. It might have felt better as a second story clincher, but the last one was heavy enough as it was that I can see why it was pushed here.
I have to say, I will miss Zuzanna, the best best friend character in YA fiction. Little chaos gremlin she is.
As an ending to the series, it's okay. It ends with an enthusiastic "eh" rather than a bang, but I'm glad I read these books and will pass them on to any budding fantasy reader.
Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
Aria of the Beech Forest, Vol. 1 by Yugiri Aika
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
Absolutely love the cozy, witchy vibes of this manga. It does a great job of establishing the characters as well as placing some a few plot threads that are most likely going to develop into something larger in future volumes. The recipes included with the story sound delicious and definitely make you hungry for a snack as you read.
The Haunted Bookstore - Gateway to a Parallel Universe (Light Novel) Vol. 1 by Shinobumaru
Did not finish book. Stopped at 63%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 63%.
I think, each time I picked up this book, I couldn't really find anything that was drawing me back to it. The story itself doesn't have a cohesive flow, appearing more like vignettes than a single narrative. The chapters are so fast paced that I feel like we never get a good look at who these characters are or let emotions sink in. There were moments where it was trying to have an impactful punch, but it wasn't set up in a way that lead to an emotionally satisfying ending. This feels like it would make a better manga than a prose narrative and, seeing that there is such a thing for this series, I may give that a shot instead of the books.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I remember starting to read this book as a child, but unfortunately never got past the first chapter, as I found the language to be a bit too complicated for me at the time. Going back to as an adult, I thought perhaps with the better attention span I might fare better. Well, at least I finished it this time.
A lot of children's fiction from this era is tremendously dry and I think tries to be as sophisticated as possible when it comes to tone and word choice. A.A. Milne was able achieve this while also telling very simple stories that just happen to have that air about it. The Wind in the Willows I think would be a difficult book for many children this age to read, as it kind of flounders everywhere. There is a bit of a plot with Mr. Toad being a menace to everyone, but that takes a back seat every other chapter to focus on more domestic moments with Mole, Rat, and other animals of the community. I found myself switching off a lot while listening to the audiobook, as so much of it felt like the personification of "old rich British man grumbles."
I didn't know whether this book wanted to be more down to earth or have some fantastical aspect to it. We see Pan (where was he in the cartoon adaptation huh DISNEY??) and there are some inconsistencies regarding the heights of the animal characters and how exactly their world works. It reads as "don't think too much about it and have fun," but it really hurt the immersion.
All that being said, I did like the friendship between Rat and Mole, which had a lot of Frog and Toad/and they were roommates vibes. There was something nice about seeing a tight knit community caring for each other, even towards those that really don't deserve it.
A lot of children's fiction from this era is tremendously dry and I think tries to be as sophisticated as possible when it comes to tone and word choice. A.A. Milne was able achieve this while also telling very simple stories that just happen to have that air about it. The Wind in the Willows I think would be a difficult book for many children this age to read, as it kind of flounders everywhere. There is a bit of a plot with Mr. Toad being a menace to everyone, but that takes a back seat every other chapter to focus on more domestic moments with Mole, Rat, and other animals of the community. I found myself switching off a lot while listening to the audiobook, as so much of it felt like the personification of "old rich British man grumbles."
I didn't know whether this book wanted to be more down to earth or have some fantastical aspect to it. We see Pan (where was he in the cartoon adaptation huh DISNEY??) and there are some inconsistencies regarding the heights of the animal characters and how exactly their world works. It reads as "don't think too much about it and have fun," but it really hurt the immersion.
All that being said, I did like the friendship between Rat and Mole, which had a lot of Frog and Toad/and they were roommates vibes. There was something nice about seeing a tight knit community caring for each other, even towards those that really don't deserve it.
Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
adventurous
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
3.5
I will say, this is an improvement from the first book. Anna and Charles' relationship feels at least a bit more settled now, there are some fears and insecurities that are touched on, which I felt like the previous installment lacked. I'm glad that Anna has grown into a stronger character and can definitely take care of herself when she has to.
And yet, I still can't really get into this series. I don't think Anna and Charles are still strong enough as characters to make me fully interested or want to continue with the rest of the books. It could be fatigue from this world or maybe it was wrong book wrong time, but really not much happened in this story that, honestly, should have been a game changer for the entire world. The wolves are coming out to the world, the story revolves around delegations and how exactly they're going to approach this process. And it all seems so shoved to the back amidst everything. I know it's more covered in the Mercy series, but it feels like the buildup was still so glossed over.
Unless someone makes a really convincing argument for it, I don't think I'll be going on with the series. Just give me a Bran highlight reel from the rest of the books and we'll call it a day.
And yet, I still can't really get into this series. I don't think Anna and Charles are still strong enough as characters to make me fully interested or want to continue with the rest of the books. It could be fatigue from this world or maybe it was wrong book wrong time, but really not much happened in this story that, honestly, should have been a game changer for the entire world. The wolves are coming out to the world, the story revolves around delegations and how exactly they're going to approach this process. And it all seems so shoved to the back amidst everything. I know it's more covered in the Mercy series, but it feels like the buildup was still so glossed over.
Unless someone makes a really convincing argument for it, I don't think I'll be going on with the series. Just give me a Bran highlight reel from the rest of the books and we'll call it a day.
The Boy, the Wolf, and the Stars by Shivaun Plozza
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think because I read this as an audiobook I sort of found my attention wandering at times. It's a decent fantasy with a great amount of adventure, emotion, and heart. The world has a lot of interesting aspects and lore, but I don't know if I was that invested in it. Not a bad book by any means. I loved the focus of feelings of abandonment, finding your own family, and the power of friendship and all that.
It may just have been a wrong book at the wrong time situation.
It may just have been a wrong book at the wrong time situation.
I Feel Awful, Thanks by Lara Pickle
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Makes for very good discussions on mental health, coping mechanisms, and boundaries. Reading the physical version, the print was a little small so it felt like I had to squint to read at certain points, but the story itself is solid.