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reka111's reviews
280 reviews
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
Frankly, this book holds a significant place in my heart — but not enough to evaluate it biased — because it was the first book I read entirely in English in my life.
Alessandra grew terribly close to me, embodying everything I desire in a protagonist; ambitious, strong, masterful manipulator and fearless. In short, I loved her immensely throughout the story. She had flaws, obviously, but even those couldn't stop me from seeing her as the ideal, it rather added to it. Kallias was already a harder nut to crack; Mysterious, withdrawn, but still so lovable. It's a bit cliche that he had shadow power, but gods can't all be perfect(he ends up renouncing immortality anyway).
Their love got off to a hard start, but it still turned into something quite flourishing. I liked reading about how they both tried to control it all until they gave up. Their quarrels, their secrets to each other, and yet their endless understanding of each other. They fit together so much.
The plot was understandable and entertaining, it didn't have any real depth, but for a book of this length, I didn't expect anything else. The pace was right, and the time jumps were accurate. The End felt a bit quick, but it was okay for one read.
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
His last word was my name. His last thought was of me.
Frankly, this book holds a significant place in my heart — but not enough to evaluate it biased — because it was the first book I read entirely in English in my life.
Alessandra grew terribly close to me, embodying everything I desire in a protagonist; ambitious, strong, masterful manipulator and fearless. In short, I loved her immensely throughout the story. She had flaws, obviously, but even those couldn't stop me from seeing her as the ideal, it rather added to it. Kallias was already a harder nut to crack; Mysterious, withdrawn, but still so lovable. It's a bit cliche that he had shadow power, but gods can't all be perfect
Their love got off to a hard start, but it still turned into something quite flourishing. I liked reading about how they both tried to control it all until they gave up. Their quarrels, their secrets to each other, and yet their endless understanding of each other. They fit together so much.
The plot was understandable and entertaining, it didn't have any real depth, but for a book of this length, I didn't expect anything else. The pace was right, and the time jumps were accurate. The End felt a bit quick, but it was okay for one read.
Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Well, I absolutely remember nothing about this book. I think that says enough.
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
Alright, at one time I was obsessed with this book series and I loved it incredibly. I may have read almost all of them except the last book at once (or more), in short, this book holds an incredibly important place in my soul.
(Random note; Now I just had a mental break down because I accidentally closed the app and didn't save my review, so the whole thing disappeared, so now I have to rewrite it)
Agatha was a very likeable and complex character who had two feet on the ground, was realistic and did not believe in a better future that comes without a price. She was probably the only one in the entire series to have made so much progress in one book. Either way, she is the synonym of common sense in the book. I had trouble with Sophie from the beginning, and her constant waywardness and squeamishness got her into trouble several times, not surprisingly. She was growing slower and definitely needed time to really develop and learn from her mistakes. Tedros, well, if I had to describe him in the first book, it would be "beautiful on the outside, but nothing on the inside," and that would be correct. The three witches, like they stole my heart in all the books, carried the whole story on their backs and added as much as no other character.
The plot was full of twists and cliffhangers, it was a bit confusing, maybe incomprehensible in some places, but still unique, not another Harry Potter or whatever. The pace was good and I didn't find anything wrong with the wording.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Only once you destroy who you think you are can you embrace who you truly are
Alright, at one time I was obsessed with this book series and I loved it incredibly. I may have read almost all of them except the last book at once (or more), in short, this book holds an incredibly important place in my soul.
(Random note; Now I just had a mental break down because I accidentally closed the app and didn't save my review, so the whole thing disappeared, so now I have to rewrite it)
Agatha was a very likeable and complex character who had two feet on the ground, was realistic and did not believe in a better future that comes without a price. She was probably the only one in the entire series to have made so much progress in one book. Either way, she is the synonym of common sense in the book. I had trouble with Sophie from the beginning, and her constant waywardness and squeamishness got her into trouble several times, not surprisingly. She was growing slower and definitely needed time to really develop and learn from her mistakes. Tedros, well, if I had to describe him in the first book, it would be "beautiful on the outside, but nothing on the inside," and that would be correct. The three witches, like they stole my heart in all the books, carried the whole story on their backs and added as much as no other character.
The plot was full of twists and cliffhangers, it was a bit confusing, maybe incomprehensible in some places, but still unique, not another Harry Potter or whatever. The pace was good and I didn't find anything wrong with the wording.
The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
This book is a weak refreshment, perhaps a kind of silence before the war (except for the end) that is in the third book.
No one says this, but Su Daji deserved a thousand times better, as did Rin and my dear sweet Kitay. Changan is my heart, he suffered so much.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Fire and water looked so lovely together. It was a pity they destroyed each other by nature.
This book is a weak refreshment, perhaps a kind of silence before the war (except for the end) that is in the third book.
No one says this, but Su Daji deserved a thousand times better, as did Rin and my dear sweet Kitay. Changan is my heart, he suffered so much.
Vicious by V.E. Schwab
Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.
I'll continue in the future
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Date: 2022.08.14
STOPPED AT 70%
———————————————————
Date: 2022.12.21
I literally didn't finish this book months ago and I've finished it now. You can call this a miracle, you can call it fate or even perseverance, but the truth is that I simply wanted to read, I didn't want to stop at 40 books (my goal for this year), so I started this again. Basically, I love Vikings, Scandinavian mythology, culture, etc., so there was no question that I would read this. This book needed time and I totally understand that. That's how I was with The Familiars. Sometimes I make a good decision, sometimes I don't and this time I feel like I'm in between the two because this wasn't such an outstandingly good book.
Eelyn is a warrior, a soldier, an unbreakable woman. What I liked most about her character was that she was so persistent, that she did everything to protect her people.
Basically, Fiske didn't impress me, even though I should have, because he's a tall, strong love interest and he should have swept me off my feet, but he didn't. I would like to think that it was his personality that repulsed me, but the truth is that even I don't know why I couldn't love him so much.
So I'm ashamed to admit, but I only remember the other characters vaguely or not at all, in any case, Halvard is the tip of my heart, Iri is a traitor to me, but I'm glad that he got the happy ending, Indra deserve the whole world, and so does Myra.
Unfortunately, a lot of time has passed between my readings, so I can't really give a far-reaching opinion. The plot was predictable, but at least it was cute, not exactly an enemies to lovers gem, but it was good by its standards. I recommend it to those who want to read a short book and want to relax a little.
STOPPED AT 70%
———————————————————
Date: 2022.12.21
I literally didn't finish this book months ago and I've finished it now. You can call this a miracle, you can call it fate or even perseverance, but the truth is that I simply wanted to read, I didn't want to stop at 40 books (my goal for this year), so I started this again. Basically, I love Vikings, Scandinavian mythology, culture, etc., so there was no question that I would read this. This book needed time and I totally understand that. That's how I was with The Familiars. Sometimes I make a good decision, sometimes I don't and this time I feel like I'm in between the two because this wasn't such an outstandingly good book.
Eelyn is a warrior, a soldier, an unbreakable woman. What I liked most about her character was that she was so persistent, that she did everything to protect her people.
Basically, Fiske didn't impress me, even though I should have, because he's a tall, strong love interest and he should have swept me off my feet, but he didn't. I would like to think that it was his personality that repulsed me, but the truth is that even I don't know why I couldn't love him so much.
So I'm ashamed to admit, but I only remember the other characters vaguely or not at all, in any case, Halvard is the tip of my heart, Iri is a traitor to me, but I'm glad that he got the happy ending, Indra deserve the whole world, and so does Myra.
Unfortunately, a lot of time has passed between my readings, so I can't really give a far-reaching opinion. The plot was predictable, but at least it was cute, not exactly an enemies to lovers gem, but it was good by its standards. I recommend it to those who want to read a short book and want to relax a little.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Slavery, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Animal death
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
And every time she got there Jumpin' to the pier, she saw her book leaning against the small window for all to see. As a father would show.
I won't lie when I say I suffered. In both the good and bad sense of the word. Basically, I had this book in my hands a long time ago, but I didn't pay that much attention to it - which I did well to some extent - but now fate gave me the chance to actually read it. So let's start our journey, where the crawdads sing.
Kya was a very very brave and wonderful girl who really deserved to live, not to exist and not to survive, but to actually live. She really grew very close to my heart during the book and I suffered with her. She never deserved what she got, never.
Tate is my life, my light, my star. At first I really loved him and liked him, but when he left Kya I couldn't get closer to him after that no matter how hard I tried. I think a little part of me died with Kya when he left her. I can't tell you how happy I was when he came back and helped her, because he wasn't violent with her, he really tried to make things right.
I never loved Chase, after what turned out not even as much as a rat, because he himself was nothing more than that.
Kya DID VERY RIGHT to kill him.
I owe Jupin', Mabel and Jodie my life.I still haven't gotten over Jupin's death. Jodie named his kids after his siblings just about killed me.
I understand Kya's mom, I really do. I was very happy that I finally read a book in which don't romanticize abuse (khm Coollen Hoover), it's a very serious thing and you can't play with it. She did very well to leave their father there, even if she was sick of having to leave her children there.
The plot was very slow and for me boring in some places and the twist at the end was predictable, but all in all it was better than, for example, the night circus, but it was not even close to the standard of the witch's heart.
An average book, with an average event and an unusual protagonist.
Kya was a very very brave and wonderful girl who really deserved to live, not to exist and not to survive, but to actually live. She really grew very close to my heart during the book and I suffered with her. She never deserved what she got, never.
Tate is my life, my light, my star. At first I really loved him and liked him, but when he left Kya I couldn't get closer to him after that no matter how hard I tried. I think a little part of me died with Kya when he left her. I can't tell you how happy I was when he came back and helped her, because he wasn't violent with her, he really tried to make things right.
I never loved Chase, after what turned out not even as much as a rat, because he himself was nothing more than that.
I owe Jupin', Mabel and Jodie my life.
I understand Kya's mom, I really do. I was very happy that I finally read a book in which don't romanticize abuse (khm Coollen Hoover), it's a very serious thing and you can't play with it. She did very well to leave their father there, even if she was sick of having to leave her children there.
The plot was very slow and for me boring in some places and the twist at the end was predictable, but all in all it was better than, for example, the night circus, but it was not even close to the standard of the witch's heart.
An average book, with an average event and an unusual protagonist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75