s_holdthebus's reviews
70 reviews

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

I WISH I COULD GIVE THIS SIX STARS WOW THIS WAS SO GOOD
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? No

5.0

The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

AMAZING 10/10 NO NOTES I WILL DIE FOR IKENNA
The Gargoyle's Captive by Katee Robert

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challenging 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

4.0

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

I really enjoyed this one! The gothic mansion filled with devils and ghouls and ghosts was really fun!

Things I liked: spooky atmosphere, trial/competition games, interesting characters, OCD rep, I liked that Ophelia grew as a character (it was a bit fast how quickly she changed but she was a strong FMC and stood up for herself).

Things I didn’t like: I think the author had a unique writing style, and there are lots of descriptive moments, but some of the sentences dragged on and on. I had to reread multiple sentences that were really just paragraphs. I think the ending was wrapped up too quickly and I wish we had more romance and not just sex between the two MCs.

 I’d also like to have seen more interactions with the Devils and/or the side characters. Genevieve just popped up out of nowhere and then the whole plot of Ophelia looking for her was resolved in a chapter.

Overall, the concept was fun and I had a good time reading it! I think the levels were interesting, I just wish we could’ve stayed in those scenes a bit longer! A good book for spooky season!
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

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adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

This book was so much fun and magical!! I feel like the faeries were done really well and I love how terrifying they were portrayed as!
Her Soul to Take by Harley Laroux

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense 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

5.0

I LOVED THIS!!! One of my favorite reads this year! I loved the possessiveness, the smut, the brattiness! It was all so good, no notes.
Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.75

My only complaint was that it was short! It was very sweet and romantic and I loved the magic system! I only wished it was longer so we could see the couple interact more! But I do loved a damned woman who will do anything for the ones she loves!