s_holdthebus's reviews
70 reviews

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted 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

5.0

Loved this one!! I love the cozy seaside adventure!! It really sets up Viv for her to grow and learn in the next book! My one gripe is that the romance kind of felt like a whisper? Like it was here and gone pretty quickly but it was cute nonetheless! Travis really does a good job with low stakes, cozy fantasy!!

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

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funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I actually ended up having to listen to the audiobook because Misery was so insufferable for the first part. Listen, I don’t mind quirky FMCs but this was too much 2010s vibes that drove me crazy.

The audiobook helped a bit and I was intrigued with the plot but the end was also insufferable and the reveal went on for far too long and was way too monologuey. I think Misery and Lowe make a cute couple and the knotting was fun, we could’ve even explored more omegaverse stuff but the knotting was fine! Anna was adorable and I love her and Lowe’s relationship.

I think it was an ok book, but cool to see something new from Hazlewood.

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.0

Overall I enjoyed the fairytale esque book that this was! I had some issues with some things and think they could’ve been more developed!

Things I liked:
- Sapphic romance (although the romance took up a little space, it was more hating and pining).
- Jewish representation. I think it’s great to see a strong sapphic Jewish woman be in the spotlight!
- Saft’s prose and writing when it comes to atmosphere and describing characters is really beautiful and one of my favorite parts!
- I loved the different creatures, but wished we could’ve see them being interacted with more or what their lore was? It seemed like the only person who knew about them was Sylvia.

Things I didn’t like:
-While having a Jewish FMC was really cool, I think we could’ve had a more in depth discussion about imperialism and how horrible the Yevani people were treated. There wasn’t really any resolution when it came to the antiseptic values the rest of the world held? I’m totally not expected rainbows and butterflies but at least a conversation with Wilheim? Especially since his whole goal was “unity” under sacrifice.
- I don’t think this should’ve been marketed as an academic rivals to lovers? There wasn’t really much academia or rivalry (it was solved within the first couple chapters).
- and the murder!! I wanted more mystery and more getting to know the characters outside their superficial archetypes.

Overall, I did enjoy it, but I do think we could’ve gone more in depth in a seemingly really cool and interesting world. More discussions on antisemitism, more murder mystery, more world building and magic system explanation, and more rivalry! But yay for sapphics!

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

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challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I absolutely love anything Ava writes, and I did overall enjoy this one but I did have some gripes!

Things I liked:
• Ava’s descriptions of atmosphere! They’re so haunting and beautiful.
• I love the metaphors and similes used throughout.

Things I didn’t like:
• The way Scotsmen are portrayed. They are described as brutish, with singular goals and motives, who treat women with disrespect. I think we could’ve had more men go against this stereotype or have a more nuanced conversation about the men in this book. It would’ve been nice for Roscille to have a male friend who wasn’t considered a brute or the love interest.

• I think Roscille could’ve been written with a bit more depth. I think she has the foundation for a great character but we didn’t know a lot about her growing up and we just see her constantly trying to outwit. I get that she is in danger the whole time and in a new land with strangers, but something other then outwit outwit outwit would’ve been cool to see!

• I want to know more about the witches!! They seemed so cool I wish they played a bigger part/role.

• More female friendships! I really think there’s so much power in female friendships that isn’t written enough about in Ava’s books. The FMC seems always alone until the MMC intervenes and I’d like to see some more foundational friendships in place!

Overall, I did enjoy this book and will read anything Ava writes!

Heartless by Elsie Silver

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adventurous challenging emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced