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stormywolf's reviews
814 reviews
The Damned by Renée Ahdieh
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is the first sequel The Vampire Book Club has picked thus far, so I was pretty excited to enter this world. I caught up on The Beautiful earlier this week and really enjoyed it, finding it a fun and well-crafted mix of familiar modern and classic stories. With that experience fresh in my mind, and a bombastic ending to boot, I was eager to continue the story and see just where Bastien and Celine got to next.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I wish this story had focused more on the characters' growth and less on transitioning. It felt like it wanted to completely disconnect from the themes of the first book, reworking its characters into something entirely new so they could start again in the next book. And while I appreciated that as a theme of the story—the characters choosing to move away from the old ways of doing things, opting to take steps toward better understanding, mercy, and equality—the execution of it in the plot was too rushed, leaving the characters feeling hollow and stagnant. Though this book didn't live up to my expectations, I'm still willing to give it another shot with the series' next installment (releasing late 2021), so I'll be back to let you know if it was worth it. Because as it stands now, I don't think I can recommend this continuation unless you're already ride or die with these characters.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I wish this story had focused more on the characters' growth and less on transitioning. It felt like it wanted to completely disconnect from the themes of the first book, reworking its characters into something entirely new so they could start again in the next book. And while I appreciated that as a theme of the story—the characters choosing to move away from the old ways of doing things, opting to take steps toward better understanding, mercy, and equality—the execution of it in the plot was too rushed, leaving the characters feeling hollow and stagnant. Though this book didn't live up to my expectations, I'm still willing to give it another shot with the series' next installment (releasing late 2021), so I'll be back to let you know if it was worth it. Because as it stands now, I don't think I can recommend this continuation unless you're already ride or die with these characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and War
The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh
dark
hopeful
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
This is the first of the Vampire Book Club picks that I've gotten to from before I joined. That's right, it's time I catch up on some of the prior club picks...so I can read the current club pick, the sequel to this book! I swear, I'll get to more of the previous club books (I'm especially interested in A Discovery of Witches), but this makes as good excuse as any, right? Honestly didn't know anything going in other than the cover was pretty, it has vampires, and the first line of the summary places it in the 1800s. What have I got to lose?
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this book blew me away. Sure, the comparison wasn't exactly a high bar to clear, but the characters and the themes all just seemed to hit me just right to make me love this book. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA, historical fiction in the 19th century, paranormal romance, gothic horror, and especially strong female characters. So, with my heart full of hope and high expectations, I now turn to the sequel which, even if it weren't this month's club pick, I don't think I could bare to wait for.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this book blew me away. Sure, the comparison wasn't exactly a high bar to clear, but the characters and the themes all just seemed to hit me just right to make me love this book. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA, historical fiction in the 19th century, paranormal romance, gothic horror, and especially strong female characters. So, with my heart full of hope and high expectations, I now turn to the sequel which, even if it weren't this month's club pick, I don't think I could bare to wait for.
The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh
dark
hopeful
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
4.0
Audiobook Read by Lauren Ezzo
Unabridged Length: 13.2 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I have no complaints. A stellar narration, nailing tons of accents and emotions, was enough to put this production in my recommendations, to say nothing of its value as a pronunciation guide. With the emoting, especially in horror and action scenes, the volume and speed of reading does go up a bit, so that's something to keep in mind if you're not reading along, or at an increased playback speed. But if you're looking for an audio that offers a solid voice performance, this one should definitely be on your short list.
Unabridged Length: 13.2 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I have no complaints. A stellar narration, nailing tons of accents and emotions, was enough to put this production in my recommendations, to say nothing of its value as a pronunciation guide. With the emoting, especially in horror and action scenes, the volume and speed of reading does go up a bit, so that's something to keep in mind if you're not reading along, or at an increased playback speed. But if you're looking for an audio that offers a solid voice performance, this one should definitely be on your short list.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
challenging
emotional
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Audiobook Read by Dion Graham
Unabridged Length: 8.3 Hours
Listened at 1.75x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, a masterful narration and a solid production overall. In a world where audiobooks can sorta start to blend together, this one puts forward a phenomenal one-man-show that lets it stand out. I think there could have been some tweaks to audio editing to allow quieter moments better clarity, but that might not be an issue with headphones and/or slower playback. If you're looking for an audiobook that highlights the power of a voice actor in affecting emotion and general storytelling, Concrete Rose is definitely one to check out.
Unabridged Length: 8.3 Hours
Listened at 1.75x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, a masterful narration and a solid production overall. In a world where audiobooks can sorta start to blend together, this one puts forward a phenomenal one-man-show that lets it stand out. I think there could have been some tweaks to audio editing to allow quieter moments better clarity, but that might not be an issue with headphones and/or slower playback. If you're looking for an audiobook that highlights the power of a voice actor in affecting emotion and general storytelling, Concrete Rose is definitely one to check out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Addiction, Biphobia, Cursing, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Vomit, Abortion, and Alcohol
MC smokes weed once, sells weed and other drugs during book. Many depictions and mentions of gang culture & violence. No depictions of moment-of-death/killing, but does depict finding someone just after being killed. No sex scenes, but does include 17-year-olds in pre- & post-sex scene, conversations about condoms, and teen pregnancy. N-word is used among Black people, not by whites.
Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
Audiobook Read by Cassandra Campbell, Samantha Desz, Gibson Frazier, Joy Osmanski & Jacques Roy
Unabridged Length: 17.4 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, a solid production, but not as spectacular as I might have liked. I did appreciate being able to hear the terms Xe Xie and the slightly different pronunciation of Avalkyra than I had, but there wasn't much else in the fantasy category that had me puzzled. I also noticed a couple places where the text had "community" in place of "tribe" in the audio, so I assume those were edited later, but they were the only minor differences I caught. In short, this may be a fun change of pace for those who are used to only one narrator per book, but lands pretty standard for those of us who've experienced more complex productions.
Unabridged Length: 17.4 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, a solid production, but not as spectacular as I might have liked. I did appreciate being able to hear the terms Xe Xie and the slightly different pronunciation of Avalkyra than I had, but there wasn't much else in the fantasy category that had me puzzled. I also noticed a couple places where the text had "community" in place of "tribe" in the audio, so I assume those were edited later, but they were the only minor differences I caught. In short, this may be a fun change of pace for those who are used to only one narrator per book, but lands pretty standard for those of us who've experienced more complex productions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent and Murder
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
adventurous
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
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
Having loved watching The Martian and loved reading Artemis, I was really looking forward to jumping on Andy Weir's latest book nice and early. I'll admit, while eager I was also a little anxious about diving into something more science-focused, since Artemis was more heist-centric, and I haven't read The Martian yet for that very reason. I mean, I'm not anti-science by any means, but I did avoid it as much as I could by getting a BA in college. So with my excitement balanced with a healthy apprehension, I took the plunge.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I can't think of anything this book did poorly. It masterfully combines mystery, space exploration, scientific study, action scenes, a character study, environmental messages, humor, and aliens all into one story, and still has room for more. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Weir's other works or are looking for an escapist fantasy with some science facts woven into its fiction. Now to just work The Martian somewhere into my TBR list...
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I can't think of anything this book did poorly. It masterfully combines mystery, space exploration, scientific study, action scenes, a character study, environmental messages, humor, and aliens all into one story, and still has room for more. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Weir's other works or are looking for an escapist fantasy with some science facts woven into its fiction. Now to just work The Martian somewhere into my TBR list...
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
adventurous
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
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
Audiobook Read by Ray Porter
Unabridged Length: 16.2 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, a great performance and production on all counts. I think the only way to improve it would be to make it a full-blown audio-play with a larger cast and sound effects, but as audiobooks go there's not much I could ask for. Definitely a great experience for audiobook regulars or newbies alike, and I'd especially recommend it to anyone who might not be comfortable with the technobabble and science terminology that gets passed around at various points. Heck, just getting to hear Rocky is enough reason in itself to give the audio a try, so what are you waiting for?
Unabridged Length: 16.2 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, a great performance and production on all counts. I think the only way to improve it would be to make it a full-blown audio-play with a larger cast and sound effects, but as audiobooks go there's not much I could ask for. Definitely a great experience for audiobook regulars or newbies alike, and I'd especially recommend it to anyone who might not be comfortable with the technobabble and science terminology that gets passed around at various points. Heck, just getting to hear Rocky is enough reason in itself to give the audio a try, so what are you waiting for?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Drug use, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Alcohol
You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism by Amber Ruffin, Lacey Lamar
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Audiobook Read by Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar
Unabridged Length: 5.4 Hours
Listened at 1.5x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this was a pinnacle of what audiobook productions should strive to be. Sure, most audiobooks are created just for inclusivity/profit's sake, but for those of us who use them regularly, it really does make a huge impact when it's obvious how much care and thought and effort goes in to making them special. When it's obvious that someone took the time to realize it makes more sense to call the audience "listener" instead of "reader", or that a photo needs to be described, or that you can SING in audiobooks! It just makes it all that much more memorable and recommendable, ya know? So yes, obviously I would highly recommend checking out this audiobook regardless of whether you're a regular listener or just starting out. Think of it like a multi-part podcast. You'll thank me for it.
Unabridged Length: 5.4 Hours
Listened at 1.5x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this was a pinnacle of what audiobook productions should strive to be. Sure, most audiobooks are created just for inclusivity/profit's sake, but for those of us who use them regularly, it really does make a huge impact when it's obvious how much care and thought and effort goes in to making them special. When it's obvious that someone took the time to realize it makes more sense to call the audience "listener" instead of "reader", or that a photo needs to be described, or that you can SING in audiobooks! It just makes it all that much more memorable and recommendable, ya know? So yes, obviously I would highly recommend checking out this audiobook regardless of whether you're a regular listener or just starting out. Think of it like a multi-part podcast. You'll thank me for it.
You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism by Amber Ruffin, Lacey Lamar
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I've been watching Late Night with Seth Meyers for a few years now, and have always loved Amber's segments. Whether it's Amber Says What, Point, Counterpoint, Jokes Seth Can't Tell, or now The Amber Ruffin Show on Peacock, she is always amazing at telling stories or quips filled with heart and humor. I feel like we got our first taste of her skill with finding the humor in dark situations when she shared stories of her run-ins with police following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. So it was with both eagerness and apprehension that I found this book. Sure, I knew I was in for some entertainment, but it's one of those things where you're not sure if you're supposed to laugh or just feel horrified.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this was a book I won't soon forget. I'd highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys witty writing and personal storytelling, but also those interested in memoirs, social justice, comedy, contemporary America, creative non-fiction, or the Black experience. And if you're not yet sold, here's the aforementioned peek at Amber's chapter on police, as well as a little of the performance you can expect from the amazing audiobook: Amber Ruffin Shares a Lifetime of Traumatic Run-Ins with Police
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this was a book I won't soon forget. I'd highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys witty writing and personal storytelling, but also those interested in memoirs, social justice, comedy, contemporary America, creative non-fiction, or the Black experience. And if you're not yet sold, here's the aforementioned peek at Amber's chapter on police, as well as a little of the performance you can expect from the amazing audiobook: Amber Ruffin Shares a Lifetime of Traumatic Run-Ins with Police
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Racial slurs, Police brutality, Dementia, and Gaslighting
All the Tides of Fate by Adalyn Grace
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
After reading the first book last year, I was eager to see how everything panned out for Amora and the Keel Haul crew. What with the Barracudas being unceremoniously dropped, the semi-dystopian world reveal, and Amora being cursed to be close to a man (torture, am I right?), there were quite a few threads left to explore. And so after (a slightly pained experience of) reacquainting myself with the series, I was ready to dive into the sequel and conclusion to this series.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this book did a lot of things well, great even, but it also had some huge missteps that brought it down for me. I loved the themes and messages this story brought out about journeying through grief and PTSD, the feminist motifs scattered throughout, and ultimately continuing the adventures of these characters who I'd grown to love. But while I enjoyed the ending, I felt like the climax clashed against those same aspects that the book fought so hard to establish, making me question my enjoyment of the saga as a whole. Obviously, if you enjoyed the first book, you'll have to read this one, and I would still recommend it and its predecessor for fans of YA, fantasy, adventure, and romance, despite my frustrations. (After all, how else will I get to discuss it with people?) I just hope you are fated with more enjoyment than I was.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this book did a lot of things well, great even, but it also had some huge missteps that brought it down for me. I loved the themes and messages this story brought out about journeying through grief and PTSD, the feminist motifs scattered throughout, and ultimately continuing the adventures of these characters who I'd grown to love. But while I enjoyed the ending, I felt like the climax clashed against those same aspects that the book fought so hard to establish, making me question my enjoyment of the saga as a whole. Obviously, if you enjoyed the first book, you'll have to read this one, and I would still recommend it and its predecessor for fans of YA, fantasy, adventure, and romance, despite my frustrations. (After all, how else will I get to discuss it with people?) I just hope you are fated with more enjoyment than I was.