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thexfiles's reviews
105 reviews
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
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
5.0
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
emotional
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
3.5
The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
emotional
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
Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
emotional
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
5.0
Layla by Colleen Hoover
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
What is this goofy-ass book LMAOOO
Despite being advertised as a “paranormal thriller,” there is nothing remotely thrilling or scary about Layla. Thanks to Hoover’s bare-bone descriptions, the setting and mood lack any sort of character that might lend itself to a spooky atmosphere. And speaking of character...our “hero,” Leeds Gabriel is flat, uninteresting, and unsympathetic. Leeds did so many horrible things in this book, and despite the fact that he recognized what he was doing was wrong (in many repetitive internal monologues), he never took action or changed his ways. All his bad decisions are brushed away at the end by cop-out plot twists that “justify” him. Meanwhile, our titular character, Layla, is a superficially-written manic pixie dream girl. None of the other side characters were remotely interesting, and the plot twists were predictable and quite frankly laughable. I only read this book because I challenged myself to read the lowest and highest-rated Colleen Hoover books on Goodreads; if not for that, I wouldn’t have finished it. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but It Ends With Us was an infinitely better novel.
Despite being advertised as a “paranormal thriller,” there is nothing remotely thrilling or scary about Layla. Thanks to Hoover’s bare-bone descriptions, the setting and mood lack any sort of character that might lend itself to a spooky atmosphere. And speaking of character...our “hero,” Leeds Gabriel is flat, uninteresting, and unsympathetic. Leeds did so many horrible things in this book, and despite the fact that he recognized what he was doing was wrong (in many repetitive internal monologues), he never took action or changed his ways. All his bad decisions are brushed away at the end by cop-out plot twists that “justify” him. Meanwhile, our titular character, Layla, is a superficially-written manic pixie dream girl. None of the other side characters were remotely interesting, and the plot twists were predictable and quite frankly laughable. I only read this book because I challenged myself to read the lowest and highest-rated Colleen Hoover books on Goodreads; if not for that, I wouldn’t have finished it. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but It Ends With Us was an infinitely better novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Eating disorder, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
I hate that a stupid YA urban fantasy book from 2011 written by an infamous ex-Harry Potter fanfiction author got me so upsetty spaghetti, but here we are.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Don’t do drugs, kids.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Genocide, Torture, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Medical trauma
Minor: Pedophilia, Vomit, and Colonisation