thisbookishcat's reviews
649 reviews

A Judgement in Stone by Ruth Rendell

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

4.5

Man, what a good read! Yes, it can come off as a little slow because it is taking you through the events over the months, but this was so thrilling in an eerie sort of way. And, given the stories I've heard from my parents about growing up and living through the 70s, I can definitely believe something like this would have happened in a rural location. If you're looking for something different, I would recommend this for sure. 
Mistletoe Magic by Stacey Joy Netzel

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lighthearted fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

I didn't love the how easily the conflict in this one was brushed over, because if it was me it'd be pretty unforgivable, but of course because it's a Christmas romance I couldn't help but grin and be happy by the end if it. Solid read if you want something fluffy for the holidays. 
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

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

4.0

What the heck did I just read...

I went into this book not knowing anything about it, and yes, I must have been living under a rock to manage that, and oh my goodness am I the more glad for it. I will say, I wasn't expecting this book to bring up as many memories and shames of my own past as it did, so it really took me a while to get through it, and my poor husband had to put up with my throwing my phone across the couch and then pacing around the house to process what I'd just read. I definitely don't think this book is for the feint of heart, but what a rush. 
Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

This one was a bit of a miss for me. To be fair, there was a lot of character development which I think will pay off in the next book, but man did I not enjoy a lot of the whining and the self-doubt and berating. I think if I'd read this as a teenager I would have vibed with it more, but after the third chapter of the same personal complaints, it's like, come on, buck up and smarten up. Hopefully the next one pays off more. 
Witchlight by L.J. Smith

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

3.0

I'm so upset that the rest of this series hasn't been published because this book, while not my favourite, set up some really cool stuff to come! For this story in particular though, the characters were just not ones I really enjoyed. 
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

4.25

I'll be honest, this first book I found pretty meh by the end of it, and definitely after time has passed I didn't think it was the memorable. But this book? THIS is what I'm talking about. I can do without all the woe-is-me and wishing everything was like in the past parts, but the action, the ENDING. Solid 4.25-stars for that even after all of the whining. If I didn't have a bunch of books already on the go I'd be finishing this series on my flight home tomorrow. Bravo. 
Kiss of a Duke by Erica Ridley

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funny hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

Yes, that's exactly what I needed this holiday! It's light-hearted, sexy, witty, dorky in so many ways, and a happily ever after; what's not to love?! I could read a whole series just about this couple, I enjoyed them that much. 
Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War by Mark Bowden

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

This book was go-go-go right from the beginning. I really appreciated too that the author didn't get into the weeds about the backgrounds of the military itself, but that he focused on the events that took place and the men who were a part of those events. Throughout the whole book too you do keep the sense of urgency and adrenaline of the situation as it's unfolding and also the tension and heartache as the casualties take place and families are informed.

Even if you aren't much of a military non-fiction reader, this is a fantastic read and I think an important read for a better understanding of modern military and Somalian history that can help explain certain recent events. 
Twisted by Helen Hardt

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adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

4.0

Ryan got pretty whiny in this one, and I didn't care too much for his dominance struggle with Ruby, but the rest of the story is A+. I'll be damned if I don't finish the next book in the next couple of weeks because I need to know!

Damnit Cory! 
The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

4.0

I liked this one so much more than I remember liking the first one. And omg, for a book meant for youth it's quite violent! I kept reading out excerpts to my husband because I couldn't believe it. I'm actually really excited to start the next book soon.