unheardmelokate's reviews
2914 reviews

adventurous dark emotional 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

3.5

Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review:

Eighteen-year-old Elsa and her boyfriend, Eye, live in the lovely coastal town of Northaven. But things aren't lovely for the two secret Torches, unhumans with telepathic abilities they're forced to hide for fear of extermination. After Rye's powers are discovered and he's outed by Elsa's older brother, Elsa's grief forces a connection with Nightingale, a fellow unhuman living hundreds of miles away. Once the two realize the true extent of their power, they're thrust headfirst into war and revolution.

Pairing action and political intrigue, and told from multiple perspectives, Songlight is a dystopian fantasy readers are sure to devour. This first in a planned trilogy from debut author Moira Buffini will appeal to fans of Sansa Tahir, Rhoda Belleza, and Suzanne Collins.

Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review:

How far will one girl go to save her sister? Kidan Adam's knows she's a danger to the world, but she's willing to unleash the full force of her fury until she finds her missing twin sister, June. After torturing and murdering the one person who should have kept her safe, Kidan is surprised by an invitation to the place she believes June has been taken to - Uxlay University. The catch: She'll have to live in her family's ancestral home alongside the vampire she believes kidnapped June. But as Kidan adjusts to her new world, she begins to question everything she once believes to be true. Will she be able to untangle the mysteries of Uxlay before it's too late - for both herself and everyone she loves?

A fresh take on the dark academia and romantasy genres, Immortal Dark features a cast of Black characters steeped in Ethiopian tradition, vampires, and a steamy (though certainly tame enough for a high school audience) romance. Fans of ACOTAR and Twilight alike are sure to lap up this first in a planned trilogy by debut author Tigest Girma.

Give Me Something Good to Eat by D.W. Gillespie

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adventurous dark medium-paced

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

2.0

Popcorn by Rob Harrell

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challenging emotional funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

Casket Case by Lauren Evans

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emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

4.0

Received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review:

Can a grieving woman drifting through life and a man who literally works for Death make a relationship work? In this witty yet sensitive debut rom-com, author Laura Evans introduces readers to small-town business-woman Nora Clanton. Having inherited her parents' casket-selling business after their death a year ago, Nora's merely existing from one day to the next - until Garrett Bishop walks in asking for directions. Garrett seems like the perfect guy: nice, thoughtful, ridiculously handsome. The only problem is, Garrett's job is the logistics of death. Can Nora reconcile such a seemingly cruel line of work with the man she thinks she's fallen in love with?

Nora and Garrett are easy to love characters, and their supporting cast are fleshed out enough to make them interesting. I would recommend this title to anyone who enjoys their rom-coms with a hefty dose of emotion. Perfect for fans of Talia Hibbett or recently-released Rules of Ghosting.

Loving, Ohio by Matthew Erman

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced