woolgathering_jane's reviews
168 reviews

Panství krve a kovu by Sara Holland

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

Můj ne tak sladký život by Rachel Harris

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fast-paced

2.0

This felt like an episode of a (bad) soap opera.
Americká princezna by Katharine McGee

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

Maybe it's just that I generally don't like books that heavily focus on romance, but this was just boring. I didn't have much trouble getting through it, because the writing style is easy to read, but I have no desire to read the second book, despite the first book's cliffhanger.
Trnitá řeč by Leigh Bardugo

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

Host do domu by Jiří Wolker

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reflective fast-paced

3.5

Dívka, had, trn by Melissa Bashardoust

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adventurous dark inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 “Beautiful yet deadly, he had called her. Somehow, he made one sound as sweet as the other.” 
I had such high expectations about this book, and I'm so happy that GSP fulfilled them almost entirely! I loved the character development of Soraya, and even though I guessed the ending midway through the book, it was still so satisfying. The pace and writing were great, I wasn't bored anywhere in the story and it was so addicting! I enjoyed the world-building, it was like a breath of fresh air to not read about a Europe-inspired kingdom. And I enjoyed the overall plot.
The only thing I didn't enjoy that much was the romance. Not at all because it was LGBTQ+ - that was one of the few things I liked about it - but because it just felt... flat. I feel like I didn't get to see Soraya fall in love, it was so fast. I think I like the idea of the relationship way more than I like the execution. 
On the other hand, I loved Soraya's relationship and interaction with the main villain. There was so much nuance and symbolism.
Overall, it was an awesome read that lived up to the hype, although it is fantasy, not a romance book like some recommendations suggest. 
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Zima čarodějnice by Katherine Arden

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Dívka ve věži by Katherine Arden

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

 “Think of me sometimes," he returned. "When the snowdrops have bloomed and the snow has melted.” 
I never thought I could like the 'not like other girls' trope until I started this series. The main character, Vasya, is not like other girls. And it's a major inconvenience for everyone, including herself. Vasya is not very lovable at first, but she has grown on me as her story progressed. She messes up, then messes up again, but she always wants what she thinks is best for her and her loved ones. And of course, her relationship with Morozko is probably my favourite thing about the book. I just love these two so much.
The plot was fine. Nothing life-changing, I guessed who the main villain was the moment they were introduced, but I didn't mind. Stronger qualities of the story would be the beautiful wintery mood and the folklore. The pace was nice, it didn't feel stuck at any point.
But the finale! I read the last hundred pages in one sitting, and it was a wild ride. I was even more worried about the characters because of the prophecy said in the first book. The only thing I didn't like was that some points weren't fully fleshed out, they were just there and you weren't supposed to question how.
Overall, very enjoyable read and perfect for the autumn/winter months. 
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Petr a Lucie by Romain Rolland

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dark emotional inspiring sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

This book was such a sweet read, but it was also very sad? It was easy to just ignore the setting, just like the characters do, and once every few pages, I'd remember where this book is taking place and it was even sadder. I didn't cry, I was very close tho. I fell in love with the characters just after a few pages, and seeing their relationship develop was so precious.
The only thing I didn't like was a couple of mentions of Luce imagining being Pierre's mother? What was that supposed to be about?
Definitely a book you don't want to miss, even if it would be for the beautiful, flowery language alone. 
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Sluha dvou pánů by Carlo Goldoni

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

1.5

Bad times look a lot better on a full belly.
I've read this book before I've seen it on stage, and I was so disappointed. But honestly, even if I had seen the play first, I doubt that I'd enjoy it. This book is full of such obvious humour that it wasn't even funny. I guess it really depends on your sense of humour, and if you don't enjoy the most simple jokes, you won't enjoy this book either.