a_robin_reads's reviews
1287 reviews

Raze by Roan Parrish

emotional medium-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

4.0

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Information:

• Storytel audiobook
• Reading Authors
• Reading Series

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Review:

Another great book in this series 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read Raze by Roan Parrish. This is the third book in the Riven trilogy. I listened to the audiobook. Read this for my Series list. This is an adult romance series with LGBTQ+ characters.

This one might have been my favorite of the series. I really enjoyed the two main characters in this book. I loved all the diversity in this book. The romance was very well developed and well done. I just love this author's romance books very much. 

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A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll

challenging emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Information:

• Library book

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Review:

Absolutely amazing, loved the representation so much! 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read A kind of spark by Elle McNicoll. I read a copy from the library. Read this one, because it was recommended to me for the autistic representation. This is a middle grade contemporary book.

This was absolutely amazing! I loved this so much. The story itself was a tough read, because there was a lot of bullying and ableism. But I just loved the representation a lot. I could really see myself in the main character. It helps that the author herself is autistic as well, so she just knows what she is writing. Very glad I finally found a book with good autistic representation. 

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Bryony and Roses by T. Kingfisher

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Information:

• Storytel audiobook
• Reading Authors
• Dead good book reviews readalong
• Buddy read: Jennifer's Discord Group

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Review:

Another great retelling! 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read Bryony and roses by T. Kingfisher. I listened to the audiobook. Read this for the readalong I'm doing of all of her work. This is an adult fantasy with a romance.

This was another retelling that really worked for me. I really loved Bryony as a main character, she was the best. I loved her passion for gardening. The story itself was similar to the one I know, but also unique enough to enjoy it. Laughed a couple of times again. Another excellent book from this author, what a delight. 

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Schim en Schaduw by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Information:

• Library book & Storytel audiobook
• Reading Series

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Review:

Cool magic system and great MC 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read Shadow and bone by Leigh Bardugo. This is the first book in the Shadow and bone trilogy. I read a Dutch copy from the library whilst listening to the audiobook. Have had this series on my Want to read list for a while, so therefore picked it up. This is a young adult fantasy book.

Liking this so far, but not very far into it. I think it's pretty original so far. I like the characters and am curious to see where the story will go. 

This was really good! Some parts original, some parts not really, but that is more so because it is an older book, so can't fault it for that. I really liked the main character. The world building and magic system were exactly how I like it. Story itself was good, ending was good. Excited to read the rest of the series. 

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De schedel by Jon Klassen

dark medium-paced

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

4.0

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Information:

• Library book

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Review:

Dark story with amazing drawings, really enjoyed it 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

 I have read The skull by Jon Klassen. I read a Dutch copy from the library. Read this because it was recommended on my favorite podcast. This is children's fantasy picture book.

This was a very lovely story. It was the right creepy vibes. The art was not really for me, but the story and writing style was definitely for me. Would recommend. 

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Explorers at Pirate Island by Alex Bell
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.

Chapter 11

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.

Wat algemene dingen die ik nu denk over het boek:
Bladzijde 189, ongeveer 60%

||- Het begin vond ik erg leuk. Emily vind ik een fijn karakter om van te lezen. Voelde als een fijne cosy fantasy. Helaas ging het al snel naar helemaal niet cosy. Vind de marketing dus niet kloppen voor het boek.

- Ik vind het niet echt leuk/passend dat dit een dagboek is. Bij sommige verhalen klopt het gewoon niet en dat heb ik hier ook. Er worden dingen in verteld die niet logisch zijn in een dagboek. Daarnaast snap ik de voetnoten dan dus ook niet. Volgens mij is dit namelijk van haar zelf, de encyclopedie wordt later pas aangevuld met alles wat ze hier heeft onderzocht.

- Ik weet helaas dat er een romance gaat komen tussen Wendell en Emily en heb daar helemaal geen zin in. Ik vind ze veel te leuk als vrienden.

- Het verhaal heeft voor mij geen fijne rode draad, ik heb meer richting nodig. Het voelt tot nu toe te chaotisch.

Conclusie: ik ga ermee stoppen. Nu ik het allemaal zo uitschrijf, vind ik het niet voldoende leuk genoeg om mee door te gaan. ||

West Wind: Poems and Prose Poems by Mary Oliver

inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Information:

• Kobo Plus ebook

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Review:

Beautiful prose 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read West wind by Mary Oliver. I read the ebook. This is an adult poetry collection.

I randomly picked this up, because I was in the mood to read something short and easy. My favorite podcast talked about this author, so therefore picked this poetry collection up instead of another. I'm glad I did, because I very much enjoyed it. It was easy to follow with beautiful prose and a theme that I liked. 

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Unraveling: What I Learned about Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World's Ugliest Sweater by Peggy Orenstein

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Information:

• Storytel audiobook
• Nonfiction November: path

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Review:

Fascinating process to follow

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I'm currently reading Unraveling by Peggy Orenstein. I'm listening to the audiobook. I'm reading this one for the Nonfiction November Readathon with the prompt: path. This is an adult nonfiction book with art, memoir and nature elements.

Enjoying this so far. It's very fun to follow the process. I like that this is part memoir and part facts. It is a lot about covid though, not really enjoying that. It also feels a bit chaotic, not a lot of structure. Sometimes a bit hard to follow therefore. 

I really liked this one. It had a lot of different nonfiction elements/genres in it, which was really fun. I learned a lot. It was still quite chaotic, but easy enough to follow. The covid parts were not that present anymore in the latter half of the book, so that was great.
 

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A Complicated Omega's Second Love by Kichi Uekawa

challenging emotional medium-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

4.0

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Information:

• Kobo Plus ebook

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Review:

Cute but also sort of problematic?

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read A complicated omega's second love by Kichi Uekawa. I read the ebook. Read this because I have quite a few manga on my ereader and just want to read more of those. This is an adult romance manga with LGBTQ+ characters. 

I liked this one! The concept of omega's and alphas etc is not really my thing. But it wasn't that prevalent in this story I think. It was more so a love story between these two men and I really liked that. 

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