a_robin_reads's reviews
1287 reviews

De hulp by Freida McFadden

dark tense fast-paced

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

2.0

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Information:

• Book lend from friend & Storytel audiobook
• Reading Series
• The Haunted Party: read a thriller/horror book

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Review:

Start was okay, but went downhill very fast 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I'm currently reading The housemaid by Freida McFadden. This is the first book in The housemaid series. I'm reading a Dutch copy lend from a friend and listening to the audiobook at the same time. Reading this for The Haunted Party readathon for Scary story with the prompt: read a thriller/horror book. This is an adult thriller.

Enjoying this so far. It's pretty intriguing. Like all the characters and the set up of the story is good. I'm not liking a certain element, a bit afraid where the story will go with that. But I am excited to see where it goes and if I will like it.

Well I did not like it. As with most thriller it went downhill fast for me. With some plot things I just really dislike. They are put in thrillers quite often, so the genre is therefore so difficult for me. I'm not going to continue the series. 

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Een hart van steen by Renate Dorrestein

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Information:

• Owned book & Storytel audiobook
• Second read
• The Haunted Party: read something short

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Review:

Still a very good book 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I'm currently reading A heart of stone by Renate Dorrestein. I'm reading a Dutch owned copy whist listening to the audiobook. This is my second read of this book. Reading this for The Haunted Party readathon for Coffin with the prompt: read something short. This is an adult contemporary book with literary writing.

I have been hesistant to read this one again, because I was not sure I would like it still. But I'm very glad I finally did, because I'm loving this so far. I really love how this story is told. It does go from timeline to timeline, but it is very clear to me. The plot is the most intriguing part. I do already know what happens, but I don't mind with this one. I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep it after I finish it. 

Definitely going to keep this book on my shelves. I really loved it the second time. Very complex story. Still a very intriguing read even though I knew the ending. 

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Cat + Gamer, Volume 1 by Wataru Nadatani

funny lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

5.0

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Information:

• Owned book
• Reading Series
• The Haunted Party: read a manga/graphic novel/comic

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Review:

Super cute and fun 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read Cat + gamer Volume 1 by Wataru Nadatani. Read an owned copy. Read this for The Haunted Party readathon for Face paint with the prompt: read a manga/graphic novel/comic. This is an adult contemporary manga. 

This was an absolute delight! The best manga I have read and exactly what I want to read for manga I think. This was super cosy and cute. The drawings were the best, story was great. And the cat... so adorable! Loved it. Excited to read more from the series. 

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Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper

inspiring 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? No

4.0

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Information:

• Storytel audiobook

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Review:

Pride for the win 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read Small town pride by Phil Stamper. I listened to the audiobook. Read this for my To Be Read list for this year. This is a middle grade contemporary book with LGBTQ+ characters.

This was a lovely book. Really enjoyed listening to it, the narrator was great. Story was very good. Characters were well done and I did really feel for them. Ending felt a little bit rushed, would have liked to see more. 

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3PAK 2024 by Astrid Boonstoppel, Michel van Egmond, Sholeh Rezazadeh

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

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Information:

• Owned book
• The Haunted Party: read something short

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Review:

Story 1: 2 stars
Story 2: 4 stars
Story 3: 4.5 stars 

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That Blue Sky Feeling, Vol. 1 by Okura

emotional lighthearted 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:

• Owned book
• Reading Series
• The Haunted Party: read a manga/graphic novel/comic

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Review:

Disliked some parts, but overall a fun read 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read That blue sky feeling Volumwe 1 by Okura. This is the first book in the series. I read an owned copy. Read this for The Haunted Party readathon for Face paint with the prompt: read a manga/graphic novel/comic. This is an adult (but maybe young adult) contemporary romance manga with LGBTQ+ characters.

This was very cute, I really enjoyed it. Loved the characters and the story. Drawing style is good. What I did not like was the beginning of this book. A lot of homophobia and some bullying. It makes sense for the book and where it is from. But I really don't like those things in books. Hopefully that will be less in later volumes. 

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Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Information:

• Kobo Plus ebook
• Reading Authors
• Buddy read: Jennifer's Discord Group
• Buddy read: Dead good book reviews Discord

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Review:

The absolute best 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read Nine goblins by T. Kingfisher. I read the ebook. Read this for my Authors TBR and for the readalong I'm doing for all of her work. This is an adult fantasy book.

Finally a book by T. Kingfisher I absolute loved! Was to be expected since adult fantasy is my favorite. The humour in this one was the best I've read from Kingfisher, I loved that so much. The story itself was the best. I always find the pace and the length a bit off in her books, but for this one it was perfect. My favorite was of course the characters, the most important thing for me in books. The goblins were the best, the elves were, all the animals were great. Just loved it! 

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Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? No

5.0

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Information:

• Storytel audiobook
• Reading Series
• Reading Authors
• Buddy read: Gina Lucia Group

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Review:

Favorite book of all time, easily 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read Somewhere beyond the sea by T.J. Klune. This is the second book in the Cerulean chronicles series. I listened to the audiobook. Read this for a buddy read and my Authors and Series TBR. This is an adult fantasy book with LGBTQ+ characters.

I was hesistant about reading this book. The house in the cerulean sea is my favorite book of all time. That book was supposed to be a standalone, so was not that excited to find out it got a sequel. But I should have trusted T.J. This was absolutely amazing. The start was already the best. He dedicated this book to the trans community and I appreciate that so much. The story itself was as to be expected with a lot of feeling, but with this one we had some more difficult topics as well. I loved to learn more about all my favorite characters. Also some new characters. It was just the absolute best. So this one and book one will be my favorite of all time now. Immediately bought the book the day after. 

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The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

4.5

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Information:

• Storytel audiobook
• Buddy read: Jennifer's Group
• Buddy read: Gina Lucia Group

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Review:

Lovely cosy book 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read The spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst. I listened to the audiobook. Read this one for a buddy read. This is an adult fantasy book with romance elements.

This was amazing! Was a bit hesistant about this being a female/male romance, but fortunately it did work for me. This book was what I love about cosy fantasy. It was all just very nice and heartwarming. The characters were all amazing. Story was very lovely. Just absolutely loved it. Only thing that I did not like was that the love interest was introduced very quickly. I also did not really like the ending. 

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Dreams of Another Land by Peter Kenny

lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.5

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Information:

• Owned book
• The Haunted Party: read an autumnal/cosy book

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Review:

Art was nice, but the story (?) was chaos 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read Dreams of another land by Peter Kenny. I read an owned copy. Read this for The Haunted Party readathon for jack-o-lantern carving with the prompt: read an autumnal/cosy book. This is a fantasy book and I also think it's poetry.

I only read part of this book. I did not like it. It was very chaotic, did not have any structure. The poetry itself, well I assume it was supposed to be poetry, did not do anything for me. It did not have a good rhythm or anything. What I did like were the drawings, they were very beautiful. It was also about Lord of the rings, which I love, so it was fun to read because of that. Unhauled this one and unhauled the other one I had as well. 

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