aamna_theinkslinger's reviews
620 reviews

A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense 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? Yes

5.0

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

One for My Enemy by Olivie Blake

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.25

Saint Juniper's Folly by Alex Crespo

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense slow-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

4.0

The author accomplishes the impossible by creating a story that is equal parts horror and wholesome. 
There are themes of self-discovery, friendship, dealing with an unstable childhood, and a great, engaging mystery to match. 

I can’t say much about the pacing though since I read the first half of the book, and then I put it down for more than a month, and then started back up. But personally, I felt that it was a little slow-paced and relaxed for a horror book. It was never a thriller. There are definitely creepy elements- some scenes that truthfully made my hair stand on end. But the majority of it is following our characters as they try to solve the mystery behind this haunted house and try to get their friend out. 
I personally found it quite enjoyable to follow each character as they unravelled the mystery thread by thread, and discovered things about themselves in the process. There are definitely a few parts where you feel like it’s just tedious detective work- going through hundreds of books in the library, past documents, foraging through the attic, and cupboards and closets they find inside the haunted house. 

It’s a silly observation, but people usually complain that YA books pretend that their heroes have no parental supervision- either they’re dead or their role is non-existent. But this book definitely doesn’t do that. Even though reading this book gave me a very nostalgic feeling of sorts, it didn’t fall into that trap. Our characters had to answer to their parents, and it was all very realistic. 

A lot happens in the second half book. The book really does take its time to establish the characters, their personalities, and their relationships. Its well-written. 

There is a light sprinkling of a romantic subplot between two of our main characters that I found adorable. Their friendship very organically developed into love, with such relatable apprehensions and fumbling and overthinking and awkwardness on both sides was captured very well. 

I don’t know what else to say. The characters were lovable, and you get to know just enough about each of them to be able to connect with them and be invested in their journey. 

It’s just a good, creepy, fun time. 

A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

cathartic. 

Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective by Akira Amano

adventurous dark funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

4.5

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

Make Me Fall by Riley Nash

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense 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

5.0

This book reminded me so much of Where We Left Off by Roan Parrish, and it was just SO good, if not more. It is criminally underrated and all romance readers NEED to discover Riley Nash's books more! There are similar character dynamics with a sort of grump x sunshine; young, coming-of-age into adult life x slightly older got-his-life-together, equation. We follow our two main characters, Jonah and Gray, who couldn’t be more different. Jonah is fresh out of college I think, while Gray is a very famous, cut-throat lawyer in a semi-well-adjusted adult life. They first meet on a plane ride where they hook up, expecting to never see each other again. BUT of course that’s not what happens (THANK GOD).
    1. The chemistry between them is electrifying, and I loved when they gave in to that attraction. I feel so shame in admitting that I thoroughly enjoyed all the smutty scenes, and they were soo well well-written at that.
    2. This book made me feel so many emotions, ugh. I didn’t expect to get this attached to the characters. the soft kissing, the cuddling, the arguments even, all had me hooked with my heart in my throat. I was in love with Jonah’s obnoxious positivity and hope, and Gray just made me feel so grounded and warm. They are adorable, your honor. I’ll lay down and they can step on me. (Also just Gray in lawyer mode ripping everybody to shreds is my new kink) (Men in black suits, come on) 

    3. "If I were taken back to the beginning again and again if I were offered all the choices in the universe, I would always choose each and every step that led me here, no matter how much they hurt."

    4. Their contradictory personalities almost balanced each other out. Jonah has been literally described as “made of sunshine and wicked smiles, pure and breathtaking.” While Gray is described as stoic and very guarded. Despite how different they are, there is no miscommunication or toxic behaviors’ by any one of them. Which I consider I should be grateful for these days. Quite the opposite actually- Jonah and Gray are constantly supporting and praising each other. Whenever one of them starts hating on themselves or putting themselves down, the other-no matter what conversation they’re having will swoop in to make them stop doing that negative self-talk and hug them. They’re each other’s big cheerleaders, no doubt about that. They truly help each other grow, and it's a beautiful thing to witness. 

    5. "What is the path that leads to love? What strange nights and wrong turns and what mysteries? What is the moment you open your eyes and find your heart split into two where it was once whole."

Brighter Than the Sun by Daniel Aleman

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad slow-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