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abooknomad's reviews
410 reviews
The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty
adventurous
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
4.0
I was sceptical going into this sequel after the first book fell short for me last year, but I ended up enjoying The Kingdom of Copper more than I expected.
The characters got more interesting and the expansion of the world and politics gave the story more depth. There were a few moments where things felt a little bit too meandering, but the storyline ended up tying up well in the end.
The characters got more interesting and the expansion of the world and politics gave the story more depth. There were a few moments where things felt a little bit too meandering, but the storyline ended up tying up well in the end.
The Best Girls by Min Jin Lee
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Somehow I doubted Min Jin Lee could traumatise me with a short story, she proved me wrong.
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was such a disturbing, enlightening and fascinating collection of short stories. I highly recommend it if you need a palate cleanser or if you're just in the mood for something that will make you pause and think (and feel sad). I was effortlessly captivated by the dystopian landscape Sequoia Nagamatsu painted and its study of human behaviour in extreme circumstances. The sci-fi elements were interesting without being heavy and didn't take away from the character study or commentary on an economy thriving on death. I loved how the stories were all interconnected without being repetitive all the while adding something new to the overall collection.
Definitely one of the highlights of my reading year so far.
Definitely one of the highlights of my reading year so far.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
2.5
Funny Story is arguably better written than Happy Place but it was such an underwhelming, snooze-fest of a read with such bland and uninteresting characters that I can’t find any excuses. Emily Henry wrote two of my favourite books but her latest releases have not been it for me. I still think her books fit my taste in terms of writing style in the romance genre, but to be quite honest I might just be over romance at this point and not even Emily Henry can save it (or me).
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.0
This book was a journey through the highs and lows of life, marriage, family and most importantly mental health. It doesn't hide the dark side of being human and how mental disorders impact the self and personal relationships; in fact, it makes those things so clear and unavoidable that sometimes I was left speechless and silent while listening to the audiobook.
Although it started slowly and the pacing was not always steady, the characterisation was intriguing from the get-go and when it grabbed me, it really pulled me in. It might seem like a heavy read (and it is) but the narrative is also punctuated with a healthy dose of British humour and comical scenes, which bring just the right amount of lightness to the otherwise blunt storytelling and writing.
An overall great read. I highly recommend the audiobook.
Although it started slowly and the pacing was not always steady, the characterisation was intriguing from the get-go and when it grabbed me, it really pulled me in. It might seem like a heavy read (and it is) but the narrative is also punctuated with a healthy dose of British humour and comical scenes, which bring just the right amount of lightness to the otherwise blunt storytelling and writing.
An overall great read. I highly recommend the audiobook.
The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
An interesting, well-written and thought-provoking collection of short stories about black women and how they navigate their (and our) world. My favourite thing about this novel was how layered, real and flawed these characters were. The rating would have been higher if it were not for the last story, which was my least favourite.
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
dark
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Well this was a journey... through a very dysfunctional family (as the title suggests).
Although this was a very short novel, I was impressed by how the author touched on such a variety of topics in a nuanced way. Commentary on family and sibling relations, jealously, and womanhood are nothing new, but the way they were explored in this book felt like a new perspective for me. Not only due to the sheer outlandish nature of the plot, but also due to the setting of the story in Lagos, Nigeria, which added cultural traditions to the equation.
This was an all-around entertaining and thought-provoking read. My only qualm is that I wish the inner conflict of the main character regarding the acts of her sister had had a little bit more page time.
Although this was a very short novel, I was impressed by how the author touched on such a variety of topics in a nuanced way. Commentary on family and sibling relations, jealously, and womanhood are nothing new, but the way they were explored in this book felt like a new perspective for me. Not only due to the sheer outlandish nature of the plot, but also due to the setting of the story in Lagos, Nigeria, which added cultural traditions to the equation.
This was an all-around entertaining and thought-provoking read. My only qualm is that I wish the inner conflict of the main character regarding the acts of her sister had had a little bit more page time.
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
What a great conclusion to this wonderful rom-com series. The last minutes of this audiobook genuinely brought tears to my eyes, all because of the friendship between this group of friends. Ashley Herring Blake did a great job not only developing Iris and Stevie’s relationship but also keeping the protagonists of the previous sequels relevant in a way that didn't feel forced.
Honestly, when I heard that this final book would be fake dating I got nervous because it’s my least favourite trope. The way it was explored in this book, though, made for an enjoyable experience. Most likely because I’m already a fan of how the author writes romance in of itself: Ashley Herring Blake doesn’t just centre her stories around the main couple; all three books were populated with friendships, secondary characters that are there for the development of the protagonists and to add depth to the story and not merely for readers’ entertainment. Do not be mistaken, though, the romance is there, and it is good (and spicy).
Iris and Stevie’s relationship was very different from Delilah and Claire’s, Astrid and Jordan’s. They were fiery, more so than the two previous couples I think, and their chemistry was off the charts. As someone who has dealt with anxiety, I felt like Stevie’s inner turmoil was realistically portrayed and with compassion. As someone who is a little scared of commitment like Iris, I felt her insecurities, although I must say her inner monologue felt at times repetitive, and I just wanted to shake some sense into her.
A final note on this series: as a character-driven reader, the Bright Falls trilogy is music to my romance ears. All the main characters have distinct personalities, deal with different struggles, and try to overcome them while they’re falling in love, making for three very different couples and stories. The humour was also just right. I had the best time reading these books and will surely read whatever the author writes next. Sapphics for the win!
Honestly, when I heard that this final book would be fake dating I got nervous because it’s my least favourite trope. The way it was explored in this book, though, made for an enjoyable experience. Most likely because I’m already a fan of how the author writes romance in of itself: Ashley Herring Blake doesn’t just centre her stories around the main couple; all three books were populated with friendships, secondary characters that are there for the development of the protagonists and to add depth to the story and not merely for readers’ entertainment. Do not be mistaken, though, the romance is there, and it is good (and spicy).
Iris and Stevie’s relationship was very different from Delilah and Claire’s, Astrid and Jordan’s. They were fiery, more so than the two previous couples I think, and their chemistry was off the charts. As someone who has dealt with anxiety, I felt like Stevie’s inner turmoil was realistically portrayed and with compassion. As someone who is a little scared of commitment like Iris, I felt her insecurities, although I must say her inner monologue felt at times repetitive, and I just wanted to shake some sense into her.
A final note on this series: as a character-driven reader, the Bright Falls trilogy is music to my romance ears. All the main characters have distinct personalities, deal with different struggles, and try to overcome them while they’re falling in love, making for three very different couples and stories. The humour was also just right. I had the best time reading these books and will surely read whatever the author writes next. Sapphics for the win!
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
fast-paced
2.5
Reading is both a blessing and a curse. Blessing because, escapism! Curse because the more you read, especially in certain genres, the more difficult it is to feel captivated. And in the case of fantasy-romance, stories are starting to look a little bit too similar.
The Serpent and The Wings of Night was for me a hybrid of ACOTAR (especially ACOMAF), FBAA, and the Hunger Games. Surely there is more to explore in the romantasy genre than unlikely allies growing into lovers in a slow-burn romance, a protagonist who feels wronged by the world and therefore stabs and kills to prove she’s capable and a badass, and a plot based on trials to the death?
I could overlook these overused tropes and character traits if, for instance, the worldbuilding was interesting and the characters layered, but everything in this story felt shallow. I felt like the author wrote this story expecting the reader to already know how vampires, court politics and this particular world worked. There was a lot of showing and not much telling, which led to writing that felt lazy. Political threads that could have made the story more exciting and enriched the characters and their development were overlooked for a fast-paced plotline, where supposedly high-stakes action scenes lasted for about 10 pages each. It was like the author was checking boxes for what would sell best.
The truth is that I was bored 90% of the time reading this book because nothing felt new to me. The only moment of excitement came towards the end when revelations brought to light finally awoke me.
This was not the worst book I’ve read in terms of style, although I’d have appreciated it if some of the cursing was edited out, but it lacked a lot in terms of execution. I’m not saying every author should invent the wheel, but at least give me the bare minimum in storytelling and characterisation.
The Serpent and The Wings of Night was for me a hybrid of ACOTAR (especially ACOMAF), FBAA, and the Hunger Games. Surely there is more to explore in the romantasy genre than unlikely allies growing into lovers in a slow-burn romance, a protagonist who feels wronged by the world and therefore stabs and kills to prove she’s capable and a badass, and a plot based on trials to the death?
I could overlook these overused tropes and character traits if, for instance, the worldbuilding was interesting and the characters layered, but everything in this story felt shallow. I felt like the author wrote this story expecting the reader to already know how vampires, court politics and this particular world worked. There was a lot of showing and not much telling, which led to writing that felt lazy. Political threads that could have made the story more exciting and enriched the characters and their development were overlooked for a fast-paced plotline, where supposedly high-stakes action scenes lasted for about 10 pages each. It was like the author was checking boxes for what would sell best.
The truth is that I was bored 90% of the time reading this book because nothing felt new to me. The only moment of excitement came towards the end when revelations brought to light finally awoke me.
This was not the worst book I’ve read in terms of style, although I’d have appreciated it if some of the cursing was edited out, but it lacked a lot in terms of execution. I’m not saying every author should invent the wheel, but at least give me the bare minimum in storytelling and characterisation.