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adelphiereads's reviews
150 reviews
Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 6 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
It is safe to say that this book series is my favorite and I would always give it a 5-star rating. The reason for that is not just because I love the characters and the general plot of the book, but also because there's always something wonderful and noteworthy in each volume in the book series. Aside from finally seeing some legit action going on in the slow-burn romance between the main character and the love interest, this volume tackled very interesting, albeit sad, topics. It focused more on the lengths humans would go to for self-preservation. It shows how despite one's resolve to be righteous and virtuous when the situation calls for it, people would always choose themselves over the general welfare of others. I also loved how badly the antagonist toyed with the protagonist's constitution. Whatever the antagonist's reason for his actions, also goes to show what truly devious and cruel people can do given enough power, whether it be magical power or mental power over their victim. Lastly, I love how it showed how one small good deed can change or even save the lives of thousands. It reminds you...how you are not totally insignificant in this massive universe with billions of people. You're one small action, good or bad, can have a tremendous effect on the lives of others. A butterfly effect? Maybe? But all I know is that this book made me feel like I should be more cautious and self-aware in the way I act and treat others, who knows maybe I could stop a tragedy by doing so?
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I absolutely loved this book. It was so fast-paced yet not enough to make it seem difficult to understand. Like it was the right amount for a thriller book. I love how the author focused more on the plot and twists in the book and less on giving justification for why the evil person was like that. The storytelling was gripping and I really was kept at the edge of my seat while reading this.
I highly recommend this for people who are into psychological thriller. It’s not an entirely new idea of psychological horror but the plot is still somehow new and unpredictable. It’s hard to describe it. I guess you just HAVE to read it.
I highly recommend this for people who are into psychological thriller. It’s not an entirely new idea of psychological horror but the plot is still somehow new and unpredictable. It’s hard to describe it. I guess you just HAVE to read it.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
What I love the most about this book is that it tackled the different nuances in a murder case. It shows how a murder case can be sensationalized in media and how that can influence the trajectory of the case.
The evidences in every chapter are thought-provoking and mind-gripping. But I wasn’t entirely satisfied with how the climax played out which is my personal preference. So I still highly recommend it! It’s the kind of mystery novel that keeps on making you reconstruct your theories. I did not exactly predicted the ending so I think that’s a win.
The evidences in every chapter are thought-provoking and mind-gripping. But I wasn’t entirely satisfied with how the climax played out which is my personal preference. So I still highly recommend it! It’s the kind of mystery novel that keeps on making you reconstruct your theories. I did not exactly predicted the ending so I think that’s a win.
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Despite still thinking the plot could’ve been told in less than 3 books, I still liked how the story played out in the end. I have a love and hate relationship with this book series and it was so potent in this book. That’s why it took me soo long to finish it.
Still, the story was good if you’re only considering the romance side of things. To anyone who wants to read this book just keep in mind that it’s more of a Romance than High Fantasy. But it’s not all romance as well, there’s friendship, family, and a little bit of magic as well.
This book a gave a nice conclusion to Feyre’s story and I can’t wait to start on Nesta’s in the Court of Silver and Flames because I really just loved her character here. still not liking the plot, I still liked how the story played out in the end. I have a love and hate relationship with this book series and it was so potent in this book. That’s why it took me soo long to finish it.
Still, the story was good if you’re only considering the romance side of things. To anyone who wants to read this book just keep in mind that it’s more of a Romance than High Fantasy. But it’s not all romance as well, there’s friendship, family, and a little bit of magic as well.
This book a gave a nice conclusion to Feyre’s story and I can’t wait to start on Nesta’s in the Court of Silver and Flames because I really just loved her character here.
Still, the story was good if you’re only considering the romance side of things. To anyone who wants to read this book just keep in mind that it’s more of a Romance than High Fantasy. But it’s not all romance as well, there’s friendship, family, and a little bit of magic as well.
This book a gave a nice conclusion to Feyre’s story and I can’t wait to start on Nesta’s in the Court of Silver and Flames because I really just loved her character here. still not liking the plot, I still liked how the story played out in the end. I have a love and hate relationship with this book series and it was so potent in this book. That’s why it took me soo long to finish it.
Still, the story was good if you’re only considering the romance side of things. To anyone who wants to read this book just keep in mind that it’s more of a Romance than High Fantasy. But it’s not all romance as well, there’s friendship, family, and a little bit of magic as well.
This book a gave a nice conclusion to Feyre’s story and I can’t wait to start on Nesta’s in the Court of Silver and Flames because I really just loved her character here.
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This was such an easy read thriller novel. I loved the storytelling and how the writer conveyed the emotional dialogues of each character. But what I was quite disappointed about, considering this book's recent popularity in social media, is the predictability of the plot. Halfway through it I already have a pretty spot on prediction for its climax and an answer to its "great mystery". Reading my predictions come into play did not sit well with me. It is still a good book, it's just not as dark and twisted as you expect mystery/thriller novels should be but I think it's more leaning towards the reality? Like to me, it almost felt like a true crime book or a true crime documentary. If that's something that you will enjoy, then you should definitely read this book.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This dystopian book is like Orwell's 1984 if it was written by a woman and written for women. It is a slow-paced book but for a good purpose. The author wanted the readers to have an in-depth experience with the ruminations and emotions of the narrator. An experience that's akin to getting inside the mind of a woman, well...almost. I agree with what the author said in the introduction, that this is a feminist book in a sense that it showed how women are "human beings - with all the variety of character and behaviour that implies - and are also interesting and important..."
Like Orwell's 1984, it is also a warning, a prediction of what the future would look like if men become restless, more egotistical and power hungry. Although unlike the situation in 1984, the minority or the marginalized in this book is the entire women population. Regardless if they're the Wives, Handmaids, Marthas, Ecowives, or Unwomen, all of them are under the intense grip of men. As a woman, this is scarier than 1984's prediction, because I can really see this happening in the near future. It's like I have this innate fear that someday, men would take back what they "let us have", our freedom. For centuries they had our freedom in the palm of their hands and despite the massive progress we've made in the present, I can't shake the feeling that they would take up arms and subjugate us once more. They've done it before, right?
Hence, this book awakened that fear in me but at the same time it ignited a flame in my heart. A flame that will direct me to do whatever I can to prevent this horrendous future from happening. If you want to have that flame inside you, ladies please, read this book.
Like Orwell's 1984, it is also a warning, a prediction of what the future would look like if men become restless, more egotistical and power hungry. Although unlike the situation in 1984, the minority or the marginalized in this book is the entire women population. Regardless if they're the Wives, Handmaids, Marthas, Ecowives, or Unwomen, all of them are under the intense grip of men. As a woman, this is scarier than 1984's prediction, because I can really see this happening in the near future. It's like I have this innate fear that someday, men would take back what they "let us have", our freedom. For centuries they had our freedom in the palm of their hands and despite the massive progress we've made in the present, I can't shake the feeling that they would take up arms and subjugate us once more. They've done it before, right?
Hence, this book awakened that fear in me but at the same time it ignited a flame in my heart. A flame that will direct me to do whatever I can to prevent this horrendous future from happening. If you want to have that flame inside you, ladies please, read this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
The Husky & His White Cat Shizun: Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun (Novel) Vol. 2 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
In this second volume, we get to see how the relationship between the two main characters, in both their past and present lifetimes, is significantly affected by their miscommunication and prejudice. Mo Ran's prior knowledge of what happened in their previous lives is reason that their current relationship has improved. Still, people are always inclined to repeat their past actions regardless of its consequences. It usually takes something monumental for humans to ultimately stop repeating their mistakes. But I digress. In this volume, the author shows us the depth of the relationship between the two main characters and how fragile it is, how with a simple breath of a spell all of it could crumble into pieces. That's what kept me at the edge of my seat as I read through this book. It's a binge-worthy book and I can't wait to read the third volume.
P.S. If you're looking for a danmei with heavy social relevance like MXTX's works, this is not it.
P.S.S. I'd like to commend the writing of this author. It's so beautiful, moving and heartfelt.
P.S. If you're looking for a danmei with heavy social relevance like MXTX's works, this is not it.
P.S.S. I'd like to commend the writing of this author. It's so beautiful, moving and heartfelt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape
Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto
funny
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? It's complicated
4.5
The Husky & His White Cat Shizun: Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun (Novel) Vol. 1 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-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? Yes
4.5
This book made me feel all sorts of emotions in every chapter. Like there’s a chapter when I was laughing so much my stomach began to hurt but then in the following chapter, my heart felt like it has been ripped out of my chest by a bear claw and I was left shocked to my core. There are also instances when I felt so confused in one chapter that I just wanted to get to the end of the entire book series so that I will know what actually happened between the two characters.
I loved how this book kept me at the edge of my seat as I the story between the husky and his white cat shizun unfolds. Also, I’d like to commend the writing of this author. It’s so descriptive that I really felt like I was transported to the world of wuxia.
Still, there are themes in this book to look out for so please refer to the content warnings before reading this. It is still a good book, though and I can’t wait to read the next volume because the end chapter of this one left my gutted, out of breath and teary-eyed.
I loved how this book kept me at the edge of my seat as I the story between the husky and his white cat shizun unfolds. Also, I’d like to commend the writing of this author. It’s so descriptive that I really felt like I was transported to the world of wuxia.
Still, there are themes in this book to look out for so please refer to the content warnings before reading this. It is still a good book, though and I can’t wait to read the next volume because the end chapter of this one left my gutted, out of breath and teary-eyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault