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alexalala's reviews
197 reviews
The Stolen Heir by Holly Black
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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
THIS BOOK Y'ALL.
I loved the Cruel Prince so I knew I needed to pick up The Stolen Heir eventually. I would not recommend reading this book if you haven't read the Folk of the Air series as there is a LOT of reference to the original series.
The good: Holly Black's prose is always very beautiful and magical. I loved reading this just for the words and turns of phrases. It was easy to connect to the characters and I was really rooting for Wren throughout. That ending had me so surprised and I am highly anticipating the next book.
The meh: The book felt a liiiittle slow at times. No other notes!
The verdict: This is a perfect addition to the Folk of the Air universe for fans with a dash of romance for those romantic fantasy lovers.
I loved the Cruel Prince so I knew I needed to pick up The Stolen Heir eventually. I would not recommend reading this book if you haven't read the Folk of the Air series as there is a LOT of reference to the original series.
The good: Holly Black's prose is always very beautiful and magical. I loved reading this just for the words and turns of phrases. It was easy to connect to the characters and I was really rooting for Wren throughout. That ending had me so surprised and I am highly anticipating the next book.
The meh: The book felt a liiiittle slow at times. No other notes!
The verdict: This is a perfect addition to the Folk of the Air universe for fans with a dash of romance for those romantic fantasy lovers.
Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Tana is a witch who lives on an island of witches that are so feared by the magicless mainland that they must practice only small, low magic to stay alive. Since birth, she has been destined to marry the governor's son on the mainland to solidify the Witchery as a safe place for witches without persecution from the mainland. But when she meets Wolfe, secrets are exposed and her entire life is turned upside down.
The verdict: Such a good example of well done YA with the perfect amount of witchy vibes and cozy characters.
The good: I loved the witchcraft in this book so much. All the magic - low and high - were beautifully described and made me want to go commune with nature. The storyline was compelling and I enjoyed the plot as it progressed. This is the perfect cozy romance!
The meh: The characters were a little one note, without too much nuance. They had singular purposes to the story and in their lives and I wish they would have been a little more fleshed out. We see that Wolfe loves Tana, but we don't totally understand why or what he loves about her so much to be this dramatic.
You will like this if you like: forbidden romance, YA, witches and magic, arranged marriage, and cozy fantasy.
Tana is a witch who lives on an island of witches that are so feared by the magicless mainland that they must practice only small, low magic to stay alive. Since birth, she has been destined to marry the governor's son on the mainland to solidify the Witchery as a safe place for witches without persecution from the mainland. But when she meets Wolfe, secrets are exposed and her entire life is turned upside down.
The verdict: Such a good example of well done YA with the perfect amount of witchy vibes and cozy characters.
The good: I loved the witchcraft in this book so much. All the magic - low and high - were beautifully described and made me want to go commune with nature. The storyline was compelling and I enjoyed the plot as it progressed. This is the perfect cozy romance!
The meh: The characters were a little one note, without too much nuance. They had singular purposes to the story and in their lives and I wish they would have been a little more fleshed out. We see that Wolfe loves Tana, but we don't totally understand why or what he loves about her so much to be this dramatic.
You will like this if you like: forbidden romance, YA, witches and magic, arranged marriage, and cozy fantasy.
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.5
Tress enjoys a simple life on her home island, collecting cups and washing windows for money. But when her love is sent away to an evil Sorceress many seas away, she finds her way onto a pirate ship to bring him back home.
The verdict: An amazing cozy fantasy from Brandon Sanderson that will take you on a high-seas adventure with a wonderfully average protagonist.
The good: This book was great! The characters really came to life and they felt like real, unique people. I loved Tress especially, our average heroine defying the odds. The book is written very whimsically which I think added to its charm and intrigue. The narrator is reliable despite his state of mind, but his little parts are very funny.
The meh: This book was just a little slow for my taste. Cozy fantasy isn't really my genre so that's probably the only reason this book isn't a 5-star for me.
You'll like this if you like: cozy fantasy, not-so-special protagonists, true love, curses, The Princess Bride, pirates, and high-seas adventures.
The verdict: An amazing cozy fantasy from Brandon Sanderson that will take you on a high-seas adventure with a wonderfully average protagonist.
The good: This book was great! The characters really came to life and they felt like real, unique people. I loved Tress especially, our average heroine defying the odds. The book is written very whimsically which I think added to its charm and intrigue. The narrator is reliable despite his state of mind, but his little parts are very funny.
The meh: This book was just a little slow for my taste. Cozy fantasy isn't really my genre so that's probably the only reason this book isn't a 5-star for me.
You'll like this if you like: cozy fantasy, not-so-special protagonists, true love, curses, The Princess Bride, pirates, and high-seas adventures.
The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero Lacruz
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.25
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Reina's only hope is an invitation from a distant grandmother in a faraway land who saves her life. Eva is stuck with a family that abhors the land's magic - but she is brimming with it. Both women will go on a journey that put them in contact with gods of old and important figures in their world.
The verdict: This book went on for way too long, but it was a cool magical read. We need more Latin American inspired books and this one was full of myth and legend.
The good: I liked the characters quite a bit in this book. They were fleshed out really well and I was rooting for them. The writing is magical (save for the constant surusrring) and the landscape is well described. I felt like I was in a magical land while reading with legendary figures and a beautiful world. The magic system was also well explained, even if it was 60% through the book when it's finally laid out for us.
The meh: This just felt so long. Normally books take me around 4-5 hours to read, but this one took more than 8 hours. I felt like it could've shaved off 100 pages and not made a huge difference in plot. The ending was lackluster and I was disappointed with the slow slow pace of the book.
You will like this if you enjoy: magical realism, slower pace, Latin American lore, magical powers, lush landscapes and descriptions, and well fleshed out characters.
Reina's only hope is an invitation from a distant grandmother in a faraway land who saves her life. Eva is stuck with a family that abhors the land's magic - but she is brimming with it. Both women will go on a journey that put them in contact with gods of old and important figures in their world.
The verdict: This book went on for way too long, but it was a cool magical read. We need more Latin American inspired books and this one was full of myth and legend.
The good: I liked the characters quite a bit in this book. They were fleshed out really well and I was rooting for them. The writing is magical (save for the constant surusrring) and the landscape is well described. I felt like I was in a magical land while reading with legendary figures and a beautiful world. The magic system was also well explained, even if it was 60% through the book when it's finally laid out for us.
The meh: This just felt so long. Normally books take me around 4-5 hours to read, but this one took more than 8 hours. I felt like it could've shaved off 100 pages and not made a huge difference in plot. The ending was lackluster and I was disappointed with the slow slow pace of the book.
You will like this if you enjoy: magical realism, slower pace, Latin American lore, magical powers, lush landscapes and descriptions, and well fleshed out characters.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
slow-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
3.25
I wanted to like this book more than I ended up liking it.
Kell is an Antari, one of the last magical people that can travel between the multiple Londons that exist. He exists as an intermediary between the different London's and their crowns while smuggling items across the borders as a side gig. But when he comes across a dangerous item, he, along with a thief, Lila, needs to bring it back where it came from.
The good: I liked the characters and the worldbuilding. Each London was interesting in its own way. The characters were built up to be unique and interesting, and I was rooting for them at the end (even some of the villains!). I like the magic system and thought it was well explained for the most part, even if at times I was confused.
The meh: I just wasn't drawn in by this book. It told its story fine, but there was nothing special about the writing style. It was a slow build and at the end, I felt like not all that much had actually happened. In fact, while writing this review I'm having trouble thinking of what even happened so I could talk about it. Basically, not super memorable.
The verdict: A good, intro fantasy book that just wasn't totally for me.
You'll like this if you like: portal fantasy, witty banter, thieves turned good, and a slow pace.
Kell is an Antari, one of the last magical people that can travel between the multiple Londons that exist. He exists as an intermediary between the different London's and their crowns while smuggling items across the borders as a side gig. But when he comes across a dangerous item, he, along with a thief, Lila, needs to bring it back where it came from.
The good: I liked the characters and the worldbuilding. Each London was interesting in its own way. The characters were built up to be unique and interesting, and I was rooting for them at the end (even some of the villains!). I like the magic system and thought it was well explained for the most part, even if at times I was confused.
The meh: I just wasn't drawn in by this book. It told its story fine, but there was nothing special about the writing style. It was a slow build and at the end, I felt like not all that much had actually happened. In fact, while writing this review I'm having trouble thinking of what even happened so I could talk about it. Basically, not super memorable.
The verdict: A good, intro fantasy book that just wasn't totally for me.
You'll like this if you like: portal fantasy, witty banter, thieves turned good, and a slow pace.
All That Falls by AN Norton
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Thank you to the author for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I think this book has an ideal audience and that ideal audience just wasn't me. I think people who will love this book include: SJM fans, fated mate fans, cliffhanger lovers, etc.
Liked: This book was beautifully written. The prose was nice and easy to read. I liked the characters and the vibes of the found family.
Disliked: It felt like a SJM knockoff. Not that that's a bad thing! I think many people will enjoy that aspect of it but I didn't. The plot was a little all over the place and some plot points felt like they didn't add to the plot. The world building was also a little confusing throughout the book I didn't feel like I had a solid idea of what was going on.
I think this was amazing, just needs to find its right audience.
You will like this if you like: fated mates, worldbuilding throughout, found family, and court intrigue.
I think this book has an ideal audience and that ideal audience just wasn't me. I think people who will love this book include: SJM fans, fated mate fans, cliffhanger lovers, etc.
Liked: This book was beautifully written. The prose was nice and easy to read. I liked the characters and the vibes of the found family.
Disliked: It felt like a SJM knockoff. Not that that's a bad thing! I think many people will enjoy that aspect of it but I didn't. The plot was a little all over the place and some plot points felt like they didn't add to the plot. The world building was also a little confusing throughout the book I didn't feel like I had a solid idea of what was going on.
I think this was amazing, just needs to find its right audience.
You will like this if you like: fated mates, worldbuilding throughout, found family, and court intrigue.
Mindbreaker by Kate Dylan
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.0
Thank you to Hodderscape and Netgalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Indra isn't really human anymore. After making a deal with a tech company to save her life, she's been uploaded to a robot's brain. When things go awry, she must find a way to destroy the technology that saved her life.
I loved this book! A fun sequel/standalone in the same universe as the first book. I enjoyed seeing all the new characters meet the old ones. It's well-written and an easy read that is very enjoyable. It deals with ideas of humanness, sapphic longing, and dystopian technology companies.
This book is very YA in feeling, as a warning, but as someone who usually hates YA, this really passes muster for me.
The verdict: An amazing sci-fi dystopia read for young adults and new adults alike!
Indra isn't really human anymore. After making a deal with a tech company to save her life, she's been uploaded to a robot's brain. When things go awry, she must find a way to destroy the technology that saved her life.
I loved this book! A fun sequel/standalone in the same universe as the first book. I enjoyed seeing all the new characters meet the old ones. It's well-written and an easy read that is very enjoyable. It deals with ideas of humanness, sapphic longing, and dystopian technology companies.
This book is very YA in feeling, as a warning, but as someone who usually hates YA, this really passes muster for me.
The verdict: An amazing sci-fi dystopia read for young adults and new adults alike!
Witch King by Martha Wells
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Tordotcom for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
After Kai is murdered, he wakes up and must figure out why he was murdered in the first place and who is after him and his friends.
One thing I did love was the banter and I wished I could have made it through just for that alone.
When I heard Martha Wells was releasing a fantasy I was very excited, however this fell flat to me. I really could not get into the book at all and was confused the entire time I was reading it. It can only be described as dense and confusing.
Overall, this is a good read for more advanced readers of fantasy and fans of Martha Wells. I will definitely try her other books.
After Kai is murdered, he wakes up and must figure out why he was murdered in the first place and who is after him and his friends.
One thing I did love was the banter and I wished I could have made it through just for that alone.
When I heard Martha Wells was releasing a fantasy I was very excited, however this fell flat to me. I really could not get into the book at all and was confused the entire time I was reading it. It can only be described as dense and confusing.
Overall, this is a good read for more advanced readers of fantasy and fans of Martha Wells. I will definitely try her other books.
Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
Emily Wilde studies faeries around the world and is compiling her research into an encyclopedia that will put her on the scholarly map. When she goes to the final destination to discover one last group of faeries, she will run into political, friendly, and magical woes.
Verdict: A nice, cozy read with fun characters and cool faeries. Nothing to write home about but fun to read.
The good: So anthropological. The footnotes were a fun addition even if I didn't understand half of them. I loved the way she went about her work and was so into her profession. The secondary character, Bambleby, came to live and was incredibly funny throughout the book. I also thought Poe was cute.
The bad: I didn't love Emily's character, mainly because she reminds me of someone I know and don't particularly like, obsessed with their work to the detriment of their relationships with others. However, I know part of Emily's character is that she is Autistic coded, so her interactions are understandable and interesting. The whole book was also incredibly slow, but that's a big marker of the cozy fantasy genre that I have an issue with personally.
You will like this if you like: faeries, anthropology/sociology, academia, cozy fantasy, fun friendships, and friends/enemies to lovers.
Verdict: A nice, cozy read with fun characters and cool faeries. Nothing to write home about but fun to read.
The good: So anthropological. The footnotes were a fun addition even if I didn't understand half of them. I loved the way she went about her work and was so into her profession. The secondary character, Bambleby, came to live and was incredibly funny throughout the book. I also thought Poe was cute.
The bad: I didn't love Emily's character, mainly because she reminds me of someone I know and don't particularly like, obsessed with their work to the detriment of their relationships with others. However, I know part of Emily's character is that she is Autistic coded, so her interactions are understandable and interesting. The whole book was also incredibly slow, but that's a big marker of the cozy fantasy genre that I have an issue with personally.
You will like this if you like: faeries, anthropology/sociology, academia, cozy fantasy, fun friendships, and friends/enemies to lovers.